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

When Asakura Toru took the movie ticket, a knowing look flashed in her eyes, but she didn't say anything. She just gently squeezed MEM's little hand to express her gratitude.

This subtle interaction, though brief, revealed the deep friendship between the two.

With ten minutes to go before the movie started, the three sat down on the sofa in the rest area. MEM made an excuse to leave, saying, "I'm going to buy popcorn and drinks. What do you guys want to drink?"

“Mineral water is fine,” said Yuan Chuanyou, his voice sounding somewhat low through his mask.

Me too.

Asakura Toru softly echoed, his fingers unconsciously twirling the backpack strap.

After MEM left, only the two of them remained in the rest area.

Asakura Toru turned his head and looked at Genkawa Yu with a serious expression in his eyes.

"Genkawa-kun, have you been trying to write your own songs lately?"

Genkawa Yu was somewhat surprised that she would bring up this topic at this time, but she still answered truthfully.

"I have some inspiration, but I'm still exploring, especially in finding a melody that can touch people's hearts without being too cliché."

His voice carries the unique dedication and thoughtfulness of a creator.

"Our group is preparing for our new album this year."

Asakura Toru's voice remained calm, but a subtle hint of anticipation could be detected if one listened carefully. "Manager-san is currently soliciting songs. If Genkawa-kun has any songs suitable for idols to sing, we can consider collaborating with you."

As she said this, her eyes shone with a professional and earnest light.

Collaborating on music to get closer to Yu Genkawa aligns with their shared interests without seeming too deliberate.

Genkawa Yu thought for a moment, then glanced at Asakura Toru beside him. He had met the other girls in their group before, and they were indeed a very excellent idol group.

Furthermore, expanding his influence in the entertainment industry through musical collaborations would greatly benefit his overall career plans.

"If I can truly write a piece that is worthy of your group, I will definitely give you my first choice to collaborate with you."

Genkawa Yu sincerely said that collaborating with idol groups is a great opportunity to break into the music industry.

"Good music needs the right singer to interpret it. I think Asakura, your group's songs are really good."

Just then, MEM returned carrying popcorn and drinks.

She keenly sensed the change in the atmosphere between the two and immediately made a joke with a smile.

What are you two talking about?

Genkawa Yu took the bottled water, smiled, and the condensation droplets on the bottle dampened his fingertips.

"We were just discussing music creation. Asakura said that her group was collecting new songs and wanted to collaborate with me."

"That's great! I'm really looking forward to you and Asakura teaming up!"

MEM was unaware that Akane Kurokawa had become Yu Minakawa's girlfriend, as this had not been officially announced and very few people knew about it.

She was well aware of Asakura Toru's feelings for Genkawa Yu and supported their relationship.

In the entertainment industry, a world full of truths and lies, it's not easy to meet someone you genuinely like. As a friend, she wanted to do everything she could to help Asakura Toru create opportunities.

The movie was about to start, and the three of them followed the sparse crowd into the screening room.

As planned, MEM sat on the other side of the aisle, while Asakura Toru naturally sat next to Genkawa Yu.

The lights in the screening room gradually dimmed, and the trailer began playing on the big screen.

Asakura Toru adjusted her posture, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Genkawa Yu's still upright profile in the darkness. She took a soft breath, savoring this rare moment of close interaction.

Even through the mask, she could almost smell the faint, refreshing scent of cedarwood emanating from Genkawa Yu.

Meanwhile, MEM, sitting on the other side, secretly observed the interaction between the two from time to time, a gratified smile on her face.

Volume 2 Tokyo Love Story: Chapter 52 The Path of Courage Belonging to Asakura Toru (2-in-1 5.5k)

Inside the movie theater, the three waited for the movie to start.

Because Genkawa Yu was sitting in the middle, he felt enveloped in a unique atmosphere.

On the left is the scent of Toru Asakura, a fragrance that is cool yet gentle, a unique scent belonging to a transparent idol girl.

On the right is the vibrant fruity and woody scent emanating from MEM Qiu, full of vitality and sunshine, just like her—direct, frank, and infectious.

Two beautiful girls with very different styles, yet both considered masterpieces of nature, sat on either side. If it were anyone else, they would probably be overjoyed and celebrating, but Genkawa Yu seemed quite indifferent.

He simply adjusted his posture, leaning back slightly, intending to focus his attention on the upcoming film narrative.

The lights went out completely, plunging the theater into darkness, with only the screen lit up, and the movie officially began.

This is a well-made romantic fantasy film that tells the story of an ordinary young man who accidentally gains the ability to travel between specific points in time. In order to save his first love, who died in an accident, he recklessly travels back in time again and again in an attempt to reverse the tragedy.

However, every tiny intervention, like the butterfly effect, triggers a series of unpredictable chain reactions, dragging him into a more complex, desperate, and paradoxical labyrinth of time and space.

The film is well-paced, with a tightly interwoven plot and stunning visual effects.

Yu Genkawa appreciates the film's story from his own unique perspective, because he has written screenplays, so his angle differs from that of ordinary viewers.

As the movie progressed to the middle, a very special character appeared.

She is a super popular idol. Dressed in a gorgeous stage outfit covered in sequins, she stands in the center of the stage amidst cheers from thousands of fans. Accompanied by exciting and dynamic electronic music, she displays her perfect dance moves honed through countless trials and her impeccable "idol-like" smile. Her eyes are bright and full of longing for the world.

As arranged in the script, the female idol naturally develops feelings for the male protagonist who keeps rewinding time, becoming an obstacle between the ill-fated male and female protagonists, used to create misunderstandings.

Yu Minakawa himself did not feel any discomfort about this.

Drama originates from life, and conflict needs a catalyst; this is simply one of the common narrative techniques in commercial films.

He even had a touch of professional criticism, feeling that the guest actor's performance was somewhat superficial and failed to delve into the possible true inner world behind the "idol" identity.

However, this seemingly unintentional "plot setting" gave Asakura Toru, who was not very familiar with the story, some special thoughts.

The girl's hand, resting on her knees, unconsciously and gently pinched the soft fabric of her skirt.

Idol... Romance

She silently repeated the two words in her heart, feeling as if a wad of cotton was stuck in her throat, and her expression was somewhat dazed.

The next moment, Asakura Toru's gaze uncontrollably drifted to Genkawa Yu on his right.

The dim environment provided the best cover, and the changing light and shadow of the screen flowed across his well-defined profile, from his full and wise forehead to his straight and sharp nose, and then to his slightly pursed thin lips.

It was clear that Yu Genkawa was very focused while watching the movie and did not develop any special emotions beyond the scope of watching a film.

Although the other party did not show any abnormality, Asakura Toru's thoughts began to drift uncontrollably away from the fictional story on the screen and into his own real situation.

Her identity as an idol intertwined with a deep-seated desire within her to get closer to Yuu Minakawa, giving rise to questions that required her distress and reflection.

In the hierarchical and strictly structured pyramid system of the Japanese entertainment industry, where exactly does an "idol" occupy a position?

At the top of the pyramid are undoubtedly household names like Mai Sakurajima, national-level actresses, or highly respected and accomplished male actors.

They may only need to meticulously craft one or two big-budget TV series or movies a year to easily gain industry acclaim, exorbitant salaries, and widespread respect and recognition from all sectors of society.

They are the true stars, the top figures who hold the power of discourse in the industry.

The middle class consists of top comedians and well-known athletes with widespread national recognition.

Yes, in Japan's unique entertainment ecosystem, popular athletes participate in variety shows very frequently, earning astonishing appearance fees. Their social status and public image are far beyond what most idols can achieve.

The massive and crowded base of the pyramid is home to a large and fiercely competitive group of idols.

Especially for female idol groups like Asakura Toru, who did not come from top-tier agencies in the industry.

On the surface, they are glamorous, wearing meticulously designed stage outfits, singing and dancing amidst the cheers of fans and the sea of ​​light from their light sticks, selling dreams and youth.

But the hardships and predicaments behind it can only be truly understood by those who have experienced them.

The vast majority of the group's income has to be handed over to the production company behind them. After going through layers of deductions, what is finally distributed to the individuals is... perhaps slightly better than that of ordinary wage earners, but definitely far from "financial freedom".

More importantly, the identity of an idol is often associated with labels such as "lacking in ability," "popularity bubble," and "attention-seeking" in the eyes of those self-proclaimed orthodox actors, directors, and senior producers, making it difficult for them to be truly accepted and respected by the mainstream entertainment industry.

Even if she gets into the production team, other actors might think, "She must have connections, right?" or "She's just here as a mascot to attract fans."

On film sets, idols never receive much recognition.

I want to truly stand by his side.

This is a very difficult thing to do.

Since meeting Yu Minakawa on the dating reality show "Love is a Required Course in Life", Toru Asakura has been paying attention to Yu's growth trajectory.

His growth rate... is just too fast.

From a background actor to a bestselling author of "Love Letters," and then to star in the Netflix and BLACKPINK co-produced global television series "Alice in the Land of the Dying," she also wrote and directed her own films.

Now, with great ambition, he has set up his own business, establishing the Star Engine production company, with the goal of carving out his own territory in the industry.

In his world, he met and talked with renowned directors, sons of powerful conglomerates, and various outstanding veteran actors.

After analyzing his own positioning, Asakura Toru discovered that the gap between them was quite significant.

It's like there's an insurmountable chasm between us.

In the movie, the idol character who made a cameo appearance was still trying her best to show "perfection" and "cuteness" in an attempt to attract the male lead's attention in the plot.

Toru Asakura, however, found her performance increasingly jarring, like a distorted funhouse mirror reflecting the subtle emotions within her.

The girl lowered her eyelids slightly, her long, thick eyelashes casting a small fan-shaped shadow beneath them, cleverly concealing the complex emotions churning in her eyes.

Her hands, resting on her lap, unconsciously clenched tighter, but her mindset remained unchanged: pressure could be transformed into motivation.

MEM sat on the other side of Genkawa Yu, seemingly engrossed in the movie plot, but in reality, her peripheral vision was like the most sophisticated radar, closely watching the every move of the two people beside her.

She keenly noticed Asakura Toru's actions and changes in expression, and a feeling of pity and worry welled up in her heart.

Since learning about Asakura Toru's feelings, she has come to understand her friend's thoughts even better. Although she always appears nonchalant, she is far more sensitive and insightful than she seems.

A man like Yu Minakawa is like a towering, ever-growing mountain, naturally attracting countless climbers eager to reach the summit.

However, the process of climbing is destined to be filled with unknown dangers and the torment of loneliness.

All she could do as a friend was to quietly watch over her, offer her a bottle of water when she needed it, or, like now, try to create opportunities for her to get closer.

In the latter half of the film, the plot becomes increasingly captivating. The sense of destiny brought about by the time paradox and the heart-wrenching struggles and sacrifices between the male and female protagonists brought tears to the eyes of many viewers in the theater.

Faint sobs could be heard rising and falling in the darkness.

However, Asakura Toru's mind had already drifted away from the joys and sorrows portrayed on screen. Through the movie's plot, she thought about many things and pondered her future decisions and direction.