I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 247

The official announcement from A10 Studio, which had easily surpassed 30,000 comments, was still receiving a flood of replies. The SNS post read:

[Hello, this is A10 Studio. Today, we have news about our new animation! After much deliberation, we’ve decided on a project that includes several challenges we haven’t attempted before, so we’re very excited to share it with you. The title of the project we’ve poured our hearts into is ‘Boyfriend: Remake’. Does the title sound familiar? Yes, that’s right!]

[‘Boyfriend: Remake’ is based on the drama ‘Boyfriend,’ which was a huge hit in Japan and is still enjoyed by many! We’ve already started production after adapting the script and are picking up the pace. If everything goes as planned, we should be able to show it to you in the second half of this year!]

A10 Studio released the basic information about ‘Boyfriend: Remake’ and then moved on to the next topic.

[We know you’re already excited, but we have even more surprising news! It’s about the voice actor lineup. We’ve cast a truly amazing person as the male lead in ‘Boyfriend: Remake’! He’s the hottest actor in Japan right now! The actor who has topped the trend charts! It’s none other than Kang Woo-jin!! He was also the male lead in the original ‘Boyfriend,’ and he’s agreed to voice the character in ‘Boyfriend: Remake’! But that’s not all…]

A10 Studio posted a rather lengthy message, enthusiastically sharing information about Kang Woo-jin. They revealed that Woo-jin would not only be the male lead voice actor but would also participate in the animation’s OST [Original Soundtrack] and even play the piano, which is currently a hot topic. It was full of fresh surprises that the public would enjoy.

From the start, it was novel that a Korean actor would take on one of the most popular animation voice acting roles in Japan.

However, A10 Studio seemed to have more to reveal, as they naturally changed the subject.

[We’ve also successfully cast Asami Saya, who experienced a dramatic story with Kang Woo-jin!]

The existence of Asami Saya was also revealed. Currently, the two hottest figures on Japanese SNS were confirmed to be cast together. In other words, ‘Boyfriend: Remake’ was infused with a heartwarming story and a shocking twist from its very first reveal.

That’s why the 30,000+ comments were all in a state of excitement.

-This is so interesting!! I’m so excited!

-Kang Woo-jin and Saya-san in one project… their connection continues.

-Oh my god, Boyfriend!! Boyfriend is coming out as an animation! A10 is the best!!

-Kang Woo-jin’s fan service for one person is bearing fruit like this! I’ll definitely watch it!

Of course, these reactions were just the beginning. Since Kang Woo-jin was shaking up Japanese SNS, the influx of the public was currently overflowing like crazy.

-Woo-jin’s OST? Piano performance? The wait is going to be tough…

-Kang Woo-jin is really amazing. Honestly, there have been quite a few Korean actors who have advanced into Japan, but this is the first time someone has become this popular, right?

-wwww Kang Woo-jin is now expanding from ‘Nakkisaeng’ to animation? His momentum is good, but there must be quite a few people who dislike him too, right?

-It’s definitely a huge challenge for A10, but they’ve definitely succeeded in their promotional marketing.

-If ‘Boyfriend’ is the original, then is Hwa-rin, who was the female lead, also cast?

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Moreover, this phenomenon was just from one Instagram post. A10 Studio was operating all three major Japanese SNS platforms and uploaded posts on all of them, including Twitter, at the same time. The Twitter side was even more extreme than Instagram.

The number of likes was terrifying, the comments were being updated every second, and the shares were endless.

The power of ‘#KangWooJin’ was absurd.

The power of the monstrous issues that had been built up since the beginning of ‘Nakkisaeng,’ combined with the recent incident with Asami Saya, focused all that attention on ‘Boyfriend: Remake.’

This quickly spread to the Japanese public’s messengers and began to infiltrate their conversations.

“Did you see the news about the new animation A10 announced?? They’re making it based on ‘Boyfriend’! And Kang Woo-jin is the male lead voice actor!”

“Huh- really? I really enjoyed ‘Boyfriend’!”

“Wait, I’ll share A10’s feed.”

Indeed, Japan was an animation powerhouse. The level of interest was extraordinary. If the online response was explosive, the offline response was no less so. The issue, passed from mouth to mouth and hand to hand, spread to many areas.

Internet broadcasts, YouTube, the broadcasting industry, the press.

『「A10」 Adapts ‘Boyfriend’ into Animation, Kang Woo-jin Chosen as Male Lead Voice Actor!』

Of course, it also spread rapidly within the Japanese voice acting community. The reaction in the voice acting world was mixed.

Some were purely curious about Kang Woo-jin, while others were negative. Although it was an event, Kang Woo-jin’s entry into voice acting was novel, but for Japanese voice actors, it felt like their rice bowl was being taken away [a metaphor for losing their livelihood].

However, this trend, like a tidal wave, could not be stopped by anyone.

Right now, the most powerful issue in Japan was Kang Woo-jin, no matter what anyone said. It was no exaggeration to say it was the first time in the history of the Japanese entertainment industry. That was the extent of his power.

As a result.

『「’Boyfriend: Remake’」 Rapidly Spreads on SNS, Immediately Reclaims Top Spot in Trend Rankings』

‘Boyfriend: Remake’ was firmly imprinted in the minds of the Japanese public.

At the same time.

In front of a karaoke bar in Kabukicho, which is a place of revelry at night but relatively peaceful during the day, two men were looking down at the stairs leading to the basement. They were detectives. Among them, Japan’s top actor, Mana Kosaku, with a cigarette in his mouth. Or rather, ‘Yoshizawa Mochio’ from ‘Nakkisaeng,’ muttered gruffly.

“It’s gloomy.”

His face, wearing a navy lightweight padding, still showed a lack of motivation. The junior detective standing next to Mochio sighed softly.

“Senior, can’t you hide that tired expression?”

“Why?”

“A detective investigating a murder case looks too exhausted.”

“Does it matter? It’s enough if you’re upright.”

“Haa-”

The detectives were investigating the death of ‘Konakayama Kinzo.’ A camera was filming the two of them from the side. The two actors were clearly displayed on the monitor that Director Kyotaro was watching. Then, Mochio flicked the cigarette he had finished and stretched.

“Ah, what was her name again?”

The junior detective took out his notebook and replied.

“‘Horinochi Amie,’ the owner of this karaoke bar. We contacted her, so she’s probably waiting.”

“This is where Konakayama Kinzo was last before he died.”

“Yes.”

“Horinochi Amie… was she Kinzo’s mistress?”

“Well, it’s not certain, but it’s possible.”

“They were classmates, right?”

“Yes, Kinzo and Amie. They went to the same school and seem to have remained close friends since then.”

“……”

Mochio, scratching his head as if annoyed, took out a new cigarette and put it in his mouth.

“If you were about to die, who would you call?”

“Normally, the police.”

“Right? But the last person Kinzo called wasn’t the police or his wife, but Amie. Why would that be?”

“Isn’t that what we’re here to ask?”

“That’s right. But we’re detectives, so we have to make predictions.”

Mochio and the junior detective had already completed their investigation into Kinzo. They had looked into his entire life, his usual behavior, his family, his route before his death, his cell phone, and so on.

“But what’s even stranger is not ‘why’ Kinzo called Amie, but ‘how’ he could call Amie.”

“That’s… maybe he seized an opportunity in a moment?”

Mochio blew out cigarette smoke and tapped the junior detective’s head.

“Idiot, Kinzo was kidnapped, bound, raped, and then murdered. There was no chance for a moment. In other words, he was forced to call Amie.”

“By Misaki Shutoku?”

Mochio, throwing his cigarette on the ground, shrugged at the question.

“Yes. Or an accomplice.”

“Senior, are you still thinking that? There were no traces found at the scene except for Misaki Shutoku’s. The higher-ups are telling us to close the case quickly because the evidence is clear…”

“Something strange is strange.”

“The problem is that it’s not evidence, but your gut feeling, Senior.”

“From the start, there was no motive for murder between Kinzo and Shutoku. We dug into it, but there was no connection between them. Shutoku’s criminal record was clean too. For a first-time offender, the murder process is too meticulous, isn’t it? And if it was just a murder for pleasure, it’s too excessive.”

“Excessive?”

“Yes. The production is excessive. Kidnapping, homosexual rape, provocative evidence and scene, suicide. It’s just enough to make the whole country talk about it.”

“Hmm- it’s already a mess. That’s why the higher-ups are pushing us more. To wrap it up quickly.”

At that moment.

-Swish.

A man walked past the two detectives in front of the karaoke bar. The camera continued to film the man from the front, walking backward. Mochio, who was looking at the junior detective, glanced at the passing man.

He was a man who could be seen anywhere.

Unkempt hair that seemed like he didn’t care, a blank expression that was exhausted, an ordinary suit that looked like it was copied from others, and a bag slung over his shoulder. The man walked past the detectives with calm steps and moved away. Mochio, watching the man’s back, looked down at his wristwatch.

“Two o’clock.”

The junior detective frowned.

“Yes?”

“What’s a company worker doing in Kabukicho?”

“He came to have fun.”

“At a time when lunch is long over?”

“There are quite a few company workers like that. They prefer the daytime to the night.”

“Lucky them- but why does his expression look like that?”

“What do you mean?”

Mochio scratched his chin. Then, he briefly recalled the face of the man who had just passed by.

“It’s like he has no expression.”

“He must be tired.”

The junior detective sighed. He stepped onto the stairs leading to the underground karaoke bar first.

“Let’s go in.”

“……”

Mochio, who had been silent, looked at the end of the alley where the man had disappeared, then, thinking, ‘Whatever?’ followed the junior detective. The camera filmed the two detectives from behind. Then, the camera showed the alley where the man had disappeared again.

3 seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds.

Right then.

-Swish.

The man who had disappeared at the end of the alley reappeared. The camera slowly approached the man. Accordingly, the man’s face, displayed on the monitor, gradually grew larger. The man. No, Iyota Kiyoshi muttered in a dry tone.

“Next.”

After a moment of silence, Director Kyotaro’s sign was shouted. It was OK, but the angle was changed and the action was done again. The scene was repeated about two times.

After that, the ‘Nakkisaeng’ team moved inside the karaoke bar.

It was a fairly large karaoke bar with a hall and rooms. The atmosphere of the hall was like a typical bar, and the rooms were equipped with karaoke machines. The ‘Nakkisaeng’ team took root in such a karaoke bar. Soon, the assistant director shouted to the extras who were preparing.

“Take your seats!!”

About a dozen extras filled the tables in the karaoke hall. The extras playing the staff took their places at the counter bar. And.

“……”

Kang Woo-jin, wearing an ordinary suit, appeared. It wasn’t a cut that immediately followed the scene where the two detectives appeared, but rather a past scene before Kinzo’s death was being filmed first.

Just before Director Kyotaro’s action.

Kang Woo-jin, with a bag slung over his shoulder like a company worker, was already filled with Iyota Kiyoshi. His face was clearly defined. A withered breath without any particular characteristics or features.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

‘Hoo- after all, Kim Ryu-jin would be better.’

Kang Woo-jin, standing in front of the camera, reached out his hand to ‘Kim Ryu-jin’ of the ‘Private Investigation Agency.’ Of course, it was for character synthesis. Kiyoshi adds a bit of acting in this scene according to the scenario. He raises the tension a little from his original appearance. But it’s a bit bland. That’s what Woo-jin thought after finishing the scenario analysis.

That’s why he synthesizes Kiyoshi and Kim Ryu-jin.

Soon, Director Kyotaro’s voice was heard in front of the monitor.

“Standby-”

Then, the bright lights of the karaoke hall dimmed halfway, and the lighting changed subtly. Soft music also started playing. The extras began to talk as if they were customers. They also exchanged drinks.

At the same time.

“Hi- Action.”

Kiyoshi, wearing a suit, appeared in front of the camera that was filming the entire hall from the entrance. Step by step. His steps were without hesitation, but not very energetic. His expression was also dead.

“……”

Woo-jin, or Kiyoshi, calmly scanned the hall and walked towards the bar where two waiters stood, with various expensive liquors on display. This scene was before Kinzo’s death, in the process of investigating Horinochi Amie, one of his other ‘tasks.’

Of course, Kiyoshi came at a time when Amie was not there.

He had no intention of showing his face to Amie. It was two hours before she, the owner of the karaoke bar, would arrive. Of course, it wasn’t just a visit for investigation. Kiyoshi, the ‘stranger’ Kang Woo-jin, came to pick up a piece for Amie’s ‘bizarre sacrifice.’

“Welcome.”

The greetings of the male and female waiters who were wiping cups. Kang Woo-jin sat in front of the male waiter in uniform. The camera filmed his still expressionless face and the bar from the side. The male waiter was young and handsome. He placed the cup he was wiping in front of Woo-jin, who was wearing a suit, and politely asked.

“What would you like?”

Despite being handsome, his voice was very heavy. At that moment, a smile suddenly spread across Woo-jin’s withered face. It was a relatively tired smile. Kim Ryu-jin’s. But his eyes were dead. Kang Woo-jin took out a cigarette case from his inside pocket and said. His tone was slightly higher.

“Shall we start with a beer?”

The male waiter bowed his head.

“Understood.”

The male waiter, turning his body, had the words ‘A company worker with no money’ written all over his face. But he did not lose his politeness. The male waiter placed a simple dried snack and a glass of beer in front of Woo-jin, and Kang Woo-jin took a sip of the cool beer.

“Ah- that’s good. All the fatigue of the day is gone.”

“Our liquors here will make you feel even better.”

The handsome male waiter recommended expensive liquors. At this time, the camera zoomed in on Woo-jin’s face, and Kang Woo-jin, with a slightly surprised expression, said to the male waiter.

“I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere? Could you come a little closer?”

“Yes? Me?”

“Yes.”

Although he was startled, the male waiter calmly took a step closer to Woo-jin, and Kang Woo-jin moved his face closer to the male waiter and made eye contact. His dry eyes were completely opposite to the smile on his lips. The male waiter got goosebumps on his arms.

‘……Crazy. What are these eyes.’

It was as an actor, not as a character. It was a type of acting he had never seen before. Regardless, Kang Woo-jin suddenly raised his index finger and pointed it at the male waiter.

Then he whispered.

“Ah- right, you’re ‘Horinochi Amie’s’ lover, aren’t you?”