Double Black

better off-screen

For an actor, there was nothing better than experimenting with different roles. 

Any actor would be more than delighted to attempt at playing a more challenging role; that was the best part about their job after all. Getting to embody different characters with varying personalities, and in different settings; it was just so refreshing.

Chuuya was no different. He enjoyed taking on roles that seemed difficult, characters that seemed complex. He'd then pore over the script and other source material for days, trying to be the character himself.

Nakahara Chuuya was one of the top A-list actors in the industry as of now. At the mere age of twenty two, the success and fame he'd achieved was truly remarkable. He'd started his career when he was just sixteen, rising to fame shortly after, when he landed a pretty big role. In just six years, the the things he'd achieved, and the awards he'd received were really incredible.

At first, he'd go to any and every audition his agent could find. He had nothing to lose by trying all of them. At the very beginning, it was days of hoping for call-backs and castings. Now, however, Chuuya was in that point of his career where was offered roles, rather than having to audition for them.

Writers and directors constructed movie scripts with him in mind, which would probably never stop being absolutely surreal to him. His agent always consulted him about these roles, and together they picked out the most suitable ones for him. Chuuya adored his agent; Yosano was very capable, despite being just a few years older than him.

His career would honestly be a wreck if not for her. She handled all the sent scripts and offered roles, and while she gave her opinion on them, she rarely emphasized on absolutely needing to take a role. It was rare, but not completely absent.

A week or two ago, Yosano had Chuuya drop by her office to present a script to him. It was for a movie by a very popular director, one of the most well known in the industry. Chuuya was offered the role of one of the two leads. The interesting part was that the lead actors were to keep their names as their characters' names. So, if Chuuya was to accept this role, one of the lead characters would be called 'Chuuya'. How very surreal.

After giving the script a thorough read, Chuuya decided that the plot was interesting enough. Considering the fact that starring in a movie by this director would boost his career immensely, accepting the role was no-brainer. Yosano made her approval for his decision very clear too.

The movie was typically a romantic comedy surrounding two men. The two main leads start off as absolute rivals, arguing and fighting over anything and everything. This goes on till they eventually realise they have feelings for each other and then end up together after a lot of drama. The plot wasn't original by any means, but the dialogue was great, which would surely enrapture the audience.

Chuuya was excited for this role.

But, it was all fun and  games till he realised that this role would be his most challenging one yet.

It wasn't the role itself that was challenging. Chuuya could easily hate someone and continuously argue with them. He did that in his personal life anyway. No, the issue lay with the other lead actor, the one who was supposed to play Chuuya's love interest.

The actor cast for this role happened to be Dazai Osamu.

Dazai Osamu! That absolute asshole that Chuuya hated with a burning passion. Being another A-list actor who happened to be the same age as Chuuya, he was obviously one of the best in the industry. His acting was impeccable too. It was just that he was an absolutely annoying bastard, who Chuuya couldn't stand on a good day.

Having to play the lover of that guy?! 

Chuuya wanted to fake his death, buy a home in Napa Valley and live there forever with his partner.