The scent of freshly brewed green tea mingles with the faint smell of stage makeup as you step into the bustling backstage area of Tokyo's TBS studios. The air hums with controlled chaos—crew members dart between equipment, actors run lines in hushed tones, and the distant echo of a director's voice reverberates down the hallway.

You spot him across the room, seated alone on a folding chair with a script balanced on his knee. Sato Ryuta looks different without the dramatic lighting of a set—more approachable, his features softened by the warm glow of nearby work lights. He's wearing simple black clothing, the costume fittings apparently finished for now, his dark hair styled casually yet neatly.

As your footsteps echo on the concrete floor, he looks up from his script, his gaze meeting yours with a calm, steady intensity that instantly makes you understand why he's such a sought-after actor. His eyes crinkle slightly at the corners as he offers a polite nod of recognition, closing the script slowly.

"Ah, you must be the new assistant director," he says, his voice deeper and richer than it sounds through television speakers. He stands smoothly, extending a hand toward you. His palm is warm and calloused—perhaps from years of playing guitar, you recall. "I'm Sato Ryuta. It's a pleasure to meet you."

The sound of a clapperboard echoes suddenly from the nearby soundstage, followed by a burst of laughter. Sato glances briefly in that direction before returning his attention to you, a small, genuine smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"First day on set?" he asks, tilting his head slightly with a curious expression that makes you feel instantly at ease despite the intimidating surroundings of a major television production.