"I'm in Tokyo, and this is some kind of movie star comeback system?!"

Chapter 23 Head-to-Head

"I've already filtered them for you."

The four sat around the table, and Watanabe picked up the materials and explained them to Sakamoto:

"You're still on the rise. Once the next two dramas air, you'll definitely have to change your endorsement."

Watanabe Mayumi produced the merchant's information.

"I recommend you choose one with high national recognition. It won't affect your positioning, and you can change it later."

"Sapporo beer, Sharp pagers, Yoshinoya TVs are all gone."

She pointed to three offers from GG, "All three have asked me. If my schedule allows, I can accept them all. But I can only choose one as my main offer. It's up to you."

"This is your brokerage contract."

"The term is three years, and the profit split is 30/70, you get 70%, I get 30%."

Sakamoto Yu expressed his satisfaction with this.

Watanabe saw potential in Sakamoto-ya, which is why he set the price at 30/70.

Like Tanabe Nene, her commission is split 20/80, with the agency taking 80%.

This profit-sharing ratio made Tanabe Nene very envious.

All she does now is take photos of posters and wait for audition opportunities.

Sakamoto Yu picked up the contract and carefully examined it.

He looked at it very carefully.

Watanabe Mayumi didn't urge him; she picked up her teacup and drank some water.

Kudo Shizuka and Tanabe Nene looked at Sakamoto Yu's GG with envy.

The pager alone cost 80 yen.

If you accept all three, you'll earn a whopping 150 million yen in GG income.

For Shizuka Kudo and Nene Tanabe, two entertainers without stable incomes, this was something they wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Kudo Shizuka couldn't help but look at the man calmly flipping through the contract.

She has never had a direct understanding of Sakamoto Yu's career.

I just thought that he had succeeded in playing a supporting role, and that more people around him liked him.

Unexpectedly, he has already started accepting roles in GG films and has even passed two auditions.

I heard that one of them is a Taiga drama.

That's NHK's flagship program; its viewership ratings are always high after it airs.

Perhaps before long, she will only be able to look up to him.

"No! I need to work even harder, otherwise how can I stand next to him?"

Shizuka Kudo was provoked, and the seed of ambition was planted in her heart.

Tanabe Nene stared blankly at the scene.

Her outstanding looks and soaring career naturally aroused her longing, and a secret attraction quietly began to spread in her heart.

She felt a sense of disorientation as she watched him rise from nothing to become a towering figure. His dazzling brilliance stirred up her admiration and longing for the strong.

The two women's eyes were fixed on him without their consent.

Even Watanabe was satisfied with Sakamoto Yu's rising momentum.

Most importantly, it was his own ambition.

Although it doesn't often show, she can sense the restless desire within her that makes her uneasy about the status quo.

As Sakamoto Yu was looking at the contract, he suddenly sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

As soon as I looked up, I noticed three pairs of eyes on me.

The three noticed that Sakamoto Yu had looked up, and they were all startled, quickly looking away.

"Well, I'll go prepare the ingredients."

Ningning stood up somewhat awkwardly, her voice weak. Before Sakamoto Yu could react, she had already strode towards the kitchen.

Shizuka Kudo was still immersed in that subtle atmosphere.

Seeing Ningning make a move, she paused for a moment, then quickly followed.

In her view, this was her home turf, so how could she let outsiders perform?

"Let me help too."

Kudo Shizuka took the apron from Tanabe Nene.

"No need, I can handle it myself. I've worked in the kitchen before, I can manage."

Not to be outdone, Shizuka Kudo rushed to the kitchen door first:

"My family owns a shop, so of course I should handle this. You can just help me out."

Upon hearing this, Sakamoto Yu glanced around casually, then got up and went into the kitchen.

He stepped between the two women.

"You run the restaurant in the Kudo family, so you'll be in charge of the kitchen; Tanabe-san is good with his hands, so you'll be in charge of picking vegetables and preparing ingredients. Let's divide the work quickly and avoid everyone crowding together and bumping into each other."

As he spoke, he extended two fingers and tapped the two women's foreheads with his knuckles, neither too hard nor too soft.

This caused them to let out a cry of pain.

"Behave yourself, stop fooling around."

Kudo Shizuka blushed and playfully slapped Sakamoto Yu's hand away, "Shut up! Why are you lecturing me like this?"

Nene Tanabe lowered her head somewhat fearfully.

"Sakamoto-kun, you're so fierce~"

After calming the two women down, Sakamoto Yu returned to his original spot.

I glanced at Watanabe casually and noticed a hint of mockery in her eyes, as if to say, "So you had this kind of trick up your sleeve."

Sakamoto Yu gave a soft hum, revealing a smug look that said, "It's alright, I guess."

After a while.

Sakamoto Yu put down his pen and pushed the signed contract to Watanabe Mayumi.

Watanabe Mayumi glanced at the autograph, then put it in her bag: "From now on, we're on the same side."

Please take care of me.

"These three guys are all great. Help me schedule my time and I'll take on as many as I can."

He is still short of money.

Moreover, the economic bubble was at its peak, and he needed as much capital as possible to leverage it down in 1989.

Having lived two lives, it is important to stay true to your original aspirations.

Watanabe nodded upon hearing this and began organizing the contract documents.

Without delay, she immediately began working.

"May I borrow your landline?"

Sakamoto Yu reached out his hand, making a "do as you please" gesture.

He then glanced around the kitchen. The two women had a clear division of labor, although the atmosphere was always competitive. One of them was quick to pick vegetables, and the other was quick to wash them.

Overall, it's alright, no major problems.

He nodded to himself, sat down on the sofa, picked up the script, and continued reading.

Ningning has excellent knife skills; she cuts quickly and evenly.

Kudo picked up a shiitake mushroom and began carving flowers.

It's also beautifully carved.

The two were busy with their own work, gradually becoming focused, and neither of them spoke.

The only sound in the kitchen was the chopping of vegetables.

Before long, Kudo and Nene had prepared all the ingredients.

The shiitake mushrooms were carved with flowers, the scallions were cut into sections, the tofu was cut into cubes, and the beef was arranged neatly.

The pot was placed on the portable gas stove, bubbling and steaming.

The four people sat around a pot, where beef, tofu, and vegetables simmered, filling the entire living room with their aroma.

"Cheers!"

"Alas!"

The four cups clinked together.

The four chatted and ate, with Sakamoto Yu keeping a close eye on everything around him, picking up food here and refilling drinks there.

Occasionally, I'll share some interesting stories from filming.

He made the two women smile from ear to ear.

While telling stories, we must not forget to take care of everyone's experience.

Emotional value at its peak!

Soon it got dark, and everyone had eaten and drunk their fill.

It's time to say goodbye.

Watanabe Mayumi and Nene changed their shoes at the door.

"Sorry to bother you today." Ningning glanced back into the room.

"Come again when you have time." Sakamoto Yu stood at the door to see them off.

Ningning looked at him, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something.

Finally, he just smiled and said, "Goodnight."

"Good night."

The door closed.

Sakamoto Yu returned to the living room, where Kudo was clearing away the dishes.

"I'll do it." He walked over.

"No need." Kudo didn't look up. "You're tired today, go and rest."

Sakamoto Yu didn't leave; he stood beside her and handed her the empty plate on the table.

Kudo took it and put it in the sink, moving it more gently than before.

The two stood side by side in the kitchen, the tap running, steam rising and blurring the windowpane.

"Kudo."

"Um?"

"You've had a hard day."

She paused for a moment, then continued washing the dishes.

"It's good that you know."

Sakamoto Yu smiled but didn't say anything.

After washing the dishes, Kudo dried his hands and folded the dishcloth, placing it by the sink.

"Let's go, I'll see you off."

"No need, I'll take a taxi myself."

"It's so late." Sakamoto Yu had already picked up his coat. "Let's go."

Kudo glanced at him and didn't refuse again.

......

The November night breeze was cool, and most of the ginkgo leaves on the street had fallen.

Sakamoto Yu hailed a taxi, and the two sat in the back seat. The neon lights outside the car window flashed by one after another, casting flickering shadows on Kudo's face.

She didn't speak, leaning against the car window, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside.

Sakamoto Yu didn't say anything either.

The only sound in the car was a late-night radio program, with the host reading listener letters in a languid voice.

......

The taxi stopped in front of the Kudo family's house.

"Please wait a moment."

Sakamoto Yu gave the driver a few instructions.

Kudo Shizuka got out of the car, and Sakamoto Yu followed suit.

"Go inside," he said.

Kudo stood in front of the door, motionless.

Just as Sakamoto Yu was about to turn around and get back to his car, he suddenly noticed that her gaze was fixed on him.

Those eyes shone brightly in the night.