In the single-occupancy ward in Tochigi Prefecture, nearly a month after Michiya Gōshin's admission, the room had shed its initial scent of disinfectant, gradually taking on the breath of life.
Michiya Gōshin's recovery was progressing well. Although the plaster cast on his left arm remained conspicuous, color had returned to his face, and his spirits were much improved.
During most of his convalescence, he would sit half-reclined on the raised hospital bed, a thin silver-grey laptop perched on the specially adjusted tray table, the screen's glow illuminating his focused profile.
The story of We Made a Beautiful Bouquet had reached its concluding stage. All the narrative threads were beginning to converge, and the emotional entanglement between the male and female leads was drawing to a close.
The sound of keystrokes gradually became the most constant background noise in this ward.
And within this quiet ward, there were two steadfast "guardian" young ladies: Kurokawa Akane and Kato Megumi.
Just as she had said before, Kurokawa Akane had indeed pushed aside all her work schedules for this period, spending a vast amount of time here.
Sometimes she would sit quietly on the sofa to the side, leafing through thick acting textbooks, but more often, her gaze would involuntarily drift toward Michiya Gōshin on the bed, staring at him as he frowned in thought or smiled with sudden realization.
A touch of tenderness brewed in the girl's heart, along with the brimming anticipation lingering from their last conversation.
While staying here, she would actively help Michiya Gōshin refill his cup with warm water and gently remind him to rest after he had been concentrating for a long time.
Kato Megumi's presence, however, was entirely different.
She was always quiet, like a green plant placed in a corner—noiseless, yet possessing its own vibrant vitality.
Kato Megumi usually chose a spot by the window. Although Michiya Gōshin's current work had come to a halt due to his injury, as an artist assistant, she was not without things to do; she needed to constantly use her tablet to help collect incoming and outgoing work correspondence and monitor public opinion online.
After all, ever since Michiya Gōshin was hospitalized, his fans had been constantly monitoring his recovery status.
Although Kato Megumi spoke very little, whenever Michiya Gōshin needed something, a single glance was all it took for the girl to understand perfectly and handle it for him.
As an artist assistant, her capabilities truly put Michiya Gōshin at ease.
Besides the two of them, Yamazaki Kento would also occasionally drop by to visit his good brother.
He liked to bring over the latest gossip and snacks to share with Michiya Gōshin, arriving boisterously, but often, upon sensing a certain atmosphere of being "superfluous," he would immediately and tactfully slip away—truly a shrewd character.
Sakurajima Mai's visits, on the other hand, always managed to stir up some small waves.
As an actress with high national recognition, the girl's schedule was dense, yet she would always squeeze out a few hours every few days to visit. Every arrival brought carefully prepared nourishing soups or high-end fruits, along with concerned inquiries about Michiya Gōshin's recovery.
Sakurajima Mai often recalled the scene where she had accidentally fallen and Michiya Gōshin had flown over to save her, so his figure became increasingly distinct in her heart.
Therefore, whenever she came to visit, it would immediately trigger another strange "contest" in the ward—the feeding competition.
Perhaps due to the regret of failing to do so during her first visit, or perhaps because Kurokawa Akane's persistent "exclusive operation" stimulated a subtle competitiveness in her heart, Sakurajima Mai seemed particularly fixated on this matter.
"Michiya-kun, I specially stewed crucian carp soup at home today. It's excellent for wound healing. Let me feed you."
Sakurajima Mai would naturally pick up the bowl and spoon, her smile gentle and dignified, carrying a touch of senior-like concern.
At this moment, Kurokawa Akane would often immediately step forward, her tone equally gentle but carrying a clear persistence.
"No need to trouble yourself, Sakurajima-san. I'll do it. I've been doing these things all along, so I'm more familiar with Michiya-kun's tastes and eating speed."
The words "all along" and "familiar" were slightly emphasized, as if stressing a certain sovereignty.
"Hehe, Kurokawa-san, there's no need to be so tense. I see you working hard taking care of Michiya-kun every day; it's only right for me to share the burden of such small matters."
The smile on Sakurajima Mai's face remained unchanged, but her eyes met Kurokawa Akane's gaze, and the air seemed to crackle with invisible electric sparks.
Michiya Gōshin would usually be caught in the middle, wearing an expression of helplessness and amusement, attempting to smooth things over. "If it really comes to it, I can do it myself. I've been recovering quite well lately..."
"No!" x2
The two women spoke almost in unison, then looked at each other again, the atmosphere becoming even more subtle.
Sometimes, in these stalemates, that bowl of soup or that bento box would miraculously end up in the hands of Kato Megumi, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines.
"Kato-san, then... you do it."
The short-haired girl tilted her head slightly, seeming a bit surprised, but looking at the varying expressions of Mai and Akane, she chose to calmly accept it, actively saying, "Then let me do it for now. The soup won't taste good if it gets cold."
Kato Megumi's movements showed no hesitation; rather, she had originally wanted to say that as an artist assistant, it was no problem for her to do this work, but Kurokawa Akane had given her absolutely no chance.
So once it was her turn, Kato Megumi could perform properly.
Her movements were natural, like completing a daily task—spoon by spoon, temperature moderate, speed steady—which inexplicably dissipated the tit-for-tat tension from moments before.
Sakurajima Mai and Kurokawa Akane would watch her, always falling into a peculiar silence.
In this way, the feeding rights circulated among the three in a subtle manner, becoming a unique scenic line in the daily life of this ward.
On another note, the days of recuperation were not entirely cut off from the world.
Occasionally, when his physical condition was good, Michiya Gōshin would pick up his phone, log into his Twitter account which now had over a million followers, and post some life updates.
His tweets were usually concise, with photos sometimes showing a corner of the sky outside the window, sometimes a ceramic puppy on the bedside table, or his lunch for the day, and so on.
These daily life snippets were naturally welcomed by fans, and everyone's replies were very warm.
"Rest well, Michiya-kun!"
"Waiting for your return!"
"Looking forward to Gōshin-kun's continued comeback, waiting for your [Arisu Ryōhei]."
These sporadic updates constantly maintained the buzz and soothed those anxiously awaiting his return. Knowing through various channels that he was recovering, their anticipation grew even more earnest, gathering into an invisible wave that silently surged within the ocean of the internet.
Time thus quietly slipped into deep winter.
As the first month of recuperation was drawing to a close, one morning, the ward welcomed a visitor who was unexpected yet stood to reason.
Suo Atsumu arrived with the air of someone who had traveled a long way.
He wore a well-tailored dark coat, his features as handsome as ever, but a layer of urgency rarely seen before clouded his brow. Behind him followed a young man carrying a briefcase, looking like an assistant—likely his aide.
Suo Atsumu's appearance sobered the daily atmosphere of the ward instantly. Kurokawa Akane and Kato Megumi, who were staying by the side, both stopped what they were doing.
Michiya Gōshin did not seem surprised. He nodded to Suo Atsumu, then spoke gently to Kurokawa Akane and Kato Megumi, "Kurokawa, Kato-san, could I trouble you to take a break outside for a moment? I have some matters I'd like to discuss with Suo-san alone."
"Okay, then we'll go sit in the cafe downstairs."
A trace of doubt flashed through Kurokawa Akane's eyes, but seeing Michiya Gōshin's calm yet firm gaze, she nodded compliantly and left the ward with Kato Megumi.
The door closed gently.
Suo Atsumu signaled for his assistant to wait outside. He walked to the hospital bed, first carefully examining Michiya Gōshin's complexion, his tense expression relaxing slightly.
"Michiya-sensei, by the looks of it, you're recovering well. Is your arm okay?"
"It's alright. Bones need time to heal, but it doesn't hurt as much anymore. Thank you for your concern."
Michiya Gōshin gestured for him to sit down. "Suo-san, it seems your visit today isn't just a simple sick call."
A fleeting expression that couldn't quite be called a smile appeared on Suo Atsumu's face. "Indeed. Time waits for no one, especially my time."
He took a deep breath, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice, revealing a profound sense of seriousness. "My older brother, Suo Shogo, has made his move. He directly acquired a small film production company—Cloud Pictures."
Michiya Gōshin's gaze flickered slightly as he listened quietly.
"Although that company isn't large in scale, it possesses strong original content capabilities and absolutely cannot be underestimated."
Suo Atsumu's tone grew heavier. "The year before last, they produced a dark horse hit with a box office of over three billion yen on an extremely low budget! The team is ready-made and has proven their excellence. This move by my brother was fast and ruthless; he has already seized the initiative."
"Is this a contest?"
Michiya Gōshin quickly understood his meaning. Since Suo Atsumu was explaining his brother's actions, it meant their struggle for succession was now on the table.
In the next moment, the air in the ward seemed to stagnate due to the scent of gunpowder in Suo Atsumu's words.
"Father... will officially step down as President at the end of next year."
Suo Atsumu looked at Michiya Gōshin, his eyes sharp. "The time left for me... is at most one year. I must start preparations in advance. I can't wait for your TV drama to air before starting the film project. I need something substantial that I can present immediately to build a team, convince investors, and build momentum!"
His gaze burned as he stared tightly at Michiya Gōshin, making no effort to hide his ambition.
"Michiya-sensei, our last collaboration fully demonstrated your ability and my sincerity. So this time, how is that film script you mentioned before? I need it. I need it now!"
Michiya Gōshin fell silent for a moment, seemingly evaluating the urgency and determination in Suo Atsumu's words.
After a while, he slowly operated his laptop, opened a folder, and turned the screen toward Suo Atsumu.
"The first draft is complete. Subsequent revisions will mostly be polishing details," he said calmly. "Suo-san, you can take a look first."
Suo Atsumu immediately leaned closer to the screen, almost holding his breath, and began to read rapidly and intently.
The only sounds left in the ward were his sliding of the trackpad and his own occasionally deepening breathing.
Time passed second by second. The expression on Suo Atsumu's face shifted from initial urgency and scrutiny to immersion and focus. His brows furrowed and smoothed in turn, and when reading certain paragraphs, his fingertips would even pause unconsciously.
As Suo Fumio's second son, Suo Atsumu had received an elite education since childhood and was himself a top graduate of Todai. He naturally understood what kind of literary works were of high quality.
The story of We Made a Beautiful Bouquet had no earth-shattering plot twists, no melodramatic tropes designed to force emotion. It simply used strokes so delicate they were almost gentle to depict the meeting and resonance of two souls—like two books placed side by side, sharing a vast amount of similar and synchronized content.
It wrote of shared warm days, of the silent growth of tacit understanding, and of the subtle yet clear cracks that formed when reality quietly eroded ideals.
When the flowering season inevitably ended, it wrote of a peaceful farewell carried with smiles and tears.
It was about love, but even more about growth, and how to find the courage to move forward amidst the nostalgia for lost beauty.
This story was not intense, but like a cup of warm water, it slowly soaked into the heart, enough to evoke the deepest resonance and melancholy.
About an hour later, Suo Atsumu finally looked up and let out a long breath.
Having finished the story, his eyes finally revealed the bright look of one who has found a rare treasure.
"Michiya-sensei..." Suo Atsumu's tone deepened, the ambition on his face revealing itself once more.
"I really didn't judge you wrongly."
He slapped his knee forcefully, his emotions somewhat agitated.
"This is it! This is the feeling I need! Able to move hearts, able to leave a lingering aftertaste, able to spark discussion! It's not a popcorn movie, but it has the potential to become a topical hit, or even... win awards!"
The young chaebol second son stood up abruptly, paced back and forth a couple of times, then decisively waved to the assistant waiting outside.
The assistant entered immediately, opened the briefcase, and took out two documents.
"This is a top-level non-disclosure agreement."
Suo Atsumu handed the document to Michiya Gōshin, his tone brokering no argument. "After we sign the NDA, I need to copy the electronic original immediately. Then my team needs to evaluate it at the fastest speed possible and formulate a detailed production and promotion plan!"
Michiya Gōshin browsed the terms of the agreement carefully, and after confirming there were no errors, signed his name.
Suo Atsumu also signed quickly, and both parties kept a copy.
The assistant carefully copied the electronic script file using a portable laptop and applied strict encryption.
"As for the promotional campaign... let's start directly after the New Year holidays end!"
Suo Atsumu's mind was obviously already spinning with plans, his eyes twinkling with the shrewdness of a merchant and the excitement of a creator.
"How about we use the headline... 'Michiya-sensei's Second Strike: A Film Script Created in a Hospital Ward'? This sentence can definitely stir up more discussion—topicality, attention on you, it has it all! Then I can have the team release some preview chapters that don't involve the core plot later on to whet the audience's appetite!"
He grew more excited as he spoke, clapping his hands and laughing aloud.
"Wait until the first season of your Alice in Borderland is finished filming... we will immediately announce the film project! We'll directly announce the male and female leads!"
As he spoke, he cast a meaningful glance toward the ward door, clearly hinting at Kurokawa Akane, since Michiya Gōshin had mentioned letting Kurokawa Akane be the female lead.
"I need you to recover as soon as possible, Michiya-sensei."
Suo Atsumu stared earnestly at Michiya Gōshin's face, speaking one word at a time.
"The TV drama wraps up, and the movie follows immediately! Next year will be our most critical year!"
"As long as I can beat my big brother, Nenshi will be your most solid backing in the future!"
After quickly going over a few more details regarding team coordination and subsequent arrangements, Suo Atsumu left with his assistant in a whirlwind, just as hurriedly as he had arrived.
A while later, Kurokawa Akane and Kato Megumi returned.
Kato Megumi remained calm, while Kurokawa Akane looked at Michiya Gōshin with inquiry in her eyes.
Michiya Gōshin smiled at her and waved his hand, signaling that nothing was amiss.
By evening, Kato Megumi went downstairs to buy food, leaving only Michiya Gōshin and Kurokawa Akane in the ward.
The afterglow of the setting sun penetrated the window, dyeing the room a warm orange-yellow.
"Did Suo-san... come to discuss important work?"
Kurokawa Akane asked softly while carefully helping Michiya Gōshin adjust the back of the hospital bed.
"Mn."
Michiya Gōshin nodded, looking at the setting sun gradually sinking outside the window.
"It's about a film project for next year. He's a bit impatient."
"Is it We Made a Beautiful Bouquet?"
Kurokawa Akane's heartbeat quietly accelerated. She looked at Michiya Gōshin's computer, remembering the promise she had made with him earlier.
Michiya Gōshin turned his head to look at her, his gaze appearing exceptionally gentle in the setting sun.
"Yes. And this is a very important project. We not only have to act out the story but also carefully choreograph its strengths. When the time comes... it might be very tiring."
Kurokawa Akane immediately felt a rush of warmth surge in her heart, accompanied by immense anticipation and a trace of nervousness.
And a longing that belonged solely to her.
To be able to film a romance movie with Michiya Gōshin—for Kurokawa Akane, this was a dreamlike scenario.
She nodded vigorously. "As long as it's what Michiya-kun needs, I will definitely give it my all!"
The two fell silent for a moment, enjoying this brief, quiet warmth.
Suddenly, Michiya Gōshin widened his eyes slightly and looked out the window.
"Look, it's snowing."
Hearing this, Kurokawa Akane also turned to look out the window.
Sure enough, fine white snowflakes had quietly begun to fall at some point, shimmering with a silvery-white light under the last glow of the setting sun and the gradually lighting city neon.
"Yes, it is."
Kurokawa Akane responded softly, her eyes looking a bit dazed as she watched the first snow.
"It's snowing."
Michiya Gōshin withdrew his gaze from the window and let it fall on Kurokawa Akane's profile, his voice gentle and carrying a touch of emotion.
"It will be New Year's soon."
His sentence was like a soft rest note.
Slowly drawing the curtain on this long winter day filled with accidents, pain, companionship, surging hidden emotions, and career turning points.
Amidst the arrival of the first snow and the anticipation of the coming New Year, everything came to a temporary pause.
Those answers buried deep in the heart would quietly plant their seeds in the spring after the ice and snow melted, waiting to break through the soil.
Next year, hopefully, will be a smooth and successful year.
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