What would you do for true love?
We're Supporting Actors (Watashi-tachi ha "Byplayer") is a one-shot manga by Harada. It was released as the fifth story in the 2015 Yaoi manga anthology Josei BL.
Himeyumi spent years cultivating her image as the princess of her high school so she can be with her beloved Oujiyama nicknamed "The Prince" for his handsome looks and charms. It's natural they were meant to be together as royalty does until plain-face Wakikawa complicates her heart with a life-changing experience. And thus began a three-way struggle for love (At least that's what Himeyumi thinks)...
See Stockholm for more stories published in the same anthology.
Contains the following tropes:
- All for Nothing: Himeyumi's frankly tryhard attempts at impressing Oujiyama and then later Wakikawa prove to be futile when both guys are not only gay but in a relationship with each other. This completely breaks Himeyumi upon realising she's living in an unrealistic "romance" fantasy for years with nothing to show for it.
- Audience Surrogate: The two schoolgirls reading the manga act as one who felt frustrated over Himeyumi being the Third Wheel to Oujiyama and Wakikawa but reminisce how sympathetic and sad the story would be if it were told from her perspective.
- Crazy Jealous Guy: Oujiyama glares menacingly at "Wakikawa" for becoming too buddy-buddy with "Himeyumi" and threatens "him" to stay away from "her". It may seem like he has a super-possessive crush on Himeyumi but upon second viewing, he was actually upset his boyfriend is recently spending time with her and not him since he wants Wakikawa's attention all to himself.
- Downer Ending: Wakiwa and Oujiyama making amends as a couple became the final nail in the coffin that Himeyumi will never find the love she always desires in life. The manga ends with the two holding hands as Himeyumi uncontrollably sobs in the background, alongside hundreds of girls and women who experienced the same heartbreak, and somberly notes that "if we become happy, then this story is not possible".
- Eyes Out of Sight: Wakiwa usually has his eyes covered by his messy long bangs but when they are parted, you'll see why is that so.
- Face Fault: Upon Himeyumi barging in to find her two "love interests" intensely having sex without stopping, she spent three panels worth of standing in utter disbelief before passing out and collapsing on the floor hard face-first.
- Foregone Conclusion: The one-shot came from an anthology where BL stories are told from the girl's perspective so it's no surprise Himeyumi ended up with neither of her crushes and a broken heart since they were secretly together this whole time.
- "Freaky Friday" Flip: A freak accident involving an oncoming basketball and sudden head collision somehow causes Himeyumi and Wakikawa to switch minds which the former didn't take too well. Unlike most examples, this is not the main plot as the two switched back midway without incident by conking their heads together again and was not brought up for the rest of the one-shot. How this happened in the first place remains a mystery.
- Hime Cut: As it's in her name, Himeyumi deliberately chooses this haircut to further emphasise her Ojou-ness and goes to a high-end salon twice a month to maintain it.
- Incompatible Orientation: Himeyumi falls for Ouijiyama and later then Wakiwa and spends most of the manga choosing between them. In reality, neither of them is interested in her in the slightest as both of them are gay and secretly dating one another.
- Letting Her Hair Down: Wakikawa is a male example as he's a seemingly plain looking extra, albeit with a quite muscular build, but underneath his bangs are piercingly fierce eyes that instantly make the ladies swoon as Himeyumi would attest. It was precisely this reason Oujiyama is adamant about keeping Wakikawa's Eyes Out of Sight because of his extreme possessiveness over him.
- Loving a Shadow: Himeyumi set her sights on Ouijiyama but it's clear she only superficially loved the concept of him who is intelligent and attractive with a high-paying job in the future and not as a person. Case in point, Himeyumi only shared two direct scenes with him (With one when Wakikawa was in her body) which are surface level at best since she had never bothered to learn anything more about him. Near the end, she becomes incredibly disillusioned when Ouijiyama is not as perfect or straight as he seems.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: How Himeyumi and Wakikawa briefly switched bodies was never explained or even mentioned once they switched back and serves as more of a plot device for the former to notice the latter more.
- Meaningful Name: Himeyumi, Oujiyama and Wakikawa's names translate from Japanese into "Princess Beauty", "Hill Prince" and "supporting role" respectively, aligning perfectly with their roles in the story or at least from Himeyumi's perspective.
- Pair the Suitors: Himeyumi sees Oujiyama and later Wakikawa as potential boyfriends and husbands with both fighting for her love from her perspective. In actuality, the two couldn't care less about her in that regard since they are gay and in a relationship this whole time as Himeyumi had first found out when she caught the two doing the nasty.
- Perspective Flip: The story asks the question of what if a typical BL romance was told from the Romantic False Lead's (Himeyumi) point of view. The answer: a ton of heartbreak and sympathy for the one the audience considers an unwanted Third Wheel.
- The Reveal: Himeyumi realizes she's just a Romantic False Lead in an in-universe BL manga read by two schoolgirls and she could do nothing about it but see the boys she loved get together and live happily ever after while she does not.
- "Shut Up" Kiss: Unable to reason with Oujiyama's incessant nagging over the attention he's been getting from Himeyumi, Wakikawa tries shutting him up with sex right there and then on the classroom floor. Unfortunately, he failed to lock the door which led to Himeyumi barging in on their act and getting on Oujiyama's bad side even more.
- Tsurime Eyes: Wakikawa sports these underneath his bangs, making him seriously fierce yet incredibly attractive. It's no wonder why Oujiyama insists his boyfriend hides his eyes from anyone other than him.
- What Beautiful Eyes!: Underneath Wakikawa's disheveled bangs are piercing Lady Killer Tsurime Eyes that would instantly swoon the coldest of hearts including Himeyumi who instantly switches her crush on Oujiyama onto him. It's implied Oujiyama made him grow out his bangs in fear and jealousy of Wakikawa being hit on by all the girls in school.
