Chapter 51 My Knight, Yukimura: Just passing by o(ˊ^……
By the time the two sides finally reached an agreement, dusk had already enveloped the entire city.
"You've acted before?"
Kurosawa's voice broke the silence in the conference room.
Risa paused, her pen tip hesitating.
After signing her name, she slowly raised her head and gave a perfect smile: "Maybe... I acted in one in my past life."
The setting sun fell into her eyes, dyeing her dark pupils a beautiful amber color.
Kurosawa's breathing suddenly became heavy, and his well-defined knuckles gripped the armrest of her chair, tightening slightly.
After Risa left, the conference room fell silent.
Akira Kurosawa sat in the leather sofa, clutching the contract tightly, his gaze lingering on the signature.
As a renowned "star maker" in the industry, he has seen many talented actors and is used to manipulating young men and women who dream of becoming stars.
But this girl was the first to give him this feeling—a mature soul imprisoned in a girl's body.
While other newcomers were still at a loss under the pressure he deliberately created, and easily let their guard down under the lure of resources, this young woman, with a maturity beyond her years, caught every psychological game he threw out.
They handled it with ease, even...taking the initiative.
A seventeen-year-old girl actually made him feel the thrill of meeting a worthy opponent, something he hadn't experienced in a long time.
"interesting......"
A man in a suit loosened his tie, and a low laugh echoed in the empty conference room:
"This is getting more and more interesting."
-
Stepping out of the Toho Building, the evening breeze carried the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.
The phone vibrated in my pocket, and the moment the screen lit up, Yukimura Seiichi's name popped up:
[Is the audition over?]
Risa paused slightly, then asked: "[Akaya told you?]"
The reply came quickly, with that person's usual composure: "Yes, he's very worried about you. We're at a family restaurant near Yokohama Station."
Risa glanced at her phone; the fastest train ride from Tokyo to Yokohama would take half an hour. Although she had already told her aunt she wouldn't be home for dinner, after three hours of heated debate, her stomach was now incredibly empty.
Fingers tapped lightly on the screen: "I'm coming right away."
After thinking for a moment, I added: [I argued with a bunch of old foxes for three hours, I'm exhausted ┭﹏┭]
[Yukimura: Okay. Message me when you're almost at the station, and I'll come pick you up.]
As Risa put her phone away, a deep voice descended from above her head:
"Want to grab a bite to eat together?"
She turned around abruptly, her nose barely brushing against the man's tie.
Akira Kurosawa was standing behind her without her noticing. The scent of cologne mixed with tobacco wafted over her, causing her to instinctively hold her breath.
The man leaned forward slightly, his voice low and magnetic, characteristic of a mature man: "There's a nice kaiseki restaurant nearby that I highly recommend."
This distance is far too close.
Risa stepped back slightly: "Thank you for your kindness, but I have to rush back to Kanagawa..."
Before the words were even finished, a black Mercedes S600 silently slid to the side of the road. The tinted windows slowly rolled down, and the driver walked around to the two of them, opening the rear door.
Akira Kurosawa raised his hand to brace himself against the car roof, his black onyx cufflinks gleaming coldly. "Then let me take you home. The trains will be very crowded at this time."
Risa paused, then clenched her fingers.
(It's happening again...)
She maintained a polite smile and declined, saying, "There's really no need for you to trouble yourself."
"Then at least... let me take you to Yokohama Station." The man's tie gradually loomed larger in front of her, and a sense of oppressive power from a grown man enveloped her.
He smiled gently, his eyes softening: "As a representative of the production committee, I am really worried about letting underage girls ride the tram alone during this time of day."
"..." Risa stopped talking.
These so-called "seniors" are always like this.
If she were truly a 17-year-old girl, inexperienced in the ways of the world, she might be captivated by the man before her, who possessed a gentle smile and extraordinary wealth and status.
But she's not a little girl anymore.
Having spent many years in the entertainment industry, she has long since lost the allure of the glamorous profession.
Just like now, she could see clearly that behind that smile was not the care of an elder for a younger generation, but the desire of an experienced hunter who had found his prey and wanted to devour it immediately, yet also craved the excitement and restraint of the chase.
(The rumored genius director...)
(Once the glamour is removed, they are just ordinary people who need to eat, drink, relieve themselves, and sleep.)
Inside the enclosed carriage, the strong scent of cedarwood was almost suffocating.
“Recently, there have been a lot of shady talent scouts around the station. Girls like you who are special are easy targets.”
Risa gazed at the flowing neon lights outside the window without replying.
In their eyes, what is considered "special" can be nothing more than three things: commodities waiting to be sold, tools that can realize their artistic ambitions, and exquisite dolls that can satisfy their desire for control.
No matter the world, the operating rules of this circle will never change: use dreams to package desires, use art to cover up filth, and use the creator's obsession with the muse to beautify distorted personal desires.
Finally, the lights of Yokohama Station came into view, gradually approaching.
The car slowly came to a stop in front of the family restaurant.
Akira Kurosawa got out of the car first, the fabric of his suit stretching as he moved, outlining his broad shoulders and narrow waist.
"Please." He placed his hand on the top of the car door, behaving like a gentleman.
Risa pursed her lips and got out of the car with a stoop.
A strand of hair fell, brushing against the girl's neck. Kurosawa Akito's gaze lingered on that skin, his Adam's apple bobbing almost imperceptibly.
"You did an excellent job today," he said in a hoarse voice, his tone one of elder's approval. "You surprised me even more than I expected."
Despite being a compliment, it made the hairs on the back of Risa's neck stand on end.
"You flatter me too much." Risa stepped back slightly. "I'm just a newcomer, and I'm grateful for your guidance..."
"Ms. Matsuno."
Akira Kurosawa took a step forward, forcefully closing the distance between the two that had just been created.
Risa froze.
The presence of a grown man drew near, his tall figure looming over her. The scent of cologne mixed with tobacco aggressively assaulted her senses.
“You know what? Seeing you standing in front of the camera, I suddenly understood Pygmalion’s feelings.”
The man's narrow eyes behind his glasses squinted, churning with a thick, suffocating emotion.
"The sculptor fell in love with the statue he created. I used to think that was absurd, but after seeing you on the jury panel that day—"
"Director Kurosawa!"
Risa interrupted him sharply.
"Have you been drinking?" she asked with a smile. "You're quite drunk."
Kurosawa Akito paused for a moment, then smiled.
“Ms. Matsuno, I am more clear-headed than ever.”
The man slowly raised his bony penis, hovering beside her face, casting a shadow over her cheek.
It was a silent act, yet it sent shivers down my spine more than any physical touch.
"As long as you're by my side, you'll soon be able to reach a wider world, win major film festival awards, and stand in that position that countless people dream of. Let the spotlight shine only for you."
Risa's breathing faltered, and the fake smile on her lips gradually disappeared.
The surrounding noise seemed to fade into the distance, and all that remained in her vision was that ever-approaching hand. Her whole body tensed, and her reason told her to "get away," but her body felt like it was nailed to the spot, unable to move.
Just as the man's fingertips were about to touch her cheek—
A warm force suddenly wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her backward.
My back bumped against a solid chest, and the familiar, delicate floral scent mixed with the warmth of the sun rushed in, instantly dispelling the suffocating feeling that surrounded me.
Her eyelashes trembled violently, and she instinctively tilted her head back. Her gaze fell upon the boy's taut jawline, his Adam's apple bobbing gently above her head.
"Yukimura..."
Hearing her soft, trembling voice, the arm that was holding her tightened, pulling her firmly into its embrace.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze instantly.
The night breeze ruffled the boy's loose hair, but it couldn't melt the frost in his purplish-blue eyes. That gaze seemed to pierce Kurosawa Akito with a tangible force, and even Risa could feel the chilling warning within it.
Kurosawa's hand froze in mid-air, his fingertips twitching slightly: "And who is this?"
“My friend came to pick me up,” Risa replied.
A night breeze swept across her back, sending a chill through her. Only then did she realize that she was already sweating.
Kurosawa slowly withdrew his hand.
He slowly adjusted his cuffs, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two, finally settling on the boy's well-defined hand—that hand was gripping the girl's slender shoulder with an air of absolute possession.
"I see." His low chuckle carried a hint of amusement. "Then I won't disturb you two any longer."
Only after the black Mercedes' taillights disappeared around the street corner did Yukimura's fingers loosen almost imperceptibly.
He subtly withdrew his arm, letting it hang at his side, curling it up and then stretching it out, as if calming some kind of emotion.
Are you alright?
The hoarseness in his voice was even worse than before.
Risa nodded and subconsciously took half a step to the side. Yukimura noticed and also took a step back.
"Are you starving?"
When he spoke again, his tone had returned to its usual gentle manner.
"Um..." To hide her embarrassment, she blinked and feigned a pitiful look, "I'm barely alive, half-dead..."
Yukimura chuckled and handed her a lemon candy from his pocket. Meeting Risa's hesitant gaze, he smiled slightly: "Don't worry, this one's sweet."
Risa took the candy with some skepticism, put it in her mouth, and indeed tasted its unexpected sweetness.
"Where's Akaya?" she asked, her voice slightly muffled as she spoke with a candy in her mouth.
Yukimura pointed to a warmly lit family-run restaurant not far away: "They've already ordered inside." He paused briefly, his voice lowering slightly, "And who was that just now...?"
"I only know the director through work! We're not familiar with each other at all!"
Risa regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. This hasty explanation sounded more like she was trying to cover up some unspeakable secret.
She lowered her head, twisting her fingers, and said in a muffled voice, "...Don't overthink it."
A strand of hair fell down, covering her bright red ears.
Yukimura caught a glimpse of her pale red neck, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.
He gave a soft "hmm" and naturally took her schoolbag: "Let's go. Akaya ordered your favorite strawberry parfait."
Under the streetlights, two shadows gradually lengthened on the asphalt road, merging into one.
Halfway there, Yukimura stopped. He turned to the side and said, "In the future, if you encounter a situation like this, don't be alone. Akaya, or I, will always be with you."
Risa tilted her head back.
The night breeze ruffled the wisps of hair on the boy's forehead, and the moonlight shimmered in his deep eyes, as if the entire galaxy had been blended into the deep blue sea.
"Okay. I understand."
I don't know when it started, but whenever I stand next to him, my heartbeat unconsciously slows down.
His soft breathing, the rustling of his clothes, even the light sound of his fingertips gliding across the pages as he turned the pages of a book, all became the most comforting white noise.
It's as if no matter where I go or what I face, as long as I turn around and see him standing there, and see his smile with the corners of his eyes curving up, I will feel inexplicably at ease.
Like a hot cocoa held in the palm of your hand on a winter's day, like a sunny afternoon suddenly breaking out during the rainy season. Even though we did nothing, just walking side by side quietly, just watching him silently, my chest felt as if it were filled with sugar, making me want to smile.
—What exactly is this feeling?
Like how an elder dotes on and cares for his family, like he does for Akaya? No, that feeling is not quite the same.
This feeling is more like—
She wanted to protect the tenderness in his eyes, yet she also longed to see him lose control for her; she craved the warmth from his fingertips, yet couldn't resist touching him, wanting to ruffle his hair, even greedily wanting more...
What exactly is this unfamiliar longing, this overflowing throbbing in her heart?
It seemed as if the answer was just a hair's breadth away.
-
Not far away, the floor-to-ceiling windows of the family restaurant shone with warm orange light, illuminating Kirihara's menacing figure.
The boy with the seaweed head was eyeing the strawberry parfait covetously while frantically tapping his phone screen, giving off a threatening "If you don't come soon, I'm going to start eating" vibe.
Looking at Kirihara's expression, Risa suddenly burst out laughing, her eyes and brows beaming with a bright smile.
She gently raised her eyes and met Yukimura's gentle gaze, the smile still lingering on his lips.
"Hey, Yukimura, it's my treat tonight."
"......Um?"
His voice deepened, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
"Let's just say it's..."
She tiptoed closer to his ear and whispered, "A reward for my knight?"
Warm breath brushed against the side of my neck.
In an instant, Yukimura's jawline tightened and his eyelashes trembled slightly.
He took a very light, deep breath, looked down into her eyes, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "I don't deserve it, I was just passing by."
A knight? No—
He longed to be the eternal night, possessing the moonlight all to himself, so that only his image would be reflected in her clear eyes.
"How about we continue our drinking at a bar? Let's drink until we're completely drunk!"
Risa excitedly grabbed his arm, completely unaware of the tense muscle lines of the boy the moment she touched him.
"bar?"
Yukimura's voice suddenly turned cold.
He tilted his head slightly, his blue hair falling down to conceal the dark emotions churning in his eyes.
"...Who have you been to places like this with?"
"Many people do this, don't they?"
Risa blurted it out, only realizing her mistake after she finished speaking.
(Oops, I forgot to act young again!)
"Ah... I mean, um..."
She quickly let go of his hand, deliberately drawing out her words, and waved her hand in a light, JK-style tone: "I saw it in a TV drama~"
Yukimura narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, a half-smile on his face: "Have you forgotten that we're high school students now? We can't drink alcohol."
"How...how could this be!"
Risa chuckled twice, quickly changing the subject, and tugged at his sleeve with a hint of coquetry: "So, where do you want to go? It's on me."
"Why don't you save your strawberry parfait first?" he chuckled. "If you wait any longer, even the cup will probably be chewed through by Akane."
"Okay, okay, whatever you say." She smiled and gently took his arm, leading him towards the restaurant.
(...That was close, I almost got caught.)
-----------------------
Author's Note: Yukimura: A bar? Who have you been to a place like that with?
It's no exaggeration to say that Brother Village felt no jealousy whatsoever; he only wanted to personally eliminate his love rival. [Waving hand]
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As usual, thank you all for your continued support. I should be able to add an extra chapter for everyone on Friday [covering face and peeking].
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