Chapter 207: Sensation! The Sensation Of 《late-night Diner》!
Meanwhile, in another izakaya in Shinjuku District, the film critics’ late-night drinking session started up again.
“Cheers!”
Chilled draft beer mugs clinked heavily in the air.
“Let me tell you, I’ve already made up my mind!” Ono downed the golden yellow liquid in his mug in one go, wiped the foam from the corner of his mouth, and his young face was now filled with unquestionable determination: “Tomorrow, I’ll return that ‘promotion fee’ from Tokyo City Television to them intact!”
“What?! Return it?!” Mikami was slightly stunned upon hearing this, looking at Ono with eyes full of surprise.
“That’s right! Return it!” Ono nodded vigorously, his bright big eyes burning with fierce flames: “I’m no important person, but I know what true ‘art’ is and what true ‘healing’ is! I absolutely won’t allow my pen to sing hymns for that garbage piled up with capital!”
“Well said!” Suzuki slammed the table hard, his usually refined face now filled with righteous indignation: “Ono is right! We writers should have our own bottom line! That 《Minamijima Afu and His Beloved Dog》 they filmed, what the hell is that?! It’s simply insulting the intelligence of all audiences! Tomorrow, I’ll return the money too! I’ll write a 10,000-word manifesto, tearing that drama apart from beginning to end!”
“Right! Count me in!”
“I’ll return it too!”
“It’s time to let those capitalists who only know how to throw money around know that us writers aren’t to be trifled with!”
The izakaya was instantly filled with all sorts of passionate discussion voices.
Everyone was infected by Ono’s passion, their eyes gleaming with unyielding fighting spirit.
However, amid this atmosphere glowing with idealism, the always silent Kimura senior suddenly let out a light chuckle.
“You kids…” He slowly finished the last sip of beer in his mug, his turbid eyes flickering with a wisdom that saw through the ways of the world: “You’re still too young.”
He paused, then heavily set the now empty beer mug on the table.
“No need to return the money.”
“No need to write the manifesto either.”
“Shunsuke Kamiki’s television drama is destined to be unable to compete with Hiroshi Nohara’s 《Late-night Diner》, and that’s already a fact.”
“So we don’t need to keep offending Tokyo City Television. Even if we flatter them a bit, so what? We can praise not the drama’s plot, but the image, the characters, and the faces of those idol entertainers that audiences like.”
“After all, we all need to eat and support our families, and even if we wanted to write articles unfavorable to Tokyo City Television’s drama, the newspaper wouldn’t agree anyway.”
“Better to use a little scheming to change strategy. After all, those idol entertainers’ faces are indeed pretty good, aren’t they?”
Kimura finished with a smile.
Then everyone raised their eyebrows one by one, their eyes flickering, but in the end, they still raised their mugs and clinked glasses with loud laughter.
……
The next day, when Tokyo, this sleepless giant beast, opened its sleepy eyes again in the faint morning light, the desolation and idealistic struggle from the late-night drinking session faded like foam after the tide, mercilessly shattered on the beach by a new wave that was even noisier and more realistic.
Newspapers still carrying the ink aroma flew like snowflakes into every corner of the city.
The most eye-catching and expensive spots in newsstands and convenience stores were occupied by carefully polished handsome faces.
《Weekly Star Tide》’s entertainment front page used a near-fanatical fan tone, with a striking pink artistic font title:
【A Visual Feast, Victory of Appearance! Shunsuke Kamiki’s 《Minamijima Afu and His Beloved Dog》 Premiere, Sculpted Side Profile Sparks Another Screen-Licking Frenzy!】
“Last night, the heartwarming healing blockbuster 《Minamijima Afu and His Beloved Dog》, fully produced by Tokyo City Television and strongly supported by Kirin Group Artist Agency, officially unveiled its mysterious veil.
Hottest idol Shunsuke Kamiki, with his impeccable ‘national treasure-level’ appearance, once again proved to the world what true ‘visual justice’ is.
In the drama, as the dream-chasing boy Afu, whether running on the beach in a simple white shirt or busy in the back kitchen in an exquisite chef uniform, every lens feels like a meticulously calculated fashion blockbuster.
Famous fashion critic Yukiko Yamamoto praised: ‘Kamiki-kun’s face is itself a perfect artwork. He doesn’t need many words; just a look or a side profile is enough to carry the entire story. His professional effort of ‘losing ten pounds’ for the role shows us an idol actor’s ultimate pursuit of art.'”
……
《Urban Style》 magazine focused on the drama’s costumes, makeup, and props, with lines full of praise for capital’s power:
【From Givenchy to Armani, 《Minamijima Afu》 Defines New Urban Aesthetics, Shunsuke Kamiki Leads Fashion Trends!】
“Rather than calling 《Minamijima Afu and His Beloved Dog》 a television drama, it’s more like a flowing, luxurious fashion show.
The costumes of lead actor Shunsuke Kamiki and the supporting idol cast are almost entirely sponsored by international top brands, so exquisite that any fashion-selling drama pales in comparison.
Veteran stylist Atsumi also said: ‘This drama’s styling will undoubtedly become this fall-winter’s trendsetter. It perfectly integrates the natural vibes of southern islands with Tokyo’s modern minimalism. Every outfit Kamiki wears in the drama is a textbook-level boyfriend look.'”
……
Even some seemingly objective comprehensive newspapers had entertainment sections full of carefully polished smooth flattery.
“……The drama is finely produced, with beautiful images and moving music, especially the cross-species warmth between Shunsuke Kamiki and the Akita dog, injecting a stream of warmth into this slightly icy cold city. We have reason to believe this will be the most anticipated family-friendly work of this summer.”
Between the lines, it’s all effusive praise for external elements like images, appearance, and styling, while core issues like plot logic, character building, and acting depth are tacitly avoided.
This opinion feast piled up with money looked so lively and impeccable.
However, when these carefully packaged words settled into the city’s true pulse, the chemical reaction they sparked seemed so pale and powerless.
Seven-thirty in the morning, on the Yamanote Line packed like a sardine can.
“Sasaki, did you watch it last night? That new drama on Tokyo City Television, the one with Shunsuke Kamiki.” A glasses-wearing, refined-looking young office worker struggled to hold the overhead strap while asking his drowsy colleague next to him.
“I watched, how could I not.” The man called Sasaki yawned, his sleep-deprived, slightly haggard face full of world-weariness: “My wife is a die-hard Shunsuke Kamiki fan and dragged me to watch it. To be honest, if not for family harmony, I’d probably have fallen asleep halfway.”
“Haha, is it that bad?”
“Not bad, just… fake.” Sasaki curled his lip, his voice full of contempt: “The plot is as clichéd as a Korean drama from twenty years ago—a countryside boy comes to Tokyo to chase dreams, faces scorn, and gets healed by a stray dog. What era is this, still doing that stuff?”
“What about Shunsuke Kamiki? I heard he lost ten pounds specially for the role, newspapers are praising him to the skies.”
“Lost ten pounds? More like caked on ten pounds of foundation!” Sato sneered: “From start to finish, perfect hair, clothes more expensive one after another, that expression like wearing a mask—besides handsome, I saw nothing. I even think that Akita dog’s acting has more layers than his.”
“Pfft—If your wife heard that, you’d be solving dinner on your own tonight.”
“Who cares!” Sasaki waved dismissively, then suddenly thought of something, his usually tired eyes lighting up instantly: “But speaking of which, Tanaka, did you watch Tokyo Television’s 《Late-night Diner》! After my wife fell asleep, I secretly switched channels, and… once I started, I couldn’t stop!”
“Oh? The manga adaptation? How is it? Good?”
“More than good! It’s… addictive!” Sato excitedly lowered his voice, this heartfelt admiration contrasting sharply with his earlier world-weariness: “Let me tell you, that drama is like going to a roadside stall for a drink after work—no big philosophy, but just… comfortable, soothing! Watching that knife-scarred boss make the simplest home-cooked dishes for office workers as exhausted as dogs, I… a grown man, nearly teared up.”
“That exaggerated?”
“Not exaggerated at all!” Sato nodded vigorously, looking at the city streets speeding by outside the window, his eyes full of longing: “After watching last night, I just had one thought—damn, I want to go to that shop for a drink.”
……
Noon twelve o’clock, in a certain private university cafeteria.
“Misaki! Misaki! Come try this I made! ‘Late-night Diner’ style thick rolled omelet!” A girl in a Lolita-style dress proudly pushed the slightly burnt, crookedly shaped thick rolled omelet from her tray to her doll-like best friend across the table.
“Wow—! Real or fake?! Where’d you learn it?” The girl called Misaki’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Where else? From last night’s television drama and the manga I read before, of course!” The girl confidently puffed out her small chest, proud as if she were the masterful chef “boss”: “Let me tell you, after watching the first episode last night, I rushed into the kitchen and used up all the eggs in my mom’s refrigerator! Failed a few times, but finally made something decent!”
“Awesome! Awesome!” Misaki sincerely praised, carefully picking up a small piece and putting it in her mouth. The complex taste of “burnt char” and “eggy” made her cute little face scrunch up instantly.
“How is it? How is it? Just like on TV, full of ‘healing’ flavor?” The girl asked expectantly.
“Mm… mm! Full of… full of ‘depressing’ flavor.” Misaki painfully swallowed the omelet piece, then forced a smile uglier than crying.
“Hahahahahaha!”
Several nearby classmates also discussing 《Late-night Diner》 couldn’t help but burst into kind laughter.
“But speaking of which,” a boy in a baseball cap chimed in, looking at the two girls with curious eyes: “Didn’t you watch Tokyo City Television’s 《Minamijima Afu and His Beloved Dog》 last night? I heard Shunsuke Kamiki is super handsome in it! Lots of girls in our class are going crazy for him!”
“Shunsuke Kamiki?” The two girls exchanged glances, then simultaneously showed expressions of contempt.
“He’s handsome, sure, just… a bit greasy.” Misaki curled her lip, her voice carrying a young person’s direct contempt: “And don’t you think his acting is always like ‘look how handsome I am’? It made me… my cringe cancer flared up.”
“Exactly! Exactly!” The other girl chimed in: “I still prefer the silent, knife-scarred but incredibly gentle boss in 《Late-night Diner》! That’s a real man! That mature charm full of story is… fatally addictive!”
“Yeah! Yeah! I dreamed about him last night! Dreamed he made me a steaming bowl of cat food!”
“Wow—! You’re so lucky!”
……
This spontaneous, life-filled discussion spread like a silent spring rain, quietly permeating every corner of the city.
And those authoritative media that could truly guide public opinion finally dropped all dignity and scheming in the face of this surging public sentiment, issuing their most authentic voices.
《Asahi Shimbun》’s social observation page, abandoning its usual seriousness, used a near-prose brushstroke to publish an article titled 《A Bowl of Ochazuke, Consoling a City’s Loneliness》.
“……Last night, when 《Late-night Diner》’s opening theme played, we may not have realized a brand-new ‘urban fable’ was quietly being born. It has no grand narrative, no intense conflict; it just points the lens at the most ordinary souls still sleepless in the late night. It tells us, whether you’re a yakuza elder brother or a down-and-out singer, facing life’s crossroads or emotional dead ends, there’s always a light on for you. There’s always a bowl of rice waiting for you to come home. This seemingly simple consolation feels so precious, so… luxurious in this increasingly atomized modern society. Hiroshi Nohara, this young ‘cultural monster’, once again uses his eyes that seem to see through hearts to precisely take the pulse of our era. What he prescribes is the gentlest, most effective… remedy.”
Even 《Neon Economic News》, which usually only covers economy and industry, devoted a large section in its cultural industry observation column to report on this television drama.
【From ‘Akita Dog Economy’ to ‘Late-night Diner Effect’: How Hiroshi Nohara Reshapes Cultural Industry New Landscape with ‘Emotional Consumption’?】
“……If 《The Tale of Hachiko》’s success was Hiroshi Nohara’s modern packaging and remarketing of traditional emotions like ‘loyalty’ and ‘protection’, then 《Late-night Diner》’s explosion is his even more precise commercial monetization of more universal and intimate modern urban emotions like ‘loneliness’ and ‘healing’. He didn’t just create a television drama; he created an infinitely extendable, commercially potent ‘IP ecosystem’. From the drama’s ratings to manga sales, from opening theme downloads to ‘pilgrimage’ crowds at real stores… every link forms a perfect commercial closed loop. He proves that the smartest commerce isn’t selling goods, but… selling emotions. And he is undoubtedly this era’s… master at selling emotions.”
This overwhelming heartfelt praise contrasted sharply and satirically with the previous day’s money-piled flashy press releases.
Everyone knew that this war had already decided victory and defeat on the first day.
Hiroshi Nohara, this young “cultural monster”, didn’t even need to personally step in; with his unmatched talent, he thoroughly crushed that seemingly aggressive new opponent into dust!
……
Tokyo Television Station, Production Bureau.
In the huge office area of Nohara Independent Production Department, injected with some kind of stimulant, the air was thick like solidified honey, every floating particle in the light dust carrying heavy expectation and anxiety.
The hour hand steadily approached the critical nine-fifty mark.
It was a line, an invisible line dividing heaven and hell, glory and obscurity.
“I mean… why no news yet?”
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, now the second-in-status Drama Production Section chief in Independent Production Department after Hiroshi Nohara, was like a first-time examinee awaiting college entrance results, his usually arrogant face full of restlessness.
He kept picking up the phone on the desk, then putting it down, fingers unconsciously tapping the dial, making faint “tap tap” sounds like heartbeat drums.
“Yeah… this is too slow, right?”
Kenji Sato sitting opposite was even more nervous, palms sweating profusely.
His usually fatigued eyes now stared fixedly at the huge television on the wall, as if trying to glare the number deciding their fate out of the screen.
“You two, can’t you learn from the department head and stay calm?”
Yō Kitagawa walked over with two cups of hot tea, gently placing them in front of them, her usually vibrant pretty face now carrying the perfect composure of an experienced person.
Though her slightly trembling hands from excitement had already betrayed her inner tension.
“Calm? How can I stay calm!” Tsuyoshi Yamamoto irritably rolled his eyes at her, pointing at the young man quietly sitting on the central sofa from start to finish, even casually flipping through a manga, his voice full of genuine admiration and… a hint of jealousy: “Look at the department head! Does he look like someone about to go to war? Why do I feel he’s more relaxed than us waiting for the results?”
“Exactly! Exactly!” Kenji Sato chimed in, looking at Hiroshi Nohara like a real monster: “I even suspect that if tomorrow’s newspaper said the department head is actually an alien, I wouldn’t find it strange at all.”
“Hahahahahaha!”
The office instantly erupted in knowing laughter!
However, amid this tense and expectant atmosphere, the office’s heavy glass door was suddenly flung open with a “bang”!
“It’s here! It’s here! Ratings are out!”
A young staffer in charge of data statistics stood panting at the doorway, his face full of uncontainable excitement and ecstasy.
He waved a freshly faxed, still warm document in his hand.
“Whoa—”
Almost simultaneously, everyone in the office jumped up from their seats!
Those young, vibrant faces all showed the same expectation!
“Quick! Tell us! How much?!” Tsuyoshi Yamamoto was first to rush up, his voice hoarse from excitement.
The young staffer took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his ecstasy, then in a near-pilgrimage tone, slowly uttered the number that would drive anyone mad.
“《Late-night Diner》 premiere ratings—”
He paused, as if laying the grandest prelude for the miracle to come.
“18.9%!”
“Boom—!”
This number exploded like the most precise nuclear bomb throughout the office!
“What?!”
“18.9%?! You… you didn’t read it wrong, did you?!”
“Oh my god! How… how is this possible?! This is the nine p.m. late prime time slot!”
“Am… am I dreaming?!”
After a brief silence, the office plunged into massive uproar and revelry!
Everyone was so excited they were incoherent, cheering, hugging, their ecstasy nearly lifting the ceiling!
“18.9%! 18.9%!” Tsuyoshi Yamamoto spun two circles in excitement, then rushed to Hiroshi Nohara, his usually arrogant face now full of irrepressible ecstasy: “Department Head! You… you created another miracle! A miracle shocking the entire Neon Television Industry!”
“Yeah! Department Head!” Kenji Sato’s usually fatigued face was now flushed, voice trembling: “For a usual nine p.m. late prime time slot, over 10% is already quite good! But we… we shot straight to 18.9%! Almost… almost broke 20%! This… this is prime time slot level!”
“What prime time slot level?” Yō Kitagawa confidently puffed her chest, her shared glory pride making her shine: “Let me tell you! This time, we didn’t just break the late prime time slot record! We broke the prime time slot record too!”
“Eh?!” Everyone was slightly stunned.
“Look!” Yō Kitagawa picked up the report, pointing to a column, her face blooming with a brilliant smile: “Tonight’s eight p.m. prime time slot aired a costume wealthy family struggle drama directed by Masayoshi Ishihara from Production Class 2, called 《The First Vassal Under the Lord》! And their ratings? A mere 17.3%! Crushed by us… thoroughly crushed!”
“Hahahahahaha!”
The office erupted in earth-shaking laughter again!
“I knew it! I knew it!” Tsuyoshi Yamamoto slapped his thigh hard, his voice full of triumphant relief: “That Masayoshi Ishihara, relying on being a second-class director, always looks down on everyone in the Production Bureau! This time, he finally knows what real strength is!”
“Yeah! Yeah!” Kenji Sato chimed in, his usually fatigued face now full of schadenfreude smile: “I heard his drama’s production budget was more than double ours! And yet? Still got rubbed on the ground by our department head!”
“So, making television dramas relies not on money, but talent!”
“Right! Our department head is the synonym for talent!”
“Alright, everyone, don’t say that.” Hiroshi Nohara finally looked up from the manga, looking at his subordinates more excited than himself, a helpless yet warm smile on his face: “Director Ishihara is also a very excellent senior. We just… got a bit lucky with the theme.”
He stood up, straightened his simple white T-shirt, his poise and confidence making him shine.
“I’ll go to Deputy Director Asumi’s office. You all keep celebrating.”
Of course, time to report to the leader.
……
In Asumi’s office, smoke swirled, tea aroma wafting.
When Hiroshi Nohara pushed the door open, he saw not only Asumi and Toshihide Takada, but also a slightly plump middle-aged man in his forties with an air of arrogance between his brows.
That face looked somewhat familiar.
“Oh! Hiroshi-kun! You’re finally here!” Asumi spotted him first, bouncing up from the sofa, his usually cheerful smiling face now full of irrepressible excitement.
He rushed to Hiroshi Nohara in two strides, clapped his shoulder hard, then pointed at the man beside him who also stood with a complex bitter smile, introducing with a laugh.
“Come, let me introduce. This is Director Masayoshi Ishihara, also the chief director of tonight’s 《The First Vassal Under the Lord》.”
“So it’s Director Ishihara.” Hiroshi Nohara smiled knowingly, proactively extending his hand with perfect humility and poise: “Hello, I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Don’t mention it.” Masayoshi Ishihara gripped Hiroshi Nohara’s hand tightly, his heartfelt bitter smile contrasting oddly with his expression.
“Minister Nohara, no need to joke with this defeated subordinate.” He shook his head, voice carrying helplessness, self-mockery, and bone-deep admiration: “Truth be told, before today, though I knew you were amazing, a monster, I still had some unwillingness deep down. I thought, as a second-class director with twenty years of television dramas, I couldn’t lose to a 23-year-old young person, right?”
He paused, exhaling deeply, as if that breath carried away all his arrogance and unwillingness.
“But after watching your 《Late-night Diner》 today, I’m… truly convinced.” He looked at Hiroshi Nohara, eyes full of indescribable complex emotions: “That skill of finding truth in the mundane, that precise grasp of the heart’s subtlest places—it’s really… beyond this old guy’s reach. I’m completely convinced.”
“You’re too kind, Director Ishihara.” Hiroshi Nohara just smiled calmly: “I watched a bit of your 《The First Vassal Under the Lord》 too—finely produced, actors’ performances full of tension, a very excellent work.”
Commercial mutual praise, anyone can do.
“Alright, Minister Nohara, no need to gild my face.” Masayoshi Ishihara waved bitterly, let go, and solemnly bowed to Hiroshi Nohara: “I came today to see with my own eyes what this legendary ‘monster’ who turns decay into magic looks like. Now I have. And I… lost willingly.”
With that, he said no more, bowed again to Asumi and Toshihide Takada, then turned and left with slightly dejected but dignified steps.
Watching his somewhat desolate back, Asumi and Toshihide Takada exchanged glances, both seeing the same amusement in each other’s eyes.
“That guy’s a good loser.” Asumi shook his head with a smile, walking to Hiroshi Nohara, eyes full of proud shared glory: “But speaking of which, Hiroshi-kun, you really… gave us another huge surprise! 18.9% ratings! When I got the call, I thought Data Department was drunk and reported wrong!”
“Yes, Hiroshi-kun.” Toshihide Takada sincerely praised: “This result is terrifying. It feels not just a number anymore, but a signal, declaring Tokyo Television Station will thoroughly dominate the entire Kanto Region television drama market… a signal!”
“Perhaps it can go even higher.” Hiroshi Nohara smiled lightly, casually replying.
“What?! Even higher?!” Asumi and Toshihide Takada’s eyes widened instantly.
“Mm.” Hiroshi Nohara nodded, looking at the starry nightscape of neon lights outside the window, his clear eyes flickering with worldly-deep profundity: “Today is Friday after all; many might have social engagements or be on their way home. Tomorrow, Saturday night, I believe more people will stay by the television to watch our heart-healing ‘Late-night Diner’.”
“Good! Then we’ll wait for your good news!” Asumi’s voice was full of affirmation.
However, amid this expectant and fanatical atmosphere, Hiroshi Nohara suddenly changed the subject.
“By the way, Deputy Director Asumi, Managing Director Takada.” He looked at them, a faint solemnity flashing in his usually calm eyes: “Has Tokyo City Television’s 《Minamijima Afu and His Beloved Dog》 premiere ratings come out?”
As soon as he spoke, the relaxed atmosphere in the office froze instantly.
The smiles on Asumi and Toshihide Takada’s faces gradually faded, replaced by deeper solemnity.
“It’s out.” Toshihide Takada nodded, picking up another document from the desk and handing it to Hiroshi Nohara, voice carrying a hint of wariness: “10.7%.”
“10.7%?” Hiroshi Nohara looked at the number, eyebrow slightly raised.
“Yeah.” Asumi sighed deeply, his usually cheerful face now full of helplessness: “Though not matching your 《Late-night Diner》, for a newly established station and brand-new drama, it’s already quite good. Most importantly, I hear its reputation among young female viewers is excellent. They say Shunsuke Kamiki reached new heights of handsomeness in it.”
“Looks like this battle will be harder than we thought.” Toshihide Takada’s face also showed solemnity.
They knew this was not just ratings competition, but… factional struggle.
And they had just fired the first shot.
……
