OSHINOKO (【推しの子】)

Cut!

- Aqua! - Is he okay?

Aqua.

I still sense it.

The smell of blood like rusted metal

clinging to me forever.

I feel her hand growing colder.

I can't forget it.

It's all your fault.

If you'd put your body on the line to protect her...

Are you okay?

They'll reshoot your scene another day.

Today, just get some rest.

Want someone from home to pick you up?

Please don't.

Why not?

I don't want Ruby knowing.

GOTANDA STUDIO

Since when did I become your personal chauffeur?

I'm gonna lie down upstairs.

His impudence never ceases to amaze.

Sorry to put you out.

Don't sweat it.

I'm the only one who knows his deal.

Take a seat.

Okay.

- Here. - Thank you.

How'd it happen?

Shooting a scene where he loses his best friend.

The director kept asking him to show more emotion.

That would do it.

What's your relationship to Aqua?

Girlfriend?

As it were.

He gets around more than I thought.

I suppose his girlfriend has a right to know.

What you saw today... Aqua collapsing.

It isn't the first time.

Panic attack, isn't it?

Yeah.

As a child, he witnessed a terrible incident.

When that memory is sparked, this is what happens.

In short, he experiences PTSD.

He spent years in counseling over it,

but he tired of worrying his family.

So he feigned being cured.

But it's not something you forget.

I'm still not over it myself.

What sort of terrible incident?

I advise not probing too much.

I've gotta go. Stay with him till I return.

Understood.

Thanks.

Ai...

Aqua is with the Ichigo Production Co.,

where Ai once belonged.

He and his twin sister's guardian is agency president Miyako Saitoh.

His sister just relaunched Ai's old idol unit, B-Komachi.

Both twins have an inordinate obsession with Ai.

What if somewhere her child is alive and well?

As a child, he witnessed a terrible incident.

Ai died a violent and tragic death.

If that's something that you had to witness as a child...

my heart breaks for you.

Take it easy, Akane!

I'm not your enemy.

What's wrong?

Akane?

I just had a horrifying thought.

But I'm...

here for you no matter what.

Whatever pain you carry, I want to bear it with you.

What's this about?

Just a "what if" scenario that my wild imagination concocted.

Can we explain the character this way?

It does seem a departure from the original.

But it links to Episode 4.

Any objections, Sensei?

Nope, it's fine by me.

Then we can print up Episode 3. Good work, everyone.

- Good work. - Good work.

When will you finish Episode 4?

Day after tomorrow.

Great, then I'll head back to the set. Good luck.

We went all out with Episode 3.

Need a break before moving on?

Yes.

Track 12.

And action.

Just because of this, you...

Cut. Again.

Cut.

Director.

Can we wrap this scene?

We're running behind, and need to edit Episode 1.

Bring eye drops.

Eye drops.

Thank you.

- Once more. - Sorry.

Try not to take it so hard.

Mr. Kindaichi always asks for a lot from actors.

What kind of an actor am I if I can't meet his demands?

It's clear I just don't have any talent.

If you don't feel you have the talent, why do it?

Is it because you like acting? Or the money?

You wouldn't understand if I told you. So I won't.

I'm asking because I want to understand.

Say I told you my purpose...

was to murder someone? Then what?

What if there was someone in the industry

I'm seeking out so I can kill him?

Then I'd kill him with you.

I trust you have a good reason for wanting that person dead.

If you plan to bear that sin...

I want to bear it with you.

Don't take murder so lightly.

I'm prepared to be that kind of girlfriend for you.

Even if we keep it strictly a business relationship.

That's not a normal way to be.

I'm an actress. None of us are normal.

You may be right.

Despite no shortage of setbacks...

Tokyo Blade finally aired.

I'm on my way now.

BASED ON THE ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL "OSHI NO KO"

BY AKA AKASAKA × MENGO YOKOYARI, PUBLISHED BY SHUEISHA

TOKYO BLADE

ORIGINAL STORY BY ABIKO SAMEJIMA

There's my bro.

He looks so cool!

Miss Akane and Loli-senpai, too.

Senpai looks like a different person.

She's such a pro.

The face of an actress.

TOKYO BLADE

Awesome.

NOW TRENDING TOKYO BLADE, LIVE ACTION, TOBURE

Tokyo Blade and Tobure are both trending keywords.

This golden time slot rocks. The Internet's exploding.

That was close.

First time I ever delivered a show 30 minutes before it aired.

Not to mention airing one with no next week preview.

The first episode safely scored double-digit ratings.

The dramatization of Tokyo Blade was off to a good start.

Or so it appeared.

Episode 2 got 6.8 percent.

Episode 3 only 5.1 percent.

Episode 4 down to 4.3 percent.

How does a show based on a hit comic get such low numbers?

My apologies.

Individual ratings suck eggs, too.

The F2 demographic in particular.

But streaming's strong, and the story picks up from Episode 5.

The screenplay is just too edgy.

Do you understand?

This is the "golden hour" on terrestrial airwaves.

The coveted 9 p.m. time slot.

My apologies.

Give me a break.

At any rate, I want more romance.

And pretty boy closeups.

But the work's world view...

World view be damned!

A TV drama

must get the women and children.

Mind the compliance and budget, too.

If ratings drop any further,

cancellation isn't out of the question.

I HAD HIGH HOPES FOR THE TOKYO BLADE DRAMA,

WHAT A SHAME.

The numbers aren't looking too good, I'm afraid.

I see.

Any idea what might be causing the drop?

Maybe we've taken too much time on the set up.

The set up?

Yeah, on introducing the characters and establishing the premise.

The deeper you go with the set up,

the longer it takes to get around to the story.

But it really takes off after Episode 5.

Instead of knee-jerk changes,

just stay the course.

Understood.

Sorry, I'm wanted somewhere. I'll be back as soon as I can.

Is staying the course the best option?

Do you have any qualms about what we've got so far?

I think it's a wonderful drama.

But I'm worried.

Should we try to make it more accessible?

The luxury to write freely

comes only when the schedule's too tight for editing.

We shoot what's on the page.

We don't have to listen to those who don't get it.

I agree that we stick to our guns.

That's the producer's decision.

It's our job to comply.

Let's put our faith in Mr. Raida

and double down on the rest.

Okay.

Shall we take that break now?

How about we regroup in ten minutes?