Hell's Actor

Chapter 265: Early 2029

It was the 7th of January.

Nearly a month had passed since Averie Quinn Auclair arrived in Tokyo.

"The news has spread."

"Those damn paparazzi."

"No..." The man groaned uncomfortably. "This article says you announced yourself in the middle of a busy street, screaming ’I’ve arrived’ at the top of your lungs."

"Lies."

"They have attached a picture with your arms wide open in the middle of Shibuya."

Looking at his own face staring back from the phone, Averie couldn’t refute anymore.

"So, it’s done, right?" Averie pointed at the pile of papers in front of them. "Nothing more to sign?"

The Japanese man sitting across from him and Hyerin nodded. He was a director—his director.

"Everything is done, Mr. Auclair." He smiled. "You’re officially a part of the cast."

He began clapping but simmered down when neither the actor nor his agent followed suit.

"It is a pleasure to see an actor I’ve always admired take an interest in my work. In fact," — He took out a slip of paper from his wallet and showed it to Averie — "even though there’s still a month to go, I’ve already booked a seat and even printed out the ticket for the first showing of Lady Ethereal."

The excited man’s name was Emiyo Ogata. He was the man behind the script Hyerin had brought in.

Lost in thought, the actor tapped his thigh. "Last time we talked, you told me why you chose to direct this show. You told me how you wanted to make something more out of a lacking source, how you wanted to create a great adaptation out of a lousy novel."

Lousy felt like a strong word to Director Ogata, but the casual man wasn’t wrong.

Even when it was first published—somewhere in the late 90s—the book went largely unnoticed. It was one of those gory thriller novels that became popular at the time.

Despite the market demands, this particular book never received much attention.

Critically, it was average. Commercially, it was mediocre.

"Why is that? Why do you care so much?"

"I would be a liar if I said I cared."

The man was being genuine, and Averie could tell.

"Aren’t there times when you see a production and think the production was wasted? Or a role you think you could’ve executed better. It’s the same thing here. I saw potential that was wasted and wanted to try my hand at it."

Averie puckered his lips thoughtfully. "That’s strangely simple."

The director smiled helplessly. "Yes, I don’t have any moving connection to the original novel. I wasn’t a fan of it, didn’t know the author... I found it in a second-hand bookstore I frequent. One thing led to another, and before long, I was drafting the script."

Averie watched the man, recalling the details of his life he had read online.

He was barely over forty, still single. While a good director, none of his works was a great success. How could they be when every single one was an arthouse film or documentary?

Whether reading his biography or speaking with him, one thing constantly came to Averie’s mind.

’He’s a simple man.’

He was the opposite of Averie Quinn Auclair.

’A tranquil man.’

***

It was the 10th of February 2029, Sunday.

Since early morning, steady streams of guests had been making their way to theaters across the world’s largest cities.

They had no choice but to travel, since only the big cinema halls were showing the film they wanted to see. It wasn’t some blockbuster with a thrilling story. It was just an artistic film—one that had won a plethora of awards.

Some of the people were there to enjoy a quiet Sunday. Some were there on dates. Some were film buffs. While others were just there to see what the fuss was about.

To these bundles of disparate consciousnesses, salvation was provided.

It was a salvation named Lady Ethereal.

On the large screen facing the audience, where she was sitting alongside her friends, Ari saw a familiar figure.

A bespectacled young man with amber eyes, auburn wavy hair, and a well-crafted nose.

An unintentional smile bloomed across her face. ’Hello, cousin.’

His long hair was tied at the nape, and the stray strands couldn’t hide the weariness streaked across his face.

He was thin, and his previously decadent air was nowhere to be seen. The glamor of the day she visited him on the set in Paris had long faded away. He looked like a different man, behaved like a different man.

It made her nervous and excited to see him on the big screen. It was different than his previous projects.

This wasn’t as easy as changing channels and finding a familiar face. It wasn’t as effortless as logging into streaming services.

’So many people—real people, not numbers in an article or comments online—paid money to buy tickets for the privilege of seeing him.’

The weight of what it meant to be an actor pressed against her chest. She felt stressed just imagining it. Why, then, did the man on the screen not feel any pressure?

So many thoughts filled her head. Like a shower of shooting stars, they streaked across her mindscape—until silence took them about three-quarters of an hour later.

’What...is this?’

Shivers ran across Ari’s arms as she watched the first appearance of the most praised performance on the screen of Lady Ethereal.

It was the role that had made headlines on every entertainment site and magazine—the performance that won a myriad awards.

’Is that really you, cousin?’

It was a woman in red, but she knew who was really behind the attire. She had seen it firsthand in Paris, after all.

Still, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

The grace with which he carried himself felt very much like the bearing of some noble lady straight out of an oil painting from the Age of Enlightenment.

Instead of a living being, The Lady that Averie portrayed felt like a painting. Even in her thoughts, she left Ari speechless.