Chapter 98: Kei Tanaka! Once The Most Talented In Kanto Faction Variety Shows!
When Hiroshi Nohara’s figure reappeared in Deputy Director Asumi’s office, this Kanto Faction Leader on the power chessboard of Tokyo Television Station was standing in front of that massive floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the steel forest below like a prostrate giant beast.
The sunlight outside the window was blazing, cutting the outlines of countless skyscrapers into sharp edges, the interplay of light and shadow like a grand scroll depicting ambition and desire.
“You’re here?”
Deputy Director Asumi didn’t turn around, but his voice carried an irrepressible amusement, a heartfelt pleasure: “Nohara-kun, I’ve been dying to see what your final variety show proposal looks like.”
“Please take a look.” Hiroshi Nohara smiled and placed the astonishingly thick proposal on the table, still emanating the fresh fragrance of new ink.
Deputy Director Asumi immediately walked over and picked up the proposal.
He opened the first page.
Then, his breathing stopped.
“Hiss!” Deputy Director Asumi drew in a sharp breath.
On it was no longer a simple creative concept, but a flawlessly detailed variety show bible that was perfect to an outrageous degree.
A bible that had already successfully constructed a sacred position!
A perfect blueprint!
From every segment of the program flow to every detail of the scoring standards; from the style control of the host’s linking lines to the emotional rendering of the background music; even the seating arrangements for guest seats and the interaction methods for the live audience were all clearly marked.
What made his scalp tingle even more was the appendix at the back: a full fifty creative diagrams for “Change Change Change,” sketched in simple line drawings full of wildly imaginative flair.
Each diagram was like a meticulously designed perfect bomb, enough to explode the entire audience with laughter.
“This… this…” Deputy Director Asumi’s hand trembled uncontrollably.
He looked up at the young man who had been smiling calmly from beginning to end, his gaze like looking at a demon god from another dimension who had just pulled a complete set of future technology from a four-dimensional pocket.
“Nohara-kun… you…” His voice was dry from extreme shock.
He had thought that if Hiroshi Nohara could give him a preliminary concept in a week, that would already be a miracle.
But he never imagined that in just a few short days, after only a few discussions with him, the other party would produce a flawless final plan ready for immediate filming!
This was no longer mere genius; this was a monster! A dimensional reduction strike that would fill all peers with despair!
“I just systematically organized some half-formed ideas.” Hiroshi Nohara’s tone remained light and breezy, as if he had merely completed an ordinary homework assignment.
“You bastard!” Deputy Director Asumi let out a long breath, as if it carried away all the shock and awe of his half lifetime.
He placed the proposal back on the table as carefully as holding a priceless treasure, a bitter smile emerging on his always refined and steady face, one that came from deep in his bones.
“Now I understand why so many people call you a monster. Being born in the same era as a guy like you is, for us mortals, truly a… sweet torment.”
Deputy Director Asumi paused, the shock quickly turning into more practical concern: “The proposal is perfect, but what about manpower? Nohara-kun, producing a variety show is far more complex than a television drama; it requires an experienced team to execute. Your special classroom, at full count, only has a handful of core members—it’s impossible to handle something this big.”
“Manpower is indeed short.”
Hiroshi Nohara nodded; he had anticipated this: “I need to expand my special classroom—at least, to a complete variety production team that can operate independently.”
“But not too many.” He added: “After all, a variety show isn’t like《World of the Strange》 that needs daily broadcasts; one episode per week. Give me a mature team, and that should be enough.”
“I understand.” A flash of realization passed through Deputy Director Asumi’s eyes.
He walked to an old-looking metal filing cabinet in the corner of the office, unlocked it with a key, and pulled out a similarly brand-new kraft paper file bag.
As if it had just been placed there not long ago.
Deputy Director Asumi handed the brand-new kraft paper file bag to Hiroshi Nohara, his eyes carrying the complex regret of an experienced person.
“Take this and have a look.”
Hiroshi Nohara took the file bag; it felt slightly heavy in his hand. On it, in somewhat faded handwriting, was written the name of a variety show proposal—《Saturday! Let’s Rush Rush Rush!》.
Hiroshi Nohara had seen this variety show before.
It was somewhat interesting.
But just so-so.
“This was our Kanto Faction’s only attempt—and the last one—a year ago, to go head-to-head with those Tokyo Faction guys in the variety field.” Deputy Director Asumi’s voice carried a sense of desolation.
“The person in charge was Kei Tanaka, our Kanto Faction’s most talented second-class director at the time, and my most promising junior. Unfortunately… the show only aired five episodes before being mercilessly axed last month because the ratings never broke 5%.”
“After that, Tanaka was ruined. The whole person collapsed, drowning in alcohol all day, unkempt, becoming a… living dead who had even given up on himself.”
Deputy Director Asumi looked at Hiroshi Nohara, a solemn trust nearly like an entrustment shining in his refined eyes.
“This team, though it failed, still has its foundation. There are quite a few old-timers who came over from Kanto Stage with me back then—experienced, capable, just… ground down of all their spirit by that failure.”
“Now, I hand them over to you, along with that useless Kei Tanaka. You are their new chief director, the one and only absolute king of this《Super Change Change Change》 project.”
“I’ll call Kei Tanaka personally. I’ll also tell them all that there’s only one rule in your team—absolute obedience to your orders. Whoever dares disobey, whoever dares feign compliance, I, Asumi, will personally step in and make them pack up and get out!”
These words rang out solidly, like an unquestionable supreme command.
And the highest authority granted to Hiroshi Nohara.
Hiroshi Nohara looked at the file bag in his hand, bearing a team’s failure and humiliation, then at Deputy Director Asumi’s face full of trust and entrustment, and a surge of heroism welled up in his heart.
“I understand.” He nodded, no extra words, just putting the file bag into his briefcase.
A ready-made team.
Just a minor mindset issue.
For him, not a problem.
……
When Hiroshi Nohara returned to his office, now the focus of the entire production bureau, he was greeted by the curious and expectant faces of Kenji Sato and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto.
“Section Chief, the deputy director side…”
“The《Super Change Change Change》 project is approved.” Hiroshi Nohara placed his briefcase on the table, getting straight to the point.
He also brought them into his office.
Then he pushed two stacks of thick manuscripts in front of them respectively: “This is the complete storyboard for the first twenty episodes of《World of the Strange》 season two.”
“What?! Season two?!”
Kenji Sato and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto exchanged a glance, seeing ghost-like shock in each other’s eyes.
They had just finished filming season one, and this monster had already prepared the manuscripts for season two?!
“The screening department is already urging.” Hiroshi Nohara’s tone was calm, as if discussing a trivial matter: “The《World of the Strange》 IP is at peak popularity now; we must strike while the iron is hot. So, season two’s filming is fully entrusted to you two.”
“I believe, with your experience, as long as you strictly follow the content in the storyboard, there will be absolutely no problems.”
These words were more like an absolute command than an arrangement.
Kenji Sato and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto looked at the artwork-like manuscript in their hands, then at the young man who unhesitatingly entrusted them with such an important project, and their hearts, weathered by years, began to pound uncontrollably.
“Yes, sir!”
The two bowed in unison, their voices carrying a resolute determination to die for a knowing lord!
“We will not fail your trust!”
Hiroshi Nohara nodded in satisfaction.
To open a new battlefield, he first had to secure his rear.
And Kenji Sato and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, these two experienced, loyal veteran generals, were undoubtedly the best choices to guard the《World of the Strange》 main camp for him.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the office door.
‘Knock knock knock—’
Hoshi Minamimura poked his head in, his face carrying a strange expression: “Um… Section Chief, there’s someone outside looking for you. He says… his name is Kei Tanaka.”
He had arrived.
Hiroshi Nohara’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Let him in.”
Moments later, the door was pushed open.
A stench mixing cheap sake’s sour rot and days of unwashed sweat invaded like the most domineering intruder, instantly occupying every corner of the office.
A figure shuffled in like a ghost.
The classroom members still busy working in the classroom subconsciously frowned, covered their noses, and glared angrily at this figure.
“Who is this? So rude—is this a street bum?”
“Feels kinda familiar.”
“Hey hey, doesn’t he look like one of our old acquaintances?”
“No way, but a bum couldn’t get into Tokyo Television Station headquarters; he must be a staff member from our Tokyo Television Station main office, right?”
At this point, Hiroshi Nohara also looked out.
It was a middle-aged man in his early forties, hair greasy like weeds soaked in cheap lard, beard unkempt, that suit which should have been decent now wrinkled like a discarded rag, stained with suspicious discolorations.
What stood out most were his eyes.
They were eyes utterly hollowed out of all spirit by failure and alcohol, like dead fish eyes.
Empty, numb, filled with the deepest despair for the world.
“You’re… Kei Tanaka?”
Hiroshi Nohara looked at the man before him who had lost almost all human decency, his brow furrowing imperceptibly.
He wasn’t disgusted by the man’s slovenliness; he just couldn’t imagine what devastating blow a second-class director once praised by Deputy Director Asumi as “most talented in variety” must have suffered to fall to this state, worse than a street bum.
“Tanaka! You bastard! How did you end up like this?!”
Before Hiroshi Nohara could speak, Kenji Sato and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, like two enraged lions, lunged forward in an instant!
“Look at you now! Do you have any shred of a director left?!” Tsuyoshi Yamamoto pointed at his nose, cursing vehemently, his usually hawk-like sharp face full of heartbroken frustration.
“How dare you show up like this to Section Chief Nohara?! This is the greatest disrespect to the section chief! Do you know this is the last chance Deputy Director Asumi fought for—for you, for all of us!” Kenji Sato’s voice carried a near-roaring fury.
Of course they knew Kei Tanaka.
They had even once been comrades-in-arms fighting side by side.
Precisely because of this, they were even less able to accept seeing their former comrade fallen to this shameful state.
“…Chance?”
Kei Tanaka slowly raised his head, a faint ripple finally appearing in those empty eyes.
He looked at these two old friends before him, then at the excessively young “section chief” who had been calmly watching him all along, and a self-mocking, uglier-than-crying arc tugged at his lips.
“What chance? To make me shoot another piece of trash that can’t even hit 5% ratings?”
His voice was hoarse like sandpaper-ground, every word dripping with bone-deep self-mockery.
“I remember, my《Saturday! Let’s Rush Rush Rush!》 show, from the very first episode, was treated like a joke by the entire production bureau, passed around for a whole half year.”
“They said my creativity was ‘kindergarten make-believe’; they said my pacing was ‘old folks’ stroll hypnosis’; they even said the comedians I brought in weren’t as funny as street corner stand-up performers.”
He hung his head, greasy bangs covering his eyes and that deep-boned, unhealable scar.
“I… I’ve got nothing left.”
“Talent, dignity, future… all gone.”
He raised his head, those dead-fish eyes staring straight at Hiroshi Nohara, filled not with plea or hope, but icy cold numbness like Siberian permafrost.
“So, young section chief who created a myth.”
“What do you want with a has-been like me?”
“To have me pour your tea and water, or to hang me as a failure case study on the wall, to constantly warn your subordinates?”
These words were sharp with a self-abandoned malice.
Everyone in the office was stunned speechless by his broken-jar-broken-lid attitude.
However, Hiroshi Nohara merely looked at him calmly, his clear eyes like a bottomless lake, without the slightest ripple.
No anger, no sympathy, not even any emotional fluctuation.
Just watching.
After a moment, he slowly stood up, walked to the man whose heart was already dead, and gently placed a document on the table before him.
The final proposal plan for《Super Change Change Change》.
“I didn’t call you here to humiliate you or to pity you.”
Hiroshi Nohara looked at Kei Tanaka and said flatly: “I called you here to show you what a real variety show that could drive all of Neon crazy should look like.”
He paused, a cold indifference like a deity overlooking ants flashing in his clear eyes.
“Read it.”
“Then tell me if you still have the qualifications to stand here and talk to me.”
