Chapter 91: Trip to Japan (4)
Arimura Noa’s guiding turned out to be surprisingly good.
Being half-Japanese but raised entirely in Japan, she took him to hidden gems that only locals would know about.
Since she drove the car herself, getting around was comfortable, too.
The only problem was that every chance she got, she tried to steer the conversation back to the script.
“So, Writer-nim, what do you think about this part?”
“…Can we talk about the script later?”
“Uh… then what should we talk about? Oh! Tell me about Korea!”
“Korea, huh…”
“Korean actors? Or maybe about yourself, Writer-nim?”
“Ask whatever you’re curious about. If I can answer, I will.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Ah…”
First question, instant dead end for Arimura Noa.
After that, they just spent the time talking about the actors he was close with in Korea and some YouTube stories.
A full month passed, and Kim Si-woo, now thoroughly tired of sightseeing, was the one who finally brought up the movie.
“Shall we start preparing the film soon?”
“Yes! So how do you want to handle casting? Since you probably don’t know many Japanese actors, should we make a list for you? Or hold auditions? Or…”
Arimura Noa was so excited that the movie was finally moving forward that words poured out of her like a flood.
“Did the translation go well?”
“Of course. While we were out playing for the past month, our company staff were actually working. They even prepared audition posters just in case.”
“You guys are impressive.”
“So what would you prefer, Writer-nim?”
“Auditions aren’t bad, but for the important roles it’s safer to go with proven actors.”
“Then…”
“Make an actor shortlist and we’ll audition from that. It’ll save time, too.”
“Understood!”
Arimura Noa immediately contacted the planning team and jumped straight into putting together the list with the production team.
More than three months had passed since Kim Si-woo arrived in Japan.
He was starting to miss Korea.
Even delicious Japanese food and exotic scenery get old after three straight months.
Yaaawn. “Man, I’m tired… I really didn’t expect ‘Idol’ to hit 18 million viewers…”
While he was in Japan, ‘Idol’ had surpassed 18 million tickets sold, shattering Korean box-office records.
It was clearly thanks to Jung Se-yeon’s skyrocketing popularity.
“Seriously impressive. Director Park Woong-deok is going to win another award.”
And Kim Si-woo, now the youngest record-breaker ever, would naturally win awards too.
The only downside was that screenwriter awards in Korea aren’t exactly treated like royalty.
Bzzzzt.
“Speak of the tiger and it appears.”
Perfect timing, Jung Se-yeon was calling.
“Yes, Se-yeon-ssi.”
-You’re still in Japan?
“Yeah…”
-Great! The ‘Idol’ team decided to go on a reward trip to Japan to celebrate hitting number one.
“Huh?”
Shocked by the sudden news, Kim Si-woo sat bolt upright from where he’d been lying down.
-Why do you sound so surprised? Did you get a girlfriend over there or something?
“No, nothing like that… You’re not coming to Japan because of me, are you?”
-Yes, we are!
Not even a millisecond of hesitation.
-Director Park says you’d better brace yourself… for running away and dumping all the annoying stuff on him while you went on vacation.
“Sigh… Got it.”
-By the way, Writer-nim! Where exactly in Japan are you?
“Osaka.”
-Roger that. I’ll call you once the detailed schedule is set.
Right after hanging up, another call came, this time from Hong Soo-yeon.
“Hey, Soo-yeon-ah.”
-Oppa! We’re going on a trip to Japan!
“I just heard… literally two minutes ago.”
-Aww! I wanted to be the first to tell you…
“Anyway, guess we’ll see each other in Japan… haha.”
-Right?
After Soo-yeon’s call, his phone kept ringing with the same news from various people all day long.
“I spent the whole day just answering calls and it’s already afternoon… Now I understand why celebrities never check their messages.”
Just answering calls from the actors and staff made already ate up so much time. Kim Si-woo finally understood how exhausting it must be for famous celebrities to interact with fans.
A week later, the ‘Idol’ team arrived in Japan.
“Japan!”
The first-timers looked around in wonder, and Hong Soo-yeon was especially excited, like a little kid.
“So where are we going now?”
“Hotel first. Then we play!”
“Woooow!”
“Alright! Somebody call Kim Si-woo quick. That guy’s been here forever—he’ll know all the good spots.”
“Yes, sir!”
At Park Woong-deok’s order, Hong Soo-yeon immediately rang Kim Si-woo.
“Oppa! Where are you?”
-I’m almost there. I can see you guys.
Moments later, two huge tour buses pulled up in front of the group.
“Hello.”
Kim Si-woo stepped off one of the buses and greeted everyone.
“Whoa! Kim Si-woo…”
“Hello!”
“Writer-nim, long time no see.”
Everyone greeted him in their own way, and Hong Soo-yeon ran straight over and hugged him tightly.
“Oppa, it’s been forever!”
“It’s only been three months?”
“We used to see each other at least three times a week!”
“That’s true… but could you let go now? People are staring.”
“Ah! Sorry!”
The moment Hong Soo-yeon let go, embarrassed, Park Jun-ho immediately took her place and hugged him.
“Writer-nim, I missed you.”
“No, Jun-ho-ssi—”
“What? Soo-yeon gets to hug you but I don’t?”
“Sigh… fine, go ahead.”
After Park Jun-ho, the older actors, the staff, and finally even Director Park Woong-deok hugged him one by one. The last person waiting was Jung Se-yeon.
“Did everyone catch heatstroke or something? Why are you all acting like this toward me…?”
“Who knows? They must have really wanted to hug you, Writer-nim.”
Even Jung Se-yeon gave him a quick hug before climbing onto the bus.
“This trip is already giving me a bad feeling…”
They arrived at the hotel, everyone unpacked in their rooms, and then headed to the reserved restaurant.
“Alright, everyone! Ready to have fun tonight?”
“Yesss~!”
At Park Woong-deok’s shout, the whole group cheered.
What followed was exactly the chaotic party you’d expect.
Hong Soo-yeon, on her first overseas trip, got completely wasted and giddy. Park Woong-deok declared he wouldn’t lose to Japanese sake and downed glasses at terrifying speed.
“It’s total pandemonium…”
“So, feeling a little better now?”
“No way…”
“I heard everything. From Ji-young unnie.”
“Seriously…”
Kim Si-woo felt a bit embarrassed that his true feelings had been exposed.
“Right now… I’m doing a lot better than before, at least.”
“Good to hear. But why aren’t you drinking? You’re basically the guest of honor tonight.”
“Me? Se-yeon-ssi is the real star.”
“No way! Everyone flew to Japan because you’re here. That makes you the main character. Drink up!”
Jung Se-yeon filled Kim Si-woo’s glass to the brim, and he had no choice but to gulp it down.
About two hours later, almost everyone except a few was blackout drunk, which meant it was time to head back.
“Okay… time to go, people.”
At a staff member’s words, the few still-sober people started dragging the drunk ones toward the hotel.
Kim Si-woo was heading to his own accommodation when someone suddenly grabbed his hand.
“Oppa!”
“Huh?”
It was Hong Soo-yeon, who had passed out early but somehow revived.
“Where are you going!”
“Huh? Writer-nim! Where are you going!”
“Hey, Kim Writer! Where ya goin’!”
Starting with Hong Soo-yeon, Jung Se-yeon and then Park Woong-deok all clung to him one after another.
“No… I’m going home. Look! Everyone’s heading to the hotel.”
“Huh? You’re right…”
“But we don’t have to go just because they are, right? Who’s up for round two?”
At Park Woong-deok’s battle cry, even the totally wasted people suddenly snapped awake and staggered out of the bar as fast as they could, heading straight back to the hotel.
In the end, the only ones left at the bar were Park Woong-deok, Jung Se-yeon, Hong Soo-yeon (still clinging to Kim Si-woo’s hand), and Kim Si-woo himself.
“Jun-ho… running away like that…”
While all this was happening, Park Jun-ho had pretended not to see Kim Si-woo’s pleading eyes and vanished from the bar faster than anyone.
“Alright! Where to for round two?”
“Somewhere with hot soup!”
“I want salad!”
“I want to go home.”
“…Huh?”
Everyone turned to stare at Kim Si-woo as if he’d just said something blasphemous.
“Home? Kim Writer, did you actually buy a house in Japan?”
“No, not that kind of home—”
“Anyway, you have a place to live, right? Perfect! Round two is at Writer Kim’s place!”
In an instant, the venue for the after-party switched to the apartment Kim Si-woo was staying in.
But on second thought, it didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
“Yeah… if we drink at the apartment, at least I can just crash right after…”
Compared to drinking more at another bar and then having to drag everyone back to the hotel, sleeping immediately at his place sounded way better.
“Then let’s grab some snacks and more booze on the way.”
So they bought alcohol and side dishes and headed to the apartment…
Only to encounter an unexpected variable.
“Writer-nim! You’re back?”
Arimura Noa was waiting at the front door to greet them.
Ten minutes earlier
A few days ago, Kim Si-woo had told Arimura Noa he had plans tonight. Expecting him to come home drunk, she had come over to prepare hangover ramen.
Beep-beep-beep-beep.
Hearing the electronic door lock being entered, she rushed to the entrance.
But the first person she saw wasn’t Kim Si-woo…
It was a very drunk Jung Se-yeon.
“Who are you?”
“Eh?”
Jung Se-yeon looked at Arimura Noa in confusion, and Arimura Noa looked at Jung Se-yeon in confusion, and right then Kim Si-woo walked in, saw Arimura Noa, and asked,
“Noa-ssi? Didn’t I tell you I was having drinks with friends tonight…? Why are you here…?”
“W-well… I figured you’d drink a lot, so I was making hangover ramen… but who are these people…?”
“What the—Kim Writer, you really set up house in Japan?”
Park Woong-deok, seeing the scene, looked genuinely shocked for the first time in ages.
“Ah… no, wait—”
Hong Soo-yeon’s eyes instantly turned glassy, and Kim Si-woo hurriedly tried to explain.
“S-she’s just a friend! A close friend! Everyone, this is Japanese actress Arimura Noa.”
He quickly introduced her and winked desperately. Picking up the cue, Arimura Noa played along perfectly.
“Hello. I’m Arimura Noa. I work as an actress in Japan.”
“An actress? Oh! I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere…”
“Me too…”
Once they heard she was an actress, everyone wore that “where have I seen her before?” expression.
Seizing the moment while the mood calmed, Kim Si-woo ushered everyone inside.
“Come on, let’s go in.”
“Hmm… I definitely know that face…”
Once everyone was seated inside, Park Woong-deok suddenly shouted as if he’d remembered.
“Ah! ‘Your Fate, Right?’”
‘Your Fate, Right?’ was a movie Arimura Noa had starred in that had been a hit both in Japan and Korea.
“Oh my… Director Park Woong-deok recognizing me? I’m honored.”
The moment she saw them, Arimura Noa had known exactly who they were.
She just never imagined Kim Si-woo’s “friends” would turn out to be the cast and director of ‘Idol’.
She’d assumed they were just normal civilian friends.
“Mind if I join the drinking party?”
“Oh, hell yeah. Come on in.”
With Park Woong-deok’s permission granted, the three women immediately started eyeing each other warily.
‘…Why do I feel like this is about to get a lot more exhausting?’
Caught between one oblivious guy and three women shooting dangerous looks, Kim Si-woo’s anxiety levels skyrocketed.
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