Chapter 171: Stranger (1)

Chapter 171: Stranger (1)

Translator: Dreamscribe

Kang Woojin looked towards the entrance of the arrival hall, the same one he had come to during the 'Male Friend' schedule in the past. It was his second visit, but it still didn't feel familiar.

Moreover,

'Today, Hwalin is not here either.'

Unlike when he came to Japan for the 'Male Friend' schedule, Kang Woojin was alone this time. The difference between having a colleague around or not was palpable through his heartbeat.

'Ugh, I feel somewhat nervous.'

The tension was high. It was because Choi Sung-gun had mentioned that, just like before, the media and fans would swarm in. A lot had changed in a short period. In Japan, 'Male Friend' and 'Ame-talk Show!' had been huge hits, and 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger' had shaken the whole of Japan.

What about the 'Kang Woojin's Alter Ego' channel with 6 million subscribers?

Kang Woojin was indeed comparable to popular actors contributing to the Hallyu wave in Japan. Anyway, before entering the arrival hall, Woojin checked his appearance. His makeup and hair were perfect, thanks to a visit to the salon early morning. His outfit was a black trench coat.

'It feels somewhat awkward.'

Regardless, Kang Woojin, surrounded by dozens of staff and guards,

-Swish.

passed through the gates of the arrival hall.

At the same time,

'......Wow- shit, what's this! This is crazy!'

Kang Woojin was inwardly taken aback. The reason was simple.

"Kang Woojin! Kang Woojin!!!"

"Will you be heading straight to the script reading of 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger'?!!"

"How do you feel about the popularity of 'Male Friend'?!!"

"Look here!! Please, look here!!"

"Kang Woojin! What do you think about working with Japanese actors!!"

The mouths of hundreds of journalists crammed against the fence spewed Japanese like crazy.

"Is it true that you've been in contact with a Japanese agency regarding a transfer??!"

Naturally, the camera flashes went off incessantly.

-Papapapapak!

-Papapapapapak!!

Despite having experienced this before, Woojin, with his stoic expression, felt dizzy. Honestly, he hadn't expected this level of attention. However, he had to pull himself together. He reminded himself to just stick to the concept. Falling here would be a disaster.

With a deep poker face, Woojin

-Swish.

greeted with a hand wave towards the journalists. Although the hand gesture seemed a bit awkward at a glance, it didn't seem to be a big issue to others, and as evidence, the monstrous screams of fans enveloping the journalists engulfed the arrival hall.

"Kyaaaak!!"

"Kang Woojin! Kang Woojin!!!"

"'Male Friend' was so fun!!"

"Please, look over here!! I'm a BJ, say hello to the viewers! Kyak! Don't push!"

"I watch your YouTube channel a lot!!"

While they were all mostly in Japanese, occasionally some awkward Korean was heard too.

"Oppa! I love you, oppa!!"

The fans were mixed men and women, but women were overwhelmingly in the majority. Naturally, this was the aftermath of the still hugely popular 'Male Friend'. Kang Woojin's name constantly appearing on Japanese SNS and communities, and Woojin's OST proudly hanging in the upper ranks of Japan's Oricon chart, made the current situation quite understandable.

Regardless,

"Hello- Thank you."

After briefly greeting the journalists and fans, Kang Woojin quickly made his way to a van waiting on the roadside outside Haneda Airport. Meanwhile, the journalists and fans continued to follow Woojin and his group closely.

Soon after,

-Vroom!

A line of three vans started moving one after another. Among them, in the van Kang Woojin boarded, exclaims from stylists including Han Ye-jung burst out.

"Amazing! What's with Woojin oppa's popularity??!"

"Agreed!! At this rate, he's definitely on par with quite a few idols, isn't he??!"

"Did you see the BJ among the fans? 'Male Friend' must really be a hit in Japan!"

"Wasn't it similar to when you came with Hwalin~ssi??"

"There were a lot of Korean journalists too!"

To the composed Kang Woojin, they fired off celebratory shots. Well, Woojin was also dancing a lively shoulder dance inwardly. He just maintained solemnity on the outside.

At that moment,

"Woojin."

Choi Sung-sun in the passenger seat turned around to call Kang Woojin. It was for a briefing.

"We've added a few Japanese schedules while you're here for 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger' script reading, remember?"

"Yes, I remember."

Choi Sung-gun flipped through a page of his diary.

"Yes, after the script reading of 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger', there's a brief interview with PD Shinjo related to the 'Ame-talk Show!'. This will be aired on the main broadcast of 'Ame-talk Show!' and on YouTube, and for 'Male Friend', we've scheduled about an hour of shooting at Netflix Japan Studio. 'Male Friend' has exploded in popularity in Japan beyond our expectations."

It was a schedule of at least three days. Though Japan is close, it is still a foreign country, and it made sense to handle everything in one trip.

"And there's also a fan signing event organized by Netflix Japan. Well, it's not huge in scale. Still, I think easily a hundred fans will show up."

Ah? Japanese fans? Thinking about it, this would be his first face-to-face interaction with Japanese fans. He was equipped with Japanese language skills, so there shouldn't be a big problem, but Woojin felt a bit nervous recalling the fan signing event with Japanese fans.

'Is it different from Korean fans? Probably the same, right?'

Despite the many questions bursting inside, Woojin's outward solemnity deepened.

"No problem."

"Ha, right. You'll handle it easily. Oh, and also."

Choi Sung-gun, who had been closing his diary, changed the subject.

"Woojin, the official announcement about your contract hasn't been made yet, right? So the media and public opinion are still wildly speculating about it - I'm thinking we might let it simmer a bit."

"Do you mean to keep the issue alive?"

"Exactly. These kinds of issues can help raise your profile. Well, we won't drag it out too long. We'll open up when it's heated up just right."

"Understood."

"Alright, leave it to me."

Including Choi Sung-gun, Jang Su-hwan, Han Ye-jung, and the rest of Woojin's team, which had grown quite a bit, all laughed softly. They had heard they would be continuing together. But it was still under wraps.

Then,

-Swish.

Choi Sung-gun handed Woojin a transparent file he had prepared. Kang Woojin immediately asked,

"What's this?"

"You know, right? 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger', you're the only Korean actor and we're the only Korean staff. The rest are all from Japan. Well, you're always unaffected, but it might still feel unfamiliar. This is a summary of the 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger' actors you'll meet in a bit."

"Ah."

"You'll see, there are a lot of top actors. It's to be expected. The director is Kyotaro Tanoguchi and the original author is Akari. Familiar with any of the actors?"

No, not at all. The Japanese actors Woojin saw in the transparent file were completely strangers to him. They might be top actors in Japan, but to Kang Woojin, they were utterly unfamiliar.

'Just- uh, good-looking and pretty Japanese people.'

It would be a lie to say he wasn't nervous, but honestly, he felt less so than during 'Island of the Missing'. At least, that's how Woojin felt. Then, Woojin looked out at the Japanese cityscape from the window of the moving van. The scenery was subtly different from Korea.

'It's kind of absurd. I'm going to shoot a movie with a Japanese master director.'

Even though it was just for the script reading, reality seemed to fade as it approached. But it was not a dream. A significant number of Japanese fans were already enthusiastic about Kang Woojin.

He was starting to get greedy.

'How many more Japanese fans will I have once 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger' is released?'

At that moment, at the headquarters of the Kashiwa Group.

Executives in suits streamed out of a conference room. The last one was an old man with white eyebrows, Chairman Hideki. He buttoned up his suit jacket and spoke in an aged voice to the secretaries behind him.

"What time is it?"

The reply came quickly from the upright posture of the secretary general, Lili.

"It's 10 o'clock."

"When is 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger' reading?"

"It starts at 11 o'clock. We can leave now."

"Hmm, yes. Let's go now."

"Yes, Chairman."

Chairman Hideki began to walk slowly, seemingly heading to the script reading of 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger'. However, a slight worry mixed in the eyes of Lili, who had her long hair tied in a single line.

"Will you be alright? There are a lot of journalists stationed at the site currently."

Chairman Hideki, with a wrinkled smile, answered lowly.

"It doesn't matter, does it? Just the landlord going to pay a courtesy visit for lending the place."

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Chairman Hideki wasn't the only one; many people were moving towards the Kashiwa Tokyo Hotel, the venue for the script reading of 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger'. Particularly noticeable were the movements of Japanese actors. The top actors officially cast in 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger'.

Among them,

"Kang Woojin? It seems Haneda Airport has been chaotic since this morning because of that Korean actor?"

Inside the car of Mana Kosaku, a famous Japanese band member and top actor, was abuzz with talks about Kang Woojin. Kosaku, who had long hair tied with a headband, was the actor Kyotaro Tanoguchi contacted after Kang Woojin. This signified his recognition in Japan.

However, his staff seemed to be more worried.

"Kang Woojin- Honestly, even though I don't have any issue with a Korean actor, it's true that I'm still a bit worried."

"Is that so? He seemed to speak Japanese well on the 'Ame-talk Show!'."

"Speaking Japanese well is one thing, but acting in Japanese is another."

"True, the style of acting in Korea and Japan is somewhat different."

"Director Kyotaro really is an eccentric. To abruptly cast a Korean actor as the lead in 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger'."

Their concerns had their reasons. Despite Kang Woojin's exponentially rising recognition in Japan, there was still a lack of proper verification. Acting in a foreign language is very challenging. That was the concern.

Especially since the stakes for 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger' were incredibly huge. And amidst that, Kang Woojin was the only Korean actor.

It was natural for him to attract attention.

"Hmm-"

Mana Kosaku, with his arms crossed and lost in thought, agreed. However, Kosaku felt not only worried but also an unnamed sense of crisis.

'Why do I feel a danger when it's my first time seeing his face today?'

It was due to Kang Woojin's momentum and the recognition from Director Kyotaro and author Akari. The titans of Japan had personally gone to Korea to scout this rookie Korean actor. And the words Director Kyotaro used to assess Kang Woojin.

'It's because he must be the one.'

Mana Kosaku was a veteran among veterans in the Japanese entertainment industry. Yet, a strange tension enveloped his entire body.

"Why- must he be the one?"

Of course, actors expressing curiosity towards Kang Woojin were not limited to him alone. There were more than five top-tier actors participating in 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger'. A-list actors were plentiful, and reactions towards Woojin varied greatly.

While some female actors showed extreme affection,

"I'm so excited! I can't wait to see him!"

"Mifuyu, why are you so excited? Calm down a bit."

"Because Kang Woojin is handsome!"

"......There will be a lot of journalists on site. Be careful what you say. Do you want to stir up gossip again?"

"So what? But I wonder what Kang Woojin smells like?"

"Hey! You!"

"Can I shake hands with him and hug him??"

There were also male actors who quietly assessed Kang Woojin's acting.

"His acting is fascinating."

"Is it?"

"He seemed like a different person for each role, to an extreme extent."

"Really?"

"Whether he can show the same level of performance in Japan is uncertain."

Everyone seemed like guests waiting for a party.

About an hour later, at the 'Kashiwa Tokyo Hotel'.

The exterior and lobby of Tokyo's 'Kashiwa Tokyo Hotel' were incredibly noisy. Most of the commotion was due to the massive number of journalists stationed, but hotel guests and staff also crowded around one of the halls.

Why?

Because many celebrities were entering the hall one after another. Therefore, the flashes from journalists' cameras were going off non-stop.

-Papapapapak!

-Papapapapapapak!

Looking at the scene, one might think it was not a script reading but a mega-scale party. Inside the hall, many people had already taken their seats. In the center of the spacious hall, a U-shaped table was set up. The table with name tags of actors was filled with actors, and around them were the actors' staff and the film production crew.

Along with dozens of journalists and officials.

Even though not everyone had arrived yet, the number easily exceeded a hundred. At the front side of the U-shaped table.

-[Role of Iyota Kiyoshi / Kang Woojin]

Kang Woojin was not yet visible.

At that moment,

-Swish.

Into the crowded hall entered two titans.

"Director~nim! How are you!"

"Author~nim, It's an honor meeting you in person!"

It was Kyotaro Tanoguchi, the director with a head full of gray hairs, and Akari, the bespectacled author of 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger'. With their arrival, many seated actors and staff members stood up to greet them eagerly. The focus of the journalists intensified significantly.

"Ha ha ha, yes. How have you been, Author~nim? This here is Mana Kosaku, the one I told you about."

"Of course, I know. Nice to meet you, Mana~ssi."

"It's an honor, Author~nim."

Introductions and greetings took place dozens of times. However, this didn't last long because of what erupted from the mouths of about a dozen journalists.

"Oh- oh, here they come."

"Eh?"

"Chairman Hideki Yoshimura! He's here."

"What?!"

Chairman Hideki, resembling an old lion, appeared with his secretaries. His entrance turned the hall upside down in an instant. The outside was also in a frenzy, judging by the commotion. The pouring flash of cameras, top actors with eyes wide open, frozen staff, murmuring production crew, etc.

No one expected Chairman Hideki to actually show up.

In contrast, Chairman Hideki, who was quietly observing the entire hall, was brimming with composure. He approached Director Kyotaro with a wrinkled smile.

"How have you been, Director~nim?"

"Fine, of course, thank you for coming."

Next, Chairman Hideki exchanged glances with Author Akari.

"I really enjoy your works, Author~nim. It's an honor."

"The honor is mine. Thank you for lending us the place."

"I've also enjoyed 'The Eerie Sacrifice of a Stranger' as a book, so I'm looking forward to it a lot."

Following that, Chairman Hideki exchanged handshakes with the main actors. Somehow, he was overwhelming everyone, not intentionally though. His presence was that commanding. Truly, an owner of a conglomerate ranked within the top 10.

Then,

"Excuse me."

A strange yet fluent Japanese voice came from the entrance of the hall. It was a low but atmospheric male voice. As a result, not just Chairman Hideki and Director Kyotaro, but everyone in the hall turned their attention.

At the entrance stood Kang Woojin with a nonchalant expression.

"I was delayed due to traffic from the airport."

Woojin, who instantly captured everyone's attention, saw Director Kyotaro moving towards him. Interestingly,

-Swish.

Chairman Hideki, quicker than Director Kyotaro, was the first to extend his hand to Kang Woojin.

"I've been waiting for you."

Waiting? Why would Chairman Hideki wait? Director Kyotaro showed a subtle smile as if to say 'as expected,' and everyone in the hall, including Author Akari, widened their eyes. It was incomprehensible that the head of a leading conglomerate would wait for a Korean actor he's meeting for the first time.

Then, Kang Woojin, with a poker face,

"......"

muttered to himself while shaking hands with Chairman Hideki. Of course, inwardly.

'Who is this old man again?'

*****