Chapter 35 : everyone has an opinion

It started with one post.A blurry photo.Two silhouettes.A caption full of question marks.Then came the comments.“Is that Ren Ichinose with a woman from the staff?”“She doesn’t look like an actress. Who is she?”“LOL another nobody chasing fame.”More people joined in.Faster. Louder.“Ren used to be so careful with his image.”“he suddenly starts hanging out with random women?”“Coincidence? Doubt it.”Someone zoomed in.“She’s always around him lately. That’s suspicious.”“She’s clearly enjoying the attention.”“Hope Ren wakes up before this affects his career.”Then the tone shifted.Sharper.Crueler.“Let’s be honest, she doesn’t match him.”“Ren with someone like that feels wrong.”“From award-winning co-stars to a staff girl? Big downgrade.”Likes climbed.Replies stacked.“She’s probably using him.”“These girls always do.”“Same story every time.”Someone pretended to be fair.“No hate, but Ren seems unfocused lately.”“He should concentrate on acting, not dating.”Another added:“Funny how this started right after the Nijimi incident.”“Maybe he’s trying to feel important again.”The comments never mentioned Ayase’s name.They didn’t need to.They reduced her to: that womanthat staffthat problemAnd Ren to: disappointingweakcarelessThe screen kept refreshing.New opinions.New judgments.None of them asked.None of them knew.But all of them felt entitled.~
The comments didn’t stop.But they changed.“Why are people attacking a woman we know nothing about?”“Ren Ichinose has always been professional. One photo won’t change that.”Someone posted clips.Old interviews.Behind-the-scenes footage.“Look at how he treats staff. He’s always been respectful.”“You don’t ‘lose focus’ because you’re human.”Then came the defenders.Fast. Loud.“Funny how y’all scream ‘downgrade’ but can’t name a single thing she did wrong.”“Being famous doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to care about someone.”A fan account chimed in.The tone sharpened again.But this time, it wasn’t one-sided.“Stop blaming women for men’s careers.”“If Ren chose to stand beside her, that’s his choice.”Screenshots circulated.People called out lies.“This rumor started from nothing.”“Delete your posts.”The thread exploded.Support vs hate.Facts vs assumptions.Empathy vs entitlement.And somewhere between the noise, one comment stayed pinned:“We don’t know her.But we know Ren.And he’s never been careless with what matters.”The war raged on.The noise was loud.Too loud.Then a verified account posted.Aki Hayama ✔️Model / Actor“I worked with Ren on the Eclipse campaign.He was kind, patient, and focused.Please stop turning professionalism into scandal.”The likes climbed instantly.Another name appeared.Miyuki Tachibana ✔️Actress/model/singer“I’ve known Ren for years.He has always respected his co-stars and the staff around him.Rumors say more about the people spreading them than about him.”Replies flooded in.Support. Gratitude. Relief.Then everything slowed.A post appeared with no hashtags.No publicity tone.Just honesty.Toma Sakurai ✔️ Ex Actor“Ren was my on-screen younger brother before he was a star.Off-screen, he was the same.Loyal. Serious. Human.If you trusted my work, trust my words.”The internet held its breath.Screenshots spread faster than rumors ever had.Comments changed.“If Sakurai speaks, I believe him.”“That’s not a PR statement. That’s family.”It didn’t stop with actors.The ripple turned into a wave.Another verified account appeared.Shun Kagawa ✔️Singer / Composer“I worked with Ren on a drama OST years ago.He showed up early, listened more than he spoke, and thanked everyone.Fame didn’t change him. Why should a rumor?”Then another.Mika Serizawa ✔️Pop Singer“It’s exhausting to see women blamed for men simply living.I'm sure that young girl hasn’t done anything wrong.Neither has young Ren.”The replies exploded.A veteran actor joined in.Daigo Moriyama ✔️Actor“I’ve been in this industry for 30 years.I’ve seen scandals. This isn’t one of them.Let people breathe.”Fans started stitching clips.Backstage laughs.Award speeches.Ren bowing to staff.Music played over them.Then a younger voice.Rin Aoyagi ✔️Idol / Actress“Ren Ichinose was the first senior who told me it was okay to be scared. I respect him a lot, that matters more than gossip.”The narrative cracked.Articles were edited.Headlines softened.And buried deep in the comments, someone wrote:“It’s strange.The people who actually know them aren’t angry.”The noise didn’t vanish.But it changed shape.And for the first time since the rumors began, the silence around Ayase felt less lonely.End of chapter 35