Extra in The Student Council
35. A ripe rice field
And today's the appointed day.
He waited for Chizuru in front of the station.
"Did you wait long?" Chizuru came in her usual stylish and beautiful outfit when she had a date with her customer.
"Is that work sickness?" Shuu asked.
"No," Chizuru shrugged, "I just wanted to see your reaction."
"I never knew you had this kind of playful side. I thought you always acted like the most hardworking model student like that"
"Even the most hardworking person will become like this if they spend time with you." She rolled her eyes.
"Well, it's true, I guess."
(At least refute it!) Chizuru sighed.
As they started walking side by side. "Do you mind if we stop in a shopping mall or something similar?" Shuu asked.
"I don't mind, but why...?" She tilted her head.
"I wanted to buy a present before meeting your grandmother."
Chizuru was quite surprised by Shuu's statement. She never expected he would be able to do something like this.
"It's fine. You don't have to," Chizuru said, yet Shuu didn't reply. Instead, he gave her a strange look, which made Chizuru confused.
"My friend's birthday is coming soon, so I'm thinking of buying a present for him." Shuu said he was confused.
(!!?) Chizuru's face immediately went red. She quickly evaded Shuu's gaze and quickened her steps.
However
"Chizuru-nee," Shuu called sweetly.
Chizuru almost slipped when his voice entered her ears, followed immediately by a chill on her spine.
She quickly turned around to ask him what his problem was, but she was just about to turn around.
Shuu walked past her and chuckled. "It was a nice reaction you got there, Ichinose-san."
"...." Chizuru clenched her fist tightly as she saw his back.
(Someday, I'll seriously kill him!!)
(I guess this is enough for now.)
(Next is her grandmother.)
***
[Do you think this is good?] Shuu texted Chika with a photo of the night lamp he tried to buy.
He spent a few minutes looking at the merchandise, waiting for Chika's reply.
[It's cool, but why are you asking me?]
[Nothing. I was just suddenly thinking about your opinion]
[It's cool 😎😎]
[Thanks, see you later.]
[ (✷‿✷) ]
"Alright, I'm done. Let's go," Shuu said with a basket of fruit in hand. As for his night lamp, he would come back and take it later.
"And that?" Chizuru pointed to the basket of fruit in his hand.
"For your grandmother, of course. What else?" Shuu replied as if it was the most normal thing.
"...." Chizuru took a few deep breaths.
Then she said, "Let's go," and led the way without talking any further.
***
"Oh! Welcome~"
When Chizuru and Shuu entered the hospital ward, a cheerful voice immediately greeted them.
Chizuru grandmother, Ichinose Sayuri She looked like a kind grandmother you could find everywhere.
Shuu had already looked into her and knew she was far from good. But with how spirited she was, the way she talked, and the way she moved, it's hard for others to link her with a sickness.
(The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.) It was Shuu's first impression of the Ichinose family.
"Grandma, this is—"
"Someone from your agency, White Entertainment, right?" Sayuri gave Chizuru a smug face, as if she had succeeded in pulling a prank on her. However, Shuu thought about it differently. With just those simple, prank-like words, she got the upper hand in this conversation.
Chizuru nodded. "Yes, he is."
"Thank you for taking care of our Chizuru all this time." Sayuri bowed her head while still in bed.
"It's us who were helped by your hardworking and talented granddaughter," Shuu replied with the same politeness. "It's the granddaughter of That Ootori Sayuri. It runs in your family," Shuu smiled harmlessly.
Grandma Sayuri looked shocked for an instant but instantly recovered and smiled back at Shuu. She understood what he was trying to convey.
(Think twice or three times before you try to gain control of the conversation again.)
After the baseline was settled, Shuu quickly added something to his previous statement.
"Ah, but please let me rephrase it. Ichinose Chizuru-san might be talented, but if she didn't work on it, it would amount to nothing," Shuu said.
"I can't say I knew her well, and I also noticed her because of her talent. However, With the time she spent with our company on the last project, I can proudly say she was a hard worker. She tried and worked harder than anyone else. That's why, even if she didn't have the talent she has now, if I were asked whether to recruit her or not, I would only have one answer, which is Yes."
This time, Grandma Sayuri was unable to hold or hide her shock anymore. She gasped at Shuu. On the other hand, Chizuru, who was examining her grandmother's room, also snapped her head toward Shuu with a surprised face. It was as if their time had stopped. They were too stunned to react.
Being stared at by the two of them, Shuu looked embarrassed.
"Umm... I just wanted to make it clear that what we wanted was not the granddaughter of Ootori Sayuri but Ichinose Chizuru herself." Shuu said it shyly, as if he were embarrassed for suddenly bursting off like that. "Also, I think it's rude to label someone's hard work with a word like genius or talent."
"You don't have to care about that. It's not rude.'' Chizuru recovered first and replied casually before she quickly turned to Sayuri and said, "Mou, Grandma, you haven't changed the water in the vase. Even after I've reminded you that much." Yet before Grandma Sayuri could reply, Chizuru was already gone with the vase, as if she were running away.
(Mhm, it should be another plus point from her grandmother.)
Meanwhile, Clarity glosses over Sayuri's eyes. She never expected Shuu to say something like that about her granddaughter. She fell into deep thoughts for a moment and sometimes took a peek at Shuu, who was silent. Then she saw how her granddaughter had just escaped.
"We're finally alone," Sayuri stated. Shuu didn't reply but nodded at her words.
"I heard from Chizuru that you're asking to meet me." She probed, then she also checked Shuu's reaction, which was waiting for her to finish her talk.
"Then Do you know that I am also looking to meet higher-ups in your company?"
"Yes, I'm quite aware of that, which is the reason I am asking for this meeting," Shuu replied. "Then let me introduce myself appropriately this time. My name is Katsuragi Shuu. I'm also the full owner of White Entertainment." Shuu gave her his name card.
Sayuri was quite surprised to find out Shuu was the owner, especially because of his young appearance.
"Ichinose Sayuri. Ichinose Chizuru's grandmother," Sayuri introduced. "Also, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you this year?" Sayuri knew she was rude and also understood this wasn't the right time to ask that. Yet it really bugged her mind. She can't help it. Besides, by asking, she could peek into a bit of his temperament.
Shuu smiled wryly before he answered, "I'm seventeen this year."
Sayuri almost jumped out of bed when she heard his answer.
On the other hand, Shuu acted like he was embarrassed again. "You could think of me as a pampered rich family's kid who comes out to play in society. I don't mind."
If Hayasaka Ai was with him, she would instantly retort, "If a pampered kid behaved like you, then every adult would be a toddler!!"
Of course, Sayuri had the same opinion, but she wouldn't say it out loud.
Shuu saw Sayuri was troubled with how to react to his previous words. He decided to take it back to the main point.
"Ichinose-san" Shuu called "You're a veteran in this business. You had been swimming in this muddy field long before I was born."
"You call it a muddy field?" Sayuri chuckled at his metaphor.
"Yes, we both know there were never any flowers or sunshine in this field. No matter how sparkly it looked on the outside, at the end of the day it's still a business," his voice was clear and firm.
Sayuri nodded, playing along. "A ripe rice field would be more perfect."
"Oh, it sure looked like a golden bed from the outside." Shuu chuckled for a moment, then immediately turned calm.
"I'm aware that Ichinose-san was worried about Ichinose Chizuru-san in this field, right?" Shuu stated, and Sayuri nodded in confirmation.
"I could say that Ichinose Chizuru-san is strong, so you don't have to worry about her. Or we will do our best to take care of and protect her. But I'm sure this wasn't the answer you're looking for."
"You're right" Once again, Sayuri nodded.
"That's why I'll be honest here. It's a business, so long as Ichinose Chizuru is useful to us as actresses. I won't let even a single strain of her get touched," Shuu declared. It was as if he were making an oath.
"From my point of view, Ichinose Chizuru-san was like a golden goose, a young one at that. I believe the time when we don't need her will never come."
"All that's left is whether Ichinose-san trusts our company to take care of her and how much trust you have in Ichinose Chizuru-san's ability."
"I'm aware that you might not be able to decide right away. I did give a copy of our previous project to Ichinose Chizuru-san, so Ichinose-san could decide later after you watched that."
"Aren't you a bit too prepared, Katsuragi-san?" Sayuri replied with a wary look. However, Shuu could see that she was bluffing.
"Preparation is my middle name! Is what I like to say, but no, I just specially put my attention on this matter," Shuu replied with a joke.
"I'm sorry, but are you really seventeen?" It was hard for Sayuri to believe that.
"I have been told that many times before." Shuu replied, looking a bit exasperated, "If you want proof, I can show you my student ID."
"What are you guys talking about?" Chizuru was back at the right moment.
"Nothing," Sayuri replied. "We're just talking about Katsuragi-san's age"
"Ohh, Grandma must be surprised." Chizuru nodded understandingly. Thus they continued to chat for a while, and before long it was time for Shuu and Chizuru to leave.