Chapter 52: Promotion To Fourth-class Director
Top floor, Deputy Director’s office.
That door, always heavy like the embodiment of power, today carried a deathly silence.
Toshihide Takada did not rage, not even showing the suppressed gloom from the past few days.
He just sat quietly behind that massive desk, holding a cup of long-cold coffee, gazing at the city skyline outside the window that he once thought was fully under his control.
His gaze was somewhat vacant.
Masao Iwata stood rigidly to the side like a soulless wax figure, even his breathing cautious.
He didn’t dare look at Toshihide Takada’s face.
Because he knew that beneath that unusually calm exterior was a true rage capable of burning him completely to ashes.
Only after a long while did Toshihide Takada slowly speak, his voice hoarse as if sandpapered: “I heard that Asumi went to the Human Resources Department himself this morning.”
Masao Iwata’s body trembled violently.
“He formally submitted a request to the station, citing ‘discovering and nurturing a genius newcomer who created a ratings myth’…”
The corner of Toshihide Takada’s mouth curved into an extremely sarcastic arc, the smile carrying an icy self-mockery after public humiliation.
“He wants that intern named Hiroshi Nohara to skip all procedures directly, promote to Fourth-Class Director, and establish an independent special production team named after him, dedicated to ‘Urban Legends’ theme proposals…”
Boom!
In Masao Iwata’s mind, something exploded.
He raised his head in shock, his face filled with disbelief even thicker than when he heard the 8.12% figure.
Independent production team?
Named after an intern?
This… this was no longer just a simple promotion; this was creating a god!
It was Asumi declaring to everyone in the most direct, most brutal way that he had found the sharpest weapon capable of overturning the entire Production Bureau’s power structure!
“I… we can’t let him succeed!” Despair filled Masao Iwata’s voice, a wail after all hope was utterly stripped away.
“Too late.”
Toshihide Takada slowly leaned back into his genuine leather boss chair, those eyes always gleaming with shrewdness and scheming now showing, for the first time, a trace of true fatigue.
“More than half the Board of Directors has already been convinced by that 8.12% figure.
They don’t care about factional struggles; they only care who can bring profit to the television station, bring the next myth.”
He closed his eyes, like an idol in a shrine whose incense had burned out, leaving only a cold stone shell.
“Iwata, you go out first. I want… to be alone for a bit.”
……
In Suzuki’s Classroom, the victorious clamor finally settled under time’s wash into a deeper joy.
Hiroshi Nohara was now in his own personal lounge, essentially his office, seemingly oblivious to all the external glory and disturbance.
A brand-new manuscript lay spread before him.
On it were no longer the hot-blooded battles from 《Yu Yu Hakusho》, nor the eerie lines from 《An Shizhi》.
Instead, it was a five-year-old boy wearing a yellow top, red shorts, with a flat head and two comically thick eyebrows.
He was grinning wide, showing white teeth, laughing without a care.
Hiroshi Nohara’s pen tip lightly touched the boy’s face, like caressing a long-missed, warm dream from another world.
“Shin.” A smile appeared at the corner of Hiroshi Nohara’s mouth.
He had grown to like this world.
‘Ding ding ding——’
At that moment, the office door was gently knocked.
Kiyoto Suzuki walked in, followed by a middle-aged man in an impeccably tailored suit with an elegant face.
It was Deputy Director Asumi.
“Deputy Director!”
The office instantly fell silent as everyone instinctively stood, respectfully bowing their heads.
“Mm.” Deputy Director Asumi lightly acknowledged, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally landing on that young person in the corner, who had been preemptively reminded and called out from the office.
He didn’t put on the Deputy Director’s airs, just approached Hiroshi Nohara directly with a mild smile on his face.
“Nohara-kun.” His voice carried genuine appreciation: “I’m here today to formally thank you, in front of everyone, for digging up a treasure like you for our Tokyo Television Station.”
He even slightly lowered his head to show his respect.
“Thank you for your appreciation! Deputy Director Asumi!”
Hiroshi Nohara bowed deeply, showing no lapse in etiquette despite the other’s gesture.
Neon valued etiquette, seniority, and class.
Hiroshi Nohara understood this.
“Very good.”
Hearing this, Deputy Director Asumi’s smile deepened.
He glanced at the manuscript on Hiroshi Nohara’s desk depicting Shin with crayons, curiosity flashing in his eyes, but he didn’t ask more.
A trace of curiosity surfaced.
He knew true geniuses always had their own worlds unknown to outsiders.
He took a document from his pocket and gently placed it in front of Hiroshi Nohara.
“This is the resolution just passed by the station.” His voice wasn’t loud but clearly reached everyone’s ears: “From today, you, Hiroshi Nohara, will formally be promoted to Fourth-Class Director in the Tokyo Television Production Bureau. At the same time, the ‘Hiroshi Nohara Special Production Team’ will be established, dedicated to ‘Urban Legends’ and related innovative themes’ proposals and production. Personnel and budget are yours to decide fully; just report to me later.”
He paused, his deep eyes gazing at the uncarved jade-like figure, shining with unprecedented light.
“Nohara-kun, this television station’s future may just be in your hands.”
Deputy Director Asumi spoke with utmost sincerity.
“Applaud!”
At this moment, Section Chief Kiyoto Suzuki directly reminded the surrounding classroom members, then clapped vigorously himself.
“Clap clap clap clap clap clap——”
Then, whether Hoshi Minamimura, Roji Hase, Yō Kitagawa, or the two newly joined production personnel, and Ichiro Hashishita, all clapped hard.
Each one flushed with excitement, their clapping hands turning red in a short time.
They were truly thrilled!
The Tokyo Television Production Bureau wasn’t without those who jumped quickly from assistant to Fourth-Class Director.
But without exception, they were renowned big directors from the Tokyo Television Production Bureau Headquarters!
Now, Hiroshi Nohara had achieved this too.
It was foreseeable.
Hiroshi Nohara…
Had an extremely bright future!
That’s why they were so excited, proud to have worked alongside such a strong person.
Even people outside the classroom, sensing the news, gathered at the doorway.
Stunned to see Hiroshi Nohara promoted to Fourth-Class Director.
So they too began clapping.
This was a time when everyone praised each other.
No offending people recklessly.
Moreover, with Hiroshi Nohara’s name now backed by this morning’s 8.12% ratings, who in the Tokyo Television Production Bureau dared not show some respect?
Many Third-Class Directors never reached 8.12% ratings in their lifetimes!
Even those Second-Class Directors wouldn’t claim their television dramas or films could steadily outperform 《An Shizhi Season 2》.
Out of respect, they already saw Hiroshi Nohara as one of their own.
Not as that Assistant Director.
Nor as this Fourth-Class Director now!
‘How could this be!’ But amid the crowd, though Ichiro Hashishita clapped vigorously, his heart was increasingly… consumed by jealousy!
