Chapter 74: Post-finale Negotiations! Four People Who Admire Each Other!
That’s right, in others’ eyes, Hiroshi Nohara was a strong person!
He not only used his godlike storyboards to depict an unprecedented wondrous world for everyone, but also with execution power akin to a miracle, pulled this world from the void of paper into reality alive!
And it was all completed in just a few short hours.
Everyone had only just met.
Then, in an extremely exaggerated manner, they completed the production of a small unit in a unit drama.
Doesn’t this prove that Hiroshi Nohara is a strong person?
Of course, others truly didn’t know.
But Hiroshi Nohara himself knew all too well that this was not creation, but a perfect replication across time and space.
That national-level masterpiece named 《World of the Strange》 from his previous life, tempered by countless elite producers, was already the essence of essences.
And he, Hiroshi Nohara, what he needed to do now was to take this jade already carved into perfect form, and using this world’s superior equipment, more ample funds, and… a group of Kanto tigers suppressed for too long and eager to prove themselves, embed for it the most brilliant gold edging unique to this era!
Post-production dubbing, music direction, every note, every heartbeat drumbeat, under his memory blueprint of perfect pitch, were precisely placed in the most appropriate positions.
This was no longer adding flowers to brocade.
This was using the hand of god to inject a soul capable of shaking the era into an already perfect artwork!
……
Nine-thirty at night.
When the final note perfectly matched the image, when on the monitor screen, that mysterious man wearing sunglasses, at the story’s end, left with a hoarse and magnetic voice that thought-provoking line “The door to the wondrous world has opened for you.”
The entire post-production room fell into a deathly silence.
Then, like a volcanic eruption, it burst into a frenzy of cheers powerful enough to shake the entire floor!
“Success! We really succeeded!”
“My god… this… this is really something we made in one day?!”
“This is simply an artwork! No! This is a miracle!”
Everyone went mad, they looked at that final finished film, their eyes like gazing up at a divine statue they had just cast with their own hands, yet emanating a holy glow they dared not look straight at.
“Everyone, quiet down.”
In this ocean of frenzy, Hiroshi Nohara simply stood up calmly, clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s gaze.
“Minamura, Hase, Kitagawa.”
Hiroshi Nohara spoke.
“Here! Section Chief Nohara!”
The three named almost simultaneously sprang up from the crowd, their young faces filled with excitement and nervousness.
“Tomorrow morning at eight, you three, bring this master tape, and come with me to the Audit Department.” Hiroshi Nohara’s gaze swept over them, his eyes calm, carrying trust as he said: “This is our classroom’s first work, I hope our original elders will personally deliver it.”
Boom!
This sentence, like a thunderbolt from the nine heavens, struck hard at the three’s hearts!
They had originally thought that with these veteran seniors joining, they as newcomers would gradually be sidelined, only handling chores like serving tea and water.
But they never imagined that at such a critical moment deciding the project’s life and death, before such merit worthy of entering the history books, their section chief would choose them, the three elders with the shallowest seniority, to share this supreme honor!
All their unease, all their inferiority, in this moment, were washed clean by a scalding flood named ‘trust’!
They looked at Hiroshi Nohara, their eyes instantly reddening.
“Hai!!”
The three bowed ninety degrees in unison, their voices choked with emotion, yet filled with unprecedented firmness capable of entrusting life and death!
Hiroshi Nohara nodded in satisfaction, then turned, facing all the team members who had poured their effort into this miracle, and deeply bowed.
“Seniors, colleagues, you’ve worked hard!”
“Section Chief, you’re too serious!”
“Participating in such a project is our honor!”
Everyone present, whether Kanto Faction veterans or newly joined entertainers, without exception, bowed in return.
The scene was as solemn as a grand ceremony.
“Alright, dismissed. It’s now off work time.” Hiroshi Nohara straightened up, a gentle smile on his face: “Everyone can come in late tomorrow, I won’t count attendance.”
After all, today was all overtime.
The crowd gradually dispersed, each face carrying the fatigue after exhilaration, and the uplift of having created history.
However, in the corner, Xiao Xunhua, Fujii Tree, and Ryū Watanabe, the three protagonists who had just completed the most important performance of their lives, seemed somewhat at a loss.
They looked at this group of spirited seniors, at that young director surrounded by everyone like a deity, their hearts both excited and somewhat confused.
Their performance was over.
This meant they had to return to that reality filled with uncertainty and confusion.
Today’s afternoon experience…
For the three of them, was like a dream.
“Is this a dream?” Xiao Xunhua murmured to herself.
But beside her, Fujii Tree and Ryū Watanabe were also very confused, scratching the back of their heads, not knowing what to say.
Because today they really felt very strange.
It was that kind of thing, going to the set, then not needing to do much, just following Director Hiroshi Nohara’s arrangement, and the expressions from the previous manuscript to perform freely.
Many times it was done in one take.
There was no way not to do it in one take.
Because the expressions on the manuscript already told them how to express, how to perform in the next stage, and what the subsequent emotions and gazes should be like.
It could be said to be all-inclusive.
This was like ‘foolproof acting’, the simplest and most relaxed performance in their acting careers.
And now it was said to be a perfect success.
And then…
There was no and then.
So Xiao Xunhua, Fujii Tree, and Ryū Watanabe really felt lost and at a loss, not knowing what to do next.
But at that moment, Hiroshi Nohara walked over.
“You three, thanks for your hard work today.” His face still held that gentle smile.
“No! Not hard! It’s our honor!” The three hurriedly bowed in return, their postures extremely humble.
Now they also held Hiroshi Nohara in great reverence.
“Your performances were outstanding, exceeding my expectations.” Hiroshi Nohara’s words carried sincere praise: “Although this unit drama is over, if in subsequent proposals there are some suitable crowd roles, I hope to invite you three for cameos. Of course, the performance fee isn’t much, but I think it can at least solve some immediate difficulties.”
These words, like a warm current, instantly struck the softest place in the three’s hearts.
They hadn’t expected this lofty genius director to still think about their livelihoods as nobodies.
“Thank you! Teacher Nohara! Really… thank you so much!”
Xiao Xunhua could no longer hold back, tears spilling from her eyes.
“Thank you very much!” Fujii Tree and Ryū Watanabe also had red eyes, bowing deeply to Hiroshi Nohara once more.
They knew this kindness was given to them by Hiroshi Nohara.
Not far away, Kenji Sato, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, and Eiji Kurosawa, who hadn’t left, took in the whole scene.
They exchanged glances, seeing in each other’s eyes deep emotion and admiration.
They knew all too well how hard life was for Kanto Faction entertainers, under Tokyo Faction suppression, let alone leads, even roles with lines were unattainable, lives destitute, dignity trampled.
And Hiroshi Nohara’s action not only gave them an opportunity, but in a subtle, moistening way, strung these scattered pearls into a necklace one by one.
This breadth of mind, this means, had far exceeded the scope of a ‘genius’.
This was a born leader.
Xiao Xunhua and the other two bid farewell and left.
Hiroshi Nohara also returned.
Only the four of them remained in the classroom.
“Ahem.” Eiji Kurosawa cleared his throat, breaking the moving atmosphere, his face carrying a gourmet’s smile: “Since the work is done, shouldn’t this old guy who came uninvited play host? Let’s go, late-night snacks! My treat!”
“How can we let you spend!” Kenji Sato hurriedly waved his hands.
“Exactly, Director Kurosawa, we should be treating you!” Tsuyoshi Yamamoto chimed in.
Hiroshi Nohara smiled and agreed outright: “Great, then us juniors will gladly accept.”
He turned and winked at Sato and Yamamoto, the meaning self-evident—having this industry titan treat was huge face, refusing would be rude.
The two instantly understood.
“Then… I’ll drive.” Hiroshi Nohara said.
The group grandly arrived at the underground parking lot.
When that Toyota Crown Majesta, under dim lighting like a black beast emanating steady yet domineering aura, with a soft sound lit up its gentle welcome lights.
Kenji Sato and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto’s eyeballs nearly popped out.
“This… this is… Majesta?! The top-spec V8 version?!” Tsuyoshi Yamamoto’s voice trembled.
“My god… Section Chief Nohara, you…” Kenji Sato didn’t know what to say.
Though they were also mid-level at the television station with good income, in this era before the bubble economy burst, everyone carried heavy mortgages, living frugally.
Luxury cars costing millions of yen were luxuries they didn’t even dare dream of.
Eiji Kurosawa stroked his beard and burst into laughter, his laugh carrying an all-seeing understanding:
“You two, really making a fuss over nothing. Don’t forget, our Nohara-kun’s main job isn’t directing.”
He patted the mirror-smooth body, his tone teasing: “That 《Yu Yu Hakusho》 is the real golden egg goose. I heard from my manga artist friend that just last month’s royalties could buy two such cars. He’s truly earning by skill, not our television station’s meager salary.”
These words once again transformed how Sato and Yamamoto looked at Hiroshi Nohara.
In it, besides admiration, was added a layer of… awe for absolute strength and wealth.
Japanese people truly admire strength.
Such a genius.
Such talent.
Worthy of their envy.
……
Ginza, in the private room of a top izakaya with antique decor serving only regulars.
After a few cups of sake, the atmosphere warmed up.
The topic center was naturally Hiroshi Nohara.
After another cup of ‘Juyondai’ went down, Eiji Kurosawa set down his cup, his slightly yellowed eyes carrying pure curiosity and puzzlement, looking at Hiroshi Nohara.
“Nohara-kun, this old guy has always had a question I can’t figure out.”
He asked puzzledly: “With your talent, if you focused on drawing manga, your future achievements would be limitless, even… earning more and freer than being a television producer. Why… choose to come to Tokyo Television Station and wade into this muddy water?”
This question was also the biggest doubt in Kenji Sato and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto’s hearts.
They all turned their gazes to that young person who from start to finish only smiled calmly.
Hiroshi Nohara drained the sake in his cup, his eyes astonishingly bright under the lights flickering with a profound and fervent glow beyond his years.
“Director Kurosawa, you’re right.”
He slowly spoke, voice calm: “Drawing manga, for me, is more like a hobby, a way… to dialogue with another self.”
“But I came here because I want to personally experience standing at the pinnacle of this era’s wave, using light and shadow and stories to influence millions’ thoughts, to create an image kingdom of my own… what kind of magnificent life that would be.”
His words mentioned no money, no status, only a pure, almost desirous appeal!
Hiroshi Nohara made no secret of his yearning and desire for film and television arts.
This was not abrupt.
Because in Neon Country’s film and television industry, whether television dramas, animated films, or movies, their status was rather transcendent.
Compared to other countries, even Huaxia from his previous life, the ranking was first movies, second television dramas, third animated films, then miscellaneous variety shows and such.
Neon’s television dramas, animated films, movies were all above the rest.
Of course variety shows were still looked down upon.
But back to the point.
Becoming a television director, animated film director, or movie director, in Japanese people’s eyes, was an educator with artistic significance, an artist worthy of promotion and worship.
Thus becoming such an artist was, of course, a commonplace ideal.
“……This!”
But upon hearing this, Eiji Kurosawa was stunned.
He looked at this young person before him, those eyes burning with flame, that aura lording over the world, in a daze, he seemed to see decades ago, that young self who also dreamed of movies, coming alone from the countryside to Tokyo, wanting to change the world with a camera.
Only, his dream, under the wash of years and grind of reality, gradually faded.
While this young person’s dream was like a rising sun, radiant and unstoppable!
Just like himself when young, also blooming his own brilliance.
After a long time, Eiji Kurosawa finally let out a long breath, that weathered face blooming with an unprecedented, heartfelt satisfaction smile.
He raised his cup to Hiroshi Nohara, laughing loudly:
“Then those readers bitterly waiting for 《Yu Yu Hakusho》 updates will be heartbroken!”
“Hahahaha!”
The private room erupted in laughter.
All barriers, all awe, in this moment turned to pure appreciation and heroic spirit.
They knew, from this night, a legend named Hiroshi Nohara would officially begin in this steel forest called Tokyo.
Not just that 《An Shizhi》 that broke records in horror animation.
But also what they produced together—
《World of the Strange》!
And they will be the most loyal witnesses and followers of this legend.
