Tokyo: Idol Girls have absolutely no bad intentions!

Asada: "..."

That food-hogging fellow!

Since that's the case, Asada sat down diagonally opposite Itoh, one seat away from Mori.

Dean Otsuka witnessed this scene, and his smile deepened, but he said nothing.

Ito could sense the silent undercurrent between the two people beside him.

Mori's grip on Ito's arm carried an undeniable possessiveness, while Asada's aggressive gaze across from him seemed intent on imprinting her mark on Ito.

He shouldn't have brought Mori up! He shouldn't have mentioned to Mori that he was coming to see Dean Otsuka today.

If Moriue didn't know, she wouldn't have shown up so early in the morning. If she hadn't shown up, she wouldn't have provoked that idiot Asada to follow her all the way here.

It's unclear what attracted Asada to it. Did she think her date with Mori was a gourmet buffet?

"Ahem," Ito cleared his throat, forcibly drawing everyone's attention back to the matter at hand, "Dean Otsuka, let's continue discussing the cooperation."

“Alright, go ahead.” Dean Otsuka’s smile faded slightly, and he spoke seriously.

"We want to try to get our stage play 'Edo Yokai Love Guide' performed at the Bluebird Theater and participate in the opening season," Ito said bluntly.

Dean Otsuka nodded, not in a hurry to express his opinion.

He picked up the script that Ito had handed him earlier and began to read it carefully.

The meeting room fell silent for a moment, with only the rustling sound of papers turning.

He watched intently, occasionally revealing a knowing smile, seemingly amused by certain scenes in the script.

It took him quite a while to close the script.

"The script... is alright," Director Otsuka gave a fair assessment. "Was it inspired by Yoshida's 'Edo Yokai Journey'?"

“That’s right,” Ito admitted. “Yoshida Nai’s inspiration for this script largely came from this work. She wrote the first draft of the script, and then she worked with the other members of the team to refine it.”

Dean Otsuka nodded and placed the script on the table.

"In terms of script quality, it is certainly satisfactory, but we cannot let you participate in the premiere season performance based solely on the script."

His gaze swept over Ito, Mori, and Asada. "Since you are all actors and seem to be very familiar with your characters, why don't you talk about your understanding of the characters you are playing?"

He paused, his gaze falling on Mori, "Let's start with... this purple-haired investor lady."

Moriue snapped out of her guarding posture towards Asada, adjusted her demeanor, and radiated confidence.

That was the aura of the Empress that the dark and damp Asada would never possess.

She glanced at Ito, then straightened her back, a stark contrast to Asada, who looked somewhat uneasy beside her.

She cleared her throat and began to explain:

"The character I play is the male lead's childhood sweetheart, a girl with whom he grew up and has a deep bond. Her greatest qualities are forbearance and a kind of... tragic fulfillment."

Mori's gaze swept across the script, as if recalling the character's emotional journey.

"She deeply loves the male protagonist, a love that is perhaps longer and purer than anyone else's. She could have used her position to control her boyfriend and made even more unreasonable demands."

Perhaps none of them can be considered unreasonable.

"However, she could only watch helplessly as the man she loved began to interact with another equally outstanding 'Miss Fox,' who had also given her sincere feelings, and who had given even more."

As she said this, she glanced at Asada almost imperceptibly.

"She did experience inner struggle and pain. Of course, she also thought about whether she should be willful for once, act like a 'bad child' and try to destroy and fight for the happiness that should have been hers."

"But whenever this thought arose, she would see the same passionate, reckless dedication and effort from that Miss Fox. She could not ignore that equally heavy emotion."

What a stupid woman! Mori thought to himself.

"In the end, she chose the most difficult path, expending immense courage, and took the initiative to have her boyfriend," Mori emphasized the word "boyfriend," "go to that fox lady and say a formal goodbye."

"This is not giving up, but respect. She respects her boyfriend's choice."

"She's a very ordinary girl, but her choices make her very unique. At least..."

Mori raised her chin slightly, her tone confident, "She wouldn't ruin someone else's relationship. Don't you think so, Asada-senpai?"

“Besides,” her gaze softened again as she looked at Ito, “she also trusts her boyfriend and believes that he will not betray that trust and…wait.”

With her last words, she fixed her gaze on Asada Sakura, silently declaring her sovereignty and issuing a warning.

There was silence in the conference room.

Dean Otsuka nodded thoughtfully, seemingly quite approving of Mori's understanding.

Ito felt something was off. Mori's words seemed to be about her own character, but they gave Ito the feeling that every sentence was a dig at Asada.

How could Asada possibly pose a threat to Morigami?

How could that be...?

I don't think so!

A sudden voice broke the silence.

Asada Sakura raised her head, and everyone's attention was drawn to her.

Realizing that her blurted words had attracted all attention, Asada instinctively covered her mouth, her face turning bright red, and a look of panic flashed in her eyes.

Dean Otsuka looked at her with great interest, as if he had discovered an even more interesting subject of observation:

"Oh? Ms. Asada has a different opinion? Then why don't you also share your thoughts on the 'Miss Fox' you portray?"

Having been singled out by the dean, Asada knew he couldn't escape it any longer.

She took a deep breath, pursed her lips, and her eyes gradually hardened.

“If…if we’re talking about trust,” Asada’s voice trembled slightly, but he tried to keep it clear, “the fox girl I play has just as much trust in the male lead as anyone else!”

"If it weren't for this deep-seated trust, how could she have waited from the distant Edo period all the way to the present? Across the vast river of time!"

Her voice gradually rose, carrying an urgent desire to defend the character:

Even though...even though she knew very well that once she truly met and recognized the male protagonist, it would mean that her existence as a demon would dissipate; even though she had known from the beginning that love between humans and demons was a forbidden taboo...

"But! Even if it's only for a fleeting moment of beauty, she wants to hold on to it tightly!"

Asada's tone grew increasingly forceful, and he glanced at Mori as he spoke.

"Didn't Miss Fox feel uncomfortable seeing the male lead with... other women? Didn't she feel heartache? Yet she never revealed her identity until the very end! She was the one who arrived first!"

Asada's emotions grew increasingly agitated, as if he himself were that lovestruck fox:

"Humans, whose lifespan is no more than a hundred years, occupy such an important position in the lives of monsters who can live for thousands of years!"

"Then...then Miss Fox reappeared in the male protagonist's memory, and her life was able to continue in another way...Isn't that a kind of love?"

"Her ending shouldn't be so easily dismissed as 'a happy ending'! She must have been... she must have been very unwilling in the end!"

"Isn't that really stupid?" Mori interjected coldly, his voice laced with sarcasm. "To abandon one's eternal life and everything about being a yokai just for a fleeting moment of illusory happiness?"

"Isn't a relationship as fragile as a bubble a form of self-destructive folly?"

Asada was taken aback by this blunt criticism, and then retorted defiantly:

"Isn't the character you played, Mori-sho, also stupid? Knowing that Miss Fox has such deep, even obsessive, feelings for the male lead, you still keep her by your side. Isn't that inviting a wolf into the house? Isn't that even more foolish?"

Unexpectedly, Mori did not offer the vehement defense or rebuttal that Asada had anticipated.

She simply nodded calmly, a subtle smile even playing at the corners of her lips:

“Indeed, from the character’s perspective, this behavior is also foolish. But that’s the character’s choice, the destiny the script has given her.”

Her tone shifted abruptly, her gaze suddenly becoming meaningful, piercing Asada with a cunning glint:

"Therefore, as the actor playing the role, and also as a person in real life, I must learn from this lesson. Get rid of all those 'bad women' with impure motives around Ito-senpai! Leave none behind!"

"..." Asada Sakura was speechless for a moment.

Oh no! I've dug myself a huge hole...

"Isn't that right, senpai?" Mori didn't give Asada a chance to catch his breath, immediately turning to Ito, his violet eyes fixed on him, his voice carrying an undeniable mix of coquettishness and command, "Get rid of all the bad women! Right?"

Ito: "..."

How come he gets dragged into everything...?

I don't know what magic Mori's words possessed.

Looking at Asada's aggrieved expression, which was on the verge of tears, and then at Mori's domineering "I am the rightful wife" attitude, he felt utterly overwhelmed.

Bad woman? Aren't you the worst woman ever...? Ito thought to himself, but he absolutely couldn't say those words out loud.

He could only manage a weak "hmm" as a response.

Dean Otsuka looked at the "real-life drama" that was even more exciting than the script and finally couldn't help but chuckle.

He picked up his water glass, took a tactical sip, and then slowly began to speak:

"Hmm... very interesting. Both of you have a deep understanding of the characters and very... unique personalities."

Dean Otsuka carefully chose his words, "Ms. Mori emphasized the character's forbearance, sacrifice, and trust in her partner; Ms. Asada, on the other hand, focused more on the character's persistence, sacrifice, and unwillingness to give up."

"Both of these interpretations actually exist in the script, but with different emphases."

He put down his water glass, his gaze sweeping between the two men with a meaningful look:

"However, I do feel that when you two were discussing the characters, you seemed to...unconsciously project some real-world emotions onto them?"

The dean's words startled Asada, who then lowered her head, realizing that she had just lost her composure.

Mori frowned slightly; she was doing it on purpose, so she didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

If I don't punish this unlucky guy properly, do you think my girlfriend is easy to bully?

"So..." Dean Otsuka fixed his gaze on Ito, "What does our male protagonist think? Which female character does he prefer?"

Ito raised an eyebrow. He saw a familiar look in Dean Otsuka's eyes—a terrible look.

It appears when Hayakawa teases me, it appears when Natsumi stirs up a war, and it even appeared in Uncle Kitagawa's eyes last night.

This guy is quite the entertainer!

"Senior, do you prefer childhood sweethearts or those who fall from the sky?" Mori asked casually, seemingly unconcerned about the answer.

"It must be his childhood sweetheart, since childhood sweethearts are destined to get married."