At the same time, a theater staff member also noticed the commotion and hurried over. Upon spotting Toshirou Kindaichi , the troupe's general manager, they immediately bowed in greeting before turning to address the woman politely.
"You are Ms. Arima, Seat A-15-05, correct? According to our regulations, our theater generally does not admit elderly patrons over eighty or expectant mothers like yourself in late-term pregnancy."
"We sincerely apologize for our staff's oversight in not clarifying this beforehand. As a gesture of goodwill, we will refund your ticket in full and warmly welcome you to visit our theater again after your safe delivery."
Despite the humble tone, Ms. Arima seemed unmoved. She raised an eyebrow and unconsciously raised her voice:
"Are you kicking me out?"
As she spoke, she rubbed her prominently rounded belly, making Toshirou Kindaichi half-suspect that if they pushed too hard, she might just collapse on the spot in an exaggerated display.
With the play about to begin and Kitagawa Ryo's popularity undeniable, the audience was steadily filling their seats. The small group standing in the aisle had already drawn curious glances from many.
"If you insist on attending today's performance, Ms. Arima, our theater will not bear any responsibility for any unforeseen incidents."
Toshirou Kindaichi had no intention of letting this disrupt the premiere. After delivering this warning, he quickly assigned staff to keep an eye on her and even preemptively contacted the nearest hospital.
Ms. Arima scoffed and sat back down, her domineering aura vanishing instantly as she lowered her head and whispered softly to her belly, as if sharing a secret with her unborn child.
Kitagawa Ruby , who had dismissed the incident as a minor hiccup, paid it no further mind. Toshirou Kindaichi soon guided her back to the reserved seating area at the rear. But with other matters to attend to, he scanned the crowd before spotting Ichigo Saitou and his wife among the throng of journalists.
"Saitou, good to see you again."
After a brief exchange, Toshirou Kindaichi entrusted Ruby to Miyako Saitou 's care, asking the couple to keep an eye on her.
As a fan of Kitagawa Ryo, Miyako Saitou was quite fond of the little girl and readily agreed. She lifted Ruby onto her lap, letting her lean against the back of the seat in front for a better view.
Amused, Miyako Saitou noticed the unusually serious expression on Ruby 's small face, her striking crimson eyes fixed unblinkingly on the stage.
Thinking this might make for a fun reaction video—akin to those "Foreigners Watch [X Show] for the First Time" clips—Miyako Saitou pulled out her phone with her free hand and aimed the camera at Ruby 's profile.
If the footage turned out well and she got permission later, she might even post it online. She'd already imagined the clickbaity title:
[Shocking! Three-Year-Old Sister's Unbelievable Reaction Watching Her Brother's Play for the First Time!]
Ever since journalist Tanaka pioneered this hyperbolic headline style two years ago, cementing his status at Weekly Entertainment Spotlight, most self-media had jumped on the bandwagon, mastering the art of sensationalism.
Of course, Miyako Saitou was just having fun. She wouldn't actually upload it without Kitagawa Ryo and Ruby 's consent.
Maybe I'll send it to Ryo after the show?
As her thoughts wandered, the theater lights dimmed, and the curtains rose.
The play The Forbidden Game of Youth had officially begun.
"You consider this a game?"
"An experiment, if you prefer."
"Using living people?"
"Well, we can't very well use rabbits, can we?"
Onstage, Kitagawa Ryo, as Volodya , flawlessly embodied the character's chilling madness beneath a veneer of aristocratic elegance, epitomizing the phrase "a wolf in sheep's clothing."
This was a side of Ryo his fans had never seen before—a stark departure from his previous roles.
Most child stars fail to sustain their early fame. After a year or two of meteoric popularity, they often vanish from public view even faster.
For many, the reason is superficial yet brutally honest: their looks.
Just as audiences had once complained that the grown-up lead in a tokusatsu series "couldn't live up to young Ryo's looks," most child stars lose their youthful charm as they age.
A few unflattering candid photos circulating online can cement the "they grew up wrong" label, causing their popularity to plummet.
There have even been cases where adult former child stars, recognized on the street and asked to recreate their iconic childhood poses, were met with disappointed sighs of "Not as cute as they used to be."
But Kitagawa Ryo's fame had only grown over the years. His looks improved with age, and his range expanded rather than narrowed.
What delighted fans even more was how, since his debut, Ryo had continually taken on diverse roles, like an inexhaustible treasure trove, delivering new surprises at every turn.
Just as he had shattered his early "ten-second laugh machine" comedic image with He Once Lived.
Kitagawa Ruby 's small mouth hung slightly open as she stared dumbfounded at her brother onstage.
Miyako Saitou dabbed at the corner of Ruby 's mouth with a handkerchief.
But Ruby was oblivious to the gesture. She was utterly absorbed in the world onstage—or more precisely, in Kitagawa Ryo's performance.
Her mind was blank, and she wanted to keep it that way.
Onstage, Volodya sneered at Yelena, laughing uproariously:
"How old are you? Thirty-two? Thirty-three? Thirty-four? Or maybe forty-four? Just asking—not that it matters."
"Yelena Sergeyevna, I hereby formally propose to you. Of course, the condition is that you give us the key first. Hmm? I didn't hear you. Do you accept? Why the long face? Shouldn't a bride-to-be be overjoyed?"
He extended his hand with the grace of a gentleman proposing to his beloved.
"Make up your mind, Yelena Sergeyevna. I won't disappoint you."
Even Miyako Saitou found herself mesmerized. Just as she tensely awaited the next development, she suddenly heard soft, eager murmurs of agreement.
"Huh? Is this how it goes?"
Her brain short-circuited for a second before she realized the lines weren't coming from the stage—but from Kitagawa Ruby , who was nodding vigorously in her lap.
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm."
Was this her way of being stunned by Ryo's performance?
Miyako Saitou tilted her head slightly, but her husband, Ichigo Saitou , clenched his fists nervously. The play had reached its climax, and Hoshino Ai, as Lyalya, reappeared under the spotlight.
Then, she was forcibly pinned to a folding chair by Kitagawa Ryo.
Ruby 's eyes widened.
"S'il vous plaît, Madame."
His left hand rested on her shoulder, his right sliding to her waist.
Ruby leaned forward slightly.
" Lyalya, now you understand what I want from you, don't you? Take off your clothes."
As he spoke, his right hand, previously at her waist, slowly descended to grip the hem of her white stockings.
Ruby wrinkled her tiny nose.
"Go on, your coat, your stockings, and... Hmm?"
His fingers slipped beneath the fabric before tearing it open with a sharp tug. Fragments of white lace fluttered to the ground.
Ruby 's heart leaped into her throat.
She knew nothing would actually happen.
But Kitagawa Ryo's acting made it feel inevitable.
Especially when it was… her brother's performance.
While the entire audience was captivated by Ryo onstage, Ichigo Saitou kept his eyes fixed on Hoshino Ai.
Even now, he still believed in her talent.
Just as he had the moment he first saw her outside that Starbucks and decided to build an idol group around her as the undisputed center.
The restrained girl began her futile cries for help.
First, to Pasha, her former lover who now stood by passively.
Then:
"Mom—"
Amid the cacophony onstage, her voice somehow pierced through with crystalline clarity, reaching straight into the audience's hearts.
Sometimes, a character's defining moment needs just one word, one gesture, or even a single glance.
Ichigo Saitou sensed the shift around him. The seats were packed with journalists who had come to cover Kitagawa Ryo's new play, hoping to snag an exclusive interview.
But now, he could hear them whispering:
"That girl's acting is impressive."
"Haven't heard much about her before."
"If we can't get Kitagawa Ryo, maybe we should interview her afterward."
Exhaling in relief, Ichigo Saitou allowed himself a small smile, eager to share his triumph with his wife.
Then, he noticed the child in her arms.
The earlier excitement had drained from Ruby 's face, like a balloon abruptly deflated.
But while a balloon might still drift pathetically before collapsing into a wrinkled scrap, Kitagawa Ruby could only curl up silently in Miyako Saitou 's embrace.
"Kids tire out quickly once the novelty wears off."
Without giving it much thought, Ichigo Saitou turned his attention back to the stage, already envisioning how this exposure would propel B-Komachi to new heights.
The thought made him chuckle aloud again.
Kitagawa Ruby buried her face in her knees.
The man sitting next to her—
Was so annoying.
As expected, The Forbidden Game of Youth was met with widespread acclaim, hailed as "a masterpiece enjoyable even for those unfamiliar with theater."
Alongside the praise for Kitagawa Ryo, many publications also highlighted the performance of "newcomer actress" Hoshino Ai.
Her single line—"Mom—"—was lauded by critics as "a tremolo from the soul."
Seizing the momentum, Berry Pro CEO Ichigo Saitou pushed B-Komachi—or more precisely, its star center Hoshino Ai—into a second wave of explosive popularity.
After nearly a month of grueling schedules balancing the play and idol activities, The Forbidden Game of Youth finally concluded its run, giving Hoshino Ai a chance to catch her breath.
"So tired—ah!"
Flopping face-first into the plush sofa, Hoshino Ai raised a bottle of Orange Bear juice toward the ceiling and groaned dramatically.
"By the way, why doesn't Ryo's fridge have any Strawberry Rabbit? It's all Orange Bear and Watermelon Cat."
"Ruby bought them all. Maybe she doesn't like that flavor."
Kitagawa Ryo emerged from his room carrying a tall stack of books.
"Oh, where is Ruby ?"
"At kindergarten. Why?"
"I see."
Hoshino Ai grinned and scooted closer to Ryo.
"Too hot."
Ryo nudged her thigh away with his foot in mock annoyance before pulling out the top book from his stack and flipping it open.
"What're you reading?"
Curious, Hoshino Ai leaned over his shoulder to peer at the pages.
"Some history and literature."
Ryo continued turning pages, unfazed.
"Ishizaki-san landed me a new role."
"NHK's next year's Taiga drama."
"Ooh."
Hoshino Ai made an impressed noise and shook Ryo's shoulders.
"Is that the weekly period drama thing?"
"Period dramas are just one type of Taiga drama."
Realizing he wouldn't get any reading done, Ryo closed the book and looked up to explain.
"Think of it as a grand historical series, usually set in the Warring States or Bakumatsu periods, following the lives of individuals or families to portray the era."
"The 'Taiga' (lit. 'great river') comes from the French roman-fleuve—symbolizing history's relentless flow. These dramas often focus on personal or familial sagas against historical backdrops."
"Uh… didn't get that."
Hoshino Ai scratched her head. For someone who'd dropped out of elementary school, terms like "Warring States period" and "Bakumatsu" were already beyond her grasp.
"But I know it's a big deal! Super high ratings."
"That's true."
Ryo nodded. Though Taiga dramas had declined slightly in recent years, they still maintained viewership above 10%. Unlike regular dramas, they were considered prestige projects, often receiving support from cultural and tourism bureaus.
Thus, casting prioritized acting chops over pure popularity.
An actor like Kitagawa Ryo—both talented and famous—was every director's dream.
But his youth still limited him to minor roles. More than one director had patted his shoulder regretfully, as if they wished he'd grow up faster.
"You should read more too, Ai. Might get you a Taiga role someday."
Ryo glanced at her seriously.
Though he'd tutored her in basic literacy, their lessons had focused on scripts.
Recently, Taiga dramas had begun featuring more female-led narratives, like Gou: Princesses of the Warring States.
"If you say so, I'll give it a shot."
Hoshino Ai nodded and casually plucked two books from Ryo's desk.
"I'll borrow these first, then."
"Sure, return them when you're done."
Ryo didn't check which books she'd taken, already absorbed in his reading again.
He didn't notice that one of them was The Tale of Genji.
Written by Murasaki Shikibu in the Heian period, this classic follows the life and loves of nobleman Hikaru Genji.
But its most infamous element is a deeply unsettling subplot:
The protagonist raises a young girl to mold her into his "ideal woman," then marries her.
A trope now known as the Hikaru Genji Plan.