Chapter 50: Ratings!
Monday night finally arrived amid the eager anticipation of the masses.
11 p.m., Tokyo Television Station.
When that familiar nursery rhyme and drumbeat sounded, all of Tokyo seemed to fall silent.
Countless eyes, whether expectant, curious, or doubtful, were all focused on that small screen.
【An Shizhi Season 2 Episode 1 Taro】
The story opens in a small community activity room, where a man in a police uniform is clumsily performing ventriloquism for the children in the audience.
The puppet in his hand is named “Taro,” dressed in a tiny police uniform, looking adorably silly.
The children in the audience are doubled over with laughter, their giggles crisp and clear.
Everything seems so warm, so everyday.
However, there is not a trace of a smile on the policeman’s face. Fine beads of cold sweat seep from his forehead, and the hand holding the puppet trembles slightly beyond his control.
Because he knows that this puppet called “Taro” is somehow off.
It always rolls its eyes and grins on its own when he’s not manipulating it.
And the things it says are growing increasingly eerie.
“Hey, uncle, do you know? That big brother on the bicycle… where did his head roll off to?”
“Hehe… Uncle, your neck looks… so soft…”
The children in the audience think it’s all part of the act and laugh even harder.
Only the policeman himself knows this is no performance.
This puppet called “Taro” has been possessed. Possessed by the soul of a young cyclist who was just decapitated in a traffic accident at the intersection.
He wants to stop, wants to throw the puppet away.
But his hand is controlled by an invisible force, completely unresponsive. He can only watch helplessly as “Taro’s” mouth opens and closes, spouting those spine-chilling words, while the audience below responds with the most enthusiastic applause.
That ultimate loneliness and terror of being the only one who knows the truth engulfs him completely.
【An Shizhi Season 2 Episode 2 Kitchen】
An asocial housewife is always ostracized by the neighboring housewives.
Her bento box is mocked as “soulless.”
The flowers she grows are ridiculed as “lifeless.”
Finally one day, she discovers an extra person in her kitchen.
A “self” who looks exactly like her but always wears an enthusiastic, cheerful smile.
That “self” can make the most delicious dishes, grow the most vibrant flowers, and chat amiably with the neighboring housewives.
Everyone loves that “self.”
The real her can only huddle in the corner, watching that impostor gradually take over her life, stealing her husband, her child, everything.
In the end, she is locked in a dark storage room by that “self.”
From outside the door come the heartfelt praise and laughter from her husband, child, and neighbors for that “self.”
……
The two-episode simulcast ends.
Many homes across Tokyo have now fallen into a deathly silence.
Then that silence erupts from telephones and every social corner like a tsunami!
“Season 2… is even scarier than Season 1!”
“And compared to Season 1, it’s even more chilling the more you think about it! Even scarier the more you dwell on it!”
“This is real terror!!!”
Word of mouth explodes at this moment with a ferocity surpassing any promotion!
Especially since before this, through various television programs and newspaper reviews, their appetites had already been whetted, all eager to see as soon as possible just how great this much-praised 《An Shizhi Season 2》 is.
Some people, unable to wait, even went to Kanto Television Station to catch the 9 p.m. late-night slot rebroadcast of 《An Shizhi Season 1》.
Equally captivated by the brilliant plot and innovative concept.
So.
They are truly impatient for the current 《An Shizhi Season 2》!
……
Tuesday’s morning light, like a benevolent monarch, bathes every corner of the Tokyo Television Production Bureau with its impartial golden grace.
Suzuki’s Classroom.
When Ichiro Hashishita bursts into the office with the brand-new ratings report like a gust of wind, everyone’s hearts skip a beat.
“5.12%!”
Ichiro Hashishita’s voice trembles, almost cracking.
“Oh oh oh oh oh—!”
The long-suppressed lava of victory in the office finally erupts at this moment!
This cheer is purer and more uninhibited than any before!
“We really succeeded! Episode 1 broke 5%! Hooray! Hooray!”
“Aboard! An Shizhi Season 2 aboard!”
“Section Chief Suzuki hooray! Hiroshi Nohara hooray!”
Hoshi Minamimura and Roji Hase, like two boys who won top prize at a festival, sweep the empty wine bottle off the table, jump onto it, shouting and leaping wildly, their youthful, unworldly ecstasy nearly lifting the roof off this small office.
Because they know.
This was too hard-won!
Before, their 《An Shizhi Season 1》 had such poor opening ratings.
Later it counterattacked to become the top in the midnight slot.
That was already earth-shattering.
Now.
Their 《An Shizhi Season 2》 achieves such high ratings in the first episode; the later ratings will surely be even higher, just thinking about it!
This is already a very good start!
“We really succeeded.” Even Kiyoto Suzuki, looking at that report, has tears streaming from his bloodshot eyes for the first time, worn from days of toil.
He walks to Hiroshi Nohara’s side, claps his shoulder heavily, and all his words condense into a sigh full of endless emotion: “Nohara-kun, we… we really did it.”
He knows that from this moment, in this small classroom, this young man named Hiroshi Nohara has become someone even he must look up to.
The look he gives Hiroshi Nohara is no longer a superior’s appreciation for a subordinate, but a near-equal respect for a true comrade-in-arms.
Capable people deserve respect wherever they are.
And such a capable junior at that.
This is no ordinary respect.
It’s the kind of respect that treats him as a connection to be nurtured!
“…”
Ichiro Hashishita stands in the crowd, a brilliant smile on his face, clapping vigorously in cheer for this hard-earned victory.
But deep in his enthusiastic eyes, in that unnoticed corner, a flicker of jealous flame burns quietly, twisting even his genuine joy.
Watching that young man surrounded by everyone, always wearing a faint smile, he feels his decades of diligent work seem so pale and laughable before that world-shocking genius.
“Crunch.” Ichiro Hashishita is still smiling, but his molars are grinding tight.
Especially seeing Hiroshi Nohara’s calm, unruffled face.
That composure as if everything is under control.
And what he knows…
Hiroshi Nohara now lives in a high-end apartment, has a young and beautiful girlfriend, and receives substantial manuscript fees.
While he himself lives in a rundown old apartment.
His wife often complains he has no talent for making money.
That sorrow.
That jealousy.
That envious fire… is nearly burning him up!
“Yes, I need to learn, and I will have all this too.” Ichiro Hashishita forces a grin.
But in his eyes, the bloodshot veins grow ever redder!
