The trial screening of the first episode of Alice in Borderland came to an end amidst thunderous applause and gasps of lingering admiration. The lights in the cinema brightened once more, pulling the audience back to reality from the tense and thrilling "Borderland."
However, the heat in the venue did not cool down; instead, it surged with even greater anticipation for the upcoming interview and fan interaction segment.
A restless atmosphere, mixing excitement and curiosity, permeated the air.
About ten minutes later, the interview segment officially began, controlled by an experienced male host skilled at mobilizing the atmosphere.
The reporters' initial questions revolved around "relatively safe" topics such as the grand world-building of the Alice in Borderland series, the exquisite special effects production, and the characters' inner struggles and growth.
Because he was prepared in advance, Michiya Gōshin's logic was clear and his words sincere when answering. Occasionally, he would reveal his own deep reflections, which drew low cries of adoration from the fans.
As for Sakurajima Mai, it went without saying that she displayed the elegance and wisdom of a top-tier actress as always.
Her answers were both profound and witty. She exchanged eye contact or brief dialogue with Michiya Gōshin from time to time. The atmosphere between the two appeared harmonious and professional, yet carried an indescribable tacit understanding that left the fans very satisfied.
However, under the calm surface, undercurrents always surged.
When the interview was halfway through, a male reporter with a mustache suddenly stood up. He pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, aimed the microphone in his hand at the two on stage, and asked a question that seemed to explore acting skills but actually pointed directly at their private relationship.
"Um, thank you both very much for your wonderful sharing today, actors-san. Actually, I have one more question."
"Please, go ahead."
Michiya Gōshin nodded to him, his expression calm.
"I would like to ask Sakurajima-san and Michiya-san: through this close cooperation on Alice in Borderland spanning several months—especially when portraying the relationship between [Arisu Ryōhei] and [Usagi Yuzuha], who support each other in a desperate life-or-death situation with their emotions constantly heating up—did you two feel that your chemistry off-screen has significantly improved?"
"For example... will this have some positive influence on your future work arrangements, or even your personal private exchanges and interactions?"
This question was a bit abrupt, but as soon as the words left his mouth, the nearby cameras immediately focused on Sakurajima Mai and Michiya Gōshin.
In the next moment, the originally somewhat noisy venue fell instantly silent, followed immediately by finer, yet excitement-and-tension-filled whispers.
All the fans, including the group of five from the love reality show sitting in the relations area off-stage, unconsciously held their breath, because this question was actually not easy to answer.
Under the spotlight, the perfect smile on Sakurajima Mai's face, tempered by a thousand trials, did not change in the slightest; even the upward arc of her lips remained unshaken.
She turned her head very naturally and glanced at Michiya Gōshin beside her. In those eyes that were always filled with confidence and charm, a deeper and more magnanimous brilliance now flowed, as if saying, "Leave it to me."
"Thank you very much for this very professional and interesting question."
Sakurajima Mai first gave an affirmation, then continued unhurriedly.
"Indeed, just as you said, for a work like Alice in Borderland that requires actors to invest immense emotion and physical stamina to face a [Life-or-Death Trial] together, that period of intensive and deep filming experience will undoubtedly greatly deepen the understanding, trust, and sense of reliance between actors."
She naturally turned her head to look at Michiya Gōshin again, her gaze holding undisguised appreciation.
"Michiya-san is an excellent actor with extremely high professional standards and is full of passion and creativity for performance. On set, we didn't just go through the motions of reading lines; we spent a lot of time deeply discussing character motivations, emotional layers, and even conceiving details of certain scenes together. This kind of collision and exchange in creativity is very precious."
Speaking up to here, Sakurajima Mai paused cleverly. Her gaze swept over the countless expectant eyes off-stage, finally landing back on the reporter who asked the question, revealing an even more radiant, generous, and impeccable smile.
"Through this unforgettable collaboration, we aren't just partners in work, but have become good friends who can talk very well about acting and many other aspects, and who can sincerely trust each other. I cherish this friendship formed in such a special environment very much, and I believe that no matter where we each go in the future, this chemistry and trust will be an indispensable and precious wealth in our careers and even our lives."
Her answer was a textbook example, absolutely watertight.
It both directly responded to the question of improved chemistry and clearly yet cleverly defined their relationship within the scope of "good friends."
Michiya Gōshin maintained a polite smile at her side, nodding in agreement at appropriate times, but inwardly he couldn't help breathing a sigh of relief. At the same time, he once again deeply realized that Sakurajima Mai had been in the entertainment industry for over ten years; her ability to cope with situations had been cultivated to a formidable level.
"Thank you for your answer."
The male reporter smiled too, but a shadow flashed past his eyes before he retreated back into the group of reporters.
The interview segment passed with more scare than harm. Next, they entered the livelier and more interactive fan welfare segment.
The host announced that lucky fans drawn through a system lottery could come up on stage for close-range interaction with the leads and receive autographs and gifts. Consequently, the atmosphere in the venue was ignited once again, with cheers and envious screams rising one after another.
Among these lucky ones was a woman whose group chat ID was [Sana Under the Camera] and whose real name was Suzuki Sana. Relying on the special passage for media personnel and a little patronage from the goddess of luck, she also successfully obtained this precious opportunity she had dreamed of—to come into close contact with her idol.
As she harbored a heart beating as wildly as a rabbit and stepped up the stairs leading to the center of the stage one by one, walking toward Michiya Gōshin who was radiant on the screen, Suzuki felt her breathing was about to stop.
The closer she got, the more clearly Suzuki Sana could feel the rushing, almost leg-weakening handsomeness of Michiya Gōshin.
His skin was fair, and every line of his features seemed carefully sculpted by a deity, combining to form a soul-stirring harmony and three-dimensionality that was far more shocking than what was seen through a lens on a screen.
Especially when he turned his head because of her approach, focusing those deep black eyes on her, and then slightly curving the corners of his lips to reveal a gentle and extremely approachable smile, Suzuki Sana felt her mind go blank instantly. Her heart felt like it was grabbed hard by something, then suddenly released.
She tremblingly handed over the signature board the staff had just given her, her voice changing tune slightly due to excitement.
"Um, Michiya, Michiya-san, I like your acting very much! Please... please give me an autograph!"
Michiya Gōshin took the signature board. His fingers were slender and clean, with distinct joints. He did not sign immediately but raised his eyes to look at her again.
"Thank you for your support all this time. It must have been hard work coming to the venue today."
Michiya Gōshin's tone was natural, yet it inexplicably gave people a powerful, reassuring feeling, as if everything was under his control.
This dominance beneath the gentleness, this feeling of being taken seriously, made Suzuki Sana even more intoxicated. She gazed foolishly at his fluid signing movements, feeling that she was the happiest person in the world at this moment, wishing time would stop forever right here.
However, beautiful times are always short, and always easily interrupted.
Perhaps it was the keen intuition shared by women, or perhaps it was Suzuki Sana's overly "persistent" obsessed gaze that almost wanted to suck Michiya Gōshin in, as well as her lingering significantly beyond the normal interaction time, that immediately caught the attention of Sakurajima Mai, who had been standing not far from Michiya Gōshin all along.
Her beautiful eyebrows knitted slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Immediately after, Sakurajima Mai took a small step forward very naturally, as if inadvertently. Her skirt traced an elegant arc as she aptly inserted herself into the spatial distance between Michiya Gōshin and Suzuki Sana.
Following that, she extended that slender, fair hand and very amicably gave a light support to Suzuki Sana's wrist, which was stiff from nervousness. Her voice was very gentle.
"This cute young lady looks a little nervous. It's okay, relax, take it easy. Come, hold the signature board steady and give it to Gōshin-kun; he will definitely sign a very beautiful name for you."
Her words were kind and considerate, her manners generous and appropriate; anyone looking would feel she was an actor who was considerate of details and cared for fans' emotions.
But in a certain instant, Suzuki Sana clearly felt a piercing gaze land on her body, leaving her somewhat confused.
"Eh?"
Michiya Gōshin naturally did not notice any of this; he just gently handed the signed board back to Suzuki Sana, who seemed to have been startled awake.
Thus, the female reporter woke as if from a dream. After stammering incoherent thanks, she practically fled off the stage, stumbling over her own feet.
Eventually, the entire Alice in Borderland episode one trial screening and fan meeting event came to a successful close in a warm atmosphere.
The comprehensive evaluation of the first episode was very good. Whether it was the high quality of the series itself, the compact and thrilling plot, or the outstanding acting and appropriate interaction of the leads, it won unanimous praise from the media and fans, achieving a bumper harvest in both reputation and popularity.
After the event dispersed and the flow of people thinned out, the group of five from the love reality show came backstage to express their most sincere and warm congratulations to Michiya Gōshin.
"Michiya, that was amazing! My palms were sweating watching the first episode; I was completely drawn in!" Kumano Nobuyuki patted Michiya Gōshin's shoulder vigorously, his face full of sincere admiration.
"Indeed not bad. This show is very good to watch, and your acting is also very impressive!" Morimoto Kengo also nodded. As a close friend, he also felt honored by Michiya Gōshin's success.
MEM-cho was like a happy little bird, chattering non-stop.
"Gōshin-kun's acting is really incredible. It felt like you really acted out a useless guy's reaction when facing a desperate situation. This is completely different from your real personality—amazing!"
Although she kept praising him, this girl, who had always been sensitive to emotions, took a few extra glances at Sakurajima Mai standing nearby, her gaze holding a trace of imperceptible inquiry.
Asakura Toru just stood quietly a little further away. She nodded lightly to Michiya Gōshin, a faint, tranquil, and ethereal curve playing on the corners of her lips, which counted as expressing her most reserved congratulations.
Kurokawa Akane also tried hard to show her trademark gentlest smile and said seriously:
"Congratulations, Gōshin-kun. The response to the first episode is so enthusiastic; this show will definitely become a massive hit."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the five sensibly stopped disturbing him. After all, as a high-popularity entertainer, the other party obviously had follow-up wrap-up work or arrangements.
Accompanied by Kato Megumi, Michiya Gōshin saw them to the backstage exit and thanked them again.
After seeing off the friends from the love reality show, the atmosphere in the backstage rest area seemed to instantly become somewhat subtle and quiet.
Kato Megumi stood quietly in the corner, on standby at all times.
Only then did Sakurajima Mai walk gracefully up to Michiya Gōshin, a lazy and charming smile on her face.
"Gōshin-kun, today's event was very successful. Thank you for your hard work. I know a members-only restaurant nearby. The environment is quiet, and the ingredients are flown in from Hokkaido that very day. The reputation is very good. How about it? Shall we go eat something together and celebrate a little?"
"Just the two of us?"
Michiya Gōshin paused for a moment. He suddenly remembered Yamazaki Kento's reminder: if he went out to eat alone with Sakurajima Mai, and they were photographed, it might produce some not-so-good effects.
"Of course."
Sakurajima Mai nodded and said a step further, "Since you were discharged from the hospital, I haven't thanked you properly yet. After all, Gōshin-kun, you count as my [Lifesaver]."
She deliberately added an imperceptible stress to the words [Lifesaver], looking at Michiya Gōshin with a burning gaze.
"You don't need to put it so heavily, Mai-san. 'Lifesaver' or whatever sounds very strange."
Michiya Gōshin smiled, seeming to think about how to respond to this matter.
"Hehe, it's just a figure of speech. No matter what, Gōshin-kun saved me regardless of your own safety; of course, I have to thank you properly."
Sakurajima Mai's eyes were very determined, staring motionlessly at Michiya Gōshin's face.
"Besides, we can also bring Kato-san along. That way, it can't be counted as two people eating alone."
She seemed to know what Michiya Gōshin was worried about, so she steered the topic to Kato Megumi, who was standing nearby without speaking.
"Mm..."
Michiya Gōshin thought for a moment and looked at the short-haired girl standing nearby. Sakurajima Mai looked over as well.
Facing the gazes of the two, Kato Megumi just nodded very calmly, "I can go together, Michiya-san."
"Gōshin-kun~, look, she agreed today too, so let's go eat together." She tilted her head slightly, her tone suddenly becoming somewhat cute. "The spot I booked is very hidden; we won't be noticed."
"...Alright then."
Michiya Gōshin looked at Kato Megumi again. If it was the three of them together, there shouldn't be any problem, as it wasn't a private meeting.
"Then it's settled. You two take my car and go together."
A satisfied smile appeared on Sakurajima Mai's pretty face, and she began arranging everything very naturally.
Just as Sakurajima Mai successfully asked Michiya Gōshin out, in another corner of the city, the atmosphere was distinctly different.
Kurokawa Akane and Asakura Toru did not return to their respective homes immediately. Following the agreement made just now at the screening, the two left the venue and came together to a boutique cafe with few customers located deep in a secluded alley.
Soft warm yellow lighting, lazy and soothing blues jazz music, and the air filled with the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and the faint scent of desserts.
After a waiter in a proper uniform silently delivered two lattes with elaborate foam art, he politely retreated, leaving the space completely to them.
Asakura Toru did not immerse herself in her own world immediately as she usually did; instead, she quietly gazed at Kurokawa Akane opposite her.
"Kurokawa-san, actually, I called you out today because there is something I want to say." Asakura Toru's voice was very light, but like a feather brushing across the tip of the heart, making it impossible to ignore.
Kurokawa Akane raised her head, meeting those cyan eyes that had rarely shed their haziness and appeared exceptionally clear.
Asakura Toru paused slightly. Her long eyelashes, like butterfly wings, trembled gently, as if she were organizing her language, or perhaps accumulating some rare courage.
"You and Michiya-san... what is your relationship now?"
Asakura Toru tilted her head slightly, her tone as plain as if inquiring about the weather.
Yet after this sentence was asked, Kurokawa Akane was obviously somewhat surprised, but she knew what the other party meant, so she answered.
"Gōshin-kun and I currently... are in a relationship of big close friends."
"Okay, I understand."
Kurokawa Akane pursed her lips. As early as during Love is a Required Course in Life, she had already sensed Asakura Toru's care for Michiya Gōshin.
Although they were friends who hung out together, there were some things that indeed could not be conceded.
She raised her eyes to meet Asakura Toru's gaze. Her voice, though light, carried a trace of imperceptible firmness.
"Does Asakura-san have something you want to say by asking such a question?"
"Mm... there are indeed some things I want to tell Kurokawa-san."
There were no ripples on Asakura Toru's face, only a glimmer of light seemed to flash in those cyan eyes, and then she spoke slowly.
"I care about Gōshin-kun... It's that kind of care for the opposite sex."
"..."
Kurokawa Akane was slightly stunned. Looking at the girl opposite her, who was usually as exquisite as a doll yet lacked emotional fluctuation, but whose eyes now revealed a confirmation of a certain emotion that was almost pure, she suddenly felt a burst of inexplicable nervousness.
After saying this sentence, Asakura Toru made a move that surprised her even more.
Asakura Toru took out a simply bound printed document from the canvas bag she carried with her. The cover had the words Twinkling Baseball Story written on it; it looked like a script.
"This is..."
Kurokawa Akane asked subconsciously, her voice holding a trace of confusion.
She had heard MEM-cho say a few days ago that the idol group [noctchill] that Asakura Toru belonged to had some work arrangements recently. Was it to appear in a TV drama?
"Our group is going to start filming a TV drama recently. It's a late-night slot, airing around 11:30."
Asakura Toru opened her mouth to explain, her fingers gently stroking the cover of the script, her movements carrying a kind of cherishing.
"The theme of the story is a sports story about friendship between girls and working hard to shed sweat. It counts as a purely fan-oriented work, I guess."
Hearing this, Kurokawa Akane understood very quickly. Idol groups filming TV dramas was indeed a way to increase popularity and solidify the fan base.
TV dramas by girl idol groups mostly had themes that were "yuri-leaning," making fans buy in through intimate interactions between members, and they could also release some follow-up Blu-ray discs to earn more revenue.
However, what did this have to do with the topic just now?
Kurokawa Akane looked over with some doubt, but Asakura Toru smiled faintly at this moment, as if she had seen through the inner thoughts of the person opposite her.
"This is a very good opportunity. Although being an idol is also interesting, I really want to act now, especially after watching Gōshin-kun's TV drama today."
"Asakura-san..."
"I want to use this method to be a little closer to the world Gōshin-kun is in..."
Asakura Toru caressed the script, her voice very soft.
"It would be great if I could have the opportunity to co-star in the future."
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