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

The two parties have been cooperating for over a decade, and their relationship has always been regarded as a model in the industry.

HORIPRO agency is known for its thorough protection and abundant resources for its artists, especially top artists. In the past ten years, there has almost never been a precedent of a top artist voluntarily not renewing their contract!

Mai Sakurajima has set a precedent that is unprecedented and extremely dangerous!

The next moment, Horio's face turned ashen, and his knuckles turned white from gripping the armrest so tightly.

He slammed his hand on the table with a loud bang, making the teacups on the table shake.

The old man's chest heaved violently, clearly furious, and his voice trembled uncontrollably with shock and anger.

"Sakurajima! Do you...do you even know what you're saying?! Have you lost your mind?! For a man?! A man you've only known for less than a year? You're going to give up everything HORIPRO has built for you over the past ten years? Give up your foundation and your future?!"

His cloudy yet sharp eyes were filled with heartache, disbelief, and a furious anger at having his authority challenged.

"I have nurtured countless outstanding actresses, from Yamaguchi Momoe, Fukada Kyoko, Ishihara Satomi, to you now! I have watched you grow up! No one! No one has ever been like you! To make such an impulsive, reckless, and ungrateful decision for the sake of so-called feelings!"

"You really... have disappointed me so much! You're completely blinded by greed!"

The old man's roar echoed in the conference room, filled with the elder's heartache over the younger generation's "going astray" and an absolute sense of authoritative oppression.

Other senior executives at HORIPRO also showed expressions of extreme shock, disapproval, and worry, and whispers arose among them.

After Mai Sakurajima said she wouldn't renew her contract, the atmosphere in the meeting room plummeted to freezing point, tense to the point of being on the verge of exploding, as if it could break down completely at any moment.

Genkawa Yu glanced at Sakurajima Mai and saw that the girl's expression remained firm. He knew that she hadn't had this sudden idea, but had prepared for it long ago.

However, if this continues, things will only get more and more complicated.

So, Genkawa Yu took a deep breath and, under everyone's gaze, slowly stood up from his chair.

His movements were not violent, but they carried a strange calmness and power that could instantly attract everyone's attention, as if a stabilizing needle had been thrown into a surging wave.

"Hori-san, and everyone at HORIPRO, please be patient."

Genkawa Yu's voice was calm and clear, like an icy spring flowing over scorching rocks, breaking the suffocating atmosphere in the conference room.

"Sakurajima-san's decision was very sudden and surprised me greatly. I didn't want things to develop to this point."

He turned his gaze to Hori Takefu, who was still furious, his eyes honest and sharp, without the slightest hesitation.

"Regarding this scandal, even if I hold a press conference or issue an apology statement, I still feel that it is just a cover-up. Since the other party has targeted me and Sakurajima-san, they must have a backup plan."

Genkawa Yu explained slowly, his tone very calm.

"Since the online public opinion has already taken a preemptive stance, the more we rush to defend ourselves, the more likely we are to fall into the trap set by the other side and become passively attacked."

He paused for a moment, then presented his core idea.

"So, I have a suggestion, though it's not a formal one. Since they like taking photos secretly, creating viral content, and manipulating public opinion from the shadows... why don't we give them an even bigger opportunity to create a viral hit that they can't refuse?"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the conference room was stunned, including the previously furious Horio Takeo and the resolute Mai Sakurajima.

Give the other party a greater chance to create a blockbuster product?

What does it mean?

Even Sakurajima Sachiko, who had been keeping her head down, couldn't help but look up in surprise at Genkawa Yu.

Genkawa Yu smiled and continued to explain a plan that he had already reviewed in his mind several times.

“My idea is that we can ‘cooperate’ with this dedicated paparazzi reporter and the people behind him. Doesn’t he want even more explosive news? Doesn’t he want to completely confirm the so-called relationship, or even dig out more private and sensational content? Then we’ll carefully design an excellent stage for him.”

His eyes sharpened, like a hawk eyeing its prey.

"We can deliberately release some vague but enticing travel information through certain channels, creating the impression that Sakurajima-san and I will be meeting privately again soon. We'll choose a location that seems private, but isn't entirely untraceable, and convenient for the other person to move around in, and then..."

A cold and confident smile curved his lips, as if he could already see the ending.

"We just need to make sure that when this greedy journalist thinks he's seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and tries to take more excessive and intrusive photos—for example, using a professional super telephoto lens to spy on the interior of a residence, or, driven by profit, attempting to illegally trespass into private property to install wiretaps or take secret photos..."

"As long as we deploy people in advance, we can catch others red-handed on the spot!"

At this point, Genkawa Yu let out a cold laugh.

"At that time, we will no longer have just a weak and ineffective clarification statement, but irrefutable evidence of the other party's illegal and criminal activities!"

"It's not just an invasion of privacy, it could even be illegal intrusion into a residence! Once the nature of this matter is clearly defined and made public at an appropriate time, the authenticity and legitimacy of all the information he previously released, obtained through such illegal and despicable means, will instantly crumble!"

"After all, once he is proven to be a criminal, his previous rumors and statements will naturally lose credibility, which is also the key to turning public opinion around."

"Then we issue a clarification statement, and... the public's sense of justice will be immediately ignited. No matter how fierce the wave of attacks against us was, the backlash against them will be just as powerful! This is the real solution that will solve the problem once and for all and completely reverse the situation!"

This bold, meticulous, and highly aggressive plan left everyone in the conference room deeply shocked and deep in thought.

The anger in Mr. Hori's eyes was gradually replaced by a hint of surprise, scrutiny, and even a barely perceptible surprise.

He has been in the entertainment industry for decades and has seen countless ups and downs, but he has rarely seen such a young artist who, when faced with such a huge crisis, can not only remain calm but also devise such a sharp and decisive counterattack strategy.

The senior executives at HORIPRO also began exchanging opinions in hushed tones, assessing the feasibility of the plan and the huge potential benefits.

Yu Minakawa seized the opportunity to add, demonstrating his thoughtful nature.

"To ensure the smooth implementation of this plan and the absolute safety of Sakurajima-san and everyone else, I will ask Mr. Suo Hayato to provide manpower assistance. He has many 'professional teams' under his command who are very experienced."

"As long as this matter can be completed smoothly, this scandalous incident will definitely be resolved much more easily."

Genkawa Yu's gaze swept over Sakurajima Mai, her manager, and Kato Megumi beside her; they were all shocked by the proposal Genkawa Yu had put forward.

The atmosphere in the conference room, which had been tense and on the verge of collapse, quietly transformed into a new state of tension and anticipation.

After a while, Horio stroked his chin and suddenly asked.

"Genkawa-kun...are you and the Burning Spirit completely bound together now?"

"No, I'm just friends with Mr. Suoh."

Genkawa Yu smiled but did not answer the question directly.

"Since that's the case, then let's see how you plan to quell this matter."

Horio then turned to Sakurajima Mai beside him, "Sakurajima, Genkawa-kun has come up with a solution now, so you should be able to change your mind, right?"

"Do not..."

Although Mai Sakurajima approves of the plan, she will never back down from the plan she has discussed with her mother.

ungrateful?

joke!

Her relationship with HORIPRO has always been purely business-oriented. It's true that they've provided her with many opportunities over the past decade, but a significant portion of Mai Sakurajima's annual income is taken from the company to support artists and directors who can't get work.

In business partnerships, there's never a question of who owes whom; Mai Sakurajima and her mother had already figured this out long ago.

By not renewing her contract, she can have a wider world to explore and achieve great things in the future.

And it also allows me to get closer to... her inner desires.

"I...have decided not to renew my contract."

"?"

Volume 2 Tokyo Love Story: Chapter 14 This gigolo smells delicious, I have to eat it! (2-in-1 5.5k)

In the upscale meeting room of HORIPRO's office, named "Wutong," the air seemed to briefly loosen after Genkawa Yu proposed that bold and meticulous counterattack plan.

Then, the situation froze again because of Mai Sakurajima's resolute statement, "I have decided not to renew my contract," making it even more somber than before.

Hori Takeo's face, etched with the marks of time and usually exuding an imposing aura, was now clearly filled with disbelief and a chilling sense of deep anger.

Having dominated the entertainment industry for decades, he has personally sculpted countless rough gems into finished products, and has long been accustomed to the rhythm of control and obedience.

Mai Sakurajima, the actress he watched grow from a little girl into a national star, has now made a resolute statement that is not only a betrayal of HORIPRO, but also a blatant challenge to his personal authority.

The old man's sharp, hawk-like eyes were fixed on Mai Sakurajima, as if he wanted to pin her to the spot with his gaze and force her to retract her "treasonous" decision.

However, Mai Sakurajima simply looked back at him quietly. In her beautiful eyes, the humility she used to show in front of her elders was gone, replaced by a clear and unwavering determination.

She raised her head slightly, her slender neck outlining a stubborn curve, like a bird about to leave the nest and fly resolutely into the vast sky.

Standing beside her, Sachiko Sakurajima, though her brows were still furrowed and her hands were clasped tightly together, had a deep look in her eyes that, besides worry for her daughter, also conveyed a sense of relief after taking a desperate gamble and a secret anticipation of future independence.

Her quietly established independent firm was already taking shape. Although her daughter's decision was risky, it coincided with her own plans.

At this moment, she chose to face it together with her daughter.

"Sakurajima, are you sure you really want to do this?"

"Yes."

Mai Sakurajima nodded vigorously. After the confrontation just now, she had made up her mind.

"...Okay, very good."

After a long silence, Mr. Hori finally managed to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth, his voice low and hoarse, carrying a suppressed anger and deep weariness.

He waved his hand, the gesture as if he had exhausted all his strength, no longer looking at Genkawa Yu and the others, his gaze fixed only on Sakurajima Mai and her daughter.

"Genkawa-kun, you can go and start preparing for your own things now."

Hori Takeo's tone left no room for argument, carrying the last vestige of authority befitting a superior.

"As for Sakurajima, you and your mother stay, as well as Matsuda, the managing director of the talent agency department. We all need to sit down and have a serious talk..."

"Ok."

The woman named Matsuda nodded and bowed.

Those outside the firm knew that this was a clear order to purge, signifying a final showdown within HORIPRO concerning core interests, reputation, and future relationships.

Genkawa Yu naturally understood the implications of this.

He stood up, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards Mai Sakurajima.

Just then, Mai Sakurajima was also looking at him.

The moment their eyes met, the icy resolve in the girl's eyes melted away, replaced by an extremely gentle light, filled with comfort and trust.

She seemed to be telling Yuan Chuanyou, "Don't worry, go do what you need to do. I'll take care of everything here."

Sakurajima Mai is a very special person to him, a fact that Genkawa Yu had known for a long time.

So, Genkawa Yu nodded solemnly and slightly to her and Sakurajima Sachiko, everything was understood without words.