Chapter 1: Spotlight on Scandal
The country of Velmora was known for its dazzling entertainment industry, a powerhouse of global pop culture. With its thriving film industry, chart-topping pop idols, and high-stakes drama scene, it was often compared to the entertainment empires of South Korea, Japan, and China. Its capital, Hanseong, was a city where dreams were built—and just as easily destroyed.
Fame in Velmora was a fragile thing. One scandal, one rumor, one viral moment, and even the biggest stars could fall from grace overnight. And today, the country’s most beloved actor, Renji Kisaragi, stood at the center of a storm unlike any before.
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The rain had stopped just hours ago, but the pavement outside Renji Kisaragi’s luxurious home was still wet, reflecting the flashing lights of news cameras. A swarm of reporters had gathered, their voices overlapping as they fought to be heard. Among them, Zaira Lian, a seasoned journalist, stood at the front, microphone in hand.
"This is Zaira Lian, reporting live from the home of Velmora’s most successful V-Ent star, Renji Kisaragi. Just hours ago, shocking reports surfaced linking him to the tragic death of Hana Ritsuko. Multiple sources suggest that Renji was the last person to see her alive."
The camera panned to the towering gates behind her, guarded by security. The mansion was eerily silent.
"According to initial reports, Hana Ritsuko—a non-celebrity and close friend of Renji—was found dead in her apartment early this morning. The cause of death has been officially ruled as suicide. However, new speculation suggests there’s more to the story. A leaked video from last night’s party at Renji’s house shows the two engaged in a heated argument. Furthermore, entertainment news outlet EntWorld has confirmed that the two were romantically involved, though things between them had reportedly turned sour in recent weeks."
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As Zaira continued, the tension in the air was palpable. The world was watching.
The camera cut. She exhaled sharply, lowering the mic.
"This is going to get ugly," she muttered.
Her cameraman, Takeru, adjusted the lens before glancing at her. "What do you think? Did he do it?"
Zaira hesitated. She had covered enough celebrity scandals to know that truth didn’t always matter—perception did.
"I don’t know," she admitted. "But it doesn’t matter what I think. The people have already decided."
And they had.
Social media was already on fire. Within minutes of the first reports, hashtags like #JusticeForHana and #RenjiKisaragiExposed were trending. Fans, once devoted to Renji, were now demanding answers. His silence was damning.
Inside the mansion, behind those cold, towering walls, Renji Kisaragi sat frozen in place, staring at the TV screen.
His name. His face. His life—plastered across every news outlet.
He didn’t understand.
He couldn’t remember.
The phone rang. He barely registered the sound before picking up.
"Renji!" The voice on the other end was sharp, furious. It was Viktor Hanzo, the powerful CEO of Stellar Entertainment, his agency. "What the hell is happening? What did you do?!"
"I—" Renji’s voice cracked. His throat was dry. His mind was blank. "I don’t know."
"You don’t know?! Do you even realize what’s happening right now? The entire country is turning against you! There are hundreds of rumors—videos, reports, everything! If we don’t act fast, you’re finished!"
Renji pressed his palm against his forehead. He could hear the panic in Viktor’s voice, but it all felt distant. Unreal.
"I swear… I didn’t do anything," he whispered. "This time… I’m innocent."
A heavy silence followed. Then Viktor sighed.
"This time?" he repeated.
Renji’s heart sank.
"Listen," Viktor said. "We’ll try to cover this up. But Renji… this is different. This time, everything is fucked. And I don’t know if we can fix it."
As the call ended, Renji slowly lowered the phone.
Outside, the reporters waited for a statement.
Inside, the walls of his world had already begun to crack.