Kang Woojin looked toward the same arrival gate he had passed through before, back when filming Boy Friend. It was his second visit, yet the place still felt faintly unfamiliar.
And more than that—
'Hwarin's not here today either.'
Unlike his previous trip to Japan for Boy Friend, this time Woojin had come alone. The absence of a companion made itself known in the uneven rhythm of his heartbeat.
'Yeah… this is a bit nerve-wracking.'
The tension crept up on him. Choi Sunggeon had warned him that, just like before, reporters and fans would be waiting in droves. And a lot had changed in a short time. In Japan, Boy Friend and Ametalk Show! had both exploded in popularity, and The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice had stirred the entire country.
Then there was his channel, Kang Woojin's Alter Ego, which had reached six million subscribers.
By now, Kang Woojin stood shoulder to shoulder with the actors who had driven the Korean Wave in Japan. Still, before stepping into the arrival hall, he gave himself a quick once-over. He had gone to the salon early that morning, so his hair and makeup were flawless. He wore a black trench coat.
'Still feels a bit awkward.'
Even so, he was surrounded by dozens of staff and security personnel.
He stepped through the arrival gate.
At that exact moment—
'…Whoa, what the hell is this?! This is insane!'
Woojin was genuinely startled inside. The reason was obvious.
"Kang Woojin! Kang Woojin!!!"
"Are you heading straight to the script reading for The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice ?!"
"What do you think about the popularity of Boy Friend ?!"
"Look over here!! Please, just once!!"
"Mr. Kang Woojin! How do you feel about working with Japanese actors?!"
Hundreds of reporters pressed tightly against the barricades, firing off rapid Japanese questions.
"Is it true you've been in contact with a Japanese agency regarding a transfer?!"
Camera flashes erupted nonstop.
Papapapapak!
Papapapapapapak!!
Even though he had experienced something like this before, Woojin felt dizzy. To be honest, he had not expected this level of attention. Still, he had to steady himself. He reminded himself to stay true to his concept. If he slipped here, it would be a problem.
With a deep, unreadable expression, Woojin raised a hand and gave a brief wave to the reporters. It looked slightly stiff at a glance, but no one seemed to mind.
The roar of the fans surrounding the reporters filled the entire arrival hall.
"Kyaa!!"
"Kang Woojin! Kang Woojin!!!"
"Boy Friend was amazing!!"
"Please look this way!! I'm a BJ—say hi to my viewers! Kyaa! Don't push!!"
"I watch your YouTube channel all the time!!"
Most of it was in Japanese, but here and there, awkward Korean could be heard.
"Oppa! Oppa, I love you!!"
There were both male and female fans, but the overwhelming majority were women. It was the lingering effect of Boy Friend, which was still riding high in popularity. His name constantly trended across Japanese social media and communities, and his OST tracks were ranking high on the Oricon charts.
Given all that, the scene made perfect sense.
"Hello. Thank you."
After offering a short greeting to both reporters and fans, Woojin quickly moved toward the van waiting outside Haneda Airport. Behind him, reporters and fans chased after him as closely as they could.
Soon—
Vroooom!
Three vans started moving one after another. Inside the van Woojin boarded, cheers erupted from the stylists, including Han Yejung.
"Daebak! Woojin oppa, what's your secret?!"
"I know, right?! At this rate, you could stand shoulder to shoulder with top idols!"
"Did you see that BJ among the fans? Boy Friend must be huge in Japan!"
"Wasn't it similar to when you came with Hwarin?"
"There were a lot of Korean reporters too!"
They showered the calm Woojin with excitement and praise. In truth, Woojin himself felt like bouncing his shoulders in excitement, but outwardly he maintained his composed expression.
Then—
"Woojin."
From the passenger seat, Choi Sunggeon turned slightly to call him. It was time for a briefing.
"You remember we added a few Japanese schedules while you're here because of The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice script reading, right?"
"Yes, I remember."
Choi Sunggeon flipped a page in his planner.
"After the script reading, you have a short interview with PD Shinjo related to Ametalk Show!. It'll air on the main broadcast and on YouTube. Then there's about an hour of filming for Boy Friend at the Netflix Japan studio. It's performing way beyond our expectations here."
It was a schedule that would take at least three days. Japan was close, but it was still overseas, so it made sense to handle everything in one trip.
"And there's also a fan signing event hosted by Netflix Japan. It's not huge, but we're expecting at least a hundred people."
Japanese fans?
Come to think of it, this would be his first time meeting them in person. His Japanese skills would help, but Woojin still felt a slight tension as he recalled past fan signings.
'Are they different from Korean fans? Probably similar… right?'
Questions flooded his mind, but his outward seriousness only deepened.
"It's fine."
"Ha, yeah. You'll handle it easily. Oh, and one more thing."
Closing his planner, Choi Sunggeon shifted topics.
"The official announcement about your contract hasn't been made yet, right? So the media and public are throwing out all kinds of speculation. I think it's better to let it sit a bit longer."
"You mean we should keep letting the issue circulate?"
"Exactly. These kinds of topics help boost awareness. We won't drag it out too long, though. Once the atmosphere heats up enough, we'll move in."
"Understood."
"Good. Leave it to me."
Choi Sunggeon, Jang Soohwan, Han Yejung, and the rest of Woojin's now considerably larger team all smiled quietly. They already knew they would be continuing together, but for now, it remained a secret.
Then—
Choi Sunggeon handed Woojin a clear file he had prepared.
"What's this?"
"You know, right? In The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice*, you're the only Korean actor, and aside from our team, the staff are all Japanese. You might not care much, but it could still feel unfamiliar. This is a brief introduction to the actors you'll be meeting."*
"Ah."
"As you'll see, there are a lot of incredible actors. Naturally. The director is Kyotaro Tanoguchi, and the original author is Akari. Do you recognize any of them?"
Not at all. The Japanese actors in the file were completely unfamiliar to Woojin. They might have been top stars in Japan, but to him, they were strangers.
'Just… good-looking Japanese people.'
He would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous, but honestly, it felt less intense than when he had worked on Island of the Missing. At least, that was how Woojin felt.
He looked out the van window at the passing Japanese cityscape. It was subtly different from Korea.
"Still, it's kind of surreal. Filming a movie with a master Japanese director."
Even though this was just a script reading, the more time passed, the more unreal it felt. But it wasn't a dream. A large number of Japanese fans were already going wild over Kang Woojin.
And slowly, his ambition began to grow.
'When The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice releases, how many more Japanese fans will I gain?'
At that same moment, inside the Kashiwa Group headquarters—
Executives in suits filed out of a meeting room one after another. At the very end stood an elderly man with white eyebrows: Chairman Hideki. Buttoning his jacket, he spoke in a low, aged voice to his secretaries.
"What time is it?"
From the rigidly standing secretary Lily came a prompt reply.
"It's ten o'clock."
"When is the reading for The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice*?"*
"It starts at eleven. We can leave now."
"Mm. Good. Let's go."
"Yes, Chairman."
Chairman Hideki began walking, heading to the script reading. But in Lily's eyes, there was a faint trace of concern.
"Will you be alright? There are a lot of reporters at the venue."
With a wrinkled smile, Hideki answered softly.
"Does it matter? I'm simply visiting to show gratitude for being allowed to lend the venue."
At the same time—
Not just Chairman Hideki, but many others were making their way to the Kashiwa Tokyo Hotel, where the script reading would take place. Most noticeable were the Japanese actors.
Among them—
"Is it because of Kang Woojin? Haneda Airport was chaotic this morning because of that Korean actor."
Inside the car of top actor and famous band member Mana Kosaku, the topic of Kang Woojin filled the air. Kosaku, with his long hair tied back by a headband, had been contacted by Director Kyotaro after the Woojin incident, proof of his strong presence in Japan.
But his staff looked more concerned.
"Kang Woojin… honestly, I have no issue with Korean actors, but it's still a bit worrying."
"Really? He seemed to speak Japanese quite well on Ametalk Show!"
"Speaking Japanese and acting in Japanese are completely different things."
"Right. The acting styles in Korea and Japan are quite different."
"Director Kyotaro is really something else. Casting a Korean actor as the lead of The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice out of nowhere…"
Their concerns were understandable. Even though Woojin's recognition in Japan had risen explosively, he had yet to be fully verified. Acting in a foreign language was extremely difficult, and that was exactly what worried them.
Especially since The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice was such a significant project—and Kang Woojin was the only Korean actor.
Of course he would attract attention.
"Hmm—"
Arms crossed, Kosaku Mana fell into thought. But beyond concern, there was something else—an unexplainable sense of tension.
'Why does it feel dangerous, even though I'm only seeing him for the first time today?'
It was because of Woojin's explosive popularity, and the recognition he had received from Director Kyotaro and author Akari. Giants of the Japanese film industry had personally come to Korea and discovered this rookie actor.
And what Director Kyotaro had said about him—
'Because it has to be him.'
Kosaku Mana was a veteran of the Japanese entertainment industry. Yet a strange tension still lingered throughout his body.
"Why does it have to be him?"
Of course, he wasn't the only actor curious about Kang Woojin. More than five top-tier actors had been cast in The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice, and their reactions to Woojin were sharply divided.
Some actresses showed outright excitement.
"I'm so excited! I want to see him already!"
"Mifuyu, why are you so worked up? Calm down."
"Because Kang Woojin is handsome!"
"…There will be a lot of reporters there. Watch what you say. Do you want to start rumors again?"
"So what? I'm curious what he smells like."
"Hey! You!"
"Can I shake his hand? Or maybe hug him?"
Meanwhile, some male actors quietly evaluated his acting.
"His acting is very compelling."
"Is it?"
"He looks like a completely different person in every role."
"Really?"
"But it's uncertain whether he can deliver the same level in Japan."
Everyone felt like guests waiting for a party to begin.
About an hour later, at the Kashiwa Tokyo Hotel—
The exterior and lobby of the hotel were incredibly noisy. Most of the chaos came from the large number of reporters, but even hotel guests and staff crowded the corridors.
Why?
Because famous figures kept entering the hall one after another, triggering endless camera flashes.
Papapapapak!
Papapapapapapak!!
It looked less like a script reading and more like a massive event. Inside the hall, many people were already seated. A U-shaped table stood in the center, filled with actors seated behind nameplates, while their staff and the film crew occupied the surrounding area.
Along with dozens of reporters and officials.
Not everyone had arrived yet, but the number had already surpassed a hundred. At the front of the U-shaped table—
[Lee Sangman / Kang Woojin]
Kang Woojin had not appeared yet.
Then—
Two towering figures entered the crowded hall.
"Director! It's been a while!"
"Writer, it's an honor to finally meet you in person!"
It was the veteran, white-haired director Kyotaro Tanoguchi, and Akari, the bespectacled author of The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice. As they arrived, actors and staff rose all at once to greet them. The reporters' attention sharpened immediately.
"Ha ha, yes. Writer, have you been well? This is Mana Kosaku, the one I mentioned."
"Of course, I know. Nice to meet you, Mr. Mana."
"The honor is mine, writer."
Introductions and greetings flowed back and forth, but they were cut short when about a dozen reporters suddenly reacted.
"Oh, oh—he's here."
"What?"
"Chairman Hideki Yoshimura has arrived."
"What?!"
Chairman Hideki, resembling an aged lion, entered with his secretaries. The hall instantly fell into chaos. Even outside, the commotion seemed to grow. Camera flashes burst, star actors widened their eyes, staff froze, and the production team buzzed.
No one had expected the chairman to actually appear.
Meanwhile, Chairman Hideki, quietly observing the hall, remained completely composed. With a faint, wrinkled smile, he approached Director Kyotaro.
"Have you been well, Director?"
"Yes, of course. Thank you for coming."
He then turned to meet the eyes of author Akari.
"I've always enjoyed your works. It's an honor."
"The honor is mine. Thank you for lending the venue."
"I enjoyed The Stranger's Grim Sacrifice as well, so I'm very much looking forward to this adaptation."
He proceeded to shake hands with key figures. Whether intentional or not, his presence seemed to dominate the entire room. It was the unmistakable aura of one of the world's top conglomerate leaders.
Then—
"Excuse me."
A low, composed male voice in fluent but slightly unfamiliar Japanese came from the entrance.
At once, everyone in the hall—including Chairman Hideki and Director Kyotaro—turned to look.
Kang Woojin stood there, wearing his usual indifferent expression.
"I was delayed due to traffic from the airport."
In an instant, all eyes locked onto him. Director Kyotaro began walking toward him—
but before he could reach him, Chairman Hideki stepped forward first and extended his hand.
"I've been waiting for you."
Waiting?
Why would Chairman Hideki be waiting for him?
Director Kyotaro smiled faintly, as if he had expected this, while everyone else in the hall widened their eyes. A chairman waiting for a Korean actor he had never met—it was unthinkable.
Kang Woojin, still expressionless, reached out and shook his hand.
'Who is this old man?'