章 75: Chapter 75: The Admired Actor
More than half an hour after Akikawa Kyousuke and Misaki Itakura took their seats, the opening ceremony of Japan's largest film festival officially began.
Two hosts took the microphone and walked onto the stage.
One of them was a renowned veteran host, a long-time anchor at TV Tokyo who had hosted countless shows of all sizes.
The other was a name well-known throughout Japan—a former TV station host turned superstar: Yoko Okino.
At such a grand event, no one was particularly surprised to see Yoko Okino present.
What did surprise everyone, however, was that she was invited as a host, not just a guest.
This kind of bold move—like cooking chicken in a pot meant for beef—left many marveling at the wealth and influence of the Suzuki Consortium.
Akikawa Kyousuke sat quietly in the audience, observing Yoko Okino as she hosted the event on stage.
Her lively and witty banter, combined with her skillful ability to guide the audience's attention during breaks between performances, brought frequent laughter from the crowd.
"It's as if she was born to be an entertainer. She's only 22 years old but has already mastered all the skills required of an artist," Akikawa Kyousuke thought to himself.
In every country, there are artists who could be called "multi-talented stars."
But artists like Yoko Okino, who achieved that title at such a young age, are rare.
During the brief interaction with her while performing in The Lost Lady: Voice of the Dead, Akikawa Kyousuke came to understand why Yoko Okino was so beloved.
Her talent alone was enough to eclipse others.
But more importantly, she had a way of interacting with people that was utterly unoffensive.
"It seems I wasn't wrong in assessing that Yoko Okino shared a close connection with the original owner of this body," Kyousuke thought.
"During our time together, it was also evident that she cared for 'me' more than for other artists.
However, despite her warmth, there seems to be a deliberate distance between us."
"Why is she so cautious, going out of her way to avoid drawing attention to our relationship?
Is she worried that a close association with me might damage her career? Or... is she worried for me?"
The deliberate distance suited Akikawa Kyousuke just fine, sparing him the need to overthink their interactions.
Yet he couldn't help but wonder about her motives.
---
"Hmm, up next is a singer with a charming appearance and an enchanting voice—a perfect idol beloved by people of all ages!"
Yoko Okino glanced at the cue card in her hand, hyping up the audience.
The introduction surprised many in the crowd, though a small group quickly caught on and chuckled.
"We now welcome... Miss Yoko Okino!"
Raising her arms with enthusiasm, Yoko Okino ran toward the stage center, joining the backup dancers.
Five seconds later, as some in the audience were still processing her playful self-introduction, laughter erupted.
Her self-promotion drew no resentment—only amusement and applause.
As she reached the center of the stage, two backup dancers draped a flowing blue gown over her dress.
Taking the microphone, Yoko Okino waited for the music to start and launched into her performance.
Even Akikawa Kyousuke, with his average singing abilities, could tell that Yoko's vocal talent far surpassed the norm.
Her years of debuting as an idol in middle school were evident.
---
After her performance, the official opening ceremony concluded, though Yoko Okino continued hosting, now clad in her performance gown.
Expressing gratitude to the Suzuki Group for their sponsorship, she and her co-host introduced the festival's key films and their directors.
Then came the awards.
One by one, directors, screenwriters, and actors stepped onto the stage, received trophies from Yoko Okino, and gave their acceptance speeches.
Yoko herself won the "Best Actress" award, one of the highest honors in film, television, and theater.
When it was her turn to accept the trophy, her co-host suddenly said:
"I'm sure everyone here knows Miss Yoko, and many can guess the kind of acceptance speech she might give."
"How about this? Instead of a speech, why don't we have a Q&A session?"
The suggestion caught Yoko Okino off guard.
"Huh? This wasn't in the script!" she exclaimed, her expression comically exaggerated.
The audience burst into laughter, clearly entertained.
Her co-host chuckled, then posed the first question:
"Miss Yoko, which artist has influenced your career the most?"
"Miss Yukiko," Yoko Okino replied without hesitation.
"It was because I wanted to be an actress like Miss Yukiko that I decided to enter the entertainment industry."
The co-host nodded, smiling.
"I think many young actors in Japan were inspired by Miss Yukiko."
He continued, "And who do you admire the most as an artist or actor?"
Yoko Okino pressed a finger to her chin, pretending to ponder. Then she smiled and said:
"In that case, it would have to be Miss Sharon Wynyard from the United States."
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(End of Chapter)
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