Chapter Seven: Jealousy?

transformed remarkably. It was as if her voice carried a newfound depth, brimming with emotion that hadn’t been there before. And it wasn’t just my imagination—others noticed it too.

“Wasn’t Shizuku’s  yesterday pretty good?” a classmate remarked.

Even today, with Shizuku away at a shoot, the buzz of her peers’ chatter filled the classroom. “Yeah, I get that. It’s like there’s no awkwardness anymore.”

“Right? It’s turned into a genuinely entertaining drama!”

Their voices carried a spark of admiration, and I couldn’t help but grin. When Shizuku earned praise, it warmed my heart as if the compliments were aimed at me.

“But, like… her co-star, the buddy role, uh…” one girl hesitated.

“Tachikawa Yuuki?” another chimed in.

“Yeah, him! Don’t those two seem kinda close lately?”

“No way! Are they, like, dating or something?”

“Maybe she’s getting one-on-one acting lessons from him every day…?”

The girls’ excited squeals pierced the air, but their words struck a different chord in me. A subtle tightness gripped my chest. They were just baseless rumors—I knew that in my head—but my body betrayed me, restless and unsettled. Shizuku and I were just friends. Whether she had a boyfriend or not shouldn’t matter. If anything, it should be something to celebrate. That’s how it’s supposed to be. It had to be.

It doesn’t matter… It doesn’t matter…

I repeated it to myself, over and over, as if chanting could calm the storm in my heart. But it refused to settle, and before I knew it, the school day had ended. With an unsteady feeling lingering, I headed to my part-time job.

“You okay, Jun-kun?” Utahara-san’s voice snapped me back to reality during my shift.

“Huh?”

“You’ve been wiping the same plate for a while now, and you seem totally out of it. Are you feeling sick or something?”

“S-sorry… It’s not like that, though.”

“Did something happen with Shizuku-chan, maybe?”

“What!?” My grip faltered, nearly dropping the plate, but I caught it in a panic.

“S-sorry. I didn’t expect you to get that shaken up,” Utahara-san said, her tone apologetic.

“No, I mean… sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. So, what’s up? Did you two have a fight or something?”

“It’s not like anything happened with Shizuku, but…” I hesitated, the unease in my chest weighing heavier. If  stayed like this, I might end up causing trouble for Utahara-san, and that was the last thing I wanted. “…I heard some rumors that the actor she’s working with in the drama might be dating her, and I’ve been feeling all messed up since.”

The words tumbled out, and embarrassment hit me instantly. My worries sounded so childish. Shizuku didn’t belong to anyone. Whoever she was with, I had no right to interfere. I knew that.

“Hmm… I see, I see. So Jun-kun’s finally at that age, huh?” Utahara-san’s voice carried a teasing lilt.

“That age?”

“You’re thinking it’s weird to feel jealous over a friend, right? If that’s the case, maybe the feelings you have for Shizuku-chan aren’t just friendship.”

“Not… friendship?” Her words left me stunned. If it wasn’t friendship, then what were these feelings?

“L-lust…?” I blurted out, grasping for an answer.

Utahara-san burst into laughter. “Jun-kun, you really leap to some wild conclusions sometimes, don’t you?”

It wasn’t fair—she was laughing when I was genuinely confused. “Pfft, sorry for laughing. I think those feelings are, at the very least, something else. You’ll figure it out naturally someday.”

Her words didn’t fully sink in, but somehow, the knot in my chest loosened. Before I could dwell on it further, the shop’s door chimed.

“Oh, speak of the devil,” Utahara-san said.

I looked up to see Shizuku walking in. Stepping out from behind the counter, I guided her to her usual seat.

“Listen, Juntaro!” The moment she sat down, Shizuku’s face lit up with uncontainable excitement. Her joy warmed my heart, chasing away the lingering unease. “At today’s shoot, the staff praised me so much! Even the director, who’s usually so quiet, said my acting was good for the first time!”

“Whoa…! That’s amazing!” I’d heard about the director from her before—a gruff man with precise directions and undeniable talent. Praise from him was no small feat.

“I think it’s thanks to Reiko-san coaching me so diligently. And lately, the other cast members have been staying late to give me pointers too.”

“They really value you, huh?”

“I’m so grateful. Though sometimes they get too fired up and end up clashing with each other.” Shizuku’s tone softened, acknowledging the passion everyone brought to their craft. It wasn’t easy to blend all that advice into her own performance.

“…Does the guy playing your buddy role give you pointers too?” The question slipped out before I could stop it.

“Huh? Oh, you mean Tachikawa-san?” Shizuku blinked, clearly caught off guard.

What am I even saying? Cold sweat prickled my skin, but it was too late to take it back.

“Tachikawa-san’s more on my side, I guess. He’s also someone who transitioned from modeling to acting, and his acting career is pretty short. So, he’s usually getting coached alongside me.”

“Oh… I see.”

“But lately, I’ve been a bit troubled by something,” she added.

“Troubled?”

“Yeah. There’s this baseless rumor going around that Tachikawa-san’s got a thing for me.”

A sharp pang stabbed my chest. Why couldn’t I control my heart? I didn’t even know what I was thinking anymore.

“…This stays between us, okay?” Shizuku’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “Tachikawa-san has a fiancée.”

“────What?” Her words hit me like a bolt, leaving me questioning my own ears.

“They’re going to announce it soon, so it’s not exactly a secret… but she’s  gorgeous. She’s not in the industry, but when she visited the set once, I thought she was a pro.”

“…I had no idea.”

“Tachikawa-san’s all lovey-dovey around her. One of the senior actors saw it and got so jealous he started making a fuss… Wait, what’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve got this dazed look on your face.”

At some point, my guard had dropped completely. The haze clouding my mind had lifted, and a wave of relief washed over  .

“Wait… did you actually believe the rumor that Tachikawa-san was into me? Were you jealous, thinking I might get taken?”

“…Yeah, maybe I was.”

“────Huh?” Shizuku’s eyes widened, her surprise mirroring my own admission.

“Uh, I mean… I didn’t think you’d actually say that…” Shizuku stammered, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“Y-yeah… sorry, I don’t know why I said that.” My own words felt clumsy, hanging in the air as an awkward silence settled between us. My heart ached again, but this time, the pain wasn’t sharp or heavy—it was strangely warm, almost comforting.

“Oh, by the way! The drama’s shooting is almost at its final stretch!” Shizuku’s sudden shift in topic broke the tension, and I was grateful for it. My heart couldn’t have handled lingering in that charged atmosphere much longer.

“Oh, yeah? It’s been that long already?”

“Hmm, I wonder.” Shizuku tilted her head,  . “My manager says there’s already a new offer coming in.”

“That’s great news, right?”

“Of course. Though it’s not modeling work.” She nodded once, confirming my guess. “Acting work.”

Shizuku, already a wildly popular model, had been pouring her heart into acting—a field outside her usual domain—and her skills were improving at a startling pace. It was no surprise the industry was taking notice. If I were a producer, I’d be clamoring to work with her too.

“I’m grateful for the offer, but honestly, I’m still on the fence,” she admitted.

“Do you want to take it on?”

“Well, yeah. It’s tough most of the time, but I can feel myself improving, and it’s rewarding and fun.” Her voice grew steadier, a spark of determination in her eyes. “I’m starting to see a goal, just a little. Right now, I’m just scared to take the step toward it.”

My eyes widened at her words. Seeing my reaction, Shizuku scratched her cheek, a shy flush creeping across her face. “Modeling, acting… I want to take both seriously and balance them. If there’s work out there that needs me, I want to take it on as much as I can.”

She’d once told me she felt aimless, adrift without a clear purpose. But now, a quiet resolve shone through her, unwavering and strong.

“This is a bit off-topic, but, um…” Shizuku faltered, her confidence wavering for a moment. I tilted my head, curious. “When this shoot’s over… I was thinking, maybe, we could hang out for a day… What do you think?”

“Sounds good, but… hang out where?”

“Maybe the movies or the aquarium? An art gallery date could be nice too… Oh, wait! Not a date, I mean… Ugh, am I trying too hard?” Her eyes darted around nervously, her usual poise replaced by an endearing fluster I’d never seen before.

“Uh… if you’re okay with me, I’m free anytime.”

“Really!? Then I’ll call you as soon as shooting’s done! We can plan it together, okay?”

“Y-yeah, got it.” My mind spun. Was this what people called a date? No, wait—Shizuku had denied it, so maybe that wasn’t her intention. Don’t get the wrong idea, Juntaro, I scolded myself. Getting your hopes up will only trouble her. To cool the heat rising in my face, I chugged my iced coffee in one go.

“W-what’s wrong, Juntaro?” Shizuku asked, startled.

“Just thirsty, that’s all.”

“Oh, yeah, it’s basically summer already, huh?” She glanced outside, where passersby were already dressed in light summer clothes. July was just around the corner, and summer was about to hit full swing.

or rather, I’ll make it free. After the drama’s done, I’m definitely taking some time off.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Good?” She raised an eyebrow.

“You’ve been getting busier lately, so I was worried about your health.” I’d noticed Shizuku fighting sleep in class more often, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. Even in moments like this, she sometimes zoned out, her fatigue unmistakable. I’d been concerned for a while, so knowing she’d get some rest eased my mind as her friend.

“It’s tough, sure, but I can keep going,” she said, a playful edge to her voice. “Especially now that I’ve got a reward to look forward to.” With that, Shizuku flashed a smug wink, her confidence returning in full force.

A wave of exhaustion crashes over me, my eyelids growing heavy, threatening to pull me under.

“No… I need to shower first.”

Forcing myself upright, I drag my weary body off the bed. In the entertainment world, beauty is non-negotiable—neglect my daily routine, and my skin will betray me in no time.

“…I look awful,” I mutter, catching my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My skin’s fine, but my complexion is lifeless, drained of vitality. Foundation and blush do their job, masking the truth from everyone else.

But Juntaro noticed, didn’t he? That worried look in his eyes—there’s no doubt he saw through my facade.

Little by little, I’m adjusting to this grueling lifestyle. When shooting first began, it was unbearable, but my body’s starting to cope. Still, the thought creeps in: I’m so exhausted…

I slap my cheeks, chasing it away. Once the drama’s finished, I can rest. No more whining about fatigue—focus on how to leverage this for the next job. I repeat that mantra, grounding myself in what needs to be done.

After showering, tending to my skincare, and brushing my teeth, I return to my room. The bed calls, but I resist, settling at my desk instead. From my bag, I pull out tomorrow’s script. Everyone else in the cast is a seasoned professional—I can’t afford to drag them down with half-hearted work. My acting and on-set adaptability pale in comparison to theirs, but at the very least, I’ll nail the script perfectly. I’ve memorized it already, yet I  it again, drilling each line into my mind.

“…Phew.”

I read the final line and close the script. It’s past one in the morning. Sleep is a must—I need to leave by five for tomorrow’s shoot. I’ve done everything I can. Only two episodes left. Knowing the finish line is near lightens the weight on my shoulders.

“After it’s done, a date with Juntaro…”

The thought of our promise sends my heart racing, warmth spreading through me. Juntaro always gives me energy. If I make spending time with him my reward, I can push through any hardship.

“What should I wear for the date?”

I know I should sleep, but my excited heart won’t settle. I rummage through my closet, unable to resist. Sleep’s already scarce—a little less won’t matter. Imagining my date with Juntaro keeps my spirits soaring. Is he practicing brewing coffee right now? Knowing him, he probably is. Even as I pick out clothes, my mind lingers on him.

I don’t even need to think about it—I’m in love with Juntaro. The way he respects my feelings, staying by my side. The way he works tirelessly toward his dreams. The way he never fails to lift me up when things get tough. There’s no one else like him, so perfect.

“I’ll make you look my way, Juntaro, no matter what,” I declare to the reflection staring back at me in the mirror.