I really just want to grind for entries related to crossover anime/manga.

So this is what emotional connection is all about.

After a while, another thought popped into Akane Kurokawa's mind.

She also wanted to address the other person by their name directly.

I want to call out to "Yu-kun" affectionately.

However, just as this thought popped into her head, Akane Kurokawa suddenly suppressed it.

Not yet.

The film "Love Like a Bouquet" has not yet started filming, and they have not yet truly experienced the filming process.

Most importantly... Yuu Minakawa hasn't given her the final answer yet.

Akane Kurokawa believes she is very greedy. What she wants is not just a title to get closer, but the rightful and natural exclusive right after everything has settled down and they are mutually in love.

If you become true lovers, that's a complete confirmation, and that's the most important sense of belonging.

So, Akane Kurokawa suppressed the flutter in her heart, and a sweeter smile returned to her face. She still addressed him as "Minamoto-kun," a term of endearment that wasn't overly formal, but the intimacy and happiness in her tone were more intense and genuine than ever before.

In the office, the atmosphere between the two grew increasingly tender, tinged with a sweet and ambiguous feeling.

Outside the office door, where none of them knew, Kato Megumi glanced at the tablet in her hand, her face expressionless.

These things are none of her concern for the time being.

Under the same sky, different states of mind are as diametrically opposed as light and shadow.

Mai Sakurajima didn't have work today. She stayed in her apartment, where the smart lighting system adjusted to a soft, relaxing glow, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in her heart.

The girl held a tablet computer in her hands, and on the screen was the pure white poster that had been making her uneasy—the official announcement of "a love as beautiful as a bouquet".

The two names side by side below left her feeling somewhat melancholy, unable to look away from the words "Yuu Minakawa" and "Akane Kurokawa" for a long time.

Since the official announcement, social media has been buzzing with activity all day.

There was enthusiastic cheering and blessings for the "Yuchi CP", "Match Made in Heaven", and "The bond between lovers in a reality show has finally entered real life".

These updates and news completely washed away Mai Sakurajima's joy at growing closer to Yuu Genkawa during this time. She thought she had already closed the distance between them, but she had no idea that such a thing was happening.

A movie written by Yu Genkawa himself, and he's also going to star in it?

"what is this?"

"It's a script."

What type of script is it?

"A love story..."

"A love story?"

"..."

Just then, her mother and manager, Sachiko Sakurajima, came over with a cup of warm coffee and gently placed it on the coffee table in front of her daughter.

Looking at her daughter's furrowed brows and the way she stared intently at the screen, she understood and couldn't help but sigh softly.

“Mai,” Ms. Sachiko sat down on the single sofa next to her, trying to soften her tone, “is it because of Genkawa-kun again?”

"...Um."

Mai Sakurajima snorted, her gaze still glued to the screen, her tone tinged with obvious melancholy.

Sachiko Sakurajima considered her words carefully for a moment, then chuckled softly.

"Mai, if it were me, I'd rather give up sooner. Look at Genkawa-kun's situation, isn't this movie a very obvious signal?"

"Another original screenplay, and the choice of that girl named Kurokawa as the female lead—I think if you really want to be in a relationship, why not find someone who only has eyes for you?"

She looked at her daughter and said slowly, "My daughter... deserves the best person in the world."

"give up?"

Mai Sakurajima seemed completely oblivious to what followed, and instead suddenly looked up at her mother. Her usually bright and beautiful eyes were now burning with two defiant flames, so bright they were almost scorching.

"Mom, why should I give up? Just because Yu-kun is making a movie with someone else?"

Her voice suddenly rose, as if she had remembered something more important.

"I'm not the kind of person who gives up easily when faced with a little competition. My feelings are my own choice. I like him, and then I told him. That was my decision."

Mai Sakurajima looked at her mother. Although this incident was a blow to her, it also ignited an even stronger fighting spirit within her.

"Yu-kun is an actor. Co-starring with other actresses in movies is just work. If I were really with him, I couldn't just stop him from acting, could I?"

At this point, she suddenly thought of something else, and a new hope appeared in her eyes, "Actually, this would work too. If Yu-kun only works as a writer, wouldn't he not have to interact with those women...?"

When Mai Sakurajima suddenly started rambling on and on, Sachiko Sakurajima could see the look in her daughter's eyes, so she could only sigh.

It's quite an amazing thing to be able to like someone so much.

Sakurajima Sachiko knew that her words had only fueled her daughter's competitive spirit. She understood Sakurajima Mai well; the girl appeared elegant and composed, but was more proud and resilient than anyone else. The more unfavorable the situation seemed, the more it could stimulate her potential and fighting spirit.

"So what do you plan to do?"

Mai Sakurajima took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

"Mom, you must have a wide network of connections, could you help me find out if there are any particularly good film projects in development recently?"

Mai Sakurajima thought for a moment and then asked, "The timeframe is probably around the third quarter. It should be a project that hasn't started casting yet, as we're currently short of funds, and preferably a romance theme."

"you..."

Upon hearing her daughter's words, Sachiko Sakurajima immediately understood her thoughts and couldn't help but ask directly, "Mai, are you planning to invest in a movie?"

"Yes."

Mai Sakurajima debuted as a child star and has indeed accumulated a great deal of wealth after more than ten years in the entertainment industry.

In today's film market, there are countless scripts and directors that lack investment, and if she were to star in it herself, she would immediately gain huge popularity and attention.

but

"Even if Mom grants your wish, what if Genkawa-kun doesn't want to act in it?"

Sachiko Sakurajima could see her daughter's determination, but she still felt that this was too risky. Buying a movie ticket was not like buying a lunchbox; if the box office was poor, they could lose everything.

"Mom, have you forgotten? My contract with the firm was about to expire."

Mai Sakurajima knew how to convince her mother, "Haven't you been planning to take the lead all these years?"

"you..."

Sakurajima Sachiko understood what her daughter meant. Sakurajima Mai had been in the industry for over ten years, and she naturally had new ideas as well. She didn't want her daughter's income to be taken by the agency every time.

If I start a new company, I can still help my daughter get a lot of jobs thanks to the network of contacts I've built up over the years.

After all, Mai Sakurajima's current popularity and online following are her true source of confidence; the seven-figure number of active followers on Twitter is no joke.

"This step... is not one that can be taken lightly."

Sachiko Sakurajima was still somewhat hesitant, but after a while, she heard her daughter's voice.

"Mom, are you willing to support me?"

"..."

After a long while, Sachiko Sakurajima took a deep breath and looked earnestly at her daughter. "It seems... you already knew how to convince your mother, didn't you?"

"Ah."

"Okay, but setting up a company is no small matter. I need to talk to two of my former partners about it. As for the movie..."

Sachiko Sakurajima pondered for a moment, then took out her phone. "Alright, since you insist, I'll ask for you."

In front of Mai Sakurajima, she made several phone calls and spoke in hushed tones.

After asking questions for about ten minutes, Sachiko Sakurajima put down her phone, a rather peculiar expression on her face.

"There happens to be one, Mai."

Sachiko Sakurajima looked at her daughter with a complicated expression.

"You know Director Mizuki, right? She's best at portraying delicate emotions. She's currently preparing a movie called 'Sparkling Love,' which is based on a bestselling shoujo manga. At the moment, we only have the idea, but funding and preparation haven't even started."

"The story tells of a sweet and heartwarming romance between high school girl Ninako and her classmate Ren, which begins because of an eraser. It features many delicate inner monologues and classic Japanese pure love scenes, demanding a high level of ability from the actors to express subtle emotions."

"Then let's find an opportunity to take a look at the script. I also want to know how the story is going."

Mai Sakurajima spoke with almost no hesitation, her tone very firm.

“Reading the script is fine, and Mom believes your acting skills are fine, but there’s a more important question now... How do you plan to get Genkawa-kun to accept the role?”

Upon hearing her mother's question, Mai Sakurajima suddenly smiled.

"I have my own way."

The office of Vice President Shogo Suo in the Burning Building is extremely luxurious, filled with cold, hard modernist lines and priceless works of art.

The man slumped lazily in the ergonomically designed top-of-the-line executive chair, his long, slender fingers toying with a warm, smooth jade paperweight. His gaze fell on the large screen in front of him, displaying detailed data analysis and online public opinion reports regarding the official announcement of "Love Like a Bouquet."

A faint, cold smile played at the corners of his mouth.

Standing in front of the desk was the replacement for Managing Director Yamamoto, named Takahashi, who had sharp eyes and was now his most capable assistant.

"Is it this Genkawa Yu again?"

Takahashi pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone clearly disdainful and slightly annoyed, "The second young master seems to regard him as the trump card for victory, allocating so many resources to him. Isn't that a bit too risky?"

Upon hearing this, Shogo Suoh suddenly chuckled softly, the sound echoing in the well-soundproofed office.

“He is indeed an interesting variable; even his father admires him.”

He put down the paperweight and rhythmically tapped the smooth sandalwood tabletop with his fingertips.

“My dear brother has a good eye for people, and he even made us suffer a great loss last time.”

He abruptly changed the subject, his eyes instantly becoming sharp as knives, revealing a chilling intent.

"However... young people rise too fast, and with so many 'romantic encounters' and troubles around them, they can easily become the target of public criticism."

He leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the handsome photo of Genkawa Yu on the screen, as if he had discovered the perfect weakness of his prey.