I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 201 Mizukami Sho's Daily Life! A Happy Daughter and Wife! Mizukami Sho Has No Regrets in His Life!
The light at six in the morning carries a clarity untouched by the city's hustle and bustle, like the finest Xuan paper, gently spread by an invisible hand across the intricate rooftops of Shinjuku.

Sunlight streamed through the clean glass window of Sho's house and fell on the bowl of miso soup still steaming on the dining table, making the fine scallions floating on the surface look lush and vibrant green.

The air is filled with the aroma of rice, the salty and fresh taste of grilled fish, and the unique rich flavor of soy sauce, all weaving together to create a warm prelude to a family meal.

Good morning, Dad!

A clear, bell-like sound rang out.

Mizukami Sho's daughter, Mizukami Sayuri, was sitting at the dining table, wearing a brand-new private middle school uniform. The exquisite dark blue suit skirt and the burgundy bow tie on her chest made her already delicate face even more adorable.

She looked at her father, who had just come out of the bedroom. His eyes, which bore a resemblance to those of Mizukami Sho, were now shining with a heartfelt admiration.

"Good morning, Lily." A gentle smile appeared on Mizukami Sho's face. He walked to his daughter's side and gently stroked her soft, long hair.

"Honey, come and eat, the food's getting cold." In the kitchen, Mizukami Sho's wife, Mizukami Misaki, came out carrying a plate of freshly made tamagoyaki.

She wore a floral apron, and her well-maintained face radiated a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness.

She looked at her husband, and his usually gentle eyes now held an indescribable excitement and emotion.

"Dad! I'm going to register at my new school today!" Mizukami Sayuri mumbled between mouthfuls of rice, her excitement practically bursting from every pore of her body. "I was so excited last night that I couldn't sleep a wink! I can't believe it... I can really go to Keio Girls' High School!"

She paused, put down her chopsticks, and stared at her father with bright, unblinking eyes, her admiration almost tangible: "Dad! You're amazing! You actually... you actually know that legendary Mr. Hiroshi Nohara! And... he even invited you to act in his new TV series! And you'll be the lead! My God! This is even more unbelievable than me getting into Tokyo University!"

“Yes, darling.” Misaki Mizukami sat down beside her husband and served him rice. Her usually gentle eyes were now glistening with tears. “I was so excited last night that I couldn’t sleep. I feel like it’s all a dream. You…you can finally go back to that stage you love so much.”

She looked at the scar on her husband's face, a scar that seemed to tell a story. Her eyes were filled with heartache, relief, and a feeling of something lost and found again.

"It's all because Mr. Nohara thinks highly of me." Mizukami Sho just smiled calmly. He picked up a piece of golden-brown omelet, put it in his mouth, and felt a sense of peace from its soft texture and sweet taste.

This calm and composed demeanor, unfazed by praise or criticism, contrasts sharply with the slightly menacing scar on his face, creating a unique and undeniably trustworthy impression.

"What do you mean 'I think highly of you'?!" Misaki Mizukami couldn't help but roll her eyes at him reproachfully. Her voice carried a hint of exasperation at his lack of ambition, as well as an unyielding pride: "Have you forgotten how popular you were when you were young? Back then, you were hailed as the 'last idol prince of the millennium'! If it weren't for... if it weren't for offending that damned agency and being blacklisted by them, you would be one of Japan's top stars by now! There wouldn't be any room for that Kamiki Shunsuke to be posing on TV!"

“Alright, Misaki, it’s all in the past.” Mizukami Sho smiled and shook his head. He reached out and gently held his wife’s hand. The warmth and strength in his hand instantly put her at ease. “Right now, I’m just a cook. It’s good enough that I can quietly make some things that our guests like to eat.”

“Daddy’s not a cook!” Mizukami Sayuri retorted immediately, straightening her small back. The pride that belonged to a daughter made her stand out. “You are…you are the big star who will be starring in Hiroshi Nohara’s new drama! After the drama airs, you will definitely be a hundred times more popular than that Kamiki Shunsuke!”

"Hahahaha!" Upon hearing this, Mizukami Sho couldn't help but laugh out loud. Looking at his daughter's adorable "protective" appearance, an indescribable warmth welled up in his heart.

He knew that this home was his most secure harbor, a warm shore where he could always find refuge.

After breakfast, Misaki Mizukami took her daughter, who was full of hope for the future, to register at her new school.

Mizukami Yoshizawa changed into a clean and tidy set of casual clothes: a simple white shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans. Although simple, they perfectly accentuated his still upright figure, even though he was no longer young.

He stepped out of his house, took a deep breath of the slightly cool morning air, and then walked steadily toward Tokyo TV.

When he stood in front of the towering Tokyo TV production building, which resembled a steel behemoth reaching into the clouds, even he, who had long been accustomed to the ups and downs of life, couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of awe.

He took out his phone and dialed the number given to him by Hiroshi Nohara, calling Kitagawa Yao.

Soon, a girl with a high ponytail, looking youthful and beautiful, jogged out of the building to greet them.

"Hello! Are you Mr. Mizukami Sho?" Kitagawa Yao looked at the middle-aged man in front of her, whose appearance and temperament were quite eye-catching. Her bright eyes sparkled with an irrepressible excitement and curiosity.

“Yes, that’s me.” Mizukami Sho nodded.

“Great! I’m Kitagawa Yao, the assistant to Minister Nohara! The minister has already instructed me to take you directly to his office!” Kitagawa Yao said enthusiastically, as she skillfully completed the visitor registration procedures for Mizukami Sho.

When Mizukami Sho followed Kitagawa Yao into the Nohara Independent Production Department, which was like an independent kingdom, his heart, which had long been calm and still, was once again completely overwhelmed by an unprecedented shock.

The huge office area was bustling with people, with no seats available.

Young people dressed in all sorts of creative and individualistic styles are hurrying between their workstations.

The ringing of telephones, the sounds of conversation, the scratching of notebooks and pens, and the passionate discussions of people intertwine to create a symphony unique to this era, full of vigor and vitality.

"Wow...so amazing!" Mizukami Sho couldn't help but exclaim. Looking at the space in front of him, full of creativity and vitality, a long-lost light called "passion" flickered in his usually calm eyes.

"Right! Right!" Upon hearing this, Kitagawa Yao's face lit up with a proud smile. She straightened her back, and the pride that belonged to the employees of TV Tokyo made her stand out at this moment.

“Our minister is the youngest and most talented producer at TV Tokyo, and even in the entire Japanese television industry!” She lowered her voice, her mysterious demeanor making her seem like a little spy sharing a shocking secret.

"You wouldn't believe it, our department head is only twenty-three years old, and he's already the head of the Independent Production Department! In just one year, he achieved a three-level leap that others might never be able to accomplish in their entire lives! From an unknown assistant director, he was promoted directly to a Level 4 director with his own independent classroom! Then, within six months, thanks to the phenomenal success of 'Tales of the Unusual' and 'Super Transformation,' he was promoted again to a Level 3 director, and now he has the largest and most independent production department in the entire production bureau! This is an unprecedented exception in the history of TV Tokyo!"

Shui Shangxiang listened quietly, his heart, which had long been numbed by countless trials and tribulations, now filled with only a deep-seated reverence.

"Is this...is this the privilege of geniuses?" he murmured to himself.

“Yes!” Kitagawa Yao nodded emphatically, looking at Mizukami Sho with her bright, curious eyes: “But speaking of which, Mr. Mizukami, what brings you here today…”

“It was Mr. Nohara who invited me to star in his new drama, ‘Midnight Diner,’” Mizukami Sho replied.

"Huh?!" Kitagawa Yao's eyes widened instantly. She covered her mouth, her usually energetic face filled with disbelief and horror!

Although she had already guessed some of it, the shock of hearing the news with her own ears still made her feel dizzy.

"You...you're really going to play that boss?!"

"Ah."

Just then, a slightly tired but delighted voice came from the side.

"The owner of the floating restaurant? You... what are you doing here?"

Following the sound, Mizukami Sho looked up and saw a middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses and looking somewhat unkempt staring at him in surprise.

"Ah, it's you." A gentle smile appeared on Mizukami Sho's face. "I remember you. You came to my shop a few days ago and had a thick omelet."

"Yes! Yes!" Kenji Sato nodded excitedly, taking three steps at a time to stand in front of Sho Mizukami. His excitement was palpable. "My name is Kenji Sato, and I'm... I'm the director of this 'Midnight Diner.' I never expected to meet you again so soon! What a coincidence!"

"Director Sato, hello." Mizukami Shoya politely extended his hand and shook hands with him.

"Director Sato, you've come at the perfect time!" Kitagawa Yao said with a smile, "The department head just said he wanted me to go and get you! Now that you're here, let's go see the department head together!"

"it is good!"

Just then, the innermost door of the office was silently pushed open.

Hiroshi Nohara's tall and upright figure appeared at the doorway.

He was wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans. His casual and composed demeanor contrasted sharply with the tense and busy atmosphere around him, creating a unique and trustworthy impression.

"Everyone's here." His voice wasn't loud, but it was like the most precise musical note, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"Now that everyone's here, let's not waste any more time." He looked around at everyone, his clear eyes flashing with an undeniable confidence and domineering aura: "Let's start filming today."

"what?!"

Mizukami Yoshikazu and Sato Kenji's bodies trembled violently again, and their eyes widened instantly.

"Today...today?!" Kenji Sato's voice trembled slightly as he looked at Hiroshi Nohara: "Mr...Mr. Nohara! This...this is too fast! We...we haven't even found a filming location yet! And the actors..."

“Director Sato.” Hiroshi Nohara simply smiled calmly, reached out and gently patted Kenji Sato’s shoulder. That warmth and strength instantly put him at ease. “Now, immediately contact the filming crew and the cast. Have them all gather in that alley in Kabukicho, Shinjuku Ward, within an hour.”

He paused, then turned his gaze to Shui Shangxiang, a cunning glint in his clear eyes.

"As for the filming location..." Hiroshi Nohara's lips curled into a mysterious smile: "We'll use your shop for the actual filming."

"Huh?!" Mizukami Sho's eyes widened again. He looked at Nohara Hiroshi, a rare hint of panic appearing on his usually somewhat stern face: "But...but, my shop is small and shabby, and...and it's full of clutter, it's simply..."

“The owner of the waterfront shop.” Hiroshi Nohara simply smiled, raised his hand, and gently interrupted him: “What I want is that sense of authenticity, that feeling of something small and shabby. What I want is that warmth and life, full of the vibrancy of everyday life.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two men who were already dumbfounded by his swift and decisive actions, a confident smile curving his lips.

He clapped his hands gently.

The sound, though not loud, was like the most resolute war drum, echoing in everyone's ears.

"Okay, everyone."

"Set off."

Sho Mizukami stood there dumbfounded, staring at Hiroshi Nohara's excessively young yet unfathomable face, at a heart that had long been worn smooth by countless trials and tribulations, now only filled with a kind of utterly conquered... fanaticism.

He felt as if he were in a dream world full of fantasy and adventure.

And that young man named Hiroshi Nohara was the creator of this dream.

“Um… Director Sato…” He subconsciously tugged at the sleeve of the man next to him, who was also in a “crazy” state, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty: “Chief Nohara… has he always been like this?”

Upon hearing this, Kenji Sato let out a long breath, a hint of helplessness, a bitter smile, and a kind of composure emanating from his very bones, a composure called "habit".

He turned his head and looked at Shui Shangxiang's face, which was filled with shock and confusion, and a knowing smile appeared on his face.

"Used to it."

“Our minister, he has always been like this.”

……

The Toyota Crown's sleek black body, like a silent beetle, slipped quietly into the streets of Shinjuku's Kabukicho district during the day.

This place is like a songstress who has removed her heavy makeup, shedding the neon lights and noise of the night that could devour everything, revealing a slightly tired and even somewhat pale bare face.

Behind the tightly closed roller shutter, the lingering scent of alcohol and hormones from the previous night remained, and the air was filled with a faint languor and emptiness unique to hangovers.

There were hardly any pedestrians on the street, only a few stray cats rummaging through the trash cans for scraps of food, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. Their demeanor was even more composed than that of the few haggard-looking office workers who occasionally passed by.

"This is it." Hiroshi Nohara parked the car, his voice calm as if he were simply stating a perfectly ordinary fact.

However, when Takeshi Yamamoto and Kenji Sato got out of the car with him and stood in front of this familiar yet unfamiliar alley again, their hearts, which had been somewhat numb by countless shocks, couldn't help but be stirred up by a huge wave of emotion once more.

"Minister...minister, are you...are you really planning to...film on location right here?" Yamamoto Takeshi's voice trembled slightly. He looked at the small shop whose signboard was faded from washing, his eyes like those of someone looking at a miracle about to be turned into gold.

“Otherwise?” Hiroshi Nohara retorted, looking around the quiet alley. A childlike satisfaction flickered in his clear eyes. “The hustle and bustle of the night is all for others to see. Only the tranquility and solitude of the daytime are the true essence of life. The story of Midnight Diner should begin in a place like this.”

As soon as he finished speaking, several prop trucks and equipment vehicles bearing the "TV Tokyo" logo silently drove into both ends of the alley, like well-trained soldiers.

"Seal off the alley!"

"Lighting crew, get ready! Set up camera A over there!"

"Props team! Quick! Pull up that black curtain! Today, we're going to hide the sun!"

With a command from Takeshi Yamamoto and Kenji Sato, the entire filming crew began operating efficiently and methodically, like a sophisticated instrument infused with a soul.

A huge black curtain of sky, like the wings of night, slowly rose, completely separating this alley from the pale sky above.

Immediately afterwards, one after another high-powered lights were turned on. They were cleverly installed on the roof and in the corners of the walls. The light was filtered through the diffuser and turned into beams of light that were as cool and gentle as moonlight, which were precisely cast onto the faded blue curtain of the "Midnight Diner".

The prop team members, like the most professional interior designers, moved all sorts of small, everyday items into the already cramped shop.

The walls are covered with handwritten menus; the bar is filled with all kinds of sake bottles; and in the corner there is even a wooden sake rack full of sake that guests have left.

In just one hour, this originally unremarkable alleyway was transformed into a late-night stage full of stories and everyday life.

Sho Mizukami stood there blankly, watching his familiar little shop being transformed little by little into the familiar yet unfamiliar image from the comics in the hands of these professionals. At this moment, his heart, which had long been calm and still, was filled with only a deep-seated awe.

"Mr. Water".

Just then, a middle-aged man in a suit, who looked like the film crew manager, walked respectfully to him with a document in his hand.

"Hello, I am the executive director of this production. My name is Nan Ye." He bowed politely before handing the documents in his hand to Mizukami Sho: "These are your actor contracts and venue rental contracts. Please take a look."

Mizukami Sho nervously accepted the document, his nervousness, typical of an ordinary person, making him even hesitant to look the other person in the eye.

However, when his gaze fell upon those striking numbers on the contract, his tense heart was instantly replaced by an even greater shock.

"This...this..." His voice trembled slightly, and his usually calm eyes widened instantly, his face filled with disbelief and horror!

"Actor fees: one million yen per episode. Location rental: one million yen per episode. Total: two million yen per episode." Executive Director Minamino's voice was calm yet full of power, as if he were not speaking of a number that could change the fate of an ordinary family, but merely some ordinary work report.

"Two...two million yen...for one episode?!" Mizukami Sho felt his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

He subconsciously glanced at the numbers on the contract again. Those clear "0"s, like the most precise hammer blows, struck his heart, which had long been numb from the harsh realities of life. His small shop, where he worked from dawn till dusk, a month's hard work, after deducting all costs, meant that a net income of 500,000 yen was considered a thriving business.

When business is bad, it can't even reach 300,000.

But now, Hiroshi Nohara, this excessively young man, simply waved his hand and gave him the astronomical price of two million yen per episode!

This...this is even more unreal and shocking than robbing a bank!

“Um… Director Minamino…” Mizukami Sho’s voice trembled slightly. He looked at the well-dressed man before him, his eyes filled with gratitude and… a hint of unease: “This… this is too much. I… I’m just an ordinary person, how could I be worth so much money? Besides, my little shop is small and shabby, and…”

“Mr. Minami.” Executive Director Minamino simply smiled calmly, a genuine admiration appearing on his face: “You are worth the price because you were personally selected by Minister Nohara.”

He paused, his tone becoming more serious: "Besides, your little shop isn't just small and shabby. It's... it's the soul of our show. So please don't feel guilty. Just accept this contract without worry."

Sho Mizukami stood there, stunned, listening to the words of Executive Director Minamino. His heart, which had long been numb from countless shocks, was now completely filled with an unprecedented emotion called "moved".

He knew that this contract was not just about money, but also... a sign of respect and recognition from Hiroshi Nohara.

"Thank you so much! Thank you, Minister Nohara!" He bowed repeatedly, his heartfelt gratitude overflowing.

However, amidst this atmosphere filled with gratitude and emotion, a slightly hoarse yet powerful voice suddenly swept through, like a biting cold wind blowing in the warm spring.

"Let's say thank you after filming is over."

Hiroshi Nohara had somehow appeared behind him.

He held a dark blue kimono and a thick stack of manuscript paper covered with storyboard drafts.

He handed the kimono to Mizukami Sho, his clear eyes gleaming with an undeniable confidence and domineering aura.

"Put it on."

He paused for a moment, then stuffed the stack of storyboard drafts into Mizukami Sho's hands.

"Then, memorize these lines. Not a single word can be wrong."

Upon hearing this, Mizukami Sho suddenly jolted awake. Looking at Hiroshi Nohara's young yet profound face, his excited heart was instantly replaced by an even greater tension.

"Hi! Minister!" He nodded quickly, his attitude as respectful as a new recruit about to go to the battlefield.

“Mr. Mizukami, don’t be too nervous.” Seeing this, Kenji Sato quickly smiled and smoothed things over. He patted Mizukami on the shoulder, his directorial composure making him seem exceptionally reliable at this moment: “Setting up the set and adjusting the lights will take at least three more hours. You have plenty of time to familiarize yourself with the script and get a feel for it. Take your time, there’s no rush.”

"Yes, thank you, Director Sato." Mizukami Sho nodded, looking at the thick stack of manuscripts in his hand. His brain, which had long been worn down by reality, began to work at a rapid pace at this moment.

He found a quiet corner and carefully opened the stack of storyboards.

Those seemingly random sketches, in the eyes of someone who had once been an actor, were like magic books containing infinite power; every line, every angle, was full of breathtaking artistry.

He looked at the man in the sketch, his face scarred yet incredibly gentle, and his heart, dormant for twenty years, began to beat violently once more.

Just then, a slightly noisy conversation came from the alley entrance.

A dozen or so middle-aged actors, who looked to be in their forties or fifties and dressed in different ways, but all exuded the composure and confidence of veteran actors, were walking toward this place in twos and threes.

"Hey! Tanaka, that's not fair of you! At the celebration party for 'Tales of the Unusual,' you promised me that you'd let me know first if Nohara was ever in a movie again! And what happened? I wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't read it in the newspaper the other day!" A slightly chubby man with a perpetually amiable smile was complaining to a thin, bespectacled man beside him.

"How dare you say that!" The man called Old Tanaka pushed up his glasses, a sly glint in his usually calm eyes: "Last time you were drunk, you hugged my wife, crying and begging to elope with her! I'm already being lenient by not blocking you!"

"I...I was just drunk!" The fat man blushed and retorted, sticking out his neck.

"Hahahahahaha!"

Upon hearing this, the people around couldn't help but let out good-natured laughter.

Without exception, they are all veteran actors from the Kanto region, and are "old comrades-in-arms" who had worked closely with Hiroshi Nohara in "Tales of the Unusual".

They were already used to Hiroshi Nohara's boundless imagination and decisive work style.

"Alright, alright, stop fooling around." The oldest and most respected actress said with a smile, her well-maintained face full of helplessness towards her old friends: "Go and collect your drawings. If you're late, be careful, Director Nohara will make you copy the script."

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged knowing smiles.

They received their storyboards from the executive director, Nan Ye, and then found a corner in twos and threes to study them carefully.

That focus and dedication left Shui Shangxiang, who was standing to the side, somewhat stunned.

"They...they don't seem surprised at all." He couldn't help but whisper to Kenji Sato next to him, who was adjusting the monitor. "I remember that when we were filming before, we would first give out the script, then everyone would read it together, and only then would we start the test shoot. How come...how come with Director Nohara, they just gave out the storyboard directly?"

Upon hearing this, Kenji Sato gave a knowing, knowing smile.

He pointed to the veteran actors who were muttering to themselves while looking at the storyboard, his eyes filled with admiration and a hint of envy.

“Boss, you wouldn’t believe it.” He lowered his voice, his mysterious demeanor making him seem like a little spy sharing a shocking secret: “Our minister is a monster. His head isn’t filled with scripts, but rather… with pre-edited, finished films.”

"A complete set?" Upon hearing this, Mizukami Sho was stunned once again.

“Yes, the finished film.” Kenji Sato nodded, looking at Sho Mizukami’s bewildered face, and explained with a smile, “So, what he gave us wasn’t an ordinary script, but… the ‘instruction manual’ for this finished film.”

Just then, the fat man who had been arguing with old Tanaka noticed them and walked over with a cup of hot tea, smiling broadly.

"Oh my! This must be the soul of our show, the 'boss' himself, right?" He looked at Mizukami Sho, his always smiling eyes filled with kindness and curiosity: "Hello, hello, my name is Minamino Ken, and I am also the father of Executive Director Minamino. In this show, I play a yakuza boss who likes to eat red sausages. I hope you will take good care of me in the future."

"Hello... Mr. Minamino." Mizukami Sho quickly stood up and shook hands with him somewhat awkwardly.

Of course he recognized the man in front of him. He was one of Japan's most famous and talented actors, having played countless classic gangster roles. His imposing presence was deeply ingrained in people's minds.

“Minamino-senpai, please stop joking about the owner of the water park.” Sato Kenji said with a smile, “This is his first time experiencing our department head’s filming style, and he’s quite unsure of himself.”

"No confidence?" Upon hearing this, Minamino Ken couldn't help but burst into laughter. He patted Mizukami Sho on the shoulder, and his boldness eased Mizukami Sho's tense heart a bit.

“Mr. Mizukami, you’re overthinking it!” he said with a smile. “Let me tell you, working with our Director Nohara is the simplest and happiest thing in the world!”

"Oh? What do you mean?" Mizukami Sho asked curiously.

“Because…” Minamino Ken’s face revealed a mysterious smile. He pointed to the stack of storyboards in his hand, his eyes filled with fanatical admiration: “Look here.”

He spread out the storyboard in front of Shui Shangxiang.

"Look at this frame." He pointed to the man on the screen, whose face was scarred but whose eyes were incredibly gentle, and slowly uttered the line that would drive any actor crazy.

"Whatever you want to eat, as long as I can cook it, you can order it."

He paused, then pointed to another frame of the screen.

“Look here again.” He pointed to the screen and saw a man frying red sausages for a gangster boss, his eyes filled with calm and tolerance.

“And here.” He pointed to the last frame of the screen.

“Look, our minister didn’t just draw the images, the shots, and the lines. He even marked out exactly what he wanted for you: every wrinkle on your face, when and what emotion it should evoke; every tenderness in your eyes, when and what story it should bring to mind; the angle and pressure with which your calloused hand should make when you hand me the food… He’s marked all of that out clearly and precisely on the drawings!”

“So, Mr. Minami.” A bright smile appeared on Minami Ken’s face, and his genuine ease and joy infected everyone present. “You don’t need to think about anything, you don’t need to worry about anything. You just need to become that man in the drawing.”

"All we need to do is become the character in the drawing."

"This is the most powerful, and also the most... terrifying, aspect of our Minister Nohara."

Mizukami Sho listened blankly, staring at the stack of manuscripts in his hand, which seemed casual but actually contained endless magic.

He felt as if he had returned to twenty years ago, to that summer full of dreams and passion.

……

Hiroshi Nohara is like a god!
These words echoed repeatedly in Shui Shangxiang's mind for the next three hours, like a curse.

The artificially created "late night" in the alley seems to possess a certain magic, where time is compressed and folded in an incredible way.

"Scene 1, Shot 1! Red Sausage! Action!"

At Kenji Sato's command, Sho Mizukami almost instinctively picked up the frying pan, mimicking the posture of the man in the storyboard.

Heat a pan, add oil, and slide the small red sausages cut into octopus shapes into the pan.

"Thorn-"

The sound, the aroma, the crisp sound of the spatula striking the wok—it was exactly the same as what he had made in his own kitchen for the past twenty years.

“Very good! Relax your expression a bit more, Mr. Mizukami! You’re not acting now, you’re cooking for your guests!” Hiroshi Nohara’s voice came from behind the monitor, calm yet full of penetrating power.

Mizukami Sho took a deep breath and looked at Minamino Ken, who was playing the role of a yakuza boss. The tension on his face was gradually replaced by the focus of a chef.

"Cut! Pass! Perfect! Next!"

"Scene 2, shot 3! Thick omelet! Ready!"

"Cut! That was perfect! The emotion was spot on! Next!"

"Scene 5, Shot 2! Ah Long's memory! Lighting crew! Soften the light a bit! We need that warm yellow hue, like an old photograph!"

"Cut! That's it! Fantastic! That's the feeling!"

One shot after another, like flowing water, was filmed at a speed that left Mizukami Sho in disbelief.

There were no retakes, no arguments, and even minor adjustments to the actors' positioning were rare.

Everything seemed like a stage play that had been rehearsed a thousand times, with every person and every movement precisely timed to the perfect moment.

As the clock struck 11:30, and the yakuza boss, played by Ken Minamino, finished the last bite of his red sausage with satisfaction, left the money, and disappeared into the "late night" at the alley entrance, Hiroshi Nohara's calm voice rang out once again.

"Cut! All done! Episode 1, filming complete!"

"Eh?!"

Sho Mizukami suddenly raised his head. He looked at the staff in the alley who had already started packing up their equipment. His usually stern face was filled with disbelief and bewilderment.

Is that all... done filming?

One episode of a TV series, and it's already... finished filming?!
He felt as if he had just been in a daze, having a brief dream.

"Alright, everyone, thank you for your hard work!" Hiroshi Nohara stood up from behind the monitor, a satisfied smile on his face. "You all did a great job, very efficient. Now, dismissed, let's have lunch! We'll meet here again at 2 PM sharp to continue filming the second episode, 'Cat Meal'."

"Filming the second episode this afternoon...?" Mizukami Sho's voice trembled slightly as he looked at Nohara Hiroshi with the gaze of someone looking at a real monster.

This...this isn't filming a TV series, this is practically producing works of art on an assembly line!

"Hahahaha! Mr. Mizukami, you don't know this, do you?" Upon hearing this, Minamino Ken couldn't help but burst into laughter. He patted Mizukami Sho on the shoulder, and his hearty laughter eased Mizukami Sho's tense heart a bit: "This is our Nohara-sama's 'Hiroshi speed'! You'll get used to it, you'll get used to it!"

Just then, Hiroshi Nohara walked up to Sho Mizukami.

“Mr. Shui Shang,” he looked at Shui Shang Xiang with admiration in his eyes, “your acting skills are very good, and you have a great sense of the camera. You don’t seem like an amateur at all.”

“Minister, you don’t know,” Kenji Sato walked over with a smile, looking at Sho Mizukami with admiration and a hint of envy in his eyes: “Mr. Mizukami was also an actor in our industry twenty years ago. Back then, he was hailed as the ‘last idol prince of the millennium,’ and he was extremely popular. It’s just that later, due to some things, he… left the industry.”

"Oh? No wonder." Upon hearing this, Hiroshi Nohara smiled knowingly, but beneath that knowing smile lay a hint of barely perceptible regret: "So it's you, senpai. My apologies."

"No, Minister, please don't say that!" Mizukami Sho quickly waved his hand. Looking at the man in front of him, who was too young yet unfathomable, the deep respect he felt made it impossible for him to remain calm.

"This...this is all thanks to you." His voice was a little hoarse, and the shock that came from the bottom of his heart made even this "former idol" who was used to big scenes lose his composure: "I...I have never seen...such a simple filming."

“In the past twenty years, although I haven’t acted, I’ve still kept up with what’s happening in the industry. I know how difficult and tiring it is to film a TV series. But with you, I feel… I feel like a puppet on a string. I just need to follow your instructions on the drawing board, do the corresponding actions, and say the corresponding lines. You… you’ve already thought of everything else for us.”

He paused, his tone carrying a fanatical fervor born of utter conquest.

“I even feel that all of us actors, directors, lighting technicians, cinematographers…all of us combined are just the paintbrush in your hand. And you are the one who truly created this world… God.”

Now, Mizukami Sho fully agrees with this assessment!
He can mass-produce artworks like they're on an assembly line, and judging from his assessment, his photography skills seem to be quite high.

Can't this situation be called divine?!
Hiroshi Nohara shook his head with a smile and joked to Sho Mizukami, "Don't talk about anything divine or not, in the end the ratings will tell. But I think your Midnight Diner will be packed with people then, and it won't be as quiet as it is now."

Everyone burst into laughter.

The atmosphere was extremely harmonious.

(End of this chapter)