I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 36 Suzuki Seito's Determination

Sunday night faded quietly, and the morning light of a new week poured into the headquarters building of Tokyo TV Production Bureau like diluted lemonade.

An invisible atmosphere permeates the air.

When employees meet in the corridor, their eyes no longer exchange formal nods, but instead become more searching and speculative, as if a shared, unspoken secret hangs in the air.

The final ratings of "An Zhi Ju"!

Now, the ratings for a show that has been setting records even during what could be described as garbage time are soaring.

Even on Saturday, the 4.22% viewership rating was almost catching up with the ratings of some less popular time periods during the day!

Who wouldn't be surprised and curious?

So, when the report card for the seventh episode "Contradiction" was brought back to Suzuki's classroom by Hashimoto Ichirō in an almost sleepwalking manner, printed on that thin piece of paper was a number that was enough to make all late-night program producers question their lives - 4.89%.

We are only one step away from the mythical threshold of 5%!
The office was no longer as bustling as it had been in the past few days. Everyone seemed to have been repeatedly washed away by a huge sense of happiness and entered a strange sage time.

I just looked at the report, looking at it as if it were a work of art, and looking forward to a bright future.

My mind is completely blank.

I do not know what to say.

Because this 4.89%, which was only 0.11% away from breaking the 5% viewership rating, can be said to have completely swept away all doubts.

You have to know that this rating almost broke 5%.

Even some small programs during prime time.

That’s about the same result!

What Anzhiju broadcasts is the worst and most rubbish early morning program since the advent of television programs!

And this is such an achievement.

And it still has such ratings.

It can even be said that this is a viewership ratings result that they could not have imagined, nor dared to imagine, at the beginning of the planning of "An Zhi Ju"!
"call--"

Suzuki Seito did not join the young people's celebration. Under the gaze of everyone, he just straightened his suit which had not been ironed for a long time, then let out a sigh and walked alone to the end of the corridor which he once thought was extremely long but now seemed just around the corner.

Took the elevator to the top floor.

The office of Deputy Director Ming Rihai.

The door is open.

The secretary at the door respectfully invited Suzuki Seito to come in.

Then Suzuki Seito saw the sunlight slanting in from the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, making the tiny dust particles in the air look as beautiful as the golden sand of heaven.

He also saw Deputy Director Ming Rihai sitting on the sofa.

"Deputy Director!" Suzuki Seito walked over and bowed.

"Ah."

Asumi had a broad chin and a square face, appearing quite solemn. But at this moment, he was sitting on the sofa, holding a cup of tea. Seeing Suzuki Seito come in, he smiled brightly, pointed to the seat opposite, and said, "Sit down, Seito."

His voice was gentle, yet it carried the calmness of someone who had been in a high position for a long time and could not tolerate any interference.

Suzuki Seito sat down in front of him, his posture respectful, his back straight. He knew that from today on, he had the qualifications and the confidence to sit up straighter in front of his former benefactor and current direct supervisor.

"You did a great job with 'Anzhiju'," Asumi put down his teacup and said straight to the point, "The entire production department—no, I'm afraid the entire Tokyo television industry—hasn't seen such a grand occasion in years. You've earned back a huge amount of respect for us, those of us who came from Kanto TV."

"I don't deserve it." Suzuki Seito's voice was filled with a hint of uncontrollable excitement: "This is all... Nohara-kun's credit."

Without the slightest hesitation, he told him how Nohara Hiroshi came to him with the drawings, how he came up with that amazing "slideshow" idea, how he stabilized the morale of the team when the ratings were at their lowest, and how he came up with all the subsequent high-quality drawings as if inspired by God within just one week. He told him everything, no matter how big or small.

He spoke calmly, as if stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.

But the admiration and gratitude that came from the heart for a young man could not be concealed.

Asumi listened quietly, a deep interest gradually rising in his deep, ancient eyes. He had learned about Hiroshi Nohara when they had dinner together before.

I thought this was just the result of Suzuki Seito being suppressed for many years, coupled with the young man's creative ideas, and then a burst of energy.

But I never thought that there was such a young man who was almost a demon hidden behind this.

"You mean?" Asumi's knuckles tapped lightly on the armrest of the sofa, making a rhythmic sound. "The real general in this battle is that intern named Nohara Hiroshi?"

"Yes." Suzuki Seito nodded without hesitation: "I'm just a lucky veteran who was chosen by him."

This sentence has clearly stated the primary and secondary positions of both parties.

Upon hearing this, Ming Hai couldn't help but laugh. That smile was filled with amusement and confusion. "Qingdou, you don't seem like someone who would give away the credit that's within his grasp. Are you saying this to pave the way for him?"

Suzuki Seito met Asumi's gaze, and a calm, even self-deprecating smile appeared on his old face, which was carved with countless wrinkles by the years.

"Deputy Director, you are forty-five this year, in the prime of your life. And I am already fifty-three."

He spoke slowly, his voice filled with the calmness of someone who had seen through the world: "A second-level director position may be the top of my mountain. I don't have the ambition or energy to strive for anything higher. I think in a few years, maybe it's time to consider retirement, go home to plant flowers, and spend time with my grandchildren."

He paused, a sincere light flashing in his eyes:
"But that young man is different. I can sense that his mountain is not just any mountain, but Mount Fuji, Mount Everest. My small contribution is worth it to serve as a stepping stone for him to climb."

The office became quiet, with only the sunlight moving quietly.

After a long time, Ming Hai laughed again. He shook his head, and the appreciation in his smile became even stronger.

"Qingdou, Qingdou, you're still the same. You seem stubborn, but you're actually more insightful than anyone else." He picked up his teacup and gestured, "Don't rush to talk about retirement. The war has just begun."

He gently pushed a document in front of Suzuki Seito.

"That old fox Takada won't just give up. His show 'Kimi no Sasuke' is going to air tonight, and I heard he's mobilizing all his resources to crush us in the ratings."

Suzuki Seito's expression grew serious.

"But that's just a minor incident." A meaningful smile appeared on Asumi's lips. "The station's management is currently evaluating an S-ranked project, also based on horror, but it's a live-action drama. The budget, publicity, and broadcast time are all top-tier resources at the station."

His eyes, like a sharp knife, stared straight at Suzuki Seito.

"Originally, this project had almost been handed over to Iwata by Takata. But now, with the emergence of 'An Shiba-ju', things have changed. More than one director in the upper echelons has shown great interest in your 'urban tale' model."

Suzuki Seito's breathing suddenly became rapid.

"Deputy Director, what do you mean..."

"What I mean is..." Asumi's eyes grew sharp. "I want you and your talented intern to work harder. Use the results of the second week of 'Anzhiju' to tell everyone that your success is not accidental, but inevitable. Then, use this achievement to snatch that S-level project from Takata!"

boom!
It was as if something exploded in Suzuki Seito's mind.

He looked at Asumi's eyes that were burning with flames, and felt that his heart as a creator, which had been dormant for many years, was rekindled at this moment.

He stood up suddenly and bowed deeply to Asumi.

"Hi!"

……

When Suzuki Seito returned to the small office with the smoke of gunpowder and fighting spirit still on his body, he did not call everyone together.

Instead, he walked straight to the corner and came in front of the young man who was still quietly drawing something.

He also conveyed Asumi's words to Nohara Hiroshi exactly as they were.

He thought he would see the familiar confident smile on the young man's face.

However, Nohara Hiroshi simply put down the pen in his hand, raised his head, and for the first time, a sharp light like a sword drawn from its sheath flashed in his eyes, which had always been as calm as an ancient well.

"S-rank project? A real-life horror drama?"

He whispered, his voice filled with a hint of pleasure at finally being able to let go.

"interesting."

(End of this chapter)