Ae! group's Yoshinori Masakado will star in the upcoming vertical short drama 'Chat Boy,' premiering worldwide on YouTube on August 1 as part of STARTO ENTERTAINMENT's "S DRAMA" series. Travis Japan member Noel Kawashima co-stars in the series.

Masakado plays Utsumi, a manga editor who secretly relies on AI chat tools for companionship and validation. After the government bans the technology, he turns to a mysterious company offering humanoid AI designed to bypass the new restrictions. Things take an unexpected turn when he encounters an AI modeled after his former high school classmate, Fujino, played by Kawashima.

Launched in 2026, "S DRAMA" is STARTO ENTERTAINMENT's in-house vertical short drama series, featuring original stories across a variety of genres including thrillers, horror, romantic comedies, and more.

Masakado made his major-label debut with Ae! group in 2025 and has also appeared in tv dramas, films, and stage productions, including 'Musashino Rondo' and the Japanese stage production of 'Twelfth Night.' Meanwhile, Kawashima debuted with Travis Japan in 2022 and has expanded his career into acting, starring in stage productions including 'A Better Tomorrow' and 'Endless SHOCK.'

Official S DRAMA YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@esu_dora