After some time,
Kamishiro and Director Hase, who had gone out to look for an escape route returned to the familiar backstage area.
After their tireless efforts!
They successfully confirmed a truly terrifying fact!
That is—
They were surrounded!!!
Whether it was the front door or the back door not a single place was safe!
These beasts had considered every possible angle.
Even by the windows there were no fewer than five people standing guard!
And all of them were beefy muscular types!
Trying to escape intact without alerting anyone else was clearly unrealistic!
There were even drones overhead!
Even Director Hase couldn't help but sigh after seeing this setup.
"Wow… technology is advancing so fast~"
"Say, Kamishiro, what do you think about using drones to film movies?"
Kamishiro: (???)
"Film what? A hundred-person orgy?"
Is that how drones are supposed to be used?!
If you filmed with a drone, what would people even see—two tiny blobs of mosaic?!
The footage from a pinhole camera would look better than that!
However, not only did Director Hase fail to understand Kamishiro's sarcasm, he became excited instead.
"It's not impossible?"
After being a director for so long he felt he really needed a masterpiece to boost his reputation!
Smack!
Kamishiro clutched his forehead in pain.
"Bro, big bro! Please stop thinking about this! People don't even look at the director's name, what do you need that much fame for?!"
Most people don't even finish watching a whole video, okay?!
They skip around while watching some don't even last past the first move before closing it in boredom!
No one cares about the beginning or the ending!
"Well… you can't put it like that. Reputation still matters in the industry…"
Director Hase muttered softly after getting shut down.
Even so, thinking about it carefully, it did seem like he did not really need fame anymore.
With his current standing in the industry, there wasn't much room left to climb.
Damn it!
He should've gone and been a male performer back when he had not lost interest in women yet!
Wouldn't his fame have skyrocketed then?!
Tch, that kid Shimizu really picked up a huge bargain!
If it were him instead…
Heh heh, a ton of gyms would probably be lining up to sign him!
He might even get invited onto TV shows to share his workout methods with the public!
Damn it!
Now he was tempted!
Maybe when he got back, he should give it another try—who knows, after all this time maybe his interest in women had come back?
(???)
Looking at Director Hase's facial expressions, which were more colorful than a paint palette, Kamishiro didn't even need to think to know—
This guy hadn't listened to a single word he'd said.
Slap slap slap slap!!!
"Aooo!!!"
After a flurry of smacks and an indescribable scream, Kamishiro successfully woke Director Hase up with his self-created technique, the "Eighteen Palms to Wakeup perverts."
"Huh? Kamishiro, why the hell are you hitting my pecs?"
Director Hase, now awake glared at Kamishiro resentfully, both hands constantly kneading his massive chest muscles.
With that force just now—
"This is absolutely going viral!"
And he didn't know if it was just his imagination, but the technique Kamishiro had just used…why did it look so similar to what he had seen other directors use when filming humiliation-themed stuff?
It had to be an illusion, right?
It must be an illusion!
"Wake up, my great director! We'll have plenty of time to think about and even practice that kind of thing after we get out of here safely!
The problem is—
we're completely trapped right now! Forget practicing if we don't come up with something soon, whether we'll even still be alive is up for debate!"
"Hold it! Hold it!"
Director Hase reached out to stop Kamishiro, pulled out a cigarette lit it, and only after blowing out a very stylish smoke ring did he say,
"You're the one who can't get out. Do not drag me into it."
He had already gone out to test things earlier. Sure, facing that many people made him a bit nervous, but that was all. With his rock-solid mental fortitude, it didn't really affect him.
If he wanted to leave, he could walk out openly and confidently.
As for why he'd gotten drenched with water earlier…
that was entirely his own fault for arrogantly thinking he could negotiate with that police officer…
So why the hell was there such an outrageous cop anyway?!
"No, wait aren't we brothers from different mothers and fathers?!"
Kamishiro was a little worked up. How could this guy flip so fast? He'd said he'd never abandon him before—how could he change his mind just like that!
Scumbag!
"Who is a brother with you? We're more than twenty years apart. If you really want to be family, I do not mind you calling me godfather."
Kamishiro: ???
In your dreams, you muscle-brained bastard!
"Then give my membership card back!"
Kamishiro stared daggers at Director Hase. He wanted to see just how thick-skinned a so-called big director really was.
Reality proved: extremely thick.
Under Kamishiro's gaze, Director Hase calmly pulled out the Big Bird Spin-Spin Club membership card.
Then he pulled open his pants and tossed it inside—
"What membership card? I didn't see any membership card at all~"
!!!
Holy crap?!
Kamishiro was stunned. This… was this really something a 'big' director could do?!
No matter what, you are still a public figure! How can you open a spatial wormhole in that place?!
What?
An AV director?
…
Suddenly, everything made sense.
Kamishiro silently took two steps back. He did not know if it was his imagination, but he felt like he saw a flash of anticipation in that guy's eyes.
Seeing Kamishiro retreat, Director Hase's eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment. What a pity—he couldn't let this promising young man experience his well-built muscles.
Still, he had gained a membership card!
Heh. Trying to threaten him with a membership card, this kid was still too green.
Never underestimate the shamelessness of your elders.
Of course, he was not really going to abandon Kamishiro. As a senior, he could at least offer some advice.
"Kamishiro, I think there might be some kind of misunderstanding here. Why don't you go out and talk to them proactively?"
"…"
Hearing that, Kamishiro looked at Director Hase like he was staring at an idiot.
"Director… do you seriously believe that?"
"Yeah. They're all young there is nothing that can not be talked through~"
"Then what kind of misunderstanding do you think could make this many people surround the entire venue? And are you sure they would even give me a chance to talk once I step outside?"
Kamishiro felt that the moment he went out, he would just be giving those beasts an extra "fearless" buff.
At that point, forget water guns and rocket launchers even real rocket launchers would probably have idiots charging forward.
There wasn't just one clown out there…
Director Hase's mouth twitched. To get oneself into a situation like this, Kamishiro really did have some kind of special talent.
But still… as a young man he valued, how could he just chicken out so easily!
Pat!
Director Hase solemnly and firmly patted Kamishiro on the shoulder.
"It's fine, Kamishiro. I'll always be your strongest backing!"
Hearing that, Kamishiro froze.
He had not expected that this muscle-bound man he had only known for a few hours would go this far for him.
And that made him feel… scared.
Director, could you please clearly state your orientation? I really don't feel safe like this!
Also—
"Um, Director, thanks, but let me ask bluntly—how exactly are you going to help me?"
Even if you added the security guards, that crowd would still be enough to beat all of them into mosaics.
This was basically malicious suicide.
Kamishiro had always opposed solving problems with brute force.
People need to use their brains!
Not just grow muscles without growing brains!
Yes!
I'm talking about you, Director Hase!
"Oh, me?"
Hearing the question, Director Hase's lips curled into a strange smile.
"A solid backing is a solid backing. Don't worry, kid—I'll guard the door.
No matter how hard you knock later, I won't soften up and let you back in!"
Kamishiro: ???
"You… you're serious?"
"Mm!"
Seeing Director Hase's serious expression, Kamishiro fell silent.
Fine. He took back what he had said about Director Hase not having a brain.
This guy did not lack brains, he used all of them against him!
This was clearly about throwing him out as a sacrifice so he would not drag everyone else down!
"You really are a great director!"
Kamishiro said through clenched teeth. No matter what, he was still the actor!
"Well, there's no helping it. I have to consider the bigger picture.
Do not worry if you survive, the male lead role is still yours!
And if something unfortunate happens… I'll explain it clearly to Momo.
I definitely will not say you were beaten to death over romantic debts!
How about the excuse of saving a little girl? It could even make Momo believe you got isekai'd to another world."
"..."
(╯°□°）╯
Watching Director Hase calmly fabricate reasons for his death, Kamishiro finally snapped!
He pulled out a bottle of hair removal cream from behind his back and charged at him!
Isekai my ass—your background as a director is way too complicated!
"I really, really thank you!!!"
"No need to thank me, it's only my—wait! What the hell is that in your hand?!
No! You bastard, don't put that on me!
I spent ages growing this beard! Stop it, damn you!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After a brief but intense scuffle, Kamishiro was successfully subdued.
The size difference was just too big, and Kamishiro had been focused entirely on attacking—getting restrained was only natural.
But Director Hase didn't come out unscathed.
A clump of his beard had already been smeared with hair removal cream.
Now he had one hand restraining Kamishiro, and the other holding a mirror, staring heartbreakingly at his beard.
"You went way too far!"
Director Hase gritted his teeth. He could only hope this cream was not very effective otherwise he'd have to regrow his beard all over again!
"Tch. You're way worse than me."
Kamishiro struggled up into a sitting position and rubbed his shoulder. That hold had almost dislocated his bones.
"I was just saying it! How could I actually throw you out?!"
(｀ー′)
"You think anyone would believe that?"
Kamishiro did not buy it at all, this bastard had clearly been itching to do it earlier!
"Ahem…"
Director Hase coughed awkwardly. True he had wanted to use force to throw Kamishiro out.
But then he reconsidered. It was not quite appropriate.
Mainly because the golden ticket was still on him. If he threw Kamishiro out now, no one would be left to go on stage!
If he was going to kick him out, it would be after Kamishiro showed his face~
As for whether it would still be the same male actor afterward given how Kamishiro would look by then… they probably would not recognize him anyway~
(￣ω￣)
Wait—
maybe he would not even need to do it himself.
Thinking about the crowd he had seen earlier, Director Hase felt that once they left, Kamishiro probably would not survive the day.
After all, the only reason that mob had not stormed in yet was because the meet-and-greet was still going on.
After the meet-and-greet ends...
The main gates likely will not withstand that impact!
Having thought the situation through clearly, Director Hase suddenly stopped being concerned about removing Kamishiro so quickly.
This young man had a difficult time. We should allow him a little freedom during his final days.
"Kamishiro, you may look around on your own for now. Just remember to come up on stage later."
As he said this, Director Hase covered his beard with his hand and walked toward the restroom.
Now!
The most important thing is to figure out how to protect his beard!
Kamishiro: (′-ι_-｀)
What was the meaning of that pity and schadenfreude in his eyes just now?!
That individual definitely was not thinking anything positive!
Hmph!
Do not assume I will simply accept my fate!
Kamishiro turned and walked toward the meet-and-greet venue.
If the director cannot provide a solution...
He will just find another person!
...