The carnival organized by Osaka TV is a major event in the local entertainment industry. Numerous media outlets, renowned figures from high society, and entertainment stars participate. Being one of Japan's central cities, if it weren't next to the political capital, Tokyo, the influence of the Osaka Carnival could extend to many prefectures and cities, competing with the Tokyo Carnival and the Vladivostok Carnival.
At 7:50 PM, luxury cars abounded outside the Osaka Media Center, and people were dressed in formal attire.
Several discreet black cars entered the plaza. In the car in front, Takumi looked at the girl with a reserved air and smiled: "Are you nervous?"
"Not nervous." Shiori shook her head, her body slightly hunched: "It's just that it's my first time wearing this kind of clothes; it feels strange...".
She wore a pure white dress with a ruffled hem, in a winter style, which made her feel like a princess from the country of ice and snow. The cuffs and belt made Shiori, accustomed to wearing a school uniform, very uncomfortable. She liked loose clothing, suitable for sports.
"I should have known I wouldn't come,"
Shiori murmured.
"Didn't you say you were bored at the hotel, so I brought you?" Takumi smiled bitterly. He looked her up and down, nodded, and praised her: "But this dress looks wonderful on you; it's beautiful."
It has a lolita feel; it doesn't show her figure, but it matches her age and temperament.
"Beautiful?" Shiori felt better, her face slightly flushed: "You look great tonight; the suit looks wonderful on you...".
She never looked directly at Takumi, 'wouldn't a suit and tie on a young person look very strange?' But Takumi, wearing a suit today, was so handsome he looked like a different person, and even the company's female employees exclaimed:
"This guy obviously wasn't like this half a year ago...",
Shiori thought angrily. 'They were originally teenagers and grew up quickly, but Takumi's changes were particularly fast. He wore casual clothes in normal times, but once he put on formal clothes, he was simply dazzling.'
Suits are garments that can enhance a man's appearance. As long as they are not too ugly, most people will look radiant when wearing them. Takumi has a good figure and a handsome face. He is different from other mangaka who always have a sense of home. After spending a lot of time with Genji and others, coupled with his great self-confidence, Takumi's temperament has been refined.
This temperament is usually disguised by clothing and a childish face, but the suit is different. It can make people look mature. It adds several years to Takumi's perceived age, and the temperament emerges naturally. If you want to describe that feeling...
"Like a star."
Shiori looked at Alice next to them enviously. Takumi's dress was completely created by this woman. She hadn't expected it to be so incredible.
Recalling Alice's intimate scenes of choosing clothes for Takumi, doing his makeup and hair, Shiori felt deeply unhappy. Alice's dress was also beautiful. She wore a blue dress. Her tall figure was enviable, but for some reason, it lacked that sense of beauty.
Shiori believed that Alice should be more dazzling, but she seemed to deliberately downplay her presence, perhaps not to steal the spotlight from Takumi.
"What!"
Shiori felt uncomfortable thinking about it. She couldn't find the reason, so she could only explain it by saying that she was not satisfied that Alice did makeup better than her, but Shiori had never been interested in makeup.
The three got out of the car, and Haru and the others also got out of other cars. Except for Genji, practically all of Hinotori Publishing's senior executives were present.
"Please, come this way!"
A waiter approached to guide them.
Takumi walked in front.
Shiori was in the middle of the crowd, and Haru, beside her, was staring intently at Takumi with sparkling eyes, which made Shiori prepare to act. But before she could do anything, Alice, who was walking next to Takumi, suddenly stepped in, blocked his back, and coughed twice.
"Kenji, watch your wife,"
she said in a low voice, and Kenji, dressed in a suit, immediately stopped Haru. Shiori had keen hearing and could still hear Haru's murmurs before he was pulled away.
"Marriage is, without a doubt, a tomb. You can't even look at handsome boys indifferently."
Shiori felt that she should explain to Haru her duties as a wife, but as she approached the venue, she was drawn in by the conversations of some guests beside her.
"Who are those people?"
"Oh, isn't that Alice? Has she returned to the entertainment industry?"
"No, don't you see Kenji Sato? They are representatives of Hinotori Publishing's animation department. The highlight of this carnival is the animation."
"Ah, so the one in front must be Hinotori Publishing's animation director? He's so handsome! I'm still wondering what star he is!"
"I heard he's in his thirties, but he looks so young..."
"Yes, yes!"
Thirties - Shiori looked at Takumi's back with a frown. 'This guy is indeed in his thirties!'
Speaking of which, Shiori remembered often hearing people secretly call Takumi "the man who stays young forever" at Hinotori Publishing. She always found it strange. Now she finally understood that many people didn't know Takumi's true age.
'Didn't Takumi explain it to others?' But think about it, a man in his thirties sounds very majestic and is easy to recognize. Those adults would definitely not be happy to be led by a sixteen-year-old child.
"Sooner or later he'll be discovered, and then it'll be fun..."
Shiori thought it was funny. She could already foresee the scene when others discovered Takumi's true age and looked down.
Just as she was thinking about this, the group suddenly stopped.
"Huh?"
Shiori followed Takumi's gaze and found a small group surrounded by other guests.
"Tanaka is young and promising!"
"Tanaka, this is my business card."
There was a young man in the small group who was particularly popular. Shiori noticed that the faces of several people around her were gloomy. With a glance, she quickly guessed the young man's identity.
"Is that Tanaka, who wants to compete with us for the animation broadcast?"
Shiori looked Tanaka up and down, somewhat disappointed. 'He wasn't very good. His body wasn't well trained. She could knock him down with one punch.'
Tanaka also noticed the people from Hinotori Publishing. He narrowed his eyes, smiled, addressed a few words to the guests around him, and approached with a group of subordinates.
"Good evening, Tanaka,"
Takumi said, extending his hand very courteously. Tanaka was stunned for a moment, and then a cold light flashed in his eyes. 'Mirai-sensei didn't look very good a few months ago; how could he be so handsome today?'
He ignored Takumi's outstretched hand, as if he didn't see it, and his eyes fell on Alice.
"Alice, you've improved again. When can you do my makeup again?"
He understood where that skill came from.
Alice looked at Takumi's outstretched hand and, disgusted by Tanaka's arrogance, replied coldly, "In the next life."
- - - -
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