Laughter and warmth filled the glass-walled studio.
"So the shy girl finally confessed to her upperclassman crush? That's just so sweet!" Rina Hidaka wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes with a finger.
"Eh, it's whatever."
The girl on the other side of the table—the one who had just confessed—didn't seem all that thrilled. Her expression was deadpan.
"You sound weirdly indifferent about this, especially for a college student," Rina teased.
"People put way too much stock in romance," the man replied, his voice tinged with philosophical detachment. "Family, career, ideals, discovery, knowledge, reflection… there's so much that gives life meaning. Yet most people's biggest problem is: 'They don't love me back.' What a waste."
"Awfully cynical of you. Don't tell me you've never wanted a deep, unforgettable love?" she asked, raising a skeptical brow.
"I used to," he admitted. "Like, when I could openly watch her from behind in class. Her neck was pale and delicate. I'd pretend to be taking notes, just to watch her hair shimmer in the breeze."
Yin Ze paused, his eyes lifting slightly, his tone softening into something more sincere.
"I always wanted to do something for her. Hand her homework, buy her snacks, help clean the board during class duty. I'd binge shows she liked just to have something to talk about. Even hearing her laugh about the same dumb topic made everything feel worth it."
He sighed.
"But those feelings are now locked away in memories of old classrooms and hallways. That sort of anticipation... it's long gone."
Every boy, before he grows up, has a dream. Maybe he wants to be a superhero, a swordsman, a scientist, an astronaut, or an artist.
Hardly anyone dreams of buying a tiny apartment and paying off a mortgage for twenty years.
Yin Ze had once been that guy who cried over angsty romance novels in literature class. His social media bios were full of cryptic heartbreak and melodramatic quotes. He'd even taken selfies while crying, capturing his teary lashes and messy hair with captions like: *"Yuu dun unnerstand mai hart."*
The day you look back on those cringe moments and want to crawl into a hole—that's when you know you've grown up.
Even those over-the-top dramas full of amnesia, car crashes, and domineering CEOs dancing with fragile girls… they always bring up one unavoidable truth:
You have to be "a good match."
Reality's cruelty lies in the fact that even fantasy worlds can't escape it. No matter how talented the underdog knight is, he still ends up with nothing.
"The beauty of youth," Yin Ze said with conviction, "is that even its naive troubles shine brightly in hindsight. You should treasure these days, Rina-san. Don't work yourself so hard that you miss the scenery along the way."
The earnestness in his words caught her off guard.
Rina was young, but she wasn't new. She'd done live events, talked with staff on and off set. She knew that every performance space, even a radio booth, was a kind of stage. And every role, even unseen, was crafted to support a script.
But this guy… he wasn't just performing. It felt like he was genuinely talking to her. Like two strangers forced into small talk on a long train ride.
Still, in showbiz, *authenticity* was the one thing actors were trained to *hide* the most.
"And now for the latest from our featured series! Volume 17 will be hitting stores early next month. After quelling the kingdom's rebellion, Princess Panis finally ascends the throne. But how will she lead a war-torn, fragile nation? And with the Mirror Gate shattered, and the Flameblade Saint falling in battle to buy humanity a moment of peace… can they hold back the tide of darkness?"
"All this and more in *Reincarnation Fantasy in Pitch Black: Volume 17 – Tide of Blazing Wrath*. Available at bookstores nationwide! Don't forget to follow our official Twitter and retweet for a chance at special giveaway prizes!"
Rina finished reading the final sponsor message and sipped from her water bottle. Her sleek ponytail swayed with the motion as she turned to the guy across from her.
"My, how time flies when you're having fun. Our first broadcast is already wrapping up."
"Mm."
"So cold! We're in the final few minutes—you've gotta bring the energy back up!"
"MM!" he repeated, louder this time.
"I think it went really well," Rina said, relaxing. "I was nervous since it was our first time, but everything went smoothly—thanks to you, Takizawa-kun."
Yin Ze nodded gravely. "A rare experience. I'll be sure to reflect on it for next time."
"Oh, so you're one of those method types?"
"I'm more of an 'imagine everything in my head' type."
"Then… would you want to come again next time?" she asked.
"As a background extra… I think I've pretty much served my purpose, haven't I?"
"No no, I'm asking what *you* want."
"If there's a chance, sure." Yin Ze nodded politely. "By the way, your sense of pacing and steering conversation is really impressive. You'd make a solid host."
"Really? That's so sweet of you to say!" she clapped gently, smiling brightly.
"I'm sure your future broadcasts will be smooth and enjoyable. I'll be tuning in when I can. Keep it up."
"I'll take that encouragement to heart—put it into the next episode."
She exhaled, then turned back to the mic.
"And that's a wrap! Thanks for joining us—this was Rina Hidaka and…"
"Takizawa Satoru," he chimed in.
They glanced at each other and in perfect sync, shouted:
"Thanks for listening! See you next time!"
*Thanks for listening! See you next time!*
The end credits music fizzled into their headsets. Staff behind the glass gave them cheerful thumbs up.
"Good work," the producer said, stepping in.
"Mind grabbing a photo before we pack up?" he added. "How about holding the new volume?"
He was referring to Volume 17—cover blazing with chaos and smoke, the destined hero staring ahead as his black cape unfurled like wings.
They each took a copy. It was small enough to hold one-handed, but posing separately looked awkward. So they stood side by side, holding the book between them like a pair receiving an award.
"Smile… Good. Let's get a few more. Uh, Takizawa-kun, could you relax that expression?"
True to her child actor roots, Rina was a natural in front of the camera. Her smile was polished yet warm.
Yin Ze, usually quick-witted, now looked stiff as a mannequin. His forced smile curled like a glitchy emoji—more creepy than charming.
Rina snuck a peek at him and couldn't help but giggle.
The producer frowned, thought for a beat, and then bluffed: "Okay, that's a wrap!"
Predictably, both relaxed instantly and looked at each other. The tension dropped. The producer pounced with rapid clicks of the shutter.
In the final shot, she looked up laughing in her sailor uniform while he looked down with a wry grin in his plain clothes.
It was the kind of candid photo rarely captured in work settings. The producer gave an approving nod.
"Thanks again for today." Rina gave a small bow. "And thanks for helping me with that math problem, too."
"No big deal. Hope we get to work together again." Yin Ze waved casually.
"Me too. You're a really interesting guy, Takizawa-kun."
She barely reached his shoulder, but the sudden comment caught him off guard.
"Haha, well, I'll head back by train."
"I need to pack up, but I take the Hanzomon Line too—want to head out together?"
"Uh? Sure, I guess."
As a respectable adult, it only seemed right to walk a younger colleague to the station. Socially and professionally, it made perfect sense.
Still... why did it feel like he was always escorting high schoolers lately?
Yin Ze glanced at the girl clutching her pencil case and workbook and sighed inwardly.