pappabearbooks Chapter 155: Acceleration (4)
Chapter 155: Acceleration (4)
Kang Rojun waved to the dozens of reporters with quite a bit of ease. However, inwardly, he was more surprised than he had expected.‘Wow- there are way more reporters than I thought??’
He had heard on the way to Gimpo Airport. That there would be quite a few reporters. But this was way too many, wasn’t it? For Rojun, who had to cross the crosswalk, it felt like a bit of pressure.
‘Feels like they’re going to devour me, I don’t think I can go.’
Then how did the reporters know to gather here?
Anyway, the reason Kang Rojun came to the airport this morning was because of Netflix Japan’s ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’. The script reading had been scheduled for around noon today. The news related to it had first broken in Japan.
《Netflix’s anticipated production ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’, script reading on February 22》
《A source from ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’: “Rojun to attend script reading”》
Naturally, the news spread to Korea as well. Of course, both GN Entertainment and Culture Drawer had been pushing media coverage related to ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’’s script reading.
《[StarTalk] Busy with debut prep for ‘Vanguard’, Rojun still joins script reading for ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’》
《Writer and actor Rojun heads to Japan to work with Japanese actors》
However, the exact schedule had not been released, but once the date was announced in Japan, reporters swarmed the airport. What can you do? In both Korea and Japan, the media throw stories out there when they smell a scoop. It might be similar in other fields, but in particular, the entertainment industry never goes the way you want it to.
Anyway, while Rojun mechanically waved at the reporters.
-Swoosh.
A man in a black long padded coat approached him with a subtle presence.
“Rojun, the guards will be coming out soon, so move when they do.”
It was Manager Kim Ki-baek. For this Japan trip, several staff members from GN Entertainment were accompanying Kang Rojun, including Manager Kim Ki-baek.
“The photos taken right now will be used for Rojun’s departure articles, so please maintain your smile as much as possible.”
I already am. Rojun replied inwardly as Kim Ki-baek continued whispering.
“There will probably be more fans than reporters inside the airport, including homemasters. We’d like to get through quickly if possible, but since ‘Guards’ will be there, I think you’ll need to at least say a brief hello.”
If the official fan club of ‘Vanguard’, ‘Guards’, were present, it would be hard to ignore them. However, since the airport could get congested, the goal was to get through quickly and efficiently.
“If we disrupt airport flow, it’ll directly harm your image, so we’ll be doing our best to manage everything.”
“Yes, Manager.”
After receiving Manager Kim Ki-baek’s tactical rundown, Rojun nodded, and large-bodied guards began positioning themselves around the dozens of reporters.
Only then did Kang Rojun start to move.
Flashes continued going off like crazy.
-Pababababak!
Reporters shouted questions at him, but Rojun maintained his calmest smile without responding.
‘Feels like I’m getting used to this? You have grown a lot, Kang Rojun.’
He entered the airport just like that. The dozens of reporters, blocked by guards, looked disappointed but checked the photos they had just taken.
They clicked their tongues in awe.
“C’mon, what a killer face.”
“Right? His visuals are so insane that even sloppy shots look like magazine pictorials.”
And as soon as Rojun entered the airport, his eyes landed on a crowd well over a hundred people.
“Kyaaaaa!!!”
“Rojun! It’s really Rojun!!”
“Aaack!! Oppa! A gift! Here’s a gift!!”
“Crazy- he’s so fucking handsome!!”
“Kyaaaa!!!”
Fans who had come specifically to see Kang Rojun, people at the airport for departures or arrivals, over a dozen guards, airport staff, and so on. The airport instantly turned into a chaotic scene, and over a hundred people raised their phones above their heads to snap photos of Rojun.
Had this been his first time, Kang Rojun would’ve been startled too, but having already gone through similar experiences during ‘Produce That 100!’, he remained fairly composed.
To them, Kang Rojun bowed deeply in greeting.
“Hello, thank you-”
The greeting lasted about 10 seconds. Though in his heart, he wanted to enjoy this rare scene and dopamine-charged situation, given the circumstances, Rojun’s team moved right away.
The guards cleared a path and Kang Rojun crossed through it.
Gifts being thrown at him, fans stretching their arms out, screams hitting his ears. While engaging with them as much as he could, Rojun hurried his steps. Thanks to the protection of the guards and the assistance of GN Entertainment staff, he passed through without major issues.
And since the flight had arrived on time, he was able to board quickly.
Kang Rojun, Kim Ki-baek, and the others settled into various seats in business class, and before long, the plane bound for Japan took off into the sky. Watching the airport grow smaller in the distance, Kang Rojun recalled the days of ‘Produce That 100!’.
‘Come to think of it, I’m alone today.’
There were even more reporters and fans than back then.
A short while later.
Maybe about ten minutes after takeoff. Business class was overall quiet. However, GN Entertainment staff, including Manager Kim Ki-baek, were busy. They were organizing Kang Rojun’s schedule for after their arrival in Japan.
“Mm- once we land in Japan, we’ll first meet with the Culture Drawer team, then take the car Netflix Japan has prepared and head out right away.”
For reference, the Culture Drawer staff were already waiting at Haneda Airport. This trip to Japan was not only for Rojun’s acting but also included his work as a writer, naturally.
“Culture Drawer will handle everything on the writer side, so we only need to focus on Rojun’s script reading.”
A woman from the PR and marketing team let out a laugh.
“I mean… this is the first time I’ve followed a pre-debut member to a script reading. As both an actor and a writer.”
Other staff members agreed strongly.
“Exactly, the order is totally reversed, isn’t it? Usually, you debut, get tossed around on sets, and maybe after a few years and building some recognition, you’d get something like this. Or maybe not even then.”
“But it’s Rojun. You can’t look at this from a logical perspective.”
“But isn’t it kind of refreshing and fun? He hasn’t even debuted yet, but if you look at his current popularity, he’s already blowing most idols out of the water.”
Then one staff member asked Manager Kim Ki-baek.
“But is Rojun okay?”
Kim Ki-baek, who had been looking at his phone, replied weakly.
“Okay in what way?”
“He’s had script reading experience with ‘Rental Lover’, but this is his first time doing it in Japan, right? I checked the actor lineup, it’s full of top Japanese stars. It’d be natural to be nervous, right?”
“Ah-”
“And… I haven’t really seen Rojun do any acting training, so I have no idea what level he’s at. What if he gets nervous and flubs his lines?”
“Hmm. I can’t really imagine Rojun making a mistake, but-”
Trailing off, Manager Kim Ki-baek slowly turned his head to the left. He was looking at Kang Rojun. And the moment he saw him, Kim Ki-baek let out a snort of laughter.
“Looks like we’re the only ones who were worrying.”
The staff, who had been blinking blankly, followed his gaze toward Rojun’s seat by the window. Then they understood what Kim Ki-baek meant.
“…Is he sleeping?”
Kang Rojun was dead asleep.
Sometime later.
Kang Rojun, in deep sleep, suddenly opened his eyes wide. When did I fall asleep? Rubbing his eyes, he first checked outside the window. The plane was already attempting to land at Haneda Airport.
‘Wow- an hour just disappeared.’
It felt like just a minute, but an hour had already passed. Soon, the plane touched down without issue, and Kang Rojun’s team quickly gathered their things and headed for immigration. The large-bodied guards led the way, Rojun was in the middle, and Kim Ki-baek and the other staff brought up the rear. A few minutes later, airport staff joined them, and the group soon opened the doors to the arrival hall.
And at that very moment.
“Kyaaaaaa@*$)(@$*@$&$(*@!!”
“#$%^&!!(#*!#)(!”
“**&*@&$@&$@!!!”
Screams and shrieks pounded Kang Rojun’s ears. A mix of Japanese and broken Korean created a decibel level so loud it was incomprehensible.
Because hundreds of people had packed into the arrival hall.
It was similar to Gimpo Airport, but this time, there were even more fans. Hundreds of Japanese fans and reporters frantically snapped photos of Rojun. Because this scene was even more chaotic, Rojun’s team moved faster. As Kang Rojun bowed every few seconds while hurrying along, the Culture Drawer staff joined up.
“Uh- it’s chaos. Writer-nim! Hello!”
The first person to appear was Team Leader Ryu Jung-hwa, with her long hair tied up and dressed in a formal suit. Rojun gave her a quick greeting, it had been a while since they last met. But there was no time for chatting. Rojun’s team quickly exited Haneda Airport and split into several vans that Netflix Japan had prepared.
-Vroooom!
The vans departed quickly. However, the ‘Vanguard’ YouTube team that had come along remained at Haneda Airport, holding up their cameras.
-Swoosh.
Of course, it was for uploading to the ‘Vanguard’ YouTube channel.
Several hours later, in Japan.
It was just past noon. The location: a large office space. Small cameras had been set up here and there, and a long table shaped like the number 11 had been laid out. On top of the table were tablets, stacks of paper, and name tags lined up in a row. Dozens of folding chairs surrounded the ㅁ-shaped table.
Sitting in those folding chairs were already a dozen or so people, reading through the stacks of paper, and a few individuals who appeared to be reporters were checking their cameras.
And then.
“Saoto sunbae, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Has it? Inoue, you’ve lost some weight?”
“Eh- what a relief! I dropped a bit for a diet product commercial.”
“Haha, don’t lose any more or it’ll be a problem.”
Japanese chatter buzzed around the table. Over a dozen people were gathered in groups, chatting away. These were not ordinary people.
They were Japanese actors.
In fact, among them were top-tier Japanese actors or those of similar status.
It wasn’t strange.
This was the script reading venue for Netflix Japan’s ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’. The show was hot in Japan. While Kang Rojun’s involvement contributed to the buzz, the casting of numerous top Japanese actors was the main reason. Whatever the case, the Japanese actors, excited to see each other after a long time, were busily chatting. And eventually, the topic turned to the Korean actor-writer who had not yet arrived.
“Is the writer not here yet? I’m curious.”
“Writer Rojun? Ah- can’t tell if we should call him a writer or an actor.”
“It is unusual. I mean, it’s not common for a writer to act. And isn’t his main job being an idol? Anyone here seen ‘Produce That 100!’?”
“I watched it. Sunbae, you didn’t?”
“I didn’t have time to watch anything.”
“Ehh- don’t you know how insanely popular it was!”
The conversation instantly shifted to Kang Rojun.
“But this is a Netflix Japan original series, and the entire cast is Japanese except for one Korean actor. Isn’t that kind of odd?”
“And that one actor is a rookie who’s only done a short role.”
“‘Rental Lover’? I enjoyed the show itself. But Rojun felt more like a character used for image, he barely had any lines.”
“Still, his presence in ‘Rental Lover’ was solid. Hm, this is his first proper role, right? That’s kind of concerning.”
Even among the top actors, few had any direct experience with Kang Rojun. At most, what they knew came from watching ‘Produce That 100!’ or ‘Rental Lover’ on Netflix Japan, if they had seen them at all.
“An idol who’s also a writer and actor, and ‘Produce That 100!’ and ‘Rental Lover’ were both hits… I’m sure Netflix Japan prioritized impact over acting skill. He’s extremely popular in Japan, too no way they were going to pass him up.”
The overall mood remained relaxed.
Some of the actors were already seated. One particularly noticeable figure was a young female actress. Brown bobbed hair, a slight blush on her cheeks. Her name: Suzuki Rie, a rising star enjoying massive popularity in Japan.
Suzuki Rie, while listening to her seniors’ conversation, felt a bit annoyed for no reason.
‘Tch. So busy running their mouths when they’ve never even seen him.’
She knew Kang Rojun quite well. She had secretly watched ‘Produce That 100!’ religiously. However, she wasn’t a fan of Rojun. Her favorite had been No. 71 Jung-woo, one of the eliminated contestants. So if anything, Suzuki Rie leaned toward disliking Rojun. She didn’t hate him, she just couldn’t help but feel bitter.
Because in ‘Produce That 100!’, Kang Rojun had been overwhelmingly dominant.
‘If Rojun hadn’t been there, Jung-woo would’ve made it.’
And now here she was, meeting him in the same production. However, Suzuki Rie thoroughly hid her current feelings. If she spoke up, she’d get roped into the nosy conversations of her seniors. Whether she did or not, the actors gathered near the entrance were still busy talking about Kang Rojun.
“We can’t ignore the visuals either. Even if the acting’s a bit weak, with that kind of face, there won’t be a problem.”
“Ahh, yeah. He was definitely good-looking.”
“His face suits the role perfectly.”
“I wonder if he looks that good in real life? He definitely looked handsome, but it felt a bit exaggerated to me.”
“Hmm. Well, Korea does have a lot of good-looking actors.”
“Hey now, our side’s no joke either??”
At that moment.
“Hello.”
A stranger’s male voice cut in. Fluent Japanese.
“I’m Rojun.”
Startled, the Japanese actors all turned their heads simultaneously toward the entrance. There stood Rojun with jet-black hair. The Japanese actors froze like ice, and a few even took a step back. A gap opened up between people, and through it, Kang Rojun’s face appeared.
Still seated, eyes wide, Suzuki Rie also stared at Rojun.
“……”
In her eyes, the Japanese male top actors around Kang Rojun,
‘Top-tier… squids?’
Looked pitifully small.