MTLNOVEL Chapter 37: If he really wanted to see it
In the lounge, Haru and the other two had just finished the shoot. Yukino turned to Eriri and offered a straightforward apology.
"Sorry, I used that tone earlier because I was trying to match the intensity of the character."
Eriri had been a little upset before, but seeing Yukino apologize so sincerely, her frustration quickly melted into confusion. "W-why are you being so serious all of a sudden?"
"Because I did something wrong," Yukino said, her tone unchanged.
"I'm not that petty," Eriri replied, raising an eyebrow. "But when you talk to me like this all of a sudden, it's... it's a bit uncomfortable."
Eriri crossed her arms in an awkward gesture. Her figure slightly curvy figure finally felt a little plump because of this posture.
Yukino froze for a moment.
She'd just noticed another one of "Eriri's" charming qualities.
Kind at Heart.
Though sometimes appearing a bit clumsy and easily flustered, deep down, she was surprisingly gentle.
Eriri noticed that Yukino was still staring at her, feeling a bit awkward. She turned away and cleared her throat. "Amamiya-san, why did you tell Yukinoshita-san to tilt her head just now?"
"Oh? So you noticed?"
Haru was slightly surprised. Eriri had looked so tense in front of the camera that he assumed she was too preoccupied to pay attention to anything else.
"Of course! You said you were in charge of directing this scene, and since I'm the stand-in actress, I have to watch what you do, right?"
Eriri felt both guilty and smug.
The truth was, she had been so nervous that she kept sneaking glances at Haru with her peripheral vision, afraid she'd mess up and be told to stop.
But those details didn't matter anymore.
"The scene just wrapped up perfectly, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask all at once."
Taking the opportunity, Haru began his explanation.
His reasoning was exactly the same as what Ms. Ninagawa had concluded earlier.
The only difference was that he took the time to praise her. "I know you're worried about not performing well, but your nervous and uneasy demeanor just now actually aligned perfectly with what Yukino's character was feeling."
Eriri froze.
She instinctively turned to look at Yukino, who nodded. "In my mind, I was supposed to appear calm and dominant, while you, naturally, would be anxious and flustered, eventually exposing all your weaknesses."
Wait, was that a compliment or an insult?
Eriri wasn't sure what expression to make for a moment.
But at least… she had gained their approval.
Feeling reassured, she asked her next question with much more confidence.
[You are currently teaching. (Teaching Experience +87)]
[You are currently teaching. (Teaching Experience +19)]
[You are currently teaching. (Teaching Experience +863)]
Haru had been happily racking up experience points when he was suddenly startled by the massive jump in numbers.
Whose hidden bonus was this?!
He instinctively turned toward the entrance and locked eyes with three mature women.
Among them, Ms. Ninagawa smiled at him approvingly as a greeting before turning to leave.
"Where are you going?"
Sawamura Sayuri asked curiously. She had assumed the director would want to have a chat with Haru.
Ms. Ninagawa glanced back with a grin. "To grab a drink, of course. It's rare to discover a young genius. A good mood calls for a drink… Oh, by the way."
She paused, then turned to the two elegant women beside her. "Please don't mention anything I said to that kid just yet."
Mrs. Yukinoshita's expression turned thoughtful. "You're worried about being too pragmatic?"
"Yes. I work in the entertainment industry, after all. If word got out that I was privately scouting an underage talent, it could cause unnecessary trouble for him."
"I understand."
Mrs. Yukinoshita nodded, then casually asked, "You think highly of him?"
"Rather than 'think highly,' I'd say I'm looking forward to his future," Ms. Ninagawa replied. "As long as he sticks to his serious approach, I'm sure his name will be known in the industry one day. A strong personal style and an old-school directorial vision like his are rare among the younger generation."
Hearing such open admiration, Mrs. Yukinoshita smiled. "Don't worry. I won't say a word."
After Ms. Ninagawa left, she turned to Sawamura Sayuri, who also seemed lost in thought. Something clicked in her mind. "What are you thinking about?"
Sayuri chuckled. "I'm starting to regret not introducing Eriri to him sooner. Never mind his talent—just his personality alone would be enough to keep my reckless daughter in check. If they were good friends, I could rest easy."
Just good friends?
Mrs. Yukinoshita smiled knowingly, treating it as an amusing comment.
Meanwhile, as Haru stepped out of the room, Sayuri greeted him with a teasing smile. "So, have you and Eriri become friends yet?"
"I suppose…? By the way, where did that lady go?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita replied, "She had other matters to attend to, so she left."
"I see."
Haru sighed inwardly. There goes my big experience farm…
With no other choice, he returned to continue answering Eriri's questions.
The two elegant women also took their leave.
Perhaps because she was still in the beginner stage, Eriri found everything about cinematography fascinating and listened with extra focus.
But soon, her concentration was interrupted by the ringing of a phone.
She gave Haru and Yukino an apologetic smile before stepping away to check the caller ID.
The moment she saw the name, her face fell.
She quickly answered and barely had time to say hello before a familiar, excited voice came through the line. "Eriri! I've got a new idea! I—"
"You called just for that? I'm busy right now!" she interrupted impatiently.
The person on the other end seemed caught off guard. "Busy with what?"
"Why do you need to know? Ugh, we'll talk later. He's waiting for me."
Click. The call ended.
Aki Tomoya sat in his room, dumbfounded.
For some reason, the street trees outside his window looked a little greener than before.
....
That evening, at 8 p.m., Haru and Yukino were about to head home when Mrs. Yukinoshita stopped them.
"I need to talk to Yukino for a moment. Haru, you go on ahead."
Haru nodded and waited outside.
Fifteen minutes later, Yukino finally emerged.
She looked deep in thought.
But the moment she spotted the familiar figure standing under the streetlamp, her expression softened. She quickened her pace and walked over. "I was just thinking… if you'd really be waiting for me."
"I guess that's what they call 'being in sync.'"
Haru didn't ask what she and her mother had talked about.
Yukino hesitated for a moment before murmuring, "Let's go home."
Sensing something off about her mood, Haru decided to joke, "My place or yours? My house is closer. Want to stop by for a bit?"
On a normal day, Yukino would have glared at him and flatly asked, "What are you scheming now?"
But tonight, under the soft glow of the night, her eyes shimmered slightly. In a quiet voice, she replied, "I'll come over for a while."
Haru blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected her to agree so easily.
Yukino, however, avoided his gaze.
She knew full well that if she really went to his place, 'just sitting for a while' might turn into something else.
…Something like letting him use her lap as a pillow. Definitely nothing else.
As they rode in the car, her mother's words from earlier still echoed in her mind:
"Having your own convictions is a good thing. As a child, being able to stand firm—right or wrong—is already a strength. But now that you've grown up, not every conviction is necessarily right. Like how you proudly believe that your decade-long bond with Haru is something no other girl could ever rival."
Yukino knew what her mother was hinting at.
The Sawamura family had also set their sights on her childhood friend.
She turned to look at Haru, who was busy browsing something on his phone.
She hadn't been entirely truthful earlier.
If he really wanted to see it…
She wouldn't mind dressing up as a catgirl for him.