It wasn't until the next day that Kitagawa Ryo saw the news about Ishiki Rina.
After the hit-and-run, she had turned herself in, publicly confessing that her motive for murder was the belief that the photos taken without her consent—and the subsequent tabloid coverage—had ruined her life.
Once the police confirmed her blood alcohol level was dangerously high, the incident was swiftly ruled as an impulsive, drunken act of revenge.
The case, involving themes of female victimization, privacy invasion, and the death of a tabloid reporter, was quickly hijacked by online discourse. By the time Ryo's fans had finished celebrating his birthday, the narrative had already shifted to broader debates about gender discrimination and social ethics.
No one—least of all Ryo—could have guessed that Ishiki Rina's rage wasn't rooted in being photographed herself, but in the intrusion into his private life.
Even if he had known, it would only have chilled him further.
Because by that logic, even Kitagawa Ruby had been within Ishiki Rina's warped crosshairs.
These obsessive fans didn't love the idol—they loved the idea of him. A symbol, a shadow they could torment in their minds. Their devotion was a self-inflicted spiral, divorced from reality or genuine affection.
Not that Ryo had any interest in understanding their delusions.
He was too busy preparing for his next project.
Don't Be Fooled by the Wolf
As one of Japan's most popular dating shows in recent years, Don't Be Fooled by the Wolf had carved out a dedicated teen audience. Its appeal lay not just in its cast of photogenic 16-to-20-year-olds, but in its unique twist:
Like most dating shows, it paired strangers—attractive high schoolers—and let romance (hopefully) bloom.
But Wolf added a game-like layer: among the male contestants, at least one was a "Wolf"—a player who wasn't there for love, just for fun. The women had to figure out who was sincere and who was lying through sweet talk.
In short, it was romantic Among Us.
The hidden-role mechanic hooked viewers, who debated which guy was the Wolf and whether their favorite couple was genuine.
Beyond the six main cast members per season, Wolf also featured a host and a guest commentator, who analyzed the footage in real time. Typically, these two appeared in a small corner of the screen, their segments brief.
But this season's premiere shattered that tradition.
Curled on the couch, Kitagawa Ruby clicked play on the latest episode.
With Ryo away for work, Saitou Miyako was babysitting as usual.
On the coffee table sat nine glass jars, shimmering under the light, each filled with a hundred hand-folded paper cranes—900 in total.
After failing to brainstorm a better gift, Ruby had taken her friend Samejima Abiko's suggestion: "Fold a thousand cranes. They carry your wishes."
The missing tenth jar? Ryo had taken it with him.
"Whenever I see these, it'll feel like Ruby's right beside me."
Even now, remembering those words made Ruby's cheeks burn.
"Please welcome our special guest commentator for today's episode—Kitagawa Ryo!"
The show's host, Yokozawa Natsuko—a beloved comedian in her forties with a warm, unpretentious charm—clapped enthusiastically.
Capitalizing on Ryo's star power, the production had gone all-out on promotion. The moment he appeared on screen, Ruby's display drowned in a flash flood of real-time comments. She had to shrink the chat to a quarter of the screen just to keep watching.
(Why not turn them off? As a seasoned netizen, Ruby refused to dignify that question with an answer.)
"Hello, I'm Kitagawa Ryo. It's an honor to join Wolf as a guest commentator, especially alongside a veteran like Yokozawa-san."
On screen, Ryo sat stiffly polite, flashing his trademark smile.
"Really? Not just saying that because the producers made you?" Yokozawa teased, effortlessly steering the mood. "I'm a fan too, you know. If you're serious, I'm calling you 'Ryo-chan' from now on."
"Of course. Looking forward to working with you."
Noting his nerves, Yokozawa chuckled behind her hand.
"This is your first time on a dating show, right? Even as a commentator, I bet half the audience wishes you were a contestant."
"Especially since you just turned sixteen. Your birthday celebrations were everywhere last week."
The moment those words left her mouth, the comment section exploded.
To dating-show regulars, Ryo was a newcomer—but with his looks and age (a bona fide sixteen-year-old heartthrob), logic went out the window. A tsunami of "YES PLEASE" flooded the screen.
Wasn't the whole point of dating shows to ship attractive people?
Just seeing Ryo on screen was eye candy. Imagining him in a romantic scenario? Pure serotonin.
"I don't have plans to join a show like that yet. I've never even dated anyone—honestly, I'm a bit nervous just commentating."
After Ryo's diplomatic deflection, Yokozawa smoothly pivoted:
"Well, that just makes you Wolf's youngest—and only romance-virgin—commentator. Viewers, take note: if you follow his logic, you might never sniff out the Wolf!"
She punctuated this with an exaggerated shrug, eyes wide.
Ryo laughed—a soft, genuine sound.
[That laugh just murdered me. I'm deceased.]
[New fan here. Saw him in a couple movies as a kid, but now? That face? That voice? Straight to my weakness folder.]
[If this man doesn't star in a romance show soon, I'll RIOT. First time I've ever understood the 'younger man' appeal. Puppy or wolf, just pounce on me—]
Ruby silently killed the comments.
She'd rather focus on her brother's performance.
When she'd first heard Ryo was joining a dating show, her heart had leapt to her throat. The thought of watching him flirt with someone—even scripted—would've turned her into a tearful mess within seconds.
Thankfully, he was just commentating.
If she was honest, even Ruby was curious about his romantic tastes—ideal types, dealbreakers. Most fans tuning in probably felt the same.
Watching Ryo date someone? Hard no.
Watching Ryo talk about dating? Sign me up.
Unlike scripted dramas, variety shows often revealed celebrities' unfiltered selves. For fans craving a glimpse behind the idol persona, this was gold.
As Ryo predicted, even his most possessive "girlfriend fans" weren't upset. They'd clicked eagerly, hungry for new daydream material.
"Alright, Ryo-chan, time for our signature catchphrase!"
After introductions, Yokozawa gestured to him.
"Okay."
Ryo pressed a finger to his lips, smirked, and delivered the line:
"Don't… be fooled by the Wolf."
[SCREAMING. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SHOW, JUST GIVE ME MORE COMMENTARY FOOTAGE!]
[Hearing him say that made me cry. I collected my tears, strung them into a jump rope, and skipped while praising God for creating this man.]
The comments, predictably, lost their minds.
"That catchphrase is hilarious. How did you keep a straight face?"
In his hotel room, Ryo winced at Star Hoshino Ai's laughter through his earpiece.
They were watching Wolf together via video call.
"Don't laugh. You'll have to say it too, eventually."
This was part of his and Saitou Ichigo's strategy: test the waters as co-commentators first.
On dating shows, chemistry wasn't limited to contestants. If the banter clicked, even the analysts could become shipping fodder.
Baby steps.
"Fine, fine. But the show's premise is flawed, right? Real love's full of little lies. Even a 'Wolf' could catch real feelings."
Ai chattered between bites of snacks, her voice intimate through the headphones. With the mic so close, Ryo could hear every breath, every rustle of her bedsheets.
"True."
He tugged one earbud loose, reducing the ASMR effect, and leaned back. "You're lying on your stomach right now, aren't you?"
A faint shuffling noise.
"Yep. Under the blankets, too."
Ai sounded amused by the novelty—lights off, hidden under covers, whispering into the phone like teenagers. Her voice edged closer, as if sharing a secret:
"Why'd you think Contestant #1 was the Wolf?"
"Too shy. Handsome guy, but awkward around girls? Felt performative."
"Ah. The 'hunter playing prey' tactic."
"Exactly."
"So… which of the four girls did you think was cutest?"
"...What kind of question is that?"
"Just curious! Narrow it down: long hair, short, curly, straight, dyed, natural…?"
"Long hair, I guess."
"What style?"
"No strong preference."
Ai hummed, twirling a lock of her own hair.
They kept chatting like this—pointing out edits, mocking clichés—until late. When they finally said goodnight, Ryo crossed the room to close the window.
A breeze stirred the red paper cranes he'd strung into a makeshift wind chime, their wings whispering like secrets.
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Sorry for not uploading any chapters past few days.
A few days ago, I was unfortunately in a motorbike accident. Bad luck, I guess. I was walking on the pavement when a bike crashed into me. It ended up breaking my left arm. Thankfully, I'm now out of the hospital and on the road to recovery.
Also do support me in my patreon, there will be a mass release in my patreon.
patreon: patreon.com/Fanfable.