novelraw Chapter 195: About the Box Office! About the Awards! About Everyone's Recognition of Nohara Hiroshi!
Chapter 195: About the Box Office! About the Awards! About Everyone's Recognition of Nohara Hiroshi!
Unlike the hopeful fields of rural Akita, the air inside Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko's office on the top floor of the TV Tokyo Production Bureau building pulsed with near-boiling euphoria.
Massive floor-to-ceiling windows carved the early April sunlight into golden beams that slanted across the mirror-smooth desk, illuminating the flushed — yet forcibly composed — face of every TV Tokyo executive in the room.
This was the nerve center of TV Tokyo's power. Every person present was a heavyweight whose mere footstep could send shockwaves through the entire Tokyo broadcasting world.
Yet at this moment, they looked like a group of lottery jackpot winners, their inner excitement threatening to shatter the carefully maintained veneer of executive composure.
"Three point five billion yen... first-week box office... three point five billion yen..."
A graying, veteran executive in charge of box office statistics stared blankly at the report in his hands, his clouded eyes wide with disbelief.
He repeated the number over and over, as if to confirm he wasn't trapped in some absurd dream.
"Unbelievable! This is simply... an unprecedented miracle!" A department manager in charge of distribution chimed in, his habitually stern face now ruddy with excitement, his voice trembling. "I've been in film distribution for thirty years, and I have never seen a Japanese domestic film achieve such staggering numbers in its opening week! This... this is grinding Hollywood blockbusters into the dust!"
"Indeed!" Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide — the former leader of the Tokyo Faction, renowned for his icy composure — could no longer conceal his agitation.
Though he fought to maintain his executive poise, his hands clenched into fists, knuckles white, betrayed the towering waves crashing beneath his surface.He studied a separate report, his voice slightly hoarse yet brimming with conviction. "I just had the analytics department run the numbers. When Seven Samurai first premiered, despite its stellar reviews, its serious subject matter limited its audience — it barely cracked three billion yen in its entire first month. But now, Hachiko Monogatari... in just one week, it's already hit 3.5 billion yen! That's exponential growth!"
He paused, sweeping his gaze across every person present, his penetrating eyes gleaming with a strategist's acumen. "And don't forget — this is Golden Week! The period with the highest consumer spending and moviegoing enthusiasm in all of Japan! At this pace, I can boldly predict that by the end of the month, the box office will easily surpass the five-billion-yen mark! And by the time the three-month theatrical run concludes... ten billion yen is far from impossible!"
"Ten billion yen?!"
"Good heavens! Takada, isn't that projection a bit... ambitious?"
"Exactly! Ten billion yen! That's a figure the Japanese film industry has never seen!"
A collective gasp rippled through the conference room.
Everyone was utterly thunderstruck by Takada Toshihide's "bold" forecast.
Deputy Director Asumi, however — Nohara Hiroshi's most steadfast supporter — slammed his palm on the table, his usually beaming face now radiating unshakable confidence.
"Bold? I don't think it's bold at all!" Asumi threw back his head and laughed, his voice ringing with triumphant vindication. "You haven't seen how insane the buzz is out there! Last night I personally went to a cinema in Ginza to catch a screening — the place was absolutely packed! When the credits rolled, the entire theater was sobbing uncontrollably. Even a grown man like me couldn't stop wiping away tears!"
He paused, his excitement climbing even higher. "And do you know what's happening on social media? The discussion around Hachiko Monogatari is absolutely everywhere! Everyone is talking about Hachiko's loyalty — there are even piles of flowers stacked in front of the Hachiko statue at Shibuya Station!"
"So Takada's estimate is spot on!" Asumi's eyes swept the room, blazing like twin stars. "Ten billion yen isn't the ceiling! I honestly believe this film has the potential to challenge the legendary... hundred-billion-yen barrier!"
"A hundred billion yen?!"
The conference room plunged into deathly silence.
Everyone stared at Asumi, their faces painted with sheer, unfiltered shock.
A hundred billion yen!
That figure wouldn't just be a record in Japanese cinema — it would be monumental enough to etch itself into the annals of global film history!
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
At that moment, Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko — silent until now — finally burst into booming laughter.
The sound rang with uninhibited satisfaction and pride.
He regarded his thoroughly stunned subordinates, a deep, calculating gleam in his shrewd eyes.
"Alright, alright, everyone settle down." Sakata Nobuhiko chuckled, lifting his teacup for a calm sip, his composure and confidence casting an invisible aura over the entire room. "Whether it's ten billion or a hundred billion, the bottom line is this: TV Tokyo — and our very own Nohara Hiroshi — has created yet another miracle!"
He paused, his deep eyes sweeping across the room with a look of appreciation and expectation. "But on a different note, Hiroshi's film isn't just a financial triumph. The societal impact it's generated is equally unprecedented."
Sakata Nobuhiko's words instantly shifted everyone's attention from the dizzying box office figures to a deeper, more far-reaching dimension.
"Bureau Chief Sakata is absolutely right!" Takada Toshihide chimed in immediately, his usually dour face softening with genuine admiration. "I reviewed the public sentiment analysis report earlier. Right now, across all of Japan, an 'Akita Inu fever' has erupted! Everyone is talking about the breed's intelligence and loyalty, and countless people are desperately searching for where they can buy an Akita Inu just like Hachitsutsu — adorably goofy and lovable!"
He paused, a complicated note entering his voice. "To be honest, my wife — who has never cared for pets — dragged me aside after watching the film yesterday and demanded I get her an Akita Inu. She said she wanted to experience that feeling of being unconditionally trusted and depended upon."
Takada Toshihide's candid self-disclosure instantly drew a round of good-natured laughter.
"Ha ha ha! Takada, you're something else!" Asumi roared with laughter, thumping his own chest, his face beaming with pride. "I'll be just as honest — my daughter, who's still in elementary school, has been throwing tantrums at home every day demanding an Akita Inu! She even said that if I don't buy her one, she'll run away from home and become a 'guardian' of the Hachiko statue at Shibuya Station!"
"That's right! That's right!" Another department manager in charge of publicity joined in, his stern facade cracking into helpless resignation. "My son — a university student — called me yesterday too! He used to be a diehard 'cat person' who wouldn't give dogs a second glance! But after watching the film, he actually said he wants an Akita Inu! He said he wants to experience that 'unbreakable bond between man and dog'!"
In an instant, the conference room buzzed with Akita Inu anecdotes.
These ordinarily lofty, masterful power players had momentarily transformed into ordinary people, their faces aglow with affection for the breed's goofy charm and a longing for that pure, uncomplicated emotion.
"Come to think of it, I truly believe Hiroshi played a masterful game of chess this time," mused a department manager from the commercial partnerships division, a merchant's gleam in his eyes. "He didn't just make a film — he created an entirely new market! A 'priceless Akita Inu market'!"
"Absolutely!" A department manager from the IP development division agreed, his usually cool demeanor giving way to excitement. "I heard that the Nohara Agricultural Corporation — run by Hiroshi's older brother — is selling Akita Inu for one million yen each! And they still can't keep up with demand! That's practically printing money!"
"One million yen?!"
"Good heavens! That's an outrageous price!"
"And apparently, all the wealthy elites now consider owning a Nohara Kabushiki Gaisha Akita Inu a mark of prestige! They say it's not just a pet — it's a status symbol! A statement of refined taste!"
The conference room erupted into a fresh wave of commotion.
Everyone was stunned by the jaw-dropping figure, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of awe and envy.
They'd known Nohara Hiroshi was only twenty-three years old. Talented, yes.
But they'd never imagined his business instincts could be this razor-sharp.
Amid the clamor of money and ambition, however, Deputy Director Asumi cleared his throat, a mysterious smile spreading across his face.
"Everyone, everyone, calm down." He grinned, his shrewd eyes glinting with an 'I knew about this all along' satisfaction. "I know you all desperately want an Akita Inu of your own. But there's no need to rush. Because our very own Hiroshi has already taken care of everything."
He paused, his voice laced with just the right touch of intrigue. "In a little while, once the initial frenzy has cooled down, Hiroshi will personally select a batch of the finest, most purebred Akita Inu and present them to all the executives here at TV Tokyo, as well as the seniors who have always supported him... as a modest gift."
"What?!"
"Really?!"
"Wonderful!"
After a beat of stunned silence, the conference room detonated into thunderous cheering!
Everyone stammered in overwhelmed excitement, their eyes fixed on Asumi with barely contained elation.
They knew Asumi was right.
Nohara Hiroshi wasn't just talented — he had emotional intelligence, vision, and breadth of character.
He understood sharing. He understood gratitude. He understood... how to weave personal benefit and human connection into a seamless whole.
"That young man really does know how the world works," an elder department manager sighed with feeling, his stern face softening into genuine appreciation.
"Indeed!" Another manager nodded. "Having a young man like him is a blessing for TV Tokyo!"
Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko listened to the murmur of voices, his stern features now illuminated by a rare glow of pride.
He knew that Nohara Hiroshi — the young man he had personally lifted into prominence — had completely and utterly conquered everyone at TV Tokyo.
He wasn't merely the head of the Independent Production Department. He was the hope of TV Tokyo... and of Japan's entire cultural landscape.
"Alright, alright, settle down." Sakata Nobuhiko chuckled, raising his teacup for another leisurely sip, his composure blanketing the room like an invisible force field. "Since Hiroshi has already arranged everything, we old-timers can just sit back and wait for our gifts."
He paused, letting his gaze pass over every face in the room, the relaxed contentment in his expression infectious.
"That said—" Sakata Nobuhiko's voice returned, his easygoing cheer gradually yielding to the gravitas of a man in command. "Box office success is certainly worth celebrating. The public buzz, too. But let us not forget — a work's true and lasting value is ultimately measured by... awards."
The instant his words landed, the relaxed atmosphere in the conference room crystallized.
Every pair of eyes locked onto Sakata Nobuhiko, expressions turning solemn — tinged with a faint undercurrent of regret.
They knew the Bureau Chief was right.
Awards were the ultimate arbiter of whether a work would truly be inscribed in history.
"Bureau Chief Sakata makes an excellent point." Takada Toshihide was the first to speak, a trace of resignation on his usually stern face. "Both Seven Samurai and Hachiko Monogatari are superb films with staggering box office numbers, but they were both released this year. Under the Japan Film Academy Award selection rules, they can only be entered in next year's ceremony. This year's awards... we've missed the window."
His words cut like a blade, striking precisely at every person's sore spot.
Indeed. They'd missed it.
That meant these two historic masterpieces would pass by every single film award this year.
The pang of regret hurt everyone in the room.
"What a shame..." Asumi heaved a long sigh, his open, cheerful face clouded with frustration. "If these two films were eligible this year, I guarantee — Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay — every last one of them would go to TV Tokyo, to Hiroshi!"
"Absolutely!" Another manager joined in, his stern face twisted with indignation. "When that happens, we'd finally be able to hold our heads high in front of those old establishment types!"
For a moment, the conference room was thick with the sounds of regret and frustration.
Everyone mourned the "unfortunate timing" of these two films.
But then, amid the cloud of disappointment, Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko let out a soft, knowing chuckle.
The sound cracked through the room like ice breaking on a winter lake — full of confidence and just a touch of cunning.
"Now, now, let's not be so gloomy." He smiled, his keen eyes gleaming with the depth of someone who saw the bigger picture. "We've missed this year's cycle, true. But what about next year?"
He paused, his composed, radiant gaze sweeping the room. "Next year, when Seven Samurai and Hachiko Monogatari appear on the nomination slate simultaneously — what kind of spectacle do you think that will be?"
The instant his words landed, every trace of regret was obliterated — replaced by a brand-new, all-consuming emotion called anticipation.
Every eye in the room blazed to life.
They exchanged glances and found the same astonishment, the same jubilation, and the same... gleeful schadenfreude mirrored back at them.
"Ha ha ha! Bureau Chief Sakata is absolutely right!" Asumi slapped his thigh with a resonant crack, his face now split by a wickedly gleeful grin. "Next year! Next year will be TV Tokyo's kingdom! Hiroshi's kingdom!"
"Exactly!" Another manager echoed, his stern facade dissolving into open satisfaction. "When that day comes, I want to see those old establishment types try to keep smiling! Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay — all ours, all TV Tokyo's! They'll have no choice but to watch us collect awards until our arms go numb!"
"I honestly think next year's Japan Film Academy Awards should just be renamed the 'Nohara Hiroshi Personal Achievement Ceremony'!" A younger manager exclaimed with a giddy laugh.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
The conference room erupted into roaring, earth-shaking laughter!
Sakata Nobuhiko's masterful "painting of the future" had set every soul ablaze.
That boundless anticipation for what lay ahead, that absolute trust in Nohara Hiroshi — it was enough to make even these seasoned political veterans lose their composure.
They knew the Bureau Chief was right.
Next year would unquestionably be — the Year of Nohara Hiroshi!
Yet amid that whirlwind of celebration, Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide quietly cleared his throat.
The sound cut through the clamor with surgical precision, silencing the room in an instant.
Every eye turned to him.
Takada Toshihide surveyed their expectant faces and let a mysterious smile settle across his own.
"Ladies and gentlemen, film awards will indeed have to wait until next year." His voice was soft yet powerful. "But what about television drama awards?"
The jubilation froze mid-air.
Every eye in the room ignited once more.
They exchanged glances, and in each other's eyes they found the same shock, the same euphoria, and the same... sudden flash of realization.
"That's right! Television drama awards!" Asumi slapped his thigh again, his face now ablaze with mischievous glee. "How could I have forgotten! Hiroshi's three productions from last year — Yamishibai, Tales of the Unusual, Kasou Taishou — they're all television works!"
"Exactly!" Another department manager chimed in, his serious facade crumbling into gleeful anticipation. "And all three of them were cultural phenomena! They generated massive societal impact last year!"
"So this year's TV drama awards... doesn't that mean we're going to dominate?!" A younger manager sputtered with barely coherent excitement, his face burning with zealous adoration.
Takada Toshihide watched the room's collective frenzy, his enigmatic smile deepening.
He knew his words had ignited every last ember of fighting spirit in the room.
"Yes, everyone." Takada Toshihide nodded, his tone growing heavier, his executive gravitas and decisive authority radiating outward. "This year's television drama awards — TV Tokyo must take them all!"
He paused, his strategist's eyes sweeping every face with shrewd intensity. "Whether it's the prestigious Mainichi Film Awards, the widely recognized Television Drama Academy Awards, or the Tokyo Drama Awards — the ceremony that we at TV Tokyo jointly launched with the Tokyo Metropolis Public Relations Department this very year — we must go all-out for every major prize!"
"And furthermore—" He exhaled a long, profound breath, laced with pride and... unmistakable dominance. "At our very own Tokyo Drama Awards, every significant trophy must come home to us!"
His words rang with resounding finality, each syllable charged with power.
The conference room swelled with jubilant energy.
Everyone watched Takada Toshihide's confident face, peered into those deep, certain eyes, and felt the same powerful premonition rise within them.
They knew that under the combined force of Takada Toshihide and the prodigy Nohara Hiroshi, this year's television drama awards were destined to become TV Tokyo's exclusive stage!
"Hear, hear! Well said, Takada!" Asumi slammed the table, his face radiating unyielding confidence and joy. "Our turf, our rules!"
"Absolutely!" Another manager eagerly agreed, his composure fully abandoned. "When that day comes — Best Animation goes to Yamishibai! Best Creative Production goes to Tales of the Unusual! Best Variety Show goes to Kasou Taishou!"
"I'll say it again — I really think we should create a 'Best Producer' award specifically for Hiroshi!" The somewhat younger — though still well into his forties — department manager said with a grin. "Don't you all agree?"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
The conference room erupted in explosive laughter once more.
They looked at Nohara Hiroshi with eyes brimming with uncontrollable excitement and anticipation.
They knew this year's television drama awards were destined to become TV Tokyo's exclusive stage!
And Nohara Hiroshi would sweep every prize with an unrivaled presence, becoming the youngest and most dazzling... Grand Slam winner in the history of Japanese television!
Nohara Hiroshi gazed at these powerful figures — more excited and overjoyed than even he was — and allowed a helpless yet warm smile to cross his face.
He knew he had been wholly and completely embraced by this collective.
He rose to his feet and bowed deeply to every person in the room, his humility and composure measured to perfection.
"I'm deeply grateful for the Bureau Chief's and every department manager's generous support. I understand. I will continue to create outstanding works and bring even greater glory to TV Tokyo!"
His voice was not loud, yet it resonated like the most steadfast oath, echoing in every ear.
Every person present nodded in silent, heartfelt approval.
Their satisfaction with Nohara Hiroshi grew ever deeper.
...
Inside Nohara Hiroshi's Independent Production Department office, the spring sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, gilding the interior in a warm, golden glow.
He had just finished reviewing several creative proposal documents for the next episode of Kasou Taishou and was lifting his now-lukewarm cup of green tea, savoring a rare moment of peace.
Then the office door was flung open with a bang — flung with a mixture of urgency and excitement.
"Department Manager! Department Manager!"
Kitagawa Yao — her perpetually energetic, pretty face now blazing with barely contained exhilaration — had forgotten even the basic courtesy of knocking, bursting in like a gust of wind.
"Bureau Chief Sakata is asking for you right away! In his office!" She spoke even as she caught her breath from running, her bright, wide eyes sparkling with an almost gossip-fueled fervor. "So many executives are there! Deputy Director Asumi, Executive Deputy Director Takada... and several other department managers with real clout! It sounds like they have some incredible news to announce!"
Nohara Hiroshi took in her adorably flustered state and felt a familiar flicker of amusement.
He set down his teacup, not a single ripple stirring in those clear eyes — as if the "incredible news" Kitagawa Yao spoke of were nothing more than another routine work update.
"Oh? Any idea what it's about?" he asked casually, his tone calm and unhurried.
"No clue!" Kitagawa Yao shook her head. She leaned in closer to Nohara Hiroshi and dropped her voice, looking for all the world like a little spy clutching a world-shaking secret. "But I overheard words like 'box office' and 'miracle' as I walked past! And Deputy Director Asumi and Executive Deputy Director Takada — their faces were as red as a monkey's rear end! Something huge must be happening!"
A knowing smile crossed Nohara Hiroshi's face.
He was almost certain Kitagawa Yao was talking about the first-week box office results for Hachiko Monogatari.
He stood, straightened his well-tailored casual blazer, and carried himself with the composure and confidence of the most formidable Department Manager in the building.
"Alright, understood." He nodded. "Go on ahead — I'll be right there." Then, with a wry smile, he added, "But do try not to describe the executives that way in the future. Consider this your one free pass."
"Yes, sir!" Kitagawa Yao grinned sheepishly, gave another quick bow, then spun on her heel and strode out of the office with a spring in her step.
Nohara Hiroshi walked with his characteristically measured stride toward Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko's office.
Along the way, every employee who encountered him — from the greenest intern to directors wielding genuine authority — stopped without exception and offered a respectful bow.
"Good day, Department Manager Nohara!"
"Department Manager Nohara!"
"Hello, Department Manager Nohara!"
Their voices brimmed with heartfelt reverence.
And with worship of his talent.
"Mm." Nohara Hiroshi responded with nothing more than a slight nod and moved on.
Before long, he reached Sakata's floor.
When he pushed open the heavy wooden door — the very symbol of TV Tokyo's seat of power — a blast of heated air washed over him, thick with the aroma of fine cigars and rich tea.
Inside, as Kitagawa Yao had reported, the office was packed — every seat taken.
Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko sat in the central position. Flanking him were Deputy Director Asumi and Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide, along with several other department managers heading key divisions: distribution, publicity, intellectual property.
Without exception, each was a heavyweight whose single footstep could send tremors through all of TV Tokyo.
Yet at this moment, they resembled nothing so much as a band of lottery winners, their inner jubilation threatening to burst through the thin membrane of executive decorum.
"Hiroshi! There you are at last!"
Deputy Director Asumi was the first to spot him. He sprang from the sofa like a man on a spring, his normally cheerful face now positively incandescent with excitement.
He crossed the room in two strides, clapped Nohara Hiroshi heartily on the shoulder, and bellowed with enough force to rattle the ceiling. "We were just talking about you! 3.5 billion yen! You rascal — you've done it again! Another miracle for TV Tokyo!"
"Indeed, Department Manager Nohara!" The distribution chief echoed, his stern features flushed crimson, his voice quavering with emotion. "Our distribution department's phones have been melting these past few days! Every major theater chain in the country is fighting for screen time! They're saying that any film you direct — they'd pull everything else before they'd cut your showings!"
"Same with publicity!" The head of public relations exclaimed, his usual composure shattered by excitement. "The media coverage is absolutely overwhelming! Every outlet is singing your praises, praising Hachiko Monogatari! They're calling you 'the cultural phenomenon,' 'the pride of Japan'!"
Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide, while not as outwardly effusive, had also risen from his seat. He looked at Nohara Hiroshi, a complex, indescribable emotion swirling in those deep eyes.
"Hiroshi." His voice was soft, slightly rough, but laden with conviction. "I had the analytics team run projections. At this rate, Hachiko Monogatari's final box office has every chance of crashing through the ten-billion-yen ceiling! It could even surpass that — setting a record that has never existed before!"
"I'm grateful for everyone's kind words." Nohara Hiroshi responded with nothing more than a calm smile. He offered a modest bow to the room — his humility and composure precisely calibrated — before turning his gaze to Sakata Nobuhiko in the central seat.
"You sent for me, Bureau Chief."
Sakata Nobuhiko studied the young man before him — a young man who stood steady and unshaken in a storm of universal acclaim — and felt a deep, genuine admiration stir in his shrewd eyes.
"Look at you, Hiroshi — you walk in and suddenly my office feels like a victory banquet." Sakata Nobuhiko chuckled, lifting his teacup for an unhurried sip, his composure settling over the room like an invisible force.
He paused, his gaze sweeping the room, then turned to Takada Toshihide.
"Takada, why don't you fill Hiroshi in on the real reason we called him here today."
Takada Toshihide nodded with a knowing smile.
He understood — this was Sakata giving him "face," and simultaneously signaling to everyone that today's TV Tokyo was no longer divided by factions. They were all comrades, fighting for the same goal.
He cleared his throat, and that typically somber face softened with sincere respect.
"Hiroshi." His voice was calm yet resonant. "We called you here today primarily to discuss this year's television drama awards."
He paused, fixing Nohara Hiroshi with a penetrating gaze. "As you know, there are three major TV drama awards in Japan. The first is the longest-running and most authoritative — the Mainichi Film Awards. The second, with the broadest scope and most public recognition — the Television Drama Academy Awards. And the third is the Tokyo Drama Awards — jointly launched this year by TV Tokyo and the Tokyo Metropolis Public Relations Department to honor outstanding television productions from the Tokyo region."
Nohara Hiroshi let a perfectly measured look of surprise cross his face.
He knew these three awards each carried immense weight in Japan's television landscape.
The newly launched Tokyo Drama Awards in particular — though still in its infancy — bore the dual endorsement of TV Tokyo and the Tokyo metropolitan government. Its significance was not to be underestimated.
"Yes, I've heard of them," Nohara Hiroshi said with a nod.
"Hearing about them isn't enough, Hiroshi. You're not going to watch from the sidelines." Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko smiled, setting down his teacup, his voice settling into an emphatic declaration. "This year, for all three ceremonies, you must attend."
"Especially the Tokyo Drama Awards in mid-June, right here in Tokyo." The corner of Sakata Nobuhiko's mouth curved into a faint arc. "All you need to do is be ready to take the stage and collect your trophies."
"Oh?"
For the first time, a flicker of genuine surprise passed across Nohara Hiroshi's face.
He looked at Sakata Nobuhiko, a trace of confusion flashing through those clear eyes. "Bureau Chief, the ceremony hasn't even begun yet. How can you already—"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Before he could finish, Deputy Director Asumi lost his composure entirely. He slapped his thigh and roared with laughter.
The sound was pure, undiluted triumphant satisfaction.
"Hiroshi, now you're being too modest!" He jabbed a finger in Nohara Hiroshi's direction, laughing so hard tears nearly streaked his face. "Think about it — your three productions from last year: Yamishibai, Tales of the Unusual, Kasou Taishou. Which one of them wasn't a cultural phenomenon? Which one didn't create a massive societal ripple?"
His voice pitched higher with fervor. "I'll say this plainly — if this year's TV drama awards don't go to you, it's a scandal! It's corruption! It's an insult to every single viewer!"
Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide, in a rare display, nodded with an affirming smile.
Though less outwardly demonstrative than Asumi, his tone carried an unmistakable note of certainty. "Asumi's words may be dramatic, but the logic is sound. Your three works were the undisputed kings of their respective categories last year. If even they can't win, then this year's awards lose all credibility — they become a joke in the industry."
"Absolutely!" The publicity department head chimed in, his serious face splitting into a satisfied, almost impish grin. "When the time comes — Best Animation goes to Yamishibai! Best Creative Production goes to Tales of the Unusual! Best Variety Show goes to Kasou Taishou!"
"I'll say it one more time — I genuinely think we should create a 'Best Producer' award just for Hiroshi!" The somewhat younger department manager — though still well into his forties — declared with a broad grin. "Am I right?"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Thunderous laughter shook the room once more.
Every eye fixed on Nohara Hiroshi, blazing with irrepressible joy and anticipation.
They knew this year's television drama awards were destined to become TV Tokyo's exclusive stage!
And Nohara Hiroshi would stand at its center — sweeping every trophy with unrivaled supremacy, becoming the youngest and most brilliant Grand Slam champion in the history of Japanese television!
Nohara Hiroshi looked at these powerful figures — more excited than even he was, more elated than he could bring himself to be — and let a helpless, warm smile settle across his face.
He knew he had been fully and irrevocably embraced by this collective.
He rose, and bowed deeply to every person in the room, his humility and poise measured to perfection.
"I am deeply honored by the Bureau Chief's and every department manager's trust and support. I understand completely. I will continue to create my best work and bring ever greater honor to TV Tokyo!"
His voice was quiet, yet it resonated like an unbreakable vow, lingering in every ear.
Everyone in the room nodded in silent, heartfelt approval.
Their regard for Nohara Hiroshi deepened yet again.