[#CoolAsRyo #SummerSavior - Kitagawa Ryo introduces Morinaga's new ice cream lineup! @MorinagaFoods @RyoKitagawa_Official]
[Attached video: Morinaga Ice Cream's new promotional clip]
[Pinned comment: Like, share, and comment for a chance to win! Grand prize: a personalized autograph from Kitagawa Ryo himself!]
Scrolling through the replies:
"Thought they were changing spokesmodels for sure. Good call sticking with Ryo, Morinaga. Real good call."
"New flavors this year? About time—the original three were getting stale."
"Orange Bear flavor is eternal!"
"Anyone else just here for the new commercial? Their last ad was art."
"Godanta's a full-fledged director now—doubt they can afford him. Unless... Orange Spider flavor this year? lol"
In Morinaga's PR department, staff monitored the tweet's engagement in real-time. The moment Ryo's official account retweeted it, the post trended within thirty minutes.
"Ryo's popularity is insane."
"From what I heard, he only renewed contracts with a few long-term partners. We're lucky to be one."
Employees multitasked between moderating comments and casual chatter.
"Obviously. I'd believe it if the whole world loved Ryo."
Across the partition, twenty-year-old intern Issugi Rina piped up, eyes shining:
"I still can't believe anyone argued against renewing him. 'His fee could hire three A-listers'—pathetic."
"...Yeah."
The team exchanged glances. In just days, everyone knew Rina was Ryo's rabid fan.
But with her sweet looks, wealthy family (her uncle was a company exec), and cheerful demeanor, most humored her.
"Rina-chan, is the gift ready? We should deliver it this afternoon—Ryo's home today."
A senior colleague gestured to an exquisitely wrapped box on Rina's desk.
"All packed! I wrote the card exactly as drafted~"
"Your handwriting puts my chicken scratch to shame."
"Just doing my job!"
Rina proudly lifted the package—a custom Milk Lamb plushie, part of Morinaga's new product line.
It was tradition: each year, Morinaga sent Ryo handmade souvenirs. Not expensive, but thoughtful—like the Orange Bear, Strawberry Rabbit, and Watermelon Cat plushies displayed in his home.
With Ryo's contract renewal, the Milk Lamb series would launch alongside a fresh ad campaign.
Knowing Rina's fandom, the team had entrusted her with packaging and the handwritten note—a win-win for productivity and morale.
"We'll head out soon. Ryo's sweet—you can totally ask for an autograph."
Rina nodded eagerly:
"Ryo is sweet."
She sighed dreamily, returning to her seat.
At twenty, Issugi Rina had it all: wealth, beauty, a pianist's grace, and indulgent parents.
She'd stanned Ryo for nearly a decade—since He Once Lived stole her heart.
Unlike typical fans, she avoided group activities, dismissing teen-led fundraising as "child's play." Instead, she penned essays on his work. Under Ryo's latest film Spider, she'd written:
"Sometimes love isn't enough. Poverty breaks people. A child's confidence comes from parental love—but that love flows freely only when money removes stress. Money is security. It is harmony."
Privilege let Rina obsess freely. She'd begged her uncle to place her at Morinaga specifically for this project.
Her room overflowed with Ryo merch. But her true ritual was DMing him nightly—pouring her soul into messages she knew he'd never read.
Each word was a blood offering. Each post left her drained yet euphoric. She built a bridge of devotion, brick by brick, toward an unreachable star.
Then, one day last year—
"Thank you for your support."
A generic, possibly automated reply.
Yet Rina treasured it. She'd savor those words nightly, chewing each syllable before swallowing.
Soon after, she began sending Ryo private photos.
The replies stopped.
But in her mind, he'd seen them.
Now, she wanted to see him.
Inside the gift box, the Milk Lamb's glassy eyes glinted—
A pinhole camera.