Actor(Oshi no ko)

Rehearsal

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(Third POV)

After Aikara introduced himself to a few more staff members, the rehearsals commenced, and as Aqua had anticipated, everyone became enthralled by Aikara's acting prowess. Even Melt, who was supposed to deliver his lines, remained speechless, completely captivated by Aikara's talent.

Aqua's eyes shifted to Kana, and despite her professional demeanor because she was currently acting, he could sense the undeniable happiness radiating from her eyes. It was evident that Aikara's performance had met her expectations, leaving her thoroughly satisfied.

As for Aqua himself, he recognized that his own acting was merely average—not exceptional, but also not subpar. His acting was just good enough to not impede other actors, so all he could do is to blend seamlessly with the other actors. He knew he would likely disappoint Kana, but that realization didn't weigh heavily on him. 

After all, he had willingly chosen to participate in this drama fully aware that he would not live up to her lofty expectations. The praise she had bestowed upon him in the past was merely because of the gap between his physical and mental age, rather than a testament to his true acting abilities. Now that he had caught up, he's just a run-of-the-mill actor, pale in comparison to his brother.

His attention returned to Aikara, who effortlessly commanded the stage with the same charisma that Ai had possessed. Aikara drew everyone's attention, even making Melt, who had momentarily lost his focus, go back into character. And this time, instead of the robotic tone Melt always had, Aqua could hear distinct emotions in them.

Aqua couldn't help but notice the peculiar quality of Aikara's acting—a knack for bringing out the best in others. It was as if he transformed the fictional scenes into reality, inviting the other actors into his realm. It was different from Ai who made others actors intimidated by her charisma and made their acting skills worse as she forced everyone to pay attention to her. 

In the past, Aqua would have harbored bitterness and envy upon witnessing Aikara's exceptional acting skills. He would have been consumed by a desire to surpass him, driven by both his passion for the craft and Ai's words of encouragement. Yet, having accepted his own limitations and shortcomings, he now felt an indifference wash over him. He continued to observe Aikara's performance, appreciating it without any trace of resentment.

And so, the rehearsals came to an end, with Aikara once again leaving everyone in awe with his exceptional acting skills. The room buzzed with a mix of admiration and anticipation for the upcoming production, while Aqua quietly acknowledged his own place in the ensemble, ready to fulfill his role to the best of his abilities, even if it will undoubtedly fall short of the brilliance displayed by his brother. After all, he needs to rise in the entertainment industry, find his father's real identity, and kill him with his own hands.

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(Third POV)

"So you can act after all," Kana said to Aqua the moment rehearsals ended, her voice carrying a hint of surprise and admiration. "What's with you saying that you can only work backstage?"

Aqua, however, responded with a self-deprecating statement "You don't need to flatter me," he replied. "I know I'm not on the same level as Aikara when it comes to acting. I can hold my own, but I wouldn't consider myself great."