I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 127: Misae's dream of becoming a beautiful president! Strategic-level Nohara Hiroshi!

Strategic-level project!
He knew better than anyone what these four words meant in Shueisha's hierarchical comics empire.

That means that the entire editorial department, from typesetting to printing, from publicity to distribution, all the best resources will be tilted towards these three works without reservation!

That means that he, Masato Tadokoro, will leap from an unknown little editor to a gold medal editor with three trump cards in his hands, enough to make all his peers take notice!

And all this was just because of that young man, whom he had discovered from the vast crowd based on a bit of intuition.

After leaving the "Mirai Manga Club", I returned to Shueisha.

Masato Tadokoro was still extremely excited.

Because this is like reaching heaven in one step.

He must be excited!
"Editor-in-Chief, I..."

In Torishima's editor-in-chief's office, Masato Tadokoro was still so excited that he was incoherent. He wanted to say some words of thanks, but he felt that any words were so pale and powerless in front of the editor-in-chief's deep gaze.

"Okay, okay, calm down." Torishima Kazuhiko just waved his hand calmly, motioning him to sit down.

He didn't look at Tansuo again, his eyes fell back on the draft of "Midnight Diner".

His fingertips gently, almost as if caressing, brushed across the paper where the man with a scar on his face, but whose eyes were as calm as the deep sea, was.

"Tadokoro-kun." After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice filled with deep emotion: "Do you know? Our Shueisha, or rather, our entire Japanese manga industry, hasn't seen a work like this in a long time... a long time."

"It's not passionate, it's not outlandish, and it doesn't even have a decent villain. It just quietly tells the story of those lonely, heartwarming, and helpless moments that every ordinary person living in this cold city might experience."

Torishima Kazuhiko raised his head, and a hint of fatigue appeared on his face, which was always full of majesty.

"Every day, as I sit in this office, I see countless reports filled with ambition and desire, countless contracts filled with calculations and compromises. I review manuscripts filled with battles and fights, but it's been a long time... a long time since I've been truly moved by a story."

"But this..."

He picked up the sketch, his eyes filled with the uncontrollable excitement of a traveler who has finally found an oasis after decades of trekking through the desert. "It reminds me of the bowl of pork bone ramen I ate in that little ramen shop on the streets of Shinjuku when I was young. It was enough to warm me up for an entire winter night."

"Or the nostalgia I felt when I received my first payment for my writing, drinking a cool beer and eating delicious yakitori."

Masato Tadokoro was completely stunned.

He never imagined that he, the editor-in-chief known in the industry as a "cold tyrant" and renowned for his iron fist and venomous vision, would actually say such...emotional words.

"Editor-in-chief..." Masato Tadokoro opened his mouth to say something.

"Why do you think I think so highly of Nohara Hiroshi?" Torishima Kazuhiko interrupted him, his eyes filled with complexities. "Is it because of his epoch-making talent? Yes, but not entirely."

"Shueisha, it seems, is indeed the industry leader. But don't forget, Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine and Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday are all eyeing us. What keeps us in this position? We rely on generations of talented manga artists who truly capture the pulse of the times and resonate with readers."

"But what now?"

He let out a long breath, a tone that carried the deep anxiety of a man at the helm of an empire: "The older generation of cartoonists is gradually running out of inspiration, and the new generation of young people are mostly immersed in imitation and following trends, and can no longer draw stories that can truly move people."

"Our empire, seemingly impregnable, is, in reality, weak and riven by crises."

"And Nohara Hiroshi..."

Torishima Kazuhiko's gaze returned to the drawing, his eyes filled with undisguised enthusiasm:
"His appearance was like a thunderbolt that pierced the dead silence of the night sky! He showed us that comics can be drawn this way! Stories can be told this way!"

"He single-handedly championed the three completely different, brand-new fields of youthful passion, children's science fiction, and now... urban warmth! He's not just a genius; he's a true king, capable of single-handedly expanding the territory of our empire!"

"So, Tadokoro-kun."

Torishima Kazuhiko looked at his subordinate, who was already deeply shocked by his exaggerated words, and gave an order in an unquestionable tone: "From today on, mobilize all your resources to maintain our relationship with Director Nohara and Mirai Manga. I don't want to hear any more stupid rumors about 'job hopping' or 'poaching'."

"In the land of Neon, 'trust' and 'loyalty' are far more precious than those tangible benefits. Nohara-kun chose us, and we must never betray his trust. Do you understand?"

"Hi!" Masato Tadokoro stood up suddenly and bowed deeply to him. His voice was filled with a determination that was enough to entrust one's life to another!

……

The black Toyota Crown Majestic glided silently in the night.

Outside the car window is the never-ending bright lights of Tokyo.

In the car window, Misae was like a lazy cat, resting her little head on Nohara Hiroshi's shoulder, holding the newly signed contract in her hand, which exuded the fragrance of ink. Her beautiful big eyes had already turned into a sweet crescent moon.

"Hiroshi-kun, we...we really have become Shueisha's strategic partner!" Her voice trembled with a dreamlike tremor. "I just saw the way Editor-in-Chief Torishima looked at you. It was...it was like he was looking at a living God of Wealth!"

"That's about right." Nohara Hiroshi chuckled. As he drove, he stretched out his right hand and caressed her hair lovingly. "From now on, you, the beautiful president of the 'Future Comics Club,' will be a big shot on par with Editor-in-Chief Torishima. Are you happy?"

"Oh, you're making fun of me again!" Meiya's face flushed red. She buried her face in his arms and said in a voice as thin as a mosquito: "How can I be that powerful... It's all thanks to you."

"But..." She seemed to recall something, and a hint of confusion flashed across her large, obsidian eyes. "Guozhi-kun, I still don't understand. Didn't Editor-in-Chief Torishima hint several times just now that he could raise your royalties? Why... did you refuse? That's money!"

"Silly." Nohara Hiroshi smiled, and in that smile, there was a certain clarity and understanding from someone who had experienced it. "Mi-sae, you have to remember that when doing business, especially with a giant like Shueisha, we can't just focus on the small profits in front of us."

"While Shueisha isn't yet the absolute overlord that dominates everything, its influence in Tokyo, and indeed the entire Kanto region, remains unrivaled. What we need now is a stable, strong, and well-intentioned partner, not a fragile alliance temporarily bound together by profit."

"Today, I rejected his proposal to increase royalties. I'm doing him a favor. One day, when we need to utilize Shueisha's media resources to promote our TV series, our variety shows, or even our big brother's agricultural company, this favor will be exchanged for a reward a hundred times more valuable than that meager royalty."

"This is what a true businessman should have."

Meiya was completely stunned.

She stared blankly at the man beside her, who had already set up a shocking situation that would affect the future while chatting and laughing. The girl's heart was filled with admiration even more thoroughly at this moment.

She suddenly felt that her dream of becoming a "beautiful president" might not be a dream anymore.

……

In the next few days, a hurricane named "Nohara Hiroshi", driven by the huge publicity machine of "Weekly Shonen Jump", once again swept across the entire Neon in an unparalleled manner.

The cover of the latest issue of "JUMP" is unprecedented, without any color pages of any serialized works, only a huge, suspenseful black silhouette.

Next to the silhouette, in artistic font, was written a line of slogan that would drive all readers crazy:

The man who defined urban legends will heal your soul with delicious food! Hiroshi Nohara's latest masterpiece, "Midnight Diner," officially opens next month!

This trailer is like a depth bomb that detonates the entire fish pond!
"What?! Is Mr. Nohara going to start a new work?!"

"A food manga?! Holy shit! This is way too broad! But what's so good about food?"

"Midnight Diner? That sounds so exciting! I can't wait to watch it!"

"After Yu Yu Hakusho and Doraemon, is Nohara-sensei going to... do three at once?! Is he... is he even human?!"

Countless discussions, countless expectations, and countless shocks are happening simultaneously in every corner of the neon lights.

The name Nohara Hiroshi has once again become the hottest, most unignorable and absolute focus this autumn.

……

The discussion in the comics industry soon reached the ears of those who were interested.

TV Tokyo, production headquarters building.

Office of the Deputy Director.

Asumi paced back and forth anxiously in front of the huge mahogany desk.

"Dong dong dong."

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." When Hiroshi Nohara's tall and composed figure appeared at the door, Asumi almost instinctively rushed forward, her eyes fixed on him.

His expression was extremely complicated.

There is appreciation, encouragement, and dependence, but more importantly, there is a kind of worry from the elders for the younger generation, like a disappointment in their ability to live up to expectations.

"Hiroshi-kun, you...you have to tell me the truth."

He even forgot to be polite and directly took a publication that his confidant had just bought from Shueisha from the table.

"Over at the TV station, you've been working non-stop on three projects simultaneously: 'Wonderful Stories of the World,' 'Dark Zhiju,' and 'Super Transformation.' Now, on the comics side, you're actually... you're actually running three projects at once?!"

Asumi's voice became a little hoarse due to extreme shock and worry.

His face was filled with disbelief and horror.

"You...what on earth do you want to do?! Do you want to become a god, or die young?!"

"Do you know that you are the hope of our entire Kanto faction now! You are the future of all of us! If you collapse from exhaustion, what will happen to us?! What will happen to your family?!"

This statement is not a question, but more like a kind of helpless dissuasion.

However, Nohara Hiroshi just smiled and said, "Deputy Director Asumi, don't worry."

"Variety show filming went smoothly. The fourth season of 'Dark House' has officially premiered, with ratings consistently exceeding 15%, breaking all records for late-night shows. Production on the second season of 'Wonderful Stories of the World' is also over halfway through, with ratings remaining stable at a peak of 22%. The nationwide auditions for 'Super Change' have set the entire Japanese entertainment scene on fire, and the official launch of the second season is already on the agenda."

With every word he spoke, the anxiety on Ming Hai's face grew more intense.

When he finished his last sentence, only sadness remained on his elegant face.

Everything is indeed moving in the best direction.

"But..." Ming Hai opened his mouth, but didn't know where to start.

He can't say anything excessive, right?

"Deputy Director, I know what you are worried about."

Nohara Hiroshi put down his coffee cup and said with a helpless smile: "Don't worry, I know my body well. This work is not too much of a burden for me."

Of course, he couldn't tell the other party that what was in his mind was another world, a whole treasure trove of successful culture that had been verified countless times.

All he had to do was be a hard-working porter.

This ease and carefreeness is something that no mortal in this world can understand.

This is the dimensionality reduction attack of the time traveler!

"Ugh……"

Ming Hai looked at his calm and composed appearance, and finally let out a long breath and waved his hand dejectedly.

"Forget it, I can't tell you anything."

He rubbed his temples, which were swollen from staying up late for so long. His voice was filled with the helpless indulgence of an elder towards his junior.
"But, Guangzhi-kun, let me be frank. Your health is very important. From today on, I will arrange for a medical team to be on call for you 24 hours a day. Your diet, sleep schedule, and daily routine must strictly follow their instructions! This is an order! Do not refuse!"

"...Hi." Nohara Hiroshi looked at Asumi's face, which was full of "If you dare to refuse, I will die in front of you", and finally nodded helplessly.

He knew that this was the most sincere concern that the elder could show him.

……

When Nohara Hiroshi's tall and calm figure disappeared at the office door, Asumi seemed to be exhausted, and his whole body sank heavily into the soft leather chair.

He looked at the sky outside the window that was dyed golden by the setting sun, and a bitter expression of both laughter and tears appeared on his elegant face.

"Monster... a true monster..."

He muttered to himself, his voice filled with the bone-deep powerlessness and... a kind of immense pride that came with being crushed by absolute strength.

He knew that perhaps the best thing he had ever done in his life was to go against all odds and promote that young man, who was only a fourth-level director, from Suzuki Seito's small classroom.

Now, the seed he planted with his own hands has grown into a towering tree that is strong enough to shelter the entire Kanto faction, and even... strong enough to change the power structure of the entire Tokyo TV station.

And he, Ming Rihai, will be the most steadfast guardian under this big tree.

He slowly picked up the red intercom phone on the table, and a hint of unquestionable determination flashed in his eyes, which always sparkled with shrewdness.

"Hello, is this Dr. Watanabe? It's me, Asumi."

"Yes, about the thing I mentioned to you last time, it can be started now."

"money is not a problem."

"Yes, that young man. From today on, his health is the most important strategic asset for our entire Kanto faction."

After hanging up the phone, he looked at the gradually sinking dusk outside the window, and a smile full of confidence, like that of an old fox, finally bloomed on his elegant face again.

He knew that the fire named "Nohara Hiroshi" that he had ignited with his own hands had just begun.

What he has to do is to constantly add the best firewood to this raging fire, enough to burn out all the rules of the old era.

……

Wait for Hiroshi Nohara to return to his special production department.

"minister!"

There was a knock on the office door, and Tanaka Kei's face, filled with excitement and anxiety, peeked in, carrying a thick stack of documents.

"The representative teams from the eight major competition areas across the country have arrived in Tokyo! These are the performance ideas they submitted... I've seen them, and most of them have very local characteristics, but..." Kei Tanaka's voice was a little hesitant.

The so-called "local characteristics" can be translated as - a bit rustic.

This was also mentioned in the previous meeting.
These amateurs...

Actually, I don’t really have any good acting skills.

"What's the hurry?" Nohara Hiroshi just smiled, took out an ordinary notebook from the drawer and threw it over.

"Take a look at these." His voice was calm and composed. "These are some random ideas I came up with. Let them consider them. If they're good, use them. If they're not, just use them as a way to broaden your horizons."

"This..." Tanaka Kei took it subconsciously, but his heart skipped a beat.

Just a random thought?

He opened the first page with the trepidation of a pilgrim.

Then, his pupils suddenly shrank!
What is written on it are not "ideas" at all, but rather complete and outrageous god-level creations full of fantastic ideas!

From using the human body to simulate "washing machine spin drying" to using lighted white cloth to present "ghosts walking at night"... every creative idea is ten times more exquisite, interesting and advanced than what those teams have racked their brains to come up with!
Kei Tanaka felt like his breathing had stopped.

He suddenly raised his head and looked at Nohara Hiroshi, who was still calm and composed. He couldn't help but blurt out, "Minister, could it be that you had already thought of this step from the beginning?!"

But even though it was a question, what emerged in Kei Tanaka's eyes was admiration for Hiroshi Nohara.

Now everyone knows that Hiroshi Nohara is a monster.

Is it a strategic-level brain?
Now seeing Nohara Hiroshi's nonchalant look, he knew and was certain that this was the strategic move that Nohara Hiroshi had thought of and prepared in advance!

(End of this chapter)