My Tokyo Celebrity Girlfriend Is Love-Struck, What Should I Do? - Chapter 27

Relax a Bit

In the auditorium, Kimura held the script, arranging everyone’s positions.

The five members of the photography team took out their equipment from their bags and began adjusting the camera positions.

Two cameras were prepared in total. One was fixed on the podium, while the other, a mobile unit, was carried by Koike Koichi.

“Everyone must follow the arrangement we discussed earlier during the shoot.”

“Yes!”

Kimura stood in front of the fixed camera, carefully observing the scene through the lens.

“After the shoot starts, begin with a medium shot, then zoom out for long shots… Make sure to include those tables in the row in the frame.”

Kimura pointed to various positions in the classroom, giving detailed instructions to Iwatani Sousuke, who was in charge of the fixed camera.

“It looks quite impressive.”

Amemiya Nao, glancing at Asuka, who was studying the script earnestly beside her, remarked.

Upon hearing this, Asuka lowered the script she held in her hands, her eyes peering towards the tall figure not far away.

“Mm.”

“Huh? Your reaction is really indifferent… Wait, is Asuka-chan secretly smiling?”

Amemiya sharply caught the slight upward curve of the girl’s lips.

A blush spread across Asuka’s cheeks as she raised the script in her hands again.

“Nao-chan, I’m memorizing my lines.”

“But Asuka-chan, didn’t you already memorize them a long time ago?”

“Absolutely not…”

Asuka pursed her lips, her small expression focused on the words in the script.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, she quietly swapped the top and bottom of the script in her hands.

She had been holding the script upside down…

“Asuka, are you ready?”

Kimura’s clear voice echoed.

“Yes!”

Asuka stood up from her chair, handed the script in her hands to Amemiya, and walked forward with the prop bag by her side.

“Huh?”

Amemiya, still holding the warm script, stared blankly at the girl who had already walked to Kimura’s side.

……

Bright beams of light shone into the staircase classroom.

The air inside the classroom felt a bit stuffy.

Kimura lowered his head, gazing at Asuka sitting in front of him.

“Would you like to go out with me?”

The faint scent of fresh jasmine lingered around the girl.

Koike Koichi, carrying a camera, was filming from the side.

He remembered that these were two close-up shots.

According to the script, Kimura stared blankly at the ground between them with lifeless eyes.

His eyes half-lowered, portraying a face full of deep thoughts.

“Sure.” A crisp and gentle voice sounded.

Kimura gradually widened his eyes, shifting his gaze from the ground to Asuka.

Beyond the view of the camera.

He met the girl’s clear and watery eyes.

Asuka’s face carried the calm and natural smile as described in the script.

However…

In the pitch-black pupils, the eyes fluctuated, reflecting the young man’s astonished face.

As if it were a strange feeling.

It shouldn’t be the first time that Hino Maori, as written in the script, saw Kamiya Toru…

But rather, it was the gaze that belonged solely to Asuka.

Their heartbeats inexplicably accelerated.

“Cut!”

Yoshida Ikumi, in charge of the script and storyboards, shouted.

Koike Koichi, standing next to the two, put down the camera and exclaimed, “Sugoi, truly, Asuka-senpai, the feeling in front of the camera is really amazing!”

“Thank you.”

Asuka responded politely.

Then, she lifted her head, her face adorned with a joyful smile.

“Well, Haya… Director Kimura, how was it?”

Kimura came back to his senses, his hand on his neck.

“It was great.”

Asuka’s eyes curved, and the delicate, fair legs swayed gently beneath her skirt.

Kimura walked over to Koike Koichi, replaying the scene they had just shot.

As the footage played back, the scene showed Asuka’s cautious and tense expression before hearing the confession.

There was also a close-up shot of Kimura’s face.

After the confession, Asuka’s facial expressions transformed from the initial wariness to a calm and natural smile.

Looking at himself, he felt a bit like he had a slight facial paralysis.

His facial expressions seemed as stiff as if he had been dead for three days…

“Sorry,” Kimura looked around and said, “My acting is a bit… off. Let’s do it again.”

“Yes!” everyone shouted.

Kimura returned to his original position, adjusting his state once again.

“Hayata-chan.”

Asuka leaned slightly forward, whispering as everyone around started again.

“Hmm?”

“Go for it! Relax a little.” Asuka’s pure hand formed a fist, gently waving it.

Kimura smiled helplessly.

It’s just because I’m acting with Asuka that I can’t relax…

……

The scenes inside the tiered classroom took a long time to shoot, and by the time all the shots were barely completed, the daylight outside gradually began to dim. 

However, this situation was within Kimura’s expectations.

 After all, a brief scene in film and television is usually accomplished with multiple shots and takes.

Due to the simplicity of Kimura’s film crew, in order to make the shots in the scene more diverse, he had to divide the footage into different shots for shooting. 

Koike Koichi had to switch to another location for each small shot he took, which extended the time required.

However, overall, as Kimura gradually found the rhythm and the coordination between the camera crew became more proficient, the later shots became much faster than the initial ones.

After finishing the part in the tiered classroom, the sky had already darkened.

“You can sign and leave now.”

“Yes!”

Kimura stood on the lectern in the tiered classroom, and on the table was a sheet with the names of the cast and crew. 

Each departing extra came forward to sign before leaving, facilitating the final payment settlement.

After seeing off the extras, Kimura led the remaining crew back to the photography department’s activity room to shoot the final scenes of the day.

……

In the pre-arranged bedroom.

Under the dim yellow desk lamp.

Amemiya Nao sat at the desk, where a thick notebook was placed. On the notebook, it was written, “Be sure to read this diary after waking up in the morning.”

Her fingers slowly ran across the table, as if making a significant decision.

Amemiya reached out to open the cover of the notebook, revealing the first page filled with writing and notes.

“I had an accident on the first day of the Golden Week…”

“I lose my memory of the day once I fall asleep…”

A note at the bottom right corner said, “Don’t forget Kamiya Toru.”

Amemiya touched the note with her fingers, her gaze unfocused.

The scene turned black…

Kimura’s voice appeared, “Would you like to go out with me?”

Then, the awkward face of Kimura appeared.

“Sure.”

Followed by the smiling face of Asuka.

“Huh?”

“Oh, by the way, what’s your name?”

Kimura looked slightly puzzled, “Kamiya Toru.”

“Toru-san… I’ll remember that,” Asuka nodded gently, her soft voice continuing the inquiry, “Which class are you in?”

“Class 1.”

“Well, tomorrow after school… wait for me in the Class 1 classroom.”

Asuka picked up her handbag beside the chair, “Goodbye.”

Leaving behind a bewildered Kimura standing in place.

……

Watching the completed footage on the computer screen, Kimura exported the edited video to a USB flash drive.

“Let’s call it a day for today.”

“Ah… finally done…”

Beside him, Koike Koichi yawned, stretching his hands behind him with clenched fists.

After finishing the evening shoot, Koike Koichi stayed with Kimura in the photography club to edit the footage from today’s shoot. 

Sorting through numerous videos to select usable clips took over an hour, and just sifting through all the footage nearly blinded his eyes.

“How are you getting home, Kimura-senpai?” Koike Koichi asked from the back of the chair.

“Taking the bus.”

Kimura packed his bag, “And you, Koike-kouhai?”

“Yui-nee will take me home tonight.”

“Oh, I see…” Kimura nodded, “Well, I’m heading out.”

“Goodbye, Kimura-senpai!”

“…”

Leaving the photography club, Kimura sent a message to Asuka before heading towards the school gate. 

He wondered if Asuka had been anxiously waiting at home.

Lost in his thoughts, his steps unconsciously quickened. Passing by a bench, a familiar voice called out beside him.

“Hayata-chan!”