My Tokyo Celebrity Girlfriend Is Love-Struck, What Should I Do? - Chapter 42

A Bit Strained

Inside the Photography Club’s activity room, the sound of video playback and the rhythmic tapping of keyboards echoed.

Kimura leaned slightly forward, glancing at Yoshida, who was sitting not far away, intensely working on a laptop, rapidly inputting commands.

Yoshida, engaged in video editing, seemed to enter a magical state, with the mouse in her hand and the keys under her fingers constantly making sounds.

This editing session had been going on since the beginning and continued until now.

It’s quite impressive.

Kimura was mildly astonished.

At the same time, he gained a new appreciation for Yoshida’s speed and efficiency in video editing.

Yoshida, as a junior, must have edited numerous videos on a regular basis…

Truly professional.

Kimura couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional.

If there were more members like Yoshida, that would be great.

Moving the mouse in his hand, Kimura received the selected scenes sent by the editing team in the group chat, along with some roughly edited video clips.

Although the shooting was done according to the script, in the actual filming process, adjustments might be made based on the situation.

Additionally, each scene in the script would have multiple shots from different angles.

This led to a large number of videos to be sifted through for each part, and the same plot could have multiple editing possibilities.

Focusing his mind, Kimura opened the edited clip of the scene where Kamiya Toru and Hino Maori were having a picnic in the park, which Yoshida had sent.

The video played, and Kimura and Asuka appeared on the screen.

Under the clear sky, with the charming girl, the soft light, and smooth dialogues…

Everything seemed just right, and every gaze and stolen glance were clearly edited in by Yoshida.

After the video played, Kimura frowned slightly, staring at the last paused frame on the screen.

Somehow.

After watching Yoshida’s editing, he felt a momentary sense of being at a loss.

Even though she was only responsible for the rough cut, it possessed a smoothness reminiscent of a movie plot.

But…

Kimura couldn’t shake off the strange feeling within this smooth video.

Pondering, Kimura moved the mouse, repeatedly replaying the previous scene.

Finally, he paused at a point where he and Asuka were locking eyes.

The problem lies here…

“Yoshida…” Kimura was about to call Yoshida.

However, seeing the others around, he thought better of it and took out his phone, opening Yoshida’s chat.

Kimura: “Yoshida-kouhai, regarding the editing just now, I have some thoughts.”

Yoshida, who was focused on editing, noticed her phone receiving a message. She stopped her actions and picked up the phone.

As Yoshida paused, the sounds in the activity room seemed to diminish.

Yoshida: “Please go ahead, Kimura-senpai.”

Kimura: “Yoshida-kouhai, the video you edited is great, but it seems like there are too many scenes of eye contact between Kamiya Toru and Hino Maori within it.”

Yoshida: [Eh? Really? I’m sorry, Kimura-senpai, I didn’t notice at all. (ㄒ_ㄒ)]

Kimura: [Ah, I’m not saying your editing is bad, Yoshida-kouhai. On the contrary, your editing is quite excellent.]

Kimura: [I just have a suggestion for you, Yoshida-kouhai. You might try reducing some of those scenes.]

Yoshida: [Sure, Kimura-senpai, please wait a moment. I’ll re-edit and send it to you.]

Re-editing it again? Kimura raised an eyebrow. It didn’t seem necessary to go to such lengths.

Just as Kimura was about to continue his reply, he heard intense sounds again from Yoshida’s side.

So fast…

After a moment’s hesitation, Kimura decided to abandon sending another message to Yoshida.

Since Yoshida wanted to edit it, then let her be.

Putting down his phone, Kimura looked at the video on the screen.

The editing was really quite good, almost like a couple in the honeymoon phase…

Unfortunately, this scene was Kamiya Toru and Hino Maori’s first date, and such a feeling wasn’t appropriate.

The emotions in their gazes…

were a bit strained.

……

As noon approached,

Kimura received a call from Fujikawa Yuki.

In the call, Fujikawa kept apologizing for his behavior yesterday.

Although Kimura reassured him that there was no need to apologize, Fujikawa insisted on inviting Kimura to lunch.

This left Kimura, who had initially been ready to hang up at any moment, somewhat silent.

In the end, he agreed to Fujikawa’s invitation…

After all, a free meal didn’t seem bad.

When it was close to noon, Kimura stood up from his seat.

“Let’s take a break and have lunch.”

The members of the editing team seemed relieved and stood up, leaving the filming department.

Only Yoshida remained, sitting there and editing the video.

“Yoshida-kouhai, take a break too… these videos are not that urgent.” Kimura advised.

Yoshida turned to look at Kimura, a hint of excitement in her smile.

“No need, Kimura-senpai. You go ahead and eat. I’ll finish this editing and have lunch.”

“Eh?”

“Don’t worry, Kimura-senpai. I’ll leave right away.” Yoshida, realizing her own expression, hurriedly explained.

“Then… I’ll go ahead.” Kimura hesitated.

“Alright.”

Walking out of the photography department, Kimura glanced back, a bit concerned.

The way Yoshida looked…

Should be fine.

After pondering for a moment, Kimura shook his head and walked towards the place where he and Fujikawa had agreed to meet.

……

It was the same izakaya as yesterday.

When Kimura walked into the entrance, he saw Fujikawa standing up from a seat deep inside the izakaya.

Fujikawa waved at him.

“Kimura-kun, over here!”

Kimura walked over and sat in the chair opposite Fujikawa.

After ordering some food, the waiter headed towards the kitchen.

“Thanks for yesterday, Kimura-kun,” Fujikawa said, leaning slightly forward in his seat.

“No problem… By the way, Fujikawa-kun, how did it go afterward?”

Kimura waved his hand.

At these words, a bitter smile appeared on Fujikawa’s face.

“Yumiko has already removed me from her friends, and I can’t reach her by phone… It seems like it’s truly over.”

“Hmm.” Kimura fell silent.

Although in his eyes, Fujikawa and Yumiko didn’t qualify for a true romantic relationship.

Still, the ending like this was inevitable sooner or later.

“Oh, right.” Fujikawa seemed to remember something, took out a few tickets from his pocket, and placed them on the table. “This is for you, Kimura-kun.”

“What is this?”

“Seating tickets for the fireworks festival, in just two days.”

“Fujikawa-kun, are you giving them to me?” Kimura was surprised.

Fujikawa sighed, “Originally, I had planned to go watch the fireworks festival together with Yumiko, but… it seems that won’t happen now.”

“But there are seven tickets here.”

“And there are also tickets for Yumiko’s friends.”

“…”