I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 259 A Delinquent Gang Attacks! Principal Takakura Bunta Reappears! He Scares Them Away!
The morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting long, thin patches of light on the floor.

Hiroshi Nohara slowly opened his eyes, rubbing his throbbing temples. The fatigue from the hangover had mostly dissipated, replaced by a long-lost sense of refreshment.

He turned his head to look at his side. Misae Koyama was already awake and was sitting at the desk by the bed, holding a thick folder in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed, and she was muttering to herself, "Kumamon merchandise design" and "new project for the manga club."

"You're awake?" Misae turned around and smiled when she heard the noise, her eyes slightly bloodshot from staying up all night. "I thought you were going to sleep a little longer. There's some miso soup warming up in the pot, and your favorite natto rice. I'll go get you some."

Hiroshi Nohara reached out and pulled her close, gently ruffling her hair. "No rush, take a break first. Look at your dark circles, did you stay up all night revising the plan again last night?"

Misae stuck out her tongue and sat down on the edge of the bed. "No, it's just that some manga artists from Future Manga Club want to design a Kumamon collaboration manga for Doraemon and also want to develop related stickers. I need to help them organize their ideas. Also, my older sister Masae's engagement party is coming up soon, and Fujiwara Isshin-kun said that there are Kumamon-themed events in Kumamoto Prefecture recently, so I need to help Mom choose a wedding favor."

Looking at the "Kumamon merchandise sketches" spread out in her hand—there were stickers of Doraemon hugging Kumamon, and comic notebooks printed with Kumamon designs.

Hiroshi Nohara couldn't help but laugh: "Our Misae is getting more and more capable. But don't bother with all that today, I'll take you to Ginza for a nice meal, consider it a make-up day off."

Misae's eyes lit up instantly: "Really? It's about the manga club..."

"Let them discuss it among themselves first, and we'll decide when we get back." Hiroshi Nohara got out of bed, his tone gentle and unyielding. "You've been running around with me these past few days, you deserve a good day of relaxation."

After washing up and having breakfast, the two drove to Ginza. The streets of Ginza were particularly lively on the weekend, with ladies in elegant kimonos, office workers in suits, and students carrying backpacks strolling through the streets, and luxury goods displayed in shop windows complementing traditional handicrafts.

Hiroshi Nohara held Misae's hand and walked slowly along Chuo Avenue. The sunlight shone on the two of them, making them feel warm and cozy.

"Let's go to 'Ginza Sushi Sei' first. Their tuna belly sushi is especially fresh." Hiroshi Nohara pointed to the wooden storefront not far away, with red lanterns hanging at the entrance and the three large characters "Sushi Sei" written on them.

Upon entering the store, the chef was already waiting behind the counter, with fresh tuna, salmon, and Arctic surf clams neatly arranged on ice.

"Hiroshi-san, Misae-chan, long time no see!" The chef greeted with a smile, his sushi knife spinning rapidly in his hand. "The same as usual today: tuna belly sushi, sea urchin sushi, and an extra serving of tamagoyaki?"

"Another eel sushi!" Misae blurted out, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the ingredients in the chef's hands. "I had it once last time, and I'm still craving it!"

The chef smiled and nodded, and soon served the exquisite sushi.

The tuna belly sushi melted in her mouth, the sweetness of the sea urchin spread out in her mouth, the tamagoyaki had a light honey aroma, and the eel sushi's sauce was rich but not greasy. Misae ate with a satisfied look on her face, with a little sauce on the corner of her mouth. Hiroshi Nohara smiled and wiped it off for her with a tissue, his eyes full of doting affection.

After finishing their sushi, the two went to the "Ginza Baumkuchen Shop" on the street corner.

The freshly baked Baumkuchen exuded a buttery aroma. Thick slices were arranged on a paper plate, paired with a cup of hot matcha—sweet but not cloying. Misae took a bite, her eyes crinkling into crescents: "It's even better than the one I had in Osaka last time! Hiroshi-kun, how did you know about this place?"

“It was recommended by Sho-san Mizukami when we were filming ‘Midnight Diner’.” Hiroshi Nohara took a sip of matcha, his tone filled with reminiscence. “He said that the Baumkuchen at this shop uses an old recipe from the Showa era, and it tastes like it did when he was a child.”

The two chatted over their meal, discussing everything from Kumamon merchandise design to Masaya's engagement party, from the manga club's new project to the filming plans for "The Taste Across Mountains and Seas".

Sunlight streamed through the glass window, falling on Misae's smiling face. Hiroshi Nohara suddenly felt that this kind of ordinary daily life was more reassuring than any honor.

At 2 p.m., the two entered the Toho Cinema in Ginza, intending to watch the recently released movie "Tokyo Story".

The theater wasn't crowded, so they chose seats in the middle. As soon as they sat down, Misae excitedly took out the popcorn she had just bought: "I heard this movie is really touching, so I brought tissues. If I cry later, you can't laugh at me."

Hiroshi Nohara smiled and took the popcorn: "Okay, I won't laugh at you. But if I cry, you'll have to hand me a tissue."

After the movie started, the theater gradually quieted down.

In the black and white images, the street scenes of Tokyo slowly unfold, and the delicate emotional portrayal warms the heart.

Misae watched with great concentration, occasionally wiping away tears in secret, while Hiroshi Nohara watched and pondered the use of camera angles—the director's control of light and shadow and his capture of the characters' expressions were all worth learning from.

Just as the movie reached its climax, a sudden, urgent cell phone ring broke the silence of the theater.

Misae woke up with a start, frantically pulled out her phone, and saw the name "Future Manga Club - Nanako Sato" on the screen. Her expression changed instantly.

"Excuse me, Hiroshi-kun, I need to go outside to take this call." Misae lowered her voice, stood up apologetically, and quickly walked out of the screening room.

Hiroshi Nohara's heart skipped a beat; he had a vague sense of foreboding.

He stared at the entrance to the screening room, his fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of his clothes, unable to concentrate on the movie anymore.

About five minutes later, Misae rushed back, pale-faced, with red eyes and a trembling voice: "Hiroshi-kun, something bad has happened! A group of thugs came to the manga club... they said they wanted to collect 'protection money' and they smashed our easels! Nanako and the others are almost crying!"

Hiroshi Nohara stood up abruptly, his brows furrowing tightly, his eyes instantly turning serious: "Don't panic, call the police first. We'll be there now."

He pulled Misae along and quickly walked out of the cinema, not even bothering to finish watching the movie.

Once inside the car, Hiroshi Nohara quickly started the engine, the steering wheel turning nimbly in his hands. What would normally be a twenty-minute journey, he completed in just ten minutes, arriving at the office building where the Future Manga Company was located.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Misae eagerly pushed open the car door and ran into the office building.

Hiroshi Nohara followed closely behind, his mind filled with doubts—the Future Manga Club was hidden in the middle floor of an office building and rarely attracted attention, so how could it suddenly be targeted by a criminal gang?

Is someone deliberately targeting us?
The two quickly entered the elevator, Misae's hands still trembling: "When I left this morning, Nanako told me that I was going to finish the first draft of the Kumamon collaboration manga today. How could something like this suddenly happen..."

Hiroshi Nohara gently patted the back of her hand, his tone calm: "Don't worry, I'm here. Let's check the situation first. If the other party is still there, we'll wait for the police to handle it; if they've already left, we'll calm everyone down and fix the easel."

The elevator doors opened with a "ding," and the two quickly walked towards the comic book club.

Before they even reached the door, they could hear intermittent voices coming from inside. Misae's heart leaped into her throat, and she gripped Hiroshi Nohara's arm tightly. But when they reached the door and saw the scene inside, they were both stunned—

Several cartoonists from Future Comics Studio were bowing to a middle-aged man in a yellow suit and sunglasses, their faces showing no fear but rather gratitude.

The middle-aged man was slightly overweight, with a simple and honest smile on his face. He was scratching the back of his head and said somewhat embarrassedly, "No need to be so polite. I was just passing by and happened to see some people causing trouble, so I came over to ask."

"What... what's going on?" Misae's eyes widened as she turned to look at Hiroshi Nohara, full of confusion. "Weren't they saying there was a delinquent gang? Why is everyone still bowing to this person?"

Hiroshi Nohara looked at the middle-aged man in the yellow suit, a smile suddenly appearing on his lips. He pulled Misae in and said, "So it's Mr. Bunta Takakura. It's been a long time."

Upon hearing the voice, Takakura Bunta turned around and saw Nohara Hiroshi. He quickly took off his sunglasses, a look of surprise on his face, and strode forward, bowing respectfully: "Mr. Nohara Hiroshi, Ms. Misae, I didn't expect to meet you here!"

“Takakura Bunta?” Misae frowned, scrutinizing the man before her, then suddenly realized, “I remember now! Aren’t you the photographer from before? You even took a group photo for us last time! But Hiroshi-kun, why are you calling him ‘Mr. Headmaster’?”

Hiroshi Nohara explained with a smile: "Mr. Takakura used to be a photographer, but he always had a dream—to go back to his hometown and open a kindergarten and become its principal. We talked about it before, and he said that once he saved enough money, he would give up photography and focus on opening the kindergarten."

Misae covered her mouth in surprise: "So that's how it is! I thought you had long forgotten these little things, but I didn't expect you to remember them so clearly."

“How could I forget?” Hiroshi Nohara looked at Bunta Takakura, his tone filled with curiosity. “Mr. Takakura, what brings you here? Has your kindergarten opened?”

Takakura Bunta smiled broadly and nodded vigorously: "It's open! It's in Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture. We just enrolled more than twenty children last month, all of whom are from the neighborhood. I came to Tokyo this time to take some promotional photos for the kindergarten. I passed by this office building and saw a few thugs arguing outside, saying they wanted to collect protection money from 'Future Manga Company,' so I came in to take a look."

He paused, scratched his head, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Those people saw that I was dressed quite formally and thought I was the security captain of the office building. I told them, 'This is a proper office building, no trouble allowed,' and they ran away in a panic. I was about to leave, but these young girls insisted on thanking me and said they would draw promotional cartoons for my kindergarten. I couldn't refuse, so I stayed a little longer."

"So it was you who saved us!" Nanako Sato from the manga club said excitedly, still holding a sheet of drawing paper in her hand. "Mr. Takakura, we were almost scared to death just now. Those people not only wanted to collect protection money, but they also knocked over our easels. Luckily, you came in time! We just discussed it and decided to draw a set of 'Kumamon and Children' promotional manga for your kindergarten. We guarantee it will be adorable!"

Bunta Takakura quickly waved his hand: "No need, no need, it's nothing at all. I've read your comics, Doraemon is especially good, all the kids in our kindergarten love it. If you really want to draw it, I would be so grateful."

Looking at the scene before him, Hiroshi Nohara's tense nerves finally relaxed, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

He walked over to the overturned easel, bent down to pick it up, and carefully inspected it: "The easel is just tilted, not broken. It can be used again after some readjustment. I'm sorry for startling everyone. I'll treat everyone to barbecue tonight as an apology."

"Great! Thank you, Hiroshi-san!" The members of the manga club cheered immediately, their earlier fear completely gone.

When Misae heard Takakura Bunta mention the kindergarten children, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she quickly smiled and said, "Mr. Takakura, it's such a coincidence that the children like Kumamon! When I was helping the manga company connect with Kumamon merchandise manufacturers, I ordered an extra batch of mini Kumamon plush toys. I originally planned to keep them as wedding favors for Masae's engagement party, as well as Kumamon keychains! But now it seems more suitable for the children! Those plush toys are made of soft materials and have different expressions; the children will definitely love them!"

Upon hearing this, Takakura Bunta quickly waved his hands in front of him, his face full of flattery and surprise: "I can't accept this, Miss Misae! You've already given me a Kumamon keychain, and now you're giving the children a doll. I'm so grateful! When the children see such a cute doll, they'll definitely surround me and ask, 'Director, where did this come from?' I'll definitely tell them that it was a gift from the kind Miss Misae!"

"Don't be so polite!" Misae shook her head with a smile, her tone full of sincerity. "If it weren't for you today, everyone in the manga club would have suffered so much. What are these dolls? Making the children happy is more important than anything else. I'll have someone deliver the dolls to your kindergarten later. If that's not enough, I'll order another batch from the manufacturer. Consider it a small token of our appreciation for the children."

Takakura Bunta's eyes welled up with tears, and he bowed repeatedly: "Thank you, Miss Misae! Thank you, Mr. Nohara! I'm so lucky to have met such kind people like you. It's strange, really. I was wearing this suit when I told those thugs, 'Don't cause trouble here,' and they ran away in a panic. Maybe the security in Tokyo has really improved; even petty thugs are afraid of being arrested by the police."

Hiroshi Nohara, standing to the side, couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this, tapping his chin lightly with his fingers.

Looking at Takakura Bunta's sharp yellow suit and his eyes, which held a憨厚 (honest and simple) smile after he took off his sunglasses, a scene from an anime suddenly flashed through his mind—his future son Shin-chan, who always called Takakura Bunta "boss," and beneath Takakura Bunta's seemingly honest appearance lay an aura that even petty thugs feared.

He chuckled to himself: It's not that Tokyo is safe; it's just that you, the "future kindergarten principal," have such a powerful aura.

This yellow suit looks formal, and paired with your slightly chubby figure and unintentional serious expression, those thugs would definitely think you're a powerful underworld figure in the office building, and they wouldn't dare to linger.

However, this cannot be said to Takakura Bunta, otherwise he might scratch his head in confusion, "I have this ability?"

Misae, oblivious to Hiroshi Nohara's thoughts, was still chatting with Bunta Takakura about kindergarten: "Mr. Takakura, your kindergarten is in Kasukabe, right? When Hiroshi and I are free this weekend, we'll definitely bring our plush toys to visit the children and play Kumamon games with them. What do you think?"

Bunta Takakura nodded eagerly, his smile growing even brighter: "That's wonderful! I'm already looking forward to the weekend! I'm going to tell the kids in advance, 'Uncle and Auntie will be coming to play with you this weekend, and they'll be bringing Kumamon plushies too!' Let them look forward to it!"

Hiroshi Nohara's smile deepened as he watched the two chatting animatedly.

He thought that perhaps this was the most lovely thing about life—unintentional acts of kindness could connect so many warm connections, and the man whom his future son called "boss" was now protecting the people and things around him in his own way. This hidden "deterrent force" was more effective than any preaching.

Takakura Bunta was chatting with Misae about the details of the weekend kindergarten activities, while Sato Nanako from the manga club was drawing a draft of a promotional manga for the kindergarten for Takakura Bunta. Suddenly, a sharp police siren came from downstairs, getting closer and closer, and soon stopped at the entrance of the office building.

Everyone's hearts tightened. Misae instinctively grasped Hiroshi Nohara's hand, and Bunta Takakura also stopped talking, looking out the window in confusion: "Why are there police cars? Could it be that the delinquent gang from before has returned?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than hurried footsteps were heard in the corridor, accompanied by a knocking sound on the door.

Hiroshi Nohara stepped forward and opened the door. Four police officers in uniform stood at the entrance. The officer in charge, Hinatamoto, held a notebook in his hand and looked serious. "Hello, we received a report that there is a group of people gathering and causing trouble here. Who made the report? Where are the troublemakers?"

Hyuga's gaze swept across the room, and when he saw Takakura Bunta in a yellow suit, his eyes instantly sharpened. He reached for the walkie-talkie at his waist: "Sir, please show me your identification. A witness just said that suspicious people in yellow suits were gathered here and got into an argument with others. Is that you?"

Takakura Bunta was stunned and quickly waved his hand: "Officer, you've misunderstood! I'm not a suspicious person. I'm here on business. There were indeed some troublemakers earlier, but I've already chased them away. Now everyone is just chatting normally, there's no argument!"

"They're gone?" Hinata frowned, his tone skeptical. "You chased away the gang all by yourself? Witnesses said there were five or six of them, and they were carrying sticks. Are you sure you're not hiding anything?"

Misae quickly stepped forward to explain, "Officer, it's true! Mr. Takakura was just trying to help. Those thugs came to collect protection money and even knocked over our easels. It was Mr. Takakura who stood up and argued with them, and that's why they ran away. We didn't call the police. It's possible that people on other floors saw the disturbance and mistakenly called the police."

Hinata was still somewhat skeptical, and turned to look at Hiroshi Nohara: "Sir, can you prove that what she said is true?"

Hiroshi Nohara nodded, pointing to the easels that had been righted on the ground: "Officer, you see, those easels still have slight scratches, from when the thugs knocked them over. Members of our manga club can all testify that Mr. Takakura not only didn't cause trouble, but was also our benefactor. If you don't believe me, you can come with us to check the office building's surveillance footage; it clearly shows what happened."

The members of the manga club chimed in, "Yes, officer, Mr. Takakura is a good person!"

"We can all testify that it was a thug who started the trouble!"

"The surveillance cameras must have captured it; you should check the footage!"

Seeing the sincerity in everyone's tone, and glancing at the easel on the ground, Hyuga's expression softened. He spoke a few words into the walkie-talkie, instructing his colleague to retrieve the surveillance footage. A short while later, his colleague's voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Officer Hyuga, the surveillance footage shows that five or six suspicious individuals did indeed cause trouble, knocking over the easel. A man in a yellow suit intervened, and the group fled. There was no conflict; it was a false alarm."

Hinata breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to Takakura Bunta in apology: "I'm so sorry, Mr. Takakura, we misunderstood you. Please forgive us."

Takakura Bunta quickly waved his hand: "It's alright, it's alright. The police officer was just doing it for everyone's safety. I understand."

Just then, the young policeman next to Hyuga suddenly stared at Hiroshi Nohara, his eyes widening, and asked excitedly, "You...you are Mr. Hiroshi Nohara? The director of 'Yamishibai,' 'Seven Samurai,' and 'Neon Flavors'?"

Hiroshi Nohara paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded: "I'm Hiroshi Nohara, do you know me?"

"Of course I know you!" Kobayashi Izumi's voice trembled with excitement as he quickly pulled a notebook from his pocket. "Mr. Nohara, I'm a big fan of yours! I especially love your 'Midnight Diner,' I cry buckets every time I watch it, and the 'Ghost in the Rain' segment of 'Tales of the Unusual,' the sound effects and camera work are absolutely amazing! Could you please sign your autograph?"

Hinata Honya also realized what was happening and looked at Hiroshi Nohara with a surprised expression: "So you are Mr. Hiroshi Nohara! My daughter loves watching your show 'Super Transformation,' and she tells me every day, 'Dad, let's go participate in Super Transformation!' I never expected to meet you in person today!"

The other two police officers also gathered around, saying they were fans of Hiroshi Nohara: "Mr. Nohara, I love your film 'Seven Samurai,' the scenes of farmers fighting against the bullies are so exciting!" "I love 'A Bite of Japan,' after watching it I went to Ibaraki to eat natto and to Osaka to eat teppanyaki, the food was really delicious!"

Hiroshi Nohara was surprised to meet his fans here. He smiled and accepted Kobayashi Izumi's notebook, signing his name: "Thank you for liking my work. I'm happy that it brings you joy."

Just as the police officers were signing autographs for Hiroshi Nohara, other young people in the office building heard the commotion and rushed over as well.

A boy wearing a hoodie squeezed in, saw Hiroshi Nohara, and excitedly shouted, "Mr. Nohara! What are you doing here? Is this the Mirai Manga Studio? Is this the place where 'Doraemon,' 'Midnight Diner,' 'Kumamon,' and 'Yu Yu Hakusho' were created?"

Hiroshi Nohara smiled and nodded: "This is the Future Manga Studio. The Kumamon collaboration manga of Doraemon and the derivative short stories of Yu Yu Hakusho were created here. Some of the inspiration for Midnight Diner also came from our daily life here."

"Great!"

The boy jumped up excitedly, "Mr. Nohara, I'm a reader of your manga! I especially love your 'Yu Yu Hakusho,' Yusuke Urameshi's passion and Kurama's gentleness are just so endearing! And the 'Doraemon' collaboration manga with Kumamon, I've already bought three sets, one for myself and two to give to friends!"

Another girl squeezed over and said, "Mr. Nohara, I love your 'Midnight Diner' manga. Every story is so heartwarming. Last time I had a fight with my mom, I read the story of 'the owner cooking ramen for a lonely old man,' and I apologized to her. Your manga always teaches us a lot of lessons."

More and more young people gathered around, crowding around Hiroshi Nohara and the manga club. Everyone took out their phones, wanting to take photos with Hiroshi Nohara, and some even took out manga books to get his autograph.

"Mr. Nohara, can I take a picture with you? I want to post it on my WeChat Moments so all my friends will be envious!"

"Mr. Nohara, I love the Kumamon manga the most. Could you please sign my manga?"

"Mr. Nohara, will you be creating new manga? I'm really looking forward to it!"

Hiroshi Nohara patiently took photos and signed autographs with everyone, and answered their questions with a smile: "I will be collaborating with Mirai Manga to create a manga version of 'The Taste Across Mountains and Seas,' which will depict the stories I encountered while filming the documentary. It should be available to everyone soon."

"Great! I'll definitely go buy it!"

"Mr. Nohara, may I make an appointment in advance?"

"I want to buy several more copies to give to my family and friends!"

Looking at the lively scene before him, Hinata smiled and said to his colleague, "I never expected Mr. Nohara to be so popular. His works are not only entertaining, but they also convey warmth and positive energy. No wonder he has so many fans."

As Kobayashi watched Hiroshi Nohara interact with fans, he remarked, "Yes, Mr. Nohara is not only incredibly talented but also remarkably approachable, without any airs of a big director. I must learn from him in the future, do my job well, and protect everyone's safety."

Takakura Bunta stood to the side, watching Nohara Hiroshi surrounded by fans, a gratified smile on his face.

Misae walked up to him and said with a smile, "Mr. Takakura, you see, that's just how Hiroshi is. Whether he's making movies, documentaries, or creating comics, he always gets a lot of fans."

Bunta Takakura nodded: "Mr. Nohara is a talented and warm-hearted person. He deserves to be liked by so many people. In the future, if my kindergarten has any cultural activities, I will definitely invite Mr. Nohara to tell stories to the children so that they can also experience the charm of art."

After a long time, the fans gradually dispersed. Hiroshi Nohara saw off the last group of fans, breathed a sigh of relief, and said to everyone with a smile, "I didn't expect it to be so lively today. Fortunately, it didn't affect anyone."

Hyuga stepped forward and handed Hiroshi Nohara a business card: "Mr. Nohara, this is my business card. If you encounter any trouble in the future, please feel free to contact me. It is my honor to meet you."

Hiroshi Nohara took the business card and said with a smile, "Thank you, Officer Sato. I'll contact you if I need anything in the future."

After the police left, the members of the manga club gathered around, excitedly discussing the scene: "That was so exciting! The police actually misunderstood Mr. Takakura, thankfully they cleared it up!"

"I didn't expect Mr. Nohara to be so popular. So many people are his fans!"

"Our manga club will definitely become more and more popular in the future, and maybe we can even make a movie with Mr. Nohara!"

Looking at everyone's excited expressions, and then at Misae and Bunta Takakura beside him, Hiroshi Nohara smiled warmly.

Today's unexpected mix-up not only introduced everyone to the kind-hearted Bunta Takakura, but also allowed him to experience the enthusiasm of his fans.

……

After the fans and police gradually dispersed, the room in the comic book club finally returned to some peace.

As Nanako Sato tidied up the scattered sketches, she was still savoring the excitement from earlier: "So many people were surrounding Mr. Nohara asking for autographs, I could barely squeeze in, it felt like a celebrity meet-and-greet!"

Hiroshi Nohara smiled upon hearing this and looked at everyone present: "Thanks to everyone for helping to clear up the misunderstanding today, and for giving you all a fright, I'll treat you all to yakiniku (grilled meat) in Ginza tonight as an apology and a celebration, how about it?"

"Barbecue?!" The eyes of the young people in the manga club lit up instantly, and Nanako Sato clapped her hands excitedly: "Great! I've heard that the 'Kuroge Wagyu Barbecue Restaurant' in Ginza is really famous, but I've never been able to bring myself to go. I never thought I'd be able to go with Mr. Nohara today!"

Misae smiled and chimed in, "I've also heard that the Wagyu beef at that restaurant melts in your mouth. It's perfect timing since we don't have to work today, let's relax a bit."

Hiroshi Nohara turned to look at Bunta Takakura, who was standing to the side looking a little awkward, and said in a gentle tone, "Mr. Takakura, you've helped us so much today, why don't you come along? You can tell us about the fun things that happened in kindergarten, and let us share in the children's joy."

Takakura Bunta was stunned, his fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of his clothes, his face full of flattery and surprise: "I...can I go too? Mr. Nohara, you are a great director, surrounded by teachers and friends from the manga club, and I am just a small photographer, and now I am just the principal of a small kindergarten. Wouldn't that be too much of a disturbance?"

“Mr. Takakura, please don’t say that.” Hiroshi Nohara stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, his tone sincere. “If it weren’t for you today, the manga club’s troubles wouldn’t have been resolved so easily. Besides, friends don’t distinguish between statuses. We are even happier that you came.”

Misae stepped forward and added with a smile, "Mr. Takakura, please don't be so polite. You can tell us about the kindergarten children. I'd like to learn more about them so that I can design Kumamon merchandise that better suits their tastes in the future."

Looking into Hiroshi Nohara and Misae's sincere eyes, Bunta Takakura felt a warmth in his heart. His previous awkwardness gradually dissipated, replaced by a deep sense of gratitude.

He never imagined that a renowned director like Hiroshi Nohara would show him, a former photographer and now a kindergarten principal, such respect and without any airs.

He nodded vigorously: "Then...then I shall accept your kind offer! Thank you, Mr. Nohara, and thank you, Ms. Misae!"

After everyone had settled in, they headed together to the "Kuroge Wagyu Yakiniku Restaurant" in Ginza.

The shop is tucked away in a quiet alley. Warm yellow lanterns hang on the wooden facade. As soon as you push the door open, the rich aroma of roasted meat wafts over you.

The interior is decorated in a simple and cozy style, with soft cushions on the tatami seats and retro barbecue tools hanging on the walls.

Upon seeing Hiroshi Nohara and his group, the shop assistant immediately greeted them warmly: "Mr. Nohara, it's been a long time! Still at your usual spot?"

Hiroshi Nohara smiled and nodded: "That's right, it's still the large private room by the window. There will be a lot of people today, so please prepare more charcoal and tableware."

"Alright! Don't worry, we'll arrange it for you right away!" The waiter quickly led everyone to the private room and specifically instructed the kitchen staff: "Prepare the best A5 Wagyu beef, beef tongue, and diaphragm. Mr. Nohara's friend has arrived!"

After everyone was seated, Hiroshi Nohara picked up the menu and handed it directly to Nanako Sato next to him: "Nanako, you're young and your tastes are similar to everyone else's. You order first. Order whatever you want, don't be shy."

Nanako Sato took the menu and stared wide-eyed at the dazzling array of dishes: "A5 Wagyu beef, thick-cut beef tongue, short ribs, diaphragm... I want to eat so much! Mr. Nohara, can we really order whatever we want? The A5 Wagyu beef at this restaurant is really expensive!"

Hiroshi Nohara smiled and waved his hand: "Don't worry, I'll cover all the expenses today. I'm much better off than before, and making everyone happy is more important than anything else."

Hearing this, Takakura Bunta felt even more moved.

He had heard before that Hiroshi Nohara had made a lot of money with his many excellent works. Now, seeing him so generous yet unassuming, and always considerate of the feelings of those around him, he felt even more that Hiroshi Nohara was not only talented but also had a rare character.

Soon, the shop assistant came in carrying a tray full of meat.

The bright red A5 Wagyu beef still has marbling, the thick-cut beef tongue gleams with a fresh sheen, and the diaphragm is garnished with emerald green scallions.

Hiroshi Nohara picked up the tongs and skillfully placed the Wagyu beef on the grill. The charcoal fire sizzled instantly, the fat slowly seeped out, and the aroma became increasingly rich.

"Everyone, please don't be shy, eat up! The freshly grilled Wagyu is the most tender." Hiroshi Nohara handed the first piece of grilled Wagyu to Bunta Takakura. "Mr. Takakura, please try it first. The Wagyu at this restaurant is absolutely top-notch."

Takakura Bunta took the beef with both hands, carefully put it in his mouth, and was instantly captivated by its tenderness. He couldn't help but exclaim, "It's so delicious! It melts in your mouth and has a subtle milky aroma. I've never eaten such delicious beef before!"

The young people in the manga club were having a great time eating. Sato Nanako held a beef tongue in one hand and a can of cola in the other, mumbling, "This beef tongue is so chewy! Dipping it in sea salt, it's so delicious it's melting my tongue! Mr. Nohara, you should eat too, don't just keep grilling for us!"

Misae thoughtfully handed Hiroshi Nohara a tissue, smiling and saying, "You should eat more too. You must be tired from running around all day."

Hiroshi Nohara took the tissue, wiped the grease off his hands, and looked at the lively scene before him, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart.

While grilling meat for everyone, he listened to Takakura Bunta tell funny stories about kindergarten: "There was a kid in our kindergarten named Kotaro who really liked Kumamon. He would bring a Kumamon plushie to school every day and said he wanted to be Kumamon's best friend. He was so cute!"

“Then we’ll deliver the doll over this weekend, and Kotaro will definitely be very happy!” Misae said with a smile, and she also made a promise with Bunta Takakura to visit the children at the kindergarten together this weekend.

The members of the manga club chatted amongst themselves, discussing everything from manga creation to Hiroshi Nohara's works, from future plans to interesting anecdotes in their lives.

Nanako Sato excitedly told Bunta Takakura, "Mr. Takakura, once we finish drawing the promotional comics for the kindergarten, we'll definitely send them to you as soon as possible. We guarantee the children will love them!"

Bunta Takakura quickly expressed his gratitude: "Thank you so much! With your comics, the children will definitely like kindergarten even more. I'm already looking forward to it!"

Before we knew it, the meat on the table had been replaced several times, and everyone's stomachs were bulging.

Nanako Sato slumped onto the mat, rubbing her stomach: "I've never eaten so much before, I feel like I can't even walk! Mr. Nohara, thank you so much for today, not only for treating us to such delicious barbecue, but also for making us feel so warm."

Other members of the manga club chimed in, "Yes, Mr. Nohara, today was such a happy day!"

"We will definitely work hard to create better works in the future and live up to your expectations!"

Takakura Bunta also stood up and bowed deeply to Nohara Hiroshi: "Mr. Nohara, thank you so much for today. Not only did you treat me to such delicious barbecue, but you also treated me with such respect. If you ever need any help in the future, whether it's filming promotional material for the kindergarten or anything else, just let me know and I will do my best to help!"

Hiroshi Nohara quickly helped him up: "Mr. Takakura, you're too kind. It's only right for friends to help each other. We should keep in touch and exchange ideas more often in the future."

The dinner party lasted until late at night before everyone reluctantly said goodbye. Hiroshi Nohara drove Misae home, and on the way, Misae leaned on his shoulder and said with a smile, "I had a really great time today. Seeing everyone enjoying the meal made me feel especially satisfied."

Hiroshi Nohara held her hand and said gently, "As long as you're happy and everyone is happy, I'm satisfied. We should organize more gatherings like this in the future so that everyone can get together more often."

The car slowly drove through the night in Ginza, the streetlights shining through the windows onto the two of them, creating a warm and beautiful scene.

Looking at Misae sleeping soundly beside him, Hiroshi Nohara thought to himself that he not only had success in his career, but also had these sincere friends and loved ones by his side. This kind of life was the most precious happiness.

(End of this chapter)