"I'm in Tokyo, and this is some kind of movie star comeback system?!"

Johnny & Associates, rehearsal room.

Kenichi Okamoto was flipping through the latest issue of Weekly Bunshun, a smug smile on his face, thoroughly enjoying the exposé.

He quickly scanned the page and became even more engrossed when he read about the secrets between Yasuko Sawaguchi and Yu Sakamoto in the rehearsal room.

"Hahahaha... Hahahaha!"

He slammed the magazine on the table, feeling a surge of satisfaction.

"Sakamoto Yu, you've finally met your match!"

Just yesterday, I contacted the editor of Bunshun magazine, wanting to add some spice to Sakamoto Yu's story.

Suddenly remembering what he had witnessed when passing by the rehearsal room, he embellished the story of Sakamoto and Sawaguchi and told the tale.

Unexpectedly, just one day later, a major news story broke.

At that moment, the door to the rehearsal room was pushed open, and the manager, Ikeda, strode in, looking anxious as he approached Okamoto.

"Did you do it?" he asked bluntly.

Okamoto paused for a moment, then laughed: "What do you mean, 'Is it me'?"

"Don't play dumb!" Ikeda lowered his voice. "Did you spread the rumors about Sakamoto Yu and Sawaguchi Yasuko?"

Okamoto didn't answer directly, but instead held up the magazine in his hand and joked, "How about it, isn't it great?"

Upon hearing this, the agent sighed speechlessly and put his hand to his forehead.

He pointed at Okamoto:

"Didn't I tell you not to mess with him? That's an NHK Taiga drama! Do you know that if it's found out you did it, you won't even keep your position at Johnny's, let alone your next drama?! Are you stupid?!"

The agent became increasingly impulsive as he spoke, and his voice gradually rose in pitch.

Okamoto was stunned by the scolding, his smile frozen on his face. After a while, he also laughed angrily:

Are you scared?

"I have Johnny's Entertainment backing me. The president even talked to me before, comforted me, and promised to give me new resources."

"Spring season, prime time, second male lead."

"You really think that amateur can beat me?"

He stood up, patted Ikeda on the shoulder, and looked completely unconvinced:

"You're just too cowardly. Sakamoto Yu is definitely finished this time. He used connections and climbed the social ladder—with those two things combined, how can he possibly cover it up?"

"Once the hype dies down and I become famous, you'll benefit from the fame too."

Ikeda looked at him, her lips moved, but in the end she didn't say a word.

He turned around, walked out of the room, and closed the door behind him.

He sighed heavily in the corridor.

This person will eventually fall victim to his own arrogance.

He hesitated for a moment, then went upstairs alone and arrived at Kitagawa's office.

After mentally preparing myself, I raised my hand and knocked on the door.

.....

At the same time, in Sakamoto-ya's apartment, Watanabe Mayumi raised her hand and pressed the doorbell.

A short while later, the door opened; it was Kudo who opened it.

Watanabe Mayumi was taken aback for a moment, but without asking any questions, she went straight inside.

Upon arriving in the lobby, not seeing Sakamoto Yu, she turned to look at Kudo:

"Where are the others?"

Kudo pointed to the bedroom, "He has a fever... Hey, wait a minute."

Without hesitation, Watanabe pushed open the door and barged in, startling Sakamoto Yu, who was reading the script.

"You still have the mind to read the script!?"

"Do you know how chaotic it is outside!"

"The public is paying more and more attention to you, saying that you have no ability and that you are trying to climb the social ladder."

"Sawaguchi's fans are searching everywhere for your residence, and some of them are now gathered outside the NHK gates, making it impossible to pass."

Watanabe finished speaking in one breath, but Sakamoto Yu remained calm and composed throughout.

Seeing his calm and composed demeanor, Watanabe felt even more helpless.

"Say something!"

"Did you already have a plan?"

Just then, the door behind them opened, and Kudo came in with hot water, handing it to Sakamoto Yu, who was lying on the bed.

"It's freshly cooked, be careful it's hot."

She handed him the water glass, then sat down on the edge of the bed, put her feet up on the blanket, leaned over and touched his forehead, then compared it to her own.

"I feel much better." She breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that her temperature had gone down.

She glanced at the time and said softly to Sakamoto Yu, "I should go now. You get some rest. There's porridge in the pot, remember to eat it."

"Mm." Sakamoto Yu nodded obediently, then suddenly called out to her, "Kudo."

"Hmm?" Kudo turned around.

"Thank you," Sakamoto Yu said earnestly.

Kudo paused for a moment, then awkwardly turned his face away.

She thought for a moment, then turned back, gave him a playful glare, and waved her fist in the air:

"I'll let it go this time, but try causing another scandal next time!"

Then her tone softened, and she patted the blanket:

"have a good rest!"

As he spoke, he turned around and greeted Watanabe.

After saying that, she greeted Watanabe and walked to the door in her slippers to change her shoes.

Soon, the sound of the door lock clicking shut came from outside, and the room returned to silence.

Only then did Sakamoto Yu slowly look at Watanabe, take a sip of hot water, and repeat what he had just explained to Kudo:

"Nothing happened between me and Sawaguchi; it was just a normal rehearsal that day."

He put the water glass aside, his tone calm:

"The crew's rehearsal schedule is on file, Sawaguchi's manager was present, and assistant director Ishihara can also testify to this."

He took a sip of hot water, his eyes conveying a sense of composure.

"Do you really think I'd be that careless?"

Watanabe breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.

"However..." Sakamoto Yu's tone shifted, drawing her attention once again.

"You're my manager," Sakamoto Yu said calmly, looking at her. "It wouldn't look good if your artists were more composed than you when things went wrong."

After being looked at so quietly by him, Watanabe's initially excited mood gradually calmed down.

...This kid really has a big heart.

After a moment, she nodded. "I was too hasty just now."

After calming down, she thought for a moment and suggested:

"How about I hire someone to write some positive reports about you to offset the negative impact?"

"Wait a little longer," Sakamoto Yu said. "Those reports lack credibility and will only make things worse."

Let's wait for NHK's statement.

"But I've already received news about the next film crew."

Watanabe Mayumi took a deep breath, her tone becoming serious:

"You're joining the cast of 'My Mom Is an Idol' in January. Even if you've already signed a contract, given the current public attention, the production team might consider cutting your scenes."

Upon learning this, Sakamoto Yu pondered for a moment.

He did indeed overlook this variable.

This reduces the time he can wait for NHK to take action.

But it is precisely at times like these that we must not act rashly.

His original plan was to have the production team clarify the situation.

If NHK wants to clean up this mess, it will inevitably have to publicly acknowledge Sakamoto Yu's acting skills and talent.

His talent was evident to the entire production team, and NHK didn't even need to fabricate anything.

As for his rumored affair with Sawaguchi, there is direct eyewitness testimony and physical evidence.

As soon as the production team speaks up, the public opinion will fall apart on its own.

However, now, there's the added variable of "Idol Mom"...

"Don't rush."

He looked up at Watanabe:

"You just said that Sawaguchi's fans have already surrounded the NHK gates?"

After Sakamoto Yu's reminder, Watanabe's face flashed with thought.

"You mean, NHK will take action?"

"With public opinion reaching this point, it's time for them to take action."

Sakamoto looked out the window, his face calm and expressionless, but his heart was already churning with turmoil.

If the report describes the two meeting privately outside, then it has nothing to do with the production crew, and the production crew will most likely not care.

However, his scenes with Sawaguchi were just work.

There are schedule records on file, an assistant director was present, and an agent was present. No matter how you look at it, he and Sawaguchi are victims.

I just don't know what NHK's opinion is on this matter.