novelraw Chapter 49: "Yamishibai Season 2"
Chapter 49: "Yamishibai Season 2"
The busy work continued anew. After all, the production of "Yamishibai Season 2" needed to be put on the agenda as soon as possible.
Or rather, it was already on the agenda.
The massive success of the first season of "Yamishibai" brought unprecedented glory to the Suzuki Section, and also brought changes visible to the naked eye.
They moved out of that old office located in the corner with somewhat insufficient lighting, changing to a new section on a better floor with spacious and bright space.
New computers, new drawing tablets, even the coffee machine in the pantry was replaced with the latest model that could grind beans.
And the biggest change, was the people.
Under Deputy Bureau Chief Asumi's personal care, personnel transfers were conducted within the Production Bureau. Two experienced animators and a young man skilled in sound effect production were temporarily transferred into the Suzuki Section to help.
This guerrilla unit once composed of old, weak, disabled soldiers had finally swapped its bird guns for cannons, having somewhat the appearance of a regular army.
"Nohara-sensei, the storyboards for the first episode of the second season 'Taro', have been completely finished!"
"For the sound effects part, I also followed your requests, adding some noise of bicycle chains and turning doll joints, subtle wood friction sounds. Please listen to the effect.""Nohara-kun, this is the original drawing for the second episode 'Kitchen'. Take a look, when this housewife gets isolated, is that kind of neurotic expression adequate enough?"
The office was a scene of bustling activity.
Everyone was like a wound-up gear, operating at high speed and precision revolving around the de facto absolute core within the office.
The core was Nohara Hiroshi.
Except he was currently sitting quietly at his new workstation, yet what he held in his hands wasn't the manuscript for "Yamishibai".
But rather a brand new, still carrying the faint fragrance of ink, "Weekly Shonen Jump".
On the very center color page of the magazine, using the largest font and the most hot-blooded brushstrokes, declared the arrival of a new era.
"—— Dark Tournament, right at the climax! 'YuYu Hakusho', grandly stepping into a new chapter!"
He looked at that familiar image. Urameshi, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, the four standing shoulder-to-shoulder. Behind them, was that island full of death and glory, coiled up ferociously like a giant beast.
"Not bad."
The corners of his mouth curved into a satisfactory arc.
The success of "Yamishibai" allowed him to gain a foothold in this television station.
And the explosion of "YuYu Hakusho" would bring him the true confidence to converse equally with this world, without depending on anyone.
After all, millions of yen rolled in every week.
Can that not be confidence?
...
When Iwata Masao's conspiracy quietly fermented in the dark, inside the Suzuki Section, it was still brimming with a zeal belonging to creators.
Nohara Hiroshi didn't disappoint anyone's expectations.
In the following week, he was like a supercomputer that never crashed, presenting all the remaining stories of "Yamishibai" Season 2 before everyone in an almost divine revelation manner.
Manuscripts flowed out from beneath his pen, carrying an unquestionable precision and experience.
In 'Taro', the ventriloquist dummy performed by the police officer was possessed by the ghost of someone who died in a car accident. Amidst the bewildered roaring laughter of the audience below the stage, it narrated an icy monologue from another world.
In 'Kitchen', that socially awkward girl, under the enthusiastic "care" of her colleagues, was isolated step by step, and ultimately swallowed silently by that seemingly warm collective.
The story of 'Inside', transformed into a chilling Russian nesting doll. Every opened doll represented a sucked-away soul, until finally, the entire family turned into expressionless empty shells.
There were also 'Wall Woman', 'Locker', 'Nao-chan'...
Those stories seemingly weren't created by him, but rather through the tip of his pen, quietly descended from another dimension onto this thin sheet of paper.
Of course, saying it this way was also fine.
After all, this itself was a late-night horror animation that the neon of the previous life, and the Production Bureau of TV Tokyo, painstakingly produced.
Real heart's blood was put into it!
Every story was like a sharp scalpel, precisely dissecting the fear, loneliness, and human weaknesses hidden beneath the glamorous facade of modern urbanites.
The entire Suzuki Section practically neglected food and sleep, transforming those icy texts and bizarre lines beneath Nohara Hiroshi's pen into frames of imagery sufficient to make souls tremble.
One week later, the production of "Yamishibai" Season 2 was completed.
This time, Deputy Bureau Chief Asumi personally approved a promotional budget far exceeding the first season.
The energy of TV Tokyo was thoroughly mobilized.
For a time, the entire public opinion arena of Tokyo was like an iron pot set over a fire and preheated for a long time, only waiting for the main dish "Yamishibai" to be dropped into the pot.
Countless newspapers and magazines unstintingly gave extremely high evaluations.
Kato Shin even personally wrote a second column, the headline being — "When Fear Becomes an Art: Why We Are Unable to Stop with 'Yamishibai'."
As for ordinary promotions, they were even more innumerable.
"Will genius Nohara Hiroshi's second strike surpass the myth of the predecessor?"
"From phenomenal to hall-of-fame status, 'Yamishibai' Season 2 will define a new height for Japanese horror!"
"Industry insiders predict: Season 2 viewership rating is expected to break 8%, creating a viewership miracle for the late-night slot!"
Various words of praise were practically overwhelming, lifting "Yamishibai" and Nohara Hiroshi directly to an unprecedented height.
This made the entire Suzuki Section extremely excited.
People all love praise.
As the production staff of 'Yamishibai', as long as the viewership rating for the second season held steady, then they could add a very useful qualification to their files. Whether for salary bumps or promotions, it would be considerably useful!
...
In Takada Toshihide's office, the blue smoke of sandalwood was still swirling, but that suppression had disappeared quite a bit.
Looking at those words of overflowing praise for "Yamishibai" in the newspapers, Takada Toshihide revealed a mocking smile.
Because this was exactly what he wanted.
"How are things going?" He asked without lifting his head.
Iwata Masao stood respectfully aside, an irrepressible complacence on his face: "Please rest assured, Deputy Bureau Chief. Hashishita Ichiro has completely become of use to us. These past few days, he told me everything he knows about 'Yamishibai'. I have already let my team start studying and imitating that kind of production line of thought."
"Very good." The arc curving at the corners of Takada Toshihide's mouth became increasingly icy.
He lifted his head, looking at Iwata Masao. That gaze was like looking at a sharp tool about to come into use.
"Do you know why I would allow that guy Asumi to build up the promotional momentum for 'Yamishibai' so hugely?"
Iwata Masao was stunned, indeed very puzzled.
"Killing with excessive praise."
Takada Toshihide squeezed these words out from between his teeth. In that voice, carried a hair-raising viciousness.
"The current 'Yamishibai' has already been elevated to the altar by the media and that bunch of self-important critics. The audience's expectations have also been raised to an unprecedented height. They are waiting to see miracles, waiting to see a more thrilling horror feast surpassing the first season."
He paused, snake-like light flashing within those bottomless eyes.
"But what if this second season isn't as good as they imagined? What if this miracle shows even the slightest shred of flaw?"
"The higher you stand, the harder you fall."
He looked at Iwata Masao. That gaze was like appreciating a perfect work of art about to be completed.
"Wait for the myth of 'Yamishibai' to shatter, wait for that old guy Suzuki to be kicked to Hokkaido by me, wait for that genius named Nohara Hiroshi to be drowned by the audience's saliva... When that time comes, it will be the turn for you and your new partner Hashishita-kun to take the stage."
"I will hand the project proposal for the third season of 'Yamishibai' into your hands. Use that set of things you learned, to produce a 'Yamishibai'... that truly belongs to us, that can bring honor and benefits to us."
Listening to these words, Iwata Masao only felt a chill rush from the soles of his feet straight to his skull, but what followed was an almost twisted excitement and anticipation.
He seemed to have already seen the glamorous scene of replacing him and stomping that damn young man beneath his feet.
He bowed deeply. In his voice, carried the joy of experiencing a great vengeance about to be avenged.
"Hai! Everything will entirely follow your arrangements, Deputy Bureau Chief!"
Takada Toshihide nodded satisfied. He waved his hand, signaling Iwata could step down.
He leaned back in his genuine leather boss chair. Looking at the bustling city scenery outside the window, that anger in his heart accumulated from being suppressed by "Yamishibai" finally found an outlet to vent.
Although, in order to shut those media up, in order to make those critics turn their guns around, he paid a considerably heavy price.
But as long as he could see Asumi and that damn young man fail, everything was worth it.
"Nohara Hiroshi..." He read this name, the corners of his mouth curving into a cruel smile.
"The game, is truly beginning now."