For Narumi Sora, this news was like a bolt from the blue.

    She had been without an agency for a while, but after Hyper Action Star, she managed to sign with a reputable agency and was now enjoying a stable life. "Lime Actors," her agency, was mid-tier but leaned toward supporting actors rather than idols, which suited her interests.

    With a variety of actors to learn from, it was an ideal environment.

    "Sora, your pronunciation is really good. Honestly, I wouldn’t have known you were Japanese until you told me."

    "Is... is that so?"

    Sora had always been good at Korean. She had diligently studied it while in Japan, moving to Korea right after high school. Now, at nineteen, she felt a sense of pride in how hard she had worked.

    Actually, most people here probably speak it pretty well.

    Japanese actors in Korea were rare. She remembered hearing about one in the past, but their career hadn’t lasted long.

    Most Japanese entertainers active in Korea were idols. So, it wasn’t surprising people thought her pronunciation might be lacking.

    Most people probably assume it’s part of the persona.

    Everywhere has its stereotypes, and foreign idols with a slight accent often seem cuter or more endearing to the public.

    But that’s only true for idols.

    It’s different for actors. Clear pronunciation is essential, and an actor with poor pronunciation would struggle to get cast in films or dramas.

    "At this rate, it’d be wise to start preparing for other projects beyond Mine. I’ll put in a word with the agency."

    "Th-thank you!"

    Sora bowed her head in gratitude to her senior actor.

    Projects... more projects.

    Sora couldn’t help but smile. In terms of income, being an actor in Korea was far more lucrative than in Japan—almost four times more, on average.

    So, it was no wonder Sora felt uplifted. If she could secure a lead role in Mine, her visibility would be greatly enhanced.

    No, not yet.

    Nothing was certain, after all. She had to give her best effort. For Sora, Mine was the starting point, a movie she absolutely had to succeed in.

    With that mindset, she was ready for anything.

    But then—

    “...Japan? Me?”

    “Yes.”

    The voice on the other end was someone Sora would never forget: Ju Seoyeon.

    Seoyeon was the actress she had faced in the final stages of Hyper Action Star. Her physical prowess was remarkable, and her acting was on a whole different level.

    Though younger, Seoyeon was far more experienced as an actress. Even with Sora’s theater background in Japan, there was a vast difference.

    After Hyper Action Star, they had exchanged numbers and kept in touch occasionally.

    “If you have the chance, it’d be good to stay close to Ju Seoyeon.”

    “Really?”

    “She’s an actress who’ll go far. Very few actors can make such an impact within just one year. This year was undeniably the year of Ju Seoyeon.”

    How many actors could make a debut and dominate the entire year? Ju Seoyeon was one of them.

    Naturally, the agency’s director and senior actors advised Sora to maintain a good relationship with her. Connections were essential, and if Seoyeon became a superstar, it could open doors for her.

    “B-but Japan...?”

    Narumi Sora hesitated. Seoyeon’s invitation was certainly something to be grateful for.

    Apparently, she’d been invited to appear on a Japanese variety show, and it would create a nice picture to have Sora, as a Japanese actress, appear alongside her.

    It was a great offer, but Sora wasn’t too keen on appearing on Japanese variety shows.

    People will recognize me!

    Though she hadn’t starred in any major productions in Japan, she’d participated in a few small plays. And while she hadn’t had the chance to truly break out, it wasn’t as if there weren’t opportunities.

    “The acting environment in Japan doesn’t suit me. It feels too much like playing house.”

    In her rebellious phase, she’d set her sights on overseas markets, whether in Korea or China. She was brimming with ambition as a high school student.@@@@

    Though she had received offers, her disappointment with Japan’s reluctance to accept her as an action actress had pushed her away.

    Back then, she’d spoken her mind bluntly, refusing offers because they wanted her to be a "pretty actress," not an action star.

    Someone must have talked about it online.

    Thinking of the things she’d said to industry contacts, Sora felt uneasy about returning to Japan.

    “Honestly... I’d love to go with you.”

    Jo Seohui said this, glancing at Seoyeon. Seoyeon continued holding a dress up to herself, seemingly indifferent.

    Not displeased, just neutral.

    “Maybe next time, if you don’t mind? I actually have a family friend in Japan who owns a hotel.”

    “Really?”

    Seoyeon’s eyes widened in surprise. Since Mirinae Land, Seohui had been more open about such things with Seoyeon, perhaps because Seoyeon never showed much interest in financial matters.

    Moreover, Seohui didn’t particularly appreciate the advantages that came from her family background.

    “Yeah, we could go to Okinawa or Hokkaido. They’re nice places.”

    But as Seohui mentioned the travel spots, Seoyeon’s reaction immediately cooled.

    Seohui was taken aback. Okinawa and Hokkaido were iconic Japanese tourist destinations, after all.

    She wondered if Seoyeon preferred a ryokan (traditional inn) instead of a hotel.

    As she pondered this, she noticed Jiyeon clicking her tongue in amusement.

    If it’s not Tokyo or Osaka, she’s not interested.

    There were no places like Akihabara or Denden Town there. Seoyeon’s preferences were obvious; she enjoyed things that excited her and wasn’t particularly interested in relaxing, healing trips.

    She liked places where she could have a good time.

    If they wanted to entice her, suggesting Disneyland or Universal Studios might have been better. Jiyeon thought this while picking out clothes for Seoyeon.

    All in all, it was an enjoyable shopping day.

    In reality, today’s shopping was more about preparing for Seoyeon’s Japan trip.

    She’s bound to forget skincare or clothes if left on her own.

    She would likely travel with just Manager Park Eun-ha and Narumi Sora. Perhaps the manager, too? Four or five people at most?

    Seoyeon didn’t like traveling with a large group, so they planned for a minimal crew.

    I just hope she doesn’t cause any trouble.

    Honestly, Jiyeon felt concerned. Though Seoyeon seemed normal as she chatted with Jo Seohui, she was noticeably excited.

    She also noticed that Seoyeon had become more gentle toward Seohui. Though she didn’t drop the honorifics, she was visibly more relaxed with her.

    While Jiyeon hadn’t thought much about it before, she felt a faint sense of jealousy. She had always been Seoyeon’s only friend.

    Now, others like Seohui were entering that space. It was both a little irritating and a little comforting.

    Meanwhile, YHJ Broadcasting was discussing the actress coming from Korea. They had already decided on a variety show for her appearance, but it felt too plain.

    “What about a hidden camera prank?”

    “Oh, yes, that sounds good.”

    Hidden cameras were a popular choice for foreign celebrities visiting Japan for the first time. But the important part was the concept.

    “How about horror?”

    At that moment, Hiroki Amaya, who had been quiet, spoke up.

    “Horror?”

    “Oh, right. She mentioned something about that—if she’d ever watched a Japanese horror movie.”

    The response came from PD Nanjo Katsuo, who had met Seoyeon in Korea. Japan was famous for horror films, so he’d asked if she’d watched any.

    Her answer had been remarkable.

    “I’ve never really experienced fear in real life.”

    Watching horror movies, she wouldn’t feel much.

    “Wow, now I want to try this even more.”

    “Should we notify her manager first?”

    “That sounds best. Let’s discuss it with them and proceed accordingly.”

    Since she was a foreign actress, it wasn’t easy to plan a hidden camera without permission. To be honest, they weren’t familiar with Ju Seoyeon.

    For them, she was simply the Korean actress PD Nanjo Katsuo had taken a liking to. But with The Chaser set to release in Japan soon and Dream Future already popular, they figured it would be worth it.

    After all, Korean actors rarely visited Japan these days.

    “Still, if she doesn’t react much, it might be awkward. She seems pretty cool-headed.”

    “Exactly. So we’ll have to work even harder on the setup. Luckily, we have a good location in mind.”

    As YHJ prepared for the broadcast with these discussions, Seoyeon was already en route to the airport with several bags packed, excited for her Japan trip.