In the living room of the Karuizawa villa, when the handcuffs locked onto Nakamura Satoshi's wrists with a click, that crisp metallic sound seemed to shatter the haze that had shrouded Michiya Gōshin and Sakurajima Mai's hearts for days.
The taut strings in the air suddenly slackened, replaced by a light sense of relief.
Sakurajima Mai let out a soft breath. Her back, which she had kept perfectly straight, relaxed slightly as she leaned against the sofa. The girl raised her hand to rub her throbbing temples; the pressure of public opinion and the fatigue of work over the past few days finally found an outlet for release at this moment.
Those beautiful eyes looked toward Michiya Gōshin, filled with an indescribably complex emotion.
"Finally... it's over."
Her voice carried a tremor that was hard to detect, not just because this matter was resolved, but perhaps also because the situation between the two of them, which had been forced into the eye of the "internet public opinion storm," could finally take a temporary breather.
"Mm, leave the rest to me, Mai-san."
Michiya Gōshin was relatively calmer, after all, there were still follow-up matters to handle. Although they had caught this reporter, the crisis was not completely lifted; they needed to add fuel to the fire on the battlefield of public opinion.
"The trouble has been resolved, but we don't have much time left."
Michiya Gōshin's voice was steady as his sharp gaze swept toward the window in the direction Nakamura Satoshi was being taken away. "We must make our voices heard before public opinion completely solidifies, and it must be a fatal blow."
He immediately took out his phone and contacted Manager Nakahara Kazuya, Assistant Kato Megumi, and Suo Hayato, who was far away in Tokyo but closely monitoring the situation. Soon, a temporary four-party video conference was established online.
On the other side of the screen, Nakahara Kazuya's expression was grave. After learning the ins and outs, he spoke first, offering the perspective of a professional manager.
"Michiya-kun, our agency's PR team has already prepared several drafts for a statement, but given the current internet environment, the effect of relying solely on a written statement is likely limited. We must present more powerful evidence to completely reverse public opinion."
Kato Megumi's gentle and soft voice followed immediately, her logic clear.
"I have just had a preliminary communication with the local police station in Karuizawa. After fulfilling the necessary procedures, they will release an official briefing on this case in accordance with the law, confirming that the suspect, Nakamura Satoshi, was caught red-handed for illegal trespassing into a private residence and invasion of privacy. This is the strongest endorsement from official channels."
She paused, then added, "The briefing will attach pixelated photos of the scene, including images of the suspect being subdued. This will be a very important piece of evidence for Michiya-san to reverse public opinion."
In the next moment, Suo Hayato's image appeared on the screen. He was leaning back in his leather office chair, a cold and playful smile on his face.
"I will personally keep an eye on the police procedures to ensure nothing goes wrong."
"That bastard Nakamura Satoshi... since he dared to target us, he must be prepared to go to prison. I've already had the legal department intervene and dispatched my most capable lawyers. This is my private villa; since this guy really dared to sneak in, I'll make sure this case becomes ironclad. He'll be locked up for at least a few years to serve as a warning to others."
His tone was understated, yet it revealed an unquestionable ruthlessness.
"The question now is, how do we present this victory to the public in the most effective and intuitive way?"
Michiya Gōshin took a deep breath and proposed a well-considered plan.
"I suggest... we can record a clarification video. Text is cold, but video can convey emotions and show authenticity. Mai-san and I can appear on camera together to clearly and directly recount the true situation of the dinner that day and the process of being maliciously secretly filmed this time. Finally, combined with the police's official announcement and photos, we will form a complete chain of evidence, causing all rumors to collapse on their own."
Suo Hayato's eyes lit up, and he approved it on the spot.
"I think that works. Since video has the strongest impact, let's do it that way. Michiya-kun, you control the key points and rhythm of the clarification. Ensure the logic is clear and the counterattack is powerful."
"I will coordinate the police announcement and photos to ensure they are released synchronously with our video, creating a combined force."
He looked at Michiya Gōshin with approval and deeper anticipation in his eyes.
"This incident is both a crisis and an excellent opportunity for you to establish your image and win public sympathy."
In fact, the main reason was that Michiya Gōshin was about to join the cast to film We Made a Beautiful Bouquet. If this public opinion counterattack was successful, it would bring even more attention to this project.
Thus, the plan was quickly finalized.
In the villa's living room, Michiya Gōshin and Sakurajima Mai used professional portable filming equipment brought by Suo Hayato's subordinates to begin recording the clarification video. There was no flashy background or exaggerated lighting; the two sat on single sofas separated by a certain distance. The background was the minimalist and warm interior of the villa, deliberately creating an atmosphere of private, sincere communication.
First to appear was Michiya Gōshin. He wore a simple white shirt, his eyes clear and firm, carrying a sense of helplessness and honesty about being innocently dragged into a dispute.
Facing the camera, his tone was steady and earnest.
"Hello everyone, I am Michiya Gōshin."
"Recently, some untrue rumors regarding myself and Sakurajima Mai-san have caused trouble for everyone. I am deeply sorry for this. Here, I would like to make a clear explanation regarding the issues everyone is concerned about."
Next, he described the true situation of the so-called "kiss photo" day in detail.
"That day, Sakurajima-san and I had a meal together for work reasons. During the meal, I inadvertently drank a few too many cups and was a bit tipsy. As a good friend in my private life, Sakurajima-san supported me out of concern, and that was all. The so-called 'kiss' was completely the result of forced perspective photography and malicious interpretation; it is a desecration of the pure friendship between us."
Then, the camera switched to Sakurajima Mai.
She wore an elegant beige knit sweater with light makeup. Her brow carried a trace of fatigue, but her demeanor remained composed and graceful. She took over the conversation, her voice clear and soft, yet containing unquestionable strength.
"Yes, as Michiya-san said, we are very good friends and colleagues who work happily together. When I took him back that day, we were not alone; Michiya-san's assistant, Kato-san, was also present."
At this point, the camera cleverly gave a brief profile shot of Kato Megumi, who was standing quietly in the corner of the living room wearing a mask.
"Because Kato-san was there helping to take care of him the whole time, I left quickly after confirming Michiya-san's condition was stable. The so-called 'overnight stay' is completely non-existent. I will submit relevant materials to my lawyer and reserve the right to pursue legal responsibility."
Then, Michiya Gōshin steered the topic toward the Karuizawa incident that had just occurred.
He deliberately completely separated Sakurajima Mai from this matter, taking on the role of "bait" alone to protect her image from further implication.
"Due to previous rumors, I have been subjected to malicious harassment and stalking by certain individuals. Yesterday, at Mr. Suo's invitation, I went to his villa in Karuizawa for a private gathering to discuss upcoming work arrangements."
At this moment, Michiya Gōshin's tone became shocked and angry.
"But what I absolutely never expected was that the reporter who spread the rumors before would be so audacious as to illegally intrude into this private residence, intending to conduct candid filming again! Fortunately, we were alert beforehand and, with the help of friends, called the police in time. The suspect has now been caught on the spot, along with the evidence!"
Michiya Gōshin's tone became serious here. He looked directly into the lens, as if to pierce through the screen and speak to every viewer.
"How can the remarks spread by a criminal who breaks the law and uses illegal means to obtain so-called 'news' be trusted? I hope that through this explanation, everyone can see the truth of the facts clearly, distinguish right from wrong, and not be used and hoodwinked by people with ulterior motives."
At the end of the video, Michiya Gōshin and Sakurajima Mai appeared together, emphasizing once again that they were "great friends." They called on everyone to stop spreading false information, return their focus to their future works, and expressed gratitude to the fans who had always supported them.
This carefully recorded video was efficiently and professionally edited under the remote guidance of Kato Megumi and Nakahara Kazuya, ensuring a tight rhythm, prominent key points, and appropriate emotional delivery.
At the same time, Suo Hayato began to utilize his powerful network to coordinate with the Karuizawa Police Station, releasing the official case briefing at the scheduled time, accompanied by a photo of the scene where Nakamura Satoshi was handcuffed with his face pixelated.
Everything was ready.
***
In the world of the internet, inside the core fan group [We Who Love Gōshin-kun], the atmosphere over the past few days had been like the sea before a storm—oppressive and anxious.
Natsukawa Yuki, a flagship figure in Michiya Gōshin's fan camp, was leading the core members of [We Who Love Gōshin-kun] in an arduous tug-of-war against the haters and water armies that pestered them like maggots on a bone across various public opinion battlefields such as Twitter, forums, and news comment sections.
"Everyone hold on! The agency must be collecting evidence and preparing to fight back!"
"We can't fall into chaos first! We have to believe in Gōshin-kun's character!"
"That dirt doesn't hold up to scrutiny; the timeline is full of holes!"
Natsukawa Yuki's fingers typed rapidly on the keyboard. While posting morale-boosting words in the group, she organized counterattacks on various battlefields. Her eyes were bloodshot from staring at the screen for a long time, but her gaze remained firm.
The girl knew well that at this critical moment, the unity and belief of the fan base were crucial.
Countless fans like her held deep expectations in their hearts for Michiya Gōshin's appearance on the big screen after his first leading role in the movie We Made a Beautiful Bouquet. They had even privately started planning to organize nationwide fan screenings, vowing to support Michiya Gōshin's movie box office with practical action.
But if this scandal could not be thoroughly clarified, it would undoubtedly be a devastating blow to Michiya Gōshin's career, which had just taken off.
Just as anxiety and unease were spreading quietly in the group like vines, a series of rapid notification sounds suddenly exploded.
"Quick, look! Hoshino Talent Agency's official Twitter updated!!"
"It's an announcement! And a video!!"
"Oh my god! There's also a link to the police station's briefing!!"
After the message was forwarded, Natsukawa Yuki's heart leaped to her throat. She almost threw herself at the computer, trembling as she clicked on the latest update released by the Hoshino Talent Agency official account.
The first thing that caught her eye was a rigorously worded, tough-attitude official clarification announcement, severely condemning the rumor-mongering and announcing that legal measures had been taken.
But this was not the main point.
Below the announcement, there was conspicuously attached a clarification video lasting about three minutes, as well as a reposted link to the case briefing released by the Karuizawa Police Station's official account!
Natsukawa Yuki took a deep breath and clicked on that video with slightly trembling fingers.
When Michiya Gōshin's familiar yet slightly haggard handsome face appeared on the screen, explaining the truth of the "kiss photo" in a clear and sincere tone; when Sakurajima Mai elegantly and firmly confirmed that the "overnight stay" was pure fiction and mentioned the assistant was present; when the camera showed Kato Megumi wearing a mask; and when Michiya Gōshin revealed with a painful and angry tone that Nakamura Satoshi had illegally trespassed with intent to film secretly and had been arrested by the police...
"Ah—!!"
Natsukawa Yuki in front of the computer desk couldn't control herself and let out a short scream. She slammed her hands over her mouth, and tears instantly burst from her eyes!
Those were not tears of sadness, but of ecstasy, grievance, and excitement released suddenly after extreme repression.
"It's true! It's true! Gōshin-kun has clarified it! That reporter is a criminal who illegally trespassed!!"
Crying, she sent out a voice message in the group almost incoherently, her voice sharp and trembling with excitement.
"Sisters! Quick! Watch the video! Look at the police report! We won! We finally won!!"
The entire fan group was instantly detonated! All the previous repression, anxiety, and anger turned into overwhelming ecstasy and catharsis at this moment.
"I knew it! Gōshin-kun was definitely targeted by someone!"
"Sakurajima-san was also dragged into it, thank goodness!"
"Good job calling the police! This kind of unscrupulous reporter deserves to eat prison food!"
"Gōshin-kun in the video looks so exhausted, it breaks my heart..."
"That assistant lady is so reliable, she silently did so many things!"
"Go repost quickly! Push the police report to number one on the hot search!"
Countless fans were like they had been injected with the strongest stimulant. With the excitement of vindication, they frantically retweeted, commented, and liked with amazing efficiency and enthusiasm, pushing several key entries to the top of Twitter trends.
# Michiya Gōshin Sakurajima Mai Clarification #
# Reporter Arrested for Illegal Trespassing #
# Apologize to Michiya Gōshin #
# Apologize to Sakurajima Mai #
These related entries pushed to the forefront of the Twitter hot search list at unprecedented speed, quickly followed by the "Explosive" tag indicating extremely high heat.
The direction of online public opinion underwent a shocking 180-degree reversal instantly!
The marketing accounts and professional haters who had been jumping the highest and clamoring the loudest before were instantly silenced in the face of the ironclad notification from the Karuizawa police, the clear video evidence, and the open response from Michiya Gōshin and Sakurajima Mai.
They either scurried away to delete their previous rumor-mongering remarks or directly played dead and vanished.
Meanwhile, fans and media who had previously taken a wait-and-see attitude or had even been led astray turned their guns around. They began to unanimously condemn the illegal behavior of the unscrupulous reporter Nakamura Satoshi and offered widespread sympathy and support to Michiya Gōshin and Sakurajima Mai.
"Oh my god! So it was illegal trespassing and candid filming! That's too scary!"
"Sakurajima-san is too pitiful, completely an unexpected calamity."
"Support using legal weapons to defend rights! We absolutely cannot tolerate this kind of behavior!"
Immediately following this, HORIPRO Agency's official announcement was also issued in a timely manner. The tone was even tougher, clearly stating that their artist Sakurajima Mai and Michiya Gōshin were close friends with a good personal relationship, severely warning all parties to immediately stop spreading false information and slander, and "reserving all rights to pursue legal action."
This strong statement from a major agency was like the final heavy hammer, thoroughly establishing the victory of public opinion and directing more public sympathy toward Sakurajima Mai, who had been innocently involved.
The wave of apologies on the internet was overwhelming, especially the apologies to Sakurajima Mai which surged like a tide—after all, she currently had many more fans than Michiya Gōshin.
A scandal storm that seemingly could have destroyed careers was completely disintegrated within a few hours by a meticulously planned, evidence-backed, and forcefully executed thunderous counterattack.
It even conversely won Michiya Gōshin and Sakurajima Mai far more attention, sympathy points, and solid public trust than before.
Meanwhile, in the center of Tokyo, Nenshi Headquarters Building.
In the polished corridor, Suo Hayato walked briskly toward his office.
The news of the online public opinion victory he just received put him in a rather good mood. However, just as he turned the corner of the corridor, he ran headlong into his elder brother—Suo Shogo.
Suo Shogo was still dressed in a well-tailored haute couture suit, his hairstyle meticulous. His face wore his customary steady smile, as if everything was under control.
He did not stop walking when he saw Suo Hayato; only the arc of his mouth seemed to deepen slightly, carrying a trace of imperceptible cold harshness.
"Hayato, I heard you've been incredibly busy recently over the trivial scandal of that newcomer actor?"
Suo Shogo's tone was flat, as if discussing the weather, but the disdain in his words was as stinging as fine needles. "I just learned of the new result. You really worked hard. It seems you are caring for the 'potential stock' you favor with the utmost solicitude."
He deliberately placed heavy emphasis on the words "potential stock," implying that in his eyes, Michiya Gōshin still lacked weight, and that Suo Hayato only handled these "unpresentable" troubles.
Suo Hayato stopped in his tracks. A smile instantly appeared on his face as well—a smile that was brilliant but did not reach his eyes, instead revealing a chill of sharp spirit.
He looked straight into his elder brother's eyes, which were somewhat similar to his own but deeper and more unfathomable, and responded in a relaxed tone.
"Brother's news is as well-informed as ever; not a single movement escapes you. However,"
He changed the subject. His smile remained, but his eyes suddenly became as sharp as a falcon's.
"Victory or defeat is undecided, and the chessboard has just been set. Isn't it a bit too impatient to start calculating gains and losses now?"
Suo Hayato leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them. His voice was lowered, carrying a cold threat that only the two brothers could understand.
"Since Brother was so impatient to make the first move, then next... please properly enjoy the 'consequences' you must bear after making that move."
The smile on Suo Shogo's face stiffened slightly, and a shadow flashed deep in his eyes.
The matter of Nakamura Satoshi's arrest had actually already begun to weaken his prestige. After all, someone selling their life for you went inside, but you couldn't directly bail them out; that was really hard to justify.
It wasn't that Suo Shogo was unwilling to bail him out, but he heard that a high-ranking police official had personally inquired about this case, so his connections didn't work at all.
Suo Hayato straightened up, seemingly casually adjusting his cuffs, then patted Suo Shogo on the shoulder. The movement carried the intimacy of brothers, yet his eyes were as cold as the Siberian wind.
"By the way, I heard the fisheries branch company in Kagoshima hasn't had ideal performance in recent years. It seems they are lacking a director who can 'turn the tide'?"
He paused, looking at his brother's face which instantly turned ashen, and the corners of his mouth curled into a cruel arc.
"Don't worry. When the time comes, if I successfully inherit Father's position... I will definitely save this 'important' director position for you, my dear brother."
Having said this, Suo Hayato lingered no longer. Carrying an aura of biting cold, he brushed past the pale-faced Suo Shogo and walked toward the office belonging to him deep in the corridor.
The movie project was the true decisive battlefield!
________________________________________
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