Akuyaku Cinderella

High school student Ayaka Tachibana has a single, heartfelt motivation: she wants to keep her younger brother happy and ensure he always wears a smile. Driven by this deep affection, she decides to answer a casting call for a local hero stage show, willingly stepping into the role of the villainess. For Ayaka, donning the costume of the antagonist is not about fame or fortune, but rather a selfless act of love designed purely to bring joy to the one person she cares about most. However, her dedication soon clashes with the mindset of her co-star. Shun Kazama, the young man cast as the heroic lead opposite her, harbors no such noble intentions. Instead of passion or a desire to entertain children, his involvement in the production is driven entirely by the paycheck it provides. This fundamental difference in values creates an immediate friction between the two performers as they prepare to face off on stage. As their paths continually cross during rehearsals and performances, Ayaka and Shun are forced to navigate their contrasting perspectives. With one fighting for family and the other working strictly for financial gain, the two must find a way to bridge the gap between them. Whether these mismatched partners can ultimately reach a mutual understanding remains to be seen as the curtain rises on their unlikely partnership.