novelraw Chapter 197: The Anti-Nohara Alliance! Tokyo City TV's Preparations! Sakata Nobuhiko Strikes Back!
Chapter 197: The Anti-Nohara Alliance! Tokyo City TV's Preparations! Sakata Nobuhiko Strikes Back!
At that very same time, across every corner of the Japanese archipelago — from Sapporo in Hokkaido to Fukuoka in Kyushu — a tense, complicated atmosphere permeated the conference rooms of nearly twenty television stations, large and small.
These were the nerve centers of regional television media throughout Japan;
every person present was a figure of consequence within their respective territory.
They were conducting secret "consultations" — through conference calls or direct private lines — discussing the upcoming annual television drama awards.
Hokkaido TV. President's office.
Yamashita Taro, the silver-haired, weather-beaten president, sat cradling a cup of hot tea, his calm gaze sweeping the vast snowfields outside his window.
"Hello, is this Suzuki at Tohoku TV?" Yamashita Taro picked up the phone, his voice carrying the rough-hewn quality unique to men of the northern country. "It's Yamashita Taro. This year's awards — are you hearing any rumblings on your end?"
On the other end, Tohoku TV President Suzuki Ichiro's voice sounded weary. "Yamashita! Thank goodness you called! My head is splitting over here! The Television Drama Academy Awards and the Mainichi Film Awards — those established institutions I can handle. But this brand-new Tokyo Drama Awards has me completely baffled!"
"Tell me about it!" Yamashita Taro heaved a heavy sigh. "Our Hokkaido production team put out several decent dramas last year — top-tier ratings by regional standards. But the moment I think about competing against those monsters at TV Tokyo, my confidence evaporates!"
"Monsters? Yamashita, that's putting it far too politely!" Suzuki Ichiro let out a bitter laugh. "Especially that Nohara Hiroshi! The man's basically a cheat code! Single-handedly dominating animation, dramas, variety shows — and now his films are smashing box office records too! He's twenty-three years old! When I was his age, I was still running errands and fetching coffee!"
"You're preaching to the choir!" Yamashita Taro sighed in solidarity. "Our Hokkaido TV submitted a regional family drama last year — eighteen percent ratings, which is very respectable for a regional station. But then I remember that Nohara Hiroshi's Tales of the Unusual hit twenty-six percent, and suddenly our numbers feel embarrassing!""Tales of the Unusual is nothing!" Suzuki Ichiro's voice tinged with envy. "Look at his Kasou Taishou! Forty-seven percent ratings! Almost rivaling the Kohaku Uta Gassen! That man has slapped every regional station in the face!"
"Ha ha ha!" Yamashita Taro couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "Suzuki, that's painfully accurate! The young producers at our station practically worship Nohara Hiroshi like a god! They all say that even being a gofer under Nohara Hiroshi would be better than producing at a regional station!"
"Same here!" Suzuki Ichiro sighed along. "Kyushu TV is dealing with the exact same thing! Every young producer dreams of running off to Tokyo — to TV Tokyo! They all want to apprentice under Nohara Hiroshi! I swear... this old bag of bones is going to be the death of me!"
"So, Suzuki." Yamashita Taro's voice grew heavy. "This newly established Tokyo Drama Awards — what do you think it really is? A genuine attempt at fair evaluation, or just... TV Tokyo's private celebration?"
"Private celebration? I wouldn't be so sure!" Suzuki Ichiro scoffed. "Have you seen the panel? Plenty of well-known industry professionals! And the ruling party's Minister of Communications has decreed that regional stations must submit entries! They're clearly trying to build an award with serious prestige!"
"Prestige? I'd say 'political overtones!'" Yamashita Taro curled his lip. "The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Kanto region, and Tokyo City — all three joining forces! This is obviously meant to serve their political agenda! Where's the fairness in that?"
"Yamashita, careful what you say!" Suzuki Ichiro cautioned. "We may all know the truth, but we can't show it! Our regional stations' survival still depends on staying in those big shots' good graces!"
"Yes, I know." Yamashita Taro sighed deeply. "But you know, Suzuki, I actually think this Tokyo Drama Awards might not be entirely bad news for regional stations."
"Oh? How so?" Suzuki Ichiro asked, intrigued.
"Think about it!" Yamashita Taro's voice took on a conspiratorial edge. "If this award truly becomes something significant — a ceremony with real weight — then for our regional programs, even just receiving a nomination would be a massive boost to our publicity and an enormous morale lift for our local producers!"
"And most importantly!" Yamashita Taro's voice rose with excitement. "If one of our regional shows manages to compete on the same stage as TV Tokyo's programs, and maybe — just maybe — pulls off an upset and snags some smaller prize, can you imagine what that would do for our morale? For our producers' confidence? It would be an unprecedented shot of adrenaline!"
A contemplative expression settled over Suzuki Ichiro's face.
He knew Yamashita Taro was right.
In this era dominated by TV Tokyo and Nohara Hiroshi, the breathing room for regional stations had been shrinking relentlessly.
If they could seize this opportunity, perhaps there really was a glimmer of hope.
"Yamashita, you make a solid point!" Suzuki Ichiro's voice grew resolute. "Tell you what — I'll contact President Watanabe at Chubu TV, President Sato at Kinki TV, President Yoshida at Chugoku Region TV, President Matsumoto at Shikoku Region TV, and our own President Tanaka at Kyushu Region TV right away! We need to put our heads together and figure out how to handle this!"
"Excellent! Suzuki, great idea!" Yamashita Taro exclaimed. "We regional stations need to unite! Together we face the challenge from TV Tokyo! Together we fight for a lifeline for regional television's future!"
...
Before long, a secret conference call — spearheaded by Suzuki Ichiro and spanning every regional television station in Japan — quietly commenced.
More than twenty regional station presidents and bureau chiefs connected via telephone, their voices converging into a complex torrent reverberating through the air.
"Everyone, this is Suzuki Ichiro of Tohoku TV." Suzuki Ichiro opened the call. His weary voice now rang with conviction. "I've called this meeting to discuss the upcoming annual television drama awards."
"Specifically, this newly established Tokyo Drama Awards — what are everyone's thoughts?"
"Thoughts? It's nothing but TV Tokyo's self-congratulation party!" Kinki TV President Sato Kenichi's voice dripped with disdain. "They think that with their deep pockets and that freak Nohara Hiroshi, they can sweep every prize! Pure delusion!"
"Sato, watch your words!" Chubu TV President Watanabe Osamu cautioned. "We all know the truth, but we can't show it! The ruling party's Minister of Communications has ordered regional stations to submit entries!"
"Hmph." Chugoku Region TV President Yoshida Akira's voice carried a note of mockery. "The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Kanto region, and Tokyo City — all three in bed together! I really don't see where we could possibly fit in!"
"Yoshida's right!" Shikoku Region TV President Matsumoto Takashi sounded resigned. "Our Shikoku station put out a decent historical drama last year — fifteen percent ratings. But going up against those monsters at TV Tokyo? My confidence is shot!"
"Monsters? Tell us something we don't know, Matsumoto!" Kyushu Region TV President Tanaka Koji's voice burned with envy. "That Nohara Hiroshi! Animation, dramas, variety, and now blockbuster films — who among us can compete?"
"Nobody, that's who!" Yamashita Taro sighed once more, bringing up his Hokkaido station's regional family drama again, his voice still tinged with lament. "Our results feel pathetic by comparison! That Tales of the Unusual — first season, second season, now the fourth season — ratings consistently above twenty percent!"
"Tales of the Unusual is impressive, sure, but there's something even more terrifying," Suzuki Ichiro added with envy. "Kasou Taishou! Forty-seven percent ratings! Practically neck and neck with the Kohaku Uta Gassen! Who in all of Japan could match that? I've heard even the Broadcasting Association was stunned — apparently there's talk of asking Nohara Hiroshi to produce a Yamato Drama!"
"Which proves my point — Nohara Hiroshi is a monster!" Suzuki Ichiro laughed bitterly. "Honestly, what kind of blind luck did TV Tokyo stumble into, discovering a phenomenon like that?"
"So, everyone." Suzuki Ichiro's tone grew heavy. "For this year's awards, what's our strategy? Do we give up, or... do we fight with everything we've got?"
"Fight? How?" Sato Kenichi let out a cold laugh. "Our regional production budgets can't hold a candle to TV Tokyo's! A single one of their dramas costs more than several of ours combined! How exactly do we fight?"
"Sato, that's far too defeatist!" Watanabe Osamu's voice burned with defiance. "We may not match their budgets, but we have our own strengths! We understand regional culture better! We understand local audiences better! We can produce works infused with regional character — the kind only our stations can create!"
"Watanabe's right!" Yoshida Akira chimed in. "Our Chugoku Region station produced a documentary on regional cuisine last year — respectable ratings for a regional show. We can absolutely keep leaning into local identity, producing works that genuinely move regional audiences!"
"Everyone." Suzuki Ichiro's voice returned, his weariness now giving way to an unyielding fighting spirit. "We regional stations must stand together! United, we face the challenge from TV Tokyo! United, we fight for a future for regional television!"
"I agree!" Yamashita Taro was first to declare. "Hokkaido TV stands with each and every one of you!"
"We're in too!"
"Regional stations can't stay silent any longer!"
"We need to show TV Tokyo that we're not to be trifled with!"
The conference call erupted with impassioned voices.
Everyone was ignited by Suzuki Ichiro's fervor, their eyes blazing with defiant resolve.
They knew this would be a grueling battle.
A battle that would decide the future of regional television.
And they knew their only option was to unite and face the challenge from TV Tokyo head-on.
"That said—" Tanaka Koji's voice carried a note of resignation. "Even if we regional stations band together, this year's biggest winner is still going to be TV Tokyo."
"True!" Matsumoto Takashi sighed. "Especially that monster Nohara Hiroshi! Everything he produced last year — animation, dramas, variety shows — every single one posted terrifying numbers! He alone could sweep every award clean!"
"I'm convinced that Best New Director, Best New Producer, Best Rising Star — they all belong to Nohara Hiroshi!" Yamashita Taro added. "And it won't just be the Tokyo Drama Awards — the other two prestigious ceremonies, the Television Drama Academy Awards and the Mainichi Film Awards, will be Nohara Hiroshi's harvest fields too!"
"He's twenty-three!" Sato Kenichi's voice twisted with jealousy. "It's just... it's cheating! I can't even see a ray of hope for the future!"
"Absolutely cheating!" Watanabe Osamu echoed. "We've toiled our entire careers and barely collected a handful of awards! And this kid, at twenty-three, is going to sweep them all! It's enough to make a man cry!"
"No need to be that pessimistic — his energy has its limits." Suzuki Ichiro's voice returned, the helplessness now tinged with self-deprecating humor. "We regional stations can only aim for the scraps Nohara Hiroshi doesn't bother with. You know — Best Regional Feature, Best Rural Documentary, that sort of thing."
"Ha ha ha ha!" A wave of rueful laughter rippled through the conference call.
Everyone knew Suzuki Ichiro was right.
Against the "cultural phenomenon" that was Nohara Hiroshi, regional stations could only play the role of supporting runners.
Yet within that bitter laughter burned an ember of stubborn pride.
They knew that even as supporting runners, they would run with distinction, run with character, run with the dignity that belonged to regional television.
"Alright, everyone!" Suzuki Ichiro's voice rang out once more, weary yet charged with power. "Then let's give it everything we've got! Let's make sure that in this year's awards, everyone sees that regional stations are not to be underestimated!"
"Sir!"
Every regional station president and bureau chief responded in unison, their voices brimming with fighting spirit and passion.
They knew a new "battle" was about to begin.
A battle for the very future of regional television!
And they would be both participants and witnesses to its final outcome!
...
While the regional stations rallied their forces—
Inside TV Tokyo.
A meeting was also underway.
"Alright, alright, settle down." Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko chuckled, lifting his teacup for a leisurely sip. His composure blanketed the entire room with an invisible, calming force.
He paused, his eyes sweeping across everyone present, his relaxed good humor infectious.
"That said—" Sakata Nobuhiko's voice returned, his easygoing cheer gradually yielding to executive gravitas. "I've heard that for this year's awards, regional stations all across Japan have banded together — planning to present a united front."
The instant his words landed, the relaxed atmosphere in the conference room crystallized.
Every pair of eyes locked onto Sakata Nobuhiko, their expressions turning solemn — and tinged with a hint of amusement.
They knew the Bureau Chief was right.
This was the regional stations' "declaration of war" against TV Tokyo.
"Indeed, Bureau Chief." Takada Toshihide was the first to speak, a trace of resignation on his typically stern face. "I just received word — Hokkaido TV, Tohoku TV, Chubu TV, Kinki TV, Chugoku Region TV, Shikoku Region TV, and Kyushu Region TV have all joined forces. They say they intend to collectively 'face the challenge from TV Tokyo.'"
"Oh? They certainly think highly of us." Deputy Director Asumi let out a dismissive chuckle. "A bunch of regional stations daring to challenge us? That's an ant trying to shake a thousand-year oak — laughably overambitious!"
"Asumi, let's not be careless with our words." Sakata Nobuhiko cleared his throat softly, a barely perceptible warning in those keen eyes. "They may be regional stations, but they still represent local public sentiment. We cannot afford to dismiss them."
He paused, his gaze sweeping the room, his tone deepening. "But setting that aside — Hiroshi, what's your take on this?"
Every eye in the room turned to Nohara Hiroshi.
Nohara Hiroshi simply smiled and shrugged. In the charged atmosphere of tension and anticipation, his composure and confidence set him strikingly apart.
"My take?" Nohara Hiroshi spoke softly, his tone calm and steady, without the faintest ripple. "I really couldn't say. All I did was make some anime, produce some dramas, create some variety shows, and draw some manga. How did I manage to offend them?"
His "innocent" act drew laughter from everyone in the room.
"Ha ha ha! Hiroshi, you really are... the ultimate humble brag!" Deputy Director Asumi roared with laughter, clapping Nohara Hiroshi on the shoulder, satisfaction radiating from his every pore.
Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide, while less demonstrative, nodded in agreement, a trace of genuine emotion in his voice. "Indeed — Hiroshi's right. His work is simply too excellent. So excellent that regional stations feel threatened."
He paused, fixing Nohara Hiroshi with a look of deep expectation. "But don't you worry, Hiroshi. Your Yamishibai, Tales of the Unusual, and Kasou Taishou are all cultural phenomena. In their respective fields, each one was last year's undisputed champion. Those regional stations don't stand a chance against us!"
"Absolutely!" The publicity department chief chimed in, his stern face cracking into gleeful satisfaction. "Those regional stations? They'd count themselves blessed if they produced a single drama breaking ten percent in any given year! How could they possibly compare to our Hiroshi?"
"So just bring your A-game, Hiroshi, and you'll crush them!" Deputy Director Asumi declared with absolute confidence.
Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko listened in silence, pride shining from his typically stern features.
But a barely perceptible gravity flickered through those shrewd eyes.
He knew the regional alliance wasn't merely a challenge to TV Tokyo — it was a challenge to the vast, shadowy "Greater Tokyo Faction" — the cultural and political alliance behind them.
He also knew that in Japan's rigidly hierarchical society, even the slightest challenge to the established order could trigger a massive storm.
"Hmm, we should keep an eye on these challenges. But on another note—" Sakata Nobuhiko's voice returned, composure hardening into command. "Beyond the regional alliance, there's a newly established station that also warrants our attention."
The relaxed atmosphere froze mid-breath.
Every eye locked onto Sakata Nobuhiko, brows furrowing with gravity and a hint of confusion.
"A new station?" Deputy Director Asumi raised an eyebrow, curiosity blooming. "Oh? Which station could possibly have caught your attention, Bureau Chief?"
"Indeed, Bureau Chief." Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide echoed, his face clouded with puzzlement. "In the entire Tokyo Metropolis, aside from TV Tokyo and Kanto TV, what other station could carry that kind of influence?"
Sakata Nobuhiko regarded their baffled expressions and allowed a deeply meaningful smile to form.
"This new station is called 'Tokyo City TV.'" He spoke softly, his voice calm yet resonant with force.
"What?!"
Asumi and Nohara Hiroshi's eyes went wide, their faces painted with disbelief.
"Tokyo City TV?!" Deputy Director Asumi sprang from the sofa, staring at Sakata Nobuhiko in bewildered alarm. "Bureau Chief! Since when? How have I never heard of this?!"
"Indeed, Bureau Chief." Nohara Hiroshi joined in, a barely perceptible weight entering those clear eyes. "That name... it sounds rather like it's trying to imitate TV Tokyo."
Sakata Nobuhiko studied their stunned faces, his meaningful smile deepening.
"Imitate? Ha ha ha ha!" Sakata Nobuhiko threw back his head and laughed, his voice hard and brassy. "They're not imitating — they're building themselves a 'mouthpiece'!"
He paused, sweeping his gaze across the room, his tone growing heavier. "This 'Tokyo City TV' was established under the leadership of the Tokyo City Government's Public Relations Department. Its purpose is simple: to weaken TV Tokyo's influence over the Tokyo Metropolis and the entire Kanto region."
"What?!"
Fury instantly blazed across Asumi and Takada Toshihide's faces!
"The Tokyo City Government's PR Department?!" Deputy Director Asumi slammed the table, his cheerful countenance now consumed by barely contained rage. "They dare openly oppose TV Tokyo?!"
"Exactly, Bureau Chief!" Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide added, contempt etched across his dour face. "They're clearly trying to carve out our territory!"
Nohara Hiroshi listened in silence. That usually unruffled heart of his now stirred with an imperceptible ripple.
He understood this wasn't merely competition between stations — it was faction warfare.
"Hiroshi, what do you think?" Sakata Nobuhiko turned his gaze toward Nohara Hiroshi, those keen eyes brimming with a depth that saw through all things.
Nohara Hiroshi merely smiled calmly. In the charged atmosphere of anger and contempt, his composure stood out like a pillar.
"Bureau Chief, I don't find this surprising at all," Nohara Hiroshi spoke quietly, his voice measured and resolute. "Governor Koike won his reelection thanks largely to TV Tokyo's support. And in the Tokyo City mayoral election, our former Station Chief Shimazu lost to the current Mayor by only ten thousand votes. So it's perfectly natural that the real-estate-backed officials in Tokyo City would feel threatened and afraid."
He paused, sweeping his gaze across the room, insight shining in his eyes. "They fear that TV Tokyo will once again back Governor Koike — or some other politician — to challenge their grip on Tokyo City. That's why they're scrambling to build their own station, to shore up their power."
Nohara Hiroshi's analysis cut to the core like the sharpest blade.
He hadn't merely assessed the situation — he'd read the human motivations, seen through the politics.
Sakata Nobuhiko, Asumi, and Takada Toshihide exchanged glances, contemplation settling over their faces.
"Hiroshi's right." Sakata Nobuhiko exhaled a long breath tinged with emotion — and with genuine appreciation for Nohara Hiroshi. "They're afraid. Afraid that TV Tokyo will become a political stumbling block once again."
"Hmph. 'Tokyo City TV' — anyone who didn't know better would confuse it with our TV Tokyo," Takada Toshihide scoffed, contempt dripping from his usually grim features.
Deputy Director Asumi, though less outwardly caustic, nodded with a barely veiled edge of hostility. "They're clearly gunning for a head-on collision with us."
"Head-on collision? They're delusional!" Takada Toshihide sneered, arrogance reclaiming his features. "They think they can just cobble together a station and challenge TV Tokyo? Pure fantasy!"
"Takada's right," Deputy Director Asumi agreed, his smile now tinged with mockery. "But Bureau Chief — since they want a fight, we can't just sit and wait. Shouldn't we... show them what they're dealing with?"
Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko listened to their discussion, pride radiating from his stern features.
He knew his subordinates were brimming with fighting spirit.
"Hiroshi, what do you think?" Sakata Nobuhiko's gaze found Nohara Hiroshi once more.
"Bureau Chief, if they dare challenge us, then of course we must answer." Nohara Hiroshi spoke quietly, his tone steady and sure. "But rather than a head-on collision, I think we should take a smarter, more effective approach."
"Oh? What kind of approach?" Deputy Director Asumi's eyebrow rose with interest.
"Yes, Hiroshi — what do you have in mind?" Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide pressed, anticipation gleaming in his deep eyes.
The corner of Nohara Hiroshi's mouth curved into a faint, confident arc — making him, in that moment, truly luminous.
What he was about to do was shatter everyone's expectations. Again.
"Earlier, one of the department managers mentioned that someone in the market has been scouting scripts for heartwarming programming — apparently for a new station's needs." Nohara Hiroshi spoke calmly. "It's now obvious that was Tokyo City TV's doing. They're planning heartwarming, family-oriented programming to win public support."
"That seems to be the case." Deputy Director Asumi nodded, his face settling into a grave expression. "They're trying to build an approachable image and piggyback on the emotional wave created by Governor Koike and Hachiko Monogatari."
"Precisely — and that's their most cunning play." Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide agreed, worry clouding his stern features. "If they succeed, it would be a devastating blow to TV Tokyo."
"Which is exactly why we must keep pace!" Deputy Director Asumi declared passionately. "We need heartwarming programming of our own! Head-to-head! Show them who truly reigns over the Greater Tokyo metropolitan area!"
He paused, fixing Nohara Hiroshi with an expectant look. "Hiroshi, do you have any ideas? Something that could outdo them — something truly heartwarming that moves people?"
Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide nodded along, the same anticipation burning in his eyes.
Nohara Hiroshi watched their eager faces and let out a wry, helpless smile.
He knew they were turning to him for rescue.
"Why is everyone looking at me?" Nohara Hiroshi asked lightly, his voice carrying just the right note of "innocence."
Deputy Director Asumi and Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide exchanged glances, sheepish grins spreading across their faces.
"Come on, Hiroshi, what kind of question is that..." Deputy Director Asumi scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "We just assumed you'd have something brilliant!"
"Indeed, Hiroshi." Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide added, his usually dour face softening into an abashed smile. "After all, you are TV Tokyo's 'fountain of creativity.' You always deliver surprises."
Nohara Hiroshi merely stroked his chin with a thoughtful smile. "Well, since you all insist..." His voice dropped, calm and steady. "Then I won't hold back any longer."
He paused, sweeping his gaze across every face, confidence blazing in his eyes. "I do, in fact, have a concept in mind. Also heartwarming. And it's already fully developed."
"What?!"
Asumi and Takada Toshihide's eyes flew open, disbelief flooding their faces!
Even Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko and every other department manager in the room stared at Nohara Hiroshi with identical expressions of utter astonishment. They looked at each other, finding the same deep shock mirrored in every pair of eyes.
They gaped like a row of stunned geese.
"Already developed?!" Deputy Director Asumi shot up from the sofa, his eyes locked on Nohara Hiroshi, blazing with euphoria. "Hiroshi! You're not joking, are you?! What is it? Tell us!"
Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide echoed the demand, anticipation shining in those deep eyes.
The corner of Nohara Hiroshi's mouth curved into a faint arc. That unshakable composure and confidence made him radiant.
He knew what he was about to do was shatter every expectation in this room — once again.
Slowly, deliberately, he spoke the name — a name proven in another lifetime, one that had driven the world to obsession.
"My manga — Midnight Diner."
The instant Nohara Hiroshi's words landed, the tense yet expectant atmosphere in the office froze for several heartbeats—
—then was instantly overwhelmed by a wave of collective shock.
"A manga?!" Deputy Director Asumi blurted. "Hiroshi, are you... are you saying you want to adapt a manga into a drama to counter Tokyo City TV's programming?!"
Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide also furrowed his brow, a flicker of confusion in those penetrating eyes.
In his view, the battle between stations ultimately came down to television content.
Manga was a different medium entirely.
While manga-to-drama adaptations existed... the results were usually mediocre at best.
Live-action adaptations in particular tended to suffer steep quality losses — sometimes even dragging down the manga's own reputation.
Even Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko leaned forward slightly, an inquisitive gleam entering his shrewd eyes.
Nohara Hiroshi simply smiled with calm confidence, making no rush to explain. He merely raised his hand and gestured toward the office doorway.
"Kitagawa, bring over those copies of Midnight Diner."
Kitagawa Yao — the young staffer who had moments ago been eavesdropping outside the office door — was now shrinking with a guilty, sheepish grin, her little head poking around the frame.
"Oh!" At Nohara Hiroshi's command, she snapped to attention and dashed inside, scooping up a thick stack of manga volumes from a shelf beside his desk.
"Here they are, Department Manager!" She returned swiftly, placing the manga respectfully on the coffee table, her bright, wide eyes brimming with curiosity and excitement.
"Please, take a look." Nohara Hiroshi gestured with a smile.
Deputy Director Asumi was the first to pick up a volume. His shrewd eyes scanned the cover — those warm, inviting characters exuding the gentle vitality of everyday life: Midnight Diner. His brow lifted almost imperceptibly.
He turned to the first page, his gaze falling upon the delicate linework and richly atmospheric panels. The confusion on his face gradually dissolved into something contemplative.
Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide also took a copy, curiosity spreading across his features.
He flipped through a few pages. A flash of surprise — barely there — crossed those deep eyes.
The other department managers followed suit, each picking up a volume.
Including Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko.
The conference room plunged into an eerie, profound silence.
Only the whisper of turning pages and the varied rhythms of breathing filled the sealed space.
Minutes ticked by.
The first to finish was Deputy Director Asumi.
He snapped the manga shut. His face — usually bright with open cheer — was now radiant with barely contained euphoria.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant, Hiroshi! This manga is a masterpiece!" Asumi slapped his thigh in excitement. "There are no flashy special effects, no convoluted plots — just one simple home-cooked dish after another, one unremarkable story after another — and yet every single one strikes straight into the softest part of your heart!"
His voice soared. "It gives those Tokyo urbanites — grinding through their lives — a long-lost warmth in the dead of night, a feeling of being healed! It lets lonely souls find comfort through food! This is exactly the 'heartwarming, healing' show that was custom-made for TV Tokyo!"
Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide closed his copy as well, genuine admiration settling over his features.
"Asumi's right." Takada Toshihide's voice was slightly rough but brimming with conviction. "This manga isn't just manga — it's a way of life, a philosophy, a unique existence that makes you rethink your life and reexamine your emotions!"
He paused, fixing Nohara Hiroshi with an indescribable look. "Hiroshi, you truly are... extraordinary. To take something as seemingly ordinary as urban daily life and render it so captivating, so deeply healing — you're a phenomenon!"
One of the younger department managers — though still well into his forties — said nothing at all. He simply closed his copy, two lines of tears streaming silently down his face.
He made no move to wipe them, letting them trace their paths along his cheeks. The depth of his emotion was enough to overwhelm a veteran director who'd weathered years of storms.
"Hiroshi... you're a genius." His voice was thick with emotion, and the raw sincerity moved everyone in the room. "Your manga isn't just manga — it's warmth, it's hope, it's medicine capable of healing every lonely soul!"
The publicity department chief joined in, his habitual sternness giving way to open acknowledgment. "Exactly, Hiroshi! This manga is practically a custom-made promotional piece for TV Tokyo — for all of Tokyo Metropolis! It could put us leagues above any 'heartwarming' programming those regional stations cobble together!"
"Precisely! This manga embodies more than just healing — it celebrates the love of life itself, the care for human nature!" The IP development chief exclaimed, commercial brilliance gleaming in his eyes. "I can already see it — once this manga is adapted into a drama, it will trigger a massive societal response! It will become yet another cultural phenomenon for TV Tokyo!"
Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko listened in silence, rare pride illuminating his stern features. He knew that Nohara Hiroshi — the young man he'd personally elevated — had once again delivered a tremendous surprise.
"Good! Good! Good!" Sakata Nobuhiko barked three emphatic 'good's, slamming his palm on the table with a crack that echoed with absolute authority. "Then it's decided!"
He paused, sweeping every face with those shrewd, strategist's eyes. "Nohara Hiroshi's manga, Midnight Diner, will be TV Tokyo's ultimate weapon against Tokyo City TV!"
"Hiroshi — begin immediately! Adapt this manga into a live-action drama! I'm giving you the finest team, the best resources, the greatest platform! I want this drama to stand head and shoulders above anything Tokyo City TV's 'heartwarming' lineup can muster! I want them to learn what true 'warmth and healing' means! What true... cultural power is!"
In that moment, Sakata Nobuhiko was a lion whose authority had been challenged — without a shred of hesitation, he was ready to meet this upstart Tokyo City TV in a fight to the death!