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

Chapter 89: Must Snatch Back 『Yamishibai』! The Hypocritical Crocodile Comes Knocking!

The headache of a hangover was like a blunt rusty chisel, strike by strike, knocking against Hashishita Ichiro's temples.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Entering his vision was his own bedroom's familiar yet unfamiliar ceiling, in the air permeated a nauseating smell mixing alcohol and sour rot.

Fragments of memory like smashed mirrors, messily pierced within his mind.

He only remembered he drank a lot of alcohol, smashed a lot of things, seemingly like a madman crying and howling.

And then... then didn't remember anything anymore.

"You're awake?"

An exhausted voice transmitted from the side.

He turned his head, seeing his wife Hashishita Minami currently holding a cup of warm water, quietly sitting by the bedside.

Her eye sockets were swollen red, on that face which should have been gentle and graceful, was written full of the haggardness of staying up late, however inside those eyes looking at him, yet didn't hold the reprimand and disgust he anticipated, only a patch of worry causing him to feel extremely ashamed."Ichiro, drink some water." She gently passed the water cup repeatedly to the side of his mouth.

Hashishita Ichiro struggled sitting up, throat dry like about to catch fire, he received the water cup, drinking it clean in one gulp, that warm liquid gliding down his esophagus, yet unable to warm that heart of his already icy cold long ago.

"Minami... I..." He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, yet discovering his own voice was hoarse exactly like being polished over by sandpaper.

"Yesterday... Sensei Nohara came over." Hashishita Minami didn't look at him, merely lowering her head, a piece of off-white business card with exquisite texture, lightly placed beside the pillow at the head of the bed.

Upon that, using hot-stamped gold typography, printed a name he would be unable to forget for this entire lifetime.

—— Nohara Hiroshi.

"Nohara... Sensei? Nohara Hiroshi!?"

Hashishita Ichiro's body violently trembled once, he looked at that business card, then looked at his wife, inside those hollow eyes surfaced confusion: "He... what did he come to do? How could he..."

"I called Sensei Suzuki."

Hashishita Minami's voice was very soft, yet like a heavy hammer, ruthlessly knocking on Hashishita Ichiro's heart:

"Yesterday night you were truly too terrifying, I... I didn't know what to do, I could only think of him, therefore making a call to Sensei Suzuki. Moreover Sensei Suzuki... he also heard your crying and howling from yesterday night, therefore he is very worried about you."

Sensei Suzuki...

This address was like a key, instantly opening the floodgates of Hashishita Ichiro's memory.

That senior who always kept a straight face, yet would silently shoulder all responsibilities for him when he made a mistake; that mentor who when he was at his lowest, promoted him out from Kanto Regional Station, giving him a Tokyo Dream...

That guilt forcefully suppressed by him at the deepest depths of his heart using jealousy and ambition, at this moment, like a burst dam's floodwaters, erupted with a boom!

"Wu... wa——!"

He could no longer sustain it anymore, this man who struggled in the workplace for half his life, forcefully clinging onto the last bit of pathetic dignity of a man, like a child burying his head deeply into the crook of his arms, issuing a repressed and anguished wailing.

In that crying sound, held remorse, held unwillingness, held hatred towards his own foolishness, and even more so held boundless despair, towards the future.

Hashishita Minami didn't speak, merely extending her hand, lightly, strike by strike, stroking that back of his continuously trembling due to intense convulsions.

On that mature beautiful yet full of exhaustion face, her eye sockets also reddened, gaining some more tears swirling around.

She knew Hashishita Ichiro indeed made a mistake.

Moreover...

She also almost made a mistake.

Fortunately, Hashishita Ichiro encountered a good mentor. And she also encountered a true gentleman.

Finally the crying sounds gradually subsided.

Hashishita Ichiro raised that face covered with tear stains, utilizing an almost self-abusive strength, ruthlessly giving himself two slaps.

"Smack! Smack!"

The crisp sounds in the quiet room appeared exceptionally ear-piercing.

He picked up the telephone, fingers trembling, dialing that number he once was most familiar with, at this moment yet felt holding a weight of a thousand catties.

The phone was very quickly connected.

"... Suzuki... Sensei." He choked with sobs, only calling out an address, exactly no longer able to speak further.

"... It's Ichiro ah." Suzuki Kiyoto on the other end of the phone, issued a long sigh full of heartache.

He didn't scold, nor did he reprimand.

"Ichiro ah, a person in this lifetime, anyone will make mistakes. Making mistakes, isn't terrifying. What's terrifying is, not even possessing the courage to stand up and start anew anymore."

"Nohara-kun he... he already went over yesterday night. He told me, as long as you are willing to lower your head, he is willing... to give you another chance."

"Make a phone call to Nohara-kun. He wants you, to go to his section room to find him."

The phone disconnected, Hashishita Ichiro's tears silently sliding down his cheeks.

He looked at that business card at the head of the bed, that name upon it, seemingly carrying a kind of scorching heat causing him to not dare to look directly.

Ultimately, he still extended his hand, picking up that thin business card, deciding the fate of the latter half of his life.

...

"Therefore, Section Chief your meaning is, you truly want to forgive that traitor?"

Inside the 【Nohara Hiroshi · Special Production Team】 office, Minamura Hoshi's voice was full of disbelief and indignation.

Beside him, on the faces of Haseji Kakeru and Kitagawa Yao, was also written full of identical incomprehension and unwillingness.

Right just now, they heard with their own ears, that omnipotent Section Chief of theirs, on the phone utilizing a peaceful tone, speaking to that traitor they hated to the bone: "One hour later, come to my office."

That Hashishita Ichiro who shamelessly made a phone call to Nohara Hiroshi!

"He yet betrayed you! Betrayed Section Chief Suzuki! Selling all our painstaking efforts to that bastard Iwata!"

Haseji Kakeru also excitedly stood up: "This kind of person, fundamentally isn't worth forgiving!"

"Exactly!"

Kitagawa Yao also clenched her tiny fists tightly, inside those large eyes always sparkling brightly was full of indignation: "We finally painstakingly crushed the Iwata Section, you getting him back now, what if he betrays you again?"

Nohara Hiroshi looking at these three young people filled with righteous indignation before his eyes, on his face yet merely revealed a helpless smile.

He placed down the coffee cup in his hands, gesturing for them to sit down.

"You guys ah, are still too young." His voice was gentle, yet carrying a kind of composure having insight into everything: "You guys think, me letting him return, is merely a simple forgiveness?"

"Isn't it?" The three spoke in unison.

"Of course not." Nohara Hiroshi leaned against the back of the chair, his fingers lightly tapping on the desktop, issuing regular soft thuds: "I ask you guys, this person Hashishita Ichiro, how is his capability?"

The three exchanged a glance, although resentful in their hearts, yet still had to admit it.

"... Okay I guess." Minamura Hoshi somewhat unwillingly said: "After all he is someone able to become a Level 4 Director at thirty-five years old, his basic skills are still very solid. Initially in the Suzuki Section, many matters on the execution level, were indeed him stepping up."

Nohara Hiroshi nodded his head: "Correct. He possesses capability, merely having his heart blinded by jealousy. And now, he has experienced a plummet from heaven to hell, being mercilessly abandoned by the new master he defected to, being poked at the spine and cursed by people of the entire television station. You guys think, under this kind of situation, me fishing him back, what will he be like?"

The three were stunned anew.

"He will... feel deeply grateful to you?" Kitagawa Yao tentatively asked.

"It's exactly like this, I am willing to give him another chance."

The corners of Nohara Hiroshi's mouth hooked up an arc possessing profound meaning: "Because other than my place here, the entire Neon, will not have a second television station anymore, daring to utilize a director possessing a betrayal resume, and also having produced such a hot IP extremely disastrously. He already has no path of retreat."

"Furthermore..."

Nohara Hiroshi's gaze became sharp:

"Did you guys forget that contract we signed with the television station? 『Yamishibai』 season three failing, the exclusive production rights for the subsequent two seasons, will utilize a one-yen price, to be forcibly repossessed."

"I plan, to reboot the production of 『Yamishibai』 season four and season five. And Hashishita Ichiro, this person who participated in the production of the first two seasons throughout the entire process, familiar with all procedures, and holds absolute loyalty and devotion towards me, undoubtedly is the best executive director candidate, to be responsible for this project."

"As for the three of you..."

He looked at those three faces transforming from shock into sudden realization, the smile on his face growing denser: "Your task, is to follow me in supervising Hashishita Ichiro, producing 『Yamishibai』 season four and season five out anew!"

This spiel was like a key, instantly opening all the confusion inside the hearts of the three.

They worshipfully looked at this young Section Chief strategizing within a command tent before their eyes.

They finally comprehended.

Their Section Chief, was never a soft-hearted push-over.

He is merely utilizing an altitude they possess no way of comprehending, playing a set, of heaven-shaking massive chess game sufficient to decide the fate of everyone!

...

One hour later, when Hashishita Ichiro's despondent back figure, appeared at the office doorway.

Everyone subconsciously halted the work in their hands.

Those gazes cast towards him, icy, disdainful, like invisible knives one after another, slicing that pathetic bit of self-esteem of his enduring the slow slicing execution completely to pieces (lingchi).

He didn't look at anyone, merely lowering his head, taking heavy footsteps, step by step, walking until before that young man currently peacefully looking at him.

Then, under the astounded gazes of everyone.

"Plop——!"

Both his knees went soft, heavily kneeling down!

A standard, forehead deadly pressed against the icy floor, Dogeza!

"Nohara... Sensei!"

His voice, transmitting from beneath that lowered head, hoarse, and also full of endless remorse: "I... I was wrong! I am not human! I had my heart blinded by lard! I... I've let you down! Let down Sensei Suzuki! Let down everyone!"

Tears surging out from the corners of his eyes, intermingling with snot, dripping onto the clean floor, spreading out a small patch of wretched water stain.

"I am begging you! Give me another chance! I... I am willing to work like a horse or ox for you! This life of mine, from now on exactly belongs to you!"

Inside the office was a patch of deathly silence.

Everyone was thoroughly stunned by this scene full of dramatic nature before their eyes.

Nohara Hiroshi didn't immediately let him get up.

He merely quietly watched, until this man, entirely, ground all dignity and pride completely into fine powder onto this patch of floor.

He finally slowly opened his mouth, voice peaceful, indiscernible of joy or anger.

"Stand up."

"Starting from today, you are still the executive director of my Nohara Section. Responsible for, the reboot project of 『Yamishibai』 season four and season five."

He paused, inside those clear eyes, flashing past a trace of icy cold glint.

"I am only saying this once, Hashishita-kun."

"My place here, doesn't raise trash, even less raises traitors."

"Yes! Yes! I understand! I swear! I Hashishita Ichiro, for this lifetime and generation, will absolutely never let down your trust again!"

Hashishita Ichiro heavily knocked three resounding kowtows toward the floor, that sound muffled, and also full of the rejoicing of surviving a disaster.

Nohara Hiroshi looking at this appearance of his, that bit of compassion generated within his heart because of Suzuki Kiyoto, had already vanished without a trace long ago.

Replacing it was a kind of peace of mind of a chess player seeing a chess piece return to its position.

He of course knew, this operation of his, viewed from the perspective of Iwata Masao and Takada Toshihide, was what kind of foolish.

But so what if it is?

What he wants, exactly is to let them look down upon him, letting them feel, he himself is merely a push-over nostalgic for old relationships.

Then, at the moment they expect it the least, using this chess piece personally abandoned by them, bestowing upon them, the most fatal strike.

"Knock knock knock——"

Right at this moment, the office door was knocked upon anew.

Asumi's intellectual beauty secretary, holding a modest smile on her face, appeared at the doorway.

"Sensei Nohara, Deputy Director Asumi invites you to head over for a trip." She respectfully said, furthermore additionally adding a sentence: "Deputy Director Takada and Section Chief Iwata, are also there."

"Oh?" Nohara Hiroshi's eyebrows raised once, the corners of his mouth hooking up an arc possessing playing meaning.

This truly is, speak of the devil, and the devil arrives.

...

Inside Asumi's office, the atmosphere however was entirely distinct from the sabers rattling and bows drawn taut within Nohara Hiroshi's anticipation.

Takada Toshihide and Asumi, these two number two figures belonging to distinct factions, at this moment resembled two old friends who haven't met for many years, sitting on the sofa, tasting fragrant tea, talking extremely cheerfully.

While that Iwata Masao who should have been a stray dog, at this moment was exactly acting submissive and obedient, kneeling beside the tea table, using a set of tea sets appearing quite exquisite, cautiously brewing matcha for everyone, that posture, modest resembling a tea boy who received professional training.

Seeing Nohara Hiroshi enter, he even stood up at the first instance, facing him, deeply bowing once, that posture, humble to the extreme.

"Sensei Nohara, you've arrived."

"..."

Nohara Hiroshi looking at this scene full of magical realism, was also somewhat astounded inside his heart.

But still hanging that gentle smile upon his face.

"Deputy Director Takada, Deputy Director Asumi, Section Chief Iwata, good afternoon." He greeted.

"Hahaha, Hiroshi-kun has arrived, quickly sit quickly sit!" Asumi enthusiastically nodded his head, on that refined face, written full of irrepressible smiles.

He looked at Nohara Hiroshi, using a tone almost bordering on showing off saying:

"Hiroshi-kun, you've arrived right on time. Deputy Director Takada and Section Chief Iwata coming over today, are specially coming to... apologize to you, furthermore, wanting to invite you this Father of 『Yamishibai』, to come out of retirement anew, to rescue a bit, this tottering ace IP of ours!"

"After all at the board of directors meeting, the directors were all extremely angry, such an outstanding brand IP unexpectedly failed this disastrously. To this end our Deputy Director Takada Toshihide, has even received severe interrogations (reprimands). This truly is too bad!"

As he spoke, at an angle unable to be seen by those two people, narrowly blinking his eyes twice towards Nohara Hiroshi.

The smugness and exhilaration inside that gaze, simply about to overflow the screen.

At this moment, victory and defeat have been decided, the positions of offense and defense have switched.

It is the turn of their Kanto Faction, to sit on this card table, with plenty of time at ease, admiring the opponent's spectacular, face-changing performance.