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

Chapter 83: So Splendid! The Storm of 『Yamishibai Season Three』!

Number one in Neon!

These four words were like a scalding brand, deeply branded into this sleepless night of July 1st, 1990.

The film and television circles of Neon, had never been turned utterly upside down by a sub-prime time program like tonight.

...

Kyoto, near Toei Kyoto Studio Park, an antique machiya.

The giant skilled in filming period dramas, Director Gosha Hideo, had just finished a late-night long conversation with a producer, currently preparing to sleep.

On that face with sharp edges resembling a sculpture, carried a trace of anxiety belonging to a creator.

Because he hadn't created any good artworks for a very long time.

"Ring ring ring——"

Right as he lay on the bed, closing his eyes preparing to sleep, the red telephone by the bedside untimely broke the silence of the late night."Who is it? So late." Gosha Hideo wrinkled his brows, very displeasedly picking up the receiver, his voice carrying a sense of oppression unique to a big boss.

"Sensei Gosha! It's me! Ishigami!"

From the other end of the phone, transmitted his most favored assistant director, Ishigami Saburo's suppressedly shocked to the point of somewhat changing tune voice: "A major incident occurred! TV Tokyo side... a major incident occurred!"

"TV Tokyo?" Gosha Hideo's brows wrinkled even deeper, his tone carrying a bit of disdain: "What major incident could they have? Which idol star caused a scandal again? Or saying, that Executive Deputy Director Takada Toshihide of theirs, lost his composure at which cocktail party again?"

In the eyes of a movie giant like him, although TV Tokyo is very strong, capable of being called the number one television station in Neon.

But truly too arrogant.

Arrogant to the point he could hardly accept their appearance of having their nostrils facing the sky.

If it wasn't because the other party in the Neon film and television industry is truly too powerful, unable to bypass this television station no matter what, otherwise, he couldn't even be bothered to pay attention to these arrogant guys.

"No! Not that!" On the other end of the phone, Ishigami Saburo's voice, appeared somewhat incoherent due to excitement: "It's... it's the viewership rating! A new sub-prime time program of theirs, called... called what 『Tales of the Unusual』, just finished broadcasting the first episode, the final viewership rating... 20.3%!!"

"..."

Gosha Hideo's hand gripping the receiver violently stiffened.

On that consistently unfazed face, for the first time surfaced a smear of astonishment.

"How much did you say?" He subconsciously asked a sentence, thinking he misheard.

"Full episode viewership rating 20.3%!"

Ishigami Saburo's voice this time was clear as thunder: "Sensei! This is already no longer the record for a sub-prime time slot, this... this even if placed in the prime time slot, is also a result sufficient to make all opponents feel hopeless!"

Gosha Hideo remained silent.

Of course he knew what this number signified.

"That program... what is it speaking about?" He remained silent for a moment, only then slowly opening his mouth, his voice carrying a true color of solemnity.

"It's a... filmed by a young man named Nohara Hiroshi. The theme... is very strange, called 'Urban Legend'. The story of the first episode, speaks about a woman with superpowers, she..."

Ishigami Saburo used the fastest speed, to repeat that plot capable of making one strike the table in admiration in admiration.

When he spoke of that heaven-shattering massive twist overturning everything at the very end, speaking of that seemingly perfect Male Lead Two, exactly being the true perverted serial killer.

And at the very end, Ishigami Saburo also added: "Even Kurosawa Eiji who has somewhat of a tit for tat with you, even served as a guest star for this young man's program, guest starring as the host of the episodic drama!"

"... Clatter."

The phone in Gosha Hideo's hands, quietly slid off, dropping onto the icy floor.

He blankly looked out the window at that cold and clear moon. Inside those eyes that had filmed countless classic shots, at this moment, only undisguised, bottomless shock remained.

The bad guy, won?

This...

How is this possible?!

This completely violated the iron rule of creation that their older generation of creators, adhered to for a lifetime, that 'punishing evil and promoting good'!

However, exactly such a rebellious artwork, yet obtained such a world-shocking success!

And Kurosawa Eiji, hearing this name he couldn't help but slightly wrinkle his brows.

What he himself films are grand narrative costume dramas.

What Kurosawa Eiji films instead are exquisite detail samurai costume dramas.

Previously in the 70s and 80s.

The two of them were frequently compared.

Therefore generating emotions resembling opponents, until now they are old, implicitly still possessing a tit for tat meaning.

He didn't expect, such a proud person like Kurosawa Eiji, a person akin to a samurai.

Unexpectedly would go serve as a foil for a young man.

"Nohara... Hiroshi..."

Gosha Hideo slowly squatted down, picking up the receiver. On that face always full of majesty, surfaced a smear of excitement belonging to meeting one's match that he himself had yet to perceive.

"Ishigami."

His voice, recovered that steadiness belonging to a giant anew, yet carrying a tone of command allowing no room for interference:

"Tomorrow, no, right now! Immediately! Go obtain a videotape of that program for me! I want to watch! I want to see after all, this young man capable of making even an old stubborn fellow like Kurosawa Eiji willingly serve as a foil for him, exactly... is what kind of monster!"

...

This storm of shock swept up by 『Tales of the Unusual』, its spreading speed, was far faster than anyone imagined.

From Hokkaido to Okinawa, from the television station bureau chief grasping heavy authority, to independent filmmakers struggling on the edge of survival.

As long as it's a person remotely associated with the words film and television, all were completely stunned blank by that terrifying viewership rating number 20.3%, and that unfamiliar name called Nohara Hiroshi, on this night.

They frantically made phone calls, utilizing all social connections, attempting to investigate the origin of this storm.

And when from the mouths of those friends, colleagues, and even opponents who had watched the program, learned about that "superpower", "female lead counter-kill", "male lead two heaven-shattering twist" plot.

Everyone sunk into a long silence.

That is a kind of powerlessness and reverence originating from the marrow of the bones, generated after witnessing a true dimensional strike.

They realized, this is truly a brand new era arriving!

And they these old folks rigidly adhering to the old rules, if they still don't make changes, then what awaits them, is only the fate of being, mercilessly abandoned by this era.

However, right when the entire Neon film and television circles, were unable to sleep all night because of this god-tier artwork suddenly appearing out of nowhere.

Those thousands upon thousands of ordinary audiences who truly decide the direction of viewership ratings, yet were experiencing a, heaven to hell, dual experience of ice and fire.

...

10:29 PM.

University of Tokyo, Komaba Campus, inside a certain male dorm room.

The air permeated with a mixed smell of sweat, instant noodles, and youth hormones, simply speaking it's a bit sour and stinky.

But no one cared, these unkempt boys were accustomed to it long ago.

"Yoshi! Yoshi! Yoshi!" (Alright! Alright! Alright!)

A boy sporting a pompadour, named Sato Kenta, was excitedly resembling a cat having its tail stepped on, pacing back and forth inside the cramped room, his mouth continuously repeating this vocabulary most capable of expressing his mood at this moment.

"That twist! Did you guys see it?! That twist! Is simply fucking a stroke of genius ah! Even until now my goosebumps still haven't gone down!"

"Who says it isn't!"

Another boy wearing thick glasses, looking quite refined, also excited to the point his face was flushed red: "I originally thought, the female lead killing that police officer, was already subversive enough! I didn't expect, the true boss, unexpectedly was that handsome guy who kept helping her! This... who wrote this script?! I want to send him razor blades! No! I want to send him a lifetime of knees (kneel to him for a lifetime)!"

"Nohara Hiroshi! It's Sensei Nohara Hiroshi!"

The only normie in the room, a fashionably dressed boy named Suzuki Takuya, proudly raised the 『Weekly Shonen Jump』 in his hand. On top of that, was exactly the newest chapter of 『YuYu Hakusho』.

"I already told you guys earlier! Sensei Nohara is exactly god! You guys still didn't believe it! Convinced now right?!"

"Convinced! Thoroughly convinced!"

"Starting from today, I am exactly Sensei Nohara's most loyal believer!"

"Me too!"

The entire dorm, was entirely immersed inside an atmosphere of a fanatic pilgrimage, after being baptized by a god-tier artwork.

Continuously discussing the plot just now and that ingenious twist.

Already unable to stop!

"Hey hey hey! Quick look! It's 10:30! 『Yamishibai』 is about to begin!"

Not knowing who shouted a sentence, everyone's gaze, instantly focused anew onto that tiny television set.

"Oh oh oh! It's starting it's starting!"

"Too awesome! Just finished watching one god-tier artwork, and can continue watching another one! Tonight is simply heaven ah!"

"Just don't know, Sensei Nohara's 『Yamishibai』, what kind of surprise will it bring us this time!"

Suzuki Takuya deliberately bit the four characters 'Sensei Nohara' extremely heavily. That sense of superiority belonging to a veteran fan, practically overflowed the screen.

But right at this time someone also rebutted: "This time's 『Yamishibai Season Three』, is already no longer produced by Sensei Nohara, seemingly changing into a colleague of his called the Iwata Section producing it."

"That's right that's right, I also heard, Sensei Nohara wants to immerse himself in the production of 『Tales of the Unusual』, thereby leaving season three to his colleagues." Another person also said.

"But it shouldn't matter right, after all Sensei Nohara has already produced 『Yamishibai』 season one and season two very perfectly, season three should also inherit Sensei Nohara's style." Suzuki Takuya pursed his lips at this time.

"Perhaps. However according to previous promotions saying, 『Yamishibai』 season three's visual quality even upgraded." There was also someone implicitely worrying.

But quickly accompanying the time arriving, they also stopped their discussions.

However, when that familiar, opening lacking a bit of eeriness and obsolete feeling ended, and the story officially began.

The atmosphere inside the dorm, yet gradually became somewhat strange.

"Hm? What's going on? Where's the storytelling uncle?"

"Yeah, how come it changed into an Onmyoji dressed like cosplay?"

"Also this art style... feels, not quite the same as before ah. The lines are too clean, lacking that kind of rough feeling of terror."

When that green-faced fanged evil ghost, accompanied by terrifying sound effects jumped out from the screen.

The entire dorm directly sunk into an eerie silence.

Sato Kenta blankly looked at the screen, subconsciously scratching his own head: "This... this is... 『Yamishibai』? I didn't see wrong right? How come it feels, like the 『Gegege no Kitaro』 my five-year-old nephew watches?"

"Pfft——"

This sentence of his was like a switch, instantly detonating the entire room.

"Hahaha! Kitaro! Don't say it, it really fucking is a bit similar!"

"Holy shit! Just what the hell is this all about?! That ghost looks too hilarious! Also that Onmyoji, is he serious about the spell he chanted? How come I hear it like he is reading off a menu?"

"My eyes! My eyes are going blind! How do they dare! How do they dare film 『Yamishibai』 into this appearance?!"

When ultimately, that handsome Onmyoji, used a golden sparkling talisman, scattering the soul of that evil ghost, and the screen even chuunibyou-ly typed out the four giant characters "Evil Spirits Disperse".

The entire dorm, thoroughly exploded.

"Disperse your mom ah!!"

Suzuki Takuya was the first to violently rise up. He grabbed an empty instant noodle bowl on the table, ruthlessly smashing it towards the wall. On that face always carrying a bit of handsomeness, at this moment was written full of the anger of being betrayed!

"This is fucking fraud! It's naked fraud! On what basis do they use Sensei Nohara's name to promote this kind of garbage?! What do they treat us loyal audiences as?! Idiots?!"

"Exactly! Too overboard! I feel my intelligence is being insulted!"

"I want to complain! Immediately call TV Tokyo to complain! No! I want to write a letter! Using the most vicious language of my entire life, to greet that producer named Iwata Masao!"

"Also that Hashishita Ichiro! I remember the newspaper said, he used to be a subordinate of Sensei Nohara's! Is this how he repays his sensei's grace of recognizing his talent?! Just what kind of garbage is he producing!!!"

"This fundamentally isn't 『Yamishibai』! Those damn guys! This fundamentally isn't 『Yamishibai Season Three』!"

"That's right! I don't acknowledge this as 『Yamishibai』 season three!"

This monstrous anger transformed from disappointment, within slightly a few minutes, exactly utilized a posture of a spreading prairie fire, sweeping across the entire Neon.

Countless households, countless Izakayas, countless university dorms, all erupted with identically angry vitriolic criticisms.

They felt themselves like a group of diners full of anticipation, preparing to taste the Kaiseki Cuisine personally produced by a Michelin three-star head chef.

As a result, what the waiter served, yet was a plate of aged rice that grew mold and green hairs in the warehouse, and on top of it was even poured a spoonful of leftover, sour-smelling natto from the table next door.

That kind of humiliated feeling of being deceived, being fooled, being thrown food to eat like a pig, made all the loyal fans of 『Yamishibai』, all thoroughly, go berserk.

TV Tokyo's audience service hotline, within ten minutes after the program broadcasted, was thoroughly blown up with calls.

The operators wore miserable faces, listening to the other end of the phone transmitting over, various kinds of full of imaginative, cordial greetings sufficient to make Zaunites feel ashamed of their inferiority, feeling their own ears and souls, both received devastating blows.

Early next morning, the reader letters section of major newspapers, were even more so flooded by complaints letters resembling snowflakes.

"... I never thought, an artwork I so deeply loved, would be ruined into this appearance. That producer named Iwata Masao, he fundamentally doesn't grok what is called horror! He only knows how to use the cheapest special effects and stupidest plot, to insult the audience's intelligence! I demand TV Tokyo, immediately stop broadcasting this garbage! Furthermore, openly apologize to Sensei Nohara Hiroshi, and to all us audiences!"

—— From a veteran film and television fan who wishes to remain anonymous, having watched television for ten years.

"... I am an art student, I can say, the visual style of season three, is exactly a disaster. It entirely abandoned that unique style full of Japanese horror aesthetics originating from 'Kamishibai' of the first two seasons, changing into an out of place, neither fish nor fowl attempt at imitating hot-blooded shonen manga. That artist responsible for the keyframes, I suggest him, can go back to the furnace and be remade."

—— From an angry art university student.

"... I only wish to ask a sentence, that executive director named Hashishita Ichiro, at night, can you sleep?"

—— From a concise and comprehensive, hardcore fan of Nohara Hiroshi.

This public opinion storm spontaneously initiated by the audiences, its ferocity, far surpassed everyone's imagination.

It was like a sudden tsunami, utilizing an unrivaled posture, ruthlessly, slapping onto that already tottering main door of the Iwata Section.

Also thoroughly, nailing this so-called "continuation of the classic" that is 『Yamishibai』 season three, onto the pillar of shame in television history.

While acting as the initiator of all this, that young man currently leisurely sitting inside the office, while drinking pour-over coffee, while flipping through the newest issue of 『Weekly Shonen Jump』.

The corners of Nohara Hiroshi's mouth, merely hooked up a calm and indifferent smile.

He anticipated it.

Only...

Didn't expect it to be this splendid!