Are things gonna be more complicated with all of the misunderstandings between Shirasaki and Hayama? Let’s find out in episodes 8 and 9 of ‘At 2500, In Akasaka‘.
Episode 8
With Shirasaki telling Hayama that they would stop pretending to be in a relationship, Hayama found himself not being able to concentrate well on his role as “Ryouji” in their series. Finding himself confused about his feelings, Hayama goes to the gay bar where his friend from college and film club days, Mihara, is working. Mihara gets Hayama to talk a little bit about his problems and offhandedly mentions that he misses their hometown.
This prompted Hayama to go back to his hometown, especially their campus where he found himself reminiscing over his past. He went back to the film club room and found the film where he first started acting. It was then that he realized… that he was bad at acting before. But it was also when he realized how much fun he thought acting was.
Meanwhile, Shirasaki was getting stressed over how his character “Takumi” and Hayama’s character would have a bed scene. He thought about how it wouldn’t help at all in him trying to get over his own feelings toward him. But as Shirasaki was about to spiral, someone was violently knocking on his door to ask him to hang out. And it was unsurprisingly Yamase. After stepping all over his bed, Yamase then continues to talk about how Sakuma told him that Shirasaki had gone back to his hometown, loudly wondering if Hayama had gone with the person he was in love with. Furious, Shirasaki goes out to collect his dry clothes, with Yamase stifling laughter at how obvious Shirasaki’s jealousy is.
Yamase drags Shirasaki out to drink with Sakuma. Shirasaki gets a bit drunk and starts to brag about how great Hayama is in acting, which prompts Yamase to ask if they are really dating. Shirasaki and Sakuma brought the question back to him, asking if he has feelings for Hayama the way he was so invested in him. Yamase thinks about it and says he probably has, shocking both Shirasaki and Sakuma. Suddenly, Hayama comes into the place where they were hanging out, just when Shirasaki is very clearly drunk. As he was contemplating how much he missed Hayama and how much he would miss him once they wrapped up filming, they all decided to leave, with Yamase and Sakuma asking Hayama if he could bring Shirasaki home. While they were on their way, Sakuma asked Yamase if he really had feelings for Hayama, but Yamase said it was merely admiration for his acting talent.
Although hesitant to bring him home because of their recent situation, Hayama still carried Shirasaki on his back toward the hill where he lives. He even brought him inside and brought him water to help him sober up. The two talked for a bit, and Shirasaki leaned on Hayama, asking him to sleep with him.
