Scene: Film Shooting Set â Dressing Room
Kaito stood in front of the mirror, tugging at the ornate crown that rested atop his head. His fingers gripped the heavy gold piece, frustration evident on his face as he tried to dislodge it from his hair. It was a simple crown, in theoryâgold with intricate designsâbut to Kaito, it felt like a symbol of every minor annoyance on set. The weight of it seemed to pull at his scalp, making him more aware of its existence with each passing second. He ran a hand through his red hair, exhaling a dramatic sigh. His princely costumeâa royal blue velvet coat, embroidered with gold thread, and polished black bootsâwas impeccable. Everything was perfect... except for this damn crown.
"Get this thing off me!" Kaito growled, his voice laced with frustration. His usually composed demeanor was slipping, replaced by a mix of irritation and theatrical flair.
Behind him, Jim, his ever-calm personal assistant and best friend, stood with his arms crossed, observing the scene with an amused glint in his hazel eyes. Jim was always the practical one, able to see things from a different angleâand yet, Kaito's penchant for melodrama never failed to entertain him.
"Well, it's not coming off, is it?" Jim said with a raised eyebrow. He leaned in, making a show of inspecting the crown. "What did you even do to get it stuck in the first place?"
Kaito rubbed the back of his neck, shifting uncomfortably. "This is not the time for questions, Jim. Only answers," he muttered, though the frustration was creeping into his voice. He winced as Jim gave another tug at the crown. "And did you really have to pull so hard?"
Jim gave a light chuckle, but his expression remained as deadpan as ever. "Guess you'll just have to shoot the scene with it on, then. Seems like you're stuck with it."
Kaito grimaced, his hand rising again to feel the weight of the crown pressing against his scalp. "Not a chance," he muttered, lips curling in distaste. "This thing is heavier than it looks. I'll be sweating through the whole scene."
Jim folded his arms, studying the problem as though contemplating all possible solutions. A gleam of mischief appeared in his eyes, and he glanced toward the dressing table, where a pair of scissors lay innocently on the counter.
Kaito's gaze followed Jim's, narrowing. "What are you planning?"
Jim flashed a sly grin as he picked up the scissors, spinning them playfully between his fingers. "Well, pulling doesn't seem to be getting us anywhere," he said. "But there's always the option ofâ" He held the scissors up, feigning innocence as he glanced at Kaito. "A tiny trim off the top."
Kaito's eyes widened in horror. "Get those things away from me," he snapped, taking a step back. "Are you out of your mind? One wrong snip and my hair will look like a disaster. It'll ruin the whole look."
Jim dropped his hand, sighing dramatically. "You're impossible, you know that?" He glanced at the clock on the wall. "Shooting starts in five minutes. What's your plan now, genius?"
Kaito's mind raced. He ran a hand through his damp hair again, his green eyes lighting up as a spark of inspiration struck. He shot Jim a mischievous grin. "Well, your terrible plan might've just inspired a better one."
---
Meanwhile, On Set
Outside, the sound of footsteps echoed through the set. The director, pacing nervously near the monitors, glanced at his watch for what felt like the hundredth time. "What's taking that kid so long?" he muttered to himself, glancing anxiously at the clock. 10:06 a.m. and still no sign of Kaito. This was unlike him. Kaito was known for being punctual, always ready to perform, but today... today was different.
Beside him stood Alex. Tall, with sharp features and dark hair, his piercing blue eyes remained fixed on the scene unfolding before him. His expression was unreadable, giving nothing away as he observed the actors on set. He wasn't one for drama, and he certainly wasn't one to get wrapped up in the little theatrics of the film industry. But the director's unease was palpable, and it drew his attention.
The director offered him an apologetic smile, attempting to mask his anxiety. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Kim. We're usually right on schedule. This is... well, the first time something like this has happened."
Alex didn't respond at first, simply nodding in acknowledgment. "I see," he said, his voice calm, cool, and indifferent, as though this was just another minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.
The director, clearly desperate, started toward the dressing room, muttering about checking on Kaito. But before he could take more than a few steps, the dressing room door swung open. Kaito emerged, his hair damp and crown-free, but still as confident as ever. He casually pushed a stray lock of hair from his face, the remnants of water dripping from his damp locks, leaving tiny droplets in his wake as he walked toward the set.
The director froze, his eyes widening in surprise. "Y-Your hairâŠ" he stammered, unable to mask his shock at the unexpected appearance.
Kaito gave a carefree shrug, brushing it off as though it were no big deal. "Relax, Mr. Director," he said, his voice light and casual. "It's just wet hair. It'll dry out eventually." A quick, easy grin spread across his face as he moved past the director, heading toward his mark on set.
Jim trailed behind, still shaking his head in disbelief. "I'll get the dryers," he muttered, half-amused, half-exasperated.
Moments later, Kaito sat, his hair finally dried. Jim worked diligently, brushing through the strands with precision. After a few minutes, he declared the task complete, a hint of pride in his voice. Kaito inspected his reflection, tilting his head to admire the results. He couldn't help but grin, suggesting that Jim should take on the role of his stylist more often. Jim shot him an exasperated look, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
With a playful smile, Kaito set the script aside and stood up, ready to begin filming.
The director, seated at his post, clapped his hands sharply to gather everyone's attention. He announced that they would soon be starting the next scene, a pivotal moment where the prince's bodyguard would confess his love after years of silence. It was a simple but crucial scene, and the director needed it to be flawless.
As he scanned the room for the male lead, the atmosphere shifted when a staff member approached, whispering urgently in his ear. The director's expression turned serious as he addressed the crew.
There had been a change. Their male lead had come down with the flu and would be absent from filming for an indeterminate time. A murmur of concern rippled through the crew, leaving everyone uncertain about how to proceed without him.
"Especially for the confession scenes!" a staff member exclaimed, his brow furrowed in thought. "But it's going to take a while to figure out how we're going to shoot that. Don't we have plenty of stunt doubles for the male leads?"
The director nodded, his expression tense. "Yes, but I'm sure one of them can make the cut. Alright, bring out the stunt double! And someone get me a cappuccinoâthis stress is bad for my health."
Time passed, and the set transformed into a flurry of activity.
"Does my prince wish to relieve me of my duties?" Actor 1 inquired, bowing dramatically as he faced Kaito.
"Cut!" Kaito interrupted, frowning. "Isn't the bodyguard supposed to be at least slightly taller than His Highness?"
Jim shrugged, trying to find a diplomatic answer. "I guess, butâ"
"No excuses," the director interjected firmly. "This scene has to be perfect. The prince has standards."
With that, Alex turned to face the camera, ready to continue.
The scene shifted, and Kaito watched as another stunt double stepped into place.
"Too skinny," he declared, shaking his head.
"Too sleepy," he added, his critical eye surveying the next candidate.
"Too average. And is that lettuce in your teeth?" he remarked, wrinkling his nose in distaste.
Eventually, an assistant approached, looking defeated. "And that was our last stunt double."
The director buried his face in his hands. "This is hopeless."
Kaito took a sip of his latte, savoring the moment.
Jim shot him an incredulous look. "Too average? Seriously?"
"What?" Kaito replied, unfazed. "It's for the ratings."
"Insufferable," Jim muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Tell me something I don't know," Kaito quipped with a smirk, clearly enjoying the banter amidst the chaos.