Pop Idol LEO and Top Model Take Relationship to the Next Level with Semi-Cohabitation

Refreshing Romance Between Two Reiwa Era Charismatic Stars Co-Starring on Lavit!
Each Renting a Separate Apartment in the Same Luxury Building

The possibility of another program reunion

Debuting in 2021 and set to appear in the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen for the fourth consecutive year, LEO (27), the leader of the unstoppable boy group BE:FIRST, is currently smitten with a certain woman…

Around 6 a.m. in early December, model Mayu Yokota (26) was seen leaving her apartment in Tokyo. Wearing a red cap and a gray hoodie (see third photo), she looked slightly sleepy. Yokota is known as a member of the “Degawa Girls” on Sekai no Hate Made Itte Q! (NTV) and is also active as an actress, starring in a triple lead role in the ongoing drama Oshi no Satsujin (Yomiuri TV). On this day, she was heading to the Lavit! (TBS) recording where she appears regularly.

Fifteen minutes later, LEO emerged from the entrance of another building in the same apartment complex, got into his car, and headed to the Lavit! set, where Yokota was also appearing.

The following week at the same time, FRIDAY again spotted the pair. As before, LEO appeared 15 minutes after Yokota, each heading to the station in separate cars. LEO remains busy, having appeared on FNS Kayousai (Fuji TV) the night before, with numerous year-end music program appearances also scheduled.

Since his first guest appearance on the program in September 2023, LEO has appeared nearly as often as a semi-regular. The show aired footage of him attending the BE:FIRST live in January 2025 with all Thursday members, including Yokota. Their exchange, in which LEO referred to Yokota with the affectionate suffix “-chan,” became a topic of conversation on social media.

“They met through a mutual acquaintance, and their relationship developed from there. They’ve been dating for over a year and rent separate apartments in the same building, living in a sort of half-cohabitation arrangement. LEO is completely smitten and had even told people around him, ‘I have someone I like,’ before they officially started dating. Marriage is also on the table, and we may hear some good news soon,” said a male acquaintance of LEO.

When FRIDAY inquired about the relationship with LEO’s agency, they replied, “We leave private matters up to the individual.” Similarly, Yokota’s agency responded, “We leave matters of privacy to the individual.”

“After the news broke, fans flooded social media with messages like, ‘They’re perfect for each other!’ and ‘I hope they continue to co-star.’ LEO’s agency does not have a dating ban, and both continue to work as usual. Their relationship seems to be progressing smoothly,” said a television network insider.

Fans have also been curious about future Lavit! appearances together, but TBS had not responded by the deadline.

This charismatic Reiwa-era couple is moving forward hand in hand, both in work and love.

From the January 2, 9, and 16, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”