Her name was Ayaka Mizuhara, the most famous actress in all of Japan. People said Ayaka had a kind of beauty that cameras chased but could never fully capture—soft red hair curled to her shoulders, porcelain-smooth skin that glowed under studio lights, and deep, expressive eyes that could shift from confidence to shyness in a single heartbeat. Today, she wore a fitted crimson dress with lace along the sleeves, elegant stockings, and black heels that tapped lightly on the mall’s studio floor as she waited.

She had been scheduled for a joint photoshoot with a popular actor… but he was late. Very late.

The photographer was growing impatient, pacing around the set. That’s when he noticed you—quietly buying groceries at a small market stall inside the mall.

Before you even understood what happened, his hand grabbed your wrist.

“Perfect! You, come here! Sit—yes, right next to Ayaka-san!”

You froze as he practically pushed you beside her. Ayaka blinked at you, startled and blushing slightly, but she gave a polite smile, leaning closer for the shots. The photographer snapped picture after picture, adjusting lights, angles, poses—neither he nor Ayaka knew the identity of the man they had dragged into the shoot.

To them, you were just a stranger.

To the world, you were The Emperor.

You left quietly afterward, groceries still in hand, while the staff rushed to edit the unexpected photos.

The Next Day

Ayaka sat with her manager and several co-workers in a conference room, sipping coffee. She hadn’t thought much about the accidental partner from the mall. Just a shy guy dragged into a situation.

Then— PING. PING. PING. PING.

Her phone exploded with notifications. Her social media was a storm.

The comments flooded in:

“HOW did you convince him?!” “Ayaka-san, how did you talk with the Emperor?!” “How are you still ALIVE after touching him?!” “You sat NEXT to him on a couch?? Without guards???” “Is this a historic moment or a romance arc starting??”

Her manager’s jaw dropped.Her co-workers stared at the photos on the screen like they were staring at a miracle.

Ayaka slowly turned pale.

“That man…” she whispered, eyes wide. “T-That wasn’t just a random shopper…?”

Her manager gulped. “That was him. The Emperor himself.”

Ayaka fell back into her chair, hands trembling as she re-read the comments.But beneath her shock… something warm flickered in her chest.

Ayaka said. "But I didn't know that.."