The first half of the book signing was held in a very gentle atmosphere. The readers were all there to show their support, with smiles on their faces.
As the three-hour book signing neared its end, the media interview in the second half was the real main event of the day.
After the warm interactions concluded, the readers gathered in the rest area with their signed copies of Love Letter to chat. The faint scent of paper and ink lingered in the air.
Michiya Gōshin took the warm water a staff member handed him and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
After a moment, a Hoshino Talent Agency staff member's voice echoed in the atrium: "Next is the media visit and interview session. We welcome all our friends from the press to ask their questions."
Kato Arashi and Nakahara Kazuya both stood beside the young man, waiting for the crucial part to begin.
Of course, the people from Johnny & Associates wouldn't be confrontational right from the start. The initial media visit was quite normal, with reporters from literary magazines and newspapers asking Michiya Gōshin about his creative process. The atmosphere remained harmonious.
Michiya Gōshin, smiling, answered each question and won even more praise.
After about twenty minutes of this, two figures finally pushed their way to the front of the crowd of reporters. It was a man and a woman, both journalists, and their eyes held an undisguised sharpness.
Seeing these two, Michiya Gōshin exchanged a look with his agent and the female president beside him. He knew the main act was about to begin.
The male reporter of the pair launched the first attack. He held up a voice recorder emblazoned with "Shukan Geino," his voice exceptionally cold.
"Mr. Michiya, what is your response to the previous rumors about you 'bullying staff on set'? At the time, Johnny & Associates publicly declared you were a 'prima donna' actor. Now that you've become famous with a book, are you trying to completely whitewash this dark part of your past?"
The moment he spoke, the temperature in the room dropped to freezing point.
The once-noisy rest area fell silent. Readers looked at the two reporters in shock, and some couldn't help but whisper reprimands.
"How could they ask a question like that?"
"That's so rude!"
As for the other media members, they were like sharks that had smelled blood. They excitedly raised their cameras, focusing them firmly on the young author surrounded by the crowd.
However, despite being provoked to his face, Michiya Gōshin's expression remained calm.
He simply reached out for the microphone offered by the host, his gaze calm as he looked at the reporter who had asked the question.
"First, I have never acted like a prima donna, let alone engaged in any bullying. These are nothing but baseless rumors. The so-called 'oppressed' crew member already contacted me last week and said he was bribed to cooperate with the slander."
He paused, his voice carrying through the microphone to every corner of the venue.
"When I was on the set of '49', outside of filming, I would always stay quietly to the side and not disturb the staff at work. The... the staff on set can all attest to this."
"Do you have any proof?"
Not seeing the flustered expression he had hoped for on Michiya Gōshin's face, the male reporter pressed on, dissatisfied.
"Do you have evidence to prove that crew member's words? I think everyone is eager to know the truth."
"Heh, if you want evidence, of course I have it..."
Michiya Gōshin smiled and beckoned. An agency staff member immediately jogged over with a laptop, which was already connected to the venue's sound system.
Seeing this, the male reporter's heart skipped a beat.
He hadn't expected the young man to be so prepared. Could it be that he had planned for this before the book signing even began?
Who... was the real prey here?
"Play it."
"Okay."
The staff member pressed play, and the crew member's voice immediately came through the speakers.
"Yes, because they gave me 500,000 yen. They just wanted me to say a few things."
"I was a bit greedy... It's true that what I did was wrong."
"I want to apologize to Michiya-san. He's a very excellent actor..."
As the crew member's voice slowly played throughout the hall, the male reporter's face grew paler with every word.
"I believe everyone has heard some rumors about me. Since the cameras are here today, I hope you can all bear witness."
Ignoring the male reporter, Michiya Gōshin spoke directly to the readers and media in the hall.
"The slander about me on the internet is completely fabricated. I ask everyone to see clearly and not be used by those with ulterior motives."
"We support Michiya-sensei!"
"That's right! How could someone who wrote such a gentle story bully others?"
The readers immediately responded in unison, shouting out in righteous indignation.
Seeing the young man successfully control the situation, the female reporter beside him sneered.
Since the entertainment industry issue wasn't working, it was time to change tactics. She had prepared some bombshell material in advance, following Mizushima Ryo's instructions, and wouldn't be so easily bluffed.
The female reporter took her partner's microphone and looked at Michiya Gōshin once more.
"Michiya-sensei, it's truly incredible for an actor to suddenly write a bestselling novel. I recall there have always been people online questioning whether you used a ghostwriter. I wonder how you would explain this rumor?"
"The ghostwriting claim is also a rumor. My book has been recognized by many professionals. I don't think you can discredit it with just a few words."
Michiya Gōshin replied calmly, knowing she wouldn't let the topic go so easily.
Since they dared to show up today, they might have another move prepared. That was why he had arranged for Sakurajima Mai to wait outside the venue, not having her enter yet.
She was a secret weapon, after all, best used for a fatal blow.
"Heh, since Michiya-sensei believes he's done nothing wrong, I'll tentatively believe you. However, I've actually received another manuscript, and most of its plot is very similar to your Love Letter."
The female reporter slowly pulled a manuscript from her bag, her tone suddenly becoming grave.
"This author claims he sold his manuscript to someone. Regarding this... what explanation does Michiya-sensei have?"
At these words, the expressions of the readers in attendance changed instantly. A few young girls even nervously clutched the books in their hands.
The meaning of this wasn't ghostwriting, but a direct implication that Michiya Gōshin's plot was plagiarized.
Plagiarism was a far more serious accusation than ghostwriting.
For an original author, once branded a plagiarist, it was virtually a death sentence for their career.
"Heh, plagiarism is a very serious accusation, Miss Reporter."
Just as Nakahara Kazuya and Kato Arashi couldn't help but grow tense, Michiya Gōshin suddenly laughed. "May I ask when the manuscript you're holding was written?"
"The author said he wrote it in the middle of last month. He said the buyer only spent 200,000 yen to buy the manuscript, but has now turned it into the hugely popular Love Letter. I wonder what Michiya-sensei thinks about this?"
"200,000 yen?"
Hearing her say this, the expression on Nakahara Kazuya, standing beside the young man, suddenly turned strange, while Michiya Gōshin found it hilarious.
He hadn't expected them to overlook such an important, objective fact before launching their attack.
It was practically a gift!
"Can that author confirm that the manuscript was sold for 200,000 yen?" Michiya Gōshin immediately pressed.
"Yes."
The female reporter thought Michiya Gōshin was panicking and a cold smile touched her lips.
"A 200,000 yen manuscript... looking at the current sales of Love Letter, I imagine Michiya-sensei has already earned tens of times that amount, hasn't he?"
"Then do you know the specific transaction date? Did the author mention it?"
"The 12th of last month."
Watched by Michiya Gōshin's cold gaze, the female reporter continued to spin her fabricated lies. At this point, she had no way to back down and could only see it through to the bitter end.
Only then could she firmly nail the young man with the accusation of plagiarism.
"Alright, I understand."
"Has Mr. Michiya run out of explanations? Please answer the question directly!"
After she uttered these interrogative words, all the other media members turned their cameras toward him.
The venue fell silent in an instant. Everyone held their breath, staring at Michiya Gōshin, waiting to see how he would answer this question.
If he handled this poorly, it could be a major scandal that would ruin his reputation.
But in the next second, a mocking smile appeared on Michiya Gōshin's lips. Nakahara Kazuya, standing beside him, had already figured it out, and he too was struggling to suppress a smile.
What an idiot. Taking so much dirty money has made her lose touch with reality, huh?
Did she really think an actor could just pull out 200,000 yen?
What a joke!
"Nakahara-san, why don't you explain it to this... reporter lady who is full of lies. You know exactly how much money I had."
Michiya Gōshin didn't even answer her himself, instead passing the opportunity to his agent.
The next moment, all the cameras adjusted their angles, turning to focus on Nakahara Kazuya.
"Yes, hello everyone. I am Michiya-kun's agent, Nakahara Kazuya."
"The 12th of last month was the third day after Michiya-kun signed his acting contract for '49'. Although the production team had sent the first payment, his bank account balance was never very high."
"If I remember correctly, on the 12th of last month... Michiya-kun's account had a total of only 68,000 yen."
"I'd like to ask this aggressive reporter, how does one buy a 200,000 yen manuscript with 68,000 yen? Does such a transaction model even exist in this world?"
"Wh... What?!"
________________________________________
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