——"Come here at half past five in the afternoon. If you dare not come or are late, you will bear the consequences."
On Wednesday, Kato Yusuke received such a message.
Sent together with the message, there is also a string of specific addresses.
Normally, such a temporary notice would usually be ignored by him.
However, considering the identity of the sender behind it, he decided to accept it.
Ever since——
According to the address sent by the other party, Kato Yusuke came to Odaiba after school - Hotel Nikko Odaiba, Tokyo.
Ignoring the hesitation of the doorman, he calmly stepped into the magnificent hotel lobby, and then took the elevator to the top floor of the 23rd floor.
Open the door and step out of the elevator.
Under the slightly dim ambient light, the smooth black marble floor stretches straight.
After walking a little distance, a small square light sign hanging on the wall announced the name of this place - "Mikage Pavilion".
Although the text is in Chinese, this is an out-and-out Japanese restaurant.
Even among the top restaurants in Tokyo, this place is considered well-known. It is so popular that even reservations are scheduled months in advance.
If you could describe the identity of the guests hosted here in one sentence...
"There are great scholars who talk and laugh, but there are no idle people who come and go." - This is probably the case.
As soon as Fang entered the store, a woman in a plain kimono bowed and greeted her.
"Welcome to Yuyingtei, do you have an appointment?" the other party asked softly, even if he saw the student uniform he was wearing, he wouldn't be surprised.
Kato Yusuke nodded slightly in greeting and replied: "Ocha water."
"Are you a guest of Ochanomizu? Okay, I understand, please follow me." The woman bent over again and led him deeper.
The two of them crossed the screen at the entrance, took a few steps, and the scenery suddenly opened up.
What appeared in front of me was a garden that was too vast to look like the interior of the building.
The sound of gurgling water flows in my ears.
Everywhere you look.
The stream flows, wooden bridge crosses it, and carp play in the water.
The deer made of green bamboo made a "pop-dong" sound, and from time to time, several carp were startled to jump out of the water and run away.
The quiet light reflects on the water and sways with the waves.
There is sufficient warm air in the room and the temperature is suitable, creating a mysterious atmosphere.
"Please watch your step..."
The waiter reminded him carefully and led Yusuke Kato to the deepest box on the corridor - "Ochano Water".
"Here please... the guests from the other side have already arrived first."
As she spoke, she knelt down on the ground and carefully opened the paper wooden door while making a respectful gesture.
Kato Yusuke nodded and thanked him, then walked into the bright and spacious tatami room.
The waiter whispered goodbye behind him and slowly closed the door.
In front of a long wooden table that was almost a stack (tatami size), a woman and a man were sitting diagonally.
The woman sitting in the upper seat has long brown-red hair, a pretty face, and a slender figure.
She was wearing an ivory white shirt made of silk material and black trousers. The first two buttons of the shirt were unbuttoned at will, and a small piece of her white neck was slightly opened, showing a slightly sexy style.…
In contrast, the boy sitting in the lower seat near the entrance has light brown curly hair.
He has a delicate appearance and is quite handsome. He has a passionate tear mole under his left eye, which is the kind of appearance that is very popular with the opposite sex.
Although he is wearing a mature black shirt and suit, it can still be seen that he is not very old.
At the same time, he also has an aura of carefree frivolity, vaguely like a cowherd worker (from someone's perspective).
Kato Yusuke's eyes swept from the latter's face to the former's face, and happened to meet a pair of lazy wine-red eyes.
Needless to say, the other party was the person who called him here - Akane Kurisaka.
As for the boy with curly hair, he didn't know him.
But since he could appear here, he would naturally know the reason later, so he was not in a hurry.
It is in such an environment...
"Oh, this guy is here..."
Akane Kurisaka casually started the conversation: "Iori, this is the person I told you about. You don't need any more introduction, right?"
The moment she finished speaking, the boy with slightly curly hair stood up with one hand on his knees.
"Sister Zhu Yin, thank you for your trouble."
The person involved showed a refreshing smile and responded with a voice that was a bit sharp for a boy, but clear and bright.
"Of course I know the most popular manga artist today and the most anticipated new talent since Zhu Yin. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Fujimotosuki."
As he spoke, he took the initiative to extend a hand to Yusuke and smiled very kindly.
"Having said that...I was actually surprised. I really didn't expect that I would be such a handsome guy."
"Hmph~ It should be said that not only does he look good, but his playfulness is not inferior to yours, Iori, right? From this point of view alone, you should be able to have a lot in common."
"...That's just Sister Zhu Yin's personal opinion, right? Please don't make it public?"
Akane Hongsaka laughed, as if she found it very interesting.
The boy named Iori put his face back on his face and introduced himself: "Well, as Sister Zhuyin said, I am Iori on Hashima Island. Please take care of me, Mr. Shuji Fujimoto."
"..."
Kato Yusuke lowered his head and glanced at the hand in front of him, shook it briefly, and said concisely: "Kato Yusuke, nice to meet you."
His attitude was on the cold side, but Hashishima Iori didn't seem to mind, and just made a warm gesture of invitation behind him.
"Anyway, teacher, please sit inside first. I'm sorry that we have already started the table. Please allow me to apologize to you for being rude to Sister Zhu Yin."
Kato Yusuke's eyes deepened slightly and he looked at the table noncommittally. It was a very familiar scene to him.
Although there were a lot of dishes and wine on the table, they all looked like they had been enjoyed by others, making them a mess, which was definitely not the way to entertain guests.
He was not surprised by this. After all, with Akane Benisaka's egotistical character, if one day she would obediently wait for him to attend before using her chopsticks and letting the sun rise in the west.
Having said that, there is no need for him to accept the arrangement of a stranger...
Ever since.
Under the surprised look in Hamishima Iori's eyes, he walked straight forward and sat down next to Akane Kurisaka generously.
Witnessing this scene, Iori Namishima couldn't help but be startled, but when he saw Akane Benisaka and had no objection, he sat down again thoughtfully.
"So--"
Kato Yusuke put his shoulder bag aside and asked the person next to him: "Why did you call me here so suddenly? Little aunt."
"...!"
Namishima Iori was suddenly stunned, and secretly screamed something bad.
As expected...
"--ha?"
Akane Benisaka, who was still drinking leisurely, suddenly raised her eyebrows, her face darkened at a speed visible to the naked eye, and she put the wine glass on the table with a "Dang!"
"...You don't want to live anymore? Boy."
The murderous tone can almost freeze the air, making people shudder.
"Um, Sister Zhu Yin... calm down first."
Namishima Iori raised his hands with a wry smile, and was about to show his face to calm his cheeks, but in the next second he saw a scene that shocked him.
As if turning a blind eye to Akane Akane, who was clearly about to explode, someone just took the glass of wine from the former's hand without changing his expression, and drank it down in one gulp as if no one was watching.
Then he said calmly: "...You have said this kind of thing more than once, it's time for something new, Qian."
Um--???
What did this person...just call???
Hashishima Iori's eyes suddenly trembled, and he subconsciously looked at the other person involved, eager to know the other party's reaction.
However, Akane Benisaka's reaction was very strange...
I saw that face that should have been burning with anger, but at this moment, I saw a rare puzzlement.
As if he realized something, the other party glanced in his direction for some reason, with some speculation brewing in his wine-red eyes.
Immediately afterwards, a meaningful smile appeared from the corner of the other party's lips, but disappeared immediately.
Akane Kurisaka took back her wine glass with a calm face, silently looked at the slightly faded lipstick on the rim of the glass, and said casually:
"...Impolite boy, if you want to drink, why don't you pour it yourself? Why do you like to drink my saliva so much?"
Kato Yusuke was completely unmoved by this, his face was as calm as water, "Anyway, it's not just once or twice."
Akane Benisaka suddenly smiled with interest. Her eyes first stayed on his face for a while, and then raised her eyes to look at the opposite side.
He thought for a moment, then lightly opened his lips.
"Ah...it's really troublesome, that's why I hate the little devil."
She muttered to herself, filled her glass of wine, and then announced:
"...Anyway, let me reintroduce you, Iori. This awkward boy is my little lover, who can barely be considered a boyfriend~ It will be up to you to help me urge him for a while."
"Uh...boyfriend...?" Namishima Iori murmured dumbfoundedly, as if he was frightened.
"Yes, boyfriend, it's very useful." Akane Kurisaka nodded lightly without explaining much.
However, through this series of events, it was enough for Hashishima Iori to understand their relationship...
In an instant, his expression became weird, and even his usually self-proclaimed smart brain couldn't help but feel a little confused.
If I remember correctly, this teacher Fujimotosuki should be about the same age as him, while Sister Zhuyin is...
If this is the case, wouldn't this mean that... driving?? a car?
He was thinking so wildly, and Kato Yusuke asked directly.
"What do you mean by urging me? Akane."
"Nothing~ It's just to prevent your enthusiasm from fading and becoming idle after you get rich, so find someone to watch you."
"Looking at me...what are you looking at?"
Akane Kurisaka explained: "From today until the end of your manga, Iori will watch you on my behalf. Once you show signs of being lazy, I will rush to deal with you immediately."
"...like a courier?"
"Well, that can be understood."
"you do not trust me?"
"These are two different things. Anyway, the sooner you finish drawing the comics, the sooner you can be free, and then my side can start operating as soon as possible."
"...I understand what you mean, but is it necessary to find a middleman for this kind of thing?"
"Who said I don't have time to keep an eye on you at all times? You won't take it seriously if you send someone who doesn't have enough weight. Iori is the number one disciple I trained. I can feel more at ease with him when he handles things."
Kato Yusuke glanced at Namishima Iori and continued: "Actually, even if you don't make this arrangement, I won't delay the manga."
"That's not entirely true. Although Iori can't draw pictures or write scripts, he is very talented as a producer. Isn't your studio opening soon? He can help you."
"...I'm sorry, but I have no plans to recruit producers, and I'm not used to being followed."
"Haha, let's not say that your studio is no different from a harem. There is no truly knowledgeable producer in it... The most important thing is-"
Akane Hongsaka sneered and said: "You can't refuse this matter. After all, I am Party A, so I naturally have the right to appoint a supervisor and safeguard my own rights and interests."
"But that's limited to "Chainsaw Man" and has nothing to do with my studio."
"You ignorant boy, do you think Iori is the kind of guy who only has theories?
You know, he is also helping me in my club and company. Just relying on the connections he has can save you a lot of pitfalls!
Whether you want to use Iori or not is your problem, but he is working for me, don’t make any mistake."
The two of them were arguing indifferently, while Iori Hashishima looked at them with a subtle expression on the opposite side.
At the same time, he finally figured out why he was assigned this job.
Even though Akane Hongsaka talks so rudely now, in the final analysis she is still looking after someone.
Otherwise, there are so many people in the club who know management and production, so it would not be necessary to send him here.
You should know that although he is still young, he is currently the representative of the extremely popular fan club - "rouge en rouge".
Under such a premise, no matter how popular Mr. Fujimoto's comics were, there was no need to let him come over to help.
Not to mention that Akane Kurisaka also revealed in her words that she planned to ask him to help him handle unrelated studio matters.
From his point of view, isn't this just a kind of preference and care?
To say it was rational, it wasn't that he couldn't understand it.
However, in terms of sensibility, I still feel like I have been underestimated.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but said: "...I'm sorry, Sister Zhuyin, Mr. Kato, can I interrupt you for a moment?"
"..."
"..."
The two people arguing stopped at the same time.
"...What's the matter with you? Iori." Akane Kurisaka asked.
Although Kato Yusuke did not speak, he looked over in silence.
Meet the eyes of the two people.
Hashishima Iori nodded solemnly first, and then focused on the latter.
"In short, I completely understand what Sister Zhu Yin means, but I also have a merciless request here."
He looked directly at Kato Yusuke and asked in a provocative tone:
"If possible, could you let me see with my own eyes the true strength of Kato-kun, who is highly praised by Sister Zhu Yin?"
…
(I feel there is something wrong, I may revise it again tomorrow)