In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

"That's right," Yuan Qianye replied. "The autograph session has ended."

"What about the TV station?" Kazusa pressed, keenly noticing something unusual in his tone.

“Hmm… that’s about right…” Yuan Qianye hesitated for a moment, speaking vaguely, then shook his head, trying to make his expression seem relaxed: “… It’s okay, anyway, it’s good that I was able to come to the scene to cheer you on today. I have to say that your performance today was outstanding, and the championship should be a sure thing. Congratulations in advance.”

Kazusa frowned, noticing his obvious evasiveness: "What exactly happened?"

Before Chiyo could answer, Miyoko walked over after a brief conversation with her two former colleagues.

She greeted Kazusa familiarly first, then turned to Chiyo, her tone slightly urging, "Boss, now that we've already supported Kazusa, it's about time we set off."

Kazusa was even more confused: "Depart? Where are we going?"

Miyoko glanced at her boss, who had turned his face away, clearly not wanting to say anything more, and immediately understood that he hadn't had a chance to explain things to Kazusa yet.

She answered directly on his behalf: "Actually, the boss has finished recording his interview program today, but the advertising shoot is not yet finished, so we have to hurry back to Kyoto."

"???"

Kazusa turned her incredulous gaze to Minamoto Chiya beside her.

"Since you haven't finished your work, why don't you just finish it all before coming back? Are you an idiot? Do you think flying back and forth is fun?"

"Hahaha...maybe..." Miyoko chuckled along, but her expression clearly betrayed her true feelings.

Why did Chiya insist on squeezing out this precious time to rush back? You, Kazusa, should know the reason all too well, shouldn't you?

Seeing this, Yuan Qianye had no intention of hiding it any longer, and stood up by supporting himself on his knees.

"Congratulations on delivering it. Kazusa, you should go back and get some rest after your match. I'll have Aunt Shibata make you some delicious food as a reward. I'll be going now."

"Wait a minute!"

Almost as soon as he took a step, Kazusa stood up quickly, walked to his side, snatched the bouquet from his hand, and hugged it tightly to her chest.

She raised her eyes, looked directly at Yuan Qianye, and said in a resolute tone, "I want to go to Kyoto too."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Qianye looked troubled.

“…” Miyoko stood on the other side, blinked, and her gaze shifted back and forth between the determined girl and the boss with a troubled expression. She wisely refrained from speaking immediately.

The two employees who were sent by Touma Yoko to accompany Kazusa to the competition and also to take care of her came over at this moment: "Ms. Touma, the competition process is not completely over yet. There is still an awards ceremony later, and you will need to go on stage."

Indeed, this served as a reminder to everyone.

Yuan Qianye also chimed in, "That's right, the awards ceremony hasn't started yet, and you still have to go on stage later. Besides, I'm going there to work, not to play. You'll get bored sitting next to me."

Kazusa immediately retorted, her tone carrying her characteristic stubbornness: "Who said I have to go to Kyoto with you? I just heard that the authentic Kyoto sweets taste really good, and I want to try them. As for the awards ceremony..."

She turned to the two employees and said, "...Anyway, the most crucial part of the competition is over. You can go on stage to accept the award for me later."

The two employees looked troubled: "This... there doesn't seem to be any precedent for this, right? What if the competition organizing committee doesn't agree?"

Kazusa said nonchalantly, "Then forget it."

Her answer was crisp and decisive, and she turned to Yuan Qianye, her tone urging: "Aren't you in a hurry? Why don't you hurry up and go?"

At this moment, her decisive and efficient demeanor bears a striking resemblance to her strong-willed mother, Touma Yoko.

The next moment, Kazusa, holding the bouquet, naturally followed Minamoto Chiya and left the backstage together.

Stepping outside, a strong wind blew in, carrying a noticeable chill.

Yuan Qianye stopped and naturally took off her coat, gently draping it over He Sha's shoulders.

She was attending a piano competition, wearing a dark blue dress. The neckline wasn't very low, but her shoulders and arms were exposed.

Kazusa remained outwardly calm despite his considerate gesture, only slightly tightening her coat over her shoulders. However, her steps unconsciously became lighter, and her mood brightened considerably.

Meanwhile, backstage at the competition venue, the two employees made a phone call to their boss, who was overseas.

Touma Yoko listened quietly as they recounted the entire story of her daughter's willful outburst, chuckling softly to indicate that she knew everything.

After hanging up the phone, the elegant smile on her face gradually faded, and she fell into a daze, lost in thought, which eventually turned into a barely audible sigh.

She recalled how, in her youth, she had also fallen head over heels for a talented but elusive man…

Now, his own daughter is experiencing something very similar.

She only hoped that her daughter would be luckier than she, the mother.

I just hope that I don't end up feeling sad and heartbroken.

Meanwhile, Gen Chiya and his two companions arrived in Kyoto around 4 p.m.

Chiyo's idea was to have Miyoko take Kazusa to stroll around the commercial district of Kyoto, buy her a comfortable and casual outfit to change into, then go and try the Kyoto sweets she'd been craving, have dinner, and then go to the hotel to rest.

As for him, he took his work-related phone and planned to go to the recording studio alone.

It was just a short advertisement shoot. He would cooperate and finish it as soon as possible, then go directly to them. Whether he stayed there to rest for the night or returned home late at night, he could decide based on the situation then.

Miyoko nodded in agreement to her boss's arrangement.

But Kazusa didn't buy it at all.

She didn't give any particularly convincing reasons; she simply rejected all of Yuan Qianye's suggestions that were for her benefit after getting off the plane.

She silently and stubbornly followed Yuan Qianye all the way to the indoor recording studio where the advertisement was being filmed.

This was unfamiliar territory that she had never ventured into before.

Staff members wearing headsets, walking briskly but seemingly busy with something; huge green or blue backdrops; a dazzling array of lights and various cameras... all of these things fascinated her.

However, even if she was interested, she only glanced at him once before looking away, her attention quickly returning to Yuan Qianye.

Yuan Qianye gave her a few instructions, telling her to stay in the rest area and not wander around. He also bought her several different drinks and a small, exquisite cake before heading to the center of the venue to officially begin his work.

Kazusa then quietly stayed at the edge of the venue, sitting on a small stool that the staff had found for her, resting her chin on one hand, her gaze intently following the figure in the center of the venue.

Watching him cooperate with the director's requirements, making the corresponding expressions and movements, and smoothly reciting the lines he had already memorized in front of the camera.

The theme of this public service advertisement is caring for children in welfare homes. Yuan Qianye needs to first say an opening speech in front of the camera by herself, then hold the hands of two children who appear later, showing a warm and loving interaction, and finally say words of gratitude to society and thanking kind people to the camera together.

It's a very simple format, and the content isn't complicated either. If it were just Yuan Qianye alone, he was confident he could get it right in one go.

However, the two children involved in the filming were clearly inexperienced and appeared somewhat nervous. They either forgot their lines or spoke in a stiff tone, as if they were reading aloud, and were unable to fully immerse themselves in the emotions they should have.

Therefore, even simple tasks are repeatedly attempted, resulting in a very long processing time.

After patiently filming eight or nine takes, the advertisement still failed to achieve the desired effect.

The director announced an intermission with some frustration, and as he stood up, the chair scraped against the floor with a screeching sound.

He glared at the casting director, then took his cigarettes and lighter and went outside.

Kazusa turned her gaze away from the director's back and noticed that Minamoto Chiya hadn't rested, but instead squatted down next to the two children who looked somewhat uneasy.

He pulled out two candies from somewhere, gave one to each of them, and then, with exaggerated expressions and gestures, started talking to them as if he were performing a slapstick comedy.

Soon, the two children, who had just been too scared to breathe loudly by the serious director, were amused by him and started to smile.

Kazusa watched this scene quietly, observing the profile of Chiyo patiently comforting the child. Her usually cool eyes unconsciously revealed a gentle expression that she herself was unaware of.

After a break and further adjustments, the short advertisement shoot finally wrapped up at 9:20 PM.

The children's family members, who also acted as their agents, repeatedly bowed and apologized to the crew, saying, "We're sorry for causing you trouble."

Finally, they came to Yuan Qianye. The two children's expressions became a little more lively. One of them handed Yuan Qianye a strip of milk tablets, and the other gave him a lollipop.

This was a gift they wanted to give to this kind older brother, of their own volition.

Just like during halftime, Yuan Qianye gently patted their heads one after the other and said some encouraging words.

After watching the children leave, Yuan Qianye finally breathed a sigh of relief and sat down next to He Sha.

"When you do this type of work... are you always like you were just now?" Kazusa asked, her tone much gentler than usual, without her even realizing it immediately.

Yuan Qianye simply shook his head and didn't say anything more.

He tore open the lollipop wrapper, but instead of eating it himself, he handed it to Kazusa.

Kazusa paused slightly as she looked at the candy he offered her.

Seeing Kazusa hesitate, Chiyo Gen gently moved his wrist, signaling her to take it.

Kazusa instinctively wanted to turn her face away, but her hand slowly rose up, ready to take it.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Qianye suddenly withdrew his hand.

Then, to her astonishment, he reached out his hand again.

This time, the round lollipop was placed directly to her lips.

Kazusa's cheeks flushed slightly, but seeing his insistence, she finally gave in and opened her mouth to take the lollipop he offered.

"The two children you just saw are called 'child actors' in the film and television industry."

Only then did Yuan Qianye slowly speak.

"Their average age is often only six, seven or eight years old. Due to various needs in the film and television industry, they have to enter the workplace at a very young age. Their psychological immaturity and lack of experience often make their performance on set less than ideal. Unexpected situations also make them more nervous and uneasy. But they have no choice but to do it because they often carry the expectations of their parents and may even bear part of their family's financial burden."

"Making money with your own children?"

"Well, that's a straightforward way of putting it. Anyway, knowing all this makes me realize how tough it is for these kids. Compared to them having to work and run businesses at such a young age, it makes me appreciate how carefree I was when I was a child."

That's why I took those caring actions under those circumstances.

Kazusa remained silent, lost in thought.

As the lollipop melts on my tongue, a sweet sensation spreads through my heart, and something inside me seems to slowly melt away as well.

Yuan Qianye popped a milk tablet into his mouth and chewed it: "It's almost finished here. Wait for me here for a while. I'll go say hello to the others and then we'll leave."

"Ah."

Kazusa nodded, her obedient demeanor somewhat resembling that of the two children who had just been calmed down.

About ten minutes later, Minamoto Chiya Miyoko walked over from the director's side, took Kazusa with her, and left the studio.

Outside, Miyoko took out her phone and checked the time: "Boss, I have a question. Should I book a hotel nearby and go back to Tokyo tomorrow morning, or should I book the next flight back to Tokyo now?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Qianye turned his head to look at Kazusa and asked gently, "Are you tired?"

Kazusa shook her head.

“Then let’s go find the Kyoto sweets you want to eat now,” he suggested again.

"No need," Kazusa refused again, moving the lollipop from her mouth to the other side of her mouth. "I've already tasted some good-tasting things this time."