Tokyo Literary Masters: Starting from the Late 1980s

As Kondo Masahiko's hurried footsteps completely disappeared at the end of the corridor, the private room once again returned to the tranquility befitting a high-class ryokan (traditional Japanese restaurant).

Only a trace of the lingering warmth from the earlier conflict remained in the air.

Haruki Kadokawa acted as if nothing had happened, walking out of the private room while scoffing dismissively, "Tch."

"This is what they call a top idol? He's just a spoiled brat from his agency."

Then, Kadokawa Haruki looked at Kitahara Iwa with a playful expression, before turning to Nakamori Akina and saying, "Ms. Nakamori."

"Now that this has happened, do you need my help?"

"If I say the word, from now on, any movie that Kadokawa Pictures invests in, or any book I promote, this kid won't even get a minor role."

This statement carries immense weight.

This means that Nakamori Akina has been given an absolute layer of defense.

After all, in the Japanese entertainment industry, offending Haruki Kadokawa is tantamount to cutting off all paths to the big screen.

As long as Kadokawa remains standing, Johnny's and Ken-On will be unable to harm Akina Nakamori in the slightest.

"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Kadokawa."

Akina Nakamori's voice was soft, yet it carried an unprecedented calmness.

She gave a slight bow, a standard gesture of thanks, then looked up and gave a reply that surprised both of them: "However, you won't need to trouble yourself with this matter."

"Um?"

Haruki Kadokawa raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised that the woman who had just been struggling in the mud would refuse the amulet.

Akina Nakamori didn't look at Haruki Kadokawa, but instead turned to look at Iwao Kitahara beside her.

As a singer who has been in the entertainment industry for nearly ten years, she knows all too well the rules of how this industry works.

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Who is Haruki Kadokawa?

He is a tyrant who can manipulate half of the entertainment industry, and is definitely not the kind of philanthropist who would help those in need.

If I accept this weighty protection, it will not only be a favor, but also a debt.

Can I afford to repay this debt now?

No, the one who will ultimately pay the bill is Kitahara Iwa.

Although she didn't know what Kitahara Iwao and Kadokawa Haruki were going to talk about tonight, judging from their conversation and the recent rumors circulating in the industry that "Kadokawa Pictures intends to acquire the adaptation rights to 'Confessions'"...

Akina Nakamori is a smart woman.

She instantly realized that she was a bargaining chip used by Kadokawa Haruki to curry favor with, or to "hold hostage" Kitahara Iwao.

"I've already made things clear to Kondo."

Akina Nakamori looked at Iwata Kitahara with a firm yet gentle gaze and said, "Teacher Kitahara, I don't want my personal matters to interfere with your and Mr. Kadokawa's truly important business."

This is the real Akina Nakamori.

She had just dumped a scumbag who treated her like a cash cow, and she absolutely refused to become another man's burden right away.

Hearing this polite yet firm refusal, Kitahara Iwa's smile deepened.

Pop, pop, pop.

At that moment, several crisp applause rang out from inside the private room.

This tyrant of the film industry did not become angry because of the rejection. On the contrary, for the first time, his eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, revealed an appreciation for Nakamori Akina beyond her value as an artist.

"it is good."

Haruki Kadokawa's lips curled into a playful smile: "You've got some backbone. Compared to that spineless coward who only knew how to bully others, you're more like a man."

"In that case, Ms. Nakamori, I now invite you to sing the theme song for 'Confession'."

"I think only your voice can suppress the despair and madness in the movie."

"How is it?"

Faced with this sudden offer of top-tier resources, Akina Nakamori was momentarily stunned.

She didn't answer immediately, but subconsciously turned to look at Kitahara Iwa beside her.

Kitahara Iwa didn't speak, but simply met her gaze and nodded slightly.

Having received Kitahara Iwao's approval, Nakamori Akina took a deep breath, bowed deeply to Kadokawa Haruki, and replied, "Yes! If you don't mind, please let me sing!"

At this moment, Akina Nakamori's voice exuded the confidence of a top-tier diva.

"Hahaha! Great!"

Haruki Kadokawa burst into laughter and said, "Then it's settled!"

"Let's go back and get something to eat now."

……

21:00 in the evening.

At the entrance of Tsuruya Ryotei.

Haruki Kadokawa drove off in a Rolls-Royce.

Kitahara Iwao and Nakamori Akina stood under the streetlights, the warm July breeze stirring up the fallen leaves on the ground.

"Shall I take you home?"

Kitahara Iwa glanced at the somewhat frail figure beside him.

"No need, the firm's car is just around the corner."

Akina Nakamori shook her head.

Then Nakamori Akina turned around and looked at Kitahara Iwao.

The eyes, which were always filled with tears, now shone brightly under the streetlights: "Thank you, Kitahara-sensei."

"It's not about what just happened... but thank you for letting me understand that saying no can be such a refreshing thing."

Kitahara Iwa, hands in his pockets, watched the reborn soul and said, "No need to thank me. You came out of this on your own."

"Go back and get a good night's sleep."

"When the sun rises tomorrow, you will be a completely new Akina Nakamori."

"Um!"

Akina nodded vigorously. She didn't say anything more sentimental, but turned and walked towards the waiting van on the street corner.

At the same time.

Shibuya, Masahiko Kondo's luxury apartment.

"Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!!"

As soon as he got home, Masahiko Kondo went berserk and smashed all the vases and decorations in the living room to pieces.

But as the anger subsided, a bone-chilling cold shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

After all, standing next to Kitahara Iwao today is Kadokawa Haruki.

Even the underworld has to give him some respect; he's known as a madman in the publishing industry.

"What if he really blacklists me..."

Kondo Masahiko's hands began to tremble.

At that moment, he thought of his racing team and the hole that would take tens of millions more to fill.

Without income from the entertainment industry and without sponsors, the luxurious lifestyle I currently enjoy would collapse instantly.

"No... I can't lose these..."

"Akina! Yes, if Akina is willing to step forward and say a few words to Kadokawa, there's still hope for me..."

At that moment, Kondo's camp grabbed the phone like it was a lifeline, and dialed Nakamori Akina's number with trembling hands.

"Beep—beep—beep—"

There was only a monotonous and long waiting tone coming from the receiver.

Once, twice, three times... but no one answered.

Kondo Masahiko was undeterred and dialed the number again and again.

No matter how many times I dialed, all I got was a silent busy signal.

Clearly, the person who was once on call for him 24/7, available at any time,

This time, all contact has truly been completely severed.

At that moment, fear made him lose his mind.

Despite the fact that it was already late at night, Kondo Masahiko, with trembling fingers, dialed the number he considered his last lifeline—the private line of Mary Kitagawa, the vice president of Johnny & Associates.

The phone rang for a long time before it was answered.

"Hey? Is this Kondo? What's the matter so late?" The old woman's slightly tired but still authoritative voice came through the receiver.

Hearing that familiar voice, Masahiko Kondo, like a child who had been bullied and was crying to his mother, even choked up as he said, "Aunt Mary! You have to help me! That Kadokawa Haruki... he's gone too far!"

"And that bitch Nakamori Akina! She colluded with outsiders to humiliate me! You must help me blacklist that author Kitahara Iwao, and..."

That's enough.

At that moment, a cold shout suddenly came from the other end of the phone.

The voice wasn't loud, but it was like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing all of Kondo Masahiko's sobs.

Mary Kitagawa's voice turned colder than ever before: "Kondo, have you lost your mind from alcohol?"

"Aunt Mary?"

Hearing Mary's blunt tone, Kondo Masahiko was stunned.

"You want me to blacklist Kitahara Iwa?"

Do you think I can do it?