AU: The Mekakushi Dan members are actual actors and the anime is a live TV show that they perform in.

I just wanted to write some dorky Mekameka Dan. I don't really know if I'm going to extend this to multiple chapters or not. Let me know if I should or shouldn't, alright? \o/

Also, try to guess who the director is. /loud coughing cough cough

(I did not mean for this to get as long as it did oh my goodness. Please tell me if there's any mistakes.)

Kagerou Project belongs to Jin.

"Cut!"

Shintaro sighed, and he swiveled in his chair, the soda he spilled for the earlier scene still dripping on keyboard. His desk at home didn't have this type of rotating chair, and so he took advantage of his bedroom set to play around with it.

For a second, he thought about converting into the life of a NEET. To be fair, he was already living like one, but he didn't classify as a NEET. That, and he still had to finish this show. Maybe after filming…

Ayano ran up to him, the red scarf her character wore billowing behind her. He couldn't help but think about how idiotic it was to wear that. It was like, what, ninety – something degrees in the set? Couldn't they turn on the air conditioning or something?

Oh, that's right. The director kept the set extremely hot for the "aesthetic" of the summer the show took place in. That's nice.

Ayano's hands went together into a still clap, and the smile she always wore took claim of her mouth. She was much like the character she played, and there was no denying that. Well, she wasn't stuck in the Heat Haze or anything, and she didn't have red eyes, but her personality was spot on.

"Shintaro, you did great out there!" The girl praised, and he felt his ego boosting. "Ah, the way you portrayed your character was so brilliant! You're such a great actor!"

Yes, he was definitely a great actor. He might not have been a genius like the character Shintaro, but his acting was superb. That's why he got the role, after all.

"Well, I feel kind of bad for the keyboard," Shintaro replied, trying to keep his protagonist – like aura. "Oh well. I don't know about the budget, but they can get more."

"Takane was so great too!" Ayano continued, looking at the computer on his desk. Ene was gone now, as she was just a simple animation that was made earlier before they started filming. Takane had recorded Ene's voice a while ago, and Shintaro couldn't help but shake his head over how annoying she made her sound. Shintaro really connected to his character's frustrations over the cyber girl.

"Yeah, well, I can't wait for her to film that episode with Haruka." Shintaro folded his arms, and for a moment, he was amused. He knew that Takane had a thing for the taller boy, and it was perfect for that episode. It was just a cliché tsundere love story, wasn't it? She'd pull it off with real emotion.

"I can't wait for that, too!" Ayano folded her hands behind her back, rocking back and forth on her heels. "Ah, but I just read that a few episodes later I'd have to fall of a roof. I'm so nervous…"

"Hey, they have to make sure you're safe." Shintaro was surprised over how calm that sounded. He cleared his throat, trying to push away the thought of how he sounded like his character for a moment. "Besides, they need you for twelfth episode, right?"

"Oh, right!" Ayano scratched her cheek, a feeling of embarrassment making its way into the atmosphere as she did. Just then, a loud ringing sound filled the set, and the girl jumped. "I have to go! I'll talk to you later, Shintaro!"

"Why does my character run so much?"

Momo panted as the director cut the cameras once more, and from behind, Kano patted her back, his mischievous smile lingering. He was much like his character, except he didn't have a dark past or red eyes that deceived people. He was always joking, and every once in a while, he'd show a little caring side of him.

"Kisaragi, looks like you need to work out more!" Kano laughed, and Momo only pouted. The boy raised his hands in defense, and he laughed once more. "Kidding, kidding! Say, Kisaragi, it's nice to see you on set today! You know, with your idol career and all."

"Well, this is my first television show debut, so I don't have as much concerts as before!" Momo replied. "My manager said it'd be a good idea if I invest more time into this show for now. After that, I'd probably have more concerts…ah, it's a bit too much sometimes…"

The character Momo played was also an idol, and that was why she was picked for the part. They both drew crowds, but instead of an eye power, Momo had what her manager called "talent", and she was known throughout the whole nation.

How did she get scouted again? Oh, that's right. She was singing in the streets, and the manager had heard, and the rest was history. After that, she rarely had a break. Well, until she was recruited for this show.

She considered this show to be a break itself. She didn't have to sing much, and even though the running and acting was kind of tough, she enjoyed it. She quickly became friends with the cast members, and she didn't really want to leave this small little world.

"Say, Kisaragi, Shintaro's your brother, right? I heard that he was just recording in the other set!" Kano dramatically put his hands in his jacket's pockets, and Momo sighed.

"He's probably exhausted!" Ah, her ridiculous brother. He never did much before the show. He would sit in front of his computer and go to her concerts every other day.

"It's so clear that you two are siblings!" Kano chuckled, and that brought Momo to cross her arms. "You guys should just exercise together! Then maybe you won't be as tired!"

"Eh?! D – don't say that! We're not that much alike!"

"For someone so gross, I'm surprised that you can cook this well."

"E – eh, I'm not that gross!" Hibiya's chopsticks stopped moving, and his bowl of rice left untouched when he heard the statement.

"You tried to give me the key chain even after filming!" Hiyori replied after stuffing her face with Hibiya's food. "Gee, I don't even like that sort of stuff!"

"Hm? What's going on here?" Seto and Kido stood in front of the duo's table, and while Seto held a grin on his face, Kido looked kind of intimidating, and her eyes darted to the two before looking up at her comrade. Clearly, it would be his job to try and patch the two together.

It was Kido's first job at acting, and the director claimed she fit the role so perfectly. Even when the cameras weren't rolling, she held a commanding and cool presence, and besides, she liked the jacket they gave her. She truly felt like a leader, and she acted like that around her fellow cast members. She had to keep them in check, after all.

Seto had done a few small acting jobs here and there. He was usually a minor background character, but this was his first time being one of the main characters of a show. He accepted the job quickly once they offered, and his character was someone he enjoyed playing. His character loved the outdoors as much as he does, and it was a blessing to have met Mary along the way.

Hiyori and Hibiya were a package deal. They acted around each other since they were small, and even throughout that, Hibiya might have developed a crush on her. Just a small one, though. It was a miracle that Hibiya's character also liked Hiyori, and he thought it might finally be the chance to reel her in.

Well, before she gets hit by a truck.

"I thought you two would get along well, considering your history and all," Kido said, her threatening stare burning its way through Hibiya's skin.

"It's called acting," Hiyori retorted. She was one of the few people who were allowed to talk back to Kido. "Hibiya's gross even out of the camera!"

"B – but you just told me my cooking was good!"

"Except for that."

"Ahaha, it's alright, Hibiya!" Seto patted the younger boy's back a bit too hard, and that sent the food he was eating right out of his mouth. The older boy winced, and replied, "Oh, sorry about that! I forgot you were only twelve."

"Seto, how could you forget?" Kido was somewhat yelling now, and the commanding charisma she possessed shone brighter than before. "Just because you're bigger than all of them… really now!"

"Ah, sorry, danchou!" The last part slipped out unconsciously, and Seto backtracked a bit. "A – ah, I guess I'm used to calling you that! I'm sorry, danchou – I mean, er…Kido! Yeah!"

Kido only let out a small grunt. That was Seto, and it was undeniable that he was much like his character. He was even wearing that dumb green jumpsuit! She guessed that it couldn't be helped. If it made him happy, well, she'd accept it.

Seto began apologizing to Hibiya, and Hiyori kept nagging him once more. So this was what the acting life was like. She was still a bit new to it, but it was nice. Seeing the group talking and hanging out was something she cherished, and she hoped that after this, they'd meet often. That was a good idea in Kido's mind.

She really was the leader of the Dan.

"What?!"

"I was just saying, since you're supposed to like me and all, we should practice kissing!"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Takane screamed, hands in the air when Haruka proposed the idea. "It's stupid! Agh, you're such an idiot!"

Oh, she hated this. Because of the story, the two of them were called "the lovebirds" on the set, and that was something she couldn't take. It's not like she thought about Haruka at every living second – no, no, she definitely did not. She definitely did not think that his idea was less stupid than she made it out to be. And she definitely did not like him in that way even out of character.

Nope, not at all. He was an idiot.

"Aw, but we'd be able to get into character much easier if we did!" Haruka complained, stuffing the food that the catering had offered the cast into his mouth. Takane rolled her eyes; even at a time like this, Haruka was able to stomach something. He was like a black hole. "I mean, you know, since – "

"I'm well aware, Haruka!" Takane pinched Haruka's cheeks lightly, and that sent Haruka to drop his food on his lap. "Stop reminding me!"

Takane and Haruka had been school together for a long time, and they had become friends that way. Neither of them had special needs that their characters had, but they couldn't make friends easily, and so they settled for each other. They got used to the other's company with time, and they hung out on the school's roof every time during lunch.

Then Haruka dragged Takane to the audition for this show, and although neither of them really tried hard, they both got accepted. Rightfully so – they were much like their characters, and the whole cast was able to agree on that. Despite never acting before, they matched their characters' personalities like puzzle pieces.

Well, their old selves, at least. Takane thought it was difficult to record Ene's lines. She was way too cheerful and energetic, which was the opposite of Takane. The girl barely got sleep due to her gaming, and it irked her that she couldn't play as much as she could after she was put into the show.

As for Haruka, the forgetful Konoha was stronger than he was. Putting on the costume was a bit of a problem as well, but after all the guys from the cast helped him out, he was able to pull it together. Moving around was slightly uncomfortable, but he got used to it.

"Ow, Takane…!"

"Don't ever say anything like that again!" She finally let go, and she let out an exasperated sigh. Slowly her cheeks turned red, and so she quickly said, "We're actors now, so we have to act the part! We don't need anything like that!"

"U – um, mister director? Can I come in?"

Mary held the shaking script in her hands as the director gave her the signal, and she twisted to knob of his trailer and walked inside. She was still wearing the long wig for her character, and while it kind of hurt her neck to hold it up all this time, she kept it on just to get used to it.

"What is it, Mary?" The director was sitting in a chair, and he invited her to sit in the one parallel to his. She gladly accepted, and her eyes shifted to her script before talking.

"W – well, you see, mister director…" Mary flipped through the pages, and the nervousness bubbled furiously inside her. "I – it says that my character is the queen of the story, and I…I don't know if I'm able to do that…"

"We picked you because we saw your potential!" The director exclaimed. "I'm sure you can pull it off!"

"B – but what if I scare the other cast members after? I still want to be friends with them…"

"I don't think you'll scare them." Mary finally was able to look up at the director, and there was a gentle smile on his face. "Mary, you'll do a very good job with your part, and I know it! So don't be afraid, okay? You'll be able to act out any scene."

"Th – thank you, mister director!" Mary brightened up a bit, and the script crumpled slightly under her hands. "I'll try my best then!"

"Good! And please, call me Jin."