Chapter 293: Reporter: "I'm Gonna Blow This Story Wide Open!"
"He's trying to reconstruct Ultraman from scratch?"
Inside the press hall of the Type-Moon Tower, a reporter leaned over to whisper to the colleague beside him, eyes fixed on the stage where Shinji and the company's spokesperson sat.
"Is he picking a fight with the Ultraman legacy? Trying to twist this IP into something unrecognizable?"
"Who knows," the second reporter muttered. "He did say he grew up admiring Ultraman. Maybe he wasn't bluffing."
"I mean… with the kind of talent he's got, he doesn't need to hitch a ride on the Ultraman franchise unless he's genuinely passionate about it."
"Forget the dark, gritty Ultraman reboot—what I really wanna know about is that new male idol group he's launching. Damn, those three are hot."
There was no denying it. The so-called "The Three Knights of the Round Table" might've had their… moments, but when they weren't being fools, their good looks and sharp presence were nothing short of show-stopping. The second they stepped on stage, camera flashes exploded like fireworks.
"Is Johnny & Associates even aware Shinji Matou is playing in their sandbox?"
One of the reporters narrowed his eyes, scratching his chin while watching the three young men handling their press duties like seasoned pros.
"I heard Shinji actually outsourced their management to Johnny's."
"No way."
That piqued everyone's interest. Reporters nearby perked up like hounds on a scent trail.
"Johnny's… doing contract work? Did the sun start rising in the west or something?"
"Did the old man at Johnny's go senile? Why wouldn't he just sign them outright?"
The source lowered his voice like he was sharing classified intel. "Word is, he wanted to sign Diarmuid, but Shinji pulled a fast one and pitched the trio instead."
"…Ahhhh."
A collective nod of understanding swept through the cluster of reporters.
"Shinji Matou's got game if he can make Johnny's bend the knee."
"Seriously though, where does he keep finding all these ridiculously good-looking actors? Type-Moon's been raising the entertainment industry's average beauty standards for the past two years."
"No kidding. Probably why Johnny's had to cave—he's stuck recruiting monkey-faced trainees these days."
"Pfft—when you compare them to Matou's crew, Johnny's new blood really does look like a bunch of apes still waiting to evolve."
The jabs kept flying, their tone gleeful and unrestrained.
It wasn't surprising. Johnny's iron grip on the industry had rubbed the press the wrong way for years. These reporters had lost count of the times they'd dug up scandals, only to get a call from Johnny's demanding a blackout—or worse, to hold the story until they'd cleaned up the mess.
To a reporter, time-sensitive news was everything. Having their scoop shelved by corporate strong-arming?
It wasn't just frustrating—it was war.
"Nothing kills a man like killing his paycheck," the old saying went. And when Johnny's did that to reporters, it was like stabbing their father in the back.
Still, Johnny's power was absolute. Most of the media bowed their heads and swallowed their pride.
Only a few rebels like Shūkan Bunshun had the guts—and backing—to say "no" to Johnny's.
So now, gossiping like this, behind closed doors, was the press corps' one and only outlet.
Too bad none of them would dare say a word if the infamous old man from Johnny's stood right in front of them.
Some of them might even get down and bow.
"…The fact that Johnny's is lowering themselves to collaborate—Shinji Matou really is something else."
Another reporter sighed as the trio of handsome knights stood under the spotlight, dignified and elegant.
"It's not just Shinji. Type-Moon's talent pool is spotless. No scandals, flawless looks, great presence. Who wouldn't want artists like that?"
"That's still Shinji's doing. Who else can spot talent like he does?"
"Well, he is Shinji Matou, after all."
Yeah. That's the whole thing.
He's Shinji Matou.
As soon as those words were said, a wave of agreement swept through the press room.
From the explosive debut of Fate/Stay Night to now, Shinji Matou had pulled off what many in the industry could only describe as miraculous feats. So much so, in fact, that people in the media had begun to refer to him with a title of reverence—"Miraculous Shinji."
Well, that was what the Western press called him.
Back in Japan, though?
In true national tradition of embracing secondhand embarrassment and Chunibyo tendencies, they gave him a far more colorful nickname: "The Almighty Wish-Granting Machine."
Good thing Shinji himself hadn't caught wind of that one.
If he had, he'd probably have dragged every last one of them into the tainted black mud with his own two hands.
"Tch… Shinji Matou, huh?"
While the rest of the press buzzed with admiration and gossip, a voice at the back of the room muttered with poorly concealed irritation.
That voice belonged to a man named Miyata Kazetsuki, a very different kind of reporter from the rest of the crowd.
He didn't work for a conventional newspaper or TV network. No, Miyata hailed from the infamous tabloid giant, Shūkan Bunshun.
Proper press conferences like this? Not really his scene.
What he cared about… was dirt—the juicy, scandalous kind. The kind that got careers canceled and covers sold.
It wasn't for nothing that people said even the most "respectable" reporters at Bunshun were just paparazzi in suits.
But Miyata couldn't care less what anyone said about him. He had one goal:
Uncover the dark secrets of Type-Moon's sparkling idols.
In his eyes, no one in showbiz was clean. Every star had skeletons in their closet.
All that "clean record, no scandals" talk? Please. That just meant Type-Moon had done a damn good job of covering it all up.
If they ever stopped babysitting their stars for even a second, who knows what kind of juicy mess would come spilling out?
Unfortunately for him, Miyata and his team had already spent several months in Fuyuki trying to dig up dirt—and come up with absolutely nothing.
The most humiliating part?
Their longest stakeout had been focused on Type-Moon's biggest star: Arturia Pendragon.
They'd gone full surveillance mode. Cameras, shifts, 24/7 monitoring for an entire week.
And what did they find?
Nothing.
If anything, Arturia's daily routine was so neat, so clean, so impossibly well-behaved… it made elementary school kids look like degenerates.
The only quirk they managed to spot?
She liked food.
A lot.
She'd visit various restaurants and order enough to make a grown man cry. But even that wasn't scandalous—it was just… universally acknowledged at this point.
Everyone knew the King of Knights was a glutton.
Defeated and frustrated, Miyata and company had to settle for publishing a half-joking article warning fans that Arturia might be headed for a "dangerous weight gain."
That was their only "scoop" after an entire week.
But setbacks never stopped a seasoned bloodhound like Miyata.
Because now… he'd found a new target.
The Round Table Trio on stage.
Unlike the rest of Type-Moon's stars, who were tightly monitored, these three had gone and partnered with Johnny's of all places. That alone made them suspicious.
As far as Miyata was concerned, if they'd been marinated in Johnny's cesspool, then it was only a matter of time before they came out acting like textbook bad boys—drinking, gambling, womanizing, smoking, the whole nine yards.
And no, that wasn't just prejudice.
Statistically speaking, Johnny's had contributed to more than half of the male celebrity scandals Shūkan Bunshun had published in the last decade.
The old sage Mencius once said: "To cultivate virtue is difficult. To fall into vice takes but a slip."
And Miyata believed it.
He was convinced these three would be the crack in Type-Moon's perfect facade.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
Back on stage, the press conference carried on without a hitch.
After a formal introduction of the Round Table Trio and a few token questions from the pre-selected reporters, the three young idols gave their bows and left the stage—graceful and spotless, as always.
Today was just the official debut announcement—a formal introduction of the group and a teaser for things to come. The three members of the newly formed idol unit still had a long road ahead before their actual debut.
In the coming months, they would undergo a full schedule of comprehensive training—vocals, dance, stage presence, acting—you name it. Only once they met the standards in every category would The Round Table Trio be allowed to truly step into the limelight.
Of course, that didn't mean they'd be vanishing into isolation for a year of intense boot camp.
Far from it.
They'd still make appearances on variety shows, pop up in the occasional stage play, and even take minor roles in TV dramas or movies.
Part of it was to keep their popularity simmering, but more importantly, it was to slowly acclimate them to the chaotic world of the entertainment industry—so that by the time they did officially debut, they could hit the ground running.
This kind of phased rollout was standard procedure at Johnny's.
Take KAT-TUN, for instance—one of their hottest groups at the moment. They technically formed in 2001, but didn't formally debut until 2006.
Of course, that long delay had a lot to do with the age of the members at the time. In contrast, Gawain and the others were full-fledged adults. Barring any surprises, Shinji estimated they'd be ready for a public debut in a year or two.
With the new idol unit introduced and off the stage, Shinji shifted gears to his next big announcement:
Fate/Apocrypha and The Garden of Sinners.
And this time?
The press was fully awake.
Compared to the previous announcements—dark Ultraman reboots and pretty boy idol groups—the name Fate practically set the room on fire. Hands shot into the air like it was a classroom full of overachievers.
After all, a new Fate project was guaranteed headlines.
When it was time for the Q&A, almost every single question aimed straight at Fate/Apocrypha.
"Director Matou, can you give us a hint about the story and central theme of the new Fate film?"
"Director Matou, this time the Holy Grail War is set in Western Europe. How do you plan to show the differences compared to the Fuyuki version?"
"Director Matou, the new heroine Jeanne d'Arc looks exactly like Arturia. Are you sure they're not secretly sisters?"
"Director Matou, why cast an actress who looks exactly like Arturia? Why not just let Miss Arturia reprise the role?"
...
The barrage of questions didn't let up.
Meanwhile, sitting quietly on the side was the other project Shinji had brought up—The Garden of Sinners.
Compared to the media frenzy around Fate, The Garden of Sinners might as well have been invisible.
The project was still in its early planning stages, after all. Aside from announcing the lead character and a few rough setting details, there was practically no information to work with.
And the actress playing the protagonist—Ryougi Shiki—was a complete unknown.
She had zero fame. Zero buzz. And her family, the Ryougi Family? Not some old-money conglomerate or fallen aristocrats.
So what connection could the press possibly feel toward some no-name girl from a family they'd never heard of?
To most reporters, there simply wasn't anything to ask.
And to Shinji?
That was… frustrating.
"You brats have no idea what you're missing. One day you'll all be begging to interview Shiki-nee! Just you wait! I'll be waiting for your change of heart!"
Behind him, a few Servants watched Shinji ignite into full-blown delusional big brother mode, eyes flaming with indignation.
Their expressions?
A wall of deadpan.
"…That idiotic Master's having another one of his episodes again, huh?"
<+>
If you want to see more chapter of this story and don't mind paying $5 each month to read till the latest posted chapter, please go to my Patreon[1]
Current Chapter In Patreon: Chapter 335: Taiga Fujimura's Nighttime Adventure[2]
Link to the latest chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/141555111?collection=31097[3]
https://www.patreon.com/collection/31097?view=expanded[4]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/31097?view=expanded
[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/141555111?collection=31097
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/141555111?collection=31097
[4] https://www.patreon.com/collection/31097?view=expanded