"Michiya-kun, from now on, please call me by my name... Is 'Akane' okay?"
Kurokawa Akane gathered all her courage and looked up, her gaze firmly tethered to Michiya Gōshin as if drawn by an invisible thread.
This was an offensive maneuver, a testament to the girl's inner feelings, and a mixture of her boundless longing for the future.
This request reminded Michiya Gōshin of Sakurajima Mai. To be honest, once everyone's emotions and thoughts are laid bare, many things naturally progress to this stage.
After all, they weren't children; feelings of affection are best conveyed when spoken aloud.
And changing the way one addresses another is a fairly obvious signal.
Michiya Gōshin studied Kurokawa Akane's sparkling eyes and found himself utterly unable to refuse.
She was different from Sakurajima Mai. Sakurajima Mai was bold and bright because her status and popularity in the entertainment industry allowed her to make firmer decisions, but Kurokawa Akane still had a long way to go before becoming a famous actress.
Not to mention the more important agreement that lay between them.
So be it.
Michiya Gōshin thought for a moment, let out a soft, barely audible sigh, and finally smiled gently.
He raised his eyes, his gaze refocusing on her expectant face, as if he had simply agreed to the most ordinary of requests.
"Okay."
A moment later, Michiya Gōshin called out her name.
"Akane."
Two simple syllables, yet they seemed to be cast with magic. It was no longer the "Kurokawa" used between friends, nor the polite "Kurokawa-san," but the intimate and direct "Akane" that belongs only to those with a close relationship.
This change in address was like opening a door to a more intimate realm.
In the next instant, Kurokawa Akane's eyes widened into perfect circles, Michiya Gōshin's silhouette reflected in her pupils, her heart filled with incredulous surprise.
Immediately, a massive wave of joy swept through all her senses like a warm tide.
She nodded vigorously, her voice trembling with a choke of extreme excitement.
"Mhm!"
Just after Michiya Gōshin changed the way he addressed her, he suddenly realized that the System before his eyes had popped up a notification of experience growth.
[Production Queue 2: Advanced Research]
[Experience: 2/100]
"?"
Does changing the way of address increase experience?
So... this counts as an emotional link.
After a while, another thought popped into Kurokawa Akane's mind across from him.
She also wanted to call him by his first name directly.
She wanted to intimately call out "Gōshin-kun."
However, just as this thought emerged, Kurokawa Akane suddenly suppressed it.
Not yet.
Filming for the movie We Made a Beautiful Bouquet had not yet begun, and they hadn't truly experienced the filming process of this movie together.
Most importantly... Michiya Gōshin had not yet given her that final answer.
Kurokawa Akane considered herself very greedy; what she wanted was definitely not just closeness in name, but that justifiable, natural, exclusive right that comes after everything settles and mutual love is confirmed.
If they became true lovers, that would be the thorough confirmation, the most critical sense of belonging.
Thus, Kurokawa Akane pushed down the throbbing in her heart, and a sweeter smile reappeared on her face. She continued to use the close but not excessive "Michiya-kun" to address him, but the intimacy and happiness in her tone were richer and more real than ever before.
Inside the office, the atmosphere between the two became increasingly gentle, laced with a sweet, ambiguous scent.
Outside the office door, unbeknownst to them, Kato Megumi glanced at the tablet in her hand, her expression displaying neither joy nor sorrow.
These matters, for the time being, had nothing to do with her.
-----------------
Under the same sky, different states of mind stood in stark opposition, like light and shadow.
Sakurajima Mai had no work today. She stayed in her apartment, where the smart lighting system adjusted to a soft halo most suitable for relaxation, yet it could not illuminate the haze in her heart.
The girl held a tablet in her hands, the screen displaying the very thing that unsettled her—the pure white poster: the official announcement of We Made a Beautiful Bouquet.
The two names side-by-side below it left her feeling somewhat lost, unable to look away from the words "Michiya Gōshin" and "Kurokawa Akane" for a long time.
Since the official announcement was released, social media had been active all day.
Fanatical cheers and blessings about "[Yu-Aka] CP," "Matches made in heaven," and "The bonds from the romance reality show finally entering real life."
These updates and news items wiped clean the joy Sakurajima Mai had felt about getting closer to Michiya Gōshin recently. She thought she had closed the distance with him, but she had absolutely no idea this was happening.
A movie Michiya Gōshin wrote himself, and he's starring as the male lead?
"What is this?"
"It's a script."
"What type of script is it?"
"A love story..."
"A love story?"
"..."
Just then, her mother and manager, Sakurajima Sachiko, walked over carrying a cup of warm coffee, which she gently placed on the coffee table in front of her daughter.
Seeing her daughter's furrowed brows and the way she stared blankly at the screen, she understood immediately and couldn't help but sigh softly.
"Mai," Ms. Sachiko sat down on the single sofa nearby, keeping her tone as gentle as possible, "is it because of Michiya-kun again?"
"...Mhm."
Sakurajima Mai hummed a response through her nose, her gaze still glued to the screen, her tone carrying obvious melancholy.
Sakurajima Sachiko weighed her words in her mind, then laughed softly.
"Mai, if it were me, I'd rather give up early. Look at Michiya-kun's side—isn't this movie a very obvious signal?"
"It's an independent original script, and he selected that child named Kurokawa as the female lead. I feel that if you really want to fall in love, why not find someone whose eyes are filled only with you?" She looked at her daughter and spoke slowly, "My daughter... deserves the best person in the world."
"Give up?"
Sakurajima Mai seemed to completely disregard the latter part of the statement. instead, she abruptly raised her head to look at her mother. Her beautiful eyes, usually shimmering with light, now ignited with two clusters of unyielding fire, bright enough to scorch.
"Mom, why should I give up? Just because Gōshin-kun is filming a movie with someone else?"
Her voice suddenly rose, as if she remembered something even more important.
"I am not the kind of person who easily admits defeat at the slightest sign of competition. My feelings are my own choice. I like him, and I told him so; that is my decision."
Sakurajima Mai looked at her mother. Although this matter was a blow to her, it also kindled a fiercer fighting spirit in her heart.
"Gōshin-kun is an actor. Co-starring in movies with other actresses is just work. If I really get together with him, I can't exactly stop him from acting, can I?"
Saying this, she suddenly thought of something else, and new hope sparked in her eyes. "Actually, that could work too. If Gōshin-kun only worked as a writer, wouldn't he stop having contact with those women..."
While Sakurajima Mai suddenly began muttering to herself, Sakurajima Sachiko could see the look in her daughter's eyes, so she could only sigh.
Being able to like someone this much is also a remarkable thing.
Sakurajima Sachiko knew that her words had instead provoked a stronger competitive streak in her daughter. She understood Sakurajima Mai well; this child looked elegant and composed on the outside, but inside she was prouder and more resilient than anyone. The more unfavorable the situation seemed, the more it stimulated her potential and fighting spirit.
"Then what do you plan to do?"
Sakurajima Mai took a deep breath, as if making a certain resolve.
"Mom, your network is quite extensive, right? Can you help me find out if there are any particularly good movie projects currently in preparation?"
Sakurajima Mai thought for a moment and added, "The timing should be around the third quarter. It needs to be a project that hasn't started casting yet, is currently short on funds, and preferably has a romance theme."
"You..."
Hearing her daughter's words, Sakurajima Sachiko immediately understood her intention and couldn't help asking directly, "Mai, are you planning to invest in a movie?"
"Yes."
Having debuted as a child star and gone through over a decade of an acting career, Sakurajima Mai had indeed accumulated a large fortune.
In the current film market, scripts and directors lacking investment were everywhere, and if she were to star in it herself, it would immediately garner immense popularity and attention.
"But..."
"Even if Mom agrees to your whim, what if Michiya-kun isn't willing to star in it?"
Sakurajima Sachiko could see her daughter's determination, but she still felt this was too risky. Buying a movie wasn't like buying a bento box; if the box office failed, she could lose everything.
"Mom, have you forgotten? My contract with the agency is about to expire anyway."
Sakurajima Mai knew how to persuade her mother. "It's been so many years; didn't Mom plan to become the one in charge a long time ago?"
"You..."
Sakurajima Sachiko knew what her daughter meant. Sakurajima Mai had been debuting for over ten years, and naturally, she had new ideas, not wanting a portion of her earnings taken by the agency every time.
If she established a new company herself, relying on the connections she had managed for so many years, she could still help her daughter land plenty of work.
After all, Sakurajima Mai's current popularity and traffic were her true foundation; those seven-figure active followers on Twitter weren't fake.
"This step... isn't one that can be taken lightly."
Sakurajima Sachiko still hesitated, but after a moment, she heard her daughter's voice.
"Mom, are you willing to support me?"
"..."
After a long while, Sakurajima Sachiko took a deep breath and looked at her daughter seriously. "It seems... you knew how to persuade Mom all along, didn't you?"
"Mhm."
"Alright. However, establishing a company isn't a small matter. I need to find two former partners to discuss it. As for the movie..."
Sakurajima Sachiko pondered for a moment, then took out her phone. "Fine, since you insist, I'll ask around for you."
Right in front of Sakurajima Mai, she dialed a few numbers and spoke in low tones.
After inquiring for about ten minutes, Sakurajima Sachiko put down her phone, a rather peculiar expression on her face.
"There happens to be one, Mai."
Sakurajima Sachiko looked at her daughter, her gaze somewhat complex.
"You know Director Mizuki, right? She excels at portraying delicate emotions. Recently, she's been preparing a movie adapted from the bestselling shojo manga Strobe Edge. Currently, there's only the concept; funding and preparation haven't started."
"The story is about high school girl [Ninako] and her classmate [Ren], a love story full of youthful palpitations and warm healing that begins with an eraser. It involves a lot of delicate internal drama and classic Japanese pure love scenes, requiring extremely high ability from the actors to express subtle emotions."
"Then find an opportunity to see the script. I also want to know the direction of this story."
Sakurajima Mai showed almost no hesitation, her tone very firm.
"Reading the script is fine, and Mom trusts your acting won't be an issue, but now there's a more important question... how do you plan to make Michiya-kun accept the role?"
Hearing her mother's question, Sakurajima Mai suddenly smiled.
"I have my ways."
-----------------
In the Nenshi Building, the office belonging to Vice President Suo Shogo was the height of luxury, filled with hard, cold modernist lines and priceless artworks.
The man sank lazily into an ergonomic, top-tier executive chair, playing with a smooth jade paperweight between his slender fingers. His gaze fell upon the massive display screen before him, detailing the data analysis and internet public opinion report regarding the official announcement of We Made a Beautiful Bouquet.
A faint, cold smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Standing before the desk was Takahashi, the replacement after Director Yamamoto's departure. His eyes were very sharp; he was currently Suo's most capable assistant.
"This Michiya Gōshin again?"
Takahashi pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone carrying obvious disdain and a hint of irritation. "The Second Young Master seems to treat him as a winning trump card. Tilting resources so obviously—isn't it a bit too risky?"
Hearing this, Suo Shogo suddenly chuckled low in his throat, the laughter echoing in the soundproof office.
"He is indeed an interesting variable. Even Father appreciates him."
He set down the paperweight and tapped the smooth sandalwood desktop rhythmically with his fingertips.
"My dear younger brother does have a good eye for people. Besides, they made us suffer a big loss last time."
His tone shifted, his eyes instantly turning sharp as knives, exuding a chilling menace.
"However... a young man climbing too fast, surrounded by so many 'blossoming romances' and controversies, is very prone to becoming a target for all."
He leaned forward, his gaze locking onto Michiya Gōshin's handsome photo on the screen as if he had discovered the prey's perfect weak point.
"Look, isn't a ready-made opportunity right in front of us?"
Takahashi shrugged slightly, revealing an inquisitive expression: "What does the Vice President mean?"
The corner of Suo Shogo's mouth hooked into a cruel arc, like a viper poised to strike.
"Do you remember the reasons he first became popular?"
"It was Love Letter and the romance reality show."
"Exactly."
Suo Shogo snapped his fingers. "Since my good brother has placed heavy bets on him, let's attack directly through him."
"You mean..."
Takahashi's eyes instantly lit up, his face showing a mix of admiration and excitement.
"We can't really touch Michiya Gōshin's identity as a writer, but as an actor, the attention he garners is far greater than that of a writer."
Suo Shogo spoke slowly, "From the various scandals before the romance reality show, to the TV dramas, and then the movies... every time information comes out, he is always surrounded by various women."
"And this time it involves Sakurajima Mai. She is a highly nationally recognized actress."
"Yes, when Sakurajima Mai debuted early on, she played a little girl in a morning drama, so her fan base is multi-layered. There are young fans, and there are older fans."
Takahashi said while thinking, "And I recall... she also has quite a few female fans."
"Correct."
Suo Shogo nodded. "Sakurajima Mai's influence is significant, and behind her is the HORIPRO agency. Although HORIPRO is very humane, they are never willing to have their artists entangled in negative news. They never show mercy when dealing with such matters."
"As long as we leak something regarding Michiya Gōshin and Sakurajima Mai, the other side certainly won't remain indifferent. Let them handle it."
"Brilliant! Vice President! Although that old guy Hori Takeo has stepped back to the second line, his influence in the major TV stations is still immense."
Takahashi wore a look of sudden realization, followed by an expression of even greater respect.
"As long as something is exposed, the HORIPRO agency will definitely go trouble Michiya Gōshin. We won't even need to lift a finger; it'll be enough for Michiya Gōshin to suffer plenty."
"Then this romance movie currently in preparation... heh, I'd like to see how many people will be willing to watch it!"
Suo Shogo sneered twice, then gave his orders.
"Takahashi, go contact our acquaintances at Shukan Bunshun. Leak a little wind to them, say there might be [Big News] regarding Michiya Gōshin and Sakurajima Mai. Have them send capable hands to keep a close watch on these two."
"Especially when they have private contact, whether it's restaurants or residences... I believe there will be a harvest. Whether it's chasing shadows or forced perspective photos, what I need is [Hard Evidence] that can cause an uproar, or... something that looks like hard evidence."
Takahashi immediately looked delighted and said loudly:
"I understand. Those paparazzi at Shukan Bunshun will do anything for a headline. As long as they target Michiya Gōshin, there's no fear of not digging something up! When the time comes, true or false, it'll be enough for Michiya Gōshin and the Second Young Master to suffer. I'll arrange it immediately!"
"Mhm, go do it."
Suo Shogo waved his hand, signaling Takahashi to get to work.
After the other left, he sat back in his chair, looking at the brilliant night view outside the window, the cold malice at the corner of his mouth deepening.
"I'd like to see who the final winner will be!"
________________________________________
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