Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 13: Sense of Accomplishment
“““““““ Good job, everyone!!! ”””””””
Just now, the entire PV (promotional video) shoot was completed.
Phew, that’s one job done.
I was basking alone in a wave of accomplishment.
The members who had finished filming were casually chatting in the studio.
“Didn’t we finish super early today?”
“That’s rare. Usually Asuka doesn’t approve the takes and we have to reshoot. Perfectionists can be such a pain.”
“Seriously. But this time, most of the takes were approved in one go. It’s surprising.”
“The makeup was perrrfect. I didn’t even feel like myself~”
“This is all thanks to Go-san!”
Suddenly, Kozue-san turned the topic toward me.
“N-No, it’s really not that big of a deal.”
I denied it with some embarrassment.
“That’s not true. It’s thanks to Go that everything went so smoothly today.”
Is that… really true?
But hearing that from Asuka-san made me honestly happy.
“Lucky to go home early—peace peace.”
Shino Shinono-san made a double peace sign expressionlessly.
Is she… actually happy?
“Grrrr… I still don’t acknowledge you, Sakasegawa Go!”
Kuon-san glared at me, clearly frustrated.
For some reason, Kuon-san really doesn’t like me.
I could only offer a wry smile in response.
Then, I felt a hand pat my shoulder.
“Hey, kid. Thanks to you, we got some great footage today. Appreciate it.”
“Ah, Director! Great work today!”
I turned to see the director of the shoot standing behind me.
“When you first came to greet me, you asked so many detailed questions, I was taken aback like, ‘Why is the makeup guy asking all this?’ But now I get it.”
“Oh, the director got grilled too? He asked me loads of questions about the camera stuff.”
“Me too. He asked about the lighting—colors, intensity, placement—it was pretty involved.”
“Same here. He asked about choreography pointers. I wondered if there was any point in telling him, but then he remembered all the moves perfectly.”
Before I knew it, I was surrounded by staff members.
“Thank you all so much back then! Thanks to you, I was able to do the makeup perfectly.”
I thanked the staff who had helped me earlier.
“No wonder Asuka was late. You were doing all that before meeting us?”
“Yeah. I needed to understand the PV’s concept, camera work, choreography, and costumes to do proper makeup.”
To envision the final product and understand how it would appear on video, I had to gather information in advance.
“Wait, weren’t you helping the filming team halfway through?”
Kurokami-san asked me.
“He also checked our dance with the choreographer, right?”
Midori-san recalled aloud.
“Ahaha… I just got carried away because I wanted to make something really good… Sorry.”
(I might’ve overstepped a bit…)
I reflected on that, a little embarrassed.
“You don’t need to apologize. I asked Go-kun to do as he wished, and the crew already approved. Besides, in Prism Prison, didn’t you handle a lot of different roles?”
“Thanks, Asuka-san. Yeah, I guess I did. Aside from makeup, I worked on storyboards, filming, editing… sometimes even helped choreograph.”
I’d started doing all sorts of things thanks to Mutsuki always throwing ridiculous requests at me.
She’d always insult me brutally, though.
“You mean that rising idol group, Prism Prison? So that’s why they’re doing so well. But wait, you can do this perfect makeup and you’re not a specialist?”
“Nah, I’m just a manager.”
“Just a manager!?”
Suzuka-san’s eyes went wide with shock.
“Uh, did I say something weird? As a manager, this much is pretty standard, right?”
“That ain’t standard! No one else can do that! Seriously, you’re amazing!!! I’m so confused right now.”
Suzuka held her head in her hands, overwhelmed.
Hearing this, the members, director, and nearby staff were stunned.
I’d always worked this way and assumed it was normal—but maybe it wasn’t.
“Doing everything yourself like that… Even I’ve never heard of that, kid. You’re incredible, but you’re working yourself to death.”
“Sure, Go-kun does excellent work, and I get why people rely on him, but seriously? What kind of office lets someone work like that!?”
“Exactly. That’s not right.”
“There’s clearly something wrong with that agency.”
Everyone was visibly angry after hearing my story.
I thought they’d be upset that an amateur like me did everything, maybe thinking I was disrespecting professionals, but their reactions were different—and honestly, that was a relief.
“Wait, Go-san, are you even allowed to be here if you’re Prism Prison’s manager?”
Kozue asked a reasonable question.
“Kozue-san, it’s okay. I was recently fired.”
“WHAT!!? Why would they fire you!!? That’s such a waste!!”
“Why, huh… I guess because anyone could do my job. At least, that’s what they said.”
I’d always been told my work was replaceable, so it probably didn’t matter if I quit.
Right now, someone else is probably doing a better job in my place anyway.
“Then come work for us, kid! Be my apprentice!”
“Hey, Director, that’s not fair! Go-kun, join our camera team!”
“No way, lighting team is the best fit!”
“No, no! Come work as a choreographer at our dance studio—we’ve got tons of idol clients!”
The staff around me were all trying to recruit me enthusiastically.
(I’m insanely happy… but why would they want someone like me?)
“What’s all this commotion?”
Suddenly, a sharp, icy voice cut through the room.
The bustling noise fell silent.
“P-President! Good work today!”
Everyone stopped talking and greeted her in unison.
The president of Starliner, the agency managing the idol group Asterisk, Hoshikage, had arrived.
“President Hoshikage, I didn’t realize you were here…”
Kuon-san came rushing over and spoke.
“Yes. I believe that this new song, ‘1 Inch of Your Gaze’, is a crucial piece for the group to take a major step forward. The agency is fully invested in it as well. Since the success of the PV will determine the song’s future, I came to see it myself. But more importantly—has the shoot already wrapped up?”
“Yes. Thanks to Go-kun here, everything went more smoothly than ever before.”
Asuka replied proudly.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Atsumu Sakasegawa. P-pleased to meet you!”
“Oh? So this is the young man Asuka was talking about.”
President Hoshikage narrowed her eyes and stared directly at me.
There was a tension that made it feel like my heart might freeze.
(Wait, what did Asuka-san tell her about me?)
“That’s right. Go-kun has the same kind of vision I do—the ability to view things objectively, assess the situation, and make the best next move. And today, he proved that vision was not mistaken.”
“To think you’d speak so highly of him. Then allow me to see for myself. Could you show me the footage?”
“Y-yes! Right away!”
A staff member quickly prepared a monitor, and we all held our breath as President Hoshikage began reviewing the footage
○ ●
“Amazing… To think this was done in almost a single take with virtually no mistakes—it’s unbelievable.”
“Right?! Go is incredible!”
“Indeed. I’ve never seen this kind of expression on Asuka’s face before. Although the full PV will be released later, let’s edit this scene immediately and upload it as a teaser by the end of the day.”
“That was thanks to the kid’s direction. He was incredible. He understood the image Asuka and I had in mind, and adjusted the lighting, camera angles, choreography, and facial expressions accordingly. He just moved without needing to be told. It really helped.”
Asuka looked satisfied, and the director was showering me with praise. It made me feel a bit shy.
“Honestly, I think we only got such cute expressions from Asuka thanks to a certain someone being around.”
“Geez, Director!”
The director laughed sheepishly, and Asuka sharply called him out.
(Wait… who’s the “certain someone”?)
President Hoshikage cleared her throat.
Everyone turned their attention to her.
“Sakasegawa-kun. Would you consider working for our agency? As support for Asterisk?”
“P-President!?”
All the members except Asuka were shocked.
“I believe that with Go on our side, Asterisk could reach even greater heights. What do you say?”
Ah, I see now.
Asuka-san must have spoken to the president ahead of time. I think she was trying to take me in after I’d been kicked out by my family. That makes me very happy.
But still, I…
“Asuka-san, President Hoshikage. I really appreciate it, but I have to decline.”
“G-Go!? Why!?”
“Right now, I want to take a break from the entertainment world and try living a normal life. Besides, I’m not really skilled enough.”
I simply voiced what I truly felt.
“Oh my. Rejected, Asuka.”
“Ugh, I still haven’t broken through Go’s stubborn belief…”
(My belief? What does she mean…?)
“But I think I’d be able to participate from time to time, so I’d be happy if you invited me again in the future. I’ll look forward to it then.”
“I see. It doesn’t seem like anything we say right now will change your mind. It’s getting late anyway, let’s wrap up here for today.”
Clap clap, President Hoshikage clapped her hands.
“Hey, Go… I’m not giving up, okay?”
“Whoa, Asuka’s actually getting fired up for once.”
“I was kinda into the idea too, you know.”
“Next time, come to a job where we can check out more of you.”
“With you around, we could head home early… what a shame.”
“See you next time, Go-san!”
“Sakasegawa! I told you from the beginning—I do not need your support!”
“Kid, let’s work together again sometime.”
“If you want to use a camera, I’ll lend you mine.”
“Me too—I’ll lend you my lights!”
“You’re welcome to come dance at my studio anytime!”
Being surrounded and sent off like this by so many people—this was a first.
Normally, as soon as a job ended, I was off to the next site, never getting a moment’s rest.
“Thank you all so much for today!”
I shouted out my gratitude to everyone.
And with that, the day’s work came to a close.