"?"
Shiratori Seiya put down his cup and looked at her in confusion.
"Didn't you say you're usually pretty low-key?" Meeting his gaze, Takahashi Mio, uncharacteristically, didn't look away. She said directly, "Why did you two confess to each other in front of so many people this time? Hasegawa is also very funny—isn't it normal not to agree? Agreeing would be a betrayal. These people really don't understand anything..."
She had woken up today and seen the post on the school forum detailing the whole incident on her phone, along with photos of the two embracing. She was so angry her back teeth were almost ground to dust.
Wife?
That's a long shot. Doesn't he have any shame?
She was Shiratori Seiya's official girlfriend, wasn't she?
Always playing the emotional card!
Hearing Takahashi Mio's jealous tone, Shiratori Seiya hesitated for a moment before explaining, "There's no such thing as mutual confessions. It's just a rumor. Besides, if Saori really did want to go, I think the career prospects for her would have been pretty good."
Hearing this, Takahashi Mio looked at him strangely, with a half-smile. "I don't understand what you're saying. You're so good to her, it's only right that she wouldn't want to go, isn't it?"
She paused, then added, "Anyway, if it were me, I probably wouldn't even hesitate to refuse."
"..."
Shiratori Seiya looked at her deeply, chewed and swallowed the Ryukakusan in his mouth, then suddenly said in a low voice, "What if going meant earning at least several hundred million in the future?"
Takahashi Mio's eyelid twitched. She looked at Shiratori Seiya in surprise and couldn't help but say, "That much?"
"That much."
"Hmm..." Mio's expression became serious. She mused for a moment, then squeezed out a few words from her mouth, "Then it's not entirely out of the question..."
Seeing her thoughtful expression, Shiratori Seiya couldn't help but laugh. No matter when, no matter how, Mio always gave him such a sense of security—a strange, grounding stability that he'd come to rely on more than he cared to admit.
Seeing Shiratori Seiya laugh at her, Takahashi Mio worried he was serious and quickly added, "I was just joking. How could I be bought off so easily?"
She paused, then continued, "Besides, if the other party really offers a lot, I think we can discuss it. It's for making money, so there's no shame in it. I'll give you half of the money I earn then, so you won't lose out..."
"Also, if they don't actually put the money in my account, I won't believe their empty promises. I think it's better to take it one step at a time. Anyway, you said I'd become famous sooner or later, right?"
After she said all that, Shiratori Seiya looked at her deeply. A blush was on the girl's face, and the sunlight falling on her fair neck gave her an indescribable charm.
Resisting the urge to kiss her, he took a deep breath and asked, "What did you just say?"
"Huh?" Takahashi Mio was startled, then realized and said, "I said I'd become famous sooner or later."
"No, the sentence before that. If they give you a lot, and you make money, what will you do?"
"Give you half, why?"
Hearing this, Shiratori Seiya said with a half-smile, "You're even willing to share money with me. So, will I not have to pay you then?"
"Huh?" Mio hadn't expected him to say that. She gasped in surprise, then tugged his arm and said, "What kind of thought process is that? I'm so loyal—shouldn't you be giving me a raise to keep me?"
Thinking about him saying he wouldn't pay her, Takahashi Mio's heart sank. She clutched Shiratori Seiya's hand tighter, staring at him anxiously as she asked, "Didn't you say you'd try your best to do everything you said? Why are you reluctant to pay me now? Do you regret it?"
She paused, then added, "I'm telling you, it's too late to regret it now. Besides, besides, I've already filled out the marriage registration form. If Dad finds out, he'll never let you off the hook..."
She bit her red lip, nervously waiting for Shiratori Seiya's response. The thought of Shiratori Seiya not paying her made her inexplicably flustered.
Unconsciously, the monthly transfers from Shiratori Seiya seemed to have become more than just money. It seemed more like a medium connecting them. If it ever truly broke, she felt she wouldn't find a reason why she'd still want to stay by Shiratori Seiya's side.
Did she like him?
But did this scoundrel like her?
One-sided liking—unrequited love—was fine. But if they wanted to be together, one person agreeing wasn't enough.
Thinking this, Takahashi Mio felt a strange fear. Hōjō Shione's words from before unconsciously came to mind again:
"Actually, you don't need to envy me. You'll have it too. Once you become famous, the speed at which you earn money will exceed your imagination."
If one day she really made a lot of money and became famous, what reason would she find to stay by Shiratori Seiya's side then?
Takahashi Mio's eyes became somewhat lost. She couldn't help but wonder if Hōjō Shione had broken up with Shiratori Seiya for this very reason—if success had made her question everything, including the foundation of their relationship.
Noticing Mio's sudden absentmindedness, Shiratori Seiya reached out and nudged her shoulder, asking, "What are you thinking about?"
"Ah..." Mio snapped back to reality, blinked, and looked at Shiratori Seiya, saying, "I'm thinking, if I become famous later, how much will you pay me a month then?"
She really was a money-grubber.
While it was reassuring, Shiratori Seiya couldn't help but feel a bit speechless after it happened so many times. He pouted and said, "By then, you won't be lacking this small amount of money, and I'll be able to offer you something more important."
"However, you're thinking too far ahead, aren't you? If you're ready for tomorrow's audition, then just film this drama well. Take it one step at a time. A year from now, Mio, you might be completely different."
"Slow is fast, gradual is urgent."
"Oh."
Takahashi Mio curled her red lips in response, then lowered her gaze. Her eyes suddenly lit up with a spark of inspiration.
If she made a lot of money and really became famous later, she would just spend it all to support him...
But just a few seconds after this thought emerged, she frowned unhappily again.
If she gave him that much money, would he take it to support other women?
This scoundrel...
Takahashi Mio felt a surge of annoyance, but thinking further only made her more irritable. She was still too far from success.
Let's just focus on the current step first...
The next day.
Shiratori Seiya never fought a battle unprepared. In fact, although he was extremely strict with Takahashi Mio's daily training, this audition was essentially a done deal. Though he'd told Fujikawa Shunpei that he was giving his friend a chance to audition, as long as her acting skills were up to par and her appearance wasn't too bad, both the director and the producer would allow it on his behalf.
At the beginning of the audition, Takahashi Mio was still trembling nervously. But after a little over a minute, she gradually adapted. When the director asked her to perform a few segments from the script, she completely entered the zone.
Takahashi Mio stood up, took a deep breath, and when she raised her face again, her eyes held a layer of unfathomable haze. Her gaze swept over Shiratori Seiya, the producer, and the director in turn. Her eyes shimmered with moisture as she said in a low voice, "I feel guilty towards everyone."
In an instant, Takahashi Mio seemed to embody the tragic character, Hiroko Asakura—shrouded in the shadow of her dysfunctional family. Whether it was her gaze, tone, or subtle body language, she fully expressed the female protagonist's forbearance and inferiority, conflict and struggle, and inherent resilience in this suspense drama.
Producer Fujikawa Shunpei snapped back to reality, turned, and looked deeply at Shiratori Seiya. In a place Takahashi Mio couldn't see, he gave him a thumbs-up. Then, he casually asked a few more questions and told Takahashi Mio to go back and wait for notification.
"Thank you, Senseis."
Mio bowed to the group and walked out. However, she was only nineteen after all, and as she was leaving, she couldn't help but turn back and give Shiratori Seiya a cheerful 'V' sign. Then, before Shiratori Seiya could react, she slipped out directly, ready to celebrate properly with her older cousin.
Even she could tell that, apart from Shiratori Seiya, the other two people were also quite satisfied with her acting. Coupled with Shiratori Seiya's connections, the female lead role was likely hers.
"How did it go, Mio?"
As she came out, she met her older cousin, Takahashi Miki, who was waiting at the door. Miki raised her narrow eyes, looking at the girl with an expectant expression. Knowing that she was unlikely to get the female lead, she'd decided to audition for the supporting role of Yukiko Kaneshiro instead—though her audition was in the afternoon. She'd come early mainly to accompany Mio.
Meeting her older cousin's gaze, Takahashi Mio blinked and feigned modesty. "I don't know, it should be pretty good..."
Before she could finish the word 'good', Takahashi Mio's eyes suddenly froze. The innocent expression she'd worn just moments before instantly vanished, replaced by a sullen glare as she stared at the spot behind her older cousin.
Two bright and dazzling figures came into her view.
Hōjō Shione. Hōjō Suzune.
Takahashi Mio's brows furrowed. The rising sense of unease in her heart prevented her from wondering why these two had appeared here at this time.
"Mio, what's... wrong?"
Noticing the strange expression on her younger cousin's face, Takahashi Miki asked, then turned her head, following Mio's gaze.
"Nothing." Takahashi Mio gritted her teeth, her gaze locked on the two of them.
She can't play alone, so she brings her family along, huh?
Doesn't she feel ashamed?
How disgusting!