Tokyo: To reiterate, this is not a dating system.

The apartment was just a small room.

The door faces east, and you can see the Tokyo Skytree in the distance as soon as you open it.

On the opposite side of the door, there is a small balcony, where no sunlight shines in, even in the early morning.

Genji Aoyama got up in the early morning light and could already see the rising sun when he went out. As usual, he took out the breakfast that Yuko Asahi had prepared in advance.

The note that hadn't appeared a few days ago has reappeared.

I'll prepare well for tomorrow's date!

The handwriting was still neat and beautiful, but the small exclamation mark seemed to have been written with a bit of force, leaving a mark that almost tore through the paper.

Genji Aoyama glanced at the room next door, smiled, and shook his head.

As he walked downstairs from the apartment and onto the street, Genji Aoyama looked back one last time and waved towards Yuko Asahi's room from afar.

Asahi Yuko was standing in front of the balcony. When she was spotted, she seemed a little nervous and shrank back abruptly. In the end, she stiffly waved her hand in response.

After running 5 kilometers in the Sumida River, I returned to my apartment and did some anaerobic exercise.

Sweating profusely, Genji Aoyama glanced at the weather.

With a high of 27 degrees Celsius, Tokyo is already getting hot as May approaches.

After a quick rinse in the restroom, he changed into the casual clothes he had bought that day in Omotesando.

All Yue Yaoxiang chooses.

The two confirmed the news via LINE last night.

Avex responded that they will have an initial in-person meeting at 9:00 AM on the 26th, which is today.

The location was a high-end coffee shop that Aoyama Genji had never even heard of.

Around 7:30, Haruka Minatsuki called.

"Please come downstairs, Genji-kun."

Her voice was exceptionally gentle, but to Genji Aoyama, it sounded somewhat terrifying.

But upon further reflection, it seemed to make sense. This kind of information could be obtained simply by asking the teacher, which would be incredibly easy for Haruka Minatsuki.

"Okay, I'll be right down."

After hanging up the phone, Genji Aoyama put down "An Invitation to Psychology"—an introductory psychology book recommended by Saki Izumo.

He left the room again, closing the door as quietly as possible.

"Sorry, buddy, I'll fix it for you when I get the chance." Genji Aoyama glanced at the door that rattled slightly when it was switched on and off, then walked down the stairs.

Not far away, Haruka Minatsuki was bathed in the glow of the rising sun.

She wore a high-quality, light apricot-colored fitted long dress with a delicate cherry blossom pink bow at the neckline, paired with off-white Mary Jane shoes and matching mid-calf socks.

She looks both well-behaved and elegant, perhaps with a sweet, first-love vibe?

Aoyama Genji is not sure.

But is it really appropriate to wear this to a meeting?

He specially changed into a more formal casual outfit chosen by Haruka Minatsuki!

"Good morning, Haruka-san, you look lovely today."

Aoyama Genji greeted with a smile.

When Haruka Minatsuki covered her mouth and laughed, she exuded elegance with a touch of girlish charm.

"Good morning~" She looked very happy. "Genji-kun looks especially handsome today!"

The two naturally walked towards the street.

Where should we go today?

Haruka Minatsuki's voice was romantic, just like a girlfriend looking forward to a date.

"Well, let's have a meeting first."

To be honest, Genji Aoyama had little expectation for this meeting—the other party's attitude was far from good, and could even be described as extremely poor.

They not only had the means to access his personal information, but their tone on the phone was also aggressive.

But since Genji Aoyama has given the decision-making power to Haruka Minatsuki, we should respect her opinion.

"That's true."

Haruka Minatsuki resumed her usual gentle voice, a cryptic smile on her face.

Upon reaching the street, a taxi that had been waiting was parked on the side of the road. As they approached, the car door opened automatically, and the two of them sat down in the back seat.

As soon as she got in the car, Haruka Minatsuki covered her cherry blossom-colored lips and yawned slightly.

This was the first time Aoyama Genji had ever seen such a situation.

"Didn't you sleep well last night, Haruka-san?"

"Yeah, I went to bed a little late last night."

Haruka Minatsuki looked at Genji Aoyama, her gentle voice tinged with a hint of languor, "Genji-kun, may I lean on you for a moment?"

Genji Aoyama then noticed the fatigue on her face—although she looked a little tired, she was still very beautiful.

It's probably a blend of elegance and a touch of fragility.

"Was it because of today's meeting that you didn't get enough rest?"

While speculating, Genji Aoyama lowered his eyelids slightly and glanced at his shoulder.

It would definitely be uncomfortable to lean against, and he himself would certainly not be comfortable either.

"Hmm... how about Miss Haruka uses this as a pillow?"

He patted his thigh.

Knee pillow…

Consider it a reward for her in advance.

Haruka Minatsuki laughed.

"Well then, I won't be polite~"

Like a lazy kitten, she adjusted to a most comfortable position, her soft cheeks, warm with gentle touch, pressed against Genji Aoyama's thigh.

As if remembering something, she opened her eyes slightly again: "Genji-kun, you mustn't be mean like last time~"

"Um."

"So Genji was deliberately being mean, that's why I'm unhappy."

Haruka Minatsuki turned her face slightly, which looked like she was being coquettish from any angle.

"...That's not true."

Genji Aoyama vehemently denied it, but Haruka Minatsuki seemed to have already fallen asleep.

Am I some kind of sleep demon?

Warm, even breaths pattered against Genji Aoyama's legs through his thin trousers.

breathe--

He turned his gaze to the outside of the car window—

The clouds turned apricot color under the morning sunlight, and the Tokyo Skytree was bathed in the dawn, reflecting a dazzling but not glaring glow.

The streets were bustling with traffic, and young couples could be seen strolling side by side on the sidewalks, seemingly enjoying the unique relaxation of the weekend.

It's probably just a coincidence.

This time, the taxi took the same route as before, but in the completely opposite direction.

"Well……"

Haruka Minatsuki seemed to utter dreamlike murmurs, pulling Genji Aoyama back to reality.

A faint smile graced her face, and her initially clenched fists relaxed, as if she had fallen peacefully asleep.

Genji Aoyama gazed at her sleeping face, then felt it was somewhat impolite to stare at a girl like that, so he turned his gaze back to the window.

On the weekend, there were many vehicles on the road, and the taxi kept stopping and starting. Around 8:30, the taxi stopped in front of a building in Ginza 1-chome.

"Can I download it here?"

The taxi driver finally couldn't help but speak up to remind her—along the way, she kept glancing at the two very good-looking passengers through the rearview mirror, even deliberately keeping her breathing low.

The boy was handsome, and the girl was elegant and cute. They seemed like a couple, and the atmosphere was very ambiguous. She really couldn't bear to ruin it.

"Thank you very much." Aoyama Genji then asked about the travel expenses.

"Ugh—"

When Haruka Minatsuki woke up, her slender arms instinctively stretched out, but as if realizing something, she suddenly covered her mouth.

Genji Aoyama glanced at Haruka Minatsuki, who had already gotten up, her face slightly turned away, and the color of her ears visibly changing from white to pink.

Fortunately, the car door opened at the right moment, so Genji Aoyama didn't have to look at it a second time.

By the time they got off the bus, Haruka Minatsuki had already adjusted herself.

Completely unlike her disheveled state when she first woke up in the taxi, she brushed aside her slightly disheveled hair and put on her usual gentle smile again.

"Genji-kun always makes me feel safe and sound as I fall asleep," she said.

"Is Genji-kun a certain brand of pillow? The effect is a bit too good." Aoyama Genji laughed as he bent down and rubbed his slightly numb thigh. "But the quality seems a bit poor. My leg is a little numb."

"Um--"

Haruka Minatsuki voiced her dissatisfaction, "Saying that girls are heavy is a really bad thing to do."

"Just kidding."

After waiting for Haruka Minatsuki to tidy herself up, the two entered the building.

The coffee shop where we were to meet was on the top floor.

A crystal chandelier hangs from the high ceiling, and a thick carpet covers the floor, so thick that even the sound of footsteps is swallowed up.

Classical music was playing inside, and the air was filled with the aroma of tea and coffee.

"Hello, did you make a reservation?" A waiter dressed in a butler's tailcoat greeted them at just the right moment.

After their identities were confirmed, a guide came over, gestured "please," and walked half a step ahead of them to lead the way.

"High class." 』

Aoyama Genji had only one thought: this was his first time in such an occasion, and he felt a mix of novelty and slight discomfort.

He considered himself neither high-class nor low-class, but rather somewhere in the middle. He walked beside Haruka Minatsuki and was led by the hostess to a seat by the window.

In front of the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the Tokyo metropolis, sat a woman with exquisite makeup, who appeared to be in her thirties and seemed to be a shrewd and capable type.

As Aoyama Genji sized her up, she was also observing the two people standing in front of her seat—her gaze lingered on Aoyama Genji for a moment before turning to Minatsuki Haruka. As if sensing something, a subtle smile appeared on her face.

"Were they underestimated because they were too young, or were they trying to intimidate them?"

Genji Aoyama smiled inwardly.

He turned to look at Haruka Minatsuki beside him and said with a smile, "Are you sure you didn't come to the wrong place? It feels like the seats are occupied by irrelevant people."

"Hmm—" Minatsuki Haruka pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly as she looked at Aoyama Genji beside her, "Although she is a little lacking in manners, this should be Ms. Saotome from Avex."

Done.

Haruka Minatsuki sat down opposite Saotome, and Genji Aoyama naturally sat down next to her.

Saotome's expression turned somewhat unpleasant, probably because she was told that her manners were "inappropriate." However, she didn't say anything, but simply pushed the documents in front of her towards the center of the table.

"I am Misako Saotome, the deputy director of Avex's Artists and Production Department."

Saotome wore a professional, fake smile: "Let me get straight to the point. Our company highly values ​​Mr. Aoyama's talent. As for our sincerity, I believe Mr. Aoyama will understand once he reads this contract."

Genji Aoyama frowned slightly.

"Really~?" (sou~de~su~ka~?)

Haruka Minatsuki's voice was melodious and pleasant to listen to, her syllables rising and falling as if she were singing, and the sarcasm in her tone was almost undisguised.

A flicker of displeasure crossed Saotome's face. She glanced at Haruka Minatsuki, then at Genji Aoyama: "Mr. Aoyama, may I ask who this gentleman is?"

"Yes, this is my collaborator. She will be fully representing us at today's meeting. Ms. Saotome can negotiate directly with her," said Genji Aoyama in a calm tone.

This was agreed upon beforehand, but he was also a little curious—

How will Haruka Minatsuki, who is always able to maintain her elegance in public, behave at the negotiating table?

At least for now, she doesn't seem as gentle as she usually appears.

"Hmm." Saotome gave a perfunctory reply, then turned her gaze to Haruka Minatsuki. "So, shall we take a look at the formal contract first?"

As she spoke, waiters in tuxedos came to Genji Aoyama and Haruka Minatsuki. One silently handed them a hot towel, while the other handed them a menu and sparkling water.

"Thank you for your trouble," said Genji Aoyama.

Haruka Minatsuki nodded gracefully and briefly said to the waiter, "Thank you."

"I dare not accept such praise."

The waiter clasped his hands in front of him, bowed deeply, and then stood silently to the side.

"What would you like to drink, Genji-kun?"

Haruka Minatsuki looked at Genji Aoyama with a gentle smile on her face.

"Hmm—let me think about it."

Genji Aoyama glanced at Saotome, whose face was ashen, and then turned his gaze to the menu on the table—he had a vague feeling about what Haruka Minatsuki wanted to do, but he wasn't entirely sure.

However, I'll go along with her for now.

With a loud "bang!", the bottom of the cup slammed heavily onto the table.

Completely ignored by the two, Saotome finally lost her temper. On her face, which was covered with heavy foundation and slightly distorted, Aoyama Genji saw an uncontrollable rage.

"I urge you both to take today's meeting seriously!"

Her tone was also somewhat harsh due to her loss of control of her emotions, and her sharp voice sounded rather jarring in the coffee shop.

The guests at another table not far away seemed to glance in their direction.

Haruka Minatsuki seemed not to hear, she turned her head slightly and just stared at Genji Aoyama, blinking her eyes.

"Panama Emerald Estate, Red Label Geisha." Genji Aoyama muttered the coffee's name to himself, feeling that high society was still somewhat complicated.

"ah--"

Haruka Minatsuki seemed to remember something and exclaimed softly, "I almost forgot, there are still some things to confirm before that. Can we wait a little while?"

Genji Aoyama simply smiled and looked at her.

"Ms. Saotome, before we discuss the contract, I'd like to confirm something."

Haruka Minatsuki took a sip of her hot water, then smiled elegantly and dignifiedly, exuding an aura unlike any she had ever shown before, her voice becoming cold and indifferent:

"Did Avex steal personal information without authorization because they value Genji too much?"