America: My Time

Chapter 1316 The Darkness of Neon Lights

Chapter 1306 The Darkness of Neon Lights

Can friendship withstand the test of time? No, it can't. Kuroki Hitomi's words made Nakayama Shinobu sigh. They were all too naive, never truly witnessing the darkness. What they saw was only the surface; true darkness was far more complex than they imagined. This time, they truly saw the terror of darkness. All promises were false; everything depended on strength. But what strength did they, as idols, possess? In the eyes of those conglomerates and politicians, they were nothing but ants, utterly vulnerable before the forces of darkness.

Is there still a chance for Yasuko Sawaguchi, the Nakayama sisters, and Chisato Moritaka? It's unlikely. As the saying goes, spilled water cannot be gathered up again. When they left, they had already exhausted most of their past friendships. This time, with John's help, their past favors have been completely depleted. It's probably not so easy for them to return to John's side.

"Sister Akiko, what should we do now?" Yasuko Sawaguchi looked at Hitomi Kuroki with a troubled expression. The two had a relationship, but Yasuko Sawaguchi was unsure how much of a use it would be. After all, with the passage of time and changes in their status, the state of their relationship was predictable. Most importantly, if they returned, they might become Hitomi Kuroki's competitors. If she were in Hitomi Kuroki's position, she probably wouldn't accept it either!

“Let me ask. I can’t make the decision on this matter either. You should know his temper. When you chose to leave, I did try to persuade you, but none of you listened. Now that there’s a problem, you want to go back to him. Things aren’t that easy. You have to pay the price for making mistakes!” As she spoke, Kuroki Hitomi couldn’t help but sigh, a faint trace of disappointment flashing in her eyes.

What would happen to her if she made the same foolish decision as them? The thought sent a chill down her spine. Compared to Yasuko Sawaguchi, the Nakayama sisters, and Chika Moritaka, her background in Takarazuka made her acutely aware of the darkness of this world, and how insane and terrifying Japanese high society could be. She knew all too well how many of her Takarazuka predecessors had met tragic ends. Looking at the four people before her, she felt a pang of unease.

Putting aside other things, how did Japan's rope bondage originate, and what about those shrine maidens? Only those who truly understand Japan know how dark it is. Similarly, Japan's social classes have long been solidified, and they have almost no hope of turning their lives around. They clearly had opportunities, but they lost them because they couldn't see themselves clearly, which plunged these women into an even greater crisis.

Hitomi Kuroki can't protect them forever. As time goes by, the pressure they face will only increase. This incident has exposed their true strength, leaving them with fewer advantages in the entertainment industry.

Why did this happen? Why did they take this step? Perhaps it was because they saw someone leave John's side unaffected, but they forgot an important point: they were from different countries, so naturally, the results would be different.

Yasuko Sawaguchi was simply too confident, overwhelmed by praise, and lost her senses, leading to that foolish decision. In the crazy country of Japan, without connections, you have virtually no resources in the entertainment industry.

If the girls had previously thought Riko was a bit foolish, now it seemed that it wasn't Riko who was foolish, but them. At least Riko escaped unscathed from Akio Morita's side and achieved a good outcome, gaining Momoko Kikuchi's trust and John's approval. So, she could be considered to have a happy ending. But what their fate would be, no one knew, after all, this incident had shattered many things.

In the eyes of the dark forces, they possess immense value; without John's protection, a tragic end awaits them. Currently, the Japanese underworld wields considerable power in the entertainment industry, and they also control Japan's sex industry. Fujiwara Norika being targeted is their doing; seemingly a test, it's actually driven by profit. Otherwise, those involved wouldn't have taken such a risk!
Taking a deep breath, Kuroki Hitomi said, "You guys should keep a low profile for now. A lot of people have been implicated this time. They don't dare to target Phoenix Group or Elite Agency, but they will resent you. You know in your hearts how many people have been implicated because of you and how serious this crisis is!"

Yasuko Sawaguchi and the others understood perfectly well that even Chisato Moritaka felt immense pressure. She had initially thought she wouldn't be affected, but now it seemed she had overestimated her abilities. The current situation placed immense pressure on all of them. Moreover, it was uncertain whether they could even develop their careers after this incident, or even survive in this industry at all, given the far-reaching impact of the event. Without powerful backers, they would be subtly ostracized.

Yasuko Sawaguchi was lost in thought. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back. If their status were different, there were many things she wouldn't be able to say, and even if she did, it was hard to say how effective they would be!
“Yoshiko, I know what you’re thinking. He doesn’t have time for this little thing right now; he has much bigger things to deal with. It’s not that I don’t want to help you, but all of this takes time. If you insist on acting on your own and things go wrong, don’t blame me. If even the last bit of our friendship is worn away, I can’t help you!” Kuroki Hitomi sighed softly, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes, her heart filled with worry for the future of these people. However, Kuroki Hitomi understood that she couldn’t make any promises on this matter, nor could she make decisions for John. All she could do was stabilize the current situation and wait for John’s matter to be resolved before making any arrangements.

While Hitomi Kuroki was discussing things with Yasuko Sawaguchi and the others, things weren't peaceful on Momoko Kikuchi's side either. Riko looked at Momoko with a worried expression, shocked by Momoko's thoughts. Although Momoko's intentions were good, Riko didn't agree, after all, this was no small matter!
“Riko-nee, is there something wrong with my thinking? If I plead for them, at least it can solve their current problems and stop them from living in fear. This matter has gone too far, and I feel immense pressure!” “Momoko, it’s good that you have such good intentions, but things can’t be done this way. You yourself feel the pressure, so what do you think their situation will be like? Also, don’t forget that you’re only handling matters with the government and corporations. Akiko is handling the matters of Sawaguchi Yasuko and the others. By pleading with Mr. John like this, you’re offending Akiko first. Where do you place her? Do you think Mr. John put the two of you in charge of these matters for no reason at all? If that’s what you think, I can only say you’re too naive!”

"Riko-nee, I'm a bit confused, that's why I'm asking you for advice. Please guide me! As you know, my understanding of all this is limited!" Kikuchi Momoko said with a wry smile. She was under a lot of pressure, especially with such a huge incident happening in Japan, which she hadn't expected at all. Everything had come too suddenly and too violently! This time, Kikuchi Momoko had witnessed what absolute power was, and she had a direct feeling of the immense power John wielded!
"Let's not talk about Akiko's reaction for now. Even if you did it, she probably wouldn't care. After all, if she wanted to compete with you, you wouldn't have a chance. Let's talk about the matter itself. It's good that you feel sorry for Yasuko Sawaguchi and the others. It shows your kindness. But have you thought about why they ended up like this?"

Without waiting for Kikuchi Momoko's reply, Riko continued, "It's because they ignored our advice and insisted on leaving. When they made that decision, they had already exhausted most of their goodwill. Now, Mr. John has asked Akiko to step in and help them out of this predicament, which will consume even more of their goodwill. How much goodwill do you think they have left? They have to bear the consequences of their own mistakes. There is nothing that comes without a price."

At this point, Riko sighed, as if thinking of her own situation again, then shook her head and continued, "Momoko, your situation isn't much better than theirs. Among all of you, your predicament is the most dangerous. Don't think that just because you're now representing Mr. John at 'New Life Bank,' your status has changed and you can represent Mr. John anymore! If you think like that, then your time to be abandoned isn't far off. Don't think too highly of yourself. Think about Yasuko Sawaguchi, the Nakayama sisters, and Chisato Moritaka. The reason they're in this situation is because they thought too highly of themselves and were too arrogant! You need to learn to be humble and know when to advance and retreat! If they hadn't chosen to leave, do you think you were capable of competing with them?"

Upon hearing Riko's question, Kikuchi Momoko thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "No, I don't have that kind of confidence!"

"Yes, you know you don't have that kind of confidence. Among you, your situation is actually the worst, but you made the right choice, which is why things have changed now! Let me analyze the real situation of you all for you. Of course, this is just my own opinion and does not necessarily mean that it is what Mr. John thinks."

"Don't worry, Riko-nee, I know what to do. Only I know this, and no one else will know!"

Kikuchi Momoko naturally understood Riko's concerns. It would be incredibly foolish of her to betray Riko. If she betrayed even the person who had helped her, what integrity would she have left? Who would trust her in the future? Kikuchi Momoko was well aware of the seriousness of the matter and did not make a mistake!

“I’m saying these things because I trust you. You know we’re all in this together now. If something happens to you, do you think I’ll have a good outcome?” Riko said, shaking her head with a smile. She continued, “Among you, Naoko’s position is the most secure. As long as she doesn’t make any fundamental mistakes, nothing will happen. This isn’t just because of Martin’s presence, but also because of her own personality. The impression she gives me isn’t gentle.”

In truth, men have little resistance to beauty; lust is in a man's nature. If we were to say who among you had the greatest advantage, it wouldn't be Naoko, but Norika Fujiwara. Unfortunately, she was too foolish, or rather, too arrogant. She wanted to take shortcuts, to climb into Japan's high society, forgetting her place and how she got this opportunity. When she made the wrong choice, she ruined everything, and now her situation is the worst. She squandered a winning hand.

Let's talk about Hitomi Kuroki. She's not just beautiful; she's also intelligent, possessing an intellectual beauty. Akina's situation is a bit special. Her experiences have given her a certain fragility that evokes a man's protective instincts and desires. Of course, she also has a great figure. If Naoko's breasts are alluring, then Akina's wasp waist is fatally seductive. Chisato Moritaka's legs are immediately striking, and Yasuko Sawaguchi is undeniably beautiful. As for the Nakayama sisters, it's a case of one plus one equals more than two; the allure of these twin beauties is even more fatal to men. You don't know much about the madness of high society. In Japan, there are all sorts of crazy and perverted people; what you know is just the tip of the iceberg.

At this point, Riko sighed again, a faint look of confusion in her eyes. Perhaps she was thinking about everything she had faced in the past, which made her momentarily lost in thought.

Fortunately, Riko quickly regained her composure and continued, "I also find Sachiko-chan a bit hard to understand. From my observation, Mr. John has special feelings for Naoko, Akina, Hitomi Kuroki, and Sachiko-chan. Perhaps it's just his personal preference; after all, everyone has their own tastes! As for Nanako Matsushima, she seems to be the most low-key person, but she's actually one of the women with the best figure among you, second only to Norika Fujiwara. Perhaps you think my viewpoint is flawed, that Japanese people don't see it that way, but remember, don't judge Mr. John by Japanese standards. Nanako Matsushima's height is a problem in Japan, but in Mr. John's eyes, it's an advantage. And finally, you, although you're described as cute and sweet from an idol background, do you think all of that will still exist over time?"

(End of this chapter)