- Mahjong is the favorite activity of the citizens of One Han City. Whether the sun is blazing or rain is falling, everyone's mood brightens as long as they can play mahjong together with friends.
- Suggest that Kanahide somewhere until things die down
Although my feelings are telling me to take Kana away as soon as possible, my sense of reason tells me that Kana's manager would have a better idea about what to do than me, who is encountering this situation for the first time. The company should already have arranged relevant staff to deal with the situation.
With this thought in mind, I calmly analyze the current situation.
[player]Kana, it's not a good idea for you to stay here in the lobby of the dojo because conflicts can easily arise if any radical fans appear. I remember this mahjong dojo has private rooms, so it'll be safer if we meet your manager there.
[Kana Fujita]Wow, you're so calm, PLAYER. For an instant there, you were just like my manager.
[player]Then as your "manager," I "order" you to stay obediently in the private room and try not to appear in front of the public if you can.
[Kana Fujita]Got it, "manager!"
The private rooms of the mahjong dojo don't have many furnishings in them. There is a mahjong table, a few chairs, and a few elegant and warm-looking decorative paintings on the wall. If it wasn't for our special situation, I wouldn't mind spending the whole afternoon here.
In contrast to how nervous I am, Kana is extremely relaxed. Her arms straighten as she stretches languidly.
[Kana Fujita]My manager is taking so long... Come here quickly. We can see the intersection outside from this window, so we can observe the situation from here.
[player]The dojo owner said this private room isn't open to the public let, so not even the old customers know about it. The owner made an exception for us by letting us use it. Although it looks really clean, it hasn't been treated for pests yet, so there may be some unwanted visitors.
[Kana Fujita]Ahhhhh--
Right after I finish talking, Kana suddenly rushes towards me, grabs both my arms, and plunges into my embrace.
[player]Kana? What happened?
The girl who is clinging tightly to me is breathing rapidly, and my figure is clearly reflected in her peach-red pupils. Everything that belongs to Kana has suddenly forcefully entered my world. Although I've known her for a while, this is the first time we have been so close to each other.
[Kana Fujita]T-There's a cabbage bug on the windowsill.
[player]...Huh?!
I look in the direction she is pointing and see the little flying insect that made her panic leave leisurely after waving its antennae.
I start to relax after this little episode, and even my body becomes less tense.
[Kana Fujita]Phew... You're finally smiling again. When I saw how anxious you were looking, I was worried that you might get too nervous and faint.
[player]You got close to me deliberately?
[Kana Fujita]Not entirely. I mean, I really was a little scared. As for hugging you, you can think of it as...
[player]As an idol's reward for a fan?
[Kana Fujita]What an official-sounding answer!
[Kana Fujita]We're not at a press conference, PLAYER, so your guesses can be bolder. For example, you can think of the hug as proof that our friendship has gotten even closer.
After Kana and I play two East Wind rounds while hiding in the private room, her manager finally pushes open the door of our room. She heaves a sigh of relief after seeing that we're both fine and brings us both to Kana's minivan.
[Manager]The situation is a little complicated, so I'll get right to the point.
[Manager]Half an hour ago, we issued a statement that the rumors about Kana being in a relationship is malicious slander, and that we'll file a lawsuit according to the law. Most fans support our decision.
[Manager]But just then, someone posted a blurry photo on the Internet and claimed that it was a photo of Kana shopping with her new lover. The anti-fans claim it is real and are spreading it everywhere.
[Manager]If we don't do anything to stop them, it's likely that the concert two weeks later will be negatively impacted. The future career of W.I.N might even be affected.
The manager stops here and rummages through her bag, then hands over a photo, indicating that this is the source of all the rumors.
In the photo is a girl dressed in normal clothes who can draw everyone's gaze to her even when she isn't on a stage. She is unmistakable even if only her blurry back is shown in the photo.
And standing beside her, the person who seems to be kind of flirtatious with Kana and is reaching out to stroke her hair gently is...
[player]This is... me?
[Manager]Exactly. You answered correctly.
[player]Ahem, well... Listen to my explanation first. This is what happened...
[Manager]The truth doesn't matter anymore. Anyway, the most important thing now is to find the owner of the CatChat account that posted this because it'll be more effective to get them to refute the rumor.
[Kana Fujita]"Big Hammer of Love and Hate"... I get the feeling I've seen this ID before.
[Manager]Big Hammer Lee is a paparazzo who just started out, so maybe you've seen him before in some gossip groups. A friend in the industry told me that he is currently around a cinema in the commercial strip.
[Manager]It'll be best to refute the rumor as soon as possible. Tighten your seatbelt. We're heading there now!
To our surprise, the cinema is divided into two zones: Zone A and Zone B. To find our target as fast as possible, we split into two groups to search separately after we reach the cinema.
[player]Is that the person we're looking for?
[Kana Fujita]Shush! Stop staring at him in case you catch his attention. Let's pretend to be here to watch a movie together first to catch him by surprise.
[player]Why does it feel like you're really eager about this...
[Kana Fujita]Ahem, of course not. You must be imagining things, PLAYER!
Kana and I find a dark corner to observe the situation. After confirming the identity of that person, we let the manager know immediately.
Maybe it's because he is confident that he has won this time, the paparazzo Big Hammer Lee hasn't hidden himself and is even sitting ostentatiously in the middle of the hall, humming a tune light-heartedly.
About ten minutes later, a man wearing a mask sits in front of Big Hammer Lee and hands him a folder from a backpack.
The two people keep making big movements, and it looks like their talk isn't going well. I think... we can rule out the possibility that they are accomplices.
[Kana Fujita]Hmm, we can't hear what they are saying. Should we move closer to them?
[player]Who just told me not to catch their attention?
[Kana Fujita]Aren't you curious about what they are saying? My instincts tell me that the situation can still be turned around.
Well aware of how much Kana loves gossip, I scan the hall quickly and motion for her to hide on the other side and eavesdrop.
However, she knocks down a promotional poster stand of the cinema by accident while getting closer to them, and the sound of it falling to the ground alarmed the paparazzi who are arguing. After recognizing Kana Fujita, Big Hammer Lee and the other person turn and run instantly.
[???]!!!
[Big Hammer Lee]Run--
The poster stand that fell over gets in my way. In this situation, we can only catch one person.