✯The Price of Silence✯

Morning after the award night - 9:07 AM

The television hummed softly in Kazama's penthouse office, the sound almost drowned by the tapping of rain on the glass walls. He stood by the window, coffee untouched, as the screen flashed with breaking news banners:

> "Business Tycoon Kazama Toru Spotted With Rising Actress Reina Sato!""Is Japan's Most Eligible Bachelor Finally Off the Market?"

The photos were grainy - a blurred shot of him helping the actress into her car after a charity gala months ago. But the media didn't need truth, only a headline that burned bright.

Kazama sighed, setting the cup down on his desk. His jaw tightened as his secretary rushed in, tablet in hand."Sir, the news channels-"

"Take it down," Kazama said flatly, eyes cold. "All of it. Every article, every clip. I don't care what it costs."

"Yes, sir."

The door closed again, leaving only the low hum of the city far below. Kazama loosened his tie, pressing a hand to his forehead.He wasn't angry at the press.He was angry at how tired he was-at how easily the world believed a story that wasn't his.

He had loved one person his entire life, and it wasn't Reina Sato.

---

Meanwhile - Shinchan's Apartment

The same story played on Shinchan's television.He sat on the couch, eyes glued to the flashing headlines. The cup of tea in his hand had gone cold long ago.

Masao's voice echoed through the phone on speaker."Shinchan, it's obviously fake. You know how these networks work-"

"I know," Shinchan cut him off quietly. "It's their job to spread lies."He set the cup down gently, eyes still fixed on the image of Kazama smiling beside the actress.His tone was calm, detached... but his heart twisted painfully.

After Masao hung up, Shinchan picked up his phone.His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a long time before typing:

> Moved on really quick.

He stared at it for a second, then hit send.

---

Kazama's Office - 1:26 PM

The vibration of his phone startled him. He picked it up, saw the message - four words that hit harder than any scandal could.

> "Moved on really quick."

He read it again.And again.Until the words blurred.

He threw the phone onto the desk, pulling at his tie as if it were choking him. His breath came out uneven, frustrated.

"He really thinks I...?" he muttered under his breath. "No. No, not again."

He sat down, head in his hands. The one person he wanted to believe in him - didn't.

---

That Evening - Shinchan's Studio

Shinchan's grin didn't reach his eyes as he posed for a photo beside the young female director, Aya Mori.She laughed brightly at something the photographer said, and Shinchan forced himself to smile, arm draped loosely around her shoulder.

> Click.

The next morning, every entertainment outlet had a new headline:

> "Director Nohara Shin Sparks Rumors With Co-Director Aya Mori - Is It Love or Collaboration?"

Inside his studio, Shinchan sat on the editing desk, scrolling through the flood of notifications.The grin returned, but this time it was bitter.

His phone began to buzz.Kazama.

He stared at the name flashing on the screen - once, twice, again and again.He didn't answer.

The calls kept coming.Forty missed.Eighty-three missed.One hundred and nine missed calls.

He finally switched the phone off, heart pounding in his chest.

> "Let's see how that feels," he whispered, voice cracking in the empty studio.

---

Kazama's Office - Midnight

"Sir?" his secretary's voice trembled from the doorway. "We found out where Director Nohara is. He's still at his studio."

Kazama didn't even respond.He just stood, grabbed his coat, and walked out - his movements sharp, angry, desperate.

Outside, the rain had started again, mirroring the storm inside him.

---

Shinchan's Studio - 12:48 AM

The building was quiet. Most of the lights were off except for the soft glow from Shinchan's editing room.He sat at his desk, scrolling through old photos - their high school festival, the banyan tree, graduation day. His eyes glistened as he whispered,

> "Why does it still hurt like this?"

The door burst open.

He turned sharply-Kazama stood there, drenched from the rain, breathing hard, eyes filled with something between fury and heartbreak.

For a moment, neither spoke.The air itself felt heavy, trembling with everything unsaid.

Shinchan's voice broke the silence first."Why are you here?"

Kazama's tone was low, rough.

> "You think this is funny? Those pictures? Those headlines? You think this is how you move on?"

Shinchan stood slowly, eyes flashing with pain.

> "Funny? No, Kazama. Necessary. Because that's what you do, right? Smile in front of cameras and pretend nothing ever happened."

Kazama took a step closer, his voice shaking now.

> "You know none of that was true. You know it."

Shinchan looked away, tears threatening to spill.

> "Then why did it look so easy for you?"

Kazama clenched his fists, stepping closer until he was barely a breath away.

> "Because it wasn't easy, Shinchan! It never was! You think I didn't want to come running the second I saw you again?"

His voice softened, trembling now.

> "You think I ever stopped loving you?"

Shinchan froze. His lips parted, but no sound came out.The words hit him like thunder - too late, too heavy, too honest.

Kazama's chest rose and fell unevenly.

> "I'm done watching from a distance. I'm done with pretending we're strangers."

Shinchan stared at him through blurry eyes

And the rain outside grew louder - like applause from the sky for a truth finally spoken, even if it had come soaked in pain.

---

End of Chapter 17

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