I think you are mistaking something.
Akino didn't have anything to do with the paparazzi.
What he did was push his Aniki's jealousy buttons who then went after Akino by planning on humiliating his model/muse and force Akino into a retreat.
Akino knew something would happen because this is typical shady shit that happens in such industries...but I honestly don't think he expected the stuff about Eichi's family.
He probably thought it would be a typical romance scandal of actors dating and there being a bit of pushback and a way to test him and his feelings.
Still a bit manipulative...but Eichi probably realized that such things could happen considering the contest...so they both knew something like this could happen due to industry shenanigans and gossip paparazzi.
But that is just the way that show business and the fashion industry are like.
But Akino himself didn't do anything, he just pissed off his insecure jealous half-brother.
So, was it akino's brother who spread the news about eichi's past? I thought he only did the dating scandal (?)
It's an interesting story, but I can't say that I think Akino really loves Eichi, especially with that manipulative paparazzi bullshit. He recognized a weakness in Eichi and exploited it, and it turned out well. I never got the sense that he actually cared about Eichi's mental state, except for how to get Eichi to obsess about him the same way he did Eichi. The one scene I really felt the romance was that scene near the end in the shopping mall. I don't really enjoy the kind of calculative love that was used here, but I did start to buy that these two might actually make something real by the end.
I liked the character development, even if I don't think it was all quite...positive. I always enjoy seeing characters take on a new perspective about themselves. The manga was a little short for all the things the mangaka seemed to want to do, but it was an enjoyable short little read nonetheless.