A fine drizzle silently soaked the final stage of Love is a Required Course in Life.
Asakura Toru stood before Michiya Gōshin, holding that pure white letter. Her hair was dotted with tiny water droplets, making her resemble a hazy and fragile flower in the rain.
She took a deep breath, her ethereal voice reciting not a fiery confession, but a gentle whisper steeped in gratitude and farewell.
"Michiya-sensei."
"Yes, I'm here."
Michiya Gōshin knew she would choose him in this segment, so his expression was calm.
"Although joining this show was an act of willfulness on my part, being able to meet you here has been a very fortunate thing."
Asakura Toru looked up, her transparent, azure eyes fixed on the young man before her.
Holding the letter, she began to read slowly.
"To... Michiya-kun."
The opening line made the entire audience hold their breath.
"Thank you for telling me on that slow train that the scenery along the way needs to be seen with the heart."
"Thank you for sharing your lunchbox with me. The time with you was very quiet, like the clouds flowing outside the window."
What she wrote contained no intense emotions, only a faint memory washed clean by the rain—pure and precious, carrying the unique hazy poetry of Asakura Toru herself.
"I know this might not be the answer you're looking for."
Asakura Toru gently shook her head, raised her eyes to look at him again, and offered a very slight but incredibly sincere smile that even held a hint of relief.
"This letter is just to tell you that I hope, from now on, Michiya-sensei has a smooth journey. Don't be influenced by the outside world, and become the most dazzling person you can be."
She finished reading.
The letter's content was not a battle cry, but rather a gentle farewell poem.
In her own unique way, Asakura Toru had sensed his distance and unreachability, choosing the most graceful exit that would leave no burden.
"I know you won't choose me, and it's impossible for my own feelings of love to blossom so quickly, but I still want to say..."
She paused, her tone suddenly becoming lighthearted again.
"Michiya-sensei, I want to close the distance between us. That's my purest and most honest feeling."
The girl extended her hand, a smile on her face.
This was a confession that wasn't a confession, but Michiya Gōshin knew that Asakura Toru wasn't acting for the sake of the show's effect; these were her true thoughts.
When her words fell, the scene was silent, save for the rustling of the rain.
The live comments had already started to scroll nonstop.
[Wow! Asakura-san is so brave!]
[I thought she wasn't the type to dare express herself, she's amazing!]
[I'll ship AsaYū for life!]
[Say yes to her! What are you standing there for?]
[Quick, I'm telling you to say yes! Don't make me get on my knees and beg you!]
Michiya Gōshin listened to her words earnestly, gazing at the girl before him as raindrops trickled down his well-defined cheeks.
A moment later, he gave Asakura Toru a deep, extremely solemn bow.
"Thank you, Asakura-san."
"The scenery we saw together, the quiet moments we shared—those are very precious memories to me. I look forward to seeing you shine on a much bigger stage in the future."
Michiya Gōshin's response was gentle and graceful.
He both clearly rejected the 'romantic feelings' that had developed on the show and sincerely affirmed her value, making a very earnest promise.
However, this impeccable response, in the eyes of tens of millions of viewers—especially those who were deeply invested or simply wanted to see a happy ending—was undoubtedly a heavy blow.
Not to mention, comments about Michiya Gōshin 'playing with emotions' were still flooding the live chat. The next moment, the content of the comments exploded, coming on even more fiercely than before.
[He rejected her?! He actually rejected her?!]
[Aaaah, Tōru-chan is so great! What right do you have to reject her!]
[Michiya Gōshin, you have no heart.]
[Was that super sweet date with Tōru-chan all an act? I'm gonna be sick!]
[He really is a scumbag who plays with people's feelings!]
[Do authors get to hurt people's feelings like this?]
[Unfollowed! I'm never reading his books again.]
[I'm burning my copy of Love Letter when I get home today!]
Beyond that, the 'AsaYū' ship's group chat descended into a chorus of wails, as if their entire world had turned grey.
While the online furor was still escalating, MEM-cho took a deep breath, put on her energetic smile again, and strode forward.
She picked up an envelope printed with a cute rabbit pattern and, likewise without hesitation, walked up to Michiya Gōshin.
"Michiya-sensei!"
Her voice was as full of life as ever, breaking the heavy atmosphere.
"My letter isn't a confession! You're not allowed to feel pressured!"
The girl opened the letter with a grin and began to read.
"To my—best amusement park buddy, Michiya-sensei."
"Thank you for taking me to Disneyland for a super fun day! You really are a very, very reliable and interesting friend!"
"I hope we can hang out again after the show ends!"
"As good friends, of course! I'll be counting on your advice for my future fashion videos, too!"
"That's all!"
She read quickly and clearly, ending with a cute wink.
This completely unexpected, cheerful, and pleasant 'friend declaration' was like a ray of sunshine that temporarily dispelled the gloom, instantly easing the tense atmosphere considerably.
Michiya Gōshin couldn't help but laugh, the carefulness he felt when facing Asakura Toru transforming into genuine ease.
"Of course. We're already good friends, MEM-cho-san. My phone is always open for your call in the future."
[Ah! MEM-cho is a little angel!]
[That's great! Best friends!]
[This is so nice, much more relaxed!]
[MEM-cho is a little sun!]
[So Michiya Gōshin just doesn't like Tōru-chan's type?]
However, the relaxed situation was only temporary.
Everyone knew that the final, and most important, young woman was about to take the stage.
Kurokawa Akane stood still for a few seconds. The rain seemed to fall a bit more heavily in that moment.
Seeing this, Director Aoyama immediately gave a command through his headset: "The rain's getting heavier. Everyone move to the glass pavilion nearby and continue! Cameras follow, ensure audio is clear!"
The staff moved quickly, and the members also relocated to an exquisite, transparent glass pavilion not far away.
The pavilion's eaves blocked the rain, but the streams of water trickling down the glass walls and the blurry, rain-swept scenery outside created an even more intimate and dramatic atmosphere.
Every viewer's gaze was fixed on Kurokawa Akane.
She was exceptionally beautiful today. Her long dress shimmered delicately under the pavilion's soft lights. Holding a plain, unadorned envelope, she walked with steady steps to stand before Michiya Gōshin.
It was unusually quiet inside the pavilion, with only the sound of the pouring rain outside.
Kurokawa Akane raised her head, her gaze calm as she looked directly at Michiya Gōshin. But beneath that calmness, incredibly complex emotions seemed to be churning.
"Michiya-kun."
"Yes, Kurokawa."
Michiya Gōshin's mood wasn't heavy, because he knew Kurokawa Akane was not one to be swayed by emotions. Since the two of them had long been clear about his 'special reason' for joining the show, today's final response should be a very simple affair.
Kurokawa Akane would 'confess,' and then he would reject her.
Finally, they would play the 'Wolf' conversation, and this journey would come to an end.
"I promised you before that I would always stand by your side and help you achieve your goals."
"But today, two new thoughts have come to me."
"They're fighting in my mind, and I can't choose between them."
Kurokawa Akane's expression was a bit strange, which immediately made Michiya Gōshin nervous.
"Kurokawa, what are you planning to say?"
"Wait a moment. Let me read the letter first."
She opened the envelope. Her voice was different from Juliet's on stage, and different from her usual absolute rationality during analysis. It carried a deliberately controlled stability, yet every word was crystal clear.
"Michiya-kun, thank you very much for your care during this time."
"We can be considered old acquaintances, from the set of 49 to this show. We've shared many memories together."
"Discussing scripts with you, and especially rehearsing and performing Romeo and Juliet together, has been incredibly rewarding and has led me to many valuable reflections."
Her gaze lowered slightly to the letter, her thick eyelashes hiding her true emotions.
"You are a meticulous thinker, a person with clear goals, and you are extremely dazzling."
"Every time I'm with you, I get an uncontrollable urge to figure you out."
"Like a meticulously crafted play, the plot is captivating, yet it's difficult to easily grasp the full picture."
This statement was almost blunt, but she had wrapped it in very rational phrasing.
"This letter may not be able to fully express all my thoughts, but I hope you know that getting to know you, and forming this special bond with you, is one of the most important things I've gained from this show."
Kurokawa Akane looked up again, her gaze burning as she looked at him, as if making one last silent confirmation.
"Whatever the future holds, I hope we can both achieve the success we deserve on our chosen paths."
"However... on the path forward, I hope you can always stay by my side."
"This is my deepest thought."
"This isn't a confession, you know. This is the truest emotion in my heart."
"Kurokawa..."
Michiya Gōshin was somewhat moved.
"Alright, I've said what's in the letter. What comes next is not from the letter."
Kurokawa Akane paused, then spoke again.
"Michiya-kun."
The girl suddenly extended her hand. Her fair skin was dotted with water droplets, like beautiful porcelain.
"Can you hold my hand?"
[Whoa!]
[This kind of confession is so cool!]
[As expected of Kurokawa-san. This feels just like a stage play.]
"..."
Michiya Gōshin let out a sigh of relief internally.
Although Kurokawa Akane's sudden words had left him a bit dizzy, at least she didn't say anything that couldn't be taken back in the end.
This was good.
Michiya Gōshin remained silent for a few seconds, the air seemingly frozen.
Ultimately, he did not reach out his hand. His voice was deep and clear, carrying an almost cold calmness and formulaic politeness, yet it held a new, indescribable solemnity.
"Thank you, Kurokawa."
"You are a very outstanding actress and woman. You possess an incredible sense of focus and astounding professionalism. All of this has left an extremely deep impression on me."
"You are one of the actresses with the most potential and explosive power I have ever seen."
"I will long remember the stage of Romeo and Juliet. I hope we both have bright futures ahead of us."
He rejected her.
He rejected someone again!
And he rejected two women in a row!
At that moment, the live chat and the entire online world were thrown into a vortex of complete madness!
The wave of anger reached an unprecedented peak!
[Rejected again?! He even rejected Kurokawa?!]
[Michiya Gōshin! What the hell did you come here for?!]
[Two! He rejected both! Did you come here to be a judge?!]
[Scumbag! Cold-blooded! Hypocrite! Get out of the entertainment industry!]
[I feel so bad for Kurokawa and Asakura... that look in her eyes... it broke my heart...]
[Boycott Michiya Gōshin!]
[Inviting someone like this was the production team's biggest failure!]
[No wonder there's been so much negative press about him lately. He really is scum!]
After Michiya Gōshin rejected Kurokawa Akane, Twitter's trending list was completely dominated by hashtags from the show.
#MichiyaGōshinDoubleKill shot to the top of the Twitter trends, its popularity unrivaled.
The internet was instantly flooded with overwhelming verbal abuse and calls for a boycott. Furious viewers surged like a tsunami toward Michiya Gōshin's and the production team's social media accounts.
Even many of Michiya Gōshin's ship fan groups, which Natsukawa Yuki was part of, experienced some schisms. Of course, Michiya Gōshin's solo stan fan groups were quiet, and some hardcore 'girlfriend' fans were even offering congratulations.
All of this made even a top fan like her feel uneasy.
"What is he doing? Yū-kun..."
"Don't scare me like this."
In front of the large screen, the expression on Kato Arashi, president of Hoshino Talent Agency, was also complicated. Neither he nor manager Nakahara Kazuya knew anything about the 'Wolf' situation, so they were very surprised by this turn of events.
"Nakahara."
Kato Arashi turned his head and asked, "Did Michiya-kun tell you how he planned to resolve this?"
Manager Nakahara Kazuya's face was ashen.
"He didn't say. He only said that all the turmoil would subside after the show's finale."
"But with him rejecting two people at once, I'm afraid this will just add more fuel to the existing negative sentiment."
"Not necessarily."
At that moment, Kato Megumi, who was sitting beside them, suddenly spoke up, her eyes fixed on the young man on the screen.
"I feel like there are other reasons."
"Aunt, let's keep watching."
On the live broadcast, after hearing Michiya Gōshin's 'rejection' of 'bright futures ahead,' Kurokawa Akane's face showed an extremely brief but incredibly precise micro-expression.
The girl's jawline tightened slightly, as if she were clenching her teeth. A flash of hurt and disbelief crossed the depths of her eyes before she forcibly suppressed it, transforming it into a look of sorrow mixed with disappointment, grievance, and a forced composure.
This expression was infinitely magnified by the high-definition cameras that had been prepared in advance, instantly blowing away the last shred of the audience's reason!
Of course, this was a piece of acting she had thought of beforehand to ensure Michiya Gōshin's plan would succeed.
It was all to make the final reversal even more perfect.
[Kurokawa-san!!!]
[Michiya Gōshin, you're really not human!]
[Look what you've done!]
[Damn it, I'm going crazy with rage!]
[I'll be a Michiya Gōshin anti for life, no explanation needed! That bastard!]
Director Aoyama watched the completely out-of-control—yet entirely expected—scene unfold on the monitor screens, looking at the record-breaking, terrifying popularity data.
He knew the time had come. It was time to detonate the final truth bomb that would reverse everything.
At this devastating moment of universal condemnation, when emotions had reached their boiling point, he picked up his walkie-talkie and issued the final command in a voice that was the epitome of calm: "Michiya-kun, it's your turn to speak."
"Understood."
Michiya Gōshin understood that the most crucial moment had arrived. He straightened his clothes and, facing the cameras, walked to the center of the courtyard, the focus of everyone's attention.
"Everyone, the confession segment is now over."
"Next, I will tell you the theme of this program. Please listen carefully."
[???]
[What theme?]
[What's this guy trying to pull now? The other members look confused.]
"Michiya, what are you going to say?"
Although no one had confessed to Morimoto Kengo and Kumano Nobuyuki, they were still rather concerned about the show's direction.
"It's something very important. Everyone, please look at the big screen over there."
Michiya Gōshin pointed to the large screen beside them, where the live stream's content was now displayed.
The next moment, a VCR segment covered the entire screen.
[What's this?]
[A pre-recorded apology video?]
"What is it?"
Everyone's attention was focused, carefully watching the video's content.
The screen was filled with surveillance footage, clearly shot covertly from a slightly awkward angle, but the video and audio were extremely clear.
The background was a hotel room.
Director Aoyama and Michiya Gōshin could be seen sitting on a sofa, having a serious conversation.
"Director Aoyama, you mean... before the final episode, you want me to personally break up all the potential pairings?"
"That's right. This is your job as the Wolf."
"Isn't it too strange to directly interfere with people's genuine emotions?"
"What do you think love is? Something where you can be sure of your feelings after three dates? Or where you can completely commit to each other after just a month together?"
"Too naive!"
"Under the enhancement of the cameras, every member on a dating show will have their feelings of affection amplified, and it also breeds illusions. Of all the relationships that heat up quickly on a variety show, how many can make it in the real world?"
"Our show is called Love is a Required Course in Life, not Celebrity Speed-Dating Guide. What the audience needs to see is not just sweetness, but also the hesitation, misunderstanding, and blindness in love."
Following that, Director Aoyama pulled a stack of data reports from a folder.
"Last year, a total of six dating variety shows were aired. Among the couples that successfully paired up, 78% broke up within three months."
"Why?"
"It's because the cameras beautified conflicts and the editing amplified feelings of affection. They forgot that love is supposed to have a process of trial and error."
"And you, as the [Wolf], need to help them see their own hearts clearly."
"..."
"This is the role and the price that must be paid."
"Michiya-kun, are you willing to accept the challenge?"
The recording stopped there, at just the right moment.
The live feed instantly cut back to the glass pavilion.
On site, there was a deathly silence.
The other members who were not in on the secret were all petrified, staring at the screen with their jaws agape. Even Asakura Toru's small face showed an expression of utter astonishment.
The live chat, which had been filled with anger, now fell into a vacuum state, a result of having one's entire perception overturned.
Three seconds later, the first comment, filled with immense shock and confusion, trembled across the screen.
[...A Wo-Wolf?!]
________________________________________
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