The harsh trill of my phone yanked me from sleep. I fumbled for it, squinting at the too-bright screen. An unknown number. Great.
"Hello?" My voice came out gravelly.
"Is this Akira Hoshino?"
"Speaking." I sat up, running a hand through my messy hair.
"This is Yumi from Rising Star Agency. We have a last-minute booking opportunity for you today. Are you available?"
My heart kicked up a notch. "I might be. What's the job?"
"It's a couples shoot for a new clothing line. The location is Shibuya 109. They need you there by 1 PM, and it could run until evening."
I glanced at the clock. 10:30 AM. Plenty of time. "What's the pay?"
"45,000 yen for the day."
My eyebrows shot up. "Sounds good. Who's the other model?"
"She's from our agency. Marin Kitagawa, the photographer will introduce you on set."
"Alright, I'm in."
"Excellent. I'll email you the details. Don't be late, Akira."
The line went dead. I flopped back onto my pillow, mind already racing through potential scenarios. A couples shoot. That meant chemistry, intimacy, maybe even some staged romance. Nothing I hadn't done before, but still.
I spent the next hour prepping - showering, styling my hair, choosing an outfit that was stylish but not too flashy. As I worked, I let my mind wander to the shoot ahead. Who would my partner be? Some bubbly, generic idol type? Or maybe a seasoned pro who'd carry the shoot herself?
Either way, I'd have to be on my A-game. First impressions matter in this business, and I couldn't afford to blow an opportunity like this. 45,000 yen for one day's work was nothing to sneeze at.
By noon, I was out the door, navigating the busy streets toward Shibuya. The familiar energy of the city pulsed around me, but today it felt different. Today, I wasn't just another face in the crowd. I was Akira Hoshino, model, on my way to my first real gig.
I weaved through the bustling crowds of Shibuya, my eyes scanning for the familiar façade of 109. The towering cylindrical building loomed ahead, its iconic red sign a beacon in the sea of people.
As I approached, I spotted a small crew setting up lights and backdrops near the entrance. A lanky guy with a camera slung around his neck waved me over.
"Akira Hoshino?" he called out.
I nodded, extending my hand. "That's me."
He shook it firmly. "Great to meet you. I'm Kenji, the photographer for today's shoot." He gestured to the setup behind him. "We're going for a casual date vibe - young couple enjoying a day at the mall. You cool with that?"
"Absolutely," I replied, slipping into my professional persona. "Sounds fun."
Kenji grinned. "Perfect. Oh, here comes your co-star now."
I turned to see a girl about my age approaching. She had long blonde hair with pink tips and striking pink eyes. Her outfit was trendy, drawing more than a few stares from passersby.
"Akira, meet Marin Kitagawa," Kenji said. "Marin, this is Akira."
Marin's face lit up. "Oh my gosh, hi! It's so nice to meet you!" She bounced on her toes, radiating enthusiasm. "I love your hair! Is that your natural color?"
I blinked, caught off guard by her energy. "Uh, yeah, it is. Nice to meet you too, Marin."
"This is gonna be so much fun!" she gushed. "I've never done a couples shoot before. Have you? Oh, I hope I don't mess up. But don't worry, I'll do my best!"
"I'm sure you'll do great," I assured her. "Just relax and be yourself."
Kenji clapped his hands. "Alright, you two. Let's get started with some test shots. Marin, why don't you pretend to point out something in a store window to Akira?"
As we moved into position, I studied Marin from the corner of my eye. Her bubbly exterior seemed genuine, but there was a hint of nervousness in the way she fidgeted with her hair. I made a mental note to help put her at ease during the shoot.
This was going to be an interesting day.
"Oh wow, look at that cute skirt!" she exclaimed, pointing enthusiastically. I leaned in next to her, pretending to admire the display. Out of the corner of my eye, I studied her excited expression. There was an endearing sincerity to it that made me smile.
We spent the next hour posing and chatting while Kenji snapped away. As we changed outfits between shots, Marin kept up a steady stream of bubbly small talk. I mostly listened and made agreeable noises, interjecting the occasional comment or question.
It wasn't until we were outfitted in matching athleisure wear that things took an unexpected turn. Marin had her hair pulled back in a ponytail, highlighting the delicate features of her face. As she tilted her head and laughed at something Kenji said, the light hit her just so - and for a split second, I saw Hana's face instead of Marin's.
I froze, heartbeat accelerating. Marin noticed my expression and her smile faltered. "Akira? You okay?"
I quickly schooled my features. "Yeah, sorry. Just got lost in thought for a second."
Marin nodded, seemingly reassured, and turned back to Kenji. But I kept replaying that moment in my head. Why had I seen Hana? Sure, there were superficial similarities. But Hana was gone, just a phantom from a past life.
I tried to shake it off and focus on the shoot, but I felt rattled. As we moved through more outfit changes and poses, I kept catching myself searching for glimpses of Hana in Marin's face. Each time, I had to drag my attention back to the present.
By the time Kenji called for a break at 5:45 PM, I was mentally exhausted. Marin skipped off to grab a drink while I sank onto a bench, pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes.
Seeing Hana's ghost had caught me completely off guard. I thought I'd left the baggage of my past life behind. But maybe the wounds went deeper than I realized. Maybe I wasn't as ready for intimacy, real or staged, as I'd thought.
I let out a long breath, trying to clear my head. One phantom image didn't need to derail me. I just had to stay focused on the present, on this fresh start I'd been given. Hana was gone. The only way forward was ahead.
Marin returned with two colorful drinks in hand, her ever-present smile lighting up her face.
"Here, I got you something!" She held out one of the drinks. "You looked kinda worn out so I thought this might give you a boost."
"Oh, thanks." I accepted the offered beverage, noting the chunks of fruit and swirl of whipped cream topping it. Trust Marin to choose something so vibrant and indulgent.
I took a tentative sip as Marin plopped down next to me, eagerly slurping her own drink. The sweetness spread over my tongue, chased by a trace of liquor that I hadn't expected.
"There's alcohol in this," I said, eyebrows raised.
Marin's eyes widened. "Oh no, is that bad? I just asked for something fruity and refreshing. I didn't even think..." She trailed off, crestfallen.
I had to bite back a laugh at her instant shift to remorse. "No no, it's fine. I was just surprised."
Her answering smile could have powered a small city. "Yay, I'm so glad!"
"Where'd you get it from?"
"Oh, there's a little drink stand just around the corner," Marin replied brightly. "The guy there is super nice and let me sample a bunch before I picked these out for us."
I nodded slowly, keeping my expression casual. "Cool. Hey, I'm gonna run to the restroom real quick before we start shooting again. Be right back!"
"Okay!" Marin chirped, already engrossed in her own drink.
I walked away at an easy pace, letting my smile fade as soon as I was out of her sight. My footsteps echoed through the empty mall hallway as I made my way toward the restrooms. But instead of going inside, I stopped just past the entrance, peering back around the corner toward where I'd left Marin.
My eyes narrowed, as I watched her sip happily at her drink. The same drink some stranger had made for her after she'd sampled multiple options.
Someone had just spiked Marin's drink.
I stood there for a long moment, rage simmering beneath my composed exterior. Marin was naive, too trusting for her own good. I would have to keep an eye on her during the rest of this shoot.
With a slow exhale, I smoothed my expression and continued on toward the restroom. I would handle this quietly, stay vigilant. No one was going to take advantage of Marin on my watch. Of that much, I was certain.
I made my way back to where Marin sat, her legs swinging carelessly as she sipped her drink.
"Hey," I said, sliding onto the bench chair beside her. "How are you feeling?"
Marin's eyes lit up. "Oh, I'm great! This drink is so yummy. How's yours?"
I forced a smile. "It's good. Pretty sweet."
"I know, right? It's like a party in my mouth!" She giggled, then hiccupped softly. "Oops. Maybe I drank it too fast."
I watched her carefully, looking for any signs of drowsiness or disorientation. "You're not feeling dizzy or anything, are you?"
She tilted her head, considering. "Hmm, maybe a little? But in a fun way! Like being on a merry-go-round." She spun in her seat, arms outstretched, nearly toppling off the bench.
I steadied her with a hand on her shoulder. "Whoa, careful there. Maybe we should take it easy for a bit before the next round of photos."
Marin nodded, her movements slightly exaggerated. "You're probably right. You're so smart, Akira!" She leaned against me, her head resting on my shoulder. "And comfy too."
I stiffened at the contact, torn between the instinct to push her away and the need to keep her safe. After a moment's hesitation, I let her stay where she was.
"Just rest for a few minutes," I said quietly. "We've got time before Kenji needs us back."
As Marin nestled closer, mumbling something incoherent, I scanned our surroundings. The drink stand was just visible around the corner, its cheerful awning a stark contrast to the unease churning in my gut.