Soojin entered Harada’s office. Humiko ran up to her and grasped her hand.

“You did so well. It’s gonna turn out great!”

Harada and Humiko went on to discuss Soojin’s debut, when Harada made a shocking suggestion.

“There’s really no need to discuss it. Let’s push her out there as soon as possible.”

Harada wanted Soojin to debut in the national theater’s most recent play. Humiko was thrilled.

“Oh my god! Can you really make that happen?”

“I can see she has what it takes, so why waste time with puny supporting roles?”

Harada suggested they have dinner. The three rode in Harada’s car to an upscale restaurant in Ginza. Afterwards they headed to a bar that Harada frequented. A hostess draped in a kimono locked arms with Harada, and with a honeyed smile, escorted them to a VIP room. Once everyone had been seated, the hostess looked at Soojin curiously.

“Who is this?”

“She’s gonna be the next big actress. I’m making sure she debuts in the upcoming play at the national theater. Isn’t she pretty?”

The hostess, hearing Harada's explanation, approached Soojin examining her from all angles. The hostess was in awe.

“Wow.. She’s beautiful. If she worked here business would be booming. Where did you find a treasure like her?”

Harada laughed and took a sip from his glass.

“Don’t even think of stealing her. She’s all ours.”

The hostess gave Harada a hit on his chest, and a side glance.

“You greedy man!”

The two laughed off the joke. Soojin smiled along, peering over her glass as she sipped water. She saw the other hostesses, stood behind Harada, staring at her. Their eyes full of envy.

“She’ll be a huge star soon, so get a good look, and an autograph while you have the chance.”

Harada said proudly, looking back at the hostesses. Soojin didn’t mind Harada’s excessive gestures, in fact, she actually liked it. She ardently wanted to become that big star he kept speaking of. The top of the table where they sat, was filled with appetizers and glasses of alcohol. One of the nearby hostesses refilled Harada’s glass, he then lifted it up and said.

“Let’s have a cheers. To Haruko!”

“Shall we?”

“We shall!”

“Haruko, from now on I’ll take care of you. I’ll make you into the biggest star Japan has ever seen. Cheers! To Haruko!”

The three clinked their glasses together. Harada downed the shot glass with pleasure, and placed it back onto the table with a thud. Humiko did the same. But Soojin hesitated. However mature she looked, this was Soojin’s first time drinking. She closed her eyes, gulped down the alcohol, and began to cough loudly. She quickly placed the glass onto the table, and bent over, her eyes watering violently. Why would someone drink shit this strong? She thought.

“Hahahahah!”

Harada laughed hysterically at the slumped over Soojin. He filled Soojin’s half empty glass back to full. Soojin quickly composed herself, and said.

“I’m sorry, I’ve never drank before.”

“Really?”

Harada asked, surprised.

“Yea..”

“You’re really not like the kids these days. By the time they’re in middle school they’ve at least tried it. If you don’t want to drink, have some food instead.”

“Is alcohol supposed to taste this bad?”

“It doesn’t taste bad, It’s just because it’s your first time. You have to get used to it.”

“So, since this is your first time drinking. What about your first time having sex?”

Harada’s question hit Soojin like a thunderbolt from the blue. She froze for a moment, and started to have a cold sweat. He continued.

“Was it in middle school? Or high school?”

Soojin shook her head at Harada's mischievous question.

“No way…. A girl this pretty has never had a boyfriend? I don’t believe you.”

“I came to Japan when I was 17. I never really had time for a boyfriend…”

Humiko and Harada looked at each other, then looked back to Soojin, both asking simultaneously.

“Not a single one?”

“Yea, I've never had one.”

Harda became absorbed in his thoughts. If I sleep with her tonight that means I’ll be her first time? Harada quickly downed two more glasses. But taking a woman’s virginity is burdensome. And a man never forgets his first time, so it must be amplified for a woman. Harada called Humiko aside.

“I’m kinda worried about her. I like her, but a 20 year old girl who hasn’t been with a guy? Are you serious? If this is the case I might just have to send her back.”

“Mr. Harada, please you have to keep our promise. Please let her debut.”

“I’m a man of my word, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“I believe you sir.”

“Could she be lying? You know, about being a virgin?”

“I’m not sure. She seems genuine. I mean she hasn’t even drank before. She really seems to still have a lot to learn.”

Harada had to turn his back on the hot night he was anticipating with Soojin, which would act as her right of passage into the industry. He knew there would be many more chances later, but he still found it a bit unfortunate. After sending off Soojin and Humiko, Harada called Aya, who was partying at a club, and told her to meet him at his home. He loved her tan body, and how she used her vast experience with men to her advantage.

***

Humiko and Harada worked a very busy schedule to make sure Soojin’s debut would go through. The national play that Soojin would perform in, just as Mia and Mr. Ishii assumed, was certainly not a role someone with only one year of acting experience could get; however she had help behind the scenes to get her there. When Mia saw Soojin’s name on the cast list she was baffled. A newbie making it into the national play.. What could she possibly have done to make it in?

***

The kitten Kiki, which Soojin had first found at the edge of her window, grew up and gave birth to a litter of ten kittens. A few of them died shortly after birth. Soojin kept two of the kittens and gave the rest to her neighbors. Soojin raised Kiki and the two kittens, but around the time her grandma became bed-ridden, Kiki started to lose her fur, and have difficulty walking.

***

Soojin awoke to an earthquake at dawn. The earthquake wasn’t that severe. The tatami room’s lights and floor shook a bit, but soon calmed. Because earthquakes were frequent in Japan, Soojin was used to them by now. Soojin searched for her grandmother in the darkness. Her grandmother was lying next to her. She looked peaceful. Soojin grabbed her hand, it was ice cold. Why are her hands so cold? During her time being ill her hands were never cold like this. Strange thoughts flooded Soojin’s mind. Soojin placed her ear onto her grandmother’s chest. No… Soojin jerked out of the covers at an ominous thought, and quickly turned on the light. Soojin saw her grandmother’s face, and started to tremble. Her grandmother had passed away. Soojin, struck by fear, shook her grandmother with trembling hands.

“Grandma! No! It can’t be! You’re not dead! Right? Grandma! Wake up! Wake up! Please wake up!”