I really just want to grind for entries related to crossover anime/manga.

He could hear his own heartbeat, thump-thump-thump, like someone drumming on his chest.

His palms started sweating again, so he quietly wiped them on his pants, then opened the script, trying to focus on the words.

Sato Masaru's thoughts were in turmoil. What if he failed this time?

Will the firm give him another chance?

He whispered a warning to himself, closed his eyes, and took a few deep breaths.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out at the entrance of the hall.

It started as a soft conversation, then gradually grew louder, accompanied by the sound of chairs moving and hurried footsteps.

Sato Masayuki looked up and saw that many people who were sitting had stood up, and their eyes were all turned toward the stairs leading to the audition room on the second floor.

Huh? What happened?

Sato Masa looked up and saw a middle-aged man in a dark gray polo shirt walking briskly down the stairs. The man was about fifty years old, wearing black-rimmed glasses, with a steady and powerful gait and an unquestionable sense of authority on his face.

"It's Director Nakazawa!" Someone nearby gasped.

Sato Masashi's heart skipped a beat.

Goro Nakazawa, the chief director of this "Kamen Rider: Kyo" project, is known for his rigorous work attitude and innovative storytelling techniques, and is undoubtedly the mastermind behind today's audition.

Why would someone like that suddenly appear in the waiting hall?

Even more surprisingly, Director Nakazawa did not linger in the lobby, nor did he even glance at any of the waiting actors. Instead, he walked straight to the glass doors of the building.

He pushed open the door and stood in the blazing sun outside, seemingly waiting for someone.

Upon seeing this, the whispers in the hall grew louder and louder.

Who is the director waiting for?

"Could it be a big shot from the production company?"

"Or perhaps a high-ranking executive at the TV station?"

"But auditions usually don't accept visitors..."

The speculation was tinged with unease; in such a highly stressful audition setting, any unexpected situation would only make already fragile nerves even more strained.

As Sato Masayuki watched the director waiting outside the door, a strange premonition welled up in his heart.

Could someone emerge who will completely change the landscape of auditions today?

About two minutes later, that person actually appeared.

At first, it was just a blurry figure, but the moment he pushed open the glass door and took off his mask and hat, everyone could see what he looked like.

The hall fell into an almost vacuum-like silence, with everyone's eyes focused on the person who had just walked in.

That face was all too familiar to Sato Miyabi.

No, it should be said that almost no one in Japan's younger generation is unfamiliar with this face. He has handsome and elegant features, a mouth that always carries a gentle smile, and deep eyes that are said to "speak."

Genkawa Yu.

He is 21 years old this year and has only been in the industry for a year and a half, but in that short time, he has gained countless attention and honors.

From his rise to fame on the dating reality show "Love Is a Required Course in Life" to becoming the male lead in Netflix's blockbuster "Alice in the Land of the Dying," and then being officially announced as the lead actor in two movies, he is also a novelist whose works "Love Letter" and "The Wind Rises" have consistently been bestsellers in bookstores.

He also writes songs and founded his own company, Star Engine. He now has over five million Twitter followers, surpassing countless veterans in the entertainment industry.

Among male actors in their twenties, this "monster" is now standing right in front of them, less than twenty meters away.

Yuan Chuanyu was dressed in a simple white T-shirt and black trousers, trying to keep a low profile, but the aura he exuded from the inside out could not be concealed by his simple clothes.

Following behind him was Megumi Kato. Director Nakazawa stepped forward, the two shook hands, and exchanged a few words in hushed tones.

Even from a distance, Sato Masaru could see the smile on Director Nakazawa's face. It wasn't a polite, professional smile, but a genuine expression of appreciation and anticipation.

"Seriously, making such a big fuss, is the director putting me on the spot?" Genkawa Yu said with a wry smile, his voice very low.

Nakazawa Goro laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder.

"Relax, Genkawa-kun, don't be modest. The real sun doesn't care about other people's opinions. I believe you have the ability to play the main rider, so I will use the highest standards for your audition later and project your audition footage onto the big screen in the hall."

He paused, then pointed to the large screen in the lobby.

“In recent years, every time the Kamen Rider project selects a main rider, there are always a lot of related controversies. This time, I specially invited the media to come as well, just to let everyone see just how powerful our main rider is.”

"You really know how to promote yourself."

Genkawa Yu glanced around the hall and found that there were indeed media people there. If his audition process was projected and broadcast later, it would probably become a hot topic on the Internet again immediately.

"Don't worry, Genkawa-kun, this is a good thing for you," Nakazawa Goro said gently. "Everyone assumed that the actor playing Kamen Rider was a newcomer, but I deliberately took a different approach to make this work a new work in the history of Kamen Rider."

"So, are you confident?"

"Then let's give it a try."

Genkawa Yu smiled slightly, and the two walked up the stairs side by side. Only after their figures disappeared around the corner on the second floor did a murmur of discussion erupt in the hall.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Why would Yu Genkawa audition for Kamen Rider? Isn't he a movie actor?"

"Does he even need an audition? The director came down to pick him up personally. It's obviously pre-selected!"

"That's not fair! We've prepared for so long, and all we're doing is coming here to be a runner-up?"

"Is Toei prioritizing viewership over quality?"

Anger, resentment, and doubt surged like a tide as several actors from the same agency gathered together, their faces ashen as they discussed the situation.

Some people took out their phones, seemingly wanting to call their agents, while others slumped in their chairs, their eyes vacant, as if they had lost their fighting spirit.

Sato Masashi did not join any discussion.

He remained seated in the corner, the scene from just moments ago replaying in his mind.

The solemn demeanor of Director Nakazawa when he personally came downstairs to greet them, the composed aura of Genkawa Yu as he entered the hall, and the seemingly equal atmosphere of their conversation.

Is this what a real "star" is?

Sato Masashi recalled his experiences during his time with the group, and even on the biggest stage, facing thousands of fans waving glow sticks, he had never had that kind of presence.

It's an innate sense of existence, a composure of knowing why you came and where you're going.

He looked down at the script in his hand and suddenly felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

If the opponent is that kind of person, do I still have a chance?

Genkawa Yu's fame, acting skills, experience, and even physical appearance are almost overwhelming.

Just as the commotion in the hall reached its peak, the large LCD screen on the front wall suddenly lit up.

The discussion abruptly ceased.

Everyone looked up, their eyes filled with confusion as they stared at the screen.

The screen displays four separate images: three smaller images are focused on three chairs, presumably the positions of the three judges, while the largest image is focused on the open space in the center of the audition room.

What is this for?

A few seconds later, footsteps came from the second floor.

Genkawa Yu reappeared in the frame, walking to the center of the room and facing the camera.

Director Nakazawa and the other two judges, one a producer and the other an action director, also took their seats.

The footage clearly captures every detail: Yuu Genkawa's slightly rising and falling chest, Director Nakazawa's focused gaze, the pen in the producer's hand, and the action director's arms crossed in front of his chest.

The actors in the hall realized what had happened; it seemed they were planning to conduct a live audition.

So they stared intently at the screen, eager to see how Genkawa Yu performed in his audition.

Some people with dark intentions even wondered if doing this was too presumptuous. If the 8 yuan of the product were to backfire, how would they handle the situation?

"Please begin your performance."

Director Nakazawa's voice resonated throughout the hall through the loudspeakers, clear, calm, and devoid of any emotion.

The hall was deathly silent.

The cold air from the air conditioner couldn't dispel the almost frozen tension.

On the screen, Genkawa Yu closed his eyes.

Three seconds later, he opened his eyes again.

In that instant, Sato Masa felt as if something had struck his heart.

That's not Yu Minakawa, or at least not entirely.

The person standing in the center of the room suddenly had a sharp and distant look in their eyes, with a faint smile on their lips. It wasn't a warm smile, but rather a playful expression.

His posture also changed; his shoulders relaxed, his center of gravity shifted slightly backward, and his whole body presented a flexible state that was ready to attack or retreat at any time.

[Ukiyo Hidetoshi].

Even without his name being mentioned, Sato Masashi could immediately recognize him... This was [Ukiyo Hidetoshi], the genius player who treated life-or-death games as entertainment.

Genkawa Yu slowly raised his right hand and placed it on the empty space at his waist, as if there really was a knight's belt there.

His movements were unhurried and precise in every detail, from the angle of his fingers to the range of his wrist rotation and the trajectory of his arm as he raised it.

Then, he raised his left hand as well, making a gesture of placing an object on his arm.

Throughout the entire process, his eyes remained fixed on the front, as if an unseen enemy stood there.

"Henshin!"

The two words, uttered so calmly, carried a peculiar weight.

The transformation has begun.

There were no special effects, no sound effects, no lighting, but Yu Genkawa created everything with his body language.

His shoulders relaxed, his chin slightly raised, and his gaze shifted from sharp to resolute.

His body seemed to be truly covered in armor, making his movements more powerful yet still agile.

What's most amazing is that he maintained a slight smile throughout the "transformation" process. It wasn't a heroic, righteous smile, but rather... a strange, player-like smile of enjoyment.