Chapter 55: Taking Photos
One hour later.
The meeting with the inner-club union had ended.
Although there had been some arguments in the middle, overall, it was considered smooth. Everyone maintained a restrained attitude on the surface; behind-the-scenes exchanges were a different matter, but open quarrels were not good for either side.
Even the two who usually argued the most, Ryuju Momo and Kojima, didn't say much—everyone kept the intensity of the budget competition at a moderate, gentle level.
Sitting here were all descendants of high-ranking figures from various fields in Japan, and they might well collaborate in the future. There was no need to strain relationships.
Stepping out of the conference room.
Shirogane Miyuki let out a sigh of relief.
The next meeting was still far away, and for a while, he wouldn't have to endure pressure from this crowd.
How on earth was Sakurai so bold? Shirogane Miyuki clearly remembered that, like himself, that guy had no backing at all—so why could he remain so calm?
Could it be that he was actually the eldest son of some great family, and entering Shuchiin as an external applicant was just some kind of succession trial?
Shirogane Miyuki glanced at Sakurai Saki, who was holding a stack of documents nearby, and in his head, he had already come up with several hundred episode-long dramas.
...
Back in the student council room.
"Shirogane, I've got something to do today, I'm heading out first." Sakurai Saki said this and turned to leave.
(„• ֊ •„)੭
At that moment, his phone rang.
Glancing at the caller, he saw it was Minamoto Mashiro.
"Moshi moshi? Mashiro-san?" Sakurai Saki picked up.
In his ear came the gentle voice of a beautiful woman:
"Saki-kun~ I'm waiting at the school gate already, come on out~"
Sakurai nodded a farewell to President Shirogane, then picked up his bag and left the student council room.
Although Shirogane Miyuki was also curious who he was talking to, he didn't ask.
After all, it was the other person's private matter.
...
Leaving the school gate, Sakurai Saki saw Minamoto Mashiro parked by the roadside.
The beautiful woman sitting inside lowered the window and called out loudly to him:
"Saki-kun~ I'm over here~"
(❀´ ˘ `❀)੭
Nearby, several students who had just finished their club activities were walking home. Seeing this scene, they immediately showed looks of surprise.
"Is that General Affairs Sakurai's big sister? She's so pretty~" a female student raised her hand to cover her mouth, speaking up.
"But they don't look that much alike, maybe a cousin?" another female student guessed.
"Could also be that kind of 'onee-san'..." a male student offered another opinion.
He was immediately met with a chorus of disdainful glares from a group of female students.
(눈_눈)
Typical boys, always thinking crooked.
Just seeing a woman's arm, they immediately think of a naked body.
Thinking of a naked body leads to imagining sex.
That's how boys' thoughts leap—like jumping off the peak of the Himalayas, escaping Earth's gravity, making Newton-sensei furious, and just floating off into space.
As for the students' chatter, Sakurai Saki naturally had no idea.
"I'm not bothering you, am I?" Minamoto Mashiro, sitting in the right-hand driver's seat, tilted her head and asked Sakurai, who was in the passenger seat.
"Not at all." Sakurai Saki replied gently.
"I just finished up at the student council, so you came at just the right time."
Hearing this, Minamoto Mashiro let out a sigh of relief.
"There's still plenty of time, we can grab something to eat first. Saki-kun, what do you want to eat? Tell me."
Sakurai thought for a moment, then replied, "Let's have something sweet. Don't you like that kind of thing?"
"What's with this little brother indulging his big sister~? I'm the one who should be spoiling you." Minamoto Mashiro said with a laugh.
Mashiro: ❀.(*´◡`*)❀
Sakurai Saki didn't like sweets—she knew that well.
"And your Yoko-san is busy setting up the set, so she probably can't come eat with us."
In the end, the two of them drove to a nearby shopping mall, randomly picked a family restaurant inside, and had a simple meal together.
...
By the time the two arrived at the studio in Shinjuku, it was already close to seven in the evening.
Walking into the dressing room together with Minamoto Mashiro, Sakurai Saki sat down in a chair.
Hearing the chatter behind him about how they would do his makeup, Sakurai Saki didn't say anything more. Today, he wouldn't be able to lie, so anything he could avoid saying, it was best not to say.
A few minutes later, the makeup began.
"Sakurai-san, your skin is really beautiful~"
(๑´>᎑<)~*
The female makeup artist praised him softly as she gently swept a damp makeup sponge across his face.
She was honestly wondering whether she even needed to use concealer in this case.
Because, basically, there wasn't a single flaw on his face.
After working on so many faces, this was the first time she had encountered such a case — perhaps the phrase "naturally handsome" was made to describe someone like him.
"Thank you~" Sakurai Saki replied politely.
When faced with compliments, he had never been the type to act humble.
Sakurai Saki's level of self-love and thickness of skin could easily rival the corner of a fortress wall.
He even believed he could accomplish anything perfectly, as long as he wanted to do it.
The more the makeup artist worked, the happier she became, her mouth constantly spilling compliments.
Minamoto Mashiro, watching her little brother being showered with praise, couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth curl into a smile.
Besides the three of them, there were quite a few people in the dressing room. There were many people here today for photoshoots at the studio.
Plenty of female models, most of them accompanied by managers.
The makeup artists chatted with the models, asking for their opinions, and the noise level was a bit loud.
Like that, time stretched on for over ten minutes.
Suddenly, at the door, a man in a suit with slicked-back hair appeared and walked in.
The entire room immediately fell silent.
He swept his gaze around, muttering something under his breath, then shot a sharp glance toward Minamoto Mashiro. After she glared back at him, he walked away.
Sakurai Saki said nothing.
But the female makeup artist behind him quietly muttered a complaint.
"Ugh, just our luck. That scumbag's here again to harass the models. So what if his family's rich, acting all high and mighty."
(¬_ ´¬ )
"Harass the models?" Sakurai Saki asked curiously.
"If he sees a pretty model, he'll go up and strike up a conversation, then ask if they're open to money deals, promising all kinds of benefits…"
(¬`‸´¬)
Ah, unspoken rules? Pretty common.
"He's got this weird fetish, only sleeps with each girl once…"
Now that's drifting into psychological territory.
But since it was all consensual, Sakurai Saki had no intention of getting involved.
"That's enough, stop gossiping." Minamoto Mashiro, hearing the direction of their conversation, felt that her pure little brother shouldn't be spoiled by such topics.
The makeup artist, hearing that, quickly shut her mouth and said no more.
Once the makeup was done, a red-dyed, curly-haired woman came rushing in through the back door, looking flustered.
Upon seeing Sakurai Saki, she finally let out a relieved sigh.
Walking over to Minamoto Mashiro's side, Ueno Yoko gave him a once-over.
"Sakurai-kun, go change out of that outfit quickly. Even though we still have some time, that school uniform really doesn't look good."
Minamoto Mashiro covered her mouth, giggling beside them, "That's Shuchiin's uniform, you know."
"So what if it's Shuchiin? I can't comment just because it's ugly? If you ask me, that uniform needs a redesign — no trace of youthful spirit at all. One glance, and it's just the smell of decay. A bunch of high schoolers looking like old men."
Minamoto Mashiro shot her an annoyed glare, "To a shotacon like you, everything probably looks old, huh?"
"Exactly." Ueno Yoko didn't deny her own "xp" one bit.
She outright preferred the younger type — the younger, the better.
₍₍ ◝(●˙꒳˙●)◜ ₎₎