Chapter 206: Funds, Auditions, and Premiere

Akiwara Yuto made his decision and immediately had Asano Aiko and his new assistant, Satake Maki, find contact information for several financial institutions.

After multiple screenings, he chose an international accounting firm with an asset management division and paid them a visit.

During their discussion, one of their senior managers offered a suggestion: establish a private charitable foundation overseas and place all book copyrights and royalties under the foundation's name.

In addition, large-scale charitable activities would need to be conducted, with 30% of the income donated to regions in need, in order to achieve the goal of reasonable tax avoidance.

However, when formulating the donation plan, Akiwara Yuto donated the majority of the money domestically, with a smaller portion donated to various Japanese associations and institutions, including the orphanage where he originally came from.

Although the proportion was only a small part, as Akiwara Yuto's fame grew and his works gradually increased, the amount of this money was also very substantial.

After receiving the donations, the political groups behind these associations and institutions would inevitably support Akiwara Yuto even more and bring him a good reputation in society.

……

While Akiwara Yuto and Asano were handling various procedures, the production team for Fuji Television's *Furuhata* was busy conducting auditions, or rather, screen tests.

An audition usually refers to the method of filming a video to decide whether someone is suitable to be an actor, or whether a certain actor is suitable to play a specific role in a film.

In layman's terms, it is to see if these actors will have "moon faces" when on camera.

Therefore, what was happening on set should more accurately be called a screen test, which is arranging for actors to perform improvised scenes on the spot to decide whether to hire them.

In a brightly lit conference room, producer Fujioka Yasuki and director Wakayama Tomoki sat in the judges' seats and, along with others, began screen tests for the actors—Akiwara Yuto would have been there too, but he voluntarily stepped aside to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.

"Next," a staff member in a black uniform called out, and a middle-aged man in a gray overcoat walked in.

"Start your performance," Wakayama Tomoki said after carefully studying the man's image for a moment.

Hearing the request, the middle-aged man began to perform.

After he finished his performance and left, Wakayama Tomoki wrote a few notes in his notebook to record his thoughts, while Fujioka Yasuki asked, "What do you think of this Mr. Shimamura?"

Wakayama Tomoki rubbed his forehead and replied hesitantly, "His acting foundation is very solid, and his image is steady, but I just don't feel he is as suitable as Wu Neizhenhui."

Hearing this, Fujioka Yasuki also frowned and began to think.

*Detective Kamimura* and *Furuhata Ninzaburo* were competing works of the same genre, so the choice of the lead actor was crucial.

If the lead actor was not chosen well, not only might they be looked down upon by many critics, but they might even let the other side attract a large number of viewers.

He hesitated for a moment and said, "Except for Kishida Ryota, whom Akiwara-sensei recommended, this is the last one. If he doesn't work out, we'll have to keep looking."

That said, he knew in his heart that there were only so many actors of this type, and the possibility of finding a suitable candidate was slim.

Wakayama Tomoki knew this as well. He sighed and said, "Let that Mr. Kishida have a try."

Although he said this, he did not think highly of Kishida Ryota in his heart; after all, the man hadn't played a lead role in so many years and had always hovered around second or third-tier roles.

For an actor, if they cannot make a name for themselves after many years, it is very difficult to become an overnight success.

Seeing the director give the word, the staff member immediately called "Next," and Kishida Ryota walked in with steady steps.

After he entered, Wakayama Tomoki looked him over carefully and noticed he was wearing a black suit with a dark gray sweater underneath. His hair was permed into shoulder-length curls.

This look seemed very familiar. Wakayama Tomoki thought for a while before asking, "Is this the look for Furuhata Ninzaburo?"

Kishida Ryota bowed in greeting, then looked up and replied, "Yes, this is what I deliberately chose based on the descriptions in Akiwara-sensei's work."

Wakayama Tomoki became interested and continued to ask, "Then have you read the serialized issues of *Furuhata*?"

"I have, including the most recently published issue."

Wakayama Tomoki and Fujioka Yasuki exchanged a look, and both knew what to think.

It seemed this Mr. Kishida had done a lot of preparation; from this point of view, he was much better than the few who had tested before him.

However, the final choice of an actor is judged based on acting skills, so neither of them said anything more.

After writing a few words with his pen, Wakayama Tomoki waved his hand and said, "Start your performance."

Kishida Ryota took a deep breath and began his performance. As he raised his head, his entire temperament changed abruptly, as if he had instantly become a different person.

He first acted out the disheveled state of being caught in the rain and going to ask for lodging, then acted out his first meeting with the suspect.

Upon seeing the other person's golden retriever, he first looked up, then nodded with a smile, lowered his body, and touched the air with his hand, as if there were a golden retriever there.

He laughed softly: "Good boy... good boy... what a big dog."

After finishing this part, he used the tone of a friend to tentatively ask for information about the suspect.

In the end, he took two steps, the playfulness on his face began to fade away, and it turned into a serious expression as he pointed out the killer.

When it came to the final part of sympathizing with the killer, he turned into a look of pity.

……

Watching Kishida Ryota's performance, Wakayama Tomoki and Fujioka Yasuki could not help but sit up straight.

Although they felt Kishida Ryota had a serious attitude, they hadn't held out much hope.

After all, in their eyes, he was just a connection that Akiwara Yuto had shoved in.

But after seeing Kishida Ryota's performance, both were surprised—the foundation and expression of this performance far exceeded the previous actors.

If they had to score it, the previous ones were around 70 points, while Kishida Ryota could reach 85, or even 90 points!

Good heavens, where on earth did Akiwara Yuto find him!

Wakayama Tomoki and Fujioka Yasuki did not hesitate, made their decision quickly, and announced on the spot that he would be the lead. After learning he could be the lead, Kishida Ryota wept with joy on the spot and immediately called Akiwara Yuto to express his gratitude.

Akiwara Yuto did not expect he would actually be hired; he just smiled and said there was no need to thank him, as everything was earned by himself, and he just needed to perform well.

Kishida Ryota immediately stated that he would definitely continue to work hard! He would absolutely perform this role well!

In fact, even if Akiwara Yuto hadn't said it, he would have done so. For him, whether he could play this lead role well was related to his acting career for the rest of his life.

Success or failure, it all depended on this!

After selecting the lead, the production team quickly chose the other cast members and held the commencement ceremony.

After the ceremony, *Furuhata Ninzaburo* immediately stepped up filming, and the news that this work would be released at the end of January was officially announced!

Upon learning this news, the industry began to pay close attention.

After all, TV Asahi had already announced the filming of the detective drama *Detective Kamimura*, and no one expected Fuji Television to also film a detective drama of the same type.

Two major television stations would broadcast the same type of drama in the same time slot, and they were different works by two mystery writers, one old and one new! This was undoubtedly a sensational piece of big news!

For a time, many entertainment reporters began to interview both sides, and even Akiwara Yuto received many invitations for interviews!

Fuji Television and TV Asahi were also happy to see this situation; after all, the more the media paid attention, the more they were helping them with publicity!

In this climate of public opinion, the day for the official premiere of *Furuhata Ninzaburo* arrived quickly!