"Looks like everyone understands the rules now~"
After announcing the details of the rules, the field director said with a smile, "Then the girls can start preparing their plans. The boys can take this time to 'observe' a little more~"
After the field director left, the three girls tacitly went upstairs together. Their rooms were on the third floor, so they could each return to their own rooms to prepare their plans.
In the main hall, the boys gathered together, with Kumano Nobuyuki kicking off the discussion.
"Michiya, who are you planning to go on the first date with?" Kumano Nobuyuki lowered his voice.
"Didn't you read the rules? This isn't a mandatory date. Even if we apply, the girls can still reject us," Michiya Gōshin said with a relaxed smile, taking a sip of water.
"Don't pretend. If you apply for Kurokawa-san's date plan, I refuse to believe she won't accept."
Kumano Nobuyuki glanced at the silver-haired band member, Morimoto Kengo, next to him. "Morimoto, what do you think?"
"Perhaps. It's possible the others might accept Michiya's application as well."
"Heh."
Seeing that both of them were looking at him, Michiya Gōshin said directly, "Instead of me, who do you guys plan on choosing?"
"Umm..."
Kumano Nobuyuki paused. He had wanted to say Asakura Toru, but when she had come over earlier, despite there being three of them, she had only invited Michiya Gōshin to taste the food.
Although Asakura Toru showed little emotional fluctuation, she had a very casual personality and didn't seem to care much about what others thought, simply doing what she wanted.
In that case, maybe I don't have much of a chance...
The previously confident young dancer suddenly grew a little worried. "I feel like there's a good chance I'll be rejected this time."
"No need to give up so early, is there?" Michiya Gōshin retorted.
"Because the competition is too strong." Kumano Nobuyuki couldn't help but sigh, then looked at Morimoto Kengo. "Morimoto, whose plan are you going to apply for?"
"Let's see tomorrow. I still need to think about it."
"I see."
The three boys glanced at each other, then dispersed, each returning to their own rooms on the second floor.
-------------------------------------------------------
On the third floor, in MEM-cho's room, the blonde girl sat cross-legged on the carpet. A pile of snacks was spread out before her, and she waved a marker in her hand like a "commander-in-chief" holding a secret meeting.
"Thanks for coming, you two. Since the guys already had their guys' night, we girls can have our own girls' night."
"MEM-cho-san, are you planning to discuss tomorrow's plans?"
Kurokawa Akane and Asakura Toru were gathered around the small round table, both with faint smiles on their faces.
"Of course! This is the first time we're submitting a Heartbeat Plan. We have to plan it properly."
MEM-cho patted the cushion beside her, gesturing for Kurokawa Akane and Asakura Toru to sit closer. "Let me get the ball rolling! I'm not going to hide my professional characteristics. That way, I can gauge the guys' thoughts."
As a YouTuber, she knew very well what created buzz, so she didn't plan to follow the script. She had already confirmed the rules, so this was perfectly fine.
"So what kind of plan are you going to make, MEM-cho-san?"
Kurokawa Akane was also pondering this question. Although she had promised Michiya Gōshin she would learn to be more restrained, she was still looking forward to the first date.
"Hehe, my plan is to shoot a vlog! I've already picked out a newly opened restaurant that's supposedly very popular with young women," she said, waving her phone proudly. "This way, I can both shoot footage for a video and complete the dating task. Killing two birds with one stone!"
"What if... you're not interested in the person who chooses you?"
Asakura Toru's single question instantly made the cheerful MEM-cho freeze on the spot.
Kurokawa Akane couldn't help but glance at the short-haired girl beside her. Although she showed very little emotional fluctuation, she had effortlessly hit the nail on the head.
Were they participating in this dating show for the sake of the program's effect and camera time, or were they trying to follow their own hearts?
Even if there wasn't a definitive answer to that question, there had to be an inclination one way or the other.
"Umm... let me think."
MEM-cho suddenly fell into deep thought. Her real reason for joining the dating show was essentially to gain more exposure and popularity. On one hand, it could support her YouTube career; on the other, she wanted to see if she could use this opportunity to break into the entertainment industry.
As for romance, it certainly wasn't her main goal.
Of the three male participants, she was only interested in Michiya Gōshin for now, but she was still a long way from actually liking him.
"If I'm not interested, then I'll just go by myself!" MEM-cho cheered herself on, as if she had made some kind of resolution.
"What about you, Kurokawa-san? If Michiya-sensei doesn't choose you, you probably wouldn't choose anyone else, right?"
Kurokawa Akane didn't deny the question, merely offering a faint smile.
"The actual applications aren't in yet. We're all just guessing right now."
"Hehehe, if you end up alone, Kurokawa-san, want to come shoot a video with me? Us beautiful girls can team up and still make a great video!"
MEM-cho looked at Kurokawa Akane with a grin. The girl was as pretty as a picture, with an extraordinary aura—the kind of person even other girls would want to be close to.
"What kind of plan are you going to choose, Kurokawa-san?" the silent Asakura Toru suddenly asked.
"Me... I think I'll probably try to hide my interests and profession in the plan. That way, I can make a better choice."
"And you, Asakura-san?"
The gazes of the other two girls focused on Asakura Toru. She looked down and thought for a moment, her tone carrying a hint of longing. "I want to go on a railway trip."
"A railway trip?"
The answer surprised them both. "Where specifically?"
"The Isumi Railway in Chiba."
Chiba is next to the Tokyo Metropolis, and since they had a full day for the outing, it wouldn't take up too much time. The production team would likely approve such a plan.
"I see."
The girls' night continued, with everyone chatting as they slowly finalized their own plans.
Everyone held a sense of anticipation for the first outing.
They had a tacit understanding not to talk about the person they were interested in, and that included Kurokawa Akane.
Everything would have to wait until the results were announced tomorrow.
--------------------------------------
Around eleven o'clock at night, Michiya Gōshin, who was resting in his room, suddenly received a phone call.
He pressed the answer button, and Sakurajima Mai's familiar, pleasant voice came through the receiver, tinged with her usual teasing tone.
"Michiya-san, is the dating show recording fun? Are you enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by girls?"
"Don't make fun of me. It's only just started."
Michiya Gōshin sat up in bed. "It's so late. Aren't you resting yet, Sakurajima-san?"
"Still studying a script. There's a short drama series I have to shoot soon."
"As expected of a popular actress. That's amazing."
After he offered the lukewarm compliment, he could almost hear Sakurajima Mai make a "tch" sound through the receiver.
"More importantly, I was thinking about it last time. If Michiya-san isn't on the show for romance, are you there to gather material for a new book?"
"No."
"..."
Sakurajima Mai was silent for a moment on the other end, then said, "Alright then. I'll just wait for the show to air before I try to guess what you're really up to."
"Heh, the answer to that question isn't easy to guess, Sakurajima-san."
"I can give it a try. After all, when the final cut airs, you'll probably have the most screen time, right, Michiya-san?"
"Perhaps."
The two chatted for five or six minutes before Sakurajima Mai ended the call.
Putting down his phone, Michiya Gōshin let out a long breath.
He thought of Sakurajima Mai's resolute attitude when she had taken the initiative to help him. Like Kurokawa Akane, she was someone he could not let down.
"For now, I need to focus on completing the Wolf's mission. Then I'll have the chance to act alongside her."
"When that time comes... I'll thank her properly."
________________________________________
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