Chapter 64: Hiroshi Nohara In High Spirits!
On Monday morning, Hiroshi Nohara was in a great mood.
It was just like a freshly mixed glass of lemonade, with ice cubes, carrying a perfect hint of coolness and refreshment.
It made one’s mind feel clear and refreshed!
Hiroshi Nohara rested one hand on the steering wheel, his other elbow casually on the car window, watching the skyscrapers outside gilded with a layer of gold by the morning light, his mood as steady and powerful as the V8 engine of this car.
Success was like putting a rare buff on oneself in a game, making one feel like golden special effects were floating above one’s head even while walking down the street.
Even the air smelled a few degrees sweeter than others’.
Hmm… perhaps it was also because the gasoline of this era really had a lot of high-tech additives, making it smell sweet…
But Hiroshi Nohara was indeed in a good mood.
When he smoothly parked his car in the underground spot reserved for director-level personnel at Tokyo Television Production Bureau, this feeling became even more pronounced.
“Director Nohara, good morning!”
“Section Chief Nohara, you look great today!”
“Teacher Nohara! Your An Shizhi Season 2 finale was simply a masterpiece! My daughter now runs away at the sight of a telescope!”
From the parking lot to the elevator, and then to the floor where the Production Bureau was located, all along the way, those faces who used to just nod in passing, or not even bother to nod, now bloomed with enthusiastic smiles like sunflowers swept by the spring breeze, all turning toward him uniformly.
Those forms of address also changed from the initially slightly distant “Nohara-kun” to the current varied “director,” “section chief,” and even “teacher” laced with a bit of fanatical worship.
Of course, those calling him “teacher” were all the newly hired young people who knew of Hiroshi Nohara’s achievements.
They were also the young people who had watched Yu Yu Hakusho and were his fans.
Hiroshi Nohara responded with a modest smile.
Nodding to each one in turn.
He knew very well in his heart that these people weren’t greeting him; they were paying tribute to the ratings myth named “8.12%.”
In this unit where only data spoke, he, Hiroshi Nohara, was that brightest, irrefutable string of numbers itself.
Representing the record-breaking ratings that could be called a myth!
After succeeding…
Everyone you meet is a good person.
This statement was absolutely correct.
“Ding.” The elevator doors opened.
He walked into that room with the brand-new nameplate already hung—【Hiroshi Production Team】.
The office was a scene of bustling activity, completely different from the somewhat sleepy quiet in the corridor.
“Section Chief, good morning!”
Hoshi Minamimura and Roji Hase both sprang up from their seats almost simultaneously.
Those two young faces still carried the fatigue of a hangover, but their eyes were frighteningly bright, like two little tigers that had just won a fierce battle in the jungle, excitedly licking their wounds.
“Section Chief Nohara! Today’s breakfast is your favorite egg sandwich and iced Americano!” Yō Kitagawa, like a diligent little bee, neatly arranged the warm breakfast and chilled coffee.
Those sparkling big eyes curved into two beautiful crescent moons, filled with undisguised worship.
“Thanks for the hard work.” Hiroshi Nohara smiled as he took the breakfast and sat down behind the desk symbolizing his new status.
He looked around and nodded inwardly.
This small team, after two months of hellish tempering, had shed its initial greenness, and everyone now exuded the uplifting confidence of victors.
But he soon noticed something was off.
“Where’s Senior Hashishita?” He took a bite of the sandwich and asked casually.
By convention, as the line producer, Ichiro Hashishita was usually the first to arrive.
The fiery atmosphere in the office instantly cooled a few degrees.
Hoshi Minamimura and Roji Hase exchanged a glance, the former scratching his head, somewhat uncertainly saying, “No idea, haven’t seen him today…”
“Senior Hashishita has been acting a bit strange lately.”
Yō Kitagawa held her milk cup, adding softly, her usually energetic little face now filled with the sharp intuition and worry unique to women: “I’ve seen him several times alone at the end of the corridor taking calls, all secretive. When I asked, he said it was family matters.”
“That’s right, that’s right!”
Roji Hase nodded vigorously too, lowering his voice as if sharing some big secret: “Last Friday, I saw that assistant from Iwata’s Classroom, the one named Kojima, sneaking around peeking at our doorway, and then it seemed like he went to find Senior Hashishita.”
Everyone’s gazes converged on Hiroshi Nohara.
For a moment, the office was left with only the monotonous hum of the coffee machine.
“Maybe… he’s found a new classroom?” Hoshi Minamimura guessed; it was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
After all, with Section Chief Suzuki’s promotion, this temporarily assembled team had, in a sense, disbanded.
Ichiro Hashishita, as an experienced fourth-class director, being poached by another classroom was perfectly normal.
Hiroshi Nohara didn’t speak; he just calmly sipped his coffee.
After all, Kiyoto Suzuki had talked to him a lot before leaving.
Including about Ichiro Hashishita.
Moreover, as a young man, Hiroshi Nohara rising to fourth-class director so quickly was bound to stir jealousy.
But some things, once seen through, didn’t need to be said.
Ichiro Hashishita was free to go to whichever classroom he wanted.
“By the way, Section Chief Nohara.”
At that moment, Yō Kitagawa gently placed a document just retrieved from the Administration Department in front of Hiroshi Nohara.
“This is… a notice from above.”
Her voice carried a hint of unconcealed indignation: “It says there’s a special meeting at ten a.m. today about An Shizhi’s follow-up copyright and adaptation rights, requiring you… as the original creator, to attend.”
“Ha! These guys move fast!”
Hoshi Minamimura slapped the table, his young face full of anger: “We’ve worked so hard to build this empire, and already someone’s eager to pick the peaches?!”
“Exactly! Their table manners are too ugly!” Roji Hase was shaking with rage too.
The joy in the office that had just risen from victory was instantly replaced by anger at being publicly robbed.
“Everyone, calm down.”
Hiroshi Nohara’s voice stood out exceptionally calm amid this noisy anger.
He looked at the notice, a faint arc at the corner of his mouth: “When peaches ripen, someone will always want to pick them. The question is whether they can reach them and if they can afford the price.”
His words were like a sedative, instantly soothing the agitation in everyone’s hearts.
The copyright was still in the hands of their omnipotent section chief.
If the section chief didn’t agree.
What could they do?!
Thinking of this, everyone smiled.
‘Creak—’
Just as everyone started enthusiastically discussing Hiroshi Nohara’s tactics and the copyright issue, the office door was pushed open.
Ichiro Hashishita walked in.
He was wearing a brand-new suit, hair combed impeccably, his face carrying a perfectly measured, formulaic apology, but his tone revealed little emotion: “Sorry, everyone, I’m late. There was a family emergency.”
“Senior Hashishita, why…” Hoshi Minamimura started to ask something.
But Ichiro Hashishita interrupted him directly: “Um… I have some personal matters this morning and need to step out. I’ve already reported it to Personnel Department in advance.”
Without waiting for Hiroshi Nohara to speak, he turned to leave.
This posture was less a request for leave and more a… notification.
The atmosphere in the entire office instantly dropped to freezing.
Hoshi Minamimura and Roji Hase stared at him in stunned silence, their eyes like they were looking at a complete stranger intruder.
This wasn’t their Senior Hashishita at all!
“Senior Hashishita.”
Hiroshi Nohara’s voice rose calmly at that moment.
Ichiro Hashishita’s footsteps halted; he didn’t turn around, just facing away from everyone, his voice somewhat stiff: “Section Chief, anything else?”
“Oh, nothing.” Hiroshi Nohara leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping lightly on the desk in a steady rhythm, pausing for a moment before speaking again: “Next time, remember to tell us in advance too, or we’ll worry about you.”
Ichiro Hashishita was silent for a moment.
But said nothing.
He just gave a “hmm,” quickened his pace, and nearly fled through the doorway.
The office instantly fell into dead silence.
No one was a fool; they could feel the surging undercurrents beneath that seemingly calm conversation.
And… the anomaly of Senior Hashishita!
“Ring ring—”
But just as the atmosphere was extremely tense, the desk phone’s bell rang abruptly, breaking the suffocating silence.
“Hello, this is Hiroshi Production Team.” Hiroshi Nohara picked up the receiver, all emotions faded from his handsome face.
Only calm remained.
From the other end came Deputy Director Asumi’s mild and steady voice: “Nohara-kun, you got the meeting notice, right?”
“Yes, Deputy Director.” Hiroshi Nohara’s voice was calm and unwavering: “Just, I’m a bit confused why it’s so urgent?” He didn’t hide that he’d already guessed the facts.
“Heh, some people can’t wait.” Asumi laughed heartily.
He liked the clever Hiroshi Nohara.
But thinking of Hiroshi Nohara’s importance to An Shizhi, Asumi still said gravely: “This is a challenge for you, so before this, I’ve already spoken to Audit Department. The copyright is yours, so the price is yours to set. And since An Shizhi is a very successful proposal animation, a high price is only right…”
This was revealing the price.
“Hi.” Hiroshi Nohara raised an eyebrow; as long as the price was up to him, he wouldn’t hold back.
At this moment, Asumi spoke again: “Moreover, I have an even better proposal to hand to you.”
“Please go ahead.” Hiroshi Nohara feigned slight surprise.
“Remember that S-class live-action horror proposal I mentioned last time?” Asumi’s voice carried a trace of solemnity: “The station has officially approved it. For the director, I recommended you. The board passed it unanimously.”
Hearing this, a sharp glint like a sword unsheathed finally flickered in Hiroshi Nohara’s eyes, which had been calm as an ancient well.
Just as he had guessed!
And he knew this was Asumi’s real trump card.
Using the seemingly trivial An Shizhi Season 3 production rights to exchange for absolute control over an S-class project that could determine the landscape for years to come.
This maneuver was brilliantly clever.
“Deputy Director, aren’t you afraid I’ll mess it up?” Hiroshi Nohara’s tone carried a hint of teasing.
“Hahaha!” From the other end came Asumi’s hearty laugh: “Nohara-kun, in my life, I’ve never misjudged a person. I believe in you like I believe the sun will rise tomorrow.”
“Then, thank you for your trust.” A confident arc formed at the corner of Hiroshi Nohara’s mouth.
“Mm.” Asumi sensed Hiroshi Nohara wasn’t angry or annoyed, and relaxed inwardly. Then seriously: “Nohara, after the meeting, come to my office.”
“Hi!” Hiroshi Nohara replied.
After hanging up, Hiroshi Nohara turned to look at the sky outside fragmented by steel bars and cement, and in his heart, the chess game he’d simulated countless times finally placed its most crucial piece.
He picked up the proposal on the desk and slowly wrote five words on the blank cover.
—《World of the Strange》.
No matter how well An Shizhi performed, it was just a late-night or midnight slot animation.
If he wanted to achieve results.
He needed live-action film and television to speak for him.
But for Hiroshi Nohara, who had memories from his previous life, a live-action horror TV drama that perfectly fit the “urban legends” genre and matched “Neon modern national conditions.”
It existed!
And there were many!
But among them, the most classic was precisely this World of the Strange, which could be called Neon’s national-level horror live-action TV drama!
It created multiple Neon ratings records.
And had been airing continuously for over thirty years.
Based on Hiroshi Nohara’s previous life memories, it started in 1990 and was still in production and airing up to 2025.
Enduring without decline!
Now in this parallel universe Neon, Hiroshi Nohara didn’t believe he couldn’t conquer this Neon with the same era background and social culture!
……
At exactly ten a.m., Tokyo Television Production Bureau Headquarters Building, seventeenth floor, third meeting room.
When Hiroshi Nohara pushed open that heavy frosted glass door, the room was already filled with people.
The air floated with a unique scent mixing high-end black tea aroma and document ink.
Like the prelude to a smokeless war about to begin.
At the head seat sat Screening Department Director Yamamoto, his face bearing a formulaic mild smile, but beneath it, a bottomless calm like an icy cold pool.
To his left and right were the Production Bureau Finance Department section chief, the Audit Department representative, and the Copyright Procurement person in charge.
These people formed the core operational hub of this television station.
Every name represented a power chain that could decide a work’s life or death.
“Nohara-kun, please have a seat.”
Seeing Hiroshi Nohara enter, Yamamoto personally stood to greet him warmly, his posture as if welcoming not a newly tenured fourth-class director, but an industry titan on equal footing.
“Director Yamamoto, seniors, good morning.” Hiroshi Nohara bowed slightly, humble yet not servile.
He calmly sat in the chair prepared for him across from Yamamoto, his gaze sweeping over everyone, taking in every expression.
“Nohara-kun, we invited you here mainly to represent the station in extending our sincerest congratulations and thanks.”
Yamamoto spoke first, his voice loud and full of official praise: “Your An Shizhi can be called Tokyo Television’s biggest dark horse this year—no, in the past three years! The 8.12% ratings myth isn’t just a miracle for the late-night slot; it’s a huge impact on the entire industry! Everyone here is your loyal viewer!”
As soon as he said this, the meeting room filled with kind echoes of agreement.
“Yes, Teacher Nohara, that paper concept was pure genius! Our Audit Department is now using it as a model for innovative proposals.”
“Finance Department has tallied it too: An Shizhi’s input-output ratio set a ten-year high for our station! Nohara-kun, you’re the pride of us all!”
Praise surged like a tide, filling the small meeting room with spring-like warmth.
Hiroshi Nohara just listened quietly, a mild smile on his face, occasionally nodding politely to the praise.
He knew better than anyone that this was just the exquisite appetizers before the “Hongmen Banquet” began—fancy but not filling.
Sure enough, after the pleasantries, Yamamoto cleared his throat.
Time to reveal the dagger.
“Nohara-kun, precisely because An Shizhi achieved such huge success, after careful study, the station’s top brass has decided to elevate this proposal brand to strategic level.”
His voice grew solemn, with an irrefutable official tone: “We hope the station can officially buy out all subsequent copyrights of An Shizhi, including animation adaptations, live-action film and television, and peripheral development rights. We’ll assemble the top team, invest premium resources, and turn it into a true national level project brand representing Tokyo Television.”
Here it came.
Hiroshi Nohara chuckled inwardly, but his face perfectly showed a trace of astonishment and reluctance.
He furrowed his brows slightly, as if hearing a deeply difficult request, silent for a long time before slowly speaking, his voice carrying a creator’s attachment to his work: “Director Yamamoto, I’m very grateful for the station’s regard. But… An Shizhi is like my first child to me. Selling it… I… I’m a bit reluctant.”
His words were so sincere that everyone present nodded subconsciously.
No fault in that.
Anyone would hesitate to sell a goose laying golden eggs.
Yamamoto had clearly anticipated this reaction; his smile unchanged, his tone carrying an experienced person’s guidance and inducement:
“Nohara-kun, we fully understand your feelings. But you must know, a proposal brand’s growth needs a broader platform and more professional operations. You have talent, but your energy is limited. Rather than letting this ‘child’ fight alone with you, why not hand it to our stronger ‘family’ to nurture it into a towering tree? Isn’t that a better future for it?”
“Moreover…”
Yamamoto paused, throwing out his prepared trump card, his voice carrying an irresistible temptation to any young drifter in Tokyo: “Nohara-kun, you’re still living in an apartment, right? Too far from the station. And your household registration is still back in Akita hometown, correct?”
He looked at Hiroshi Nohara, his eyes like a skilled hunter slowly tightening a pre-set trap.
“As long as you agree to this copyright transfer, the station will not only give you a huge sum enough to buy your own house in Minato Ward or Setagaya. Our Human Resources Department will immediately start special talent introduction procedures to solve for you a real Tokyo household registration that lets you root yourself in this city.”
The meeting room quieted.
All gazes converged on Hiroshi Nohara.
A house in Tokyo, a Tokyo household registration.
This was a dream countless out-of-towners might never achieve in a lifetime.
And now, it was right in front of him, within reach.
No one thought he had reason to refuse.
Hiroshi Nohara was silent.
He leaned back in the chair, gazing out the window at the sky cut apart by steel bars and cement, his handsome face showing for the first time a young man’s perfectly measured struggle and hesitation.
After a long time, he exhaled deeply, as if making an extremely difficult decision.
“Alright.” He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse with compromise: “I understand. I agree to transfer the copyright.”
Yamamoto and everyone present instantly showed relieved smiles.
Done.
“But on the price…” Hiroshi Nohara looked up, all hesitation gone from his clear eyes, leaving only calm: “I hope it’s ten million yen.”
Ten million!
This number was like a stone tossed into a calm lake, rippling everyone’s hearts.
It was indeed sky-high.
But for a proposal brand that created a ratings myth with unlimited potential, it was… within a fully acceptable range.
Especially since the Executive Deputy Director had nodded.
They had no reason to block it.
Yamamoto exchanged a glance with the Finance section chief, who nodded imperceptibly.
“No problem.” Yamamoto sealed it with a hammer, victory’s smile back on his face: “We’ll do as Nohara-kun says.”
“Then, just one last thing.”
Just as everyone thought it was settled and prepared to stand for celebratory handshakes, Hiroshi Nohara’s voice rose calmly again.
“I have one small, even somewhat willful request.”
He looked at everyone, his eyes like a father about to part with his child, full of reluctance and worry: “I hope to add a special clause to the contract.”
“Special clause?” Yamamoto was taken aback.
“Yes.”
Hiroshi Nohara nodded, stating word by word: “If—and I mean if—the station’s subsequent An Shizhi productions have an average ratings below 5% for three consecutive weeks, then I shall have the right to forcibly reclaim the exclusive production rights for the next two seasons of An Shizhi at one yen.”
He paused, meeting their stunned gazes, adding: “Of course, the copyright remains with the station; I only want the production rights, just for the next two seasons.”
The meeting room fell into dead silence again.
This clause sounded like a childish, meaningless bet.
5%?
What a joke!
An Shizhi Season 2’s average ratings were nearly breaking 7%; even Season 3 couldn’t drop below 5%!
Yamamoto looked at Hiroshi Nohara’s face full of “stubbornness” and “naivety,” the faint displeasure from the sky-high price instantly dissipating.
He even found it amusing.
Still just a young man after all—talent in abundance, but ignorant of commerce’s cruelty.
This clause was just his final futile struggle to preserve his meager creator dignity.
What harm in indulging him?
It could even sell him a favor.
“Fine.”
Yamamoto’s face bloomed with a sincere smile.
He stood and extended a hand to Hiroshi Nohara: “Nohara-kun, pleased to cooperate. On behalf of Tokyo Television, welcome you as our family’s most important member.”
Hiroshi Nohara stood too and shook that hand.
“Pleased to cooperate.”
His face also bore a mild smile.
But beneath that smile, deep in those clear eyes, hid a flash of icy cold light like a chess player seeing prey enter the trap.
He wasn’t selling a child.
He was just using a soon-to-fade proposal brand to exchange for a house, a household registration, ten million in cash, and… the perfect stage to make his opponents shatter to pieces in the future.
And he himself would take that S-class proposal to open up a broader new world truly his own.
In this game, he had long seen the ending.
“Interesting.” The corner of Hiroshi Nohara’s mouth curved slightly.
PS: Now on shelves, committing to four updates daily hereafter. Hope everyone supports more~ Also, more recommendation and monthly votes please~
