Chapter 1105

The sky was high and the clouds were wide, red leaves were falling, and the autumn days passed in a flash.

Tokyo's autumn, however, gave no time for melancholy; cars roared, pedestrians hurried, and the whole city remained full of vitality.

In the Tree Friends building in Ikebukuro, Hana Hoshika was standing straight at the front desk, welcoming visitors.

As Tree Friends' fame grew higher and higher, more and more people came to visit high-level executives, discuss cooperation, and even star-chasing fans, making Hana Hoshika, the receptionist, always have to treat them with the best spirit.

"Please walk slowly, have a safe journey~"

Yukika Suzuki had just come out of the meeting room and, together with the agency's planner Kiyonori Nishioka, sent off a group of visitors before returning to the front desk.

"Hana-chan~~~" Yukika Suzuki drew out her tone. "That was the third group this morning! You go receive the next group~"

"It's not like there's any other way~" Hana Hoshika sighed. "Taking advantage of the end of the year, everyone wants to finalize next year's cooperation..."

Although it was still two months until the New Year, many companies were already filled with the atmosphere of the New Year, but companies with foresight were already considering the next year.

"Sigh~~~"

Yukika Suzuki took the opportunity to press her legs while no one was around; standing in high heels all the time was going to give her varicose veins!

"This New Year, I must go to Hokkaido to soak in the hot springs!"

"Ha, don't think about it so early... We are an entertainment company, we must persist until the last moment of the end of the year!"

In fact, companies in the entertainment industry are busier the closer it gets to the holidays~

Just as the two receptionist sisters were chatting, a silver car stopped in the parking lot, and then a person wearing loose casual clothes stepped out.

Carrying a bag, he walked toward the Tree Friends building with a relaxed air, leaving Hana Hoshika and Yukika Suzuki, who were chatting, unable to react for a moment.

When Hana Hoshika looked up, she already saw a figure standing in front of her, and she subconsciously said:

"Welcome to Tree Friends Group..."

"Hana-chan~" A familiar voice sounded. "And Yukika-chan, working hard, I see~"

Hana Hoshika finally reacted:

"Naoki-san?"

"Ha? It's only been a few days, don't you recognize me?" Naoki Nagayama took off his sunglasses, thinking they were blocking his face.

And Hana Hoshika and Yukika Suzuki looked at the person in front of them. The neat short hair in their memory had turned into fluffy, curly, medium-length hair, masking the hard lines of his face, with a few strands of bangs scattered, adding a bit of softness and appearing dashing and uninhibited~

"Ah... no, no..." Hana Hoshika immediately shook her head. "I just didn't react for a moment..."

"Naoki-san, are you back from vacation?"

"Mm... played around in Kyoto~"

Naoki Nagayama naturally didn't stay in the Red Fish Garden the whole time; he and Akina had a good walk around Kyoto... During the autumn foliage hunting season, Kyoto was crowded with tourists, and there were many celebrations at various attractions, making it extremely lively.

"Come, come, I brought some snacks from Kyoto. Hana-chan, distribute them to everyone later..."

Placing the bag he was carrying on the front desk, Naoki Nagayama found that Yukika Suzuki had been silent, which was a bit strange:

"Yukika-chan, what's wrong? Shy?"

"..." Yukika Suzuki's little face flushed, and she shook her head. "Naoki-san with this hairstyle feels... even more... handsome..."

"Haha, this hairstyle was chosen by Akina, she said it's the trend this year~"

Naoki Nagayama smiled,

"Alright, Otomo-san is in, right?"

"Yes, Otomo-san is in the office..."

"Good, then I'll go find him~"

After Naoki Nagayama left, Hana Hoshika rummaged through the bag while teasing Yukika Suzuki:

"Yukika-chan, why are you moved by Naoki-san again after seeing him so handsome?"

"It's not that..."

Yukika Suzuki wanted to quibble, but she sighed anyway. Naoki Nagayama, who had just changed his hairstyle, really gave people a different feeling...

"I feel like Naoki-san seems... a bit thinner."

"Eh? Yukika-chan feels that way too?" Hana Hoshika nodded. "I think so too~"

"..."

And Naoki Nagayama, on this side, had already arrived at Yoshimura Otomo's office, knocked on the door, and walked in with his head held high:

"Otomo-san, I'm back!"

"Back..."

It had only been a week, and there wouldn't be any feeling of longing between men, but when Yoshimura Otomo looked up and saw Naoki Nagayama, he couldn't speak for a moment.

"What's wrong... it's just a change of hairstyle, is it worth being so surprised?!"

"... It's not that..." Yoshimura Otomo paused. "Naoki-san... why do you feel like you've lost a lot of weight?"

"???"

"Weren't you on vacation? Why are you still so... exhausted?" Yoshimura Otomo's eyes were playful.

"..."

Uh... although they brought Xia Hua when they went to the Red Fish Garden this time, when they went to visit Kyoto, they naturally left her at the Red Fish Garden and didn't bring her. After all, there were so many people, and it was easy for a child to catch a cold or fever, so it was enough to let her enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Red Fish Garden~

Fine, actually, it was just that the couple wanted to have a world for two!

The result was... his waist was a bit sore~

"Ahem, we went to too many places~" Naoki Nagayama coughed twice to change the subject and took out a gift. "Otomo-san, this is a gift I brought for you..."

It was actually just Kyoto-style snacks. With his current relationship with Yoshimura Otomo, there was no need to buy anything too expensive; it was enough to have the thought...

"Ho-oh~" Yoshimura Otomo made a meaningful interjection, took the snacks, and didn't forget to tease him, "Young man, you still need to be a bit restrained~"

"Young and restrained, middle-aged and restrained, old and still need to be restrained..."

Naoki Nagayama's skin was very thick,

"Same to you... Otomo-san, you should go to the club less too!"

As the Managing CEO of Tree Friends Group, Yoshimura Otomo was treated to dinners every day, and he might be more familiar with Tokyo's clubs than the playboys.

"..."

Yoshimura Otomo was choked, avoided answering, opened the snacks, and began to taste them:

"Sure enough, Kyoto's yokan is delicious, sweet but not greasy... The red bean texture is delicate, sweet but not greasy..."

"Hehe~"

Naoki Nagayama didn't continue to expose him, but sat on the sofa and leisurely poured himself a cup of tea.

After Yoshimura Otomo sat over, the two drank tea and chatted while eating yokan.

"Is Ito Shuichi-san not in the company?"

"Didn't you say before that you wanted to consider establishing the Tokyo Film Association?" Yoshimura Otomo said. "During this time, Ito Shuichi-san is frequently communicating with people in the industry..."

To facilitate the establishment of an industry association, a lot of work had to be done in advance, and Tree Friends alone certainly wouldn't be enough... even if Tree Friends' status in the industry was very high now.

"The establishment of the Film Association still needs several film production companies to take the lead together..."

Naoki Nagayama nodded,

"I'm thinking of contacting the various companies well during the three major awards at the end of the year."

"Ito Shuichi-san is quite concerned about it~"

"Mm-hmm... It doesn't matter, just treat it as a warm-up."

Naoki Nagayama treated this matter as a film project. Now it was the stage of holding the script and looking for investors. The subsequent process was still very long, and it would be considered fast if a consensus could be formed next year.

Yoshimura Otomo took a sip of tea:

"After Naoki-san returns, you're going to start the editing of 'Ghost,' right?"

"Yes, it was originally relaxed, but thinking that special effects production takes time, I feel the schedule is a bit tight." Naoki Nagayama nodded. "We have to ensure it's released by Christmas~"

"Ha, then hurry up and hold the completion disclosure meeting... The media were anxious a week ago!"

"Hahaha, okay."

The film's material had long been moved to the editing room, and Kijima Hiro had initially sorted and organized it in the past week, just waiting for Naoki Nagayama to return to start editing.

On the other side, Akina, who had only stayed at the Mountain Cherry Garden for one night, also went to the Ken-On agency early.

With the same operation, she brought the souvenirs brought from Kyoto to her colleagues at Ken-On, but everyone gave Akina full praise.

"Akina-chan's complexion is really good!" Mizue Kinoshita at the front desk was full of praise. "You rested very well on this vacation~"

"Indeed... " "The skin is getting smoother and smoother..." "The figure seems to be better too..."

Stylist Yo Ochi and others who were more familiar with Akina nodded one after another, and words of praise were endless.

"Is that so?"

Akina blushed a little, covering her white-and-red cheeks with both hands, the corners of her mouth raised,

"I don't really feel anything... I just feel like I rested very well~"

This was a truly reassuring vacation, and she was with her family~

"But it might also be because of soaking in the hot springs. It seems Kyoto's hot springs are indeed nourishing..."

"Did you go to soak in the hot springs?" "Where?" "How was the water temperature?" "..."

A group of girls gathered in a group and chattered, making so much noise that Ken-On's office almost turned into a tea party.

Fortunately, Ken-On President Ken Hanami came out to disperse the crowd:

"Alright, alright, let's talk after work... Akina, come to the office."

"Yes~~"

Once in the office, Akina naturally presented the gift for Ken Hanami. Women are more delicate, so she gave a tie, which matched Ken Hanami's previous style very well.

"Arigato~" Ken Hanami accepted it happily. "Did you rest well this time?"

"Yes... I feel like my whole person has been refreshed!"

Come to think of it, this was the first time she had such a long and relaxed vacation since getting pregnant and giving birth!

"That's good..." Ken Hanami nodded. "Then are you ready for the upcoming work?"

"Yes!"

Hearing Akina's energetic reply, Ken Hanami felt as if he had seen the energetic Akina who had just debuted~

"Good!"

"Then the first thing is the Japan Record Awards... Before the end of the year, Akina needs to increase exposure..."

"And the rehearsal for the Kohaku Uta Gassen..."

"And..."

Hearing this, Akina hurriedly raised her hand:

"President... At the end of the year, I might also need to participate in the behind-the-scenes of 'Ghost'! There should be a completion disclosure meeting soon..."

"..." Ken Hanami paused and sighed. "Is it Naoki Nagayama's side again? Then there's no help for it..."

It was just like his own treasure, having to bear children for the yellow-haired guy after marrying him~

"We will communicate well with Tree Friends and make a good schedule plan... In short... the activities might be slightly busier than before." Ken Hanami said. "Of course, we will arrange the time well and won't let Akina not see the child all day!"

"Yes!" Akina nodded. "It's already much easier than before~"

"Then let's first see if we should take these programs..."

Now, as long as Akina Nakamori wants to be on a program, she almost certainly can.

Various TV stations have extended invitations; it's completely a seller's market~

At the same time, all parties in the entertainment industry soon got the news that the Nagayama couple had returned to Tokyo.

"Have they already appeared at the Ken-On agency? Does that mean they have already started working?"

Nishi Rumi Nishi Rumi Nishi of Fuji TV listened to the news on the phone and nodded repeatedly,

"Yes, arigato, the informant fee for this time will be given to you at the end of the month!"

After hanging up the phone, she reported the news to Tai Sugiura.

"Akina Nakamori went to the agency... That means Naoki-san must be back too~" Tai Sugiura said with certainty, speaking to Nishi Rumi Nishi Rumi Nishi. "This time, let's go directly to Tree Friends to visit! We can't let Naoki-san slip away again!"

Previously, Department Head Takano got news from the circle that Tree Friends Group and TV Tokyo had reached a cooperation, and he scolded Tai Sugiura and Nishi Rumi Nishi Rumi Nishi.

Saying something about how the two of them didn't maintain the golden goose that was Naoki Nagayama, causing Fuji TV to suffer losses, and also saying that if they couldn't restore the relationship between Naoki Nagayama and Fuji TV, their year-end bonuses would shrink...

Tai Sugiura was about to be depressed. Was it that he didn't want to have a good relationship with Naoki Nagayama?

Wasn't it because the higher-ups insisted on putting on airs with the newly emerging Tree Friends back then? That's why Naoki Nagayama went to find other TV stations?!

You have to know that before "Twilight Meow Meow," Fuji TV had always been Naoki Nagayama's first choice!

Now they were dumping the responsibility on the two of them? Even beasts of burden have tempers, okay!

"Nishi Rumi Nishi Nishi Rumi-san... This time, no matter what, we must let Naoki-san give the next project to Fuji TV!"

Nishi Rumi Nishi Rumi Nishi looked troubled:

"But what excuse should we use to say it? He is currently editing 'Ghost,' he must be very busy, right?"

"Hmm..." Tai Sugiura thought for a while, and his eyes suddenly lit up, remembering something long ago. "By the way, Nishi Rumi Nishi Nishi Rumi... Didn't our Fuji TV sign a framework agreement for cooperation with Tree Friends?"

"Eh? It seems so..."

"For five years... Now it's the last year..." Tai Sugiura clapped his hands. "Let's use this as a reason to go and communicate with Naoki-san... talk about what programs to cooperate on next year!"

"What if Naoki-san really doesn't have any good ideas right now?" Nishi Rumi Nishi Rumi Nishi said. "Good ideas aren't something you can just think of casually!"

"Then let's talk about the renewal of the framework agreement..." Tai Sugiura said. "If we can extend the agreement, that would be even better..."

"... I just feel that Naoki-san wouldn't want this kind of restraint right now~ And he is already a shareholder of Fuji TV!"

"So it's just an excuse~"

Tai Sugiura looked at Nishi Rumi Nishi Rumi Nishi,

"The main thing is to build a relationship... It would be best to have a drink with Naoki-san or something..."

"Tree Friends' Yoshimura Otomo might be possible, but Naoki-san doesn't seem to like socializing..."

"Where there's a will, there's a way~"

"..."

Fuji TV got the news, and soon, the entire entertainment industry got the news... Everyone knew that Naoki Nagayama had returned, so the press conference for "Ghost" was about to be held.

Reporters were rubbing their hands, and they also wanted to ask Naoki Nagayama what he had been doing for so long!

Don't they know they have been waiting for a long time?!

(End of chapter)