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

"Is this the absolute appeal of a bestselling author?"

"Oh no, I was planning to sneak out during my lunch break to buy a copy, but judging from this, I probably won't even be able to touch the cover by the time I get there..."

"I clicked in from the trending topics. Who is this author? So young and already so talented? Is the book really worth all this hype? I'm curious, I'm going to buy a copy and check it out."

This wave of trending topics, fueled by mainstream authoritative media, was like pouring a huge amount of fuel into an already raging fire, instantly making Genkawa Yu's public profile break through his original fan base. Many ordinary people who were not interested in pure literature or even knew nothing about Genkawa Yu himself firmly remembered the name "Genkawa Yu" and the book "The Wind Rises" because of this incident.

With prior arrangement by editor Machida, Yuu Minakawa and Akane Kurokawa eventually entered a private office on the second floor of the bookstore quietly through the staff passage at the back of the store.

Through the one-way glass window, they can clearly see the bustling and crowded scene in the sales area on the first floor.

As readers embraced "The Wind Rises" as if it were a precious treasure, a satisfied smile slowly appeared on Genkawa Yu's face.

He knew that "The Wind Rises" would become a best-selling work, and its momentum was unstoppable.

As evening fell and the city lights began to twinkle, Genkawa Yu had just returned to his apartment and was about to enjoy a simple dinner with Kurokawa Akane when his phone rang.

The caller ID showed Mai Sakurajima.

Genkawa Yu walked to the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, answered the phone, and saw the dazzling Tokyo night view in the background: "Mai-san?"

Mai Sakurajima's highly recognizable, clear voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Yu-kun, you've dominated all the news and Twitter trending topics today. You're the center of attention wherever you go."

"Hehe, it's just good luck."

"Let's get down to business. I just received an urgent notice from the production team of 'Alice in the Land of the Dying.' Tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM, there will be a meeting in the conference room on the top floor of the Burning Production Headquarters. All the main creative staff must attend."

"The TV series is officially premiering next Friday night. I heard that a very important promotional event has been added at the last minute, and everyone needs to communicate in person to confirm the details."

Genkawa Yu's gaze sharpened slightly, and he immediately responded.

"Okay, I understand. I will be there on time tomorrow."

The next morning, Genkawa Yu arrived at the Burning Series Production Headquarters on time.

In the dedicated conference room for the "Alice in the Land of the Dying" project, director Aoyama, the main producers, and the project supervisors for the action/hype genre were all present.

A moment later, Mai Sakurajima arrived gracefully. Today, she was wearing a well-tailored white Celine suit dress. She wore light makeup, but still exuded a powerful aura and radiant beauty.

"Genkawa-kun, Sakurajima-san, you've both worked hard, please have a seat."

Director Aoyama's face was filled with barely suppressed excitement. After the two sat down across the long table, he placed his hands on the smooth conference table, leaned forward slightly, and almost impatiently announced this bombshell news.

"The reason we've gathered everyone here so urgently is because a top-tier variety show that we never even dared to dream of contacted our production team yesterday evening and formally extended an invitation, hoping that Genkawa-kun and Sakurajima-san will be the main guests on the next episode of their show, to do the most important wave of promotion for 'Alice in the Land of the Dying' before its premiere!"

"Oh? What program has such great influence that it has made Director Aoyama so excited?"

Genkawa Yu asked calmly, though he already had several alternative answers in mind.

Director Aoyama took a deep breath, as if to calm his excited emotions, and then revealed the answer in a clear and powerful voice, word by word.

"It's 'Chat 007' from the Japanese TV channel Den-Yue!"

The name struck like a thunderclap in the quiet conference room.

Even Mai Sakurajima, who was used to big scenes and remained calm in the face of change, had a fleeting look of surprise in her beautiful eyes, which quickly turned into an expression of understanding and extreme importance.

Genkawa Yu's heart stirred slightly, and a sharp glint flashed deep in his eyes.

Chat 007.

A nationally popular talk show broadcast on Japanese television every Wednesday at 8 pm during prime time!

The show features a seven-person regular hosting team comprised of three top Japanese comedy groups: NON STYLE, Neptune, and Tutorial. They are known for their imaginative, hilarious, and masterful control of pacing, as well as their unpredictable and casual "chatting" style, which consistently ranks among the top shows in its time slot.

It is widely recognized as the best program for actors and singers to promote their movies, TV series, and new albums.

Being able to appear on this show means gaining immeasurable national exposure, discussion, and public favor.

“It’s actually ‘Chatterbox 007’…” Mai Sakurajima repeated softly, her tone filled with confirmation and a hint of barely perceptible excitement. “This is indeed the only promotional platform we can think of at this stage.”

"Chatting 007" is very strict about inviting guests. It's impossible for ordinary productions or artists with average fame to appear on the show. After all, the seven comedians are all senior figures in the entertainment industry, and it's very difficult to even strike up a conversation with them.

Director Aoyama nodded vigorously, his smile almost overflowing.

"That's right! It's said that the program's planners astutely captured the nationwide buzz surrounding Genkawa-kun's new book launch yesterday. Coupled with the massive fan base already built up by the original novel 'Alice in the Land of the Dying,' and the high expectations generated by the release of the high-quality trailer for the series, they believed that this episode had immense potential for explosive content and high viewership. That's why they made an exception and proactively extended an olive branch. This is an opportunity we would kill for!"

The representative from the "burning" group added with a smile, his tone full of expectation.

"The recording of the program is scheduled for the night after tomorrow. Time is very tight, and there is not much time left for you two to prepare, but we must do our best to seize this opportunity! Your performance on 'Chat 007' will directly and profoundly affect the ratings of our drama's premiere. Genkawa-kun, Sakurajima-san, the success or failure of the drama depends on you two!"

"I understand."

Genkawa Yu nodded steadily, his voice not loud, but carrying a convincing power.

"We will prepare carefully and go all out to live up to this rare opportunity."

Volume 2 Tokyo Love Story: Chapter 55 [Minamoto & Sakura] CP fans finally get their revenge (2-in-1 6k)

After receiving official notification from the production team and director Aoyama, Kato Megumi highlighted "participating in the recording of 'Chat 007'" in a striking fluorescent color on Genkawa Yu's already packed schedule.

This is not just a simple trip; it's more like a "battle" that requires careful preparation.

In the Japanese variety show industry, "Chat 007" has always stood at the top of the pyramid due to its unique format and huge influence.

Being able to step onto this stage is a top-level test of an artist's popularity, audience appeal, stage presence, and overall competence. It also means being exposed to the scrutiny of millions or even tens of millions of viewers, where any minor mistake could be magnified infinitely.

Yu Genkawa was well aware of the significance of "Chat 007".

So he quickly made use of his time to repeatedly study past program recordings, observing the interaction patterns of the seven hosts, their habits of throwing and catching jokes, and the rhythm of guiding the topic.

This "hosting team" consists of three groups of top comedians: Shinya Ueda, who is in charge of controlling the show, and Jun Nagura, Taizo Harada, Ken Horiuchi, Teppei Arita, Yoshimi Tokui, and Mitsunori Fukuda, who are responsible for setting the stage, making jokes, and creating laughs.

Each of them is a seasoned veteran of the entertainment industry, quick-witted, and adept at witty banter. They can easily get the guests to talk and uncover unexpected bombshells.

During the initial meetings with the program production team, Kato Megumi and Genkawa Yu's team carefully reviewed several planning proposals submitted by the production team.

In black and white, besides the core promotional task of introducing the plot highlights and interesting anecdotes of "Alice in the Land of Dying," the production team clearly stated to the two that in order to maximize the show's ratings and buzz, it was necessary to appropriately explore the "private lives" of Genkawa Yu and Sakurajima Mai as popular celebrities.

The proposal listed some possible areas for discussion, such as "Yu Genkawa's quirks when writing", "Mai Sakurajima's secrets to maintaining her figure", and "the two people's views on their ideal type", etc.

After all, one is a national-level actress with both beauty and talent, and the other is a writer who became a super popular actor with "Love Letter" and "The Wind Rises," which ignited the literary world and social media.

Their daily lives, hobbies, and even unique insights into certain things are themselves excellent ratings highlights, satisfying the audience's huge voyeuristic desires.

The core appeal of "Chat 007" lies in its strict system of keeping the identities of its guests confidential.

Whether they were lucky audience members at the venue or countless families watching on television, they had no idea who the guests were before the show started.

Even the seven knowledgeable hosts on stage could only guess the guests' identities based on limited information on a cue card before they appeared.

This sense of anticipation and suspense, like opening a blind box, is the key to the show's enduring popularity and ability to capture the hearts of viewers.

Time flew by amidst the intense preparations and anticipation, and before we knew it, it was evening of the recording day.

It was not even eight o'clock yet, but the headquarters of Nippon Television was already brightly lit, resembling a giant entertainment machine that never tires.

Accompanied by Megumi Kato, Yu arrived at the TV station ahead of time. As the two walked through the busy yet orderly corridor, he could feel the fast-paced and high-pressure atmosphere unique to TV variety shows.

On his way to the designated guest lounge, staff members recognized him from time to time and cast curious and friendly glances at him.

Today, Yu Genkawa wore a dark blue plaid suit tailored by a famous designer. The fabric was crisp and the cut was clean, perfectly outlining his tall and slender figure with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.

He wore a soft, light-colored shirt underneath, with one button undone at the collar and no tie, which perfectly matched the relaxed feel required for the variety show while maintaining a sense of formality. This style blended his refined and elegant temperament with the vitality of a young actor.

Just as I reached the entrance of the lounge, I happened to run into Mai Sakurajima, who was also coming from the other dressing room.

Her look tonight was absolutely stunning. She wore a light purple one-shoulder floor-length dress with a gradient effect, transitioning from the elegance of the bodice to the brilliance of the skirt, creating a shimmering and extraordinary look.

The girl's makeup was slightly heavier than usual today. Her long hair was styled into an elegant updo, revealing her smooth forehead. She exuded a powerful aura, like a queen's arrival. Standing next to Yuan Chuanyou, the visual impact was even greater.

Good evening, Mai-san.

There were no outsiders at the entrance to the lounge, so a more intimate form of address could be used.

Good evening, Yu-kun.

Mai Sakurajima's lips curved into a perfectly timed smile. She was filled with anticipation and fighting spirit to be able to stand on this top variety show stage, which countless artists dream of, together with him, and face the "interrogation" of those seven "shrewd" hosts.

"How are the preparations going? Those hosts won't 'let us off' easily."

"When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it."

Yuan Chuanyou spoke concisely and calmly, yet his words conveyed a sense of composure and confidence.

After the last production meeting, they obtained the general script for this episode from the producers of "Chat 007".

The program is mainly divided into two core segments. The first segment is the usual resume introduction and free chat. The host will launch an offensive around their representative works, current situation, and some seemingly "harmless" but actually mysterious private life topics.

The second part is a game segment closely related to the theme of the drama series. In order to match the elements of intellectual games and psychological games in "Alice in the Land of the Dying", the production team ingeniously designed a game with simple rules but extremely challenging luck, memory and mental quality.

[Draw the Ghost Card].

The rules of the game are simple and clear, but the punishment measures carry the "gentle knife" of variety shows targeting the self-esteem of celebrities.

The loser must publicly wear a specially made, cheap white suit jacket with three large, bold black characters printed on the back: "[Weakest King]!"

Furthermore, the loser must wear this humiliating jacket, hold a sign that reads "I lost the Joker game on 'Chat 007'", strike the "defeat" pose specified by the show's producers, take a photo, and post it on their official Twitter account to be "admired" and ridiculed by fans and passersby across the internet.

Although this punishment may not seem to involve physical pain or economic loss, for artists who value their public image and always maintain a perfect persona, publicly admitting to being the "weakest king" in front of their fans is undoubtedly a form of mental "public execution," enough to become a dark chapter in their history.

Therefore, on the surface, both sides will show a strong fighting spirit of "absolutely not losing", "fighting to the death to win", and "whoever wants to wear this coat can wear it".

And this is precisely the biggest source of the show's entertainment value and humor.

The two rested briefly in the lounge, and while the makeup artist was doing her final touch-ups, they whispered to each other about what they might be asked, especially those questions that might involve their feelings about working together or their evaluations of each other.

The atmosphere seemed relaxed, but it was actually filled with a tense and cautious feeling before battle.

Before leaving the lounge, Kato Megumi carefully adjusted Genkawa Yu's suit collar and cuffs again to make sure everything was perfect.

Meanwhile, in a rented apartment near a well-known private university in Tokyo.

College student Fuyumi Rina sat cross-legged on the soft tatami mat, with her laptop, already in screensaver mode, on a low Japanese-style tea table in front of her.

Her eyes were fixed on the 40-inch LCD TV hanging on the wall, as if drawn by a magnet, with the channel logo of a Japanese television station displayed on the screen.

There were only a few minutes left until 8 p.m.

Rina Fuyumi is an ordinary female college student who wouldn't attract much attention on campus, but she has an identity known only in a small circle: she is a fan of the pairing of Yu Minakawa and Mai Sakurajima.