I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 202 The wildly popular Midnight Diner! Manga adaptation premiere review! Scheduled for 9 PM (second yellow slot)!
Night is Shinjuku's best makeup artist.

In just two or three days, as the city lights came on, casting an ambiguous glow on the streets of Kabukicho, which were once filled with desire and hormones, that secluded alleyway, which was usually only frequented by seasoned drinkers and nightclub regulars, was unexpectedly and completely submerged by a surging crowd.

"Hey! Is this the place? Is this really the place? The filming location of 'Midnight Diner' that the newspaper mentioned!"

"It can't be wrong! Look at that blue curtain! And that little lantern by the door! It's exactly the same as in the comic!"

"Wow—! It really is! I feel like I've stepped into a comic book! It's so real!"

"Hurry, hurry! We're at the front of the line! Maybe we can even get a spot in the first batch!"

At the alley entrance, a group of stylishly dressed female college students, their faces still showing a touch of youthful naiveté, excitedly tiptoed and peered inside, their excitement almost bursting through the night.

Behind them were several office workers dressed in sharp suits, who looked like they had just finished get off work. Although they tried to maintain the composure of adults, the sharp glint in their eyes behind their glasses betrayed the excitement deep within them.

"Yamada-senpai, do you think... we'll really get to eat that tamagoyaki from the manga today?" A young employee who looked like he had just joined the company asked the middle-aged man with a receding hairline next to him with an expectant look.

"Shut up, Kobayashi!" The man called Yamada-senpai glared at him irritably, but couldn't help swallowing hard. "We're just passing by! Just passing by! We're just stopping by! Don't go around telling everyone, or other departments will think that we, the people in Sales Section 3, are just wasting our work hours chasing after celebrities!"

"Hey! Hey! I understand!" The young employee nodded hurriedly, his chicken-pecking manner drawing good-natured laughter from those around him.

At the very edge of the crowd, there were even a few blond-haired, blue-eyed foreign tourists who looked like they were visiting Japan. They were taking pictures of the scene in the alley with their phones while excitedly communicating with the people around them in broken Japanese.

"This is amazing! It's just like the manga I read online! So cool!"

"Sumimasen! Excuse me! Is the boss with the scar on his face inside?"

The entire alleyway was now like a super popular theme park about to open, filled with a cacophony of anticipation, curiosity, and excitement.

Meanwhile, in the heart of the amusement park, in that tiny shop without even a proper sign, a fierce "war" is raging between Shui Shangxiang and others.

"Thorn-"

The golden egg mixture solidified quickly in the scalding iron pan. With a flick of his wrist, Shui Shangxiang sent the thick yet fluffy omelet flying through the air in a perfect arc before landing steadily back into the pan.

Without pausing, he picked up another pot and poured in the prepared rice and ingredients. The spatula struck the iron pot, producing a crisp and rhythmic sound. The rice grains danced in the air above the flames, blending perfectly with the soy sauce and scallions, releasing an irresistible aroma.

"Honey! Is the cat food ready yet? The customers at the table behind us have asked three times already!"

Outside the bar, Mizukami Sho's wife, Mizukami Misaki, was holding an empty tray, looking as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

She was wearing a white apron that matched her husband's, and her usually gentle face was now filled with exhaustion and... a hint of frustration.

"Coming right away! Almost done!" Mizukami Sho replied without looking up. He scooped the fried rice and the cat food he had just made into two clean porcelain bowls, and then, with almost acrobatic speed, took out a few red octopus sausages from the refrigerator next to him and threw them into the frying pan.

"Misaki! The octopus sausages at the table outside should be ready soon!"

Mizukami Sho responded again, his voice now carrying a barely perceptible bitter smile.

While frying sausages, he quickly and laboriously dragged an empty beer barrel from under the bar, then picked up a new, heavy barrel from the corner and replaced it with it using both hands and feet.

"Misaki! The draft beer is ready! Fill up the guests' glasses first! Let them drink!" he shouted outside, a fine layer of sweat already forming on his forehead.

"Yes! Yes! Got it!"

The bar area was already packed.

A dozen or so customers were huddled side by side in front of the small L-shaped bar, each with a look of heartfelt satisfaction and happiness on their face.

"Wow—! Boss! Your skills are simply divine!" A cute young girl in a pink sweater was eating a thick omelet in front of her with a blissful expression. Her bright eyes were practically sparkling: "This omelet is so fragrant and sweet, so soft and smooth! It's better than any five-star hotel I've ever had!"

“Yeah! Yeah!” Her equally stylish best friend chimed in, taking small sips of the seemingly simple yet incredibly magical cat food: “And this cat food! The bonito flakes on top are so fresh they’re making my eyebrows fall off! Paired with rice and soy sauce, it’s simply… heavenly!”

"What do you know!" Sitting across from them was a middle-aged man in a suit who looked like a company executive. He had a "veteran" expression on his face, picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and exuded confidence as if he were the owner of the place: "This place isn't about the taste, it's about... the feeling! It's about the atmosphere! It's that kind of warmth that can heal everything in the dead of night!"

“That’s right! That’s right! Uncle is right!” A young man wearing a baseball cap, who looked like a college student, said excitedly, “Let me tell you, sitting here, I feel like a character in a comic book! Everyone around me is like a passerby with their own story! And the boss is the one who silently listens to all our stories, the ferryman!”

"Yeah! Yeah! Especially the boss himself! He's exactly like the one in the comics!" Another boy wearing glasses chimed in, pushing up his glasses. His usually calm eyes now shone with a light of "admiration": "The scar on his face, his taciturn demeanor, and those eyes that seem to see through everything! It's simply... a perfect recreation!"

Hearing these heartfelt compliments, Mizukami Sho, who was busy in the kitchen, gave a shy yet somewhat helpless smile.

He walked out of the kitchen carrying a plate of freshly fried octopus sausages. His composure and calmness created a peculiar yet incredibly welcoming contrast with the frenzied atmosphere around him.

"You flatter me, everyone." He gently placed the sausage on the table in front of the two girls, his voice deep and magnetic: "I'm just a cook, I only make simple home-style dishes."

His humility, his composure, and the intricate scar on his face, full of untold stories, appeared exceptionally charming under the dim light.

"Wow--!"

"so hot!"

"Oh my god! The boss's smile is so gentle!"

"I...I think I'm in love!"

The two girls, who had been chattering away, fell silent instantly. They covered their mouths, and their bright, sparkling eyes filled with pink hearts!

They looked at Mizukami Sho with the same eyes they had for him, as if he were a perfect lover who had stepped out of a comic book!

Looking at the scene before her where "all the beauties were smitten," Misaki Mizukami's usually gentle face revealed a helpless expression that was both funny and exasperating.

She reached out and, somewhat annoyed, lightly pinched her husband's waist.

"hiss--"

Mizukami Sho gasped, the aura of being an "idol" instantly pulled him back to reality.

He looked at his wife's "murderous" eyes and put on a fawning smile.

However, before he could even beg for mercy, the shop door was opened again.

"jingle--"

The wind chimes rang out, and several young people who also seemed to have come out of curiosity peered inside with expectant looks on their faces.

"Boss! Are there any seats available?"

Upon hearing this, Misaki Mizukami let out a long sigh; she felt as if her waist was about to break.

She quickly forced a professional smile, strode to the door, and bowed apologetically to the young men.

"I'm very sorry, everyone, we're fully booked for today." Her voice carried a hint of fatigue, yet remained impeccably polite. "Perhaps you could come again tomorrow?"

"Huh? It's full?" The young men looked disappointed upon hearing this.

"Then...can we go in and take a look?" one of the boys, who seemed to be the leader, asked unwillingly. His eyes were peering over Misaki Mizukami's shoulder, desperately trying to see into the shop. "Just one look! Just one look at the legendary owner! I heard he looks exactly like the one in the manga!"

"Yeah! Yeah!" His companions echoed, their persistence giving Misaki a headache: "We just want to see what a real-life 'Midnight Diner' is like! Please! Just let us go in and take a look!"

"This..." Mizukami gave a helpless bitter smile. Looking at the group of young people in front of her, full of youth and vitality, her heart, which had long been hardened by reality, couldn't help but soften at this moment.

She knew that rejecting them was tantamount to rejecting their longing for that warmth.

"Husband!" she called out helplessly towards the kitchen.

Upon hearing this, Mizukami Sho, who was busy in the kitchen, peeked out from behind the dark blue curtain once again.

He looked at the young people at the door, who were gazing at him expectantly. A helpless yet slightly indulgent bitter smile appeared on his usually stern face.

"Wow--!"

"It really is the boss!"

"Oh my god! It's exactly the same as in the comics! Even that helpless expression is the same!"

"Boss! Can...can I take a picture with you?!"

"Yes, boss! We're your biggest fans!"

The moment the young people at the entrance saw Shui Shangxiang, they burst into a deafening scream, like fireworks that had been lit!
They were so excited they were incoherent, and even wanted to rush into the store to have a close encounter with their "idol".

"Everyone! Everyone! Calm down!" Misaki Mizukami quickly spread her arms to block them, her aura as the lady of the house making her seem exceptionally reliable: "The restaurant is still open, please don't disturb other customers!"

"But...but we..."

"Kitchen is a restricted area; unauthorized personnel are not permitted." Mizukami Sho's voice rang out again, calm yet full of strength: "I appreciate everyone's kindness. However, I still need to prepare food for the guests. If you really like my little shop, please wait quietly outside."

His words, like the gentlest spring breeze, instantly soothed everyone's restless hearts.

The young people at the door exchanged glances, all seeing the same "understanding" in each other's eyes.

They knew that this was the kind of "boss" they envisioned, someone so mysterious and distant.

"I'm...I'm so sorry, boss! We got too excited!"

"We...we'll wait outside! We definitely won't disturb you!"

"Boss, you've worked hard!"

With Misaki's persuasion and guidance, the young people finally retreated to the alley entrance, satisfied.

But they didn't leave. Instead, they joined more fans who arrived later and spontaneously formed a long queue at the alley entrance. Their dedication and enthusiasm created a warm scene unique to this late night.

……

As the clock slowly struck three in the morning, the last customer, satisfied, put down his bowl and chopsticks, bowed deeply to Shui Shangxiang, and then turned and disappeared into the night at the alley entrance.

Mizukami Yoshikazu and Mizukami Misaki finally let out a long, long sigh of relief.

They helped each other up, dragging their exhausted bodies, and slowly sat down at the bar.

"My... my back... is about to break." Misaki Mizukami slumped weakly on the bar, her usually gentle face now filled with utter despair.

"You've worked so hard, Misaki." Mizukami Sho reached out and gently massaged his wife's back, his heartache evident in his words.

“Oh, right, darling.” Misaki Mizukami suddenly remembered something. She looked up abruptly, her usually gentle eyes filled with worry: “You’ve been busy all day. Tomorrow… are you going to the film set again tomorrow? Can your body handle it?”

"Don't worry, you don't need to go tomorrow." Mizukami Sho smiled and shook his head.

"No need to go? Why?" Misaki Mizukami asked, puzzled.

“Because…” A helpless yet admiring smile appeared on Mizukami Sho’s face: “The first seven episodes of ‘Midnight Diner’ have already been… filmed.”

"Huh?!" Misaki Mizukami's eyes widened again. She covered her mouth, her usually gentle face filled with disbelief and horror: "Seven...seven episodes?! This...it's only been a few days?! I remember when you were filming, you could finish an episode in two or three days, and that was considered fast! That Mr. Nohara, how...how did he do that?!"

Upon hearing this, Mizukami Sho simply shrugged helplessly, his eyes filled with a deep-seated awe for the young man.

"Who knows?" he said softly, his tone carrying a hint of emotion, as well as a sense of matter-of-fact composure: "After all, he is the one who is recognized by the entire Japanese television industry as... a genius and a monster."

Misaki Mizukami nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

She knew that besides the words "genius" and "monster," she could find no other words to describe the young man who had changed the fate of her family.

“But speaking of which,” a bright smile suddenly bloomed on Misaki Mizukami’s face. She pulled a thick envelope from her apron pocket, her joy almost bursting out of her body.

"Honey! Guess how much money we made tonight?!"

"How many?"

"Seventy thousand yen! A whole seventy thousand yen!" Misaki Mizukami was so excited she was almost incoherent. She looked at her husband, her eyes filled with barely suppressed elation. "My God! We used to work hard for days and still couldn't earn this much! This... this is simply unbelievable!"

Upon hearing this, Mizukami Sho also revealed a simple and honest smile.

"Yes, this is the advertising effect that Mr. Nohara brought us." He said softly, his tone tinged with emotion.

“No! This isn’t just an advertising effect!” Misaki Mizukami exclaimed excitedly, looking at her husband with eyes full of boundless anticipation for the future. “This is…this is the beginning of our new life! With this money, we can give Sayuri a better life! We…we can also go on vacation to Hawaii and shop in Paris, just like those rich people!”

Looking at his wife's face, flushed with happiness, Mizukami Sho's heart, hardened by reality, was completely filled at this moment by an unprecedented emotion called "responsibility."

"Yes, Misaki." He reached out and hugged his wife tightly, his resolve as firm as a rock. "From now on, I will make sure you and our daughter live a good life."

He paused, a hint of unspoken pride in his voice: "The venue rental fee and my appearance fee alone amount to 100,000 yen a day. Add to that the 70,000 yen daily income from the store... We... we'll soon be rich."

"Mmm!" Misaki Mizukami nodded heavily, burying her head deeply into her husband's broad and warm chest. The happiness that came from the bottom of her heart made her feel as if she had the whole world.

"It's so wonderful to have met Mr. Nohara," she murmured to herself, her voice filled with overwhelming sweetness and gratitude.

“Yes,” Mizukami Shoya sighed. Looking out the window at the sky, which was gradually turning a pale white, his heart, which had been dormant for twenty years, began to beat violently again at this moment.

"That's great."

……

The next morning, an unusual sense of anticipation and restlessness seemed to permeate the air of the Tokyo TV production building, specifically the floor where the review department was located.

In the corridor, Asumi, Toshihide Takada, Hiroshi Nohara, and Kenji Sato met at the elevator entrance. Behind them were several middle-aged men with excited expressions on their faces. These were Ken Minamino and other veteran actors from the Kanto region who had starred in "Midnight Diner".

"Oh my! Hiroshi-kun, Director Sato! You're here too!" Asumi's signature loud voice rang out first. He patted Sato Kenji on the shoulder enthusiastically, the force of which made the latter stumble. "I heard you've been following Hiroshi-kun around these past few days, practically moving your whole family to that alley in Shinjuku? How about it? Weren't you shocked by our boss's 'Hiroshi speed'?"

A bitter smile appeared on Kenji Sato's face, and his eyes, which were always full of fatigue, now shone with an almost fanatical light: "Deputy Director Asumi, please don't joke with me. I'm not just scared, I feel like my worldview has been completely reshaped."

"Hahahaha! I knew it!" Asuka laughed loudly, his voice filled with pride and joy.

"Hmph, what's there to make a fuss about?" Although there was a slight smile on the corner of Takada Toshihide's mouth, his tone still maintained the composure of a superior: "We've known about Hiroshi's abilities for a long time. As for you, Director Sato, you've really seized this opportunity. You'd better perform well and not let Hiroshi down."

"Yes! Please rest assured, Executive Deputy Director!" Kenji Sato bowed quickly, his attitude respectful yet resolute.

However, Kenji Sato still felt somewhat awkward while speaking. After all, he had previously been a spy for Toshihide Takada, a special agent planted within the Kanto faction.

As a result, the two factions have now merged.

His past experiences have ironically made things somewhat awkward.

Therefore, when Kenji Sato saw Toshihide Takada, he felt somewhat awkward and uneasy. He was afraid that if they were to fight again in the future, Toshihide Takada might threaten him.

However, Takada Toshihide noticed Sato Kenji's unease and couldn't help but smile. He nodded slightly and praised him, "Do a good job. Following Nohara Hiroshi is indeed the best way for anyone to get promoted, and you can learn a lot."

"Yes!" Kenji Sato nodded again.

Just as the two were chatting, Asumi's gaze fell on the veteran actors again, his smile growing even brighter: "You all look really good today! It seems that working with our Hiroshi-kun makes you all feel so happy!"

“Deputy Director Asahi, please don’t joke with us old guys.” Minamino Ken replied with a smile, his usually amiable face now filled with sincere admiration: “We’re not just feeling great, we feel like we’ve become twenty years younger! Filming with Director Nohara is so enjoyable! In a word, awesome!”

"That's right! That's right!" Several veteran actors behind him echoed, their heartfelt admiration evident in their words.

They had all gone through the process of working with Hiroshi Nohara's storyboards, and for the next few days, they simply filmed according to the storyboards. They encountered almost no problems.

This simple filming process was incredible to them.

Moreover, they all expressed their heartfelt respect for Hiroshi Nohara.

This is already the ability of a god-level director.

Actors are not required to have excessive acting skills; they only need to perform according to the content arranged by the director, and they can achieve perfect results.

How could it not be the ability of a god-level director?
Just then, the door to the review department was pushed open from the inside, and a woman dressed in a business suit, looking capable and elegant, stood smiling at the door.

It was Takeshita Ai, the head of the audit department.

"Deputy Director Asumi, Managing Director Takada, Department Head Nohara, everyone is here." She first bowed slightly to everyone, her manners impeccable, before turning her gaze to Hiroshi Nohara. In his usually calm eyes, there flickered a perfect amount of respect and... a hint of helplessness.

"Minister Nohara, we have received your proposal and master tape." She said with a smile, her voice tinged with self-deprecation: "To be honest, how could our review department dare to have any objections to your proposal? It's just a formality. Even Director Sakata has praised you highly. We subordinates only need to stamp it."

These words were perfectly worded, both praising Hiroshi Nohara and subtly stating the censorship department's position, leaving everyone present with a knowing smile.

"Director Takeshita, you're too kind." Hiroshi Nohara simply smiled calmly, his humility and composure just right.

“Alright, everyone, please don’t stand at the door.” Takeshita Ai turned to the side and gestured for them to proceed. “The screening room is ready, and the review team is waiting. Let’s begin.”

She personally led everyone through several brightly lit corridors, finally stopping in front of a spacious and professional screening room.

Pushing open the door, they found the room already filled with reviewers from the review department. When they saw the two deputy directors, Asumi and Takada Toshihide, as well as Hiroshi Nohara, who was currently at the height of his power in the station, they all stood up from their seats and bowed respectfully to greet them.

"Alright, alright, everyone, please sit down." Asuka waved his hand, his aura of authority making the entire screening room seem quieter.

"Let's begin the screening review." Takada Toshihide then looked at Takeshita Ai, a faint smile on his face: "We can't wait."

"Hi, please wait a moment," Ai Takeshita replied.

As everyone took their seats, and the lights in the screening room slowly dimmed while the huge screen lit up, everyone's eyes were drawn to the world of light and shadow where a miracle was about to unfold.

As the familiar opening theme music began, the melodious yet somewhat melancholic guitar sound, like the gentlest evening breeze, instantly transported everyone into a late-night world brimming with stories and everyday life.

Episode 1, "Red Sausage and Egg Dumplings".

When the "boss," played by Sho Mizukami, turned his back to the camera and calmly prepared ingredients in the tiny kitchen, a chorus of suppressed gasps of amazement rippled through the screening room.

"My God! This silhouette...this atmosphere...it's exactly like in the comics!" A young female employee in charge of reviewing the images couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

“Yes! And the kitchen set! It’s so realistic! All those pots and pans, all those spice jars, it’s like we’re actually in a small shop!” A colleague next to her who was in charge of props review chimed in.

However, when the camera slowly turned around, and when Mizukami Sho's face, with a scar extending from his left eyebrow to his cheek, clearly appeared on the big screen, the entire screening room instantly fell into a deathly silence!

"hiss--"

Immediately afterwards, there was a collective gasp of astonishment!
"This...this is someone who stepped right out of a manga!!" Asumi suddenly sat up straight in his seat, his sharp eyes wide open, his face filled with utter astonishment and disbelief!

"It's... an uncanny recreation!" Takada Toshihide exclaimed, his usually gloomy face now filled with shock: "From the scar on his face to his taciturn demeanor, even those eyes that seem to see through everything! It's... exactly the same!"

"It's more than just identical!" Looking at the "boss" on the screen, the actor who was acting opposite him, Nan Yeqian was so shocked that even this veteran actor who was used to big scenes lost his composure: "Let me tell you, when I was filming on set, there were several times when I was in a daze! I always felt that I was not acting, but really walking into that late-night diner full of stories!"

Amidst the gasps of amazement from the crowd, the plot slowly unfolded.

Ken Minamino, who plays Ah Long, a gangster boss, walks in with an arrogant gait, but orders a dish that is completely out of place with his fierce appearance: red octopus sausages.

"Hahahaha! This contrast is incredible!" Asumi couldn't help but laugh out loud: "A yakuza boss who looks like he can take on ten men at once actually loves to eat octopus sausages, which are only for kids! Hiroshi-kun, this character design of yours is simply a stroke of genius!"

"Yes, using food to reveal the softest side of a character's heart is a very clever technique." Takada Toshihide nodded, his deep eyes gleaming with the shrewdness of a strategist.

Soon, the first episode ended, and the ending theme song began.

The screening room remained completely silent.

Everyone was still immersed in that warmth and emotion that found true meaning in the ordinary, unable to extricate themselves for a long time.

"This...this is it?" Takeshita Ai murmured to herself, feeling her eyes welling up with tears.

The second episode, "Cat Meal," follows immediately.

When that frustrated female singer, at the lowest point in her life, ordered a simple bowl of cat food, and while eating it, she sang the song that represented her initial dream, many of the emotional female employees in the screening room couldn't help but sob softly.

"Waaaaah... This is so touching..."

"This bowl of cat food isn't just food, it's a dream..."

"Yes...who hasn't experienced a period of confusion and helplessness during their youth?"

Episode 3, "Tea-soaked Rice".

When those three single women in their late twenties ate rice with tea late at night and complained about their failed relationships, their seemingly carefree conversation, which was actually full of loneliness and longing, accurately struck a nerve with all the urbanites present.

"The dialogue is so realistic; it's exactly what older single women around us would say," a senior editor in charge of script review couldn't help but exclaim.

"Yes, although they say 'men are all big pigs,' deep down they still yearn for a pure love. This contradiction, this struggle, is simply...heartbreaking!"

When the three episodes ended and the lights in the screening room came back on, everyone's faces still had wet tear stains.

They looked at each other and saw the same shock, the same emotion, and a kind of utterly conquered... fanaticism in each other's eyes!
"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Someone was the first to clap.

Immediately afterwards, thunderous applause, like a tsunami, swept through the entire screening room!
"That's fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!"

"I even think... the live-action version is more exciting than the comic book version!"

"Yes! Comics are two-dimensional; we have to use our imagination. But the live-action version brings everything to life! The owner, the customers, the food... I feel like they're living right next to me!"

"That's right! Especially that boss! Mr. Mizukami Sho's acting is absolutely superb! He's not acting at all, he *is* that 'boss' himself, full of stories!"

"And those supporting actors! Senior Minamino and the others brought those characters to life! I even feel that they are the most ordinary, yet most real, ordinary people around us!"

"Most importantly, this drama is not only touching, but also has profound social significance! It has provided a 'spiritual sanctuary' for us modern people who are busy and exhausted in the concrete jungle!"

The screening room was filled with various heated discussions.

Everyone was so excited they were almost incoherent. They rushed to express their love for the show, their admiration for Hiroshi Nohara, and their boundless anticipation for its future.

Hiroshi Nohara simply sat there calmly, a faint smile on his face.

All of this was exactly as he had expected.

In its previous life, the live-action drama adaptation of "Midnight Diner" was a rare exception, surpassing the original manga. It healed countless lonely souls with its most genuine emotions, simple cinematography, and heartwarming story.

Now, what he needs to do is bring this healing to this world that also needs warmth.

"This guy... he's a monster." Asumi looked at the young man who remained calm and composed amidst the overwhelming praise and couldn't help but whisper to Takada Toshihide beside her.

“Yes.” Takada Toshihide nodded, a genuine admiration appearing on his usually gloomy face. “I originally thought that adapting manga into live-action dramas was the area where he was least likely to succeed. But I never expected that he would do such a good job. I even think that he understands how to move people better than us old guys who have spent half our lives in the production department.”

"Hiroshi-kun, you really have given us another huge surprise!" Asumi turned his head and looked at Hiroshi Nohara, his eyes filled with uncontrollable elation.

"How could I not be good at adapting my own manga?" Hiroshi Nohara simply smiled and replied casually.

That nonchalant confidence made everyone present once again exchange knowing smiles.

"Alright, since everyone thinks it's good, let's discuss the broadcast time for this drama," Takeshita Ai said with a smile, looking at Nohara Hiroshi with eyes full of admiration and trust.

"Broadcast time? Is that even up for discussion?" Asumi slapped his thigh, his voice filled with undeniable dominance: "It has to be prime time! Friday night at nine o'clock! This time slot is perfect for those office workers who have just finished a tiring week of work and need some warmth to heal them!"

“I agree!” Takada Toshihide nodded, his deep eyes gleaming with the shrewdness of a strategist: “Moreover, we’re going to go head-to-head with that Tokyo TV show, ‘South Island A-Feng and His Beloved Dog’! I want those guys to know what true ‘warmth and healing’ really means!”

"That's right! That's what we'll do!"

"Let them see the power of TV Tokyo!"

"Let them know who the true king of this greater Tokyo metropolitan area is!"

The screening room was once again filled with enthusiastic discussions.

Everyone knows that a new war is about to begin.

A “war” concerning ratings, glory, and also… factional struggles!
And they will personally participate in and witness the final outcome of this "war"!

However, Hiroshi Nohara sat in his chair, watching everyone enthusiastically discussing "Midnight Diner," and his smile grew wider and wider.

To others, this is a war.

But for Hiroshi Nohara, this is definitely the beginning of another period of fame and fortune.

"After all, TV Tokyo paid me a sky-high price of five million yen per episode for the manga adaptation, plus the cost of my own filming and production, it feels wonderful to think about."

Hiroshi Nohara pursed his lips, thinking about his ever-growing savings and increasing land holdings in the countryside of Omagari City, and he felt increasingly relaxed: "Now, let the economic crisis come even more fiercely!"

He's not afraid at all now!

(End of this chapter)