At the same time, the emergency meeting at Johnny & Associates was still in progress.
The conference room's lighting was somewhat ghastly, reflecting off the assistant's pale face. The sales report in his hand felt like a hot potato, every number mocking their failure.
"Director Mizushima, Love Letter's sales have already surpassed 110,000 copies. The online discussion's intensity hasn't died down at all, and what's more..."
"What's more?"
Mizushima Ryo shot a sharp glare, staring at the assistant before him.
"I heard that Kodansha has already put out the word. They're holding an in-person book signing this Sunday, and the venue is Shibuya PARCO."
"A book signing?"
The previously dejected Mizushima Ryo shot up from his chair, his furious gaze looking like it could spit fire.
"He dares to hold a book signing? Does he really think he can ascend to the heavens with just one book?"
The man's fingers clenched into a tight fist, his knuckles turning white. "No, we absolutely cannot let Michiya Gōshin finish this book signing smoothly! We have to let the readers see his true colors!"
"But," the assistant reminded him cautiously, "Dean Onishi and the entire literary circle are backing him. Making a direct move is too risky..."
"Who said we're making a direct move?"
Mizushima Ryo let out a cold laugh, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. "We can find a few 'old friends' to ask questions at the event. Ask him to his face about his prima donna behavior on set, and about the ghostwriting incident. We'll rehash all that dirt right in front of his readers!"
"I refuse to believe he can keep playing dead like he does online when he's in front of so many of his readers!"
He walked over to the assistant and clapped him on the shoulder, his tone persuasive.
"As long as a scene is made, we'll have our paid commenters edit the video and spread it. The headline will be: [Blacklisted Disgraced Entertainer Gets Grilled at Book Signing, Left Speechless!]. By then, the sales of his Love Letter will plummet, and the literary circle will surely start doubting the truth of those matters. Let's see how arrogant he can be then!"
The assistant's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly.
"Director Mizushima, you're brilliant! I'll contact the gossip media outlets we've worked with before and have them send their most pointed reporters. I guarantee we'll put Michiya Gōshin in a position he can't get out of!"
"Remember."
Mizushima Ryo recalled Johnny-san's questioning from a couple of days ago. He suddenly lowered his voice, his tone threatening.
"Don't leave any trace that links back to our agency. Make it look like normal reporters asking questions. If you screw this up, you can pack your bags and get lost!"
"Yes! I understand!"
The assistant, as if granted amnesty, grabbed the report and hurried out of the conference room.
After he left, Mizushima Ryo paced to the window, his gaze fixed on the night view, his eyes filled with malice.
"Michiya Gōshin... just you wait!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------
On the set of '49,' Sakurajima Mai was applying lipstick in front of the makeup mirror. The girl in the reflection had a hint of exhaustion in her eyes, but it couldn't hide the determined light within.
"Mai, are you really going to go? After all, it involves Johnny & Associates. There's still a certain amount of risk."
Her mother, acting as her manager, was by her side.
However, on one hand, Sakurajima Mai's insistence was extremely strong. On the other, she had also read Michiya Gōshin's Love Letter and knew that befriending a future mainstream author was a rare opportunity. She'd heard he had even received Dean Onishi's approval and successfully entered the circle of mainstream writers.
But Johnny & Associates was, after all, the leader of the entertainment industry. Comparing the two made Sakurajima Mai's mother seem a bit hesitant and conflicted.
Listening to her mother's concerns, Sakurajima Mai put down her lipstick, turned around, and smiled.
"It's precisely because it's Johnny & Associates that I have to go."
She recalled how Michiya Gōshin sounded when he called two days ago; the young man's voice was incredibly resolute.
It was a promise, and also the girl's own desire.
"Let's clear my schedule for Sunday. I'm planning to go directly, without any disguise."
"...Alright, fine. I can't talk you out of it now anyway."
Her mother was helpless. In truth, public opinion online was already starting to shift in Michiya Gōshin's favor. Making an appearance at the book signing might be a good chance to boost her own fame.
"Mm, I know what I'm doing."
Sakurajima Mai pressed her lips together, evening out the lipstick.
"After all, Michiya-san and I are friends, you know~"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kurokawa Akane stared at herself in the full-length mirror for a long time. Finally, she pulled at the edge of her mask, making sure most of her face was covered.
The girl in the mirror wore a large, black bucket hat, a gray hooded sweatshirt she had never worn in public, jeans, and sneakers. There wasn't a trace of a celebrity about her.
"They won't recognize me like this, right?"
She mumbled to her reflection, her fingertips nervously twisting the drawstring of her hoodie.
Half an hour ago, her agent had been on the phone, pleading earnestly: "Akane, don't be willful! Johnny & Associates is still targeting Michiya Gōshin. If you go to the book signing now and get photographed, it'll be huge news. That's no good for either of you!"
But Kurokawa Akane's stubborn streak had flared up, and even her agent's persuasion was useless.
The girl knew she was just a minor figure in the entertainment world; she couldn't do much to help Michiya Gōshin even if she wanted to.
But for some reason, the moment she heard Michiya Gōshin was holding a book signing, the thought immediately took root in her mind, and she couldn't control her own impulses.
Being unable to speak up when the young man was being attacked online already made her feel very guilty. This time, at the book signing, Kurokawa Akane wanted to go and show him where she stood.
It was a risky choice.
But she was happy to make it.
-------------------------------------------------------
Kasumigaoka Utaha sat in front of her laptop, working hard on her manuscript. Ever since she found inspiration in Love Letter, she hadn't experienced writer's block once in the past few days.
After a moment, the phone she had placed beside her rang.
"Hello."
"Shi, are you sure you don't want me to arrange a spot for you near the front?" Editor Machida's voice came through the phone, tinged with a smile. "It'll let you get Michiya-sensei's autograph faster, you know."
"There's no need for special arrangements. I'll just line up and enter with the other readers."
"So cold. How's your manuscript coming along?"
"I'm wrapping up the second volume. I'm very satisfied with how the plot is progressing."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's crimson eyes stared at the manuscript before her, a satisfied smile involuntarily appearing on her lips.
"That's good."
Machida Sonoko nodded while holding her phone. "Michiya-sensei is very handsome, you know. You've seen his picture, right? He's much better-looking in person."
"...I have to get back to writing. I'm hanging up."
"Heh heh."
Putting down the phone, Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced again at the copy of Love Letter by her side.
She opened it to the title page. The young man in the photo indeed had an exceptionally handsome face. It was hard to imagine someone like him could write such a pure story of unrequited love.
Could it be... that he would ever need to have an unrequited crush on someone?
When Kasumigaoka Utaha wrote novels, she basically always projected herself into them, so she found it a bit hard to believe that Michiya Gōshin would genuinely fail to win over a girl he liked.
"As a fan of Michiya-sensei..."
The girl smiled faintly. "...of course I have to line up in person to ask him a question, right?~"
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