novelraw Chapter 47: Recruitment
Chapter 47: Recruitment
When Iwata Masao returned to his own home and bathed anew in the light of his most favorite desk lamp, that decisiveness forcibly injected just now leaked away silently like a popped balloon.
He didn't know how to handle this matter.
He also didn't know.
Using what identity to handle this matter.
A defeated subordinate who just exhausted all despicable methods on the viewership rating battlefield, yet was still completely defeated mentally by the opponent using an almost humiliating manner?
He seemed to already be able to envision what kind of mocking expression would ripple the face of that young man named Nohara Hiroshi upon hearing his purpose in coming.
Especially under the circumstance that he had even mocked the other party before.
This was very difficult to handle.
...
The air at TV Tokyo became somewhat subtle in the following few days.That farce regarding the ownership of "Ichiban" was like a stone tossed into a deep pool; although the surface quickly recovered its calmness, those rippling waves quietly changed the direction of the current beneath the surface.
The Iwata Section remained high-profile. The overwhelming promotional offensive was like snowflakes costing no money, pasting the name "Onibo Samurai" over every corner of Tokyo.
Under the coercion of a massive capital flood, their viewership rating indeed maintained at a quite decent number.
However, people with discerning eyes could all see that it was merely an arrow at the end of its flight.
In contrast to this.
Was the extraordinary calmness of the Suzuki Section.
They didn't refute, didn't argue, and didn't even make any response towards those insinuating attacks from the outside world.
They were like a pod of giant whales swimming stealthily in the deep sea, completely dismissing the clamor of those boring seagulls on the sea surface.
They were merely doing their own things quietly.
Because they knew, when the second season of "Yamishibai" arrived at the 11 PM late-night slot, and the project proposal was still sitting on the desk of the Production Bureau's Audit Department, who the true victor was had long been self-evident.
Wednesday afternoon, Iwata Masao ultimately still came.
He didn't choose the office with its many people and mixed eyes, but rather arranged through Hashishita Ichiro to meet Nohara Hiroshi at the cafe downstairs.
He changed into a most low-profile gray suit. That arrogant attitude on his face was also thoroughly restrained, replaced by a deliberately crafted gentleness and steadfastness belonging to a senior.
He even arrived a quarter of an hour early, personally ordering an expensive cup of Blue Mountain Coffee for Nohara Hiroshi.
When Nohara Hiroshi walked in unhurriedly and sat down opposite him, he even proactively stood up and bowed slightly, showing full courtesy.
"Nohara-kun, we meet again."
On Iwata Masao's face hung a smile he believed to be the most sincere: "Forgive my presumption for this abrupt invitation."
"Section Chief Iwata, it is indeed somewhat abrupt. After all, our relationship wasn't considered pleasant previously." Nohara Hiroshi merely looked at him calmly without speaking. That gaze was like watching a play where the ending was already known, without the slightest ripple.
Because he could guess Iwata Masao's meaning.
"I'll get straight to the point." Seeing this, Iwata Masao also put away those meaningless pleasantries. He leaned his body forward slightly, lowered his voice, and used a tone he believed to be earnest and sincere: "Nohara-kun, you are a smart person, and also a true genius. Your 'Yamishibai', I have watched it, very wonderful. To speak the truth, I even feel it is much more brilliant in creativity than my 'Onibo Samurai'."
He first gave praise without stint, this was the first step in winning over the heart.
"However, you should also be clear, in this place, having only talent is far from enough."
The direction of his words changed, carrying a trace of guidance and pity from an experienced person: "Section Chief Suzuki is a good person, and also a producer with good insight. What a pity, he followed the wrong person. Although Deputy Bureau Chief Asumi has the intention, in this TV Tokyo, he is ultimately weak and solitary after all. Section Chief Suzuki's future is already destined."
He paused, carefully observing Nohara Hiroshi's expression. Seeing the other party remained that unrippled appearance, his eyebrows furrowed slightly.
This was different from what he thought.
But at this point, he still threw out his olive branch.
"I came today representing Deputy Bureau Chief Takada, to formally issue an invitation to you. Deputy Bureau Chief Takada highly appreciates your talent; he believes a genius like you shouldn't sink to the bottom of the icy sea together with a ship destined to sink."
"As long as you are willing to come over, the position of Deputy Section Chief of the Iwata Section is yours. All resources, all promotion, will tilt towards you. We can work together to handle that S-rank live-action horror project, to create a great work that can truly go down in history."
"Furthermore, you will be promoted to a Level 4 Director as quickly as possible, promoted to a Level 3 Director within five years, and possess an independent production team."
"Nohara-kun, smart people, should know how to choose."
He finished speaking, picked up his coffee cup, and took a sip. His posture was elegant, seemingly having already grasped victory in his hands.
Because these were truly very generous conditions.
Even he himself felt overly generous.
After all, he, Iwata Masao, was also merely at this level of conditions. Furthermore, how old was Nohara Hiroshi?
Only a newly graduated university student!
Therefore, while drinking coffee, Iwata Masao waited for the shock, hesitation, and ultimately the desire for power and future he envisioned to appear on the face of this young man before him.
However, he waited for nothing.
Nohara Hiroshi merely listened quietly to him finish speaking, and then, he picked up that cup of steaming Blue Mountain coffee in front of him, yet didn't drink. He merely placed it by his nose and sniffed lightly.
"Section Chief Iwata." He spoke slowly, his voice as calm as if discussing today's weather: "Do you know what is the difference between this cup of coffee and the instant coffee brewed from the vending machine in our section?"
Iwata Masao was stunned, not knowing why he asked this.
"This cup, smells very fragrant, the entrance flavor must also be mellow enough. From a noble origin, it went through meticulous roasting and grinding, just like your 'Onibo Samurai', looking indeed very noble."
Nohara Hiroshi put down the coffee cup. Those clear eyes, for the first time, truly and earnestly looked towards Iwata Masao.
"But it has no temperature."
"It's merely a soulless liquid brewed by hot water. Drinking it, perhaps it can refresh the mind, but it cannot warm the heart."
The corners of his mouth curved into a faint arc carrying endless mockery.
"Whereas that cup of one-yen instant coffee in our section, although cheap, although bitter, that was personally brewed by Kitagawa-chan for every one of us every early morning. Inside that, there is the flavor of the nights we stayed up together, the bento boxes we shared together, the desperation we put in together for a common goal..."
He leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed.
His eyes were like sharp scalpels, peeling away Iwata Masao's hypocritical disguise layer by layer.
"Section Chief Iwata, the ship you spoke of, is very large, very magnificent, the deck is probably paved with gold. It's just that I, as a person, get seasick somewhat easily, especially afraid of that kind of ship that smells only of the stench of copper, yet lacks the fragrance of wood."
"I am still more accustomed to my own small sampan. Although a bit tattered, the wind is grasped by myself, and which sea to go to, is also decided by myself."
He stood up, lightly pushing that untouched cup of Blue Mountain coffee back in front of Iwata Masao.
"This cup of coffee, you'd better keep it to drink yourself."
"After all, for the road ahead, you might... need it to refresh your mind."
After speaking, he turned and left without the slightest nostalgic attachment.
"You!!!" Leaving only Iwata Masao sitting there alone, the expression on his face incomparably twisted.
Of course, whatever happened to Iwata Masao didn't matter to Nohara Hiroshi.
He wasn't a child.
Having gone through the baptism of subsequent generations' entertainment circle news, could he, Nohara Hiroshi, really be foolish enough to believe such generous conditions would directly come to his hands completely without the slightest other conditions?
He was already deeply tied to Suzuki Kiyoto.
Of course, relying on his own capabilities and those works in his mind, even jumping ship would be fine, he could still live very well.
But so what?
"I'm afraid I'd be eaten clean and dry oh." Returning to the TV Tokyo Production Bureau Headquarters Building, Nohara Hiroshi's face was mocking: "Really treating me like a newly graduated university student?"