I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 219 Misae in Tears! This is a happy future! Everyone is happy!

The banquet continued into the afternoon, at which point Hiroshi Nohara took his leave.

The sliding door to the hotel private room had just closed, and the warm, slightly intoxicating air, still carrying the scent of sake, hadn't completely dissipated when Yamamoto Ichiro slowed his farewell steps.

He leaned against the corridor wall, his fingertips brushing against the cool wood veneer, then suddenly turned to look at Fujiwara Isshin following behind him, his voice still carrying a hint of lingering emotion: "Isshin, you didn't say much at the dinner table, what were you thinking about?"

Fujiwara Isshin had just tightened his briefcase around his arm when he heard this and stopped in his tracks.

He looked up at Yamamoto Ichiro, a thoughtful glint in his eyes behind his glasses, and said earnestly, “Minister, I was thinking about what Nohara-san just mentioned about ‘extending the concept of cute pets’—he said that in the future, Kumamon could collaborate with cartoon characters from other prefectures, such as making a short film with Osaka’s Takoyaki-kun, or even creating a ‘Neon Cute Pet Alliance.’ Don’t you think this idea… is a little scary?”

"Scary?" Yamamoto Ichiro raised an eyebrow, leaned against the wall and laughed, his laughter slightly hoarse from drinking. "You think it's too far-fetched, right? When I first heard it, I almost dropped my chopsticks. You know, what we were thinking before was just to get Kumamon more exposure in the prefecture, but as soon as they opened their mouths, they went straight to the whole of Japan."

He paused, his eyes becoming more serious:

"But if you think about it carefully, isn't every word he said based on solid evidence? From 'Yamishibai' to 'Tales of the Unusual,' which made 'urban ghost stories' a genre, to 'Super Transformation' which used 'connection' to break the ice, and then to 'Seven Samurai' which broke out of the kendo film framework—this guy never does things on a whim; he calculates every step meticulously. Just like Kumamon, which we're talking about today, from the character design to the promotional schedule, he even thought of making the zipper on the mascot costume invisible. This level of attention to detail is something we old-timers in the county government can't even dream of."

Fujiwara Isshin nodded silently, recalling the design sketches Hiroshi Nohara had handed him—the fabric density for the Kumamon blush was clearly marked, and there was even a note that "local red cotton should be used, which will not only look high-quality but also reflect the characteristics of Kumamoto." At the time, he had secretly flipped through the back of the design sketches and found a small diagram in the corner, which noted that "a breathable layer should be added inside the mascot costume to prevent staff from getting heatstroke."

"You're right."

Fujiwara Isshin's voice softened, but carried a certain certainty: "I always thought that Nohara-san's success was due to good luck and good timing. But after talking to him today, I realized that there was no luck involved. He used the time others spent drinking coffee to figure out how to do things thoroughly. Just like he said, 'First, make the locals familiar with it, then make the whole country like it.' We were only thinking about how to push it outwards, but we forgot that the foundation had to be firmly established locally—this steady and pragmatic approach is more effective than any fancy publicity."

Yamamoto Ichiro patted him on the shoulder and walked toward the office with a smile: "It's good that you figured it out. Learn more from Nohara-san in the future. This guy is not only capable, but he also doesn't keep things to himself—look, he told us about the 'Cute Pet Alliance' idea today. If it were anyone else, they would have kept it to themselves as an exclusive secret."

As they talked, they reached the office door.

Yamamoto Ichiro pushed open the door and walked in. He saw two young women in light gray suits standing by the desk, holding thick notebooks in their hands. They were Zona and Suzu, the two stenographers who had been in charge of taking notes in the morning and had left the banquet early at noon.

"Minister, Section Chief Fujiwara." The two bowed respectfully as they entered, their voices clear and crisp.

Yamamoto Ichiro waved his hand, walked behind his desk and sat down, pointing to the chair opposite him: "Sit down. How's the stenography coming along? Make sure not a single word of what we talked about this morning is missing, especially what Nohara-san said about the 'cute pet concept' and the promotional steps."

Zona quickly stepped forward and handed over the notebook in her hand, her tone very serious: "Minister, we have already organized it. We have written down every word Nohara-san said this morning, including the details of his design drawings, the ideas for the short film, and the 'three-step offline penetration method,' and marked the key points."

Yamamoto Ichiro took the notebook, opened it to the first page, and saw that the core idea of ​​the Kumamon project was written in neat handwriting: "The core idea of ​​the Kumamon project is the concept of cute pets." Below, in red pen, it was marked: "Core: Binding the image with the city's soft power, rather than simply promoting the image."

He flipped through a few pages and found that even the little joke Hiroshi Nohara mentioned about "Kumamon taking the wrong snack at a convenience store" had been written down in detail, with a note that "this scene can be integrated into local snack brands, such as 'Kumamoto Strawberry Daifuku'".

"Well done."

Yamamoto Ichiro nodded in satisfaction, tapping his fingers lightly on his notebook: "You two heard it this morning, how brilliant Nohara-san's ideas are. Especially what he said about 'overlay dolls' and 'silly daily short videos,' those are the key to our Kumamon's success."

Sitting next to her, Xiaoling couldn't help but say, "Minister, when Nohara-san said this morning that he wanted Kumamon to appear on 'Super Transformation,' I couldn't believe it. That's the highest-rated variety show in all of Japan! If it really goes on, Kumamon will definitely become an instant sensation."

“Absolutely!” Zona nodded in agreement, her eyes brimming with excitement. “My sister is studying at university in Tokyo. She called me yesterday and said that her roommates are looking forward to watching ‘Super Transformation’ every day. If Kumamon could appear on the show, they would definitely love it! I could tell them, ‘This is the image of our Kumamon,’ how prestigious would that be!”

Seeing the two girls' excitement, Yamamoto Ichiro couldn't help but laugh: "It's good that you're so enthusiastic. But don't just get excited, we still have a lot to do this afternoon—Zona, contact the local doll manufacturing company, send them Nohara-san's design drawings, and have them produce a sample within three days. Tell them this is a key project of the prefectural government, and if they don't do it well, they can forget about getting any more orders from us."

"Yes, Minister!" Zona immediately took out her notebook and quickly wrote it down.

"Xiaoling, contact the 'Kumamoto Life Guide' program team on the prefectural TV station and tell them we want to insert a short video about Kumamon. Ask them to reserve space in the program. Also, contact local convenience stores and restaurants and ask if they would be willing to offer 'Kumamon limited edition meals.' Tell them that the prefectural government will subsidize part of the advertising costs for them." Yamamoto Ichiro continued to give instructions, his tone filled with unwavering determination.

"Understood!" Xiaoling nodded quickly, the sound of the pen tip gliding across the paper was exceptionally clear.

Fujiwara Isshin sat beside him, watching Yamamoto Ichiro methodically arrange the work. Suddenly remembering something, he spoke up: "Minister, there's one more thing—Nohara-san said that the Kumamon proposal should be submitted to the governor as soon as possible. Next year is the election year in Kumamoto Prefecture. If the governor can use this project to gain some goodwill, it will be very helpful for the election."

Yamamoto Ichiro paused, his pen still in his hand. He looked up at Fujiwara Isshin, a knowing glint in his eyes. "You're right. I almost forgot about that. The governor has been struggling to connect with young people lately, and the Kumamon project is just the right solution for him."

He put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and gently stroked his chin with his fingers: "Speaking of which, your father, Fujiwara no Maru, and I are old acquaintances. Back then, we worked together in the prefectural government, following the governor all over Kumamoto, trying to make Kumamoto a better place. Unfortunately, we didn't have any good ideas at the time, and could only rely on old methods of publicity, which never really worked."

Fujiwara Isshin listened silently. He knew that his father, Yamamoto Ichiro, and the governor were all "liberal people's opinion faction" who had always advocated "getting closer to Tokyo and developing local characteristics".

Over the years, they've watched young people flock to Tokyo, and the county's economy has gotten worse and worse. They're extremely anxious, but they haven't been able to find a good breakthrough.

On the contrary, some people believe that Tokyo has taken away their opportunity for development.

Therefore, over the years, the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, who has a good relationship with them, has also borne a lot of public pressure.

This is why they are anxious.

"Now that's great, with Nohara-san's idea, we finally have a chance."

Yamamoto Ichiro's tone was tinged with emotion: "Isshin, your father would be very happy if he knew that we were able to get such a good project. What our generation couldn't accomplish, we might be able to do with the help of you young people and Nohara-san's abilities."

He suddenly laughed, his eyes filled with warmth:
"To be honest, we're all in the same boat as the governor. If he's doing well, Kumamoto will be doing well; and if Kumamoto is doing well, then all of us working in the prefectural government won't have worked in vain. So, this proposal not only needs to be submitted, but it needs to be submitted as soon as possible, and the more detailed the better."

Fujiwara Isshin nodded, suddenly feeling a sense of relief.

He had previously worried that Yamamoto Ichiro might have reservations because "the project was proposed by Fujiwara Isshin," but now it seems that this old minister has always had Kumamoto's future in mind.

"When shall we go to see the governor?" Fujiwara Isshin asked.

Yamamoto Ichiro glanced at his watch and stood up. "It's only two in the afternoon, there's still time. But before we meet the governor, we need to get ready—we drank some sake earlier and we smell of alcohol, it's not good to go see the leader like that."

He smiled and pointed to his collar: "I have spare shirts and ties in my office. You should also wash your face and comb your hair neatly. The governor is a detail-oriented person, and we need to show him our sincerity."

Fujiwara Isshin replied "okay" and got up to go to the restroom.

Yamamoto Ichiro watched his retreating figure, then picked up the notebook on the table and flipped to the design sketch of Kumamon drawn by Hiroshi Nohara.

The round, black bear with its two prominent rosy cheeks was holding up an orange in a silly manner, looking exceptionally cute.

"Perhaps this little guy can really change Kumamoto's fate," Yamamoto Ichiro murmured to himself, his fingers gently tracing the Kumamon on the drawing paper, his eyes full of anticipation.

Half an hour later, Yamamoto Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin stood in the corridor on the top floor of the prefectural government building.

The walls of the corridor are adorned with photos of past governors of Kumamoto Prefecture. The people in the photos have serious expressions and eyes full of responsibility for this land.

"The governor is still talking with the education department, we'll have to wait a while," Yamamoto Ichiro said in a low voice to Fujiwara Isshin beside him.

Fujiwara Isshin nodded, his gaze falling on the window at the end of the corridor.

The outline of Mount Aso can be seen from the window, with wisps of white smoke rising from its summit like a white ribbon entwined against the azure sky.

"Section Chief Fujiwara, are you very familiar with Hiroshi Nohara?" A soft voice came from the side. It was the governor's secretary, a middle-aged man wearing a dark suit and gold-rimmed glasses.

Fujiwara Isshin turned his head and smiled politely: "We're not particularly close. I've talked to him a few times about the Kumamoto promotional plan. Nohara-san is a very capable person with a very clear mind, and he has a deep affection for Kumamoto."

Fujiwara Isshin did not casually reveal that he and Nohara Hiroshi were about to become relatives.

"I heard about it."

The secretary nodded, her tone tinged with admiration: "This morning, everyone in the prefectural government was saying that you and Minister Yamamoto had invited a famous director from Tokyo to design an exceptionally cute cartoon character for Kumamoto. Even the section chief from the education department was asking when they could see the doll of that character, as they wanted to give it as a gift to the children at their schools."

Fujiwara Isshin's heart skipped a beat; it seemed that news of Kumamon had already spread throughout the prefectural government.

This is a good sign, indicating that everyone is looking forward to this project.

Just then, the office door opened, and several men in suits walked out, their faces looking somewhat solemn.

The man in the lead saw Yamamoto Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin, nodded, said nothing, and quickly walked over.

“It’s our turn,” Yamamoto Ichiro said to Fujiwara Isshin, straightening his tie.

The two followed the secretary into the office. As soon as they entered, they saw a man with gray hair, wearing a dark gray suit, sitting behind a large desk.

He was wearing reading glasses, holding a document in his hand, and looking down at it intently. He was none other than the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, Masao Muto.

"Governor." Yamamoto Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin bowed in greeting at the same time.

Muto Masao looked up, put down the documents in his hand, and gestured to the chair opposite him: "Sit down. My secretary said you have something important to report to me? Is it about the Kumamoto publicity?"

“Yes, Governor.” After sitting down, Yamamoto Ichiro immediately took out a neatly organized notebook and a design sketch of Kumamon from his briefcase and handed them over: “This morning, we met with Hiroshi Nohara, the director of TV Tokyo. He designed a cartoon character for Kumamoto called ‘Kumamon’ and also proposed a complete publicity plan. We think this plan has great potential, so we came to report to you.”

“Hiroshi Nohara?” Masao Muto’s eyes lit up as he reached out and took the design drawings. “Is he the young director who made ‘Seven Samurai’ and ‘Hachi: A Dog’s Tale’? I’ve heard of him. He’s a very talented young man.”

He looked down at the design drawings, and after just one glance, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

The Kumamon on the drawing paper is round and chubby, with a black body like a ball and two bright red blushes on its white cheeks. It is holding up an orange and looks silly, but it makes people want to laugh.

“This character… is quite cute.” Muto Masao’s tone carried a hint of surprise. He looked up at Yamamoto Ichiro: “What did you talk to him about? What are the specific arrangements for the promotional plan for this character?”

Yamamoto Ichiro quickly began to recount in detail what he had discussed with Nohara Hiroshi that morning—from the core of the "cute pet concept" to the "three-step offline penetration method," then to shooting short films, appearing on TV Tokyo variety shows, and creating a "cute pet alliance," even the design details of the mascot costumes and the creative ideas for the short films, he reported everything in detail.

Fujiwara Isshin sat next to him and added some details as appropriate, such as the little joke proposed by Nohara Hiroshi about "making Kumamon take the wrong snack at the convenience store", and the design idea of ​​"using local red cotton to make blush fabric".

As Muto Masao listened, he nodded and made light notes on the paper with his pen.

When he heard that "Hiroshi Nohara is willing to help put Kumamon's short film on 'Super Transformation'", he paused for a moment, looked up at Ichiro Yamamoto, and said with a hint of disbelief, "Are you serious? On 'Super Transformation'? That's the hottest variety show in all of Japan, with ratings that have exceeded 40%!"

"It's true, Your Excellency."

Yamamoto Ichiro nodded quickly: "Nohara-san said that he had spoken with the leaders of TV Tokyo and that as long as the content of our short film is acceptable, it can be broadcast during prime time. He also said that Kumamon could collaborate with 'Tales of the Unusual' to create a special segment, further expanding its influence."

Muto Masao's eyes grew brighter and brighter. He put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "Great! Excellent! This plan is better than any of the ones we've thought of before!"

His tone was full of excitement:

"You know what? Last month I went to Tokyo for a meeting and chatted with the governors of other prefectures. They were all talking about how to connect with young people. Especially Akita Prefecture's Akita dogs now, I'm so envious. Kumamoto has never had any compelling selling points for young people, but now, with the Kumamon character and Nohara-san's help, we can finally compete with them!"

He picked up the design drawings, glanced at them again, and couldn't help but smile: "Look at this Kumamon, it's cute and down-to-earth, without any sense of distance. Young people will definitely like it! If we can use this image to promote our Kumamoto specialties like tangerines and horse meat, and attract more people to Kumamoto for tourism, our prefecture's economy will be revitalized, and we'll have a better chance in next year's election."

Yamamoto Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin exchanged a glance, both seeing joy in each other's eyes.

With the governor approving the plan, the subsequent work will be much easier to proceed.

“Governor, there’s something else.” Yamamoto Ichiro suddenly remembered something and said, “Nohara-san proposed that he would own the design rights to Kumamon, but he could use it in Kumamoto for free. He would also keep the revenue from outside the prefecture, such as the sales revenue of related products and the broadcasting rights fees from other TV stations. We think this condition is very reasonable and have already agreed to it.”

Muto Masao paused for a moment, then smiled: "This Nohara-san is quite an honest man. If he wanted to make money from this image, he could have sold the design to other prefectures or made his own merchandise. Now he's willing to let us use it for free and even help us promote it. We in Kumamoto should remember this favor."

He paused, his tone becoming serious:
"Alright, this afternoon you should compile the plan into an official document and submit it to the planning department of the prefectural government. As for the budget, in addition to the ten million yen we applied for earlier, I will approve another five million yen, specifically for making dolls and shooting short films. Also, tell Nohara-san that if there is anything that requires the cooperation of the prefectural government, he should just ask, and the whole of Kumamoto Prefecture will support him."

"Yes, Your Excellency!" Yamamoto Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin stood up at the same time and bowed in response.

Muto Masao waved his hand, gesturing for them to sit down, his tone softening: "Yamamoto, Isshin, you did a great job this time. We work in the prefectural government to do something practical for the people of Kumamoto. If this Kumamoto Bear project can be successful, it will not only boost the economy but also give hope to the young people of Kumamoto. Perhaps more people will be willing to stay in Kumamoto and contribute to building our hometown."

He looked at the two of them, his eyes full of expectation: "So, this project is entrusted to the two of you. Yamamoto, you are experienced, so you will be responsible for controlling the overall direction; Isshin, you are young, so it will be easier for you to communicate with Nohara-san, so you will coordinate the details with him. If there are any problems, report to me at any time."

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency! We will definitely do a good job!" Yamamoto Ichiro's voice was full of determination.

Fujiwara Isshin nodded in agreement, a surge of warmth welling up inside him. He remembered his father's words, "Do things that are worthy of this land," and now, he finally had the opportunity to do something meaningful for Kumamoto.

It was already four o'clock in the afternoon when I left the governor's office. The setting sun shone through the corridor windows, casting long shadows on the floor.

"That's great! With the governor's full support, our project can proceed smoothly." Yamamoto Ichiro's face was relaxed with a smile, and his steps became lighter. Fujiwara Isshin nodded and looked out the window.

Under the setting sun, Mount Aso seemed to be draped in a golden coat, and from afar, shrouded in mist, it looked exceptionally magnificent.

He could almost see that in the near future, that round, black little bear would bring unexpected changes to Kumamoto Prefecture!

……

The old Toyota's engine stalled on the stone road in front of Xiaoshan's house. The remaining heat gave the metal body a faint orange sheen under the setting sun.

Hiroshi Nohara opened the car door and had just stepped out when he heard the familiar sound of wooden clogs coming from the entrance hall—Misae was wearing off-white cotton slippers, her skirt swaying gently with her steps, like a bouncy little deer.

"Hiroshi! You're back!" Misae's voice was filled with undisguised joy. She reached out to help him with his briefcase, but Hiroshi gently pressed her wrist down.

"No need, it's not heavy." Hiroshi smiled and slung his briefcase over his shoulder. His gaze passed over Misae and saw that the door to the Japanese-style room in the living room was open. Yoshiharu Koyama was sitting at a low table smoking, the cigarette between his fingers, and the ash falling into the celadon ashtray. Koyama Takasae was wiping her hands at the kitchen door, her apron still covered in flour, obviously she had just been preparing some snacks.

"You're back just in time. I was just about to call you." Yoshiji Koyama stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, leaned forward slightly, and looked anxious. "How did your meeting with Isshin go at the prefectural government? Did Minister Yamada give you any trouble? And what about that Kumamon thing? Has it been settled yet?"

He bombarded him with questions, and even Xiaoshan Gaoya, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but pat his hand: "You old man, let Guangzhi catch his breath! You've just come in and you're already asking all sorts of questions. He must be tired from driving all that way." As she spoke, she brought over a plate of freshly baked dorayaki and placed it on the low table in front of Guangzhi: "Try it, it's fresh out of the oven and still warm. It's your favorite red bean filling."

Hiroshi picked up a dorayaki, took a bite, and found that the soft outer layer wrapped around the smooth red bean filling. It was sweet but not greasy, just like the taste in his memory.

He smiled and nodded: "Auntie's cooking is absolutely superb, even better than that long-established restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo."

"I'm glad you like it." Koyama Takaya smiled so much that his eyes narrowed. Miya, who was sitting next to him, also picked up a piece and ate it in small bites, but her eyes were fixed on Hiroshi, obviously waiting for him to answer his father's question.

Hiroshi put down his dorayaki, took a sip of warm matcha, and then slowly said, "It's no trouble at all. Minister Yamada is a very honest person, and the people in the prefectural government also value this project. The Kumamon design is basically finalized. The image will be the round version I designed, and the blush will be made from local red cotton, which will be distinctive without being too flashy."

He paused, took out a few sketches from his briefcase, and handed them to Yoshiharu Koyama: "These are the detailed design drawings. Look—this pose was designed on purpose to make it look a bit clumsy, like it's about to trip and fall. This creates a more endearing contrast and makes it easier for people to remember."

Yoshiharu Koyama took the drawing and put on his reading glasses to examine it carefully.

The Kumamon on the drawing paper was indeed more endearing than the one drawn by Isshin before. Its black body resembled a ball, and the two rosy blushes on its white cheeks were particularly eye-catching. It was also holding an unpeeled tangerine in its hand, and its toes were slightly raised, making it look adorably clumsy.

"Great! This is great!" Yoshiharu Koyama was increasingly satisfied with it, and couldn't help but slap his thigh, his voice rising several decibels: "It's much better than those flashy cartoon characters! It looks so approachable and friendly! How is your brain made? You even thought of such a detail!"

When he was young, he was the dean of students at a school and was used to seeing rigid textbook illustrations. This was the first time he felt that a cartoon character could be so "alive" - ​​as if it was about to jump down from the paper and hug your leg for candy.

"you do not say!"

Koyama Takaya also came over to look, her fingers gently tracing the Kumamon on the drawing paper, her tone full of admiration: "Look at this blush, it makes her look so healthy, just like our Misae when she was little, so rosy and cute. And this red bib, printed with tangerines, you can tell at a glance that it's from Kumamoto, much better than just writing 'Kumamoto specialty'."

When Misae heard her mother mention her, her cheeks flushed slightly, but she couldn't help but nod: "I also think this character is especially cute! When I told the people at the manga club this morning, they all clamored to be the first to buy the doll!"

She paused, her eyes filled with pride, her gaze towards Hiroshi sparkling like starlight:

"Speaking of which, Hiroshi, you're really amazing now! The mayor of Omagari City in Akita Prefecture consulted you on how to promote Hachiko, the loyal dog. Governor Koike of Tokyo even invited you to dinner to discuss cultural promotion. Now, even the head of the Kumamoto Prefectural Government is asking you to work on a plan. You're only twenty-four years old, and you're more capable than many fifty-year-olds!"

Upon hearing this, Yoshiharu Koyama also sighed with emotion.

He put down his sketch, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and his eyes were full of satisfaction: "That's right! I've lived for sixty-two years, and in my whole life I've only had a few interactions with school principals and the head of the city's education department, and those were all for work. You, on the other hand, at such a young age, are on equal footing with the governor, the mayor, and the county department head. They even have to ask you for advice. That's something not everyone can do."

He recalled that when he was young, his biggest dream was to become an ordinary staff member in the county government, but he never achieved it before he retired.

Seeing her future son-in-law so successful makes her happier than if she had achieved something herself.

Hiroshi listened to the family's praise, but just smiled faintly, his tone still calm: "Actually, it's nothing. I just did what I was supposed to do. Kumamoto needs a symbol that young people can remember, and Kumamon can fill that gap perfectly. Besides, I'm practically a Kumamon person myself, so it's only right that I help promote it. It's not about being amazing or not."

He never liked to take all the credit for himself, especially since the project was able to proceed so smoothly thanks to the support of Minister Yamada and the coordination of Yixin.

Without the cooperation of these people, he couldn't have accomplished anything by himself.

Yoshiharu Koyama was even more pleased with his humble demeanor.

These days, it's rare to find a young person who is both capable and humble. Misae is truly blessed to have found such a partner.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. You must be tired after just getting back." Koyama Takaya stood up and tidied up the dorayaki dishes on the table. "You should rest for a while. I'll make your favorite tempura for dinner and a corn soup to warm you up."

Hiroshi also got up, put away the sketches, and put them in his briefcase: "Auntie, no need to trouble yourself, just do something simple. By the way, I still have some comics upstairs that I haven't finished, I'll go up and work on them for a while, call me when dinner is ready."

"Okay!" Koyama Takaya nodded quickly: "Go ahead, but don't overwork yourself. Take a break if you're tired, don't push yourself too hard."

Misae stood up as well, wanting to go upstairs with him, but was stopped by Yoshiji Koyama with a look.

She had no choice but to stop and watch Hiroshi's figure disappear around the corner of the stairs, his cheeks still flushed.

Once Hiroshi's footsteps had completely disappeared on the second floor, Yoshiharu Koyama looked at Misae with a pleased smile: "Misa, you've really found a good partner."

He had lived most of his life and met quite a few people, but few were like Hiroshi—capable, steady, respectful of elders, and incredibly considerate to Misae.

She was especially moved when she learned that Hiroshi had driven back from Tokyo TV with a bunch of medicines and nutritional supplements when Misae had a cold, and even cooked porridge for her himself.

Hiroshi doesn't have the typical male chauvinism of Japanese men.

Hearing her parents' words, Misae blushed even more, but she still couldn't help but nod, her tone full of sweetness: "Yes, Hiroshi is so good to me. Last time the manga company was short of funds, he didn't tell me, but secretly transferred one million yen to me, and told me not to rush, to take my time, and not to feel pressured."

She remembered what Hiroshi had done for her—helping her find a space for her manga studio, contacting a printing company, and even assigning them the coloring work for "Doraemon" and "Midnight Diner," so that everyone in the studio could have a stable income.

If it weren't for Hiroshi, her "Future Manga Club" might have gone out of business long ago.

Koyama Takaya sat down next to him and added with a smile, "He's not only good to you, he also cares about us old folks. Last time your dad said his back was bad, he sent a massager from Tokyo the next day and even called me to tell me how to use it. And for my birthday, he gave me a pearl necklace, and when I wore it out, all the neighbors asked me where I bought it and were so envious."

She paused, her eyes full of anticipation: "Speaking of which, Masaya's wedding date is almost set. Next week, both sets of parents will meet to discuss holding the wedding next spring. After Masaya gets engaged, it will be your turn."

Misae's face instantly turned red to her ears, even the tips of her ears were pink, but she still nodded gently, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "Yes, I talked to Hiroshi... He said that after he finishes the Kumamon project, he will take me to meet his parents again."

She recalled the last time she went to Omagari City in Akita Prefecture with Hiroshi and met his parents, Nohara Ginnosuke and Nohara Tsuru.

Although Ginnosuke seemed lively and humorous, he respected her very much; Nohara Tsuru even held her hand and talked to her for a long time with heartfelt words.

"They were so good to me."

Misae's voice was choked with sobs, and her eyes were slightly red: "Uncle Ginnosuke also said that after we get married, he will renovate the house in Tokyo so that we can live more comfortably. Aunt Tsuru also said that if I miss my parents in the future, I can go back to Kumamoto anytime, and she will help me take care of the family."

After all, in Omagari City, Akita Prefecture, Hiroshi Nohara's hometown, Misae received an extraordinary welcome; she was treated like family.

Misae didn't feel uncomfortable at all.

Thinking about it now, I feel quite comfortable and happy!

Yoshiharu Koyama and Takasago Koyama exchanged a glance, both seeing relief in each other's eyes.

Their biggest worry was that Misae would be mistreated after marrying into the Nohara family. Now it seems that the Nohara family values ​​Misae very much, so they are relieved.

"That's fine, that's fine."

Yoshiharu Koyama nodded, his tone full of emotion: "You're so lucky to have met Hiroshi and gained the approval of his family. After you marry him, you must live a good life with Hiroshi, be filial to your parents-in-law, and not be as willful as you were at home, understand?"

"I know." Misae nodded vigorously, her eyes reddening even more, but she still couldn't help but smile.

She could imagine what life would be like with Hiroshi in the future—having breakfast together in the morning, watching movies together in the evening, taking walks in the park together on weekends, and maybe even having a cute child… No, it would be best to have two children, a boy and a girl, and also raise a cute little dog!

Thinking about these things, she felt a warm glow in her heart, like a little sun shining down on her.

"Oh dear, Misae, you're such a grown woman, why are you still crying here?" Koyama Takaya couldn't help but smile as she looked at her daughter's happy expression.

After all, she understood that for a woman, getting married is like being reborn.

Even her eyes welled up with tears.

Koyama Takaya wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, got up and went to the kitchen: "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I'll go prepare dinner. I'll make you delicious sea bream, Wagyu beef and vegetable tempura, and also stew some chicken and corn soup so that Hiroshi can taste my cooking."

Yoshiji Koyama also stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sky outside, which was gradually darkening.

The cherry blossom trees in the distance have already sprouted tiny buds, and soon they will be in full bloom.

He recalled how, when he was young, he would look out the window at the cherry blossoms and look forward to the future.

Now, his daughter has also found her own happiness and is about to start a new chapter in her life.

"Time waits for no one," Yoshiharu Koyama murmured to himself, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

He knew that Misae would live a very happy life from now on.

In the studio on the second floor, Hiroshi Nohara was sitting at a low table, holding a pencil and sketching on the drawing paper.

On the table lay the storyboard for "Yu Yu Hakusho." Yusuke Urameshi stood side by side with Kazuma Kuwabara, their eyes fixed firmly ahead, as if embracing a new challenge.

Hiroshi put down his pencil, stretched, and rubbed his slightly sore shoulders.

He looked up at the window and could see the cherry blossom tree downstairs, its buds peeking out in the night.

He recalled Misae's flushed cheeks and the satisfied smiles of Mr. and Mrs. Koyama, and suddenly felt exceptionally at ease.

Having been in this world for so long, he finally feels at home—he has loving elders, people he loves, and a career he is passionate about.

Hiroshi picked up his pencil again, the tip gliding across the paper as he continued drawing the storyboard for Yu Yu Hakusho.

There's still a lot to do—making Kumamon plush toys, filming short films, promoting the show on TV Tokyo, and updating the manga for Yu Yu Hakusho, Doraemon, and Midnight Diner…

But he didn't feel tired.

Because he knew that these things were not only for himself, but also for the people around him.

So that Misae can realize her dream of becoming the company president, so that the Koyama couple can enjoy their later years in peace, and so that Kumamoto can become better because of Kumamon.

The night outside the window grew darker, but the lights in the studio remained bright.

The pencil scratches on the paper, as if telling a story about dreams and perseverance.

Hiroshi looked at the drawing of Yusuke Urameshi on the paper, and his eyes hardened.

He knew that as long as he persisted, he would definitely achieve his goal and enable the people around him to live a happy life.

And that is the meaning of his journey to this world.

The aroma of dinner gradually wafted up from downstairs, a blend of the sweet scent of corn soup and the crispy aroma of tempura.

Hiroshi put down his pencil, stretched, and smiled contentedly.

P.S.: I'm shamelessly asking for more recommendation votes and monthly tickets! I hope everyone will support me! Thank you all in advance!
(End of this chapter)