In April's Tokyo, the temperature in the air had already begun to rise, but what was even hotter than the weather was the ignited passion of countless Alice in Borderland fans.
After enduring a long wait and countless speculations, this highly anticipated fantasy manga adaptation finally let out its first earth-shattering roar to the world, like a giant beast that had been dormant for a long time.
The official account formally released the scheduled trailer and announced the broadcast date.
The trailer was two minutes and thirty-seven seconds long, with sharp editing and heart-gripping background music.
The opening of the trailer featured the daily hustle and bustle of the streets of Shibuya, Tokyo, with weaving crowds and flashing neon lights.
The next second, the world suddenly fell into a deathly silence, and the prosperous metropolis turned into empty ruins.
[Arisu Ryohei], played by Michiya Gōshin, transformed from a confused and fearful otaku into a survivor whose eyes burst with the desire to live and the gradually emerging light of wisdom when forced to participate in deadly games. [Usagi Yuzuha], played by Sakurajima Mai, moved vigorously through abandoned buildings, her actions cool and her eyes calm and decisive.
There were also scenes of [Karube Daikichi], played by Yamazaki Kento, appearing heroic yet tragic. Shot after shot filled with tension thrillingly presented the world of the "Borderland"—where rules were cruel and life hung by a thread—before the audience.
The instant the brand-new trailer was released, the online world seemed to have been hit by a depth charge.
"It's here, it's here! Finally!"
"Oh my god! Nenshi really went big with this!"
"Yu-kun! Yu-kun! Yu-kun!"
"Sakurajima-san's fight scenes are so cool; as expected, she can handle any role!"
"This should be Yamazaki-kun's first time challenging this kind of role, right? It suits him well too."
"I can't wait to see it!"
"Can it air sooner? Stop keeping us in suspense!"
Major social media platforms were instantly dominated by related topics, and the heat of the discussion climbed geometrically.
Especially within Michiya Gōshin's increasingly large-scale and organized female fan group, the "Ai-Yu-Ren," everyone fell into a collective frenzy.
These people rapidly produced posters and edited videos, promoting their idol's blockbuster work in every corner.
The long-standing anticipation and support turned into unparalleled pride and excitement at this moment.
Striking while the iron was hot, the official account followed the trailer closely by announcing the first wave of the promotional campaign series.
A large-scale offline fan meeting would be held in a theater within Tokyo capable of holding nearly a thousand people. The event announcement promised that the lucky fans selected by lottery would not only see the director, producers, and lead actors up close and participate in a Q&A session, but also enjoy special skit performances or game segments prepared by the actors.
This was a common promotional model in the entertainment industry, but for fans who had waited bitterly for a long time, it was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to contact their idols up close and feel the atmosphere of the series.
The moment the lottery channel opened, traffic surged, and the servers teetered on the brink of crashing several times.
In countless Michiya Gōshin fan groups, various messages scrolled like waterfalls. Everyone was discussing this offline meeting, praying that they could be that lucky one.
In this boiling ocean, a girl with the ID [Yuki-chan_Summer], Natsukawa Yuki, was facing her computer screen with her palms pressed together, chanting words in her mouth.
As a die-hard fan who had fallen into the pit since Michiya Gōshin appeared in the TV drama 49, she had almost witnessed with her own eyes and personally participated in every step of Michiya Gōshin's journey.
From the resentment and defense when facing online malice in the beginning, to the pride and support when he later appeared in TV dramas and filmed movies, Natsukawa Yuki utilized her spare time and organizational skills to play the role of coordinator, information organizer, and anti-black ops vanguard in several major fan groups.
The response scripts she organized had played an important role in stabilizing fan emotions and guiding positive public opinion during several moderate online storms.
In the core circle of the "Ai-Yu-Ren," Natsukawa Yuki had become increasingly famous and prestigious.
However, the Goddess of Luck seemed to have taken a nap this time.
The moment the lottery results were announced, Natsukawa Yuki repeatedly refreshed the page, but the gray notification representing failure remained stubbornly on the screen.
After a while, she collapsed into her chair in despair, letting out a wail, her heart submerged by a massive sense of loss.
Clicking open the few active fan groups where she served as an administrator, the screens were already flooded with excited screenshots and cheers from friends who had won the lottery.
"Ahhh, I won!"
"I can see Yu-kun!"
"Sisters, are we meeting at the theater entrance? I made support banners!"
"Yuki-chan, did you win?"
Seeing someone mention her, Natsukawa Yuki gave a bitter smile and replied with a crying sticker.
"Wuwuwu, I didn't get it..."
Although she wasn't selected, in order to make the promotional effect of this event better, the official team of Alice in Borderland would broadcast the entire process online, so the offline meeting could still be watched in full.
But for a core fan like Natsukawa Yuki, how could watching at home possibly be more exciting than being at the scene?
Suppressing her envy and a trace of sourness, she prepared to close the group chat.
Suddenly, the Twitter icon in the bottom right corner of her computer flashed, indicating a new private message.
Natsukawa Yuki clicked it open absentmindedly. The moment she saw the sender's ID clearly, her breathing stopped abruptly, and her pupils dilated instantly.
Because the sender was [Hoshino Talent Agency].
The specific content of the private message was a formal notification written in honorifics.
[Ms. Natsukawa Yuki: Dear Madam.
We sincerely thank you for your passionate support and encouragement of our agency's artist, Michiya Gōshin, on a daily basis.
In view of the fan activities you have actively participated in to date, we have prepared a special participation qualification for the Alice in Borderland Fan Meeting for you.
Detailed participation credentials and important notes will be sent separately to your registered email address. Please check it.
Please continue to support Michiya Gōshin in the future.
Sincerely, Hoshino Talent Agency]
"!"
Natsukawa Yuki read this paragraph of text back and forth five times before she dared to believe it wasn't a hallucination.
The next moment, a massive surge of surprise washed away her previous loss like a tsunami. She jumped up from her chair violently, covering her mouth to stop herself from screaming, and her eyes instantly became moist.
Although she didn't know why the Hoshino Talent Agency would prepare such a special participation qualification for her, her heart naturally held more gratitude toward this agency.
This was actually Nakahara Kazuya's doing.
Although Michiya Gōshin had established his new company [Star Engine], and Nakahara Kazuya's employment contract had also been transferred to this new company, his connection with the Hoshino Talent Agency had not been broken.
The two companies themselves had always maintained close contact and cooperation; he did this entirely to better increase Michiya Gōshin's popularity.
As a manager, Nakahara Kazuya had always been paying attention to the fan ecology from behind the scenes. He knew deeply that maintaining these core, active, and influential "Big Fans" was crucial for the artist's image and fan cohesion.
This specially provided qualification was a recognition of all of Natsukawa Yuki's selfless contributions in the past, as well as a hope and emotional bond for her continued support in the future.
"Wuwuwu..."
"That's great! Yu-kun, I can finally come to see you!"
As the date of the offline meeting approached, the atmosphere of anticipation on the internet was stoked to its peak.
All fans who obtained qualifications prepared their outfits for the day, support items, and questions they wanted to ask with great care, as if waiting for a festival.
Time finally flowed to the day of the event.
The morning sunlight cast warm spots on the floor through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the high-rise apartment.
Michiya Gōshin was already fully dressed in a black casual suit created by a famous designer. The cut was sharp; it did not lose a sense of formality while carrying a fashion and vitality that suited his age.
Kurokawa Akane wore a silky nightgown, stepping barefoot on the carpet. She meticulously adjusted his tie for him. The girl's movements were gentle, her eyes focused, carrying a trace of wife-like naturalness and attachment.
"Do your best today, Yu-kun."
Since she started living here, Kurokawa Akane felt very happy every day.
She lifted her face. Her bare face was still clear and moving, her eyes full of unreserved tenderness and support.
"I heard the ticket lottery was explosive."
"Mn. Akane, you're going to the theater this afternoon too, right? You do your best too."
Michiya Gōshin lowered his head and placed a gentle and cherished mark on her smooth forehead.
Subsequently, Kurokawa Akane stood slightly on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and actively leaned her head forward again.
"This is a 'Victory Kiss'."
After parting, a faint blush rose on the girl's cheeks. Her eyes shifted with light as she spoke with a smile.
Michiya Gōshin's eyes rippled with warmth. He reached out and rubbed the top of her soft hair, his tone doting. "Received. I feel full of energy now!"
Downstairs at the apartment, a luxurious black nanny van was already waiting.
Michiya Gōshin sat inside the car, nodding to the driver in the front row and his assistant, Kato Megumi, who had been waiting there for some time.
Kato Megumi remained in that calm and gentle appearance. She handed over today's detailed schedule, a list of sensitive questions the media might ask along with reference answers, while confirming the time nodes and important notes for each segment in a low voice.
The vehicle merged smoothly into the morning traffic of Tokyo, driving toward that theater about to be ignited by fan passion.
Michiya Gōshin leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes to rest his mind, but his brain was planning the course at the music classroom for the afternoon after the meeting ended.
[Production Queue 1: Arrangement Mastery (Green)]
[Experience: 42/100]
The movie Your Name had already begun production, so he had to prepare a theme song for this movie.
The song Zenzenzense was quite good; it could also serve as the core of the promotion. He had to get this song out as soon as possible. When the time came, it would definitely have a positive impact on the box office.
A few hours later, the backstage of the theater was already in a busy yet orderly state of pre-war preparation.
Staff members walked hurriedly, communicating in low voices through headsets, confirming the final effects of the lighting, sound, and big screens.
In the spacious waiting room, the lights were bright, and the air was filled with the smell of hairspray, cosmetics, and a trace of indistinct tension.
Director Aoyama Akihiro was standing together with the producer and the publicity person in charge sent by Nenshi, solemnly cross-checking the flow script for the last time and discussing potential emergencies and response plans in low voices.
His assistant held a walkie-talkie, constantly receiving reports on the preparation work from the front stage, a sheen of sweat appearing on his forehead.
Subsequently, several lead actors arrived one after another, and the atmosphere in the waiting room gradually became active.
Yamazaki Kento, sporting carefully styled blonde hair and wearing the latest suit from a certain trendy brand, brought his trademark hearty laugh as soon as he entered, greeting everyone loudly.
"Good morning, everyone! Today is a big day; I'm full of motivation today."
His personality was extroverted, and he was good at livening up the atmosphere. He soon began chatting and laughing with the familiar makeup artists and stylists, alleviating much of the backstage tension.
Arima Kana, the young actress who played one of the key supporting roles in the series, also appeared on time.
She wore a obediently designed dress today, her makeup fresh and elegant.
After seeing Michiya Gōshin in the waiting room, the girl immediately walked over with quick, small steps, stopped at a distance of one step away from him, and bowed solemnly to greet him, her voice crisp.
"Michiya-senpai, good morning. Please treat me well today!"
Her etiquette was thorough, and her eyes were filled with respect for her senior and a trace of imperceptible nervousness.
Michiya Gōshin responded with a gentle smile, his tone relaxed. "Arima-san, you don't need to be too nervous. Today is mainly about interacting with fans; just enjoy the process."
"Yes! Thank you for your guidance, Senpai."
Arima Kana bowed again, then obediently retreated to the side to wait, like a fawn that was easily frightened but striving to maintain composure.
As the male lead of the series, and relying on his steadily rising popularity recently as well as the just-wrapped and highly anticipated We Made a Beautiful Bouquet, Michiya Gōshin naturally became one of the focal points of everyone's attention.
Staff members and other supporting actors constantly came over to exchange pleasantries with him, their words not lacking praise for his acting skills and optimism for his future development.
"Michiya-san, I heard the internal evaluation of the Bouquet dailies is very high. Congratulations!"
"Michiya-san, I hope we have a chance to work together again next time!"
Regarding these compliments, Michiya Gōshin maintained a humble attitude throughout, bowing slightly in response. "You flatter me; it is all due to the Director's guidance and the credit of everyone in the crew."
"I also look forward to working with everyone."
His response was appropriate, appearing neither arrogant nor overly servile; the measure was handled just right.
Just then, the door to the waiting room was pushed open again, and an invisible aura poured in with it.
Sakurajima Mai walked in, accompanied by her mother who was also her manager.
She had chosen a white tweed suit from an early autumn collection today, paired with simple pearl earrings. Her makeup was exquisite to the point of being meticulous, and her whole person radiated a kind of elegant and noble light, like a queen who had truly descended to the mortal world.
Her appearance immediately caused the conversation in the waiting room to unconsciously drop a few decibels.
Michiya Gōshin naturally saw her too.
Thus, a polite and kind smile quickly hung on his face. Just as he treated other colleagues, he took the initiative to step forward, greeting her with a natural tone.
"Sakurajima-san, good morning."
Sakurajima Mai's steps had a momentary stagnation that was almost undetectable. Her gaze made contact with Michiya Gōshin for less than half a second before shifting away quickly and naturally.
"Good morning, Michiya-san."
Her voice was steady and pleasant to the ear, yet no ripple could be heard in it. Sakurajima Mai used honorifics that hadn't been used for a long time, polite as if treating an ordinary collaborator with whom she had only met a few times.
She didn't even give Michiya Gōshin a chance to continue speaking, not even to say a pleasantry. She just nodded slightly and walked straight toward the direction where the director and producer were, joining their conversation. She left Michiya Gōshin hanging there smoothly and naturally, as if he were just a mass of inconsequential air.
In that instant, Michiya Gōshin could clearly feel the indifference and distance the other party had deliberately created to keep people a thousand miles away.
He couldn't help but give a bitter smile. This was the bitter fruit he inevitably had to bear after that conversation where he took the initiative to confess last time.
This scene happened to be taken in entirely by Yamazaki Kento, who was organizing his blonde hair in front of the mirror to the side but was actually keeping his eyes and ears open to everything.
He stroked his smooth chin, a trace of playfulness and thick curiosity flashing through those eyes that always carried a smile.
He knew that Michiya Gōshin and Sakurajima Mai had a very close relationship before. The atmosphere today... was obviously wrong. This was no longer an ordinary colleague relationship; it was simply like they had completely drawn a line.
Taking advantage of the last free preparation time before the event started, Yamazaki Kento spotted a gap and slipped to Michiya Gōshin's side like a flexible loach. He hooked his arm around Michiya's neck and half-dragged, half-pulled him to a corner of the waiting room where miscellaneous items were stored.
"Hey, Michiya."
Yamazaki Kento lowered his voice, his face wearing an unabashedly gossipy expression. He pointed his chin extremely covertly in Sakurajima Mai's direction.
"What's the situation? Are you having a spat with Sakurajima-san? That atmosphere just now, tsk tsk, wasn't that too cold?"
He fanned the air in front of his face with his hand, making an exaggerated expression of "so cold."
Michiya Gōshin sighed helplessly. He knew he couldn't hide it from this good brother who was particularly sharp regarding relationships between men and women.
He raised his hand to rub the center of his brows, a trace of unconcealable fatigue and helplessness appearing on his face, and whispered.
"It's not really a spat. Just that something happened before, and I might have said some things that were very hard for her to accept."
"Words hard to accept?"
Yamazaki Kento raised his eyebrows, curiosity spreading rapidly like ignited vines.
"Did you want to formally date her and get rejected? That's not right. Looking at Sakurajima-san's previous behavior, she should have been very happy to agree."
Yamazaki Kento rubbed his chin, looking as if he was trying hard to analyze it.
Michiya Gōshin shook his head. His gaze looked with some complexity toward that beautiful silhouette in the distance, faintly surrounded by the crowd yet beautiful in solitude. His voice was pressed even lower.
"I want to walk a very special path. After telling this to Sakurajima-san, she found it somewhat hard to accept. That's all."
"A very special path?"
Yamazaki Kento repeatedly chewed on these few words filled with information, combining them with the strange attitude Michiya Gōshin had displayed before.
The next moment, an extremely bold, or perhaps shocking, notion struck his mind instantly like lightning.
He stared with wide eyes, sucked in a breath of cold air, and almost choked on his own saliva. Then he tried hard to lower his voice and asked nervously.
"Oi, oi, oi! Michiya, are you serious? Could it be you really want to be... a two-timing man?"
Actually, after drinking and chatting a few times before, Yamazaki Kento had this guess. After all, there were simply too many outstanding women around Michiya Gōshin. And looking at him, if he were to express his feelings to anyone, the other party shouldn't refuse.
So, the possibility that went a step further was...
He... really wanted to have his feet in two boats.
Hiss...
Could it be... the matter of him stepping into two boats was discovered by Sakurajima-san?
This guess flashed through Yamazaki Kento's mind, but he didn't say it out loud. After all, there were still many people here.
"Haruto, don't ask anymore. I will handle these matters well."
"..."
Looking at Michiya Gōshin's appearance of "obsessive persistence," the shock on Yamazaki Kento's face gradually turned into a mixture containing extreme disbelief.
Following that, a trace of worry flashed through his heart, as well as a feeling of admiration he himself didn't want to admit.
He rubbed his face forcefully, as if to confirm he wasn't still dreaming.
"Crazy, truly crazy..."
Yamazaki Kento murmured to himself, seeming to say it to Michiya Gōshin, yet also seeming to state this fact to himself.
Immediately after, as if he suddenly remembered something, he leaned close to Michiya Gōshin's ear and spoke in a whisper, using a tone that was half envious and half teasing.
"However, you kid are really something! I don't even have the shadow of a stable girlfriend over here, yet you're good. You silently started plotting this kind of, this kind of great enterprise of 'the joy of possessing both'! It's really maddening comparing people!"
To ease the atmosphere, Yamazaki Kento bumped him with his shoulder again. "If you succeed when the time comes, remember to teach me a few moves!"
Hearing this, Michiya Gōshin only responded with a deeper bitter smile carrying endless pressure. He raised his hand and patted Yamazaki Kento's shoulder forcefully. Everything was left unsaid.
All explanations and promises appeared pale and powerless in front of cold reality and worldly eyes.
The only thing he could do was to walk firmly step by step along that path he had chosen, full of thorns and unknowns, using the height and strength he might reach in the future and the "facts" he could create to support that "greed" and persistence which seemed impossible and criticized by the world.
Just then, the door to the waiting room was pushed open by a staff member from the outside. The on-site director poked his head in, clapped his hands, and spoke clearly.
"Everyone, please get ready. We will go on stage in order in five minutes! The fans out front can't wait any longer!"
The cheers coming faintly from the front stage, becoming clearer and clearer like a tsunami, heralded that the curtain of clamor was about to be completely pulled open.
Michiya Gōshin took a deep breath, burying all his personal emotions, struggles, and burdens deeply behind those profound eyes once again. A professional smile belonging to the actor Michiya Gōshin hung on his face again.
"Here we go."
________________________________________
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