Chapter 60 :— An Unexpected Invitation
Haruya sat on the edge of his bed, the soft evening light filtering through the curtains of his room. The large teddy bear from Aunt Yumi still occupied the corner like a silent, fluffy guardian. He held the elegant little box Miyahara Yume had given him at the studio, turning it gently in his hands. The wrapping was beautiful — simple yet clearly expensive, with a delicate ribbon tied with care.
Curious, he untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.
Inside, nestled on soft tissue paper, was a small card. Haruya picked it up carefully and began to read.
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"Haruya,
I saw your match and loved how you played. I want to invite you to my home. I mean… I want to give you something because you won the game. Hmm… Thank you for understanding.
Address: Roppongi Hills, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032.
—Miyahara Yume"
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Haruya blinked, reading the message twice to make sure he understood it correctly. A quiet, slightly awkward smile appeared on his face.
*This is… a little weird,* he thought, *but it's nice. She took the time to write this and even gave me her home address.*
He leaned back slightly, staring at the card. In this world, receiving a personal invitation from a famous actress was anything but ordinary. Yet Haruya's reaction remained gentle and thoughtful. He didn't feel pressured or suspicious — only mildly surprised and a little curious about what she wanted to give him.
*She seems very kind. If she went through the trouble of preparing this gift and invitation, the least I can do is visit and thank her properly.*
He checked the time on his phone. It wasn't too late in the evening. He could go tomorrow if he wanted, or perhaps the day after. For now, he placed the card safely on his desk and slipped the box into a drawer.
A soft sigh escaped him as he lay back on his bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling. The football tournament felt like it had ended ages ago already, even though it had only been a day. Life in this world moved quickly — from intense matches on the pitch to quiet modeling sessions and now… a mysterious invitation from a famous actress.
He smiled faintly to himself.
*Well… I think I should go.*
Scene shift — Earlier that day, Miyahara Yume's Penthouse before going to hanma studio
Earlier that same day, long before Haruya get the gift Miyahara Yume lay sprawled on the cool marble floor of her luxurious penthouse, staring blankly at the high ceiling.
The vast room was bathed in soft afternoon light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Expensive furniture, priceless art pieces, and a breathtaking view of the city skyline surrounded her, yet none of it seemed to matter. The famous actress, usually the picture of elegance and control, looked completely lost. Her long dark hair fanned out around her like spilled ink as she tried to think of the perfect gift for Haruya.
*What should I give him?* she wondered, biting her lip. *Something meaningful… something that shows I truly saw him on that field. But how do I get closer to him?
Those girls — Reina and Saeko — were always by his side. I want that too…*
The sound of the door opening pulled her out of her thoughts. Her secretary stepped into the room, tablet in hand, and stopped abruptly when she saw her boss lying flat on the floor.
"Boss! What happened to you?" the secretary exclaimed, eyes wide with concern. "Are you alright?"
"Is there anything I can help you with, I will do my best"
Yume slowly sat up, her expression shifting from deep thought to sudden hope as an idea sparked in her mind. Her face brightened, color returning to her cheeks.
In a burst of energy, she scrambled to her feet and rushed toward her secretary like an excited kitten, grabbing both of the woman's shoulders with both hands and shaking them vigorously.
"Tell me, tell me, tell me! Can you really help me? Σ(ﾟДﾟ;)"
The secretary's head wobbled from the enthusiastic shaking. "Boss… yes, I can help, but please stop shaking me — I'm getting dizzy!"
"Ah… okay, haha. Sorry, I got a little too excited (〃ﾟ3ﾟ〃)," Yume said, releasing her with an embarrassed laugh. She stepped back, smoothing down her clothes, though her eyes still sparkled with anticipation.
The secretary adjusted her glasses and smiled patiently. "Okay, boss. What's the problem? Tell me everything. I'll do my best to help you."
Yume took a deep breath, suddenly looking shy and vulnerable — a side of her that very few people ever saw.
"The thing is… what kind of gift should I prepare for him? And how can I get closer to him? During the match, I saw those two girls — Reina and Saeko — being so close to him. I want that kind of closeness too…"
The secretary's expression softened with understanding. "Ah, now I know. You're talking about Haruya-sama, the boy you've been interested in."
Yume nodded quickly, cheeks flushing. "Yes! Exactly. But I don't know how to approach him. Every time I stand in front of him, I freeze. I forget everything I want to say and start stammering like an idiot."
The secretary thought for a moment, tapping her chin, then smiled confidently.
"Don't worry, boss. I have a plan."
Yume's eyes widened with hope. "Really? You're not kidding me?"
"No, I'm serious," the secretary replied. "The plan is simple. Invite him to your home using the excuse that you loved how he played in the match and want to give him a special gift to celebrate his victory. Once he arrives, you can casually suggest going out for dinner together. Don't call it a date — just say it's a small treat. While you're at it, ask for his contact information."
Yume looked both excited and nervous. "It sounds good… but how am I supposed to say all that to him? Whenever I see his face, my mind goes completely blank."
The secretary reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, discreet wireless earbud.
"Take this, boss. It's very small and lightweight. You can hide it easily under your hair. Whenever you forget your lines or feel stuck, I'll be nearby and feed them to you through this. No one will notice — it's practically invisible."
Yume stared at the tiny device like it was a miracle. Relief and gratitude washed over her face. She took the earbud carefully and held it like a precious treasure.
"Thank you… You are the best secretary I have ever hired. If everything goes well, I will increase your salary by 10%."
The secretary smiled warmly, bowing her head slightly. "I'm happy to help, boss. Now let's prepare everything properly so you can give him the invitation and gift at the studio today."
Yume nodded, her usual confidence slowly returning — though a small, nervous flutter remained in her chest at the thought of facing Haruya again.
To be continued…
Author note 📝
Sorry for the long break I did expect that I have to delay this much, but I can't control what will gonna happen in future but don't worry now I'm back, special apologies to my Dedicated readers. ❤
Next chapter will arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday
—king_fuzu_