Chapter 49: 《an Shizhi Season 2》
The busy work resumed once again, after all, the production of An Shizhi Season 2 needed to be put on the schedule as soon as possible.
Or rather, it was already on the schedule.
《An Shizhi》’s first season’s huge success brought Suzuki’s Classroom unprecedented glory, and also brought visible changes.
They moved out of that old office located in the corner with insufficient lighting, and switched to a new classroom on a better floor with more spacious and bright space.
New computers, new drawing tablets, even the coffee machine in the pantry was replaced with the latest model that can grind beans.
And the biggest change was the people.
Under the personal attention of Deputy Director Asumi, personnel adjustments were made within the Production Bureau. Two experienced animators and a young person skilled in sound effects production were temporarily transferred to Suzuki’s Classroom to help.
This guerrilla team, once composed of the old, weak, sick, and disabled, finally upgraded from bird guns to cannons and took on the appearance of a regular army.
“Teacher Nohara, the storyboard draft for the first episode of the second season’s 《Taro》 has been fully completed!”
“For the sound effects part, I also added some bicycle chain noise and the subtle wooden friction sounds of doll joints turning, as per your request. Listen to the effect.”
“Nohara-kun, this is the key animation for the 《Kitchen》 in the second episode. Take a look. When this housewife is isolated, is that neurotic expression in place enough?”
The office was a scene of bustling activity.
Everyone was like clockwork gears, revolving at high speed and precisely around the absolute core in the office.
The core was Hiroshi Nohara.
But he was now quietly sitting at his new workstation, and what he held in his hand was not the 《An Shizhi》 manuscript.
Instead, it was a brand new 《Weekly Shonen Jump》 still emitting the fresh fragrance of ink.
On the center color page of the magazine, in the largest font and with the most hot-blooded brushstroke, it declared the arrival of a new era.
“—Dark Martial Arts Tournament, at its climax! 《Yu Yu Hakusho》, grandly entering a new chapter!”
He looked at that familiar image: Urameshi, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, the four standing side by side, behind them that island full of death and glory, crouching like a giant beast in a ferocious manner.
“Not bad.”
The corner of his mouth curved into a satisfied arc.
The success of 《An Shizhi》 gave him a foothold in this television station.
And the explosion of 《Yu Yu Hakusho》 would bring him true confidence to dialogue equally with this world without depending on anyone.
After all, millions of yen came in every week.
How could that not be confidence?
……
While Masao Iwata’s conspiracy was quietly fermenting in the darkness, Suzuki’s Classroom was still overflowing with a kind of fanaticism belonging to creators.
Hiroshi Nohara did not disappoint anyone’s expectations.
In the following week, like a supercomputer that never crashes, he presented all the remaining stories of 《An Shizhi》 Season 2 to everyone in a way almost like divine revelation.
Manuscripts flowed from his pen with an unquestionable precision and sophistication.
In 《Taro》, the ventriloquist dummy performed by the police, possessed by the soul of someone who died in a car accident, delivered an icy cold monologue from another world amid the baffled laughter of the audience below.
In the 《Kitchen》, that girl who was not good at socializing was gradually isolated under the enthusiastic “care” of her colleagues, and ultimately silently devoured by that seemingly warm collective.
The 《internal》 story turned into a chilling Russian doll, each opened doll representing a soul that was sucked away, until finally, the entire family became expressionless empty shells.
And 《Wall Girl》, 《Cabinet》, 《Koichi》……
Those stories seemed not created by him, but descended quietly onto this thin paper through his pen tip from another dimension.
Of course, that could be said.
After all, this was originally a late-night horror animated film painstakingly produced by the neon of the previous life, as well as Tokyo Television Station’s Production Bureau.
It was made with real effort!
Every story was like a sharp scalpel, precisely dissecting the hidden fears, loneliness, and human weaknesses beneath the glossy exterior of modern urban people.
The entire Suzuki’s Classroom was almost forgetting to eat and sleep, transforming those icy words and eerie lines from Hiroshi Nohara’s pen into frame-by-frame images that could make souls tremble.
A week later, 《An Shizhi》 Season 2 was completed.
This time, Deputy Director Asumi personally approved a publicity budget far exceeding that of the first season.
Tokyo Television Station’s energy was fully mobilized.
For a while, the entire Tokyo public opinion field was like an iron pot that had been preheated for a long time on the fire, just waiting for 《An Shizhi》, the main dish, to be put in.
Countless newspapers and magazines gave extremely high evaluations without stinginess.
Kato Shin even personally wrote a second column titled—《When Fear Becomes an Art: Why We Can’t Get Enough of 》.
As for ordinary promotions, there were countless.
“Can genius Hiroshi Nohara’s second move surpass the myth of the previous work?”
“From phenomenal to hall-of-fame level, 《An Shizhi》 Season 2 will define new heights of Japanese horror!”
“Industry insiders predict: Season 2 ratings are expected to break 8%, creating a ratings miracle for the late-night slot!”
Various words of praise were overwhelming, directly elevating 《An Shizhi》 and Hiroshi Nohara to an unprecedented height.
This made the entire Suzuki’s Classroom extremely excited.
People all love praise.
As production staff for 《An Shizhi》, as long as the second season’s ratings hold steady, they can add a very useful seniority to their records. Whether for appreciation or promotion, it’s quite useful!
……
In Toshihide Takada’s Office, the sandalwood smoke was still lingering, but the oppressive feeling had diminished quite a bit.
Toshihide Takada looked at the effusive praises for 《An Shizhi》 in the newspaper, a mocking smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
Because this was exactly what he wanted.
“How’s it going?” he asked without lifting his head.
Masao Iwata stood respectfully to the side, a suppressed smugness on his face: “Deputy Director, rest assured. Ichiro Hashishita is completely under our control now. These past few days, he told me everything he knew about 《An Shizhi》. I’ve already had my team start learning and imitating that production approach.”
“Very good.” The arc at the corner of Toshihide Takada’s mouth grew even icier.
He raised his head, looking at Masao Iwata, his gaze like looking at a sharp tool about to be put to use.
“Do you know why I allowed that guy Asumi to build up such a huge publicity momentum for 《An Shizhi》?”
Masao Iwata was stunned, indeed very puzzled.
“Kill by praise.”
Toshihide Takada squeezed out these two words through his teeth, his voice carrying a chilling viciousness.
“Now 《An Shizhi》 has been elevated to the altar by the media and those self-righteous critics. The audience’s expectations have been raised to an unprecedented height. They’re waiting for a miracle, waiting for a more heart-pounding horror feast surpassing the first season.”
He paused, his bottomless eyes flashing with viper-like light.
“But what if this second season isn’t as good as they imagine? What if this miracle has even the slightest flaw?”
“The higher you stand, the harder you fall.”
He looked at Masao Iwata, his gaze like appreciating a perfect artwork about to be completed.
“When 《An Shizhi》’s myth shatters, when I kick that old guy Suzuki to Hokkaido, when that genius called Hiroshi Nohara is drowned by the audience’s saliva… then it will be your turn and your new partner Hashishita-kun to take the stage.”
“I’ll hand the proposal for 《An Shizhi》 Season 3 to you. Use what you’ve learned to make a true one belonging to us, one that brings us glory and profit… 《An Shizhi》.”
Listening to this, Masao Iwata felt a chill rush from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, but what followed was a near-perverted excitement and anticipation.
He seemed to already see himself taking over, treading that damned young person underfoot in a glorious scene.
He bowed deeply, his voice carrying the pleasure of impending revenge.
“Yes! Everything as per Deputy Director’s arrangement!”
Toshihide Takada nodded in satisfaction, waved his hand signaling Iwata could withdraw.
He leaned back in his genuine leather boss chair, looking at the prosperous cityscape outside the window. The anger accumulated from being suppressed by 《An Shizhi》 finally found an outlet.
Although, to shut up those media and turn the critics’ guns around, he paid quite a price.
But as long as he could see Asumi and that damned young person fail, everything was worth it.
“Hiroshi Nohara…” He uttered this name, a cruel smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
“The game has only truly begun now.”
