"Congratulations, Kana-chan! If you take this opportunity, your popularity will definitely skyrocket!"
Seeing Arima Kana so happy, Ichika, still with tears lingering in her eyes, replied to the message with a smile.
As soon as the message was sent, a new message suddenly appeared in Ichika's view. It was from her agent:
"Miss Nakano, I have an opportunity for you to appear on 'Starting Now? Serious Love.' Are you interested?"
Seeing the message, Ichika was stunned.
What the heck is this? Has the currently popular reality show become something anyone can participate in?
Masaka?! Could it be that both Arima Kana and her agent were tricked by some scammer?!
Thinking about it, shock appeared on Ichika's face. Before she could respond, her agent sent another message, dispelling Ichika's doubts:
"This time is just a warm-up for 'Starting Now? Serious Love' season 2. They are only filming something behind the scenes, an amateur romance. If you perform well, you might appear as a guest in the second season! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"Did this opportunity really fall to me?"
Ignoring everything else, Ichika, still somewhat in disbelief, asked.
"Of course… no. There is only one spot available, and they are looking for a female performer with romantic experience. I just don't want to miss such a good opportunity. Ichika, you are so beautiful, surely you have a boyfriend, right? Do you want to participate?"
The agent explained that in Japan's entertainment industry, opportunities for new talents to directly appear on popular reality shows are rare, almost zero!
As for other so-called young actresses appearing in major films and TV dramas, it went without saying. This industry was murky; even an old woman like her would be completely swallowed if she entered.
And now, when she finally caught the opportunity, how could she let it slip so easily?
She knew nothing about Ichika's romantic past, but Ichika was so beautiful that she surely wasn't lacking male admirers. If Ichika was chosen, the chance that a new star would appear in her hands would double!
Looking at the phone screen, Ichika was already about to reply that she wanted to participate, but then she remembered the romantic experience. On that matter, she was really a blank page. What should she do?
Should she really let this opportunity pass? This was her first time getting so close to appearing on television and standing under the spotlight. If she participated, it would definitely be a huge step toward Ichika's dream of becoming a big star!
But…
"Well, it's just acting out a sweet romance, right?! At worst, I'll just watch a few more idol dramas!"
Gritting her teeth, Ichika thought and replied to her agent:
"Yes! Please, you must give me this opportunity, I beg you!"
Just as Ichika was thinking of further preparing and refreshing her knowledge of romance for a possible interview, her agent's next words left her speechless:
"Ah, yes. The idea of the show for this amateur behind-the-scenes segment is to film real interactions of real couples. The effect of the first season was too exaggerated, so now they want to balance it. This… Ichika, is that okay with you?"
"Real… real couples?!"
Holding the phone, Ichika's eyes were full of disbelief. Wasn't this just a show, just pretending? Why suddenly require real couples?!
She had never even been in a relationship. Where was she supposed to find the other half of a real couple?!
In her entire life, the only male hands she had ever held belonged to Nakano Yu! Could it be that she had to ask Yu to go with her…
As she thought about it, a light suddenly appeared in Ichika's mind.
She opened the photo of Nakano Yu and Nino on her phone, her eyes flickering as she looked thoughtfully at the screen.
A moment later, Ichika returned to the conversation with her agent:
"I will bring along the person I love."
"Alright! The rest will depend on the production team's notice. Good luck, Ichika-chan, make the most of this opportunity!"
…
The night went on, but tonight was unusually hot; even the evening breeze felt scorching.
On the street, a young man walked in a white short-sleeved shirt, eyes constantly scanning the surroundings as if searching for something.
If there had been passersby, they surely would have wondered why someone was still wandering the streets so late.
But unfortunately, tonight was too hot. So hot that the fish in the pond were sticking their round heads out of the water, and there were even fewer pedestrians on the streets.
What was wrong with that young man?
No need to guess, the young man, of course, was Nakano Yu.
At this moment, Nakano Yu had already left the house, and his sole goal was to find the God who had briefly appeared in this world!
However, Nakano Yu had been outside for a long time, yet he hadn't seen a shadow of the Heretic God, not even a trace of its aura.
If it had been any other Nakano Yu, he would probably have returned home long ago after such a fruitless search, but this was the Heretic God!
This was a shortcut to strength! An existence he had waited for almost ten years!
Nakano Yu had always felt that he could not be considered a true God Slayer. Although he possessed the God's Authority, was blessed by the Gods, and despised by them, just like other God Slayers, he had never personally killed a God!
The fact that he had never killed a God had always been a regret for Nakano Yu, and of course, he could not easily give up.
"Then I clearly felt it was here?"
With a light jump, Nakano Yu leapt onto the top of a tall building, sat down, and muttered to himself.
The warm evening breeze gently caressed the young man's cheeks, but Nakano Yu didn't care.
"Klak! Klak!"
At that moment, the sound of wooden geta striking the ground reached Nakano Yu's ears.
Sensing something was wrong, Nakano Yu only slightly frowned, waved his hand, and the holy sword Joyeuse appeared, suddenly releasing a sword flash far behind Nakano Yu.
The air in the distance began to distort under the horror of that sword, thick black mist spread, and then a figure slowly appeared from the transparency.
The figure was tall and slender, dressed in a dark purple kimono, with hair white like moonlight, forming an unusual arc behind him.
"What a terrifying perception. Not even Mirror Flower Water Moon could escape his senses, ha?"
The newcomer sighed, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Nakano Yu's back, secretly feeling astonished.
"Nura Rikuo, why are you here?"
Nakano Yu didn't even have to turn around; just sensing his aura, he confirmed the newcomer's identity.
It was none other than the young master of the Nura clan, Nura Rikuo, who possessed a quarter of Nurarihyon's blood!
In fact, Nakano Yu had initially thought Nurarihyon was behind him, but after listening more carefully, he discovered that the demonic aura was full of vitality. Nakano Yu had previously seen Nurarihyon, whose aura was rotten, like a setting sun, doomed to fall, yet stubbornly clinging to the last warmth.
However, Nura Rikuo could actually activate his yokai form. He remembered that when he fought Kyūso, Nura Rikuo was still human. Could it be because of Gyuki?
As he thought, Nura Rikuo had already approached and sat beside Nakano Yu.
"Tonight's moon is not right."
As soon as he sat down, Nura Rikuo suddenly spoke, attracting Nakano Yu's attention.
Nura Rikuo raised his hand and, using his yokai power, created a bowl of sake. After taking a sip, he explained:
"Tonight's moon… is very weak, as if something is suppressing it."
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