novelraw Chapter 82: Neon Shaken! Full Chapter 20.3% Viewership Rating!
Chapter 82: Neon Shaken! Full Chapter 20.3% Viewership Rating!
That suppressed silence, carried far more weight than any voice screaming in exhaustion, pressing heavily upon the heart of every single member of the Iwata Section.
Takada Toshihide did not speak again. He merely used those bottomless eyes, peacefully, sweeping one by one across these subordinates of his who usually styled themselves as the elites of the Tokyo Faction.
Wherever that gaze reached, everyone subconsciously lowered their heads, like a flock of shivering lambs under the patrol of a fierce tiger.
"Iwata-kun." A long while later, Takada Toshihide's voice sounded anew.
That voice was so peaceful lacking a single ripple, yet caused Iwata Masao's body to violently tremble.
"Your 『Yamishibai』 season three, will be broadcasted punctually at 10:30 PM, right?"
"Hai! That's correct, Deputy Director!" Iwata Masao hastily bowed answering, that voice carrying trembling emerging due to fear.
"Very good." Takada Toshihide nodded his head. He picked up that cup of sake before him that had already completely gone cold, gently shaking it. That clear liquid drew numerous beautiful arcs on the cup wall, as if admiring an artwork.
"I hope, it can give me a... pleasant surprise."
After he finished speaking, he directly downed the liquor in the cup in one gulp, then slowly stood up, adjusting his suit that had appeared a sliver of wrinkles."I still have other matters, I'll take a step first. You guys, 'celebrate' properly."
He turned around and left. That back figure, lacking half a bit of anger, yet carrying a kind of disappointment and apathy sufficient to freeze a person into ice.
Because as the Executive Deputy Director, he truly had no need to remain here anymore.
The victor and loser are already decided.
Since the victor and loser are already decided, then being here, and not being here, what necessity is there?
『Click——』
Until that heavy private room door was closed anew, isolating the noisy uproar of the outside world, Iwata Masao was as if exhausted completely, his legs turning to jelly, heavily collapsing back onto the tatami.
"It's over..." He muttered to himself. On that face always carrying a bit of arrogance, at this moment only a patch of deathly gray remained.
He knew, Takada Toshihide's final sentence, wasn't encouragement, but a final ultimatum.
If the viewership rating of 『Yamishibai』 season three, didn't have a passable number.
Unable to obtain a sufficiently impressive result, then what awaited him, would be a reckoning... far more terrifying than the failure itself.
Of course, everyone knows that 『Yamishibai Season Three』 cannot surpass 『Tales of the Unusual』.
After all just the broadcasting time slots alone are different.
Moreover it's exactly the sub-prime time slot, achieving a 10% viewership rating five minutes after broadcasting began, plus an estimated 18% final viewership rating.
Already in the sub-prime time slot.
Not even talking about being top-tier tier.
It's already...
Prime time tier!
Remember, a prime time slot breaking 10% viewership rating five minutes in, and an 18% viewership rating after the entire episode finishes broadcasting, is all considered pretty good data.
Now what they are facing is merely a sub-prime time program.
Fighting with what?
Competing with what?
Comparing with what?!
"S... Section Chief..." Hashishita Ichiro's voice was hoarse as if polished by sandpaper. He looked at Iwata Masao, inside those eyes covered in bloodshot veins, was full of helplessness and terror: "We... What should we do now?"
"What should we do?" Iwata Masao violently raised his head. On that iron-blue face, surfaced a smear of ferocity of a cornered beast still fighting. He grabbed the wine bottle on the table in one motion, ruthlessly pouring a large gulp. The spicy liquid burned his throat, and also ignited that final trace of madness in his heart.
"Wait! Wait until our program broadcasts!"
He roared: "I don't believe it! I just don't believe it! We have the word-of-mouth of the first two seasons! Have the most loyal audience base! That Nohara Hiroshi, he's just being opportunistic, figuring out a sensational twist ending and nothing more!"
"This kind of thing, is fresh seeing it once, seeing it too much it will get boring!"
"Right now him displaying this viewership rating is also just the first episode! So many episodes later, I just don't believe he can continuously maintain this viewership rating! And we, are the true orthodox path! The true continuation of the classic!"
His words, rather than saying it's boosting morale, it's better to say it's self-hypnosis.
But no one responded to him.
Inside the private room, it was still a patch of dead silence.
...
Completely different from the hopeless atmosphere inside this high-end Izakaya in Ginza, at this moment the office of the 【Nohara Hiroshi Special Production Team】, was currently immersed inside an ocean of a victorious carnival.
"20.3%! Final viewership rating! 20.3%!!"
Deputy Director Asumi practically stood straight up directly from his seat. Holding that report sheet just faxed over from the data center in his hand, on that face always scholarly and steady, at this moment was written full of undisguised wild joy and excitement!
And without hesitating, immediately pushed open the door of his own office, bringing along the secretary still waiting for him, arriving at the Nohara Section.
Telling them this news.
As Deputy Director, he of course had the qualifications to instantly know the viewership ratings, rather than having to wait until the next day.
Instantly the entire Nohara Section boiled up.
"We... we broke the record! We broke the highest viewership record of the sub-prime time slot in the past ten years!!"
"No! Not the past ten years! Estimating it's the past twenty years!"
The entire office was instantly drowned by a tsunami-like roar of cheers!
Sato Kenji and Yamamoto Takeshi, these two veteran generals accustomed to seeing wind and waves, at this moment were both flushed red in the face.
Trembling all over in excitement.
Breaking 10% in five minutes.
Breaking 20% by the end of the entire episode!
Just what kind of concept is this?
What kind of level is this?
What kind of tier is this?!
They are crystal clear!
This is exactly invincibility! This is absolutely unparalleled in the world! This is exactly number one in Tokyo!
No.
This is number one in Neon!
Sato Kenji and Yamamoto Takeshi tightly clenched their fists, already not knowing how to think anymore, merely panting heavily for air with completely flushed faces looking at those old brothers surrounding them similarly bearing similar appearances, as if during their excitement they were about to get out of breath!
"We did it! We really did it!"
"Section Chief Nohara! You are exactly god!"
Everyone was cheering, everyone was shouting, everyone was panting heavily for rough breaths, adrenaline secreting, unable to control themselves from excitement!
They looked at that young man who from beginning to end merely peacefully smiled. That gaze, was like looking up to a deity just casted personally by their own hands, radiating infinite rays of light!
"Everyone calm down a bit."
Amidst this fanatic ocean, Nohara Hiroshi's voice, like a clear spring, instantly smoothed over the restlessness in everyone's hearts.
He walked to before that television which was still lit, glancing at the time.
10:28 PM.
"Alright everyone, the true judgment, only just begins now." The corners of his mouth, hooked up a profound arc: "Let us appreciate together, the 『Yamishibai』 season three... brought by our 'excellent colleagues', the Iwata Section."
These words, caused the office to instantly quiet down.
On everyone's faces, revealed smiles of watching a good show.
On the television screen, that familiar opening lacking a bit of eeriness and obsolete feeling appeared right on time.
However, when the story officially began, everyone's brows, subconsciously wrinkled.
On screen, it was no longer that familiar Kamishibai uncle wearing a mask.
Replacing it, was a young Onmyoji wearing hunting clothes, holding talismans, looking to have a face full of righteousness.
And the content of the story, even more so caused everyone's glasses to shatter and drop.
It was no longer those urban legends originating from life, terrifying when pondered upon.
But a story of a green-faced fanged evil ghost spitting black mist, inside an abandoned shrine, hunting down several high schoolers who stumbled inside.
Finally, at the crucial hair-raising moment, that handsome Onmyoji descended from the sky, chanting an unintelligible spell, using a sparkling golden talisman, scattering the soul of that evil ghost.
"..."
When those four giant characters 『Evil Spirits Disperse』 completely full of Chuunibyou aura, appeared on the screen, the entire Nohara Section, first sunk into an eerie silence.
Promptly, detonating into a bout of roaring laughter sufficient to flip the roof over, full of contempt and disdain!
"Hahahahaha! Just what the hell is this?!"
"Subduing demons and exterminating devils? Do they think they are filming 『Shonen Onmyoji』?!"
"My heavens, they actually filmed 『Yamishibai』 into this kind of out of place urban ghost battling anime? This is simply the greatest insult towards the original artwork!"
Even the always steady Kurosawa Eiji, at this moment also couldn't help but shake his head. On that face always carrying a bit of seriousness, surfaced a smear of dumbfounded pity.
"Wasting heaven's gifts, wasting heaven's gifts ah." He sighed longly: "They fundamentally didn't understand, the horror of 『Yamishibai』, originates from the unknown, originates from the abnormality within the daily routine. Originally this 'ghost' thing once materialized, and could even be exterminated, then all its feeling of horror, all completely dissipated."
Nohara Hiroshi merely quietly watched, bearing a knowing smile on his face.
He knew, this war, was already over.
...
At the same time, on the top floor of TV Tokyo, inside that luxurious private room capable of looking down upon the entire city's night view, the atmosphere however was completely different from the relaxation of the Nohara Section.
Here, is the true power center of TV Tokyo.
Production Bureau Chief Sakata Nobuhiko, was currently conducting a scheduled gathering with a harmonious atmosphere along with several similarly leveled bureau chiefs from the News Bureau, Sports Bureau, Overseas Bureau, etc.
Sakata Nobuhiko's face always bore an amiable and approachable smile, but inside those occasionally narrowed eyes, sparkled the sharpness belonging to a higher-up.
"Bureau Chief Sakata, I heard your Production Bureau recently produced an incredible newcomer ah."
The Bureau Chief of the News Bureau, an iron lady looking quite capable and experienced, holding a red wine cup, smilingly joked: "First 『Yamishibai』, then 『YuYu Hakusho』, and now producing some 『Tales of the Unusual』, stirring the youths of entire Tokyo into being lack of peace. You guys definitely manufactured quite a bit of discussion topics for our News Bureau ah."
"Hahaha, small fights and small skirmishes, making everyone laugh at us." Sakata Nobuhiko waved his hands. That posture was modest, but the complacency hidden deep in his eyes couldn't be concealed no matter what.
Right at this moment, his secretary quickly walked in, whispering a few words beside his ear.
The smile on Sakata Nobuhiko's face, instantly solidified.
Promptly, that smile as if injected with new fuel, became more brilliant than ever before!
He slowly put down his wine cup, clearing his throat, towards everyone present, using an inadvertent, yet full of showing-off tone, announcing:
"Everyone, a newly received piece of news."
"That not too mature S-class project of our Production Bureau, 『Tales of the Unusual』, the premiere final viewership rating ——"
He deliberately paused for a moment, enjoying the curious gazes casted over by everyone.
"20.3%."
"..."
If comparing the previous atmosphere inside the private room to harmonious, then at this moment, it was exactly like dropping a deep-sea bomb.
Na... Nani (What)?!
"20.3%?! In the sub-prime time slot?!"
"Bureau Chief Sakata, you... you aren't joking right?!"
All the bureau chiefs present, without exception, all completely lost their composure!
They are too clear on exactly what this number signifies!
This is already no longer a simple success, this is a myth-like result sufficient to be recorded into the annals of TV Tokyo!
It's even capable of being recorded into the records of the Neon Broadcasting Association!
"Aiya, I also feel quite surprised."
Sakata Nobuhiko picked up his wine cup. On that chubby face was written full of Versailles-style distress: "Current young people, their tastes are truly becoming weirder and weirder. However, since we produced results, then it's also our Production Bureau, and our entire TV Tokyo's glory. Come come come, everyone drink up, drink up!"
Seeing Sakata Nobuhiko's look of feigning innocence after seeking an advantage, although the hearts of everyone present were sour as if eating ten catties of lemons, they could only one after another raise their cups, offering their most sincere compliments.
"Congratulations Bureau Chief Sakata! Felicitations Bureau Chief Sakata!"
"Under your leadership, the Production Bureau, truly is producing talents generation after generation, the future is promising ah!"
Sakata Nobuhiko smilingly accepted everyone's congratulations, his heart however having bloomed into flowers long ago.
He doesn't care about what Kanto Faction or Tokyo Faction, as long as they can produce results, letting him this Production Bureau Chief's position sit firmer, and even heading further up, sitting down onto the position already belonging to government affairs, then that is an amazingly good thing!
As for that young man named Nohara Hiroshi...
Inside Sakata Nobuhiko's mind, surfaced that handsome and peaceful face.
Perhaps, it's about time, to personally meet this... lucky general who established unparalleled merit for him.
...
This viewership rating storm swept up by 『Tales of the Unusual』, its spreading speed, was far faster than anyone imagined.
When TV Tokyo internally was still shocked due to this astonishing data, this shockwave, had already traversed the boundaries of region, ruthlessly, crashing onto the faces of those competitors watching the fire from across the river.
Osaka, Kansai TV (KTV) Headquarters Building, inside the Production Bureau Chief's Office.
Smoke curling upwards.
Bureau Chief Yamauchi Hiroshi, an industry titan famous for his iron wrist and venomous foresight, was fixedly staring at the rebroadcasting of 『The Frightening Touch』 on the television before him. On that face cold and stern like an iceberg, for the first time surfaced a smear of solemnity.
"Investigate."
He ruthlessly stamped out the cigarette butt in the ashtray, his voice icy without a sliver of warmth:
"I don't care what methods you guys use, within three days, I need to see a, most detailed report regarding this Nohara Hiroshi. His origins, his resume, his artworks, his creative habits, and even what he likes to eat, what he likes to drink, I want to know it all!"
"Also!"
He raised his head. Those sharp eyes like a falcon, sweeping past those few subordinates before him silent as winter cicadas:
"Immediately establish an 'Urban Legend' specialized research team! Dissect 『Yamishibai』 and this 『Tales of the Unusual』 frame by frame for me to analyze! I want to know, exactly how he captures the audience's psychology! This kind of hen capable of laying golden eggs, on what basis can it only be exclusively monopolized by TV Tokyo alone?!"
...
Nagoya, Chukyo TV.
"Imitate! Immediately imitate for me!"
The Production Department Manager roared in the meeting room, looking at these subordinates he dragged back to the unit at night, spitting saliva flying everywhere:
"I don't care if you guys copy, or use it for reference! Next quarter, I must in our late-night slot, see an artwork with similar style to 『Tales of the Unusual』! TV Tokyo can accomplish it, on what basis can't we accomplish it?!"
...
Fukuoka, Kyushu Broadcasting.
"The gap... is this exactly the gap between us and the major stations?"
A white-haired old veteran producer, looking at that viewership rating report transmitted from Tokyo, longly sighed. In that gaze, was full of powerlessness and loneliness.
Even to the point, even inside that National Broadcasting Association (NHK) of Neon which always stood high above, taking pride in producing Taiga Dramas and Asadoras, consistently dismissing the various operations of commercial television stations, also inciting no small waves.
"This young man named Nohara Hiroshi, is very interesting."
An experienced director responsible for cultural programs, looking at the report in his hands, thoughtfully pushing his glasses:
"His artworks, seemingly speaking about ghosts and gods, practically... is speaking about human hearts. This kind of creative method using a novelty-seeking shell, to wrap profound social issues, perhaps... is worth us utilizing for reference."
...
Overnight, the name Nohara Hiroshi, and the 'Urban Legend' genre he initiated, like a sudden tsunami, swept through the entire television world of Neon.
Those big bosses who previously stuck to old ways, immersed in their own one-mu three-fen land (small territory), for the first time, was ruthlessly taught a lesson by a young man merely twenty-three years of age, using the most unreasonable, most illogical method!
They realized, a brand-new era, full of the unknown and possibilities, had already, quietly arrived.
And this raging fire named 'Urban Legend' personally ignited by Nohara Hiroshi, has only just begun, burning towards the entire television world of Neon.
After all a sub-prime time program, directly reached a 20.3% viewership rating level.
Already making everyone.
Have no choice but to pay attention!