Shiraishi Yuzuki knew very well how to attract the audience's curiosity. She didn't follow the previously agreed-upon script: "This time, we won't ask questions about the Antarctic scientific expedition. Let's chat about Mr. Jhin's daily life instead!"
"Mr. Jhin is the same age as us, so do you usually attend classes at school?"
"Correct," Jhin played along with Shiraishi Yuzuki's question to keep the topic moving. "After all, being a student is still my main occupation."
"Oh?" Shiraishi Yuzuki leaned forward slightly, revealing an interested expression. "Does Mr. Jhin have a side job we don't know about?"
"Aside from being a student and a corporate representative, I am also a band manager and the hidden head chef on the ship."
Shiraishi Yuzuki turned to the camera and praised him with an exaggerated tone: "Your cooking skills are indeed amazing. I heard that every time it's Mr. Jhin's turn to help in the kitchen, the team members arrive at the cafeteria early just to eat the dishes he makes personally."
"But, what is this about being a band manager?" Shiraishi Yuzuki knew about Kessoku Band, but that didn't mean the viewers watching the program knew, so she asked specifically to introduce Kessoku Band, intending to promote them as well.
"The band is called Kessoku Band. It was established not long ago, and they just produced their first album a short while ago. Sitting over there is the lead vocalist and guitarist, Kita Ikuyo. She is a lively, cheerful, and cute girl."
Kita Ikuyo hadn't expected Jhin to mention her suddenly. Facing the camera lens that abruptly turned toward her, she was only stunned for a moment before calmly revealing a sweet smile and saying hello to the camera.
"How about that? I wasn't wrong, was I?"
"She is indeed very cute, just as you said. To be able to calmly greet a camera attacking unexpectedly—it seems she might be more suitable to be a program host than me," Shiraishi Yuzuki cracked a small joke, then continued, "If there are viewers interested in their band, you can go follow them."
One must know how to return a favor. Jhin had already planned to have Kessoku Band collaborate with Shiraishi Yuzuki. He had previously spoken with her mother, Tamiko Shiraishi. As long as he obtained Yuzuki's own consent, collaborating on a MV would be absolutely no problem.
Thinking of this, Jhin didn't wait for Shiraishi Yuzuki to ask the next question but asked proactively:
"Miss Shiraishi, I wonder if you have any thoughts on collaborating with Kessoku Band?"
"!?"
Shiraishi Yuzuki froze in place, looking dazed. This scene was also recorded by Miyake Hinata with the camera. Not only did she love watching this kind of unexpected development, but the others would surely love it too. This segment had to be kept for the episode.
"We are heading to Antarctica this time with the intention of shooting a MV. If we could collaborate with you, the MV would surely be even more brilliant."
"This... I have to go ask my manager."
"I have already asked Ms. Tamiko Shiraishi beforehand. She said as long as I get your personal consent, it's fine."
Shiraishi Yuzuki had heard Kessoku Band's album at Tamaki Mari's place. The quality was flawless. After thinking it over, she had no reason to refuse him, so she agreed to the collaboration.
Then, the interview program suddenly turned from questions about Jhin's daily life into a business negotiation. Miyake Hinata still didn't stop recording with the camera in her hands, watching happily from the side with her arms crossed. She had a hunch that with just a little editing, this episode would definitely have great entertainment value.
Tamaki Mari and Shirase Kobuchizawa had nothing to do, so they stayed by Miyake Hinata's side, watching them discuss the collaboration.
Suddenly, the entire expedition ship shook violently, interrupting the recording. Jhin comforted the frightened girls while explaining: "It should be that the expedition ship has reached the ice layer at the edge of Antarctica and is currently icebreaking."
"Icebreaking? You mean going down to chisel open the ice blocks?"
"Of course we wouldn't use such a time-consuming and laborious method. Don't you know the Penguin Manju's other name?"
"What name?" Tamaki Mari was very puzzled. Could it have an alias like "Seal Bun"? But is it necessary for a ship to have two names?
"An icebreaker. As the name suggests, it's a ship used to break open the ice surface. The ice is still relatively thin right now, so it's using the bow to impact the ice and move forward. To go deeper, it will have to be like chopping wood—raising the bow and using its own weight to crush the ice layer."
"Eh, so that's the principle." Tamaki Mari learned something new again and continued to ask Jhin, "How long will this situation last?"
"That I don't know," Jhin shook his head. He wasn't Gin Toudou, who knew every aspect of Antarctica well. "I estimate it will stop when we reach the designated location. When this vibration ends, we'll have arrived."
"Then let's end this interview here. It's hard to record with all this shaking. Thank you for accepting the interview, Jhin."
"Small matter." Jhin waved to Miyake Hinata and watched them leave.
Around noon the next day, the expedition ship stopped. Kanae Maekawa notified everyone that they could disembark and take a look.
Jhin changed into a thick down jacket, wrapping himself up like a zongzi, and walked out of the room with Hitori Gotoh and Kita Ikuyo. They came to the edge of the deck, where Shirase Kobuchizawa's hearty roar reached their ears.
"How about that! I've arrived in Antarctica! No matter how you mocked or belittled me, I am standing in Antarctica now! Be envious, be jealous, be hateful! I did something you people will never do in your entire lives!!"
"The plot of swallowing insults and then slapping the faces of everyone who looked down on you... I really never get tired of seeing it," Jhin lamented while leaning on the guardrail. Then he turned his head to look at Takako Kobuchizawa, who was staring intently at her daughter. "Ms. Ozawa, how was the journey?"
"It feels like... returning to three years ago... very familiar, yet also very strange."
"Is that so? However, you still have to work hard for a while. Can you still hold on?"
"Rest assured, Mr. Jhin. I can still manage this level of endurance." Takako Kobuchizawa withdrew her gaze and turned to leave with firm steps. "I still have to help on Kanae's side, so I'll leave first."
"Jhin, what mysterious things are you talking about?" Hitori Gotoh completely failed to understand what the two were discussing, as if she had run into two Riddlers chatting in Gotham City.
"Chatting about her work. Bocchi-chan, you haven't packed your backpack yet, have you?"
"I... I don't know what's going on either. Clearly, everything fit in the bag when we came, but now I can't fit it all in no matter how I pack. How exactly did Mom put everything in there before?"
"You, ah..." Jhin knocked on her head as a slight punishment. "Go back to the room. I'll organize it for you."
"Hehe, Jhin, you're the best!"
After packing the luggage, the group took the helicopter from the expedition ship and arrived at the scientific research base that had been uninhabited for three years.
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