After Michiya Gōshin and Kurokawa Akane separated from the production crew, they found a wooden bench and placed the groceries on it.
On the quiet street, the two looked at each other, the atmosphere a little strange.
Kurokawa Akane glanced in the direction the production crew had gone. "Michiya-kun, what is it you wanted to tell me?"
Michiya Gōshin thought for a moment, his tone growing serious.
"Kurokawa, don't you think our interactions these past two days have been a bit too natural? This isn't a private conversation; everything is being recorded by the cameras."
Kurokawa Akane paused for a moment, then said, "Is being natural a bad thing? We already know each other well. Pretending to be strangers would be even more deliberate, wouldn't it? Besides, we co-starred in '49', so the audience already knows."
"No... The audience for a drama is different from the audience for a variety show."
Michiya Gōshin gazed intently at her pretty face. "Kurokawa, you know who the most-watched person on this show is right now, don't you?"
"It's... you, Michiya-kun, right?"
Kurokawa Akane was quite sure of that answer. After all, besides being an actor, Michiya Gōshin also had the title of a rising new author. Ever since the dating show's trailer was released, he had been the one receiving the most attention.
"That's right. But have you thought about it from another angle?"
Michiya Gōshin slowly explained, "The appeal of a dating show is watching a man and a woman go from being unfamiliar to gradually getting to know each other. Even though we already know one another, if our interactions are too close from the very beginning, it might be a case of too much, too soon."
"Michiya-kun, you mean..."
"Aren't you afraid the audience will accuse you of piggyback marketing? Or of clout chasing?"
Of course, Michiya Gōshin didn't dislike Kurokawa Akane. He felt very comfortable around her.
However, the audience wouldn't empathize; viewers are fundamentally selfish.
Even though the director announced that this dating show's format would be very different, the audience won't care about that. If they see someone constantly trying to hog the camera, they'll naturally want to cry foul.
They don't even need a specific target to defend; it could be Michiya Gōshin, or it could be someone else.
Hearing this, Kurokawa Akane's fingers tightened slightly, her knuckles turning white, but she still forced herself to remain calm.
"I anticipated all this. My agent already warned me."
"Anticipating something and having it actually happen are two different things."
A hint of worry appeared on Michiya Gōshin's face. "Kurokawa, this dating show is just a program. I still haven't asked you why you wanted to participate in it."
"But you have to understand, if we just exercise a little restraint and let closeness develop naturally, then this kind of problem won't arise."
"But..."
Kurokawa Akane suddenly cut him off, a barely perceptible trace of grievance in her voice. "Michiya-kun, do you think my actions have been a bother to you?"
"Of course not..."
Michiya Gōshin took a deep breath. To be honest, he had also been thinking about his relationship with Kurokawa Akane.
It was true they were good friends, but the "boundary" of that friendship was a bit delicate. This was a dating reality show, not a film set where they were playing roles.
When filming, you could throw yourself wholeheartedly into portraying a character, expressing vivid love and hate according to the script.
But this was a reality show. Without a role to play, how was one supposed to choose how to act on their true feelings?
How to handle their future interactions was actually a very important question.
"Kurokawa, you should know about what happened to me before. I've experienced being mobbed online by paid trolls hired by Johnny & Associates. I don't want you to go through that."
Michiya Gōshin looked into her eyes, his tone utterly sincere. "As long as we're a little more careful, none of that will happen."
This sentence made Kurokawa Akane freeze for a moment. She also hadn't expected them to be having such a deep conversation on just the second day of the dating show.
But... maybe this was a good opportunity.
The girl thought for a moment, her voice as light as a sigh. "Michiya-kun, do you see me as a fragile person? Or is our relationship only at a stage where you have to 'worry about me getting hurt'? To the point where we can't even interact openly?"
"Of course not."
After getting his confirmation, a surge of courage welled up in Kurokawa Akane's chest.
A dating show really was a special kind of format. Being in this environment made her unconsciously develop deeper thoughts.
She wanted an answer, a question she was posing to him as much as to herself.
"Michiya-kun, can you tell me, then, why did you really join this dating show?"
Kurokawa Akane leaned forward slightly, her tone very serious.
"I thought at first that you might have come here to find material for a book, Michiya-kun. But after our brief interactions yesterday, I realized that theory doesn't hold up. Your attitude seems very strange."
Kurokawa Akane had learned a skill called "profiling" long ago, which allowed her to piece together the truth from subtle details.
"Michiya-kun, did you... actually come here to find love?"
The question was rather sudden.
But he definitely couldn't tell her about the "Wolf." Meeting Kurokawa Akane's expectant gaze, Michiya Gōshin thought for a moment before finally avoiding her eyes and saying in a low voice.
"Of course not. I came here because I have something very important to do."
"Something important?"
Kurokawa Akane sharply picked up on the hesitation in his voice. "So important that it's impossible to explain?"
"..."
Michiya Gōshin fell silent. It seemed his initial assessment had been terribly wrong.
The director having Kurokawa Akane join the show was basically a move against him; she was definitely not going to be the easiest one to handle.
"...Alright, if it's difficult for you, then I won't press you, Michiya-kun. After all, if something is truly important, it's best that as few people know about it as possible."
Kurokawa Akane let out a long breath. From Michiya Gōshin's eyes, she already had the answer she wanted—he wasn't here to fall in love.
That was enough.
A smile returned to the girl's face, like the first thaw of winter ice. "Then I won't ask anymore."
"Okay."
"The production team said this dating show will last for two weeks, right?"
Seeing Michiya Gōshin nod, Kurokawa Akane continued, "During these two weeks, I'll accept your suggestion, Michiya-kun, and restrain the closeness between us."
"Besides that, I'm going to do one more thing—I plan to ask my own heart."
Michiya Gōshin was taken aback. "Ask your own heart?"
"That's right. This show is a very important opportunity. There's something I want to confirm."
The young man thought for a moment, seeming to grasp a hint of her meaning, so he decided to give her a preemptive warning.
"We're not the only two people on this dating show; there are others. If, later on, I have to interact with the other girls, and even... act close to them, what will you do, Kurokawa?"
As soon as he said this, the smile on Kurokawa Akane's face froze instantly.
After a long moment, an unquestionable determination slowly emerged in her eyes.
"If that happens, I'll do what someone on a dating show is supposed to do."
"Supposed to do?"
"Yes... What one is supposed to do on a dating show. It shouldn't be that hard to guess, right?"
"..."
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