I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 54 Hashijita's Decision
The banquet was over and it was already late at night.

The cool night breeze blew on my face, bringing with it a hint of drunkenness.

Suzuki Seito and Hashiji Ichiro walked side by side, and the dim street lights made their shadows thin and long.

"Let's take a break under the bridge."

Suzuki Seito stopped and sat down on a bench by the roadside. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, handed one to Hashijitaro, lit one himself, and took a deep breath. His voice seemed a little erratic in the smoke: "Would you... like to go to Kantodai with me?"

This was the last arrangement he, as his old superior, could make for this confidant who had followed him for more than ten years.

Hashijitaro didn't answer immediately. He just smoked silently, the scarlet flame flickering on his face.

After a long moment, he finally put out his cigarette on a roadside trash can and said in a dull, almost stubborn voice, "Section Chief, I want to...stay."

"I still want to get that third-level director position with my own work."

Suzuki Seito sighed deeply upon hearing this.

He knew the temper of his subordinate and the pride in his heart.

"Alright."

He patted Hashijitaro's shoulder, his tone lamenting, "Your application for promotion this year failed. You'll have to wait until next year if you want to be evaluated again. I originally wanted you to join Nohara-kun's production team first and be in charge of the executive work for the third season of 'Anshiji Residence'. That way, your resume would look much better. However, since you have your own plans, I won't force you."

He thought that Hashijitaro was just too embarrassed to serve as an assistant to a junior who was ten years younger than him.

He didn't see that when he said the words "Nohara-kun's production team", a trace of painful humiliation and the extremely suppressed, almost twisted jealousy flashed in Hashiji Ichirō's eyes hidden in the shadows.

"Yeah." Hashijitachi just responded in a muffled voice, as if the sound was squeezed out from his throat.

"I...have my own plans."

And in his heart, he also thought of the person he met with Iwata Masao this morning, who was of the same rank as Deputy Director Asumi, and even had a higher status and power... Takada Toshihide.

At this moment, Hashijitaro's eyes flickered, and when he glanced at Suzuki Seito who was still smoking a cigarette, a trace of guilt emerged in his heart.

But I thought of how Seito Suzuki praised Hiroshi Nohara in front of Deputy Director Asumi.

He didn't even praise himself.

The trace of guilt in Hashijitaro's eyes disappeared, and instead became extremely solemn, with a hint of pride in the depths of his eyes.

"There's no such thing as 'An Zhi Ju Season 3'." He sneered in his heart. Thinking that Nohara Hiroshi could actually sit next to Deputy Director Asumi and be praised as the rising star of the Kanto faction, he sneered even more. "After all, Deputy Director Takata is personally planning to take over the third season of An Zhi Ju and has partnered me with Masao Iwata!"

……

The night wind, with a hint of wine and a slight chill, blew across the tireless neon signs on the streets of Tokyo, cutting the light and shadow into pieces, and then piecing them together again on the cold asphalt road to form a series of glittering Ukiyo-e paintings.

Hashijitaro took Suzuki Seito to the downstairs of the apartment building.

Looking at the back of the senior who was once as reliable as a mountain, now staggering due to alcohol and joy, his expression was extremely complicated.

Because he has made his decision.

The respect and concern that had been reserved for a junior all night was now rapidly and silently fading from his face, like the receding tide, leaving only numbness.

He did not leave immediately, but stood under the dim street light and lit a cigarette.

The scarlet flames flickered on his face, and the curling green smoke was like his chaotic mood at the moment, which could not find a place to rest.

He didn't know how long he stood there, until the cigarette between his fingers burned out and the scorching temperature stung his skin. He woke up as if from a dream, threw the cigarette butt into the trash can on the side of the road, turned around, and prepared to immerse himself in the night that belonged to him.

‘Dang! ’

However, just as he turned the corner, a dazzling headlight flashed like two sharp blades drawn from their sheaths, cutting off the darkness and retreat in front of him without any warning.

A black Toyota Century, like a giant beast lurking in the dark night, slid silently in front of him.

The car window slowly rolled down, revealing Iwata Masao's face, which was always filled with sarcasm and shrewd calculations.

He didn't get out of the car, but just leaned back in the driver's seat.

With one hand on the steering wheel, he looked at Hashishita Ichiro, whose face looked a little grim under the light, with a playful look like a cat playing with a mouse.

"Hey, isn't this Hashimoto-kun?"

Iwata Masao's voice was tinged with sarcasm. "How loyal! Even at this hour, he's still willing to personally escort that old Suzuki home. Are you worried he'll get drunk and accidentally drop his meager copy of his achievements down the drain?"

Hashijitaro's lips were pressed into a stiff line. He didn't say anything, but his clenched fists revealed the turmoil in his heart.

He looked at Iwata Masao's face full of complacency, and at the luxury car that still displayed power and status in the middle of the night. The sting of being humiliated in public and the jealousy that had been lurking in his heart for a long time were like two intertwined poisonous vines, strangling his heart.

"After all...Section Chief Suzuki has taken care of me before."

He squeezed out this explanation from between his teeth, which even he felt was pale and powerless.

"Huh? What are you talking about, Hashimoto-kun! Did he take care of you in the past? Look at Hiroshi Nohara now. He has just joined Tokyo TV and has been promoted to a level 4 director within a month, the same level as you! You said that old guy Seito Suzuki took good care of you in the past!?" Upon hearing this, Masao Iwata sneered undisguisedly as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

But his laughter was interrupted the next moment by a calmer and colder voice.

"boarding."

The back seat window had been lowered at some point.

In the shadows, a square face slowly emerged. It was not a face that could be described as handsome or ugly. On that face, there was a kind of depth and oppression unique to those who had been in a superior position for a long time.

It's Takada Toshihide.

"Deputy Director Takada!" Hashijitaro's heart suddenly sank. He stood up straight, bowed, and used the honorific title with his head down: "I didn't expect you to be here too."

He looked at the pair of eyes that were still as sharp as an eagle in the darkness, and felt that all his disguises and struggles seemed so ridiculous and so exposed under that gaze.

He had no choice and could not choose.

I could only open the car door and sit in this cage like a sentenced prisoner.

(End of this chapter)