Chapter 295: Celebrity Intrusion
As night fell, the main stage of the Cultural Plaza lit up and the entrance opened.
"Hey, we don't have to buy tickets anymore!"
people exclaimed in surprise as they entered. The Cultural Plaza is a large square with a special performance hall. It is an open-air theater with a capacity for tens of thousands of people. Many readers thought they would be charged an additional fee upon entry, but it turned out they weren't.
"You don't have to pay more for tickets, but there are too many people. Please follow the instructions and take a seat. If there's no room, please stand... Or go to the outer square, where there's a giant screen, which is clearer than the auditorium."
The staff told the readers queuing to enter that too many people were entering the theater at night, and the auditorium might not be able to handle it. And so it was: the interior soon filled up.
Seeing such a scene, some took the initiative to leave the hall.
"These people are of high quality..."
Among the audience, a woman looked at the departing readers and sighed.
"It's not that they are of high quality, but that the guidance is good..."
her boyfriend, Kenji, replied, sitting beside her. He scanned some crowded places, where a group of girls was persuading others to leave and then led them to a more suitable place outside the hall to watch.
These girls belong to Mirai-sensei's two main fan groups: the Alliance of Older Sisters and the Guardians. They can be seen everywhere resolving disputes and conflicts. After a day, the readers recognized them.
"They are very hardworking..."
Kenji felt it was incredible. He knew these girls weren't getting paid, but they worked all day and tried so hard that many were surprised.
"Kenji, didn't you say someone would find some fault today? But there were no accidents..." The girlfriend looked away and asked, "Are you doing well at work?"
Kenji came to investigate the situation today. The newspaper's editor-in-chief had warned him that someone might cause trouble during the celebration and asked him to pay attention at all times. But after a day, there were no accidents.
Or rather, all the important events were resolved by Hinotori Publishing. They did an excellent job in crisis management and worked with great caution. There were cameras all over the plaza, which calmed several disturbances.
The two female fan groups also did an excellent job today. These omnipresent fans were always alert to any abnormal movement and extinguished many fires at their source.
"My work has nothing to do with it," Kenji told his girlfriend, "If nothing unexpected happens, I'll consider it a date with you. It's just that... well... the expenses are a bit high."
He looked at the bags under his girlfriend's feet with a distressed expression.
These bags were full of various things, but they were basically secondary products purchased from the Hinotori manga flagship store. It is said that all the products of the celebration are limited editions, so his girlfriend is particularly crazy.
Today they only spent 1200 yen on tickets, but they spent 80,000 on shopping. Kenji doesn't plan to come tomorrow. The consumption here is a bottomless pit.
"What? Are you blaming me for spending money without thinking? I bought everything I used." The girlfriend frowned and said, "And I paid for half, what are you complaining about?" "
Do you think everything is useful? I just don't know what that miko costume is for..." Kenji sighed, "This cosplay outfit is completely useless after buying it."
"That miko costume..." The girlfriend frowned, "When I tried it on, didn't you say it looked good on me? I bought it because you said it looked good!"
"I said it without giving it much thought..."
"Do you mean the miko costume doesn't look good on me?"
The girlfriend was a little angry. Kenji was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Forget it. The truth is, it's quite beautiful, but it's a bit expensive, and I can't wear it often, so it seems like a waste."
"What a waste?... Aren't those manga you bought even more of a waste?" His girlfriend looked at him with contempt. "I can use this dress for cosplay, but what good are your manga if not for masturbating?... I really don't understand you guys. You have girlfriends, but still..."
"Cough, cough..." Kenji blushed and coughed twice to interrupt his girlfriend, "Enough. Stop talking, I won't talk anymore."
The people sitting around began to look at him with strange eyes, and Kenji quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, what time will Mirai-sensei be on stage?" He asked, "Tonight's content is Mirai-sensei's exchange meeting, and there will also be a presentation by the voice actors, right?"
Kenji reviewed the celebration's program. Tonight's objective was a communication meeting between Mirai-sensei and the readers. It was the first time Mirai-sensei had communicated with readers at an event like this. There were already media and reporters ready to record in front of the stage. It is rumored that there will be live broadcasts on some channels.
The voice actors from Hinotori Publishing will also be introduced. The most important event of this celebration is the voice actor contest, who will be introduced tonight. The first round of the contest will be held.
This first round is a popularity contest. Starting tomorrow, these voice actors will be distributed to other stages to compete for talent. In the end, the three most popular will return for the final, and then the celebration will conclude.
"Voting with tickets is fair..."
Kenji thought. Each ticket is a vote, so he has never wasted it.
"No need to think about it, the voice actors will undoubtedly go on stage first."
At that moment, the girlfriend answered Kenji's question, "Mirai-sensei should be the finalist. He'll come out after the voice actors' performance is over."
She frowned slightly, "But, to be honest, the more I think about it, the more it seems something is wrong. Isn't this a celebration for Mirai-sensei? Why do I feel like he's just a spectator?"
Kenji agreed with his girlfriend's statement, "Yes, we're all here for Mirai-sensei. If he simply appeared, it would be a huge disappointment."
"Speaking of appearing, I heard that Mirai-sensei has become handsome again."
The girlfriend's eyes lit up.
"Women, do you care so much about that face?" Kenji sighed and then turned his gaze to the stage, "It's time, isn't it?"
The audience seats were already full, and those who should have left had already gone. It was time for the host to take the stage.
"Who will it be?" Kenji looked at the stage with doubt. A few minutes later, the lights came on and a woman slowly walked out.
As she advanced, her appearance became clearer and the room began to vibrate. Kenji's eyes widened, "Damn, why is it Yumi!"
"Mrs. Yumi!"
"It's Yumi, Yumi is back!"
The audience seats moved a bit, and suddenly, a great ovation erupted. Yumi, a former host of the Osaka television network, was very loved by the public. Her return surprised many.
On stage, Yumi was also a bit stunned. She didn't expect the audience to still remember her after so long. She was moved and wanted to take the microphone to speak. However, before she could open her mouth, the room erupted in a girlish scream.
"Ryoma! It's Ryoma!"
"Why is he here? Why is Ryoma here!"
The crowd was furious and the atmosphere suddenly became exalted. Yumi turned her head in surprise and saw that, at an entrance, the idol king Ryoma was surrounded by several people, waving and smiling as he entered.
"Ryoma?"
Yumi felt strange. Why was this handsome boy appearing? She had never heard of him.
"Yumi, don't start the show yet. I'm going to see what's going on!"
Takumi suddenly ran onto the stage to stop Yumi before she announced the opening and then ran towards Ryoma. Hinotori Publishing did not invite Ryoma, and his appearance surprised Takumi.
At that moment, the club was already furious about the appearance of Yumi and Ryoma. Especially the female audience, they all stood up and excitedly shouted Ryoma's name.
"Ryoma, Ryoma, Ryoma..."
For an instant, the club seemed to become Ryoma's home.
Among the audience, Daichi and Ryo were stunned.
"Minister... What is Ryoma doing here?" Daichi asked, stuttering. "When did he contact Hinotori Publishing?"
"I don't know, don't ask me!"
Ryo frowned, completely confused, but he calmed down and watched the stage attentively. He discovered that the employees of Hinotori Publishing were also in a panic, and it didn't seem like they knew beforehand that Ryoma would come.
Had he come alone? What did he intend?
"Did he come to provoke Mirai-sensei?"
Ryo thought it was ridiculous.
- - - - - -
Hello everyone!
Great news! Starting today, Thursday, October 23rd, and running through Friday, October 31st, all subscription tiers on my Patreon will be 50% off.
Use the code 26DEA at checkout to activate the promotion and get access to hundreds of advanced chapters!
@Patreon/iLikeeMikee