Chapter 106 Brother, this is not appropriate
Actor?
Shimizu Mi didn't quite understand what Sakurai Shio meant.

He understands boyfriends, he also knows male besties, but what does male protagonist mean?
Looking at the confused Shimizu, Sakurai Shio revealed the reason with a little pride.

“Have you ever seen Love Metronome?”

"No."

When Sakurai Shio heard him say this, her expression gradually became subtle.

It looked like an expression of loss, but since Sakurai Shio, who always smiled, rarely had such an expression on her face, Shimizu Mi was not quite sure what kind of emotion it was.

Then, Shimizu remembered that he seemed to have heard the name "Love Metronome" somewhere, and it seemed to be a movie starring Sakurai Shio.

"Sorry, I'm not usually interested in romance-themed movies."

Sakurai Shio didn't seem surprised by this and continued to ask:

"What movie are you going to watch today?"

If I remember correctly, Love Metronome was recently re-released in theaters.

But unfortunately, this was not the movie that Shimizu was going to watch today.

"Suspense."

Shimizu simply stated the truth.

"What? That's so boring~"

Sakurai Shio shook her legs up and down dissatisfied.

She was the one who asked the question, but she seemed to have no interest in the answer.

"Are you going to watch it with your sister?"

"……Um."

"I never thought a little girl like her would be interested in this kind of movie."

In fact, Shimizu was a little surprised at first.

But since Rena Shimizu herself has expressed interest, then it's fine.

"So, what exactly did you mean by the leading actor?"

In order to avoid an awkward atmosphere, Shimizu decided to return to the previous topic.

Sakurai Shio was stunned for a moment and tilted her head to the side to think.

After a moment, she intertwined her fingers, rested her chin on the back of her hands, and looked at Qingshuijian again.

"I'm about to take on the sequel to Love Metronome."

Sakurai Shio deliberately lowered the volume, probably because she didn't want to be heard by other customers nearby.

Although Shimizu Miki has not seen this movie, the popularity of "Love Metronome" in the industry cannot be underestimated.

The news about the sequel has been circulating for several months.

However, Sakurai Shio's agency has always announced that she was absent due to illness and has never revealed that she will continue to play the leading female role.

For fans of this work, they are naturally looking forward to it and hope that Sakurai Shio can continue to play the heroine.

Although Shimizu Mi is not very clear about how Sakurai Shio performs in this work, if the original cast is not used and the heroine is replaced without authorization, such a sequel will often only be regarded as selling emotions and exploiting fans.

And what Sakurai Shio just said was undoubtedly equivalent to a response that she was going to continue to star in this sequel.

Thinking of the male protagonist she just mentioned, Shimizu began to have a bad feeling.

This feeling became even stronger when he heard Sakurai Shio's next words.

"Actually, the movie is still missing a leading actor."

Sakurai Shio didn't point it out directly, but Shimizu could roughly guess her intention. However, he hoped that his guess was wrong, so he just made a perfunctory sound that seemed to understand.

However, Sakurai Shio didn't seem to intend to end the topic here. She showed a rare serious expression, looked directly at Shimizu and spoke again:
"Can you be my leading man?"

Unfortunately, Shimizu guessed right again.

To be honest, sometimes he hated his intuition that always guessed right.

Of course, he hated the fact that his intuition had never worked out when it came to guessing lottery numbers.

Wait, so Sakurai Shio wants me to be an actor?
"Why are you looking for me?"

Although Shimizu had seen some movies, he never thought that he would have any connection with the entertainment industry. Not to mention playing the leading role, he had never even played the role of a passerby.

If it's because of his appearance, although I'm a little confident about his face, but is it really true that only the face is needed to play the leading actor?
Qing Shuijian was halfway through thinking when he heard a groaning sound coming from next door.

"Hmm..."

It's just the sound of breathing, but it's hard not to pay attention to it.

The voice was neither charming nor alluring.

Shimizu glanced sideways and found Sakurai Shio looking out the window, sighing helplessly.

"This movie is actually adapted from a comic book written by a friend of mine."

"The first part of the movie mainly tells the story of the heroine's youth campus life, that innocent girl, and her sweet and bitter first love."

Sakurai Shio said this with a gleam of nostalgia in her eyes.

"In the subsequent sequel, the heroine went to college and a new chapter in her life began."

"There, she will meet her first boyfriend, a man who makes her heart beat fast."

Sakurai Shio said with emotion, her usual absent-minded look was completely gone, replaced by a focused look.

Sure enough, once people enter a field they like or are professional in, they will become serious and dedicated.

"According to the original work, the male protagonist is a person who has been learning kendo since childhood. In other words, the actor who plays the role should also be a kendo master in order to interpret the charm of the original work."

Sakurai Shio said, looking out the window and turning her gaze towards Shimizu, with a hint of determination flashing in her eyes:
"And you are the most suitable person I have ever met."

After hearing this, Qingshui began to understand something.

Although I don't know where Sakurai Shio learned this from, he has indeed been practicing kendo in the kendo club since elementary school.

However, he was hospitalized due to an accident in junior high school and gave up kendo after that.

It has been many years since then, and Shimizu Mi can't even remember the last time he mentioned the bamboo sword.

"...There should be a lot of people who know kendo."

It’s not that Shimizu Mi was not confident. He had no experience in the entertainment industry. The fact that he knew kendo was far from enough for Sakurai Shio to choose him, an outsider, to be the leading actor.

"No, if it wasn't for you, it wouldn't work..."

Sakurai Shio slowly lowered her head, and her tone became softer, which seemed to be mixed with tenderness and compassion. It seemed more like she was speaking to herself.

Although Shimizu Mi didn't know her very well, overall, Sakurai Shio should be a happy and enthusiastic person.

However, at this moment, she did not show any such cheerfulness.

Qing Shuijian realized that he absolutely could not ask any further questions, so he just kept silent.

The conversation ended here, and the scene fell into an awkward silence. Especially when the two looked at each other like this, the awkward atmosphere was particularly obvious.

Seeing that Shimizu didn't say anything, Sakurai Shio stood up from her seat and changed her mood. She took off her white jacket and hung it on the back of the chair, revealing a cardigan underneath that looked very soft and warm.

However, it may not be so soft under a sweater.

Her breasts were completely different from her sister Haruka Sakurai's and were so flat that Shimizu couldn't help but wonder if all the nutrients had been absorbed by Haruka Sakurai.

But they are not twins, so this should not be possible.

Or is this the price you have to pay to become a perfect woman like Sakurai Shio? Such a painful price...

"What do you think about what happened just now?"

Sakurai Shio leaned forward slightly and moved closer to Shimizu, and the fragrance of fresh flowers suddenly rushed into her nostrils.

Shimizu stepped back according to how close she was and leaned against the back of the chair.

"If you make a movie, it means a lot of people will watch it, right?"

Judging from the huge box office success and packed houses of the first "Love Metronome" when it was released, the sequel is bound to be equally popular.

"Although the specific distribution situation still needs to be negotiated with the distributor, it will at least be released nationwide."

"Then allow me to refuse."

Shimizu Mi had no opinion or dissatisfaction with his appearance, but exposing his face to the public was a different matter.

"Eh~ Why?"

"I don't want to be noticed. It's embarrassing."

Shimizu thought that Sakurai Shio would continue to pursue him and persuade him until he agreed, but she unexpectedly stopped insisting.

"I understand."

Sakurai Shio nodded gently: "Since you already know about this, there is no need to rush to reply to me. The filming schedule of the movie will probably be during this summer vacation. Before that, you can take your time to think about it."

Having said that, I'm afraid Sakurai Haruka won't be able to wait that long, and the school should make a final conclusion on the accident within a week at the latest.

At this time, Sakurai Shio took out an envelope from the inside pocket of the shirt she had just taken off and handed it to Shimizu Mi.

She probably left it there a long time ago. When Qingshuijian took it, he could still feel the faint body temperature remaining on the envelope.

In addition to Sakurai Shio's body temperature, Shimizu was also shocked by her heavy weight.

Judging from the bulging shape of the envelope, there would be nothing inside except that thing.

It’s so thick and heavy…how much money is put into it?

If each sum is 10,000 yen, then there would be at least one million yen in total.

"Please give this to Haruka."

"Can't you just give this kind of thing to her yourself?"

If you carry so much cash with you, you won't be surprised if you are suddenly attacked while walking at night.

"This money was actually given by my father. He asked me to give this living expense to Yao."

One million yen for living expenses, what kind of family conditions does this require...

While Shimizu was amazed at this, he remembered that Sakurai Haruka once told him that both her parents had passed away, leaving behind only the apartment and a deposit.

Logically speaking, she was the second daughter of the Sakurai family and could have lived a carefree life as a young lady, but she ran away from home to live alone and never used the savings. She earned her living expenses and tuition fees by working part-time.

Thinking of this, the envelope in my hand felt heavy and painful.

"If Haruka knew it was the money from me, she would definitely not accept it. Of course, even if it was based on her father's reputation, she would definitely refuse it."

What Sakurai Shio said is like saying, there are two trees in front of my house, one is a jujube tree, and the other is also a jujube tree.

However, it is not difficult to imagine that with Sakurai Haruka's personality, she really won't rely on others.

"Then why are you looking for me?"

"Because only you will make Haruka accept it, and... I think she probably needs this right now."

Sakurai Shio smiled gently, without any embarrassment as one would feel when asking someone to do something for her.

Qingshuijian rolled his eyes at her and wanted to say something to advise her, but Sakurai Shio was still smiling. In the end, Qingshuijian had to sigh and put away the envelope.

"By the way, has Haruka been bothered by any strange guys recently?"

Sakurai Shio put on her shirt again, as if she suddenly remembered something, and asked this strange question seemingly casually.

"Weird guy?"

Qing Shuijian asked, somewhat confused.

"Ah, nothing much, I just heard there are a lot of perverted stalkers recently, right?"

"If you really want to care about her, wouldn't it be better to just ask her directly?"

"What can I do? She doesn't answer my calls, and all her contact information has been deleted."

When she mentioned the contact information, she emphasized her tone deliberately, as if hinting at something.

That was probably a complaint about Qingshui Jian deleting her contact information before, but since she didn't take the initiative to point it out, Qingshui Jian didn't mention it. After all, it's better to have less trouble than more.

At this time, Reina Shimizu and Yukino Ko, who had gone to refill their drinks, came back.

Reina Shimizu asked a passing clerk to refill her drink and gently placed the cup in front of Shimizu.

"Thank you for accompanying me today."

Sakurai Shio quickly packed up her things and was ready to leave when she thanked Shimizu Ken.

Although Shimizu felt a little uncomfortable with her calling herself sister, judging from her expression, she seemed to be sincerely grateful, so Shimizu didn't say anything more.

As she left, she turned and waved to Qing Shuijian.

After watching Sakurai Shio and Yukino leave, Shimizu finished the remaining donuts and packed up to leave.

"elder brother……"

At this moment, Rena Shimizu's weak voice with a hint of hesitation came from behind.

"...That big sister seems to like you very much."

"what?"

This sentence was beyond Qingshuijian's expectation, and he couldn't help but turn his head back.

After meeting Shimizu Reina's eyes, she immediately avoided Shimizu Ken's sight.

"She was just trying to amuse me."

Shimizumi reached out and gently rubbed Shimizu Reina's head.

"elder brother……"

Shimizu Reina seemed to have something else to say, but she suddenly realized something she had forgotten.

"Brother...movie."

"..."

When Shimizu Mi and Shimizu Reina hurried to the cinema, the movie they had planned to watch had already started halfway.

Although you can still enter at halftime with your ticket, for a suspense film, it would be meaningless if you don't watch it from the first second and miss any key plot.

There is no choice but to choose another movie.

Shimizu was browsing through today's movies carefully on the electronic screen at the ticket office, and soon his eyes stopped on a certain movie.

"How about we watch this today?"

"Eh?! Brother...I, do we really have to watch this? No, it's not appropriate..."

Reina Shimizu couldn't help but cover her eyes with her hands and peek at the cover of the movie through her fingers.

(End of this chapter)