Kurokawa Akane's choice of the final scene from Romeo and Juliet was not a casual one, but the result of careful consideration.
Their final date was not some make-believe theater troupe tour; they were to perform on stage as real actors. The dating show's film crew and Director Aoyama had both agreed to this choice, so the lobby of the LALALAI Theater Troupe was suddenly filled with additional production staff.
With a mere eight hours of rehearsal time before facing the scrutiny of the troupe's audience at 6 p.m. to present Shakespeare's most ardent and desperate chapter of mutual suicide, the pressure was immense.
However, looking at Kurokawa Akane, who seemed genuinely possessed by the soul of Juliet, Michiya Gōshin just smiled, a flicker of anticipation rising in his heart, which then transformed into complete immersion.
Memorizing the lines in an hour was child's play for him, who possessed the [Newcomer Actor] Entry.
Time passed quickly. He reached out and took the Renaissance-style velvet doublet and long boots belonging to Romeo from a staff member, changed swiftly, and prepared for the first round of rehearsals.
When Michiya Gōshin emerged from behind the curtain again, his entire image had been renewed.
A head of blond hair perfectly captured Romeo's noble air, and the well-fitted, striking costume instantly transformed him into the impulsive, deeply passionate youth from the story who rushes toward death for love.
Without much verbal exchange, the two met each other's gaze and, with a tacit understanding, walked to the center of the stage—to the area marked out by the lights as the "tomb."
"Begin."
Kurokawa Akane's voice was soft, yet it carried a director's decisiveness.
The rehearsal officially began.
Michiya Gōshin stumbled into the space, his steps hurried and frantic, carrying the exhaustion of a long journey and the immense shock of hearing the "news of her death."
His eyes scanned wildly before finally locking onto Kurokawa Akane [Juliet], who lay quietly on the platform (representing the tomb).
"Ah, my love! My wife!"
Michiya Gōshin's voice was hoarse, filled with a rending anguish, every syllable seemingly steeped in despair.
"Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty: Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks…"
Though Shakespeare's story is timeless, the lines were indeed quite a mouthful.
He knelt beside her, his fingers trembling in mid-air, longing to touch the cheek beneath her ivory satin gown, yet fearing to disturb a fragile dream. In the end, his hand only brushed past虚虚地拂过.
The [Newcomer Actor] Entry, operating perfectly!
Michiya Gōshin's eyes greedily traced her features, churning with an unbelievable love, heart-wrenching pain, and an almost crazed obsession.
"Ah, dear Juliet, why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe that unsubstantial death is amorous, and that the lean abhorred monster keeps thee here in dark to be his paramour?"
The monologue he delivered was not a mere recitation, but a true outpouring of emotion.
The pain, so abundant it was nearly overflowing, made the onlooking staff and the show's camera operators subconsciously hold their breath.
Next, Michiya Gōshin's brief conflict with [Paris] (with another male actor from the troupe temporarily reading the lines) was also full of explosive power.
When he said, "Forgive me, cousin! My heart has already died here!" Michiya Gōshin's eyes revealed a resolute gaze, one that was impatient, even violently cruel toward everything, having been consumed by immense sorrow.
After dealing with [Paris], Michiya Gōshin returned to [Juliet]'s side.
At this point, the character's emotions were even more complex. He looked at Tybalt's (Juliet's cousin, whom he had killed) "corpse" with guilt, but more so with a crazed sense of relief that "there was no turning back."
"Alright, alright, this is fine now. Now we can all rest peacefully."
He muttered to himself, his gaze then refocusing on [Juliet]'s face before abruptly changing, becoming incredibly tender and desperate.
"Here's to my love!"
He raised the non-existent vial of poison in his hand, his movement possessing the tragic grandeur and urgency of a martyr, and violently tilted his head back to drink.
Michiya Gōshin's portrayal of the poison taking effect was incredibly layered.
The first stage was the initial violent convulsions and pained groans as strength was rapidly drained from his body. He staggered, finally collapsing heavily beside [Juliet].
His arm still strained to reach for her until his last breath was extinguished. The still posture seemed filled with endless longing and sorrow.
Just as Michiya Gōshin fell, the true climax of the scene arrived.
[Juliet]... awoke.
From the start, Kurokawa Akane's performance established a restrained tone, a stark contrast to Michiya Gōshin's intense, outward display, yet it possessed just as much stage presence.
As the genius stage actress of the LALALAI Theater Troupe, she first let out an extremely soft, dream-like moan. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and then she slowly opened her eyes.
The next moment, those exceptionally bright eyes first showed the confusion and daze of emerging from a state of feigned death.
Then, she saw the lifeless Michiya Gōshin [Romeo] collapsed beside her.
In that instant, her body stiffened violently.
The dating show's cameraman beside them was a professional and immediately captured the change in the girl's facial expression.
Beyond the camera, all other noise had ceased.
Kurokawa Akane did not immediately scream or break down crying, but instead displayed a suffocating horror and disbelief.
Her eyes were fixed on the side of Michiya Gōshin's face, her lips parting and closing slightly without making a sound. After a moment, she extended a finger with extreme slowness and tentatively touched the side of his neck.
"!"
The cold sensation made her snatch her hand back as if she'd been burned.
At that moment, devastating grief finally swept over her entire body like a tsunami.
But Kurokawa Akane still did not wail. Her body simply began to tremble uncontrollably, and two streams of clear tears slowly rolled down from her beautiful eyes, tracing paths across her pale, jade-like cheeks.
Kurokawa Akane's performance was incredible. She precisely captured [Juliet]'s inner world, presenting a very restrained performance.
There was no desperate wailing, yet she portrayed the feeling of ultimate collapse to perfection.
"What's here? A cup, closed in my true love's hand?"
Her voice was as soft as a whisper, broken and hoarse, carrying the dryness of just having awoken and immense grief.
"Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end."
Kurokawa Akane struggled to sit up, her eyes scanning left and right until she finally saw the dagger at [Romeo]'s waist.
And so, at this moment, her expression underwent a subtle change, gradually transitioning from extreme grief to an abnormal calm.
She had already made the resolute decision to follow him in death.
"O happy dagger!"
She drew the dagger, her voice suddenly becoming clear and firm, even carrying a hint of eerie tenderness.
"This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die."
Without the slightest hesitation, Kurokawa Akane aimed the dagger at her heart, her gaze fixed tenderly and longingly on Michiya Gōshin's face.
That look was incredibly complex: it seemed to hold a hint of pouting complaint that he had gone first, the relief of finally being able to reunite with him, anger at the world's obstacles, and even more, a love that transcended life and death.
Then, she forcefully pressed her body onto the dagger (it was a retractable prop), followed by a violent shudder from her body and a muffled sound like a sigh.
Immediately, the girl's body went limp, and she slowly collapsed onto Michiya Gōshin [Romeo]'s chest.
With her last effort, her arms wrapped around him, her cheek resting against his cold chest, as if she had finally found her ultimate destination.
The entire venue fell into a dead silence.
There was no music, no set changes, only the pair of "lovers" embracing in death under the lights, and a tragic atmosphere in the air so thick it was almost suffocating.
A few seconds later.
"Bravo!"
Someone was the first to react, their trembling cry shattering the silence.
The next moment, thunderous applause erupted like a bursting dam!
Everyone present—the members of the LALALAI Theater Troupe, the show's crew, and even the worldly Director Aoyama—was clapping uncontrollably, their faces filled with shock and admiration.
Spectacular!
This wasn't a variety show date at all; it was a truly professional stage performance!
After a while, Michiya Gōshin and Kurokawa Akane slowly sat up almost simultaneously.
Traces of their performance's emotions still lingered on their faces. Their breathing was a bit ragged, and fine beads of sweat dotted their foreheads.
They met each other's eyes and saw the same thing.
It was the satisfying thrill of a performance given one's all, a sense of exhaustion and fulfillment that comes after extreme immersion.
Michiya Gōshin looked at Kurokawa Akane, whose eyes were slightly red but shining with astonishing brightness, and gave her a genuine, appreciative smile.
He reached out and gently brushed away a sweat-dampened strand of hair stuck to her forehead.
"You're incredible, Kurokawa."
Michiya Gōshin said in a low voice, "Now I've truly witnessed your talent for the stage. It's amazing."
Kurokawa Akane was slightly taken aback, and her cheeks seemed to redden a bit more, but she didn't refuse to meet Michiya Gōshin's gaze. Instead, she leaned in a little closer.
"You were amazing too, Michiya-kun. This was my most satisfying... date."
Watching the footage just captured on the monitor, every angle a perfect shot, Director Aoyama was so excited his hands were trembling slightly.
He knew that the content filmed this time far exceeded expectations.
Once the third date's content was broadcast, Kurokawa Akane would undoubtedly become the new queen of buzz.
And although the online attacks against Michiya Gōshin wouldn't just stop, this would let the world know that his acting skills were equally astonishing.
This was the first step in reversing the public's perception.
--------------------
Michiya Gōshin and Kurokawa Akane held hands as they bowed to the audience on the stage that had hosted their brilliant performance.
The afterglow of their Romeo and Juliet performance seemed to linger in the air. The audience's fervent applause and cheers still echoed in their ears. Both their faces glowed with the excitement and satisfaction of a successful show, a special light shining in their eyes.
With the final date over, the two rode back to the dating show's villa together.
Along the way, neither said much, quietly savoring every moment on stage, every line, every exchanged glance.
These were precious memories, deeply etched in each other's hearts.
Of course, Michiya Gōshin had two other points he was even more satisfied with. First, after this episode aired, Kurokawa Akane's acting would also become a hot topic, which would allow for a smoother transition into casting her for We Made a Beautiful Bouquet.
Second was...
He glanced at the system panel.
[Production Queue 1: All Living Things]
[Experience: 72/100]
[Experience: 73/100]
[Experience: 74/100]
That was quite a significant jump. It was his first time performing in a stage play, and it seemed the results were excellent.
Upon returning to the villa, they were met with a warm yet slightly tense atmosphere.
Everyone knew that the final live-streamed finale, the confession night, was imminent. And the episode featuring their brilliant stage performance would officially air the day after tomorrow.
This was undoubtedly the most important moment of the entire dating show journey, and everyone hoped to end it on a perfect note.
As soon as Michiya Gōshin and Kurokawa Akane stepped into the villa, the other four members immediately gathered around.
Although they hadn't gone to the theater, a cameraman from Love is a Required Course in Life had filmed some short clips and sent them to the work group chat, so everyone knew what they had been doing.
MEM's face was alight with an excited smile. "That's incredible! A date where you perform a stage play! You're going to make history."
Asakura Toru also nodded with a smile, her gaze fixed directly on Michiya Gōshin, her eyes full of admiration.
"Even if it was only for about ten minutes, your performances were amazing."
Kumano and Morimoto chimed in with agreement from the side, filling the villa with a cheerful and positive atmosphere.
But no one forgot the main task at hand, and they soon began discussing the division of labor for the finale night's rehearsal.
Morimoto Kengo, as a band member, was chosen by the group to take the lead in designing and planning the content for the live finale. Since it would be in the format of a live band performance, it naturally needed some highlights.
They quickly selected a very suitable song—"Sudden Love."
The group quickly dove into rehearsal. In the practice room, the sound of guitar strings accompanied the singing.
"I don't know where to begin,"
"Time is slipping away silently."
"The words welling up in my heart have vanished without a trace."
"Your beauty is so moving,"
"I can't express my feelings directly~"
Everyone listened quietly to the accompaniment, trying to find their entry point, while Morimoto Kengo occasionally frowned to point out rhythm issues.
Michiya Gōshin and Kurokawa Akane sat to one side, looking at the lyric sheet and talking in low voices. At times, Michiya Gōshin would suggest a change, and Kurokawa Akane would quickly analyze its feasibility and effect with great efficiency.
An unspoken chemistry seemed to have formed between them, and the public controversy surrounding them appeared to have no effect on this working dynamic.
The villa echoed with the sounds of music and discussion from the rehearsal, a scene of everyone working hard toward a common goal.
--------------------
Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Burning Talent Agency building, the atmosphere was somewhat tense.
In a luxuriously decorated yet cold and stark office, Suo Shogo stood with his back to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the bustling scenery of Tokyo outside.
He had just turned forty this year, in the prime of his life. The man's physique was well-maintained; he wore an impeccably tailored dark suit, and his hair was combed without a single strand out of place. His profile exuded the authority and cold severity of someone long accustomed to power.
Although he was ten years older than his younger brother, Suo Atsumu, the sharpness and confident control in his eyes had not diminished in the slightest.
Senior Managing Director Yamamoto stood with his hands at his sides in front of the large desk, fine beads of cold sweat on his forehead, his earlier satisfaction from stirring up trouble behind the scenes long gone.
"Yamamoto."
Suo Shogo's voice was not loud, but it carried an icy pressure, each word hitting the floor like a shard of ice.
"Who gave you permission to make a move on Michiya Gōshin?"
Yamamoto's body jolted. He hurriedly tried to explain: "Vice President! I discovered that Managing Director Suo was already in frequent contact with Michiya Gōshin, so I wanted to strike first to give him a warning, to let him know the price of choosing the wrong side. I was only trying to…"
"Trying to make trouble for me? Or for your pathetic attempt to score points?"
Suo Shogo slowly turned around, his hawk-like gaze locking onto Yamamoto, cutting him off.
"Who do you think Michiya Gōshin is? Some small-time celebrity with a bit of fame you can just push around? He successfully turned the tables on Johnny & Associates because he has influence in the literary world. What could you possibly gain by using such dirty tricks, other than tipping our hand?"
He walked closer step by step, his powerful aura pressing down on Yamamoto so hard he could barely lift his head.
"Although the people you sent were relatively subtle, other agency executives can still trace them back to us with a little investigation."
"And now look. They're all watching how we at Nenshi 'infight,' using such tactics against a rising star with immense potential. Do you have any idea how many ongoing negotiations this will affect? How many people this will make wary of us?"
Yamamoto's face was pale, cold sweat pouring down. "It was my... I was thoughtless. I beg your forgiveness, Vice President!"
Suo Shogo stared at him coldly for a moment. Then, suddenly, the anger on his face receded like a tide, replaced by a deep, inscrutable, and playful expression.
He walked over to the liquor cabinet, poured a glass of whiskey, and gently swirled the amber liquid.
"Forget it."
He suddenly spoke, his tone becoming much calmer. "What's done is done. Berating you is useless."
Yamamoto looked up in surprise, hardly believing his ears. He had been suddenly summoned by Suo Shogo today and was feeling extremely uncertain.
If he were truly punished, transferred to a subsidiary company to do menial work, his life would be over.
Suo Shogo took a sip of his drink, his gaze once again turning to the window as if talking to himself.
"Atsumu... he's more proactive than I thought, to be able to sway Michiya Gōshin so quickly. He must have made him quite a promise."
He paused, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.
"Michiya Gōshin... he certainly is an interesting person. To be able to stand so firmly on the show under so much public pressure, and even put on some kind of stage play performance?"
"How very interesting."
Nenshi's tentacles were nearly everywhere, so the intel about Love is a Required Course in Life's visit to the LALALAI Theater Troupe had reached his desk almost immediately.
"Then let them keep playing. I'm rather curious to see..."
Suo Shogo's voice was calm. "...what kind of tricks my dear little brother and this 'sword' he's chosen can pull off. Let's see if they can withstand a real storm."
He looked at Yamamoto, his eyes growing profound. "What's past is past. No need to increase the pressure. For now, let's just see how Michiya Gōshin plans to turn this around."
Yamamoto was completely bewildered, unable to keep up with the president's train of thought, and could only stammer his assent.
"Yes... yes, Vice President!"
"You may go."
Suo Shogo waved his hand and turned his back again.
Yamamoto, as if granted amnesty, practically bowed his way out of the office.
The office returned to silence.
Suo Shogo stood alone before the window, looking down on the bustling yet cold city below.
His pride and confidence meant he didn't truly take his brother's challenge seriously. He even felt it was a good opportunity to observe his opponent, a 'training exercise,' even.
Let Suo Atsumu and Michiya Gōshin go ahead and make their moves, stir things up. It would be a perfect chance for him to see their cards and their methods.
His father's position would definitely be his.
________________________________________
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