Chapter 7: Izakaya
However, this taboo was quickly broken by Kiyoto Suzuki personally taking them to an izakaya not far from the Tokyo Television Station.
As section chief.
At this time, Kiyoto Suzuki chose to treat them personally.
……
Izakaya, private room.
“I’m treating today. Welcome Hiroshi Nohara-kun to our Suzuki’s Classroom. When the time comes, everyone will work together with one heart to give this project a earth-shattering counterattack and show others!”
“I propose, for victory! Cheers!”
Kiyoto Suzuki sat cross-legged at the head, looking at his subordinates kneeling on both sides of the low tables. He raised his large glass beer mug full of beer to signal.
“Cheers!” Everyone present had excited flushed faces and raised their beer mugs in response.
Then they started chugging beer.
Hiroshi Nohara was on the left side.
Sitting below Ichiro Hashishita.
For a newcomer, this was already a position of considerable importance.
Opposite him, Hoshi Minamimura, Roji Hase, and Yō Kitagawa were all sitting one after another on Kiyoto Suzuki’s right side, but their low table was subtly half a table position behind Ichiro Hashishita and Hiroshi Nohara on the left.
Workplace rules were the same even in Japan.
However, Hiroshi Nohara did not mind.
Although Japan valued seniority, hierarchy, and rules.
But now it was the modern era of the strong on top and the weak below. As long as he had ability, even if his seniority was insufficient and hierarchy lacking, he could prove himself with his own capabilities and performance.
Anyway, some positions were meant for young people to rise.
Of course.
In Suzuki’s Classroom, there was not much seniority-based hierarchy regarding this.
Perhaps because it had been formed not long ago, aside from Kiyoto Suzuki, they were basically all young people. Even Ichiro Hashishita was just over thirty, with a honest personality and not yet at that greasy stage.
Therefore, just one day after Hiroshi Nohara joined this small group, he felt a sense of fitting in like a fish in water.
Topics not discussed during the day were talked about in the izakaya at night.
Including subsequent designs and plot directions.
Hiroshi Nohara spoke eloquently.
He even attracted Kiyoto Suzuki and the other four to become increasingly immersed in the atmosphere he described, fully devoted!
Even when it was nearly ten o’clock, the time when the izakaya’s chef was preparing to get off work.
They were still listening to Hiroshi Nohara’s narration.
“Guests, our chef is about to get off work. Do you need to add anything?” At that moment, the door of this private room was knocked, and the server came in, knelt on the tatami, and asked.
However, this inquiry immediately startled Kiyoto Suzuki and the other four who had been listening intently.
“Whoa! That really scared me to death!” Hoshi Minamimura covered his chest with his hand at this time, looked at the server who opened the door, confirmed it was human, and then slowly exhaled a held breath: “It’s human, great!”
“Yes, human!” Roji Hase and Yō Kitagawa beside him also patted their chests at this time.
Their faces were somewhat pale.
Clearly, the server opening the room door and appearing here had also scared them.
“……Guests, is there something wrong?” The young female server was a bit confused, looking at the five people in the room who were all startled, somewhat baffled.
“Nothing, no need to add anything.” Kiyoto Suzuki’s old face also reddened at this time, and he waved his hand to dismiss the server.
He had been scared too just now.
However, now Kiyoto Suzuki looked at Hiroshi Nohara and said with great surprise: “Nohara-kun, I didn’t expect that although you only drew three stories, you have complete ideas for the remaining seven stories. It’s truly brilliant!”
Now, thinking about the total thirteen stories Hiroshi Nohara narrated, especially combined with urban legends and modern terror atmosphere.
And that almost immersive realism.
It all shocked him immensely.
And surprised him immensely!
“That’s right, Mr. Kiyoto Suzuki. An Shizhi is a manga I conceived back in junior high, with many ideas.”
Hiroshi Nohara smiled and pointed to his head: “I won’t boast about others, but for An Shizhi, Mr. Kiyoto Suzuki, I dare to guarantee no creation barrier at all, tons of ideas!”
Saying so was also right, who made Hiroshi Nohara stand directly on the shoulders of later generations?
“Amazing!” Hoshi Minamimura, Roji Hase, and Yō Kitagawa once again exclaimed in amazement.
Including Ichiro Hashishita sitting in the position above Hiroshi Nohara, who also nodded in deep agreement at this time.
He was a fourth-class director.
Also the line producer of Suzuki’s Classroom.
Therefore, Ichiro Hashishita could certainly discern the quality of the stories Hiroshi Nohara described—and it was beyond just good or bad; they had extremely clear threads and extremely complete storylines.
As long as they seriously produced according to Hiroshi Nohara’s ideas.
It would absolutely be great stories!
Thinking about the swinging child inside, or students and apartment, office worker in hospital, including family precept and family trivia, relatives and family environment, even workplace, the most common copier, etc.—these commonplace things most impressive to any Japanese person, extending into urban legends.
Even without explicitly showing any ghosts and monsters, the scenes that were profoundly terrifying upon careful thought.
It truly made their hearts shudder.
Their backs tingled just thinking about it.
As if there was great terror!
“If following Nohara-kun’s suggestions, this horror animation called An Shizhi seems to really have great potential.” Ichiro Hashishita pondered in his mind at this time.
And the more he pondered, the more worshipful his gaze toward Hiroshi Nohara became.
From his ten-plus years of experience in this industry.
This story called An Shizhi.
Seemed……
Not only was the theme novel, unlike previous horror animations or manga that drew from ancient times or myths.
It even felt like it created a new theme!
“Urban legends horror theme?”
Ichiro Hashishita thought silently in his heart.
In this Japanese era, although there were elements like urban legends, most were at the level of orally transmitted legend stories.
No one had specifically compiled them or formed a complete urban legends narrative style.
Even Hiroshi Nohara hadn’t thought of this point.
After all, urban legends in the Japan of his previous world’s Earth only flourished after the 2000s.
In this Blue Star Japan, in the 1990s.
Where were there systematic urban legends?
……
However, for Hiroshi Nohara, gaining recognition from Kiyoto Suzuki was also a very good thing.
Stumbling drunk out of the izakaya.
It was already night.
The sky was pitch black.
But Hiroshi Nohara looked at the countless neon lights dotting the surrounding high-rise buildings, shining like stars in the sky, and his mood was extremely pleasant.
“Now……” Hiroshi Nohara said goodbye to everyone, ignored the pain of spending money, and took a taxi home.
Sitting in the back seat, a smile appeared on his face:
“What a great start!”
