Chapter 90: 《an Shizhi》 Back In Hand! Nohara’s Trump Card!
Toshihide Takada’s face, which always carried a hint of gloom, now forced out a kindly smile that was uglier than crying, with creases in that smile deep enough to crush a fly.
There was no way around it; just as Deputy Director Asumi had said, he had truly been scolded mercilessly at the Board of Directors meeting.
Now, even as Executive Deputy Director, he could only bow his head.
Of course.
His bowing his head was literal; he couldn’t actually bow to Hiroshi Nohara, or else how would his authority as Executive Deputy Director hold up?
Toshihide Takada picked up the cup of Uji Matcha in front of him, personally brewed by Masao Iwata, emanating a rich seaweed aroma, took a gentle sip, then as if scalded by something on his tongue or tasting some rare delicacy, let out an exaggerated sigh of admiration.
“Good tea, really good tea!”
He set down the tea cup, but his gaze pierced through the rising steam and landed on Hiroshi Nohara’s face, which was young to the point of excess, his eyes sincere like a devout believer come to a temple to pray to the gods.
“Teacher Nohara.”
Even his form of address had changed, his voice carrying the kind of affection from an elder to a junior, full of expectation: “Having Deputy Director Asumi invite you here today is actually because I have an unwilling request.”
“Please go ahead, Deputy Director Takada.” Hiroshi Nohara just smiled and nodded, impeccable in etiquette.
“It’s about《An Shizhi》.”
Toshihide Takada let out a long sigh, his gloomy face appropriately revealing a trace of heartfelt pain: “This proposal brand was created single-handedly by you; it can be said to be Tokyo Television Station’s most successful and most valuable golden signboard in recent years. But…”
He abruptly changed his tone, his icy cold eyes like a knife, viciously glaring at Masao Iwata beside him, who was already trembling like chaff.
“But, it’s all because I failed to judge people and used the wrong ones, handing such an important project to someone as useless as Iwata-kun! Leading to the reputation collapsing now, audience complaints everywhere, even alarming the Board of Directors! I… as his boss, bear undeniable responsibility!”
He delivered this speech with vivid emotion, as if truly full of annoyance.
“So, Teacher Nohara, I’m here today to represent the Production Bureau, and myself personally, to earnestly plead with you: could you… give《An Shizhi》 another chance? Take it… back again. Only in the hands of you, its true ‘father,’ can it regain vitality, not gather dust and die completely.”
This speech was truly sincere and moving.
If one ignored the flash of scheming and unwillingness at the bottom of his eyes.
“…This.” Hearing this, Hiroshi Nohara’s face showed an appropriately difficult expression.
He glanced at Deputy Director Asumi beside him, his voice carrying a bit of helplessness:
“Deputy Director Takada, you’re too serious. But back then, the contract was signed very clearly; I had already transferred all the《An Shizhi》copyright to the Production Bureau. Legally speaking, it’s no longer my work.”
“Moreover.”
He spread his hands, his posture like a creator drained of all inspiration: “As you can see, the《World of the Strange》project I have on hand now has an enormous workload; I’m swamped every day, truly… willing but powerless.”
This speech undoubtedly kicked the ball back intact.
The smile on Toshihide Takada’s face instantly stiffened.
He hadn’t expected this young person to speak so flawlessly, leaving him no step down while finding no point to refute.
The muscles at the corner of his eye twitched uncontrollably, then his icy cold gaze fell once more on Masao Iwata.
That look was like a silent command.
Utterly gloomy.
Masao Iwata’s body jolted sharply; he knew it was his turn to perform.
He scrambled over from beside the tea table to in front of Hiroshi Nohara, then, under everyone’s gazes mixed with astonishment and amusement.
“Thud—!”
His knees gave way and he knelt heavily!
A standard dogeza, even three points more standard than when he had brewed tea for Toshihide Takada earlier!
“Teacher Nohara!”
His voice came from under his lowered head, hoarse and filled with endless regret and humility: “I was wrong! It’s all my fault! I was arrogant and incompetent; I… defiled your great work!”
He raised his head, his face drained of all color, replaced by a near-mad plea, even forcing out a few turbid tears at the corners of his eyes.
“Teacher Nohara, I… I’m actually a loyal fan of《An Shizhi》! I really like this work! I… I really don’t want it to die in my hands!”
“Please! Please give it another chance! And… give me a chance to atone!”
This performance was truly heartrending.
If one ignored his eyes, still flickering with malice and unwillingness beneath the tears.
“Ah, Iwata-kun, what are you doing? Get up, get up.” At this moment, Deputy Director Asumi finally spoke.
Deputy Director Asumi sighed and stood up, walked to Hiroshi Nohara’s side, patted his shoulder, and said in a gentle tone of an elder comforting a junior: “Hiroshi-kun, look, Deputy Director Takada and Section Chief Iwata are so sincere. Moreover,《An Shizhi》is after all Tokyo Television Station’s brand; now that it’s turned out like this, if word gets out, it’s a huge blow to our entire station’s reputation.”
He paused, then at an angle those two couldn’t see, quickly winked twice at Hiroshi Nohara.
“Just consider it… helping the station out, helping this old senior out; you… work a bit harder and take it back?”
Hiroshi Nohara looked at Deputy Director Asumi’s face, which was full of “that’s enough, take the win,” chuckled inwardly, but appropriately showed a hint of hesitation after being persuaded.
He was silent for a long time, then let out a long sigh, as if making an extremely difficult decision.
“…Alright.” He slowly spoke, his voice hoarse with compromise: “Since you’ve put it that way, Deputy Director, this junior will respectfully obey.”
“Oh! Great! That’s great!”
A brilliant smile of relief bloomed instantly on Toshihide Takada’s gloomy face.
He quickly stepped in front of Hiroshi Nohara, gripped his hands tightly, his posture affectionate as if Hiroshi Nohara were his most favored subordinate.
“Teacher Nohara! You’re truly Tokyo Television Station’s pillar! Responsible! With scope!”
While shaking Hiroshi Nohara’s hand, he turned his head and sternly scolded Masao Iwata, still kneeling on the ground:
“Look at that! Look at Teacher Nohara! Then look at you! All those years lived in vain! Not even matching the breadth of a young person in his early twenties! Hurry up and thank Teacher Nohara!”
“Yes! Yes! Thank you, Teacher Nohara! Thank you, Teacher Nohara!”
Like receiving a pardon, Masao Iwata kowtowed several resounding heads to Hiroshi Nohara again, then scrambled up awkwardly on all fours, standing obsequiously behind Toshihide Takada.
His posture was like a lapdog just severely scolded by its master, not daring to show the slightest resentment.
After some more hypocritical pleasantries, Toshihide Takada and Masao Iwata left this suffocating office almost in headlong flight, on the pretext of “not disturbing your important discussions.”
Once the office door closed again, the oppressive atmosphere instantly dissipated.
“Hahahahaha!”
Deputy Director Asumi was the first to burst into unrestrained laughter, full of the pleasure of venting: “You didn’t see it! This morning at the Board of Directors, Station Manager pointed at that old fox Takada’s nose and cursed for a full half hour! His face was as black as the bottom of a pot!”
“And those audience complaint letters, said to have filled three storage rooms! All sorts inside: sending knives, sending turtles, and one even more ruthless, directly sent a printed resignation letter, naming Masao Iwata to sign and get lost!”
“Now, throughout Tokyo TV, up and down, who doesn’t know his Tokyo Faction made a huge joke! Now, I see how they can still lord it over in the Production Bureau!”
Hiroshi Nohara just smiled calmly, picked up the cup of tea in front of him that had long gone cold, and said faintly: “This is all their own doing.”
“Right! This is all their own doing!”
Deputy Director Asumi’s laughter subsided; he looked at Hiroshi Nohara, his usually deep eyes like an ancient well flickering with unprecedented appreciation and trust: “But, Hiroshi-kun, taking《An Shizhi》back this time, do you… really have confidence to salvage its reputation?”
“Of course.” Hiroshi Nohara nodded, his gaze confident and composed.
“That’s good, that’s good.”
Deputy Director Asumi completely relaxed; he sat back on the sofa, a relaxed smile on his face: “Right, about personnel for this project, any ideas? Need to transfer from other classrooms? Just say if you need.”
“Personnel is sufficient.” Hiroshi Nohara shook his head, then as if casually, mentioned: “But, Deputy Director Asumi, regarding the punishment for Senior Ichiro Hashishita… could I make a small request?”
“Ichiro Hashishita?” Deputy Director Asumi’s brows furrowed instantly, a cold disgust appearing on his face that had just held a smile: “That traitor? I heard Personnel Department has decided to transfer him back to Kanto Stage’s logistics as a materials clerk. What? You still want to plead for him?”
“Not exactly pleading.” Hiroshi Nohara’s tone remained calm: “Just, for Senior Kiyoto Suzuki’s sake, I want to give him another chance. And, to be fair, though Senior Hashishita’s character isn’t great, his execution ability is top-tier among fourth-class directors. Having him handle the《An Shizhi》relaunch project would at least save me a lot of trouble in procedures.”
“Most importantly.” The corner of Hiroshi Nohara’s mouth curved meaningfully: “A chess piece abandoned by everyone and fished back by me also shows our Kanto Faction’s magnanimity!”
Deputy Director Asumi looked into his eyes that seemed to see through everything, silent for a moment, finally letting out a long breath.
“Alright.” He nodded, his tone carrying indulgent helplessness: “Since you’ve said so, what can I say? I’ll say hello to Personnel Department. This face, I give you.”
“But, about the follow-up for《An Shizhi》, any specific ideas?” Deputy Director Asumi brought the topic back on track.
This was what he cared about most.
“Simple.” Hiroshi Nohara leaned back in the chair, his posture like a chess player with a plan fully in mind.
“Since《An Shizhi Season 3》has already been ‘produced’ by Section Chief Iwata and them into a pile of garbage no one can ignore. Then we might as well treat it as a non-existent black history.”
He paused, then under those curious gazes, slowly announced his long-calculated plan.
“We’ll directly restart production of《An Shizhi》Season 3!”
“Restart《An Shizhi Season 3》?” Deputy Director Asumi was shocked.
“Yes.” Hiroshi Nohara nodded: “I’ll produce all the manuscripts in the shortest time, today and tomorrow, then go online here on Monday; that way《An Shizhi Season 3》can still catch up to salvage the reputation.”
“This fast?!” Deputy Director Asumi’s eyes widened.
Though not the first time shocked by Hiroshi Nohara, he was still quite shocked now.
“Mm, trust me, Deputy Director Asumi.” Hiroshi Nohara smiled confidently: “This isn’t a big issue; even rushing, I believe we can achieve a level not much worse than Season 1 and Season 2.”
“Hiss.” Deputy Director Asumi sucked in a cold breath.
This was too exaggerated.
But not exaggerated for Hiroshi Nohara.
Use the actual Season 3 from his previous life, mediocre in reputation but at least passing, to cover up the mess left by Iwata’s Classroom.
First, with a ‘setting things right’ posture, pull back those heartbroken old fans.
Then, once reputation warms up a bit, immediately launch the true ones to bring《An Shizhi》IP back to its peak—Season 4 and Season 5.
This would thoroughly salvage《An Shizhi》’s reputation.
Back to the explosive IP from his previous life.
He knew Season 4 from his previous life brought in more screenwriters, pooling ideas, with story quality leaping qualitatively.
And Season 5 deepened the “urban legends” core while adding more dissections of humanity’s dark side, elevating the entire series’ intent to a whole new level.
It would absolutely succeed.
By then, with his righting the chaos, his saving the day, his《An Shizhi》authority established.
Even if Season 6 onward became like Season 3, reputation slowly slipping.
But that wouldn’t be his concern then.
He’d hand it to Ichiro Hashishita and them to produce; he’d just be director and original author; even if cursed, it wouldn’t reach him.
Plus with Iwata’s Season 3 here, readers definitely wouldn’t dare say anything about changing people again.
Add《World of the Strange》holding it up season by season.
Double-pronged.
The ‘urban legends’ field, he, Hiroshi Nohara, could absolutely firmly control in his hands!
This was his true trump card!
