My Name is Hiroshi Nohara, Star of Neon Film and Television!

Chapter 70: Returning to Kumamoto, the Koyama Family Still Wants More

Kumamoto Prefecture, Koyama Family.

On the third day after returning from Tokyo, that noise and flashiness belonging to the metropolis, was finally thoroughly washed clean amidst the daily life of this tranquil small city, leaving only some memories akin to fine shells left behind on the sandy beach after the tide recedes, inadvertently sparkling with a distant and enchanting light.

That was the prosperity of the Tokyo Metropolis.

Koyama Yoshiharu held a steaming cup of green tea, sitting cross-legged in front of the low table in the living room, watching the local news playing on the television, yet always feeling like there seemed to be something missing within this familiar flavor.

Missing a bit of... heart-racing excitement.

He took a sip of tea. On that face that was always taut, for the first time emerged a trace of melancholy even he himself hadn't noticed.

"Sigh..."

A sigh carrying a bit of lethargy and dissatisfaction, transmitted from behind the paper sliding door of the adjacent washitsu (Japanese-style room).

Youngest daughter Musae rubbed a head of messy hair, wearing pink pajamas, yawning as she walked out. That youthful face was written full of boredom.

She collapsed onto the tatami, like a salted fish whose bones had been extracted, powerlessly complaining: "So boring ah... compared to Tokyo, our Kumamoto is simply the countryside! Doesn't even have a decent department store, the train comes once every half an hour, after eight o'clock at night the streets are just like a ghost town."Except before she could even finish speaking, Koyama Yoshiharu's nerve of 'local pride' was fiercely provoked.

"Nonsense!"

Koyama Yoshiharu heavily thumped the teacup onto the table, emitting a muffled thud. Those sharp eyes unique to a Head Teacher, like two unsheathed short blades, fiercely stabbed towards that girl who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.

"No matter how bad Kumamoto is, it's still our hometown! Our relatives are here, our roots are here!"

His voice wasn't loud, yet carried a kind of majesty allowing no room for interference: "No matter how good Tokyo is, that's still someone else's place! We are people of Kumamoto Prefecture, even if we stay in Tokyo for an entire lifetime, we still won't become true Tokyo people!"

"Then wouldn't it be fine if I just married a Tokyo person?"

Musae unyieldingly pouted her small mouth, using a kind of naive cruelty, accurately poking right at her own old dad's most fragile soft spot: "Just like second sister, finding a boyfriend like brother-in-law Hiroshi, then won't I have everything?"

"You——!"

Koyama Yoshiharu was driven to the point of his blood rushing to his head by this sentence, that cold and hard face instantly flushing into the color of pig liver.

The finger he pointed at Musae trembled slightly due to anger, yet for a time couldn't find suitable words to refute.

Thinking of this prospective son-in-law Nohara Hiroshi's successful identity and standing.

As well as the luxury car and income even he envied.

He truly couldn't find a way to refute!

"You, are no longer a child! Otherwise I will really hit you!" This caused the annoyed Koyama Yoshiharu's head to smoke even more.

But towards this youngest and also most doted upon daughter, he truly was at his wit's end.

"Alright alright, what are you guys arguing about early in the morning."

Right at this moment, the door curtain of the kitchen was lifted, mother Koyama Takasae walked out holding a wooden tray. That face always carrying a gentle smile, at this moment also bore a bit of helplessness.

On the tray, were several bowls of rice still emitting hot steam, and a plate of freshly pan-fried Tamagoyaki radiating the aroma of soy sauce.

Very simple and also very homey.

"Musae, stop talking back to your dad."

Eldest sister Masae also followed out holding a small plate of marinated dried small fish and a bowl of chopped scallions with soy sauce. She arranged the side dishes one by one, before using her unique gentle tone, speaking to her younger sister: "Besides, Hiroshi-kun isn't a Tokyo person either, he is originally from Akita Prefecture. You ah, shouldn't always aim too high, you have to be more down-to-earth."

"Eh? Brother-in-law isn't a Tokyo person?" Within those pitch-black large eyes of Musae's, for the first time was written full of pure shock.

In her simple worldview, someone capable of working at TV Tokyo, capable of driving that kind of luxury car, capable of casually buying so many designer bags, quite naturally, ought to be a 'noble' born and raised in Tokyo.

"Hmph, do you think a Tokyo household registration is that easy to obtain?"

Koyama Yoshiharu finally found an opportunity to salvage his dignity. He cleared his throat, putting on that air belonging to the extensive knowledge of a Head Teacher, speaking in a deep voice: "Our Neon's household registration system, is managed extremely strictly. Wanting to migrate from local areas to Tokyo, requires meeting a series of harsh conditions, for example having a stable, high-income job in Tokyo, having a fixed residence, also needing a recommendation from a company or guarantor... the procedures are cumbersome, the review is strict, it's even harder than testing into Tokyo University!"

As he spoke, he subconsciously rubbed his own chin. Within those sharp eyes, flashed a trace of doubt.

Because the more he spoke the more he realized his own prospective son-in-law fit these conditions more and more.

"Of course, there are exceptions to everything. If you have enough money, or have a sufficiently great reputation, making outstanding contributions to society... then that's another story... mm, for example Hiroshi."

This spiel of his, clearly had already categorized that future son-in-law who although isn't a Tokyo person, yet resembled a 'Celestial Dragon (privileged elite)' even more than any Tokyo person, into this scope of exceptions.

"Pfft." Koyama Musae immediately let out a light laugh: "What the heck! Dad! At the end of it all isn't it still brother-in-law?"

This immediately made Koyama Yoshiharu feel his authority was damaged.

But once again couldn't say anything.

Merely urging: "Hurry up and eat!" He tautened his face once again.

The family sat down around the low table, beginning to enjoy this simple yet warm lunch.

Only, those home-cooked dishes carrying mom's flavor they were normally used to eating, entering their mouths at this moment, yet always felt somewhat bland.

"Sigh, still really miss the grand meals eaten in Tokyo ah..."

Musae picked at the rice in her bowl, that small face written full of reminiscing: "That French baked escargot, that melt-in-your-mouth Saga Wagyu, and also that lobster sashimi even bigger than my face... Brother-in-law Hiroshi is too good at picking places, every single meal was so delicious I wanted to swallow my tongue!"

This spiel of hers was like a lit fuse, instantly detonating everyone's memories regarding their taste buds.

Even the Koyama Yoshiharu who always kept a taut face, upon hearing the four words 'Saga Wagyu', his Adam's apple uncontrollably rolled up and down for a moment.

"Ring ring ring——"

Right amidst this collective reminiscing of gourmet food, the telephone in the living room, abruptly rang out.

"I'll go answer it!" The closest Musae bounced over like a rabbit.

"Hello? It's big sister Misae ah!"

"Mm, Musae, it's me. Can you pass the phone to mom?" From the other side of the phone, transmitted Misae's voice carrying a bit of a smile.

"Mom, it's second sister!" Musae immediately handed the receiver to her mother.

"Hello, Misae ah." Koyama Takasae received the phone, her voice brimming with maternal love: "We've arrived home, everything is fine, you don't need to worry. Over in Tokyo, take good care of yourself, and also take good care of Hiroshi-kun, understood?"

"I know, mom." Misae smiled answering.

While the mother and daughter were talking intimately, Musae once again resembled a small sparrow, leaning close to the receiver, rushing to speak: "Second sister second sister! I don't want to stay in Kumamoto anymore! It's so boring here! I want to go to Tokyo! I want to live together with you!"

The Misae on the other side of the phone was amused by these words of her younger sister into giggling: "Sure ah, wait until you graduate from high school, you're welcome to come anytime. When that time comes, I'll have your brother-in-law introduce a few Tokyo handsome guys to you!"

"No messing around!"

Koyama Yoshiharu's majestic voice, sounded out like a clap of thunder: "Finish your studies first! Thinking about this messy stuff all day long!"

The family was amused by this flustered and exasperated appearance of his into roaring with laughter, even the Misae on the other side of the phone, laughed until she was out of breath.

"Oh right, second sister." After the joking around, Musae remembered that question she couldn't figure out no matter how hard she thought: "Brother-in-law is so formidable, how come he isn't a Tokyo person? I don't even believe it!"

"Mm? The identity of a Tokyo household registration? He already is one now oh."

On the other side of the phone, within Misae's voice, carried a kind of unsuppressable smugness and pride.

"Just yesterday, I heard Hiroshi-kun say it. He sold the copyright of 『Yamishibai』 to the television station, in order to reward him, the station not only gave him a ten million JPY bonus, but also rewarded him with an apartment in Setagaya Ward, conveniently, even resolving the issue of a Tokyo household registration together!"

"..."

If the previous five million luxury car, only smashed out a crack in the hearts of this family.

Then at this moment, this spiel, is exactly akin to a meteorite falling from the sky, carrying unrivaled impact, thoroughly smashing that worldview of theirs built upon tradition and reality into pieces!

Ten million JPY!

An apartment in Setagaya Ward!

And also that... Tokyo household registration which is even harder than testing into Tokyo University!

"Na... Nani (What)?!"

The hand Koyama Yoshiharu used to hold the teacup, violently trembled for a moment, boiling hot tea spilling all over his hand, yet he was completely oblivious.

On that face that was always taut cold and hard as a rock, at this moment only undisguised shock and sluggishness remained.

He thought of himself.

Serving as a Head Teacher in Kumamoto Prefecture for a lifetime, conscientious and earnest, remaining uncorrupted, reaching the end of it all, is merely guarding an old house requiring thirty years of mortgage payments.

While that young man...

He looked at that familiar somewhat secluded sky outside the window, for the first time, generating a trace of doubt, towards his own entire life.

"Dad? Dad? What's wrong?" Misae on the other side of the phone, heard the commotion over here, asking somewhat worriedly.

"No... nothing..." Koyama Yoshiharu put down the teacup as if awakening from a dream. On that face full of shock, unknowingly, had already surfaced a smear of pride even he himself hadn't noticed.

He cleared his throat, facing the receiver, using the concerned tone carrying a bit of reserve unique to an elder to state: "Misae ah, that... since Hiroshi-kun is now also a Tokyo person, you guys... also need to pay attention to your health, don't get pregnant first, after all... your big sister still hasn't..."

Before he could even finish speaking, he was interrupted by two distinctly different shrieks.

"Dad! What are you saying!" Eldest sister Masae's gentle face, instantly flushed red like a branding iron, both ashamed and angry.

"Ah! Dad you're stepping over the line! To actually say this in front of an underage high school student like me!" Youngest sister Musae exaggeratedly covered her own ears, yet within those pitch-black large eyes, sparkled an excited light of watching a good show.

"You old geezer! Spouting what complete nonsense!" Mother Koyama Takasae also reacted, picking up a cushion from the table, and throwing it towards her own husband.

"I... I am caring about you guys!"

Koyama Yoshiharu was made to blush with an old face by this sudden massive joint attack. He flusteredly dodged his wife's attacks, looking at his daughters' ashamed yet annoyed appearances, merely feeling his own Head Teacher career, at this moment, encountered an unprecedented Waterloo.

He finished picking at the final bite of rice in his bowl, heavily putting down his bowl and chopsticks, using a phrase "I'm going out for a walk", almost akin to fleeing in panic, slipping out of the house.

Only, when he walked on that familiar small path, on that face written full of embarrassment, yet uncontrollably surfaced a smear of a smug smile he couldn't suppress no matter what, akin to an old fox.

He pulled out his own flip phone, skillfully flipping through the contact list, finding the number of that Vice Principal who always loved to brag about how successfully his son was mingling in Tokyo.

He cleared his throat, pressing the call button.

"Hello? Is this Vice Principal Yamamoto? Hahaha, it's me ah, Koyama Yoshiharu. Nothing much really, just wanted to chat with you. Sigh, yeah, I just returned from Tokyo. That disappointing son-in-law of my family ah, also doesn't have any great prospects, just freshly bought an apartment in Setagaya, oh, wasn't bought either, it was TV Tokyo who gifted it to him. Conveniently, transferring his household registration over as well. As for Tokyo people, it's just troublesome..."

That loud voice, full of Versailles-style (subtle) bragging, like a triumphant song composed for victory, echoed within the tranquil alleys of Kumamoto Prefecture.

He knew, tonight's alcohol at the Izakaya, he's definitely treating.

Moreover.

He absolutely must drink the most expensive 『Juyondai』!