Walnut-chan - Chapter 214: Love is Exclusive (8100 characters!)

"Hello, Miss Sakurajima, Miss Arima."

Minami Reiko gave the two of them a polite smile, though a strange feeling stirred in her chest.

Sakurajima Mai and Kana Arima.

She certainly knew both of them.

After all, the former had been dropping by the Minami house to see Minami Yuji ever since he was eight.

And the latter had just joined [Minami Pro] today, becoming the agency's flagship actress.

Even now, nobody had broken the 35 million yen in revenue and profit she'd racked up in two months.

So calling these two girls Minami Yuji's childhood friends wasn't an exaggeration in the least.

It was just…

Why did everything feel so off?

Minami Reiko couldn't keep her confusion down.

Kana Arima was the same as ever, as sunny and lively as the sun itself, without a hint of change.

What truly baffled her was…

She turned her gaze to Sakurajima Mai.

Mai's lovely face usually wore a gentle smile that felt like a spring breeze.

But today, the feeling was clearly different…

She was still smiling, yet there wasn't a trace of warmth in it.

Minami Reiko shivered.

Why did it feel like… she was angry?

Twenty-six and still single, Minami Reiko had no idea what was going on.

But her years of experience in the industry told her that staying here would definitely lead to trouble. So without a moment's hesitation she stood up, said a quick goodbye to Minami Yuji, and left the president's office.

Questions about the details could wait until later, after all.

Right now, protecting herself came first.

She nodded to Sakurajima Mai and Kana Arima and slipped out.

Watching her go, Sakurajima Mai's expression didn't change in the slightest. She simply turned to Kana Arima on the other side of the room.

"Kana-chan, could you close the door?"

"Huh? Why me… Uh… fine."

Kana's face had held a trace of resentment at first, but once she felt the sting in Mai's gaze, she clicked her tongue. Muttering things like "the first girlfriend should give way to the latecomers, that's only fair," she shut the door of the president's office.

The moment the door closed,

the sounds of work outside [Minami Pro] faded away.

Now only she, Kana Arima, and…

Her lapis-violet eyes lifted to the black-haired young man in front of her: Minami Yuji.

Looking at his handsome face,

Sakurajima Mai felt a little dazed.

She still remembered exactly how she'd met Minami Yuji.

It was at the audition for She and Him.

Back then he was a newcomer without a shred of fame. But with his superb acting, and even more with the calm he kept even though his role was already pre-cast for someone else, he had completely captured her attention.

From that day on, she'd remembered the name Minami Yuji.

Even though he had no fame then, and no standing as a child actor to speak of.

Then came the interview segment on That Child.

He single-handedly turned the tide of public opinion online, and used the opportunity to debut.

Incomplete, Sorry, I Love You, Wano Country, Three Siblings…

He just kept going farther and farther, leaving her completely behind.

But none of that was what moved her most.

Because Sakurajima Mai neither chased fame and fortune, nor bowed her head to anyone over a little renown.

What truly touched her heart…

was the time she and her mother had fallen out completely over the advertisement.

As an elementary school student, merely because she'd developed early, she'd been forced to show her skin in front of the camera lights.

Sakurajima Mai couldn't accept that, and it caused her unbearable pain.

And right when she'd lost all hope and was about to quit the industry,

it was Minami Yuji who saw at a glance that she didn't actually want to leave the industry.

He was also the first to speak up and give her, lost as she was, a second option.

Her old agency, NK Agency, was a rather famous one in the industry.

And to Mai, then the nation's darling child actor, Minami Yuji was just an utterly ordinary child actor, a rising star at best.

Yet that very boy ignored all the pressure from NK Agency and extended her an invitation.

That was the moment.

Sakurajima Mai truly fell for him at first sight.

Even if this boy never became famous as a child actor.

Even if he couldn't survive in this industry.

She was willing to stay with him all the same.

Even if she couldn't escape the pressure of NK Agency, it would be the same.

That was how she truly felt.

And even now, eight years later, that feeling hadn't faded. If anything, it had grown brighter.

So…

Some words… some answers… I have to say with my own mouth.

Taking a small breath, Sakurajima Mai stepped forward.

Her lapis-violet eyes met Minami Yuji's.

"Yuji, you've heard everything about yesterday from Kana-chan, haven't you?"

"I have."

Minami Yuji nodded without a flicker of hesitation.

Just like the first time she'd met him, when he hadn't shrunk back even facing the nation's darling child actor.

But…

"Kana-chan also told me that you don't only want to be with her. You want to date me, Miss Toyokawa, Miss Wakaba, and Miss Misumi too. Is that right?"

she asked.

Here it comes!

On the sofa, Kana Arima's shoulders jerked. She raised her pale face slightly and looked at Sakurajima Mai.

Honestly, she rather admired her.

Yesterday Mai had been so indecisive, with no idea what to do.

Yet after a single night she'd steadied her heart to this extent.

She even dared to confront Minami Yuji…

That resilience… as expected of Sakurajima Mai, the industry's famed actress.

So how would Yuji respond?

Kana Arima turned her eyes to Minami Yuji.

Would he go for a straight punch to the face, like he had with her… or take a more roundabout approach?

She was curious.

After all, Sakurajima Mai wasn't like her.

This woman was a tough nut. She looked soft and delicate on the surface, but when it came to matters of principle, she almost never gave ground.

So Kana watched, full of curiosity.

And then…

And then she heard Minami Yuji's answer, the same as ever.

"Everything Kana said is true."

"Pfft—" Kana Arima coughed violently, her wine-red eyes flying wide in disbelief.

He charged straight in!

She never expected Minami Yuji to go in head-on just like he had with her.

Still blunt, still no evasions in his answer.

With a woman like Sakurajima Mai, he could have been a little more roundabout.

Why did he have to be so direct?

But what happened next was something she'd never expected.

Mai lifted her hand without hesitation and slapped Minami Yuji right across the face!

A harsh crack rang out.

Kana's eyes widened, and anger flashed across her pale face.

"Hey! Mai, what the hell are you trying to…"

Right!

What was she even trying to do?

Okay, Yuji was in the wrong, but did she really have to slap him?

If worst came to worst, she could just turn him down, right?

It's not like he was forcing her!

Kana stood up and reached out to stop Sakurajima Mai.

But what came next surprised her even more.

After slapping Minami Yuji, Mai's raised white hand went straight to her own face.

Smack!!!

The sound was even crisper than the slap she'd given Minami Yuji.

Kana could practically see the side of Mai's face swelling up red.

"You…"

Kana staggered back two steps in disbelief and dropped heavily onto the sofa.

She opened her mouth, completely unable to process something that had happened in the span of a few seconds.

It was then that she heard Sakurajima Mai's voice.

"I can't forgive you for saying something like that."

Kana could clearly see the tightly pressed lips on Mai's face as she said it.

Yes.

As a woman, of course she couldn't forgive Minami Yuji for saying those words.

Reality was what it was.

It wasn't as if Minami Yuji could say, "I like all of you, will you be my wings?" and they'd all go "Sure, sure!" and leave it at that.

Love is exclusive.

But…

"I can't forgive myself for raising my hand against you, either."

By now Mai's voice was trembling, and sparkling tears welled in her eyes for the first time.

That's right. She'd known Minami Yuji for a full eight years.

In those eight years,

let alone hit him, she had never even blamed him.

But listen to what he'd said!

He wanted to confess to three others besides her and Kana Arima.

What girl wouldn't lose it hearing that?

Sakurajima Mai had her selfish side too.

No matter how indulgent she was, no matter how much she doted on him, this was a matter of principle!

But…

"It's precisely because I hit you… that I now know for certain…"

She looked at Minami Yuji in front of her, who offered no defense.

In the next moment her hand slowly rose and touched the mark she'd left on his face.

Just stroking that bright red handprint left her with an ache so sharp she couldn't breathe.

"…that I may love you far more than I imagined, Yuji."

Yes…

She probably liked Minami Yuji far more than she'd imagined.

And precisely because she liked him far more than she'd imagined,

she couldn't accept what he'd said all the more.

Because, as said before, love is blind, and love is exclusive. She'd given her whole heart to Minami Yuji.

And what was Minami Yuji saying?

That he wanted a harem…?

Wasn't that a joke?

Her fingers clenched.

Her body trembled lightly.

Sakurajima Mai, who'd been in the business so long, had never been this fragile.

Minami Yuji still said nothing.

Above all, in a situation like this, he felt there was no need to say anything more.

After all, all of the girl's feelings and all her thoughts had been laid bare in her actions.

It was normal for her to be angry, and normal for her to hurt.

Minami Yuji could understand her.

But just thinking of the faces of Kana Arima, Toyokawa Sakiko, Wakaba Mutsumi, and Misumi Hatsune, he had to hold to his resolve, bitter as it truly was.

Before that, though,

Minami Yuji felt he ought to do something for Sakurajima Mai.

So he gently reached out, pulled her into his arms, and softly spoke his mind:

"I'm sorry, Mai."

His voice was as clear as ever.

Yet the deep apology within it seemed to pierce right through Sakurajima Mai's defenses.

She couldn't hold on any longer and buried her face against his chest.

Two minutes passed.

Sakurajima Mai's faint, broken sobs drifted out from Minami Yuji's embrace.

Looking at Mai like that, then at Minami Yuji,

Kana Arima sighed heavily, an annoyed look crossing her face.

But in the end she lifted her hand, quietly pulled the door open, and stepped outside.

…

Minami Yuji sat in the soft chair with Sakurajima Mai lying across his chest.

The two of them watched the scenery outside the window in silence.

The sunset had already sunk completely.

In its place was a dusky indigo sky, the same shade as the girl's hair.

And beneath that sky,

Sakurajima Mai spoke.

"Yuji."

"Mm?"

"Do you remember when I confronted my mom, to get her to move me from NK Agency to [Ichigo Pro]?"

"…Of course I remember."

Looking at the head tilted slightly up in his arms, Minami Yuji answered.

Of course he remembered.

Transferring an artist's contract and career record hadn't been as easy as Sakurajima Mai and Minami Yuji had thought.

And her mother wasn't as accommodating as in the original work.

To persuade her, Mai and Yuji had shown tremendous resolve, and Mai had even brought up "retiring from acting" as a threat.

"Do you regret it?"

Minami Yuji asked.

Yes.

Mai was bringing this up now… could it be… that she regretted it?

Regretted meeting him, and regretted leaving NK Agency?

Come to think of it, that made sense.

If Mai had never met him, she might never have had to face such a bitter decision.

She'd still be the same Sakurajima Mai: serene, gentle, confident, someone who never bent her principles for anyone.

Minami Yuji seemed about to say more.

But the girl's pale fingers, which gently covered his mouth, stopped him.

"No."

"I don't regret it."

Sakurajima Mai murmured.

As she said it, half of her face was wrapped in black hair, looking strikingly pale.

Under the reflection of the indigo night sky, she looked like a solemn oil painting.

Yet those lapis-violet eyes seemed unbearably radiant to Minami Yuji in the darkness.

"It was Mother who sent you to me."

she said softly.

Yes.

Without Minami Yuji, she'd probably still be all alone even now.

Having left show business, given up the career she loved, alone, lonely… and never able to feel what she felt now, this surging tide of emotion.

So…

Her head tilted slightly upward.

The next moment, Minami Yuji felt the warm softness of the girl's lips pressed against his.