A Profession Unsuitable for Lies

Episode 1 opens at a party celebrating idol Narumi Soma’s twentieth birthday and D·BUG leader Kashi Yori’s overseas theater expansion. Soma, who usually avoids alcohol and cigarettes, is pushed into drinking by senior group 1st SQUAD—especially Izumi Juri—and becomes tipsy. After a hallway encounter with 1st SQUAD member Sendo Yukiya, Soma wakes in bed being kissed by Yukiya and panics. A monologue states that Soma’s first love ended in heartbreak at nineteen. Idol Narumi Soma wakes at Sendo Yukiya's home the morning after drinking with 1st SQUAD, remembering almost nothing. Sendo feeds him breakfast, drives him to the studio, and checks the eyes Soma cried with the night before. At work Soma is again struck by D·BUG leader Kashi Yori's beauty and recalls both his secret trainee tears and a stage where Yori sang about the day love began. Bringing sweets, Soma begs Sendo to treat the previous night as if it never happened; Sendo's condition is a kiss, and after panicking Soma kisses him. Sendo presses Soma that what he wants to erase is not heartbreak tears, then kisses him on the couch. Soma shoves him off, flees the apartment, and self-loathes—claiming he only meant to apologize to and help Yori—while feeling Sendo sees through everything. Next day in a meeting room, sleep-deprived Soma struggles with a dual new song with Yori and overseas-tour pressure; staff pitches a camping outdoor double-date show where Soma is the beginner boyfriend. The other main MC is Sendo, shocking him. In EPISODE.3 on set, Soma apologizes for running and asks about Yori possibly having a lover and about the kiss. Sendo promises silence on Yori’s secret and not to mix personal feelings into work, then filming starts. On the trek, outdoor pro Sendo advances easily while Soma struggles to keep up. On an outdoor shoot, pro Sendo Yukiya pulls idol Narumi Soma up a climb, tells him to rely on him, and shares foraged mountain greens; Soma wants to know Sendo better. Episode 4 has Soma looping D·BUG leader Kashi Yori’s first-love song SPARKS and stalling on a lyric assignment. Yori asks if Soma likes someone; Soma admits he does and is told to write about that person. When Soma claims he lacks talent and words, Yori snaps, cups his face, praises his soft unique tone and care for others, and holds his hand. As Soma starts “Yori, I—,” staffer Mikura arrives and takes Yori to a France overseas performance, leaving Soma seeing them off with encouragement to write good lyrics. The story follows D·BUG idol Soma and Yori, Sendo dealing with personal struggles, romantic relationships, office life, music activities, and intimate scenes. Soma's self-doubt, emotional expressions, and friends' support and advice are central. In the studio Soma sprints away as Sendo’s heart pounds. Episode 6 opens with Soma seeing Mikura’s hand on Yori’s back and reading them as secret lovers. Fleeing, Soma is stopped by Sendo, who notices his near-tears, kisses him, and wipes the tears while saying it will be okay. On a rooftop over coffee, Soma asks Sendo to be a trial boyfriend for his drama romance role; Sendo suggests someone in the same industry—himself—would understand the work. Soma asks to be treated as Sendo’s male friend. Episode 7 shows Soma atop a water tower; on the drama set Yori appears via phone, teases Soma for thinking of another man, and says he has already broken up. Sendo jokingly calls himself Soma’s boyfriend and Soma panics. Sendo escalates the joke as an S-boyfriend, they kiss, and he offers to listen about Yori without forcing distance. On the outdoor shoot’s final scene Sendo plays guitar while Soma sings and is emotionally shaken. Later at the broadcast meeting their chemistry is praised and fan letters pour in; Soma wonders what kind of person Sendo is. In Episode 8 they shop at a rest stop and appear on a variety bag-check segment. In an interview Sendo says he is privately close to D·BUG’s Soma and calls him the ideal complementary partner. Soma reads the magazine praise, frets over their temporary-boyfriend pact, his feelings for Yori, and whether they will simply become slightly closer seniors and juniors when the drama ends. At Sendo’s apartment Soma works on lyrics while Sendo final-checks a 1SQ MV. After Soma reacts jealously to Sendo’s on-screen kiss, Sendo calls him too cute, twists the temporary-lover practice into a question about the love scene, and presses whether—even as acting—Soma has come to like him more than his previous man. At Sendo’s home Soma apologizes for over-immersing in their temporary-boyfriend role meant to help him forget Yori and tries to leave. Sendo blocks him, bridal-carries him as “princess” to the high-rise window beanbag, kills the lights, holds him against the city night view, asks whether time with him beat time with Yori, and vows to make Soma like him more. Soma realizes his feelings have turned genuine, kisses Sendo’s cheek, and admits that even a false boyfriend role made him happy. In Episode 10 the station receives sixteen calls branding Sendo the worst man and demanding he stay away from Soma; staff tighten SNS and security watch. After Soma and 1SQ’s Ryo wrap a team-idol recording, Soma frets about Yori’s return from France, then is swept into a peony-filled hug as Sendo claims him for a belated Valentine’s date. Soma and Sendo continue their romantic date night, driving through the city, sharing intimate moments in the car, eating at a restaurant, and spending time at the beach under the stars, deepening their relationship despite Soma's lingering feelings for Yori. Narumi Soma smiles while holding a round notebook-like object he plans to show Yori when Yori returns. He monologues that he was finally able to end his first love and first heartbreak, and the story closes with TO BE CONTINUED.