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

Yes, that's right.

A faint smile appeared on Asakura Toru's face. "Actually, participating in this program was just a sudden idea of ​​mine."

"...Is that so?"

Genkawa Yu pricked up his ears, his expression turning serious.

Volume 1 The Shining Morning Star: Chapter 61 The Light Belonging Only to Asakura Toru

On the train, Yuu Genkawa and Toru Asakura stood by the window, admiring the scenery outside.

Asakura Toru smiled and continued the previous topic.

"Will you find what I just said strange, Mr. Genkawa?"

“Of course not,” Genkawa Yu could probably sense her thoughts, so he spoke tactfully. “What I’m more curious about is why Asakura-san feels bored. Is life too monotonous?”

"more or less."

Asakura Toru nodded. "Actually, I had a dream before."

"What dream?"

She looked up at the railway stretching to the horizon, her eyes veiled with a faint mist.

“In my dreams, I always see a very tall climbing frame. Its iron frame is painted a faded blue. I grab the horizontal bar and climb up. I can see the top right in front of me, but I can never reach the top. My palms are sore from being rubbed by the iron frame, and there is nothing under my feet.”

"this..."

"I told the other members of the group about this, and they all thought I was weird."

"It's not that strange, I'm just a little surprised that a young man like Asakura-san would have such insights."

Genkawa Yu turned his head and looked out the window again, the wind blowing through his golden hair.

"Because I think that life is actually a constant repetition until it finally dies out completely."

Asakura Toru asked another question. Although she seemed to have no emotional fluctuations on the surface, when they spent time together in private, Genkawa Yu discovered that she also had such a sentimental side.

What an interesting person.

However, the film crew is still shooting, so it's best not to keep talking about anything negative, otherwise it might affect Asakura Toru's reputation.

So he immediately changed the subject.

"Moreover, since Asakura-san has become an idol, are there any happy things in your life as an idol?"

"Of course, my friends are all very nice people."

Asakura Toru continued, "When we first met, didn't I ask Genkawa-sensei? If you want to see idol performances, I have many recommendations."

"Hmm... If I had the chance, I'd really like to see Asakura-san on stage."

Genkawa Yu smiled. This was indeed true, but he had to focus all his attention on the show right now. He might not have time to watch idol performances until the dating reality show ended.

"If you go to see our troupe's performance, perhaps one person... will be very happy."

"Who?"

"Higuchi Enka, my childhood friend, she's a huge fan of Genkawa-sensei." Asakura Toru couldn't help but smile as he recalled his friend's expression while holding "Love Letter."

"Really."

The two chatted idly by the train window. Although Asakura Toru showed few emotional fluctuations, her occasional naturalness amused Genkawa Yu.

This trip should be very rewarding.

The train's public address system broadcasted the attendant's gentle announcements, carrying just the right amount of warmth.

"Dear passengers, our next stop is Kotani-matsu Station. From here, you can access nearby picnic areas and country trails. Please be careful when getting off the train."

As the announcement ended, the retro green train slowly slowed down, the sound of wheels hitting the rails gradually subsided, and finally came to a steady stop at the platform.

The two stepped off the train side by side, and a fresh scent of grass and earth wafted towards them.

The platform at Kotani-matsu Station is in a Japanese country style, with sparse ivy climbing on the wooden railings and several pots of daisies in full bloom next to the benches.

In the fields not far away, several children wearing brightly colored jackets were chasing and playing, their clear laughter carried on the wind, mingling with the distant barking of dogs.

Although it's winter, the atmosphere here is very pleasant; it's a beautiful day.

"The air here is so fresh."

Asakura Toru sighed softly, his gaze sweeping over the signboard beside the platform.

Following her gaze, Genkawa Yu quickly spotted the wooden sign with a picnic mat and sandwich pattern, the arrow pointing to the forest path behind the platform.

"Look, the picnic area is over there."

He raised his hand in a gesture of delight, his tone tinged with excitement, "There should be a shop nearby, we can go and pick something out."

Asakura Toru nodded and followed him toward the picnic area.

They had only taken a few steps when they heard a loud crying sound.

The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw a little girl in a blue coat sitting on the ground under a tree not far away, wiping away tears with her hands, but there was no adult around.

"Did you get separated from your parents?"

Genkawa Yu glanced around, frowned, and strode over. Asakura Toru followed behind, a worried look on his face.

The film crew following behind the two reacted quickly. The cameraman immediately adjusted the lens focus and aimed the image at the scene under the tree, but they stopped at a distance of ten meters, without getting close to disturb them, and quietly recorded this unexpected little episode.

Yuan Chuanyou crouched down, trying to soften his tone: "Little friend, where are your mom and dad? Can't you find them?"

The little girl raised her tear-streaked face, her eyes red, choked with sobs and unable to speak, only shaking her head repeatedly, which only made her cry louder.

Yuan Chuanyou was at a loss. He rarely interacted with children and didn't know how to comfort them.

Just then, Toru Asakura quietly walked over and squatted down next to the little girl. She didn't speak immediately, but took out a strawberry-shaped candy from her pocket.

Unwrapping the candy and handing it to the other person, the girl's voice was soft and gentle: "Little friend, would you like a piece of candy? Sweet candy makes people happy."

The little girl sobbed as she looked at the candy, then at Asakura Toru, hesitated for a moment, and finally reached out and took the candy, her sobs subsiding a little.

Upon seeing this, Asakura Toru smiled gently.

She gently patted the little girl's back, cleared her throat, and suddenly began to sing a nursery rhyme.

"The sun is setting, Lord Mountain God, the moon is out~)"

At this moment, her voice was completely different from her usual tone; it lacked that coolness and instead carried a unique ethereal quality.

Like a mountain spring flowing over pebbles, or a sea breeze brushing against seashells, it is gentle and healing.

Every note gently touches the heart, as if even the air itself has become gentler.

Looking at the girl's profile, Genkawa Yu was stunned.

Volume 1 The Shining Morning Star: Chapter 62 The Second Common Point with Asakura Toru

As Asakura Toru sang, the little girl's crying stopped completely. She reached out and clutched the hem of Asakura Toru's clothes, her round eyes curiously looking at the two people in front of her.

Yuan Chuanyou sat down on the grass next to him, took out a cartoon-patterned wet wipe from the picnic basket, and handed it to his little girl, Yiling: "Do you want to wipe your face? Otherwise, your parents will feel sorry for you."

Asakura Toru sat down as well, gently wiping away the remaining tear stains on the little girl's cheeks. "What's your name?"

"Dongyun Man, my mother calls me Xiaoman."

"Oh, it's Xiaoman." Asakura Toru's smile remained unchanged. Her short hair was slightly messy from the wind, but it did not diminish her gentleness in the slightest.

The two stayed with the little girl for about ten minutes when suddenly anxious shouts came from afar. A woman in a beige coat ran over quickly, and her eyes instantly reddened when she saw the little girl.

"Xiaoman! My Xiaoman!"

"You really scared your mother! Why did you run so far!"

Upon seeing her mother, the little girl immediately let go of Asakura Toru's clothes and rushed into the woman's arms, crying, "Mommy!"

The woman hugged her daughter tightly, tears falling onto the little girl's hair. She turned to Yuu Minakawa and Toru Asakura and bowed deeply: "Thank you so much! I went to buy water and when I turned back I couldn't find my child. I was so worried!"

"It's okay, it's just a small matter. Xiaoman is very cute."

Asakura Toru nodded, and Genkawa Yu waved his hand, saying gently, "I'm glad I could help you. Don't get separated again."

After holding the child tightly, the woman's emotions gradually stabilized.

She then realized that the man and woman in front of her were unusually good-looking.

Especially the blond man on the left, he was even more handsome than the male lead in the TV series she watched last night.

"Um, thank you again for taking care of Xiaoman for me."

The woman bowed, thanked her repeatedly, and then left with the little girl.

After walking a few steps, the little girl suddenly turned around, waved to the two of them, and called out in her childish voice, "Goodbye, sister! Goodbye, brother!"

Asakura Toru smiled and waved until the mother and daughter disappeared at the end of the path before turning his gaze away.

"Thank goodness I found my mom, otherwise I would have been really worried."

"Asakura-san is very good at coaxing children."

Genkawa Yu picked up the picnic basket, his tone full of sincere praise, "That nursery rhyme you just recited was very effective."

"This is a song I learned when I was a child, and I sometimes sing it at karaoke." Asakura Toru did not show any shyness in response to Genkawa Yu's praise; his tone and demeanor were very relaxed.

"Asakura-san's words really make me look forward to your performance on stage."

"Next time I can invite Mr. Genkawa to our live show, and I can reserve a front-row ticket for you in the 'connected people' section."

"Should I prepare some gifts for them?"

"I'll tell you what my teammates like, Genkawa-sensei."

"That's good."

The two carried picnic baskets and followed the signs to the picnic area.

After passing through a lush green field, a wide lawn comes into view. A clean tablecloth is placed on a wooden table beside the lawn, and the shimmering lake can be seen in the distance.

"Let's do it here." Genkawa Yu spread out the picnic blanket and laid out the sandwiches, fruit salad, and freshly squeezed juice. "I prepared all of these this morning. I don't know if they'll suit your taste."