Tokyo's Most Affectionate - Chapter 135

Are You Qualified?

From panic to calm, it took Ichinose quite some time.

Afterward, they continued to check the private messages.

During this time, Ichinose’s mother even called, expressing a mix of surprise and astonishment.

The reason she knew was due to inquiries from neighbors.

It’s evident that those few photos had rapidly become extremely popular on the internet.

However, that wasn’t the crucial matter. The key issue was another video call, coming from Ayata Mari, Ichinose’s current manager.

“Hikaru-kun, Mari-nee wants to video chat with me. Did she also notice?”

Seeing the request for the video call, Ichinose was excited and happy.

She was so busy that she forgot how beautifully she had done her makeup and how stunning the photos were. If Ayata saw them, she would surely be delighted.

“Go ahead.” Unlike her excitement, Kurosawa, who had been waiting for this call, was brief in his response.

Hearing his words, Ichinose accepted the call with a tap and then aimed her phone at herself.

At the next moment, a person appeared on the phone screen, and it was none other than Mari Ayata.

“Mari-nee~”

Seeing her in person, Ichinose also warmly greeted her.

“Yuki, did you create a Twitter account?”

Ayata’s expression showed some astonishment because Ichinose’s current outfit was a cute double ponytail, a little loli style, different from what was on Twitter. 

“Hikaru-kun asked me to create it,” Ichinose nodded, not hiding anything.

Perhaps it wasn’t something to discuss openly on the internet, but with close people, it was fine to share.

“Who took those photos you posted?” Ayata wasn’t very surprised by this and asked.

“Hikaru-kun did.”

“Yuki, actually, because you are our agency’s contracted model and have a contract, you can’t take private shoots without authorization. Doing so might violate the cooperation regulations.”

Ayata, realizing that these were works of her boyfriend, contemplated for a while and then spoke with a serious expression.

“Is that so?”

Ichinose shrank her head a bit, feeling that Ayata’s expression and tone were unfamiliar and somewhat intimidating, something she had never seen before.

“Miss Ayata, this isn’t a commercial shoot, nor is it endorsing or promoting any clothing. There’s no commercial activity involved, it’s just a private photoshoot and personal photo sharing. 

It couldn’t possibly harm the interests of the YG agency, nor does it violate any contractual terms. Or do you believe that your company’s contract can completely strip Yuki-chan of her personal freedom and freedom of speech?”

At the same time, sitting beside her, Kurosawa spoke coldly.

With a contract in place, he certainly knew there were certain actions Ichinose couldn’t take. 

However, his recent tweet didn’t involve any commercial interests and couldn’t possibly breach the contract.

Hearing him speak up, Ichinose quickly aimed her phone at him.

For a moment, the two of them faced each other through their phones.

“Mr. Kurosawa, there’s no need to be so confrontational.”

Seeing his appearance and hearing his cold tone, Ayata’s serious expression paused for a moment, and then she smiled.

“You were the one who started with threats. I’m sorry; you might be able to deceive Yuki-chan, but you can’t fool me.”

Kurosawa looked down at the phone, maintaining a firm gaze from above. This woman couldn’t hold back any longer. 

As Ichinose gained sudden popularity on the internet, she probably hesitated for a long time, carefully considering her words before reaching out.

“I wasn’t making baseless threats; I was merely reminding her that she might be violating the contract. Since it’s not a commercial shoot, it’s all good; there’s no problem. I was just concerned that she might be deceived by ill-intentioned individuals.”

Ayata Mari, though a professional talent agent who had seen her fair share of challenges, was momentarily silenced by Kurosawa’s intimidating presence. She chuckled nervously.

“Drop the fake smile.”

Seeing her persist in trying to deceive and manipulate Ichinose, Kurosawa narrowed his eyes. His gaze turned sharp and cold.

“!”

Even through the phone screen, Ayata felt intimidated by his deep, powerful voice and his fierce, penetrating gaze.

“I originally didn’t want to meddle in the unequal and low-paying employment your company provided for Yuki-chan. Anyway, your contract has only half a month left, so we’ll part ways soon.”

Kurosawa sat back on the sofa, hands crossed and resting on his knees. He looked down at the phone calmly.

“How can you call it unequal treatment… Yuki-chan, don’t listen to his nonsense. We’ve treated you fairly. The company even arranged a personal fitness trainer for you, provides transportation and meals for each part-time job, and is very accommodating if you need time off to adjust your schedule. We’ve been very considerate of you.”

With the truth exposed, Ayata’s complexion worsened. She looked at Ichinose, desperately trying to explain.

“Indulging her? That’s because she holds such value in your eyes. She might not realize how valuable she is, but do you think I’m unaware?”

Hearing this statement, Kurosawa snorted coldly. 

Ayata, confronted with his domineering and aggressive attitude, glanced at Ichinose through the lens, unsure of how to explain or remedy the situation.

“Miss Ayata, I was actually quite pleased when you called, but the tone you used just now, I don’t like it. Saying you indulge her in front of me, are you qualified for that?”

However, Kurosawa had no intention of giving her an opportunity to remedy the situation; he spoke coldly. 

This woman first attempted to use intimidation without success, then switched to emotional manipulation, and even tried to deceive Ichinose. 

Holding up the banner of “indulging her” was a ridiculous move.

If it came to indulging someone, he dared to claim that aside from Ichinose’s parents, he was undoubtedly the one who indulged her the most.

“I…”

Ayata was left speechless. She glanced at Kurosawa, then at Ichinose, her expression turning unpleasant.

She was well aware of how much Ichinose adored this ‘Hikaru-kun.’ 

Whenever his name was mentioned, Ichinose’s face would light up with a radiant smile. 

When talking about him, she exuded sweetness and excitement, overflowing with love and happiness.

“Yuki-chan has a strong liking for you, is full of gratitude, and I believe you are well aware. Originally, I wanted her to leave YG with good memories and impressions, parting amicably. There was no need for her to experience the darker side of human nature through you.

Regardless, from now on, I will be by her side, shielding her from the wind and rain, ensuring her continued happiness. But since you’ve chosen to act this way, I’ll give you two options.”

Kurosawa looked at her indifferently, his tone resolute.

“What?”

Ayata realized that the situation was beyond her control and had to continue the conversation.

“The first option is to let Yuki-chan finish the remaining half-month of her contract with your company. After that, she will assist in three more photo shoots for you.”

“The second option is to terminate the contract now. Considering the small amount involved in this contract, the compensation is nothing to me.”

“So, which one will you choose?”

“Is there a third option? For instance, a renewal of the contract with an increased compensation and a revised agreement.”

At this moment, a deep, resonant male voice spoke from the side.

Evidently, someone from YG Entertainment was present during this call.

“No, YG Entertainment’s stage is too small. If your company seeks cooperation in the future with sufficient sincerity and better terms, I might consider having her work with you.”

Kurosawa showed no surprise, displaying an attitude of someone fully in charge.

“The first option.”

The person, who didn’t reveal themselves but made the decision, seemed to have more authority, probably the president of the agency.

“Good,” Kurosawa nodded, settling the matter.

With that said, there was nothing more to discuss between the two parties.

“Yuki, I’m sorry.”

With an apologetic look directed at Ichinose, Ayata offered her apology and then ended the call.

“Phew…”

As the video call concluded, Kurosawa let out a sigh, his stern and intimidating demeanor fading away.

“Hikaru-kun, is it really like that?”

At this moment, Ichinose, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

“Yes, it’s true. In fact, I hinted at it subtly earlier. YG Entertainment employed you with a very low salary.”

With things having come to this point, Kurosawa no longer concealed the truth, nodding in affirmation.

Although the truth was harsh, there was no way around it. In society, no one would treat you well for no reason.

Even Itsuragi, who had been exceptionally kind to him and immediately started playing matchmaker upon meeting him, did so because she wanted to set him up with her friend, Ninomiya.

Of course, it was a good thing and a huge favor, so he had always been grateful.

“I wasn’t talking about that; I meant your words… ‘You will always be by my side, shielding me from wind and rain, making sure I stay happy forever.'”

However, Ichinose wasn’t sad; instead, she blushed a bit and shyly reiterated.

That sentence had just overwhelmed her.

In that moment, even if she was sitting beside him instead of behind him, she could feel the figure of Kurosawa becoming immensely significant, giving her a sense of security as if he could protect her even if the sky fell.

“Really, I won’t leave, I won’t give up on you.”

Upon hearing her retelling, Kurosawa realized that he had said something embarrassing in the heat of excitement and anger. His face blushed a bit, but he still nodded.

If possible, he wanted to stay by Ichinose’s side forever.

With his nod, Ichinose couldn’t contain her excitement and impulsively leaned in, giving him a kiss.

The suddenness of this action caught him off guard, and this kiss directly overwhelmed Kurosawa, making him lie down on the sofa.

“I will never leave you, not in this lifetime, not in the next! Absolutely!”

With a deep kiss, Ichinose lay on top of him, holding his face. 

Her face had a rosy glow, and her eyes were filled with surprise, expressing deep emotion.

In fact, she had a psychological expectation after the subtle reminder just now. 

She wasn’t dull enough to be awakened from ignorance, so learning about the deception of the YG Entertainment didn’t hurt her much.

After all, she had experienced a dark period during junior high, and compared to the emotional wounds from that time, being manipulated and facing financial losses now were insignificant.

In contrast, the words from Kurosawa just now were the most touching and unforgettable for her in this moment of realization.

“Hahaha, alright.” Hearing her sincere confession, Kurosawa was stunned for a moment and then chuckled.

“Hehehe.”

Seeing him laugh, Ichinose also joined in. Both of them were laughing, and the laughter was hearty, as if it could reach into each other’s hearts.