"It's over."
Seeing people looking at Takumi, Tanaka felt relieved.
When luck is on your side, it's truly unstoppable. At first, Tanaka didn't think of revealing Takumi's identity, because revealing it would mean giving him publicity, which wasn't convenient for him. But, by chance, he saw the newspaper and discovered that Takumi was at the scene of the accident on the Kamo River, and he didn't save anyone.
For ordinary people, it's not a big deal to see someone die without saving them, but for a well-known mangaka, it can be a big problem if it's publicized lightly. 'Only a fool wouldn't use such a useful resource.'
Today, not only did he expose Takumi's identity, but he could also humiliate him.
"Now, his reputation will be ruined,"
Tanaka thought proudly, but the next instant, he heard an furious voice.
"He is not Mirai-sensei!"
A man came out of the crowd.
"He is..."
"Hirano-sensei?"
Hirano-sensei, a music teacher at Osaka's N.º 1 High School, approached Takumi. He seemed calm and contained his anger, which made the people around him fall silent. 'What is this man doing here?'
People had so many doubts. Hirano-sensei approached Takumi, his expression softened a little, and then he turned and declared: "He is my student. If anyone wants to frame him, don't make up stories. Show real evidence!"
The place quieted down, and people looked at each other, surprise reflected in their eyes.
"Didn't Hirano-sensei stop teaching...?"
"I remember all his students are musical geniuses!"
"It's truly unexpected. I thought he had retired."
Tanaka listened to the conversations around him and frowned. 'Hirano-sensei, he knew this person. He was a musical expert in Osaka. He had taught many singers and had a certain reputation in the Japanese music industry.'
He would not easily admit his disciples. Once he did, he would be a genius with enough to make a name for himself in the music industry.
'Takumi, is this kid a musical genius?'
Tanaka was a little confused. He had investigated Takumi's information and knew that he hadn't taken it seriously when studying music. If he wasn't a mangaka, 'how could a mangaka succeed in music?! It was ridiculous!'
"So that handsome boy is a rising star in the music industry?"
"This can be news; write it down; our Osaka is going to have another singer."
"He has a spectacular appearance; I've even thought of a title: a new idol singer has emerged!"
No matter what Tanaka thought, the others at the venue were a little agitated, and the main media outlets were ready to act. And this was not over yet; suddenly, a girl shouted:
"I remember he was thanking the person who knew how to play the piano last time!"
"Yes, did he play Time, After, Time?"
These two sentences shocked the place, exciting the media.
"Time, After, Time?" 'Isn't that a popular song in many stores?'
"Is he a pianist?"
"No, I think I heard that Time, After, Time's pianist is its composer. Could he also be a composer?"
"Damn it, is he still a composer?!"
The room immediately came to life, and the media took out their cameras and focused them on Takumi. Some star agents couldn't keep calm and looked at him with flushed faces.
Handsome, knows how to play the piano, knows how to compose music... 'This person will probably become a big star!'
"What's wrong?"
Tanaka was dumbfounded. 'Why did the situation turn out like this? Shouldn't everyone believe the relationship between Takumi and Mirai-sensei? Why was the topic distorted?'
In fact, the matter of "Takumi equals Mirai-sensei" was originally unfounded. Few people would believe this speculation based on biased words and a newspaper. Moreover, Hirano-sensei's and the girl's words were very real, which immediately attracted the attention of others.
Tanaka's joy was poured out like cold water, and his plan was on the verge of failure.
"No!"
Tanaka gritted his teeth. He couldn't fail. The people from... 'The television station must have wondered if he was ruining the carnival. If he failed this time, it would be difficult to broadcast The Young Emperor smoothly.'
"He could only ruin Mirai-sensei's reputation and become the sole candidate for the Anime Golden Paradise animation!" Tanaka, with a piercing gaze, silently gestured to the man on stage, asking him to find a way to get back on topic and mend the relationship between Takumi and Mirai-sensei.
The man nodded, turned around, and said:
"Hirano-sensei, don't change the subject. The person next to you is Mirai-sensei. I want to ask him why he remained indifferent when he saw his readers jump into the river!"
"Mirai-sensei, you have to apologize! What qualifications do you have to present your work on television!"
His words were a little unreasonable. Some in the audience wanted to refute, but others dressed as reporters crowded to the front and interrupted their rebuttal.
"Come on, come on!"
"We want to interview this Mirai-sensei!"
It was not confirmed that Takumi was Mirai-sensei, but these reporters seemed very excited. They were Tanaka's hired assistants and quickly surrounded Takumi.
They pushed Hirano-sensei, furious. Just as he was about to speak, at that instant:
"Get out of here! Don't come closer!"
A girl suddenly ran in front of Takumi and easily pushed away those around him.
It was Shiori. She spread her arms and glared at everyone like a tigress: "Takumi is not Mirai-sensei."
Takumi looked at her in astonishment.
"Shiori...".
"You'll be fine." Shiori said angrily without turning her head: "No one can hurt you!"
A warm current ran through Takumi's heart, and then a wave of apologies overwhelmed him...
He looked ahead and around him. Unconsciously, everyone was looking at him, and he became the center of attention at the carnival.
At that moment, if Takumi explained himself according to Hirano-sensei's words, Mirai-sensei's identity could still be kept secret. But he hesitated. 'If he did, how would he explain his concealment today when it was exposed in the future?'
'Half a year had passed; should he continue to keep it a secret?'
Takumi narrowed his eyes, thinking calmly, and his gaze became increasingly sharp.
"Shiori, thank you." Takumi took Shiori's hand, pulled her back, and faced the countless gazes in the venue.
"..."
He exhaled lightly and said, "Yes, I am Mirai-sensei."
"Bang!"
At the venue's entrance, Alice, who had rushed over with Takeshi and several witnesses, heard a crack and dropped her phone to the floor.
Unconsciously, she looked at Takumi in astonishment.
Time seemed to have stopped. The exclamations of the people had not yet sounded. The lights moved slowly. Everything became so slow, only Alice, her eyes blazing.
"Here it comes..."
Her heart pounded, filled with trembling joy.
"Takumi has finally let loose!"
The next instant, the screams of thousands of girls echoed through the venue.
- - - -
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