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

Watching Yuu Minakawa remain calm and composed under the spotlight, interacting tacitly with Mai Sakurajima and smiling at each other, and recalling the scene he had just witnessed in the lounge, he was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

Although she was happy for Yu Minakawa's success, Akane Kurokawa was still somewhat concerned.

"Love Like a Bouquet" is still some time away from official filming, but Mai Sakurajima's advances toward Yu Genkawa are already quite obvious.

Just as the actors and fans were interacting on and off the stage, Akane Kurokawa suddenly felt her clothes being tugged. Turning her head, she found Toru Asakura looking at her.

"Asakura-san, what's wrong?"

"After the event... can we chat for a bit?"

A strange light flickered in Asakura Toru's blue eyes as he stared intently at Kurokawa Akane's face.

"...Can."

Akane Kurokawa did not reject her. In fact, she had already sensed the difference between Toru Asakura and Yu Minakawa during the filming of "Love is a Required Course in Life".

Could it be... that she can't wait any longer either?

Volume 2 Tokyo Love Story: Chapter 10 Entangled Feelings, The Person Who Wants to Get Closer (2-in-1 5.5k)

The first screening of "Alice in the Land of the Dying" ended amidst thunderous applause and lingering praise. The lights in the theater came back on, pulling the audience back to reality from the tense and exciting "Land of the Dying".

However, the excitement at the scene did not cool down; on the contrary, it became even higher and more anticipated due to the upcoming interviews and fan interactions.

A restless atmosphere, a mixture of excitement and curiosity, filled the air.

About ten minutes later, the interview officially began, with an experienced male host who was good at creating a lively atmosphere taking charge of the pace.

The reporters' initial questions revolved around "relatively safe" topics such as the grand world-building of the series "Alice in the Land of the Dying," the excellent special effects, and the characters' inner struggles and growth.

Because he had prepared in advance, Yuu Minakawa answered questions with clear logic and sincere words, occasionally revealing his deep thinking, which drew cheers of admiration from his fans.

As for Mai Sakurajima, she goes without saying, consistently displaying the elegance and wisdom of a top-tier actress.

Her answers were both insightful and witty, and she frequently exchanged glances or engaged in brief conversations with Yu Minakawa. The atmosphere between the two appeared harmonious and professional, yet carried an indescribable tacit understanding, which satisfied the fans.

However, beneath the calm surface, there are always undercurrents.

Midway through the interview, a male reporter with a mustache suddenly stood up. He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, pointed his microphone at the two people on stage, and asked a question that seemed to be about acting skills but actually pointed directly to their private relationship.

"Um, thank you so much for the wonderful sharing from the two actors today. Actually, I have another question."

"May I ask you something?"

Genkawa Yu nodded to him, his expression calm.

"I would like to ask Sakurajima-san and Genkawa-san, through this months of close collaboration on 'Alice in the Land of the Dying,' especially in portraying the relationship between Arisu Ryohei and Usagi Yuzuha, who support each other in life-or-death situations and whose feelings continue to grow, did you two also feel that your chemistry with each other has significantly improved off-screen?"

"For example...would it have a positive impact on your future work arrangements, or even your personal communication and interactions?"

The question was a bit abrupt, but as soon as it was asked, the camera next to them immediately pointed at Mai Sakurajima and Yu Genkawa.

The next moment, the previously noisy scene suddenly fell silent, followed by even more subtle whispers filled with excitement and tension.

All the fans, including the five members of the dating reality show sitting in the audience area, unconsciously held their breath because this question was actually not easy to answer.

Under the spotlight, Mai Sakurajima's perfect smile, honed through countless trials, remained unchanged; not even the upward curve of her lips wavered.

She turned her head very naturally and glanced at Yuan Chuan You beside her. Her eyes, which were always full of confidence and charm, now shone with a deeper and more open light, as if to say, "Leave it to me."

"Thank you very much for such a professional and interesting question."

Mai Sakurajima first gave her affirmation, and then calmly continued.

"Indeed, as you said, for a work like 'Alice in the Land of the Dying,' which requires actors to invest a great deal of emotion and physical energy and face the test of life and death together, the intensive and in-depth filming experience will undoubtedly greatly deepen the understanding, trust and reliance between the actors."

She turned her head to look at Genkawa Yu again, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

“Mr. Genkawa is an excellent actor with high professional competence and passion and creativity for acting. On set, we did not only go over the lines step by step, but also spent a lot of time exploring the character’s motivations and emotional layers, and even brainstorming details of certain scenes together. This kind of creative collision and exchange is very valuable.”

At this point, Mai Sakurajima paused subtly, her gaze sweeping over the countless expectant eyes below the stage before finally settling on the reporter who had asked the question, revealing an even brighter, more generous, and flawless smile.

"Through this unforgettable collaboration, we have become not only working partners, but also good friends who can talk very well about performance and many other aspects and can sincerely trust each other. I cherish this friendship that was forged under special circumstances, and I believe that no matter where we go in the future, this tacit understanding and trust will be an indispensable and valuable asset in our careers and even in our lives."

Her answer was exemplary, flawless.

This not only directly addressed the issue of increased rapport, but also clearly and subtly defined their relationship as that of "good friends."

Yuu Minakawa maintained a polite smile and nodded in agreement, but inwardly he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. At the same time, he once again deeply realized that Mai Sakurajima had been in the entertainment industry for more than ten years, and her ability to cope with situations had reached a very high level.

Thank you for your answers.

The male reporter smiled, but a shadow of gloom flashed across his eyes before he retreated back into the group of reporters.

The interview segment went smoothly, and then we moved on to a more lively and interactive fan service segment.

The host announced that lucky fans drawn through a lottery system could go on stage for a close interaction with the lead actors, and would also receive autographs and gifts. This reignited the atmosphere, with cheers and envious screams echoing throughout the venue.

Among these lucky individuals was a woman with the group chat ID "[Sana under the camera]", whose real name is Suzuki Sana. Thanks to her special access as a media person and a bit of luck, she successfully obtained this coveted opportunity to get up close and personal with her idol.

As she stepped onto the stairs leading to the center of the stage, her heart pounding like a rabbit's, and walked toward the radiant Yuu Genkawa on the silver screen, Suzuki felt as if her breath would stop.

The closer she got, the more clearly Sana Suzuki could feel the overwhelming, almost intimidatingly handsome appearance of Yu Minakawa.

His skin was fair, and every line of his features seemed to have been meticulously sculpted by a god, creating a breathtaking harmony and three-dimensionality that was far more stunning than what one could see on a screen through a lens.

Especially when he turned his head because she was getting close, his deep black eyes focused on her, and then he slightly curved his lips into a gentle and very friendly smile, Suzuki Sana felt her mind go blank for a moment, and her heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by something, and then suddenly released.

She handed over the autographed plaque that the staff member had just given her, her voice trembling with excitement.

"Um, Gen-Gen-Kawa-san, I really enjoyed your performance! Please...please give me your autograph!"

Genkawa Yu took the autograph board. His fingers were long and clean, with distinct knuckles. He didn't sign it immediately, but instead looked up at her again.

"Thank you for your continued support. It's great that you could be here today."

Genkawa Yu's tone was natural, yet it inexplicably gave people a powerful and reassuring feeling, as if everything was under his control.

This gentle yet assertive strength, this feeling of being taken seriously, made Suzuki Sana even more intoxicated. She stared intently at the other person's smooth signing movements, feeling like the happiest person in the world at that moment, wishing that time could stand still forever.

However, good times are always short-lived and easily interrupted.

Perhaps it was the keen intuition of a woman, or perhaps it was Suzuki Sana's overly "long-lasting" infatuated gaze that almost sucked Genkawa Yu in, and the lingering time that clearly far exceeded the normal interaction time, that immediately caught the attention of Sakurajima Mai, who had been standing not far from Genkawa Yu.

Her beautiful eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Immediately, Mai Sakurajima took a small step forward very naturally, as if it were unintentional, her skirt tracing an elegant arc that perfectly filled the space between Yuu Genkawa and Sana Suzuki.

Immediately afterwards, she extended her slender, fair hand and gently touched Suzuki Sana's wrist, which was stiff from nervousness, in a very friendly manner, her voice very gentle.

"This lovely lady seems a little nervous. It's okay, relax. Here, hold the autograph board steady and hand it to Yu-kun. He will definitely sign a very beautiful name for you."

Her words are kind and considerate, and her demeanor is generous and appropriate. Anyone who sees her would think that she is a thoughtful actress who cares about her fans' feelings.

But at a certain moment, Suzuki Sana clearly felt a piercing gaze fall on her, which made her somewhat confused.

"Huh?"

Yuu Minakawa was completely unaware of any of this. He simply handed the signed board back to Sana Suzuki, who seemed to have been startled awake.

Then the female reporter suddenly realized what was happening. After stammering and incoherently thanking them, she stumbled off the stage, almost staggering.

Finally, the entire preview screening and fan meet-and-greet event for the first episode of "Alice in the Land of the Dying" came to a successful close in a warm atmosphere.

The first episode received very positive reviews overall. The high quality of the series itself, the tight and exciting plot, and the excellent acting skills and appropriate interactions of the main actors all won unanimous praise from the media and fans, achieving both critical acclaim and popularity.

After the event ended and the crowd thinned out, the five members of the "Love Variety Show" group went backstage to offer their sincerest and warmest congratulations to Genkawa Yu.

"Genkawa, you're amazing! My palms were sweating the whole time watching the first episode, I was completely engrossed!" Nobuyuki Kumano patted Yu Genkawa's shoulder hard, his face full of sincere admiration.

"It's really good, this drama is very good, and your acting skills are also amazing!" Kengo Morimoto nodded as well. As a close friend, he was also proud of Yu Genkawa's success.

MEM chirps like a happy little bird, chattering away incessantly.

"Genkawa-kun's acting is truly remarkable! He really portrayed the reaction of a useless guy facing a desperate situation, which is completely different from your own personality. Amazing!"

Despite the constant praise, this girl, who was always very perceptive of emotions, glanced a few more times at Mai Sakurajima standing next to her, her eyes filled with a subtle, almost imperceptible, inquiry.

Asakura Toru simply stood quietly a little distance away, nodded slightly to Genkawa Yu, and smiled with a faint, serene, and ethereal smile, which was the most subtle way of expressing his congratulations.

Akane Kurokawa also tried her best to show her most gentle signature smile, and said earnestly.

"Congratulations, Yu-kun! The first episode has received such a great response. This drama is sure to be a hit."

"Ah."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the five of them wisely decided not to bother the other party any further, since as a popular artist, the other party obviously had follow-up work or arrangements to make.

Accompanied by Kato Megumi, Genkawa Yu escorted them to the backstage exit and thanked them again.

After seeing off the friends from the reality show, the atmosphere in the backstage rest area seemed to instantly become somewhat subtle and quiet.

Kato Megumi stood quietly in the corner, ready to be called upon at any moment.

Mai Sakurajima then gracefully walked up to Yu Genkawa, a languid and charming smile on her face.

"Yu-kun, today's event was a great success, thank you so much! I know a members-only restaurant nearby with a quiet atmosphere and ingredients that are all shipped directly from Hokkaido that day. It has a very good reputation. How about we go grab something to eat and celebrate a little?"

"Just the two of us?"

Genkawa Yu was taken aback. He suddenly remembered Yamazaki Haruto's warning: if he went out to eat alone with Sakurajima Mai, it might have some negative consequences if they were photographed.

"of course."

Mai Sakurajima nodded, and then added, "I haven't had a chance to properly thank you since you were discharged from the hospital. After all, you're my savior, Yu-kun."

She deliberately emphasized the words "savior" almost imperceptibly, her gaze fixed intently on Genkawa Yu.

"No need to make it sound so serious, Mai-san. Calling me your savior sounds really strange." Genkawa Yu smiled, seemingly considering how to respond to the matter.

"Hehe, it's just a way of putting it. No matter what, Yu-kun risked his life to save me, so of course I have to thank you properly."

Mai Sakurajima's gaze was unwavering as she stared intently at Yuu Genkawa's face.

"And we can bring Kato-san along, so it won't be considered a meal for just the two of us."

She seemed to know what Genkawa Yu was worried about, so she steered the conversation to Kato Megumi, who was standing silently to the side.

"Well..."

Genkawa Yu thought for a moment, then looked at the short-haired girl standing next to him, and Sakurajima Mai looked over as well.

Facing their gazes, Kato Megumi simply nodded calmly, "I can go with them, Genkawa-san."