Sakurajima Mai bowed politely and apologized. "I'm sorry, but I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now."
"No, this... I... huh?"
Shuya's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Mai!"
Sakurajima Mai's mother saw Shuya's expression and hurriedly tugged at her daughter.
She didn't dare let her daughter offend Shuya.
It wasn't just that Shuya had done them a favor by choosing Mai as his partner. She'd also keenly noticed that everyone treated him differently.
She knew Shuya had worked with many people. If they all treated him this way, he must wield considerable influence.
"I'm just kidding, Shu-chan. You're not mad at me, are you?"
Before her mother could say anything, Sakurajima Mai had already lifted her head and flashed Shuya a cute smile, winking at him.
"So cute!"
Shuya obligingly clutched his heart.
"Hahaha! Shu-chan, you finally got what was coming to you!"
"Shu-chan's met his match."
"So adorable!"
The staff teased them, while Hirai Ryuji whistled.
Shuya gave a wry smile. Looking at the beaming Sakurajima Mai, he gave her a thumbs-up. "Mai-chan, you've got a lot of moxie. I knew you'd be a star!"
He turned to Hirai Ryuji. "Uncle Hirai, you should thank me!"
"For what?"
Hirai Ryuji asked curiously.
"Heh. Without me, how would you get to be the first photographer for a future top actress, Sakurajima Mai?"
Inoue Shuya lifted his chin and pointed proudly at himself. "And as the person who discovered Mai-chan, I should go down in entertainment history, too! Someday, I'll be able to tell the reporters, 'That's right, I discovered Sakurajima Mai!' Heh, how awesome would that be?"
Hirai Ryuji gave him a long look. "You're one shameless kid! But... I don't know why, yet somehow I think you have a point!"
His spirits lifted. He smiled at everyone and said, "In that case, we can't keep our future star waiting! Let's get ready!"
"Sure thing!"
"On it!"
The staff bustled into action.
"Um, I'm terribly sorry. My daughter was so rude."
"No, no, Shu-chan was the one who—"
Mai's mother struck up a conversation with Hanazawa Sakura, and the two of them fell into an easy chat.
Shuya sidled up to Mai-chan with a grin. "Feeling less nervous?"
Sakurajima Mai blushed, hid her trembling hands behind her back, puffed out her cheeks, and gave Shuya a shy glare.
She was adorably coy.
Section 14: 14 A Pleasant Chat
Shuya had noticed from the start. Mai-chan looked composed on the surface, but her hands had been trembling slightly the whole time.
She'd handled everything with such poise. Her nerves were far stronger than most people's.
Shuya thought that, compared with a cheat like him, Sakurajima Mai's confidence was what really deserved admiration.
After all, she was only six.
She was beautiful, had a lovely voice, and carried herself with such confidence. She'd been blessed with everything she needed to succeed.
Shuya wondered if her original story had been an idol anime.
Whatever the case, he knew that getting along with Mai-chan was the right move. Who knew? Someday he might get to bask in her reflected glory.
...Oh, when he said bask in her reflected glory, he meant just that—not anything else. Just so we're clear.
Still, that was all in the future. Sakurajima Mai was a complete newcomer right now, and her standing in the industry was nowhere near Shuya's.
Mai clearly knew that, too.
She dipped her head toward Shuya. "Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity, Shu-chan-senpai. I'll do my best. Please take care of me."
"Sure, you bet. Oh, I'm younger than you, so just call me Shuya. I'm not too fond of honorifics."
Mai thought about it. Seeing Shuya's smile, she smiled back. "...Okay, I understand. I'll call you Shuya from now on."
"Great. As a welcome gift, how about some candy?"
Shuya pulled a lollipop from his little shoulder bag and offered it to her.
"Um... my mom won't let me eat things like that."
Mai didn't take it, but she clearly wanted it. Her eyes were fixed on the lollipop.
After all, she was still a little girl.
"I see."
As Mai gazed at it reluctantly, Shuya regretfully put the lollipop away.
Then he pulled out a tiny piece of candy and shoved it into Mai's little hand.
"Huh?"
Mai stared at Shuya, dumbfounded.
Shuya leaned in conspiratorially and whispered in her ear. "Don't worry. If no one catches you, it doesn't count as a crime! That lollipop was too conspicuous, so I got you a smaller one."
"But..."
"Come on, I'll keep watch!"
Sakurajima Mai tried to resist the urge to unwrap it, but in the end, she succumbed to Shuya's devilish temptation and ate the sweet little bribe.
The sugary taste bloomed in her mouth. After so many days without candy, Mai was deeply moved.
Just then...
"Mai?"
"!!!"
Sakurajima Mai's mother called out to her daughter. "Come say hello to Miss Hanazawa. I completely forgot about that... Hmm? What are you doing?"
It turned out that Mai-chan had panicked and hidden behind Shuya, covering her mouth.
Pitiful, helpless, and especially cute.
"Hehe."
Under Mai's mother's searching gaze, Shuya put on an innocent, sparkling smile.
Hanazawa Sakura's smile stiffened. She could tell at once that her son was up to something.
As she tried to think of a way to smooth things over, Shuya calmly took Mai-chan's soft little hand and led her away, calling out, "I'll show Mai-chan around the set. You two chat. Bye!"
"Mmph?!"
Shuya quickly whisked Mai-chan away.
"Wait... Mai?"
"Come on, let the kids have some fun."
Hanazawa Sakura quickly stopped her and started up an awkward chat with a cheerful smile.
Shuya led Mai to an empty corner.
"Hahaha, sorry for suddenly dragging you away."
"Mm." Mai shook her head and gave him her brightest smile yet. "Shuya, you're so much fun!"
He wasn't even afraid of her mom. He was really amazing!
Shuya had made a deep impression on Sakurajima Mai.
"Oh, and you're very pretty, too."
"I know."
Sakurajima Mai nodded confidently and brushed back her long hair.
Even at such a young age, she already had the captivating grace of a peerless beauty.
Shuya whistled.
He was devoted to Rena, but that didn't mean he couldn't appreciate beauty.
Mai-chan blushed a little more and bit down on the candy in her mouth.
"By the way, Mai-chan, do you have a phone?"
Shuya wanted a way to contact her, so he asked.
"I do."
Mai paused, then took out her phone.
"Want to exchange numbers?"
Shuya took out his phone, too.
"Sure."
Without a hint of wariness, Mai exchanged numbers with Shuya.
The two of them chatted in the corner. Shuya explained how to pose for an ad shoot, and Mai listened intently. She knew that if Shuya was willing to tell her all this, he genuinely meant well.
Before long, the sponsors arrived, too.
Shuya waved to Mai. "Come on, I'll introduce you to them."
"Huh? Oh!"
Mai let Shuya take her by the hand and lead her over to Blaise and the other person.
She gazed at Shuya's back, still a little dazed.
Sakurajima Mai seemed composed, but she'd been nervous yesterday, too.
She'd heard Inoue Shuya's name countless times. In fact, there wasn't a child star who hadn't heard of him.
Whenever teachers or adults mentored child stars, they always brought up Inoue Shuya, hoping one of their own would turn out like him. That would be a huge success.
So Sakurajima Mai felt pressured, especially after learning that Inoue Shuya had chosen her from among hundreds of child stars.
The more proud she was, the greater the pressure.
She was afraid Inoue Shuya would be bad-tempered.
Mai had seen other children at work, and, being mature for her age, she really disliked noisy kids.
She was afraid Inoue Shuya would be like that, too.
But after meeting him in person, she finally understood why Inoue Shuya was so famous.
Even surrounded by adults, a child who could chat and laugh without getting nervous—and who could steer everyone's emotions and set the mood—was remarkable.
Even more impressive was how much everyone trusted him. No one really treated Shuya like a child.
He was practically a monster.
Sakurajima Mai knew that even though she was older than him, she couldn't compare to him.
Fortunately, he was a good person.
Before you continue