Chapter 89: Trip to Japan (2)
Not long after, Kim Si-woo received an email.
“OnlyOne Film… huh.”
Arimura Ryosuke.
It was the company of Arimura Noa’s father.
“Let’s take a look.”
When he opened the attached file, it contained the contract details as well as Arimura Noa’s personal note explaining how badly she wanted to sign with him.
“But… this contract looks weird.”
What baffled Kim Si-woo the most was the contract fee.
“She said they’d offer a lot… this is what she meant by ‘a lot’?”
The contract fee differed depending on whether the script became a movie or a drama,
But even the higher amount was one-tenth of what he would be offered in Korea.
Even though money wasn’t his priority anymore… this was ridiculous.
“Do they think I’m stupid? Or is this actually the industry standard here? …Damn it.”
He knew he was a famous writer now, and considering how confident Arimura Noa had been, the contract was disappointing.
In the end, he didn’t reply and simply began touring Osaka.
Like everyone else, he took pictures at Dotonbori, visited famous restaurants, and enjoyed the sights.
Three days passed just like that.
The next day, right when he was preparing to go to an amusement park, another email arrived.
It was from Arimura Noa.
She asked why he hadn’t replied—was the contract not to his liking?
After thinking for a moment, Kim Si-woo typed:
[Yes. I didn’t even feel like replying because I didn’t like the contract.]
He sent the message filled with irritation.
Her reply came within a minute.
[May I ask which part you didn’t like? If you’re free tomorrow, I’d like to meet and discuss it in person.]
[I have plans tomorrow.]
[Are you very busy? It’ll only take a moment. I’ll go to wherever you are.]
Hearing that a famous actress wanted to come find him in person, Si-woo scratched his head.
“…Do all famous actresses act like this?”
The fact that she was willing to come herself made it obvious how desperate she was for his script.
But normally, no actress of her status would act like this.
“Sigh… what do I do? I booked the amusement park for tomorrow…”
After thinking for a long time, he simply sent her the address of the amusement park and the time he planned to be there.
Her reply was short: she understood and would come.
The next day, Si-woo arrived at Osaka’s famous amusement park five minutes early.
He looked around but didn’t see her, so he decided to go in first.
“What? She’s not here? Well, whatever. She’ll find me.”
After handing over his ticket and entering, he heard someone calling his name from behind.
“Writer Kim Si-woo!”
“Oh, she came…”
He paused and turned around. Arimura Noa was running toward him.
“Hello.”
“Haa… haa… I came exactly on time—why did you go in first?”
“We’re short on time. Let’s just go.”
“Ah… yes.”
Just like that, Kim Si-woo ended up having what looked suspiciously like a theme-park date with Arimura Noa.
As they walked, she kept trying to persuade him.
He listened with one ear and let it slip out the other.
“Could you take a picture for me?”
“…Huh? Ah… yes.”
While Si-woo focused on making memories, Noa’s anxiety continued increasing.
“Okay—taking it now.”
They enjoyed various attractions, and soon noon rolled around.
“Let’s go eat.”
“Yes!”
Noa brightened instantly, expecting that Si-woo would at least hear her out during lunch.
While they were eating, she once again asked which part of the contract he disliked.
This time, Si-woo gave her the first hint.
“My name.”
“…Sorry?”
“Did you search my name?”
“Uh… no?”
“Then try searching.”
At Kim Si-woo’s words, Arimura Noa pulled out her phone and searched his name.
Her eyes widened as she stared back and forth between the screen and Si-woo.
“Ah….”
Only now did she realize just how badly she had messed up—and what kind of mistake she had made.
She hurriedly reviewed the contract again, then quickly messaged the planning team.
She told them to investigate the average contract terms for top-tier Korean writers.
Until their reply came, she sat there sweating and nervously watching Si-woo’s expression.
People in creative arts are known for their pride—
Writers, directors, painters, musicians, actors…
Even she had moments when her pride wouldn’t allow her to accept treatment she didn’t feel she deserved.
And no matter how she looked at it, the contract she showed Kim Si-woo must have bruised his pride severely.
Even if it was a mistake.
‘Why… why didn’t I think to look him up beforehand?’
Because his business card only had a name, email, and Korean phone number, she assumed he wasn’t famous.
“Shall we go?”
At some point, Si-woo had finished his meal and risen from his seat.
Noa also hurried after him.
It would take time before the planning team’s reply came.
Until then, she had no choice but to stick with him.
But another problem arose—
People had begun recognizing actress Arimura Noa.
Whenever she walked beside Kim Si-woo or stood in line with him, whispers followed.
“Wow… popular actresses really are different. If this were Korea, people would’ve already swarmed you for autographs… Japan is more reserved, I guess?”
Si-woo teased her, and Noa repeatedly apologized.
“I’m sorry…”
“You’re the one who should be worried about scandal rumors, not me.”
“Well… that’s not wrong. I’ll have to release a clarification later.”
“Anyway, let’s just ride that one last thing and call it a day.”
After that, Si-woo rode everything he wanted, took plenty of pictures, and finally decided it was time to leave.
“Should we take a photo together?”
“Sure.”
Thinking it would make a nice memory—and since it was still a kind of ‘fate’—Si-woo agreed.
After taking a photo together, they exited the amusement park and headed to a café near his hotel.
“Okay. Now, let’s talk.”
“Yes…”
Noa checked the message she had received from the planning team and felt a wave of nausea.
The contract they sent Si-woo was far below what top Korean writers earned.
And not only was Si-woo famous, he wasn’t just “famous”—
He was the most in-demand writer in Korea, with top stars lining up for his scripts.
Not “a famous writer.”
But the top writer in South Korea.
“First of all… I’m sorry. I made a huge mistake.”
“Well, mistakes happen. So, are you still thinking of signing a contract with me? Even though the script isn’t even finished yet?”
“Of course. We’ll change the terms—offer the best conditions in the industry, and meet whatever requirements you have.”
“It’s just… I’m still debating whether this should be a drama or a movie.”
“What seems to be the issue…?”
“It feels a bit too short to wrap up in 2–3 hours. But if I make it a drama, it’ll get too long.”
“Then how about a 4-hour drama special?”
“The audience will get tired.”
“We can give them an intermission… or split it into Part 1 and Part 2—”
While thinking, Kim Si-woo suddenly smiled as if a good idea had come to him.
“Hm… suddenly I’m hesitating about signing the contract.”
“What? Why… why is that?”
“I just came up with a really good idea… and I think it’ll work better in Korea.”
“W–wait, writer-nim, hold on… We can cast the actors exactly the way you want. I’ll personally make sure of it.”
Arimura Noa recalled from the planning team’s notes that Si-woo was extremely picky about casting, so she tried to appeal through that.
“Hm… Also, I’m personally a bit mentally exhausted right now. How about we talk after I finish writing the script?”
“Understood. But please give us priority.”
“Well… fine.”
In the end, they agreed to revisit the contract after the script was completed—
But with the condition that OnlyOne Film would be the first company he discussed it with.
In return, she arranged various assistance for him.
She got him a full lodging setup in Osaka, including a desktop computer, dual monitors, a top-grade keyboard, and an executive chair—everything in a full set.
“This is… a bit overwhelming.”
“It’s fine. We need at least this much if we want to work with you.”
Clearly trying to make up for her earlier mistake, she invested heavily into treating Si-woo well.
As someone who knew how difficult it was for a top actress to go this far, Si-woo honestly found it a bit admirable.
‘Looks like sightseeing is over for a while.’
But since he had come all the way to Japan for a vacation, the thought of spending the next stretch just writing in a room felt suffocating.
“Well then… Writer-nim, please get some good rest. If you need anything, contact me anytime.”
Somehow, he ended up even getting her personal phone number.
That night, Si-woo found his photo circulating online.
It was an article showing him and Arimura Noa at the amusement park.
Using a translator, he confirmed it was a scandal article, and the comments underneath were criticizing him.
“She’s more popular than I thought. At least my face is blurred out.”
Luckily, his face was completely pixelated and labeled as “a non-celebrity.”
As long as the news didn’t spread to Korea, he didn’t care.
***
The Next Morning
Just as Noa had said, correction articles came out quickly, and speculative reports vanished.
Si-woo didn’t know if it was Noa’s influence or her father’s power—but either way…
“Well, I should get breakfast and get back to writing.”
He went out for Japanese ramen, then returned to focus on his work.
“Didn’t expect to be grinding out a script even after coming to Japan…”
The piece he was writing this time was romance—
Or rather, a modern fantasy disguised as a romance.
The title: “How a Genius Loves.”
A genius male protagonist attempts to win the heart of his first love and childhood friend by becoming everything she listed as her ideal type.
Athlete, celebrity, professional specialist—
Whatever she liked, he became it.
He could do all of it because he was a genius.
But in the end, she chose a completely ordinary man because she “wanted to experience a normal love.”
The protagonist, for the first time in his life, resented her…
And drowned himself in alcohol.
Drunk, he missteps, rolls down a staircase, and dies—
Only to return to the past and live a new life, not to win her over,
But to make her regret her choice.
***
A full month passed, and the finished script was twice as thick as any screenplay he’d written before.
“Took longer than I expected…”
Scratching his now-grown-out hair, Kim Si-woo picked up his phone.
“Should I contact her now?”
With an unreadable smile on his lips, he began dialing Arimura Noa.
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