allendalepharm Page 44
Page 44
The joy of finding something lost and then regaining it, the emotion of finding a home.
"Crack!"
Director Fujiwara jumped up from his chair, his eyes gleaming as he stared intently at the playback on the monitor, muttering repeatedly, "That's it! That's the feeling! I've found it! I've found it!"
His excitement infected everyone present.
Assistant Yamamoto stared wide-eyed at the radiant Mai Sakurajima on the monitor, her face filled with disbelief.
Is this... is this still the same Mai Sakurajima?
She had never seen such a soulful and vibrant performance before!
The audition ended, and the result was self-evident.
Director Fujiwara immediately decided that she was the only one suitable for the lead role, and even excitedly discussed the character with her for a long time.
On her way home, Mai Sakurajima still felt like she was dreaming.
"Yuto, I...I did it?"
"You not only succeeded, you completely captivated everyone."
Mai Sakurajima, the Soul Reaper, and Yuto Itsuka smiled and joked.
Volume 1: Chapter 56: In the entire film and television industry, no one is stronger than her! (Fifth update)
Kazuko Sakurajima turned off the video, leaned back in her leather seat, and fell into a long silence.
Looking at the contract on the table, which she had originally intended to use to put pressure on Yuto Itsuka, she began to waver in her theory for the first time.
……
"Jingle Bell--"
The ringing of the phone interrupted Yuto Itsuka's relaxation time. Mai Sakurajima picked up her phone from beside the cat tree, saw the caller ID, and answered the call on speakerphone.
"Good afternoon, Miss Mai."
"Good afternoon, Ms. Yamamoto."
"Regarding Director Fujiwara's film 'The Sound of the Tide,' the director was very satisfied with your audition performance. The film crew has been officially formed, and a script reading will be held next Monday. We hope you can attend on time."
"In addition, the company has also arranged corresponding performance courses and psychological counseling for you to help you better adapt to the work rhythm after your comeback."
"I understand," Sakurajima Mai said calmly.
“There’s one more thing,” Yamamoto’s assistant changed the subject, “Is Mr. Itsuka next to you?”
Yuto Itsuka, who was standing to the side, raised an eyebrow and gestured for Mai to hand him the phone.
"I am Yuto Itsuka."
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, as if the speaker was adjusting their words. "Mr. Itsuka, the president asked me to convey her gratitude. You... did a great job. Ms. Mai's condition has exceeded all of our expectations. You have proven your theory."
"So what?" Itsuka Yuto's tone was unreadable.
"The company will fully support Ms. Mai's comeback. We believe that after your 'help' ends, she will become a star more dazzling than ever before. We hope that you... will not forget your promise."
"Don't worry, I remember you very well." After saying that, Itsuki Yuto hung up the phone.
The kitten Yukino seemed to sense the change in atmosphere and nestled obediently at Mai's feet, rubbing her head against Mai's ankle.
"What agreement did she say?" Mai Sakurajima looked up, somewhat puzzled.
Yuto Itsuka casually put his phone back on the table and picked up his beloved thermos again. "It was your mother, Ms. Kazuko Sakurajima, who wanted to hire me as her personal consultant with a high salary to teach her how to cultivate the next national idol. I refused."
"...You're talking nonsense again." Mai obviously didn't believe him, but looking at his serious expression, the corners of her tightly closed mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
“I’m serious.” Itsuka Yuto walked over and gently wrapped his arms around her from behind, feeling her alluring body.
“She wanted me to leave you, so I told her it would never happen. Unless…”
"Unless what?" she pressed anxiously.
"Unless one day you think I'm too lazy or too bad and dump me on your own initiative."
Mai Sakurajima turned around in his arms, looked up at him, reached out and touched his cheek, her eyes filled with seriousness.
"That day will never come."
"Ah."
……
The filming location for "The Sound of the Tide" is a remote fishing village on the Izu Peninsula.
On the first day of filming, Yuto Itsuka appeared on set openly as a "family member and bodyguard".
He moved a director's chair over and sat down next to Director Fujiwara, wearing sunglasses, crossing his legs, and holding his signature thermos, looking like a big investor inspecting the work.
Director Fujiwara did not express any dissatisfaction.
The crew members were all curious about this handsome young man who had suddenly appeared.
"Who's that? Mai-san's boyfriend?"
"Judging from his aura, he doesn't seem like it. He seems more like a rich young master from some company."
"I heard from Yamamoto's assistant that he is Ms. Mai's...distant cousin, and he came here specifically to take care of her."
Yuto Itsuka ignored all the comments; his gaze remained fixed on Mai Sakurajima in front of the camera.
The shooting is over.
"Crack!"
Director Fujiwara shouted, "Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"
Everyone present applauded.
Mai Sakurajima looked up, searching for her boyfriend.
Yuto Itsuka took off his sunglasses, grinned at her, and gave her a thumbs up.
There's a smile on her face, but what lies behind that smile is hard to say.
As filming progresses and the release date draws closer, some things need to be prepared in advance.
He personally pulled her out of the abyss and taught her how to like and how to feel.
And now, he's going to personally push her into a place where he won't be...
He picked up his thermos and took a big gulp.
"Tons, tons, tons..."
……
If the news of Mai Sakurajima's comeback didn't cause much of a stir, then the release of "The Sound of the Tide" was quite different.
During its opening week, the film's box office soared, and its word-of-mouth was overwhelmingly positive.
On Yahoo! Movies, it received a high rating of 4.8, and the comment section was completely flooded with positive reviews.
"My God, is this Mai Sakurajima? Did I watch a fake Mai Sakurajima before? Her acting is absolutely amazing!"
"I'm a 30-year-old man, and I cried like a fool in the movie theater. Her final smile contained so much! Redemption, relief, and love... In the entire film industry, no one can surpass her! I would call it a 'national treasure-level smile'!"
"I agree! I used to think she was just a pretty face, but now I realize how amazing her acting is! Director Fujiwara, Kokuichi! Mai-chan, Kokuichi!"
On social media, hashtags such as "#SakurajimaMaiActingSkills" and "#TheVoiceOfTheTide" have repeatedly dominated the trending topics.
Countless film critics and industry insiders have been lavish in their praise.
The renowned, outspoken film critic Takeo Kitano gave her a perfect score for the first time ever: "She is no longer an idol who performs with technique; she has become the character herself. There are stories and souls in her eyes. She is not playing 'trendy,' she *is* 'trendy.' The Japanese entertainment industry has been silent for too long; finally, a true genius has arrived!"
Kazuko Sakurajima sat in the president's office, looking at the scrolling praises and ever-increasing box office figures on the screen, her expression complex.
She won. She won the market, she won the reputation, and she won back her daughter who stood at the pinnacle.
But she also felt as if she had lost something.
She pulled up the audition video she had watched repeatedly, and the image froze on the moment her daughter smiled through her tears.
That pure, heartfelt emotion was something she had spent over a decade painstakingly trying to strip away from her daughter.
As a result, an unknown high school boy returned it to her in just a few months.
What a great irony.
Yamamoto's assistant knocked on the door and came in, handing over a document.
"President, these are the film contracts and advertising endorsement offers that have piled up. In addition, the juries of major film festivals have also sent us invitations."
Kazuko Sakurajima took the documents and flipped through them casually; they were all top-tier resources in the industry.
She was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Has that Yuto Itsuka... made any moves lately?"
"He stayed by Ms. Mai's side the whole time, almost never leaving her side," Yamamoto's assistant replied.
"However, since the film's release, he has not appeared on set or in any public occasion. He has kept a low profile and seems to be intentionally avoiding the media."
“He’s a smart man.” Kazuko Sakurajima closed the file, her eyes sharpening.
“A smart person knows when to do what. Go and remind him that it’s time to fulfill our ‘agreement’.”
"Yes."
……
Volume 1: Chapter 57: May your future be bright and your life smooth sailing (Sixth update)
The outside noise did not affect Yuto Itsuka and Mai Sakurajima's private world in the slightest.
They nestled on the sofa in their apartment, sharing a bucket of popcorn and watching a special report on "The Voice of the Tides" on TV.
"...With her stunning performance, Ms. Mai Sakurajima has undoubtedly secured Best Actress nominations at all of this year's film awards..."
"Yuto, did you hear that? They're all praising me!" Mai Sakurajima excitedly shook his arm, her eyes sparkling like a night sky filled with stars.
“I heard you, I heard you,” Itsuka Yuto said with a smile, pinching her cheek and stuffing a handful of popcorn into her mouth. “My girlfriend is a future movie queen, and I’m so proud of her.”
"What future?" Mai mumbled, chewing on popcorn. "I am right now!"
She threw herself into his arms, nuzzling her cheek against his chest, her voice full of dependence and joy, "But I know it's all because of you. You are my 'lighthouse keeper'."
“How can this be attributed to me?” Itsuka Yuto chuckled. “It’s clearly because your acting skills are outstanding.”
……
As night deepened, Mai Sakurajima drifted off to sleep with a contented smile.
Yuto Itsuka tiptoed into the study, turned on the computer, and created a new document.
So, how should I write it?
【Mai, I'm sorry, I was actually playing a strategy game. Now the game is over, and I have to leave?】
No, this is too cruel. It will completely destroy the emotional world she has just built up.
Or find an excuse to sneak away?
Mai, actually, I don't like you. I only got close to you to get your body and your wealth. Now that I have what I need, am I going to leave?
Is it better to end the pain quickly than to suffer for a long time? Should I just portray myself as a scumbag?
That probably won't work either; it might fool Eriri.
This won't work, that won't work...
He scratched his hair irritably and paced back and forth in the room.
"call--"
He sat back down at the computer, took a deep breath, and hovered his fingers over the keyboard for a long time before finally typing the first line.
To Mai:
……
The following afternoon, Mai Sakurajima was being interviewed by a top fashion magazine.
Yuto Itsuka was home alone when his phone vibrated as he was adding cat food to Yukino's bowl.