Chapter 4: Conflict
Of course, for Kiyoto Suzuki, this behavior of ignoring his subordinate and barging into his office was also quite rude.
In Neon culture, this could almost be called a slap in the face!
‘Bang!’
So Kiyoto Suzuki immediately slammed the desk and stood up, his face flushed red with extreme anger as he gritted his teeth and said: “Masao Iwata, do you really think that by relying on Deputy Director Takada, I’ll be afraid of you just because you barge in so rudely?”
But in response to Kiyoto Suzuki’s anger, Masao Iwata still had that sinister look, with an extremely insidious smile.
He took two steps forward, looking at the hand that had slammed onto the desktop.
At Kiyoto Suzuki, who was glaring at him in fury.
He instead showed a provocative smile: “That’s right, Deputy Director Takada is an important leader in the Tokyo Television Production Bureau, in charge of film and television project production, and he is the direct superior of us directors. Shouldn’t we show sincere respect to Deputy Director Takada?”
“……You!” Kiyoto Suzuki gritted his teeth even harder, the anger in his eyes almost turning into substance and burning out.
But to Masao Iwata’s words, he could only grit his teeth and say nothing.
Just as he said.
Toshihide Takada, Deputy Director of the Tokyo Television Production Bureau, and also a real-power executive, in charge of film and television project production.
He has absolute authority in allocating funds and leading projects.
Except for the Director.
He could be said to be the second or third in command of the entire Production Bureau.
He, Kiyoto Suzuki, was just a minor Third-Class Director in the Tokyo Television Station’s head Production Bureau. Though he had some authority, compared to this Deputy Director Takada, it was simply not enough.
So at this moment, no matter how angry Kiyoto Suzuki was, he didn’t dare to really go after that Deputy Director Takada.
Neon’s superior-subordinate concept was deeply ingrained!
Seeing Kiyoto Suzuki’s impotent rage, Masao Iwata’s sinister smile on his face grew even more mocking: “Relax, Suzuki-kun, after all, you are my…… senior.”
“Although this time you and I both chose the ghost story theme to compete for the Second-Class Director promotion spot, we’re competing fairly. I can’t really use Deputy Director Takada to suppress you, can I?”
“What exactly are you trying to say?” Kiyoto Suzuki’s face was extremely suppressed: “If it’s just this, I hope you can leave my office!”
Kiyoto Suzuki issued an order to leave.
And Masao Iwata glanced at Hiroshi Nohara still standing nearby, with the young face of a fresh graduate, obvious disdain in his eyes, snorted with a laugh, looked back at Kiyoto Suzuki, and mocked: “Then I won’t disturb you, Suzuki-kun. I heard earlier you hired a somewhat famous manga artist to help, but now it seems Suzuki-kun is really at the end of his rope.”
After saying that, ignoring Kiyoto Suzuki’s murderous glare, he smiled, turned around, and walked out of the office.
With a swaggering, arrogant demeanor.
“Alright, all of you go out.” Only after a good while did Kiyoto Suzuki wearily sit back in his chair, waving his hand to let Yō Kitagawa and the two young subordinates leave the office.
And sitting in his chair, looking at Hiroshi Nohara who was still somewhat stunned, he gave a bitter smile: “Nohara-kun, you’ve seen something embarrassing.”
Hiroshi Nohara didn’t know how to respond, so he didn’t speak.
But even without speaking, he understood.
It was just workplace struggle.
In his previous life working in government, he had seen plenty of such intrigue.
But this kind of face-to-face mockery almost tearing off the facade was something Hiroshi Nohara had never seen before, and he felt a bit shocked.
And regarding the status of his classmate’s uncle in the Tokyo Television Production Bureau.
It was also somewhat awkward.
“The guys from the Tokyo Television Station headquarters have always been quite cliquey. Every time there’s a promotion, I, who rose from an affiliate station, feel extremely troubled.” Kiyoto Suzuki, being over fifty, quickly calmed his inner turmoil.
Kiyoto Suzuki gave a self-mocking smile and picked up the An Shizhi picture album in his hand again.
A sharp glint appeared in his eyes.
If before, he had no confidence or better way against Masao Iwata in this competition for Second-Class Director promotion.
Now.
After having this An Shizhi picture album.
Kiyoto Suzuki felt it wasn’t certain anymore.
“Hiroshi-kun.” Kiyoto Suzuki looked up at this time, looking again at Hiroshi Nohara still standing there with his head down.
“Here.” Hiroshi Nohara immediately replied.
“Do you have anything else today?” Kiyoto Suzuki asked.
“N-no.” Hiroshi Nohara seemed to have guessed something.
“Then stay.” Kiyoto Suzuki slowly exhaled a stifled breath and said seriously: “I’ll handle your onboarding. Starting today, let’s complete the animation adaptation of An Shizhi!”
“It’s an honor! Please take care of me from now on, Mr. Suzuki!” Hiroshi Nohara bowed again, his face already showing an irrepressible smile.
“No, let’s take care of each other.”
Kiyoto Suzuki also stood up at this time, slightly bowing to Hiroshi Nohara, appearing extremely formal.
Which was also extremely high recognition of Hiroshi Nohara.
Then Kiyoto Suzuki brought Hiroshi Nohara outside his office, to the office area of the independent Director’s Classroom belonging to him as a Third-Class Director.
And introduced it to him.
“This is our Line Producer Ichiro Hashishita, a Fourth-Class Director, responsible for assisting me with filming plans, production notices, and on-site coordination.”
“Hi, I’m Ichiro Hashishita. Please take care of me.” A man in his thirties with a full black beard, looking quite reserved, stood up and politely bowed to Hiroshi Nohara.
“Hello, please take care of me.” Hiroshi Nohara returned the bow.
“These two are the Assistant Directors, Hoshi Minamimura and Roji Hase, also our Suzuki Director Team’s Script Supervisors, and like you, graduates from last year.”
“Hi, please take care of me.” The two young men who had blocked earlier also stood up and bowed to Hiroshi Nohara.
“Please take care of me.” Hiroshi Nohara returned the bow again.
“Yō Kitagawa, our Suzuki Director Team’s Office Assistant. You can tell her anything; she handles a lot of our work.” Kiyoto Suzuki finally introduced Yō Kitagawa.
“Hiroshi-kun.” Yō Kitagawa bowed to Hiroshi Nohara with a cheerful smile: “Please take care of me.”
“Please take care of me.” Hiroshi Nohara still returned the bow.
Though he felt a bit helpless inside.
But there was no way around it.
Etiquette was like that.
And finally, Kiyoto Suzuki introduced Hiroshi Nohara.
“Everyone, you may not know Hiroshi Nohara-kun, but he was already a somewhat famous manga artist in university. The 《Yu Yu Hakusho》 currently serializing in 《Shonen JUMP》 weekly is his work.”
“Oh——!!!”
At this moment, the two Assistant Directors, Hoshi Minamimura and Roji Hase, immediately showed surprised expressions.
Their gazes toward Hiroshi Nohara were full of shock.
“The author of Yu Yu Hakusho, Hiroshi Nohara-kun!?” The two exchanged a glance, seeing the shock and worship in each other’s eyes.
They were all young people.
One could say that for young people in this era, a manga magazine like 《Shonen JUMP》 was just like Qidian Chinese Network’s status in the web novel world in later years.
Being able to serialize in it already showed a high level.
And they……
Were real fans of 《Yu Yu Hakusho》!
Although this manga was currently in serialization at second or third edition level, everyone could see that as the plot progressed, this work’s popularity was rising higher and higher, and becoming a hit was only a matter of time.
And they usually read this manga often, always chasing updates, yet never expected the author to be right in front of them.
How could they not be shocked?
“I know you’re shocked, but now we need to get to work.”
Kiyoto Suzuki satisfactorily saw the shocked looks of these two young people, smiled and clapped his hands, raising the picture album in his hand.
Handed it to Yō Kitagawa, signaling her to take it.
And said seriously: “This time, our Suzuki Director’s Classroom is producing a horror-themed animation, which is An Shizhi brought by Hiroshi Nohara-kun!”
“I hope everyone puts in extra effort during this time to quickly produce the content of the first story. Understood?”
