The stormy waves on the internet finally began to subside gradually as Nakamura Satoshi was formally arrested and faced criminal prosecution.
After experiencing this "scandal storm," the public perception of Michiya Gōshin and Sakurajima Mai finally took a turn for the better. Through this misfortune, they even gained the sympathy and support of a portion of netizens.
To celebrate this hard-won victory, and to maintain the circle of friends who met through the romance variety show but became increasingly close in real life, everyone agreed to meet up again.
However, given Michiya Gōshin's current ultra-high level of attention—worthy of being called a "walking headline"—the gathering location was cautiously set at his apartment to avoid any complications.
As the evening lights came on, the city's neon glow spilled through the apartment's large floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft halo over the interior.
The atmosphere in the living room was gradually warming up.
Present today were the five members of the romance variety show group—the cheerful Kumano Nobuyuki, the steady Morimoto Kengo, Kurokawa Akane, Asakura Toru, and the lively MEM-cho, plus the host, Michiya Gōshin, and his assistant, Kato Megumi.
Kumano and Morimoto were responsible for carrying in the purchased drinks and ingredients, while MEM-cho, as usual, acted as the catalyst for the atmosphere, cracking jokes and making witty remarks from time to time, drawing bursts of laughter from everyone.
After dinner, several of the girls had a sudden whim to make desserts. Led by MEM-cho, they gathered in the open kitchen area, forming a beautiful scenic line.
Kurokawa Akane, Asakura Toru, MEM-cho, and Kato Megumi—four women with different temperaments but equally striking presences stood together, resembling a meticulously painted picture.
They meticulously washed the water-beaded grapes, strawberries, and other fruits. Their movements were skilled and elegant, accompanied by occasional low conversations and soft laughter.
When Kurokawa Akane placed the last plump strawberry into the crystal-clear bowl, her fingertips unconsciously brushed a lock of hair falling by her temple.
Her gaze couldn't help but drift toward Kato Megumi, who was silently processing a cantaloupe on the other side of the counter.
Kato Megumi's movements were consistent, steady, and highly efficient. Moreover, she didn't need to ask anyone about the location of any items. Whether it was which cupboard held the exquisite bone china plates, which knife block stored the specialized fruit knife, or even which drawer contained the hand towels with simple patterns, she knew it all by heart.
She seemed more like the owner of this apartment than even Michiya Gōshin.
This familiarity and naturalness, almost like that of a "mistress of the house," caused the sensitive string at the bottom of Kurokawa Akane's heart to be gently plucked time and again.
She clearly remembered that during the last gathering here, Kato Megumi had been just like this, silently controlling the logistics, as if she herself were an indispensable part of this apartment.
An indescribable sense of crisis and an increasingly concerned emotion quietly grew in her heart.
Because she was about to join the cast and play a "couple" with Michiya Gōshin, this movie meant a great deal to her. It had even begun to subconsciously influence Kurokawa Akane's various associations.
If... she really started dating Michiya Gōshin, could she endure having such an "artist assistant" by her boyfriend's side?
After a while, Kurokawa Akane withdrew her gaze evaluating Kato Megumi, pursed her lips, and said nothing.
Of course, Kurokawa Akane was not the only one secretly observing Kato Megumi in the kitchen.
MEM-cho was quick-witted and soon noticed that the gaze of Asakura Toru beside her frequently landed on the busy Kato Megumi.
In that gaze, aside from curiosity, there was a trace of faint envy.
MEM-cho herself had a cheerful and straightforward personality, making her particularly compatible with Asakura Toru, who had fewer emotional fluctuations. Moreover, the other party was her favorite idol. So, since the end of the romance variety show, their relationship had become increasingly intimate, and they could talk about many topics.
She knew well the unexpressed feelings Asakura Toru harbored for Michiya Gōshin.
At this moment, seeing Kato Megumi know Michiya Gōshin's living space like the back of her hand, and contrasting it with Asakura Toru's behavior of still being unable to go a step further every time she visited, MEM-cho couldn't help but feel a trace of imperceptible anxiety for her good friend.
This always calm and self-possessed Kato-san... the relationship between her and Gōshin-kun seemed far more intricate than "work partners" on the surface, revealing an unusual intimacy.
On the surface, the three young girls chatted and laughed in a harmonious atmosphere. But deep in their respective heart-lakes, ripples of varying thoughts spread out layer upon layer because of the same figure.
On the other side, Michiya Gōshin was sitting on the sofa chatting idly with Kumano, Morimoto, and the others.
Kumano was actually quite interested in the movie about to start filming, so he asked directly.
"Michiya, now that this storm is over, are you going to officially start filming soon? It's that We Made a Beautiful Bouquet, right? I heard you wrote the script too. How is it going now, and when does it start?"
Mentioning work, Michiya Gōshin gathered his thoughts slightly, his expression becoming serious.
"Mm, preparatory work has been advancing steadily. The public audition will likely be held formally this Friday."
As his voice fell, the conversation in the kitchen also quieted down, because the girls were actually paying attention to the dialogue over here.
After a moment, everyone walked over. Kurokawa Akane naturally sat beside Michiya Gōshin and followed up, adding:
"Although the main scenes of the movie are concentrated on the male and female leads played by me and Yu-kun, there are still a few roles in the film that don't have much screen time but are quite critical, as well as some passersby roles with lines that can leave an impression. All of these need to be selected through this audition."
Her words were fluent, carrying a familiarity with the project's progress. This was the tacit understanding of fighting side-by-side with Michiya Gōshin that Kurokawa Akane wanted to deliberately create—after all, she had noticed Kato Megumi.
However, this natural intimacy caused Asakura Toru, sitting opposite, to slightly tighten her fingers around her water cup, wondering what she was thinking.
After a while, Asakura Toru, sitting on the sofa opposite, gently placed the glass in her hand down, making a faint clinking sound.
She suddenly raised her head and looked seriously into Michiya Gōshin's eyes.
"Um... regarding the audition for We Made a Beautiful Bouquet, I want to try it too. Would that be okay?"
In an instant, the eyes of everyone in the living room focused in unison on Asakura Toru.
She lowered her eyelids slightly, her thick long lashes trembling lightly like butterfly wings. Asakura Toru did not reveal any nervous emotion; a very firm light flickered in those eyes that were always clear and cyan.
Michiya Gōshin did feel somewhat surprised. He looked at Asakura Toru, a gentle and encouraging smile appearing on his face.
"Of course you can, Asakura-san. I remember you acted in that fan-oriented late-night youth drama before, didn't you? Although the genre is different, acting experience is transferable. This is your advantage. The audition is completely open, and we welcome all actors who meet the conditions and have a passion for performing to participate."
As the creator of the script and the male lead, Michiya Gōshin had been assigned the work of an audition judge by Suo Hayato, so it was completely fine for him to say these things.
Hearing this, the perfect smile on Kurokawa Akane's face didn't change at all, but in the deepest depths of her profound eyes, there was a trace of understanding.
After all, not long ago, Asakura Toru had revealed her heart to her in private—she wanted to "be closer to the world where Michiya Gōshin is."
This audition was perhaps her first step toward that world.
Kurokawa Akane glanced at Michiya Gōshin quickly and untraceably. Seeing his calm expression and open attitude, seeming not to have thought deeply about the girlish sentiments that might be hidden behind Asakura Toru's move, the girl felt slightly more at ease.
She also couldn't voice a reason to refuse. After all, the audition was open, Asakura Toru had some experience, and she was also their mutual good friend.
Meanwhile, Kato Megumi, who had been standing quietly in the corner of the kitchen as if blending into the background, lifted her eyes when Asakura Toru spoke that sentence. Her calm, ripple-less gaze lingered on Asakura Toru's profile for an instant.
Immediately, Kato Megumi looked away and continued with the unfinished work at hand, as if that momentary gaze just now had never happened.
No one knew what she was thinking under that calm exterior.
"Wah! Asakura-chan is going to audition? That's great! Ganbatte! You can definitely do it!"
MEM-cho, on the other hand, offered sincere blessings, immediately cheering her friend on with her energetic voice. She was truly happy for Asakura Toru's bravery, while also faintly worried for her friend stepping into this obviously complex "battlefield."
Asakura Toru looked gratefully at MEM-cho, the corners of her lips turning up slightly to reveal a faint smile.
"Mm! I'll work hard!"
The dinner party continued in an atmosphere that was lively on the surface but filled with complicated thoughts underneath. Delicious food and laughter wove together to form the complex and unique memory of this night.
Friendship is good medicine against boring times; Michiya Gōshin was very satisfied with this.
***
At the same time, in another part of Tokyo, a "battle" of equal milestone significance for Sakurajima Mai was drawing to a close.
The new agency she founded with her mother had finally completed all the cumbersome legal procedures and preliminary preparations. After registering and filing various documents, it entered the final naming stage.
Inside the spacious and bright temporary office, Sakurajima Mai sat alone behind the desk, staring at the blank naming input box on the computer, falling into long contemplation.
Her mother had handed the power of naming to Sakurajima Mai, so she took this very seriously.
This was not just a name; it was a manifesto of her independent career, the starting point of her breaking free from shackles and flying high.
After a while, she picked up her phone. Her fingertips hovered over the cold screen for a long time before finally opening the chat interface with Michiya Gōshin.
"Yu-kun, my new agency is about to complete registration, but the name hasn't been finally decided yet. What do you think would be good? Can you give me a reference?"
After the message was sent successfully, she placed the phone gently on the desktop. Her fingers unconsciously tapped the table. Inside her chest, there was a trace of nervousness she hadn't even fully noticed herself as she waited for the response from the other side.
Deep down, she longed for this name to have some kind of connection with Michiya Gōshin, even if this connection was known only to her.
Moreover, after the agency was successfully registered, Sakurajima Mai would formally prepare for the movie titled Strobe Edge.
Soon, the phone screen lit up. Michiya Gōshin's reply was concise and powerful.
"Haha, this is a new beginning for you in the entertainment industry, Mai-san. Naturally, you should decide naming matters yourself. I can't interfere. I believe Mai-san will definitely be able to choose the most suitable name in the end."
Looking at this reply, a trace of faint disappointment crossed Sakurajima Mai's heart. Michiya Gōshin did not give any specific suggestions, not even a vague direction.
This fit his consistent style, and it also made the girl more determined to choose a name that could truly express her inner thoughts.
Sakurajima Mai put down the phone and cast her gaze out the window again.
Tokyo Tower shone brightly in the night, like a lighthouse guiding the way.
In her mind, countless names flashed by quickly, only to be rejected by her one by one.
Finally, two images emerged clearly, and then a name slowly surfaced in Sakurajima Mai's mind.
"[Sakura no Umi] Agency."
(Sea of Sakura)
"Sakura" was part of her name, while "Umi" (Sea) represented Michiya Gōshin.
In her heart, Michiya Gōshin was like a deep and boundless ocean, attracting her to constantly approach and explore, and always able to give her unspeakable peace and powerful strength of support.
Combining these two images that were of extraordinary significance to her made Sakurajima Mai's eyes gradually light up.
She solemnly typed these characters into the computer.
The moment this name was finally determined, Sakurajima Mai let out a long breath, as if unloading a weight of a thousand pounds.
Her heart was filled with endless anticipation for the new journey and the courage to overcome all obstacles.
Regarding Strobe Edge, it was time to go talk about the adaptation.
***
The view returned to Michiya Gōshin's apartment.
The noisy gathering eventually had to come to an end. After seeing off the clamoring Kumano and Morimoto, the still chatting MEM-cho, as well as Kurokawa Akane and Asakura Toru—who had meticulously helped restore everything to its original state and said their goodbyes with different moods—the huge apartment finally returned to tranquility.
Kato Megumi was the last to leave.
Before walking to the entryway, she washed and put away all the tableware, wiped the countertops spotless, and carefully sorted and packed the trash. Only after confirming there were no omissions did she calmly say goodbye to Michiya Gōshin.
"Michiya-san, I will come to pick you up at nine o'clock the morning after tomorrow to go to the audition venue for the final process confirmation and rehearsal."
"Thank you for your hard work, Kato. See you tomorrow."
Michiya Gōshin walked her to the door, watching her figure disappear into the elevator entrance.
Kato Megumi's reliability and efficiency always made him feel at ease, but sometimes, that excessive calmness and blending-in would also cause him to feel a trace of elusive confusion.
The heavy solid wood door closed slowly, completely isolating the outside disturbance. Michiya Gōshin leaned his back against the door panel, rubbed his temples which were slightly swollen from long social interaction, and let out a long breath.
He paced into the study and sat down in front of the large desk.
Only a warm desk lamp was lit in the room, the light spilling softly on the laptop and scattered draft papers on the desktop.
The Wind Rises was already half written; he needed to finish this story as soon as possible.
However, for some reason, another matter suddenly came to Michiya Gōshin's mind.
Regarding this sudden "scandal incident," it caused him to think more deeply.
Although he had Nenshi to rely on, he would still be targeted. To put it bluntly, he had only debuted for less than a year. Even if his popularity was high, so what? Many things were not up to him to decide just because he wanted to.
Although the previously published Love Letter had endowed him with the title of a new writer, he had not continued to cultivate the field of literary creation deeply, and was still far from the traditional literary giants.
Moreover, most of his energy was now focused on his acting career, which meant Michiya Gōshin still had to bear the double-edged sword brought by the identity of an "entertainer."
In this bizarre circle, merely as an actor, no matter how much success one achieved or how many fans' support one possessed, one still appeared so passive and fragile in front of powerful capital forces and pervasive public opinion.
A thought, like a seedling breaking through the soil in the darkness.
It became clearer and firmer in his heart—he had to obtain a stronger identity that transcended this, becoming a participant and rule-maker of the game.
For example... becoming capital itself.
This might be the only path to truly holding destiny in his own hands.
This was the first time in the depths of his heart that he had produced the ambition to transcend the identity of an actor and step into a higher dimension so clearly and explicitly.
Why did many big-name artists in Nenshi, even when exposed in scandals by reporters, still have no one dare to report on them?
Because the information was forcibly suppressed by them.
That is the answer.
On the other hand, even if he helped Suo Hayato sit on the throne of the Nenshi President at the end of the year, given that second son's personality and principle of putting interests first, he would definitely not support him unreservedly in everything.
Ultimately, external forces can be borrowed, but true confidence must come from oneself.
And his confidence lay in the stories and works in his mind that were not yet fully known to the world.
Holding the film adaptation rights of the classic work Love Letter tightly in his hand was an important piece already buried. And another novel, The Wind Rises, into which he had poured a lot of effort, had also completed more than half of its creation. This could also serve as another heavy-weight work in his future plans.
These high-quality, unique copyrights were the core assets for him to build his own business empire in the future and accumulate the strength to converse with capital.
"Moreover... I still have..."
Michiya Gōshin rubbed his temples, raised his head, and looked seriously at his system panel.
[Production Queue 1: Proficient Sheng-Tai-Xing-Biao]
[Experience: 83/100]
[Production Queue 2: Advanced Research]
[Experience: 32/100]
"This is my real confidence. Actor... Writer..."
Michiya Gōshin glanced at the dazzling array of the system entry library and muttered to himself.
"Perhaps I can continue to develop a new entry synthesis path, for example... writing songs?"
Michiya Gōshin finally finished organizing his thoughts. Just as he took a deep breath and was about to throw his mind into the creation of the subsequent content of The Wind Rises, a clear and rhythmic knock on the door abruptly broke the silence of the night.
Michiya Gōshin was slightly stunned. He subconsciously glanced at the wall clock; it was already late.
He got up and walked to the entryway. With a trace of doubt, he looked out through the peephole—standing outside was actually his neighbor, the university student female writer, Kasumigaoka Utaha.
The other party stood outside the door, dressed in an outfit that both resisted the winter cold and did not hide her unique temperament in the slightest.
She wore a knee-length dark gray double-breasted wool coat over her frame. The cut was excellent, outlining her superior body lines. The coat's collar was slightly open, revealing the soft black high-neck cashmere sweater inside, clinging to her skin, which set off her long neck and jade-white face even more.
Her lower body was clad in slightly glossy black thermal leggings, paired with leather ankle boots of the same color family. The heels were slender, stepping silently on the ground.
Moreover, in her hand, she carried a paper bag that looked quite substantial, printed with the logo of a certain high-end dessert shop.
Michiya Gōshin suppressed the surprise in his heart and opened the door.
"Kasumigaoka-san? It's so late, may I ask what's the matter?"
"Good evening, Michiya-sensei."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's red lips hooked slightly, rippling out a faint smile. Her voice carried that unique, slightly husky magnetism, exceptionally clear in the quiet corridor.
"I hope I didn't disturb you."
She gracefully lifted the paper bag in her hand. "These are puffs from Hidemi Sugino. It's a thank-you gift for taking care of me when I was sick last time. Just a small token of appreciation. I'm really thankful that Michiya-sensei could lend a helping hand."
She didn't wait for Michiya Gōshin to respond, naturally steering the topic toward her intention.
"In addition, I have some ideas regarding the subsequent plot of Love Metronome which I am currently writing. After Michiya-sensei's advice last time, I have had many new thoughts, all regarding the female lead's psychological transition and the handling of her relationship with the male lead."
Kasumigaoka Utaha paused, then continued.
"Michiya-sensei is a writer who is quite skilled at emotional portrayals. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of coming over tonight, hoping to discuss the subsequent plot with you. May I disturb you for a bit?"
Her reason sounded fair and reasonable, and Michiya Gōshin indeed couldn't find any reason to refuse.
Moreover, since they were neighbors and both authors, having more interaction usually was naturally nothing wrong. Besides, he might even be able to accumulate some experience for [Advanced Research].
Michiya Gōshin thought for a moment and agreed to the other party's request.
He stepped sideways to clear the path, making a "please" gesture.
"I see. Kasumigaoka-san is too polite. Please come in."
"Thank you."
Kasumigaoka Utaha bowed politely, then stepped into Michiya Gōshin's apartment.
________________________________________
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