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

“Yu-kun~, since you’ve agreed to this today, let’s go eat together,” she tilted her head slightly, her tone suddenly becoming a little cute, “I’ve booked a very secluded spot, so no one will notice us.”

"...Alright then."

Genkawa Yu glanced at Kato Megumi again. If the three of them were together, there shouldn't be any problem, since they weren't alone.

"Then it's settled. You can all ride in my car."

A satisfied smile appeared on Sakurajima Mai's pretty face, and she began to arrange everything quite naturally.

Just as Mai Sakurajima successfully arranged a date with Yu Genkawa, the atmosphere was completely different in another corner of the city.

Kurokawa Akane and Asakura Toru did not immediately go home. Following their agreement made at the meeting with Rei Ayase, they left the venue and went together to a boutique coffee shop located deep in a secluded alley with few customers.

Soft, warm yellow lighting, languid and soothing blues jazz music, and the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and subtle sweetness filling the air.

The waiter, dressed in a neat uniform, quietly served two beautifully decorated lattes and then politely stepped aside, leaving them with complete space.

Asakura Toru did not immediately immerse himself in his own world as usual, but quietly watched Kurokawa Akane across from him.

"Kurokawa-san, there's something I wanted to tell you when I called you out today." Asakura Toru's voice was soft, yet it was like a feather brushing against the heart, impossible to ignore.

Akane Kurokawa looked up and met her unusually clear blue eyes, which had lost their hazy appearance.

Asakura Toru paused slightly, his long, butterfly-wing-like eyelashes trembling gently, as if he were organizing his thoughts or gathering some rare courage.

"What is your relationship with Genkawa-san now?"

Asakura Toru tilted his head slightly, his tone as calm as if he were asking about the weather.

Akane Kurokawa was visibly surprised when she asked the question, but she knew what the other person meant, so she answered.

"Yu-kun and I are currently...close friends."

"...Okay, I understand."

Akane Kurokawa pursed her lips. Back when "Love is a Required Course in Life," she had already sensed Asakura Toru's feelings for Minagawa Yu.

Although they are friends who play together, there are some things that cannot be compromised.

She raised her eyes to meet Asakura Toru's gaze, her voice soft yet carrying a subtle firmness.

"Asakura-san, is there something you want to say when you ask such a question?"

"Hmm... there are indeed some things I want to tell Kurokawa-san."

Asakura Toru's face remained expressionless, but a glimmer seemed to flash in his blue eyes before he spoke slowly.

“I care about Genkawa-kun... it’s the kind of care that comes with men.”

"..."

Akane Kurokawa was slightly taken aback. Looking at the girl opposite her, who was always as delicate as a doll but lacked emotional fluctuations, her eyes now revealed an almost pure confirmation of a certain emotion, which made Akane Kurokawa suddenly feel a strange tension.

After saying that, Asakura Toru did something even more unexpected.

Asakura Toru took out a simply bound printed document from her canvas bag. The cover read "The Sparkling Baseball Story," and it looked like a script.

"This is……"

Akane Kurokawa asked instinctively, her voice tinged with confusion.

She heard from MEM a few days ago that Asakura Toru's idol group [Nokuchiru] has some work arrangements recently. Could it be that they are going to appear in a TV series?

"Our group is about to start filming a TV series. It will be a late-night show, and it will air around 11:30 p.m.

Asakura Toru began to explain, his fingers gently tracing the cover of the script with a gesture of deep appreciation.

"The story revolves around the friendship between girls and their hard work and dedication in sports; it's essentially a fan-oriented work."

Upon hearing this, Akane Kurokawa quickly understood that idol groups appearing in dramas was indeed a way to increase popularity and solidify their fanbase.

Most dramas featuring girl idol groups are themed around "yuri" (lesbian romance), using close interactions between members to attract fans and generate additional revenue by releasing Blu-ray discs.

But what does this have to do with the topic we just discussed?

Akane Kurokawa looked over with some confusion, but Toru Asakura smiled slightly, as if he could see through the thoughts in the other person's mind.

"This is a great opportunity. Although being an idol is fun, I really want to act now, especially after watching Genkawa-kun's drama today."

"Asakura-san..."

"I want to get closer to the world that Genkawa-kun lives in through this method..."

Asakura Toru stroked the script, his voice soft.

"I hope we can have the opportunity to perform together in the future."

"..."

Volume 2 Tokyo Love Story: Chapter 11 Mai Sakurajima Locks Her Eyes on Megumi Kato (2-in-1 5k)

As night deepened and neon lights shimmered, Tokyo's nightscape transformed into a dazzling galaxy.

The fervor and noise of the premiere of "Alice in the Land of the Dying" had long been shut out. Genkawa Yu, Kato Megumi, and Sakurajima Mai were currently in a private room at a high-end restaurant in a secluded corner of Ginza, which required a special member's introduction to enter.

The restaurant's private rooms are extremely elegant, like a tranquil oasis in the bustling city.

With the bamboo curtain half-rolled up, one can vaguely see the meticulously manicured landscape decorations in the courtyard. The occasional crisp tapping sound of the bamboo tube used for adding water further enhances the tranquility.

The air was filled with the faint scent of incense and the sweet aroma of fresh sea bream.

Having already clearly expressed her feelings to Yuu Minakawa in that lounge, Mai Sakurajima has now completely let go of her reserve.

Tonight, she was like a queen who had sounded the charge; every glance, every movement, every word carried an unmistakable strategic intent.

She was no longer satisfied with simply sitting opposite Genkawa Yu, so she naturally adjusted her seat and sat to Genkawa Yu's left, a position that made it easier to feel close to him.

During the meal together, she would naturally use serving chopsticks to serve dishes to Yuu Minakawa, quietly introducing the unique features of each dish, her words carrying an intimate desire to share.

"Yu-kun, try this sea urchin. I heard it was just brought from Hokkaido and it's very sweet and fresh."

She would even personally hand him a small dish of food dipped in a special sauce, her movements fluid and natural.

Faced with this gentle, pervasive offensive, Genkawa Yu could only passively defend himself.

He wasn't heartless; Mai Sakurajima's charm was all-encompassing and irresistible. Her passion and straightforwardness constantly pounded against his defenses like a warm tide.

And today's dinner party, in addition to the exquisite food, naturally also included drinks.

Under the influence of alcohol, Yuu Minakawa found that his rationality seemed to become more fragile than usual, but deep down he still remembered his promise to Akane Kurokawa.

It was a chaotic state of mind that had not yet been sorted out, and an instinct to avoid making hasty decisions when the situation was unclear and causing greater harm in the end, forcing him to always maintain a last shred of clarity and distance.

Genkawa Yu's responses mostly remained polite and courteous. Occasionally, he would show a genuine smile because of one of her witty topics, but he carefully avoided any words that could be interpreted as ambiguous or a promise.

As Genkawa Yu's artist assistant, Kato Megumi remained a perfectly competent observer, sitting quietly in a slightly distant position, her presence so low that she was almost like a delicate ornament.

She meticulously attended to every detail of the meal, even pouring tea for the two of them when necessary. But most of the time, she simply enjoyed the food in front of her, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the two interacting. Her calm, deep eyes remained undisturbed, as if she were simply watching a performance that had nothing to do with her.

Since becoming Yu Genkawa's artist assistant, she has witnessed many things and gained a deep understanding of Yu Genkawa's personality.

She knew about Yuu Minakawa's inner turmoil and kindness, and knew that he would never easily respond to Mai Sakurajima's advances while his mind was still undecided, especially given his "movie date" with Akane Kurokawa.

Yuu Minakawa is afraid of hurting anyone, and this hesitation itself can become a more cruel form of harm.

Unless we choose another path, we can't satisfy everyone.

But... is that road really passable?

Although she was fully aware of these matters, Kato Megumi remained silent. Beneath her calm exterior, no one knew whether she also harbored her own innermost feelings.

Time ticked by, and the atmosphere at this private evening dinner, led by Mai Sakurajima, was both subtle and lively.

Bottle after bottle of sake was emptied, and time quietly slipped into the past eleven o'clock at night.

Genkawa Yu's fair and handsome face was flushed, and his eyes were more hazy than usual. Although he was still relatively clear-headed, his actions showed signs of intoxication.

Upon seeing this, Kato Megumi acted as if a pre-programmed sequence had been triggered. She immediately took out her phone and said calmly, "Mr. Genkawa is a little drunk. I'll contact the agency and have a nanny car come and pick us up."

"No need for that, Kato-san."

Mai Sakurajima immediately spoke up to stop her; she hadn't been drinking, and her eyes were surprisingly bright at that moment.

She gazed at the clearly intoxicated Genkawa Yu, her tone carrying an undeniable decisiveness, "My car is nearby, and the driver has been waiting. Let me take Yu-kun home directly; it'll be faster that way."

Upon hearing this, Kato Megumi paused in her action of holding her phone.

She raised her head, and for the first time, a clear look of disapproval and seriousness appeared on her usually calm and composed face.

She didn't look at Mai Sakurajima, but instead turned her gaze to Yu Genkawa. Her tone remained calm, but carried a rare, almost blunt reminder.

“Mr. Genkawa, I think it would be more appropriate to call the company vehicle. After all, you and Ms. Sakurajima are both public figures. If you are accidentally photographed riding in the same car late at night, it may cause unnecessary misunderstandings and trouble, especially considering the relevant regulations of Ms. Sakurajima’s agency.

Her words, though brief, precisely hit the nail on the head regarding Mai Sakurajima and the strict control that her agency, HORIPRO, exercised over the image of its artists.

After saying this, Kato Megumi stepped forward and took the initiative to support Genkawa Yu's swaying arm. Her movement was natural but carried an undeniable determination, as if silently declaring her duty and stance. She looked at Sakurajima Mai standing next to her and said slowly.

“I can take good care of Genkawa-san and make sure he gets home safely.”

Mai Sakurajima's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly; Kato Megumi's sudden and clearly opposed action had taken her by surprise.

She looked at the hand that Kato Megumi was using to support Genkawa Yu's arm, her eyes slightly cold. Then she stepped forward and stood on Genkawa Yu's other side, her tone considerate and thoughtful, not giving an inch.

“Kato-san, I understand your concerns, but look at Yu-kun’s current condition. What if she’s not feeling well in the car, or needs help when she gets home? You’re a girl, and you probably don’t have enough strength. It would be safer if I helped her. After all, I’m Yu-kun’s ‘good friend,’ so I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

She emphasized the word "good friend" again, and at the same time reached out and firmly supported Genkawa Yu's other arm.

With the two men supporting him from both sides, Yuan Chuanyu seemed to sober up a bit. Feeling the two different kinds of strength and temperature coming from his arms, he felt completely overwhelmed.

"Um... I'm actually doing alright..."

He tried to struggle, but the two women simultaneously increased their strength in perfect unison.

In the end, this silent contest concluded with Mai Sakurajima's "deliver together" plan.

Kato Megumi didn't insist any further. She silently put away her phone and helped Genkawa Yu walk out of the store, but her tightly pursed lips revealed her displeasure.

Mai Sakurajima's black luxury car drove smoothly through the quiet midnight streets.

The car was spacious, but the atmosphere was somewhat stagnant.

Genkawa Yu leaned back in the comfortable seat, closed his eyes to rest, trying to ignore the invisible yet fiercely clashing auras emanating from his left and right sides.

Kato Megumi sat upright, her gaze fixed on the rapidly passing neon lights outside the window, while Sakurajima Mai sat elegantly, occasionally glancing out of the corner of her eye at Genkawa Yu beside her and Kato Megumi on the other side, her desire to take the lead growing stronger.