デミ人間 (Demi Human)

Chapter 3 : Koutani, The Model

At L'Osier.. Keisuke arrives and sees Minami had arrived earlier. He goes over
to her table.

Keisuke : Mi-chan!
Minami : (sees him) Keisuke! (smiles)
Keisuke : Omatase shimashita. (Sorry for the wait.)
Minami : Ii ne. Douzo. (It's alright. Please, have a seat.)
Keisuke : (sits down) How are you?
Minami : I'm okay... well, not really getting a lot of orders lately... but it's
okay.. one artwork costs a lot, after all.
Keisuke : I should ask you to paint me, someday. (chuckles)
Minami : Nani o iutenda? (What are you saying?) (laughs) If I'll paint you.. I won't charge you.
Keisuke : Really? Wow, that's so nice of you.
Minami : Of course. We're childhood friends.
Keisuke : (smiles shyly)
Minami : I already ordered the usual.
Keisuke : Okay.
Minami : So... and you? How are you?
Keisuke : Well...
Minami : I heard that... (lower her voice) You... got fired... (feels sad)
Keisuke : (seems shocked) Eh?
Minami : (tries to sound enthusiastic) Daijoubu, Keisuke. You can surely find
another job.
Keisuke : (thinks)
Minami : And I'll help you in any way that I can. So don't worry too much, okay?
Keisuke : ... uh...yah. Arigatou. (still feels weird)
Minami : Tell you what, Hiroki-jisan, remember him? My uncle who works as a
photographer, he asks me to go to his studio later on because they're
shooting a model for 'Kakko Otoku'. I think they want me to help with
the set-up.. he said he needs my opinion as an artist about the background
and all those. You want to come?
Keisuke : Is it okay?
Minami : Un. (smiles) You can help out too. Maybe my uncle can recommend you to
some people who'll be there.
Keisuke : (nods) Sounds great.
Minami : (pokes him lightly) Un. Dakara, ganbatte ne! (Yeah. So, do your best!) (thumbs up)
Keisuke : O. Ganbaru. ( I will.)


At Rainbow Talent Agency..

Manager : You'll be in Hiroki Studios this 2 PM to have your photo shoot. Hiroki
Azuki will be your photographer.
Koutani : Sou ka. (drinks Coke) Ne, I'll be the cover for the coming issue
of Kakko Otoku, right?
Manager : Yes. So far. why?
Koutani : Nothing. I just wanted to be updated. Kakko Otoku is really... good.
Manager : Yes. Now, will you please proceed to the van. Once we arrive there,
you'll have your make-up done, hair and everything has to be prepared.
Koutani : Wakatta. (rolls eyes) 

(Koutani together with some other people goes into the van)

Koutani : (Sits comfortably and notices a magazine on the seat) "You Rock" Mag? (frowns)
Manager : (notices) What's with the face?
Koutani : (hold the magazine and points on the cover) Who's this guy on the cover?
Manager : Uh... I'm not sure... looks like a new model in some industry.
Koutani : ... Really now. (looks at the mag) You Rock Mag, ne... this isn't even
worth reading... (throws it away) (it spreads open) ... huh? (he gets
the magazine again)
Manager : I thought you said that magazine is not worth reading?
Koutani : Urusai. (glares) (looks the an article with a picture of a girl who
is painting) ... Azuki... Minami?
Manager : Azuki?
Koutani : Wait... you said a while ago... the photographer's name is... Azuki
Hiroki? Are they related?
Manager : ... I have to check on that one.
Koutani : (smiles) Interesting. (reads) She's an artist. (reads more) And she's
good in painting.
Manager : You seem to be interested in her.
Koutani : (tries to hide his smile) (closes the magazine and puts it aside)
That's none of your business already. Move along.
Manager : ... right. Let's be on our way.
Driver : Hai.