“I don’t see you in the drama these days. Did you get fired?” A classmate sitting next to him asked.

They had switched seats ever since the second semester started, and Maru got someone he had never talked to as his neighbor.

“I guess my appearances did decrease. I wasn’t fired. You know how the story is all about the love relationships of the main characters, right? Just that takes up all the time.”

“That sounds unfortunate.”

“I guess, I do get paid by the episode.”

“You don’t get a contract fee or something? Like in the tens of millions.”

“Those that sign a contract are the amazing people. In my case, I’m similar to a part timer. I get paid according to how many times I show up on TV.”

“Is your face all that needs to appear? Then do you still get paid if you don’t shoot but still show up in the episode?”

“If I don’t participate in the shoot, but my face shows up through someone’s memories or through a photo, I do get paid, though, not as much as shooting a full episode.”

“That sounds good, but it’d be better to get proper treatment by raising your value, right?”

“Obviously.”

His classmate nodded. Maru remembered this guy as one of the quiet kids in class, but it seemed that he was no different from a chatterbox. Did he not know because they weren’t close?

“Uhm, can I ask, is it hard to become an actor?”

For the first...