The conversation with Sakurajima Mai, filled with complex emotions, left deep aftershocks in Michiya Gōshin's heart.
However, the gears of reality never cease turning because of an individual's emotional turbulence.
Although the road ahead remained shrouded in heavy fog and destined to be covered in thorns, Michiya Gōshin had at least clarified his direction. He had no choice but to cut through the thorns and prove his desires with future actions.
For the next two days, Michiya Gōshin continued to completely seal himself inside the apartment's study. The curtains were often drawn, with only the faint blue light of the computer screen illuminating his focused face.
He immersed himself body and soul into the world of Your Name, a world interwoven with miracles of time and space, pure love stories, and the joys and sorrows of fate.
His fingertips danced across the mechanical keyboard, making a crackling sound.
When the final period was solemnly typed, marking the formal completion of the script, the fish-belly white of dawn had already appeared in the sky outside the window.
"It's finally done."
Michiya Gōshin let out a long breath of turbid air. What he felt was not only the relief of completing a stage of the project but also the peace and satisfaction that comes after creation.
With the script settled, Michiya Gōshin did not delay in the slightest and immediately contacted Suo Hayato.
The next morning, in the conference room of the new [Star Engine] office, Michiya Gōshin convened the first substantive project promotion meeting since the company's establishment.
Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the silhouette of Tokyo appeared clear and full of vitality under the bright sunlight.
Michiya Gōshin sat at the head of the oval conference table, dressed in a well-ironed dark gray suit. The buttons of his white shirt were meticulously fastened. His expression was focused and steady; he deliberately restrained all personal emotions, displaying a calmness and decisiveness befitting the identity of "President Michiya."
Opposite him sat Suo Hayato, representing Nenshi capital. This chaebol scion wore a very serious expression today. To Michiya's right sat Kato Megumi, the assistant he currently relied on most heavily. An open laptop and thick stacks of project-related materials were neatly arranged in front of her.
The meeting lasted from nine in the morning until nearly noon.
Michiya Gōshin first handed the neatly bound complete script of Your Name to Suo Hayato.
Suo Hayato took the script, restrained his casual posture, and began to flip through it carefully, page by page.
For a time, only the rustling sound of turning pages remained in the conference room.
Suo Hayato occasionally raised his eyebrows slightly at an ingenious plot design, and at other times fell into deep thought due to the delicate emotional descriptions of the characters. When he read about the magnificence and destruction of the comet splitting across the night sky, and the long reunion after saving the town, a look of amazement and excitement that was difficult to conceal burst forth in his eyes.
As a son of a chaebol who had been immersed in the entertainment industry for many years, Suo Hayato's grasp of the market was still very keen.
"Michiya-kun."
Suo Hayato put down the script, leaned his body forward, crossed his hands on the tabletop, and rarely used an extremely serious tone.
"I have to say, this story... is excellent. The emotional core is surprisingly solid, the fantasy setting is both novel and full of Eastern romantic philosophy, and the visual sense is extremely strong. I can almost see the finished film in my mind."
His affirmation carried a calm assessment of capital, but was also mixed with a trace of pure appreciation for high-quality content.
Michiya Gōshin nodded slightly. He did not reveal too much joy due to the praise, responding calmly.
"This is just the first step, Mr. Suo. The production phase that follows is the true test."
Next, the meeting entered a more tedious, yet also more critical, stage of substantive discussion.
Michiya Gōshin and Suo Hayato launched into a fierce discussion regarding the animation production team, including the scope of the director's authority, the appointment of core production team members, and phased payment nodes.
From the costs of various production links such as original art, animation, coloring, background, and photography, to the reserved funds for music production, voice actor fees, and post-production promotion, every item required careful deliberation.
In addition, there was the planning of the preliminary production schedule, the stylistic orientation of the pre-production concept art, and the basic requirements for music creation, among other things.
Finally, after a morning of intensive brainstorming, the meeting reached multiple important consensuses, clarifying the specific promotion roadmap and time nodes for the next step of the Your Name project.
Suo Hayato stood up to take his leave with a satisfied look of having returned fully laden. He patted Michiya Gōshin forcefully on the shoulder.
"Michiya-kun, go for it! The resources and funds from Nenshi's side will be in place as soon as possible. I'm waiting to see you create a miracle."
Suo Hayato's eyes were full of expectation for the return on investment; this was a battle of succession, and he had to go all out.
"No problem."
Michiya Gōshin was also very confident. After all, he still had an ace theme song that he hadn't brought out yet.
He would continue learning arrangement and give the entertainment circle a big shock at the end of the year.
***
After seeing off Suo Hayato, the huge conference room instantly quieted down, leaving only the faint hum of the central air conditioning system operating.
Michiya Gōshin sat back in the main seat. The fatigue deep in his body, which had been forcibly suppressed by high-intensity work and complex moods, immediately surged up.
He sank deeply into the soft leather chair back, raised his slender fingers, and forcefully massaged his throbbing temples and tight brow.
Just then, a set of extremely light footsteps approached from a distance.
It was Kato Megumi returning.
She held a simple yet elegant white bone china cup in her hand, filled with freshly brewed black coffee. She placed it carefully on the tabletop in front of Michiya Gōshin, the handle precisely facing his right hand.
"Michiya-san, your coffee."
Her voice was as soft and gentle as always, like a clear mountain spring quietly flowing in the silent space.
Michiya Gōshin slowly opened his eyes. What entered his view was that cup of steaming coffee, and Kato Megumi's delicate face that inexplicably gave people a sense of stabilizing strength.
He forced a smile that carried a bit of strain and fatigue, his voice somewhat raspy.
"Thank you, Kato. You've worked hard today. After the subsequent meeting minutes are organized, send them to my email as soon as possible."
"This is my duty."
Kato Megumi bowed slightly, but did not turn around immediately to busy herself with other things after receiving the order as usual.
She stood quietly in place. Those clear eyes, which always seemed overly calm, keenly captured the exhaustion between Michiya Gōshin's brows that could not be completely concealed. Different from the tiredness of pure work, there was also a very subtle touch of gloom.
Kato Megumi watched him quietly for a few seconds, seemingly weighing something in her heart. Ultimately, that concern which transcended professional duty gained the upper hand.
She moved a small step forward, lowering her voice even more. "Michiya-san, have you encountered some trouble recently? I feel that your mood today seems a bit off."
Kato Megumi's observational skills had always been terribly precise.
Although Michiya Gōshin had handled various tasks efficiently these days, the trance he occasionally revealed during the intervals of the meeting still hadn't escaped her silently attentive gaze.
The next moment, Michiya Gōshin's hand, which was just preparing to pick up the coffee, paused almost imperceptibly in mid-air.
The warm tactile sensation was transmitted through the fine porcelain wall, yet it could not warm his currently somewhat cold fingers, nor could it dispel that wisp of gloom in the bottom of his heart.
He hadn't expected Kato Megumi's perception to be so keen, nor did he expect her to express it so directly.
Michiya Gōshin thought of that difficult dialogue in the study a few days ago. He remained silent for a moment, not raising his head to look at Kato Megumi, as if whispering to his own reflection in the cup.
"It's nothing, I just feel that I might be... doing something very excessive."
He paused, as if every word required a great deal of effort, finally turning into a sigh that was almost inaudible, yet it struck heavily on Kato Megumi's heart.
"Using feelings to kidnap someone."
He didn't name names, but these few sentences had already revealed enough information.
Kato Megumi listened quietly. Because she had been staying by Michiya Gōshin's side, she could very quickly lock onto who this "someone" was.
She was clear about Kurokawa Akane's recent state. That actress now had a sweetness and satisfaction in her brows that was hard to conceal; her whole body radiated the brilliance of being nourished by love. Obviously, she was not the object being "kidnapped" in Michiya Gōshin's mouth.
Then, the answer was almost self-evident.
It could only be the other national-level actress who had a significant relationship with him and was equally radiant—Sakurajima Mai.
Kato Megumi didn't point out that name, nor did she tactlessly press for specific details.
Her intelligence and sense of propriety lay precisely here. The girl knew deeply what boundaries she should touch, and what was privacy the other party was unwilling or unable to clarify at this moment.
Simply looking at that sense of fatigue Michiya Gōshin rarely revealed, the softness and throbbing in Kato Megumi's heart that had always been suppressed by reason suddenly began to spread uncontrollably.
"Michiya-san."
She spoke again, her voice softer than before.
"If you don't mind... I happened to learn some massage techniques recently that help relieve fatigue and pressure. Perhaps I can help you relax a little?"
Her proposal carried a trace of imperceptible expectation and nervousness; this was an emotion she rarely revealed.
"Oh?"
Michiya Gōshin raised his head somewhat unexpectedly and looked at Kato Megumi.
The other party remained in that calm appearance, but a sincere concern clearly flickered in her eyes.
Plagued by both physical and mental fatigue at this moment, he indeed craved a bit of external comfort and relaxation.
Almost subconsciously, Michiya Gōshin nodded, his voice carrying a trace of tired raspiness.
"Alright... then I'll trouble you."
Michiya Gōshin obediently adjusted his sitting posture backward, letting his body sink more comfortably into the chair back, and then slowly closed his eyes, completely entrusting himself to her.
The next moment, Kato Megumi walked gently behind him and took a deep breath, as if performing some kind of ritual.
She extended her hands. Her fingertips were slightly cool, but carried a stable strength.
She first used the pads of her fingers to gently press his temples, her movements soothing and rhythmic. Then, her small hands moved to the stiffest area of his neck muscles. Her thumbs precisely found the Fengchi acupoints and other key nodes, applying sustained and penetrating pressure.
After the sensation of soreness, swelling, and numbness passed, a feeling of relaxation and comfort spread rapidly across his back.
Michiya Gōshin let out an incomparably real sigh of comfort.
Kato Megumi's technique was far more professional and effective than he had imagined. That just-right strength and gentle technique dispelled the fatigue, tight nerves, and the heavy negative emotions accumulated in the bottom of his heart over the past few days, bit by bit.
"Kato, your massage skills are amazing. Did you go specifically to learn them?"
Michiya Gōshin asked slowly with his eyes closed.
"I learned by myself through videos."
"That amazing?"
"I practiced on Mama. How does it feel, Michiya-san?"
"Very comfortable."
With Kato Megumi's massage, Michiya Gōshin felt his body gradually softening. After this comfortable feeling occupied his heart, the fatigue from long-term overtime work quickly surged up in his body.
He felt his heavy eyelids becoming harder and harder to support, and his consciousness began to blur.
Just as Michiya Gōshin was about to fall asleep, he felt a warm little hand gently cover the back of his hand resting on the armrest of the chair.
However, Michiya Gōshin showed no resistance. Instead, he unconsciously held that small hand back and muttered vaguely.
"Thank you, Kato..."
This call, even carrying a trace of dependence, was like a stone quickly cast into the lake of Kato Megumi's always calm heart, instantly stirring up layers upon layers of ripples.
It made her hand covering the back of his hand tremble almost imperceptibly.
Kato Megumi lowered her head, gazing with a complex expression at Michiya Gōshin's sleeping face, which appeared defenseless because he had relaxed completely.
His long eyelashes cast soft shadows under his eyelids. Those eyes, usually profound and sharp as if they could see through people's hearts, were peacefully closed at this moment, actually revealing a kind of near-fragile childishness and tranquility completely contrary to his usual image.
In this moment, Kato Megumi's thoughts seemed to be yanked fiercely by an invisible hand, and some questions began to emerge in her heart.
Why had she become so proactive?
Why, when he revealed fatigue and fragility, could she not suppress the desire to get close, and even... actively made the move of holding his hand, which obviously overstepped the boundaries of a normal working relationship?
Kato Megumi's personality leaned toward calmness, but this absolutely did not mean she lacked a rich emotional world or deep-seated desires.
Quite the contrary, it was precisely because of the distress she had burdened for a long time—her ultra-low presence that had followed her like a shadow since childhood, almost like a "passive skill."
Recalling the turning point when she finally decided to become Michiya Gōshin's artist assistant, it was indeed full of fate's contingency and inevitability.
That was a matter from before she graduated high school. At that time, it was summer vacation, and Kato Megumi was doing some short-term internship at her aunt Kato Arashi's Hoshino Talent Agency. She was assigned to do some simple work as a stagehand.
That was truly an experience that couldn't be called pleasant, and was even somewhat frustrating.
Kato Megumi clearly remembered one time backstage at a noisy and chaotic TV drama set. Following the instructions of a female artist's manager, she went to deliver an urgently revised shooting call sheet to the artist.
She was clearly standing right in front of that female artist who was chatting and laughing with a makeup artist. She used a just-right volume to say "This is the revised call sheet" three times in a row, yet the other party seemed completely immersed in her own world. Her gaze slid over Megumi's face several times but did not focus at all, let alone respond.
It wasn't until she had no choice but to raise her pitch slightly, repeating it a fourth time with a trace of almost imperceptible urgency, that she received a slightly bewildered and impatient glance from the other party.
As if she was wondering where this stagehand who "suddenly" appeared in front of her had popped out from.
There was another time, after a certain brand commercial event ended, she left a little late because she was assisting in counting and returning sponsored jewelry. She was actually accidentally locked in a temporary resting room by a careless staff member.
Later, she took the initiative to call her aunt, Kato Arashi, and waited alone in the resting room for more than two hours before being rescued.
Originally, Kato Arashi didn't want to let Kato Megumi do these jobs anymore, but Kato Megumi wasn't willing to give up. Until she formally entered Hoshino Talent Agency after graduating high school, and then... saw Michiya Gōshin who was participating in Love is a Life Mandatory Course.
Thus, her work trajectory formally intersected with Michiya Gōshin.
During their first formal meeting at Hoshino Talent Agency, in that simple conference room, the opening remarks of the two were very simple.
"From now on, I'll trouble you with work matters, Kato-san."
Although the basic pleasantries were simple, Michiya Gōshin's gaze truly and unwaveringly landed on her, carrying equal scrutiny and a kind of basic respect, as if confirming a genuinely existing collaborator.
From then on, whether at magazine shooting sites bustling with people and clamorous noise, or in promotional activities surrounded by fans and media until not a drop of water could trickle through.
Michiya Gōshin had never ignored her existence.
He could always remember her dietary habits. He would give a brief but sincere "thank you" when she silently handed over the documents or data he urgently needed.
In the intervals of intense discussions with directors, producers, or even big shots like Suo Hayato, he would naturally turn his head to ask for the opinion of her standing quietly to the side or to verify a certain detail.
Even if there were many dazzling figures standing around, Michiya Gōshin's line of sight seemed to always have an instinct to penetrate layers of crowds and precisely locate her, who often stood at the edge or in the corner.
That gaze was not scorching or pressing, but carried a gentle power, as if silently telling her:
"I know you are here. Your existence is important."
This feeling, to Kato Megumi, was unprecedentedly special.
By his side, within the range of his gaze, she seemed to have "cured" the problem of weak presence, becoming an independent individual who was clearly seen, whose value was recognized, and who was endowed with responsibility.
Sometimes Michiya Gōshin would even generate some "dependence" emotions toward her; this feeling made Kato Megumi care very much.
As his exclusive artist assistant, she possessed a long-term and deep-core companionship that no one else could reach.
They handled complicated daily affairs together, dealt with sudden public relations crises together, and shared the brief joy when projects achieved breakthroughs together.
The emotional connection between people is just so marvelous and unpredictable.
In the day-after-day interaction accumulated bit by bit, those seemingly ordinary and trivial work details, those inadvertent cares and defenses, those tacit understandings and trusts formed when facing pressure and challenges together.
Unknown to when it started, Michiya Gōshin's figure in her heart was long no longer just a work partner.
The lines of his side profile focused to the point of selflessness, the astonishing resilience and responsibility displayed when facing huge pressure, and even his sleeping face revealing a fragile side completely defenseless in front of her at this moment.
All were like seeds with vitality, quietly buried in the originally calm soil at the bottom of her heart, then uncontrollably taking root, sprouting, and quietly growing.
This desire of hers was different from both Kurokawa Akane and Sakurajima Mai.
She didn't pursue dramatic romance. What she yearned for deep in her heart was perhaps merely... to be able to stand quietly by his side just like now.
Her drifting thoughts slowly returned to reality like a receding tide.
Kato Megumi refocused her gaze on the face close at hand.
Her hand still gently covered the back of his hand, feeling the warm blood flow and steady breathing rhythm under the other party's skin.
Gazing at his defenseless sleeping face, listening to his even and long breathing sound.
Kato Megumi's lips finally and slowly curved upward into a shallow but incomparably real arc.
That smile was different from the faint smile out of politeness in usual days; it contained a trace of sweet satisfaction and tranquility.
She leaned down slightly, bringing her cherry lips close to his ear, her voice as light as the thin mist of dawn, almost inaudible.
"Michiya-kun... I will stay by your side forever."
________________________________________
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