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

Was that strand of hair on my boyfriend's jacket really from the audition?

Do auditions require scenes involving physical contact between the actors?

They are all male actors

"stop!"

The director's voice suddenly interrupted her performance, his tone clearly showing dissatisfaction.

"Kurokawa, what are you thinking? Where is [Azure Snow's] resolve? Just now, there was only confusion in your eyes, no trace of reluctance!"

Akane Kurokawa snapped back to reality, her cheeks instantly turning bright red, and she quickly bowed.

"I'm sorry, director, I'll try again."

She closed her eyes and shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off those chaotic thoughts.

But when she opened her eyes again, the floor under the spotlight suddenly became somewhat blurry. She seemed to see Yuan Chuanyu wearing a coat, with a blurry female figure standing next to him. The two walked side by side, and then the woman suddenly leaned closer and pressed her head against her boyfriend's body.

Ah! No!

This time, she even forgot half of her lines, and her voice suddenly faltered.

The screenwriter gently shook his head and wrote something on the rating sheet. The sound of the pen gliding across the paper was like a dull knife cutting into Akane Kurokawa's heart.

In contrast, her rival, Nana Takahashi, had an exceptionally smooth audition.

She wore an elegant kimono, walked with a light step, and delivered her lines with intonation, perfectly portraying the resilience and reluctance of [Cang Xue].

When she finished her last bow, there was a clear round of applause from the director's side.

About half an hour later, the cast for the stage play was finalized.

"The results are in: the female lead for 'Scarlet Flame Cherry Blossom' is Nana Takahashi."

The director's voice was calm yet carried an undeniable authority. He glanced at his prized student, "Kurokawa, your performance this time was terrible. Go back and work on it, and try harder next time."

"Yes."

Akane Kurokawa stood there, watching Nana Takahashi being surrounded by people offering congratulations, her heart filled with resentment and grievance.

It wasn't that she couldn't act well; it was just that she couldn't control her inner turmoil. After a while, the girl forced a smile, nodded to the senior who came forward to comfort her, and turned and quickly walked out of the audition room.

The theater's corridor was deserted, and the afternoon sun cast long shadows on the ground through the windows.

Akane Kurokawa dragged her heavy steps toward the stairwell, her mind replaying the mistakes she made during the audition.

At this moment, she suddenly felt dizzy, probably because she hadn't rested well in the past few days, and coupled with the blow she had just suffered, her body couldn't hold on any longer.

The girl's legs suddenly gave way, she cried out in surprise, and her body fell backward uncontrollably.

"oops!"

Before losing her balance, Akane Kurokawa's expression changed. She closed her eyes, but the expected pain did not come. Instead, she felt a warm and firm embrace.

The familiar scent lingered around her nose, instantly relaxing her tense nerves.

Kurokawa Akane slowly opened her eyes, only to be met with a pair of worried eyes. She saw that Genkawa Yu was standing in front of her, holding her firmly in his arms, his brows furrowed and his eyes full of heartache.

"Akane, are you alright?"

Genkawa Yu looked a little nervous, then reached out and touched her forehead.

"Why do you look so pale? Are you not feeling well?"

"You-jun... what are you doing here?"

Akane Kurokawa's heart skipped a beat. Overwhelmed by the frustration of failing the audition and her inner unease, she could no longer hold back when she saw the person she relied on most. Her eyes suddenly reddened, and crystal-clear tears streamed down her face.

Yuan Chuanyou picked her up and carried her step by step to the rest area at the end of the corridor. He then gently placed her on the sofa, took out a thermos from his backpack, and poured out a cup of warm honey water.

“I happened to be free today. I originally wanted to come to the theater troupe to pick you up and take you home, but when I saw you coming out of the audition room, you looked terrible, so I followed you.”

He sat down beside her and gently patted her back.

"Did the audition not go well?"

Akane Kurokawa took the honey water. The warm liquid slid down her throat, warming her stomach, but it couldn't warm the chill in her heart.

She leaned on Yuan Chuanyou's shoulder, choking back tears as she spoke.

"Yu-kun, I was a little distracted during the audition, so..."

She wanted to explain why she had been daydreaming, but the words stuck in her throat.

"I prepared for this role for a long time."

"I see. It's okay, there will be other opportunities next time. Akane is so talented, there are many more great doujinshi waiting for you."

Genkawa Yu gently wiped away her tears, his fingertips as tender as if handling a fragile treasure.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. It's just that you weren't in good shape this time. We'll take a good rest next time and then come back to challenge you."

"And...there's even more important work to do next week."

Akane Kurokawa looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears and a hint of expectation.

"Is it for movie promotion?"

"Yes, Director Doi has also contacted me. It seems they'll be ready soon."

Yuan Chuan You chuckled and playfully pinched her nose. "It'll start in a week, and then we'll start promoting it properly. Besides appearing on variety shows to promote the series, there might be follow-up roadshows and so on. Don't you want to work together with me to get more people to like our movie?"

Only when Akane Kurokawa thought of "Love Like a Bouquet" did her eyes regain their brightness.

This film was the "love-defining work" that solidified her relationship with Yu Genkawa.

She plays the female lead, [Hachiya Ken], and acts opposite [Yamaon Mugi], played by Genkawa Yu. The two go from being sweet lovers to breaking up with nothing left to say to each other. The film has a very realistic tone and a unique artistic style, making it a touching love story for everyone.

Although the movie has a sad ending, it was because of this movie that Akane Kurokawa confirmed her feelings for him and found happiness.

She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, and finally managed a smile.

"I want to work with Yu-kun to promote our movie and get more people to like it!"

She leaned against Yuan Chuanyou's chest, feeling his warm body temperature and strong heartbeat, and her unease seemed to lessen a little.

When Genkawa Yu held her, he could clearly feel the girl's body trembling slightly.

He was perceptive and could tell that she wasn't just upset about failing the audition; there must be other things on her mind.

However... if she was unwilling to talk about it, Genkawa Yu didn't want to pry too deeply.

He simply stroked her long hair gently and spoke softly.

"Akane, we are lovers. Whatever you are worried about or uneasy about, you can tell me. Don't bear it alone. I will face it with you."

Upon hearing this, Akane Kurokawa's heart skipped a beat. She looked up at Yuu Minakawa's sincere eyes, but she couldn't bring herself to express her worries.

Right now, it's just speculation and self-scaring; the girl is unwilling to come out honest about these things.

What if it was just something a female staff member accidentally stuck to his clothes? Wouldn't saying that show she doesn't trust her boyfriend?

I can't tell!

Akane Kurokawa suppressed the turmoil of emotions surging within her, simply shook her head, and said with a smile.

"Okay, I understand, Yu-kun. I won't overthink it anymore."

"That's more like it."

Genkawa Yu took her hand, and together they turned and walked out of the theater troupe.

A summer breeze blew through her long blue hair.

Back in the apartment where the two lived together, Yuu Minakawa took the initiative to go into the kitchen, put on an apron, and prepare to cook.

"Akane, you're not feeling well, so take a rest. Today, I'll let you try my cooking, hehe."

Yuu Minakawa can also cook, but after they started living together, Akane Kurokawa usually does the cooking.

"Yes, thank you, Yu-kun."

Akane Kurokawa leaned back on the sofa and began to sort out her thoughts again.

Since it's impossible to say it directly, then you should rely on your own thinking and investigation.

Akane Kurokawa possesses a special ability called "profiling," likely due to her father being a police officer named Sekishu, which allows her to deduce the truth of things from subtle details.

This ability allows her to better grasp the psychology of her characters during performances, but it also makes her exceptionally sensitive in matters of the heart.

"Black hair, but longer than short hair, roughly shoulder-length if you were to estimate the distance."

Akane Kurokawa pondered this question, and she vaguely had someone in mind—Mai Sakurajima.

Mai Sakurajima's hair is black, and Akane Kurokawa has seen the promotional photos for "Strobe Edge." The character Ninako, played by Mai Sakurajima, has short hair, but it's not quite shoulder-length.

Furthermore... the relationship between Mai Sakurajima and Yu Genkawa.

Before she knew it, Akane Kurokawa thought of many things. Before she and Yu Minakawa officially became a couple, she also knew the inside story of Mai Sakurajima's scandal with her boyfriend and knew that her overnight stay that night was not fake.

"Well..."

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared in her mind.

Megumi Kato!

Kato Megumi is her boyfriend's artist assistant. She basically follows Genkawa Yu around every day and knows everything about his schedule, both work and private.

Akane Kurokawa was a little jealous of this, since she spent more time with her boyfriend than she did.

But now that I think about it, if Genkawa Yu has been in frequent contact with any member of the opposite sex recently, Kato Megumi, as the artist's assistant, would definitely know.

Although she wasn't very familiar with Kato Megumi, she was willing to give it a try in order to find out the truth.

Since the other person and her boyfriend only have a working relationship and no special personal relationship, it shouldn't be a big problem if they just communicate.

This is perfect as a breakthrough point!

Moreover, Akane Kurokawa possesses the ability to profile, so she doesn't need to directly question the most crucial points. A simple chat might be enough for her to obtain the information she wants through subtle clues and hidden messages.

The next moment, the girl took out her phone, hesitated for a long time, and finally typed a text message.

"Hello, Kato-san, I'm Akane Kurokawa. I was wondering if you have time tomorrow and would like to invite you for coffee. I have some questions for you."

She revised it several times before pressing send, then tossed her phone onto the sofa and pretended to watch TV.