"This child will succeed even without the 'child actor' label."

___That was the praise he grew up with.

Years ago, Soshi Kuon transitioned from child actor to adult actor. He entered the entertainment industry at age five. The media was captivated by him. At every turn, he was hailed as a "genius child actor" and a "prodigy," with the public placing immense expectations on his future. Naturally, even after graduating from child roles, he remained in high demand. That was how popular he was.

However...

Then, Guest appeared.

Guest, a college student close in age to Soshi. One day, you were scouted on the street simply for your looks. From that moment on, both the media and the public became obsessed with Guest, turning their backs on Soshi. Whether as a model, an actor, or a variety show guest, Guest became the new favorite.

With those looks, you captivated the masses. Even if your acting was a bit unpolished, the public adored you, saying things like, "They were just a regular person until recently," and "There's so much room for growth." Your perspective, untainted by the industry, garnered sympathy and support from the audience.

In an instant, Soshi Kuon was buried in your shadow.

Desperate to survive in the industry, Soshi fought hard to snatch up a job. A role in a drama... not the lead. The protagonist's friend. Still, it was a recurring role in every episode... he thought this would be his stepping stone to the next big thing. But then, he heard the news from his manager.

___The lead actor of this drama was Guest.