[ACT SWITCH - April Fools' 2025] Chapter 1 Translation
Somebody is calling my nameā¦
But I canāt seem to open my eyesā¦ Iām having a hard time fighting off this wave of drowsiness.
Is this real, or am I dreaming? Iā¦ I canāt tell.
But I do hear some nostalgic sounds. I used to hear these sounds on a daily basis until, one day, I couldnāt anymore.
And I smell something lovely. This sweet, ephemeral floral scent in the airāI believe itāsā¦
AKIRA: ā¦Huh? Did I just wake up? Where am Iā¦?
When I opened my eyes, my vision was greeted by a metropolis intersection illuminated by dazzling lights.
I stood there dumbfounded, experiencing sensory overload from the city bursting at the seams with crowds.
YOUNG WOMAN IN RED: The latest products from Chloeās cosmetic line are super cute~! I am SO buying them for myself as soon as payday hits!
BROWN-HAIRED YOUNG MAN: Did you catch the episode yesterday? The scene at the end with Oz felt like a lightning bolt to my beingā
YOUNG GIRL IN A DRESS: Uh-oh! I better hurry or Iāll miss Owenās livestream!
Strangely enough, the chaotic hustle and bustle of the cityscape felt familiar to me.
AKIRA: (Why do I get the feeling Iām no stranger to this placeā¦)
Chatters and murmurs of passersby filled the streets. Bright neon lights engulfed the night. Floral notes fused with the aroma of food as well as wafts of perfume.
When I look up, I can make out some cherry blossoms fluttering among the glaring lights emitted by street lamps and ad displays.
The traffic light changed while I was zoning out, signaling a throng of pedestrians to surge forward.
AKIRA: I-Iām so sorryā
I frantically apologized to the person whose shoulder I bumped, but there was no reply.
Everyone else either simply threw me a glance or rushed past me as if I were invisible.
???: Excuse me.
Suddenly, I heard a voice and felt someone grab my hand. When I turned around, there stood a young man wearing a mask. He leads me by the hand to a less crowded roadside lot.
MASKED YOUNG MAN: You look a little pallid there. Are you okay?
Out of concern, he reached out his hand to part my bangs. His fingertips that came in contact with my forehead felt icy cold.
AKIRA: I-Iām fineā¦ Thanks for asking.
But my memory is a little hazyā¦ Iām not quite sure why Iām here.
MASKED YOUNG MAN: You mean you canāt remember anything? What about your name?
AKIRA: That one I do rememberā¦ Itās Akira.
MASKED YOUNG MAN: Ah, Akira. What about me? Do you recognize this face? Iām actually sort of famous around here.
The young man asked then took off his mask.
At that exact moment, the giant digital billboard on one of the high-rise buildings towering behind him switched to the next advertisement. On it appeared a figure who was a dead ringer for the man before me.
He had his hair styled in a messy yet sophisticated cut and was clad in sleek clothing like a frequent patron of an upscale club. An alluring smile graced his lips.
Not even the blinding night cityscape eclipsed his glamorous appearance, stopping pedestrians in their tracks and drawing audible gasps from them.
PASSERBY: Look, itās Figaro! Did you know his photobook is coming out next month? I got so excited I pre-ordered two copies!
AKIRA: ā¦Are you, by any chance, a celebrity?
YOUNG MAN: Haha!
Seeing me blinking, wide-eyed, as I looked alternately at him and the billboard, his shoulders shook in laughter.
YOUNG MAN: You really donāt recognize me, huh? Looks like I have a long way to go before I can truly call myself famous.
Allow me to introduce myself then, my dear lost soul.
FIGARO: The nameās Figaro Garcia. Iām an actor.
AKIRA: Figaroā¦ Garciaā¦
FIGARO: Thatās me. You see, I was sent on a quest to scout a promising talent at the whim of my agencyās CEOs.
Yeah, Iāve made up my mind; youāre cute, so letās go with you.
AKIRA: Scoutā¦? Me, you mean?
FIGARO: Thatās right. TheyāI mean the CEOs I mentionedācalled me out of the blue to tell me, āWe have a feeling you might find a top-notch talent if you go out into the streets now!ā Or something along those lines.
Honestly, I was close to dismissing their call as just another one of their spur-of-the moment ideas or something they came up with to kill time. Turns out their hunch was spot-on this time.
The young manāFigaro continued before putting his mask back on. Then, he puts a hand on his chin, contemplating.
FIGARO: But we have the issue of your memory lossā¦
Although itās a real shame, would you like me to take you to a police station?
AKIRA: A police stationā¦
FIGARO: You heard it right. If I take you there, they might be able to get in touch with the people who are looking for you.
AKIRA: Well, you seeā¦ Iād rather not make a big deal out of thisā¦
Plus, even if we ask the police for help, I get the feeling that nobody in this world knows me in the same way I know nothing about this world.
FIGARO: ā¦Aha, I see whatās going on. Did you run away from home?
Young folks go on soul-searching trips all the time, right? 'Cause you feel suffocated at home or stuck in your hometown.
AKIRA: I donāt think itās any of those eitherā¦ Iām sorry I keep giving vague answers.
FIGARO: Haha, I see. No need to apologize. We should help each other in times of need, right?
The agency I'm a part of happens to be close by; if you have nowhere else to go, why donāt you stay there for the time being?
AKIRA: At an entertainment agency?! That doesnāt sound like a place I could just barge intoā¦
FIGARO: I scouted you, remember? If anything, we should welcome you with open arms.
Plus, I canāt just leave you out in the streets at this hour, can I? Some scary folks might come and take you away.
AKIRA: Did you say scary folks? Are crime and insecurity causes of concern in this cityā¦?
FIGARO: I'm just saying we live in a world where there are good people as there are bad. Everyone is busy living their own lives.
Just so you know, Iām the former. Partly because I work in an industry where popularity is everything, but also because I make it a point to live a life of integrity. In fact, Iāve never been caught up in a scandal or controversyāIām an elite with a squeaky-clean track record.
Wait. That didnāt backfire on me and make me seem more suspicious, did it?
Even through his mask, I could tell he was trying to be playful which didnāt fail to put a smile on my face. I felt my nerves relax a bit.
AKIRA: Well, if weāre talking suspicious, that makes us two. And yet you treated me with kindness; I canāt tell you how glad I am that you did.
So if itās no trouble at allā¦ I think Iāll take you up on your offer. Thanks for having me.
FIGARO: Youāre very welcome. First, let's head to the parking lot; I left my car there.
Oh, and how does sweets sound? We can buy some on our way back.
Following Figaroās light footsteps, we headed toward the vortex of a busy intersection.
The city dazzled brightly at night. Its streets are filled with hustle and bustle as if it never knows sleep.
FIGARO: Here we are. Welcome to Vollmond Production, one of the leading agencies in the show business.
Well, what are you waiting for? Come on in.
AKIRA: T-Thank you. Wow, this office looks amazingā¦
Adorned with high ceilings and roomy leather sofas, the luxurious and spacious interior reminded me of a top-tier company you see in foreign films.
In one corner of the room, a pair of men were sitting on the sofas, flipping through some booklets as they chatted.
FIGARO: Hi there, Bradleyā¦ and Oz? I wasnāt expecting you here.
OZ: Tiletta sent me here to drop off some documents for the drama series we'll be filming soon.
BRADLEY: And I take it youāre back from the twinsā errand? Hey, what a real cutie you got there.
FIGARO: Their nameās Akira. They were lost, so I brought them here for the time being.
OZ: Akiraā¦
AKIRA: G-Good evening. I'm sorry for dropping by unannouncedā¦
OZ: Iām no longer affiliated with this agency, itās no skin off my back.
AKIRA: (No longer?)
BRADLEY: Haha! Poor thingās shaking like a newborn fawn. Who's gonna look after them, you?
FIGARO: Thatās the plan since everyone else is out today and our CEOs are away on a business trip.
BRADLEY: You don't say.
The man called Bradley raised an eyebrow then inched closer as he placed his hands in his pockets.
He examines me with amusement in his appraising wine-red eyes.
The sweet, wild scent of perfume wafts through the air like a call of temptation.
BRADLEY: Heck, you look way more clueless than Riquet when he first came here.
Now Iām reluctant to leave you with Figaro and let him dye you in his color. How about I teach you the ropes instead? Sounds like a good deal, yeah?
AKIRA: W-Wellā¦!
FIGARO: Come on, thatās enough. Itās not every day you get to find such a pure soul; I canāt have you influencing them to go delinquent.
Akira dear, wouldnāt you rather stick with someone kind and friendly like me than with someone intimidating?
BRADLEY: Eugh, drop the charming act.
Here's some friendly advice, Akira: I wouldnāt lower my guard around Figaro if I were you. Heās a man of many faces.
Iām dead set on bringing him to his knees through my craftājust you wait. You better be listening yourself, Oz, ācause youāre also on my target list.
OZ: Iād like to see you try.
FIGARO: Ever the hot-blooded actors, these two.
I think weāve been through this before, Bradley. If you truly are that determined, what you should be doing next is to make a comeback into the action genre.
BRADLEY: Yeah, not happening. Iām steering clear of the genre until that runaway resurfaces for good.
Anyway, Iāll see you around, newbie.
Bradley scoops up the documents and script on the table and gently taps my head with it. He made his way to the entrance in long strides.
Not long after, I heard what I believe is a beeping sound for a notification.
FIGARO: Was that Arthur on the other line?
OZ: Correct. He called to let me know dinner will be ready soon.
FIGARO: Youāre one lucky guy, you know that? Each day must be a novel and delightful experience for you when youāre living with a young boy like him.
That arrangement ought to turn that unbecoming frown of an actor upside down, right?
OZ: I will not change; if anyone is going to, itās him.
FIGARO: If you say so. In any case, Iām glad to know you two are hitting it off well. You know, considering how reluctant you were prior to your transfer.
OZ: ā¦Iāve done my part here; Iām leaving.
Make sure you hand the documents to the twins when they come back.
FIGARO: And there he goes. Talk about standoffish.
AKIRA: If you donāt mind me askingā¦ The man who left just now, is he not a talent of this agency?
FIGARO: Well, he was until recentlyābut not anymore. That said, he comes here every now and then, so youāll probably be seeing more of him.
Anyway, that's enough introductions for today, don't you think? You should go get some rest now.
The guest room is at the end of the hall and the shower room is that way. Feel free to use both.
Iāll put the sweets we bought in the fridge. Eat them if you feel hungry.
ā¦That reminds me, you donāt have a phone, do you?
AKIRA: No, I donāt seem to have one on my personā¦
FIGARO: Here, Iāll let you borrow my spare.
Figaro handed me a smartphone that looked shiny and brand new as if itās never been used.
When I turned it on, a wallpaper of an intersection with cherry blossom in full bloom and the moon hanging in the sky was shown on the screen.
AKIRA: (Oh, this is the area I saw earlier. The moon looks strikingly huge hereā¦)
