Chapter 1112

Akina was brought into the circle of "official wives," and her whole body became a bit stiff.

She wasn't even this nervous when facing tens of thousands of people at the Nippon Budokan...

"Nice to meet you!" "Please take care of me..." These two sentences, along with the bowing action, were the things Akina said and did the most in the past half hour.

Keiko Kiba and Yasuko Ikenobo were naturally very sincere in introducing acquaintances to Akina, but the overly frequent socializing made Akina barely remember a few...

Now, she was afraid of calling people by the wrong names if she wanted to speak, so she could only smile and remain silent for the time being... Talk less and watch more!

However, in this social setting, just not talking wouldn't work...

"Akina-san~ come here, come here..." A lady who seemed to have just been introduced called her over with a smile on her face, and then introduced, "This is Masako Owada, she really likes your Naoki~"

"......"

Akina Nagayama looked at this young woman who was wearing a blue dress, with a slightly flushed face, and about the same age as herself. She was bright and atmospheric, smiling very cheerfully, somewhat like Honami Suzuki in "Tokyo Love Story"~

She saw her gently complaining to the lady beside her, and then she came to Akina's side:

"Nice to meet you... I am Masako Owada~"

Masako explained what happened just now in a slightly embarrassed tone:

"Lady Miya's words were just a joke. I meant that I like Director Nagayama's movies, so please don't take offense..."

Akina smiled and thoughtfully gave her a way out:

"The more people who like Naoki-san, the more popular Naoki-san's movies are~"

"Yes, yes..." Masako Owada nodded. "I also like Akina-san very much... Your performance in 'Love Letter' was excellent, especially the moment when you finally let go of your psychological burden and shouted at the valley..."

"Arigato~"

Being able to meet a young person of the same age in the wives' circle, Akina also breathed a sigh of relief and started chatting with her.

"Today is to welcome Princess Elena. Because I can speak many foreign languages, I was brought here by my father. It's actually considered official business..."

Masako Owada didn't know yet that she was already a so-called "Princess Candidate." She just thought she was here to accompany. After all, Prince Naruhito had publicly shown favor to his idol Yoshie Kashiwabara a month ago, and what the media was discussing most now was whether Yoshie Kashiwabara could become the Crown Princess...

Currently, Masako Owada had just been admitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was in high spirits to become an outstanding diplomat~

Akina nodded: "I've also heard of Princess Elena, but why haven't I seen her?"

"Princess Elena should be watching the equestrian performance planned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs right now..." Masako said. "In a while, Crown Prince Hiro (Naruhito's alias) will come to the reception with her."

"There's also an equestrian performance?" Akina asked in surprise.

"It's similar to a welcoming formation..."

Masako grew up influenced by Western culture and spoke very straightforwardly.

"Anyway, it's very boring, but it's a performance that represents etiquette..."

"Is that so~" Akina also smiled.

"Is Akina-san filming a movie recently? That one... 'Ghost'?"

"Have you heard of it too, Masako-san?"

"Of course... It's very famous in the newspapers..."

While the two were whispering, the news of Crown Prince Hiro and Princess Elena's return had already arrived from outside. The guests in the Imperial Palace also dispersed one after another to find their partners.

Akina saw Naoki Nagayama, who stood out from the crowd, from afar. Only when she walked in small steps to Naoki Nagayama's side did she truly relax~

"How is it?" Naoki Nagayama looked at Akina beside him and teased, "Did Akina make any friends?"

"......"

Akina glared at her husband, knowing he was teasing her, so she took the opportunity to counterattack.

"Of course, I've met quite a few friends... Someone even said she likes Naoki-san!"

"Huh?" Naoki Nagayama thought he had misheard. "Nani? Likes me?"

"Yes, and she's a young and charming girl too!"

"..... Akina, don't lie to me!"

On this occasion today, almost all invited were couples. There should be very few young girls. Only those who knew the royal traditions knew that these people were candidates for the princess specifically prepared for Prince Naruhito~

The reception after this welcome party was an occasion prepared for Prince Naruhito to meet the princess candidates.

To be precise, the dumplings were wrapped specifically for this bite of vinegar!

"It's true... her name is Masako Owada... and she's a diplomat! She looks a bit like Honami Suzuki!"

"......."

Was she really the future Empress Masako?

Also, how did she become friends with her Akina?!

Naoki Nagayama had to take a look at Akina... In his impression, wasn't Akina someone who couldn't make friends...

"What's wrong?"

Noticing Naoki Nagayama's gaze, Akina subconsciously looked at her kimono. There was nothing wrong, right?

"Nothing... It's good to make friends~ Akina should be more cheerful and make more friends..."

"...... Strange~"

At this moment, Crown Prince Naruhito sent Princess Elena to the banquet scene.

Amidst the applause of the guests standing up, Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Elena walked in slowly, nodding and greeting the guests.

After stopping, it was naturally a routine speech, welcoming Princess Elena to Neon, etc... The photographer of the Imperial Household Agency captured this moment.

Next, Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Elena would meet the guests separately...

However, Princess Elena was a foreigner, and even her speech needed translation, so she just shook hands with some guests, mostly foreigners.

As for Crown Prince Naruhito's side, he greeted the Neon guests one by one. However, because he was the Crown Prince, others had to go up and pay their respects to him one by one...

Naoki Nagayama stood at a distance, watching people walk up one by one to meet Naruhito, feeling a bit funny.

How should he put it?

Everyone knew that in certain scenic spots themed around "Journey to the West," there would be a scene of a monkey being pressed under the Five Elements Mountain... Tourists would line up to walk up and greet the actor, talk to him, and even offer snacks, bananas, fruits, etc., for the actor to eat...

That was exactly the feeling!

The guests lined up one after another, said a few words to Crown Prince Naruhito, clinked glasses, and then left...

Naoki Nagayama saw a young girl wearing a blue dress, with short hair and earrings, walk up and talk to Crown Prince Naruhito for quite a while.

Akina pulled his sleeve from the side:

"That's her, that's her..."

"She really looks a bit like Honami-chan..." Mainly because the face shape was very similar, and she smiled very generously.

"Right~"

After ten minutes or so, it was finally Naoki Nagayama and Akina's turn... Guided by the officials of the Crown Prince's Household, Naoki Nagayama walked in front of Crown Prince Naruhito and looked down at him...

It wasn't Naoki Nagayama's fault; it was just that Naruhito was too short, and Naoki Nagayama was almost a head taller~

"Your Highness, nice to meet you... I feel deeply honored..."

"It's Director Nagayama... I've heard a lot about you..." Crown Prince Naruhito maintained his demeanor in public. "Finally met you... 'Kikujiro' is very interesting..."

"Thank you very much~ I hope the next movie will also be recognized by Your Highness..."

Naoki Nagayama nodded to express his gratitude, and then introduced Akina beside him.

"This is my wife... Akina Nagayama..."

"Mrs. Nagayama..."

Naruhito was clearly a fan. Although Akina wasn't the idol in his heart, he definitely knew the top star of the idol world. However, he couldn't say strange things on such an occasion.

"Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you... Your Highness..." Akina was a bit nervous and didn't say anything else after saying this sentence.

Then the two left from the other side under the guidance of the Imperial Household officials...

They only said two sentences in total... It could be considered as Naruhito's tourist check-in~

After returning to the side, Naoki Nagayama and Akina found an inconspicuous corner and picked up a glass of orange juice for Akina.

"How is it? How does it feel to meet the Prince..." Naoki Nagayama asked in a low voice.

"Hmm... I was very excited before walking up... I was most excited when greeting him..." Akina looked around. "But thinking about it now, it doesn't seem special... It's like... it's like..."

Seeing that Akina couldn't find the words, Naoki Nagayama helped answer:

"Like an ordinary person... right?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Akina nodded vigilantly. Seeing Crown Prince Naruhito up close, he was just an ordinary person... and a bit short...

Although long-term traditional education said that the royal family were all descendants of gods... But, Akina turned her head to look at her husband's handsome appearance, and thought of Naoki Nagayama's mysterious heavenly inspiration...

Compared to Crown Prince Naruhito, her own husband looked more like a descendant of gods!

"After breaking the halo, the royal family is just ordinary people... They are the same as you and me..."

Having been accustomed to hearing "Are kings and nobles born with high status?" "The emperor is whoever has strong soldiers and horses," "The emperor takes turns, and it's my turn next year," etc., and knowing the superiority of socialism personally, Naoki Nagayama had long since lost any awe for these royals and the royal family.

They were just ordinary people!

Coming here today to see Crown Prince Naruhito was probably about the same as checking in with an internet celebrity... Wow~~ It's the Crown Prince~

Naoki Nagayama's order was already relatively late. While the young couple was chatting in a low voice, Crown Prince Naruhito's meeting with the guests had already ended.

The main work of the entire banquet was almost over, and the Spanish princess wouldn't stay long, returning directly to her place of stay to rest.

As a royal, he naturally wouldn't "condescend" to stay and chat. He returned to the lounge and only communicated with a few close friends or acquaintances.

The Nagayama couple was naturally not among them~

However, the banquet was still going on, with delicious food, drinks, and beverages served on the spot... The social occasion was left to the guests, and everyone could drink, chat, and continue socializing...

"Naoki-san!"

Yasuko Ikenobo finally found an opportunity.

"What are you doing here?"

"Ha, I was just chatting with Akina about the architecture of the Crown Prince's Palace..." Naoki Nagayama casually found an excuse. "By the way, I must thank Ikenobo-san today, thank you for taking care of my Akina!"

Saying this, Naoki Nagayama raised two glasses of champagne, handed one to Yasuko Ikenobo, and formally thanked her:

"Arigato~"

"There's no need to be so formal..." Yasuko Ikenobo also took a sip and said with a smile, "Akina-san has a quiet personality... Everyone is praising her!"

Quiet? Naoki Nagayama glanced at Akina, who had a serious face... Ah... she's not talking!

This can also be praised! Learned it, learned it!

"Haha, that still needs to be thanked..."

"Naoki-san, the annual Kanji activity at the end of this year is about to be held. Will Naoki-san participate this time?"

"Probably not... I have to spend this time at the end of the year on 'Ghost'..." Naoki Nagayama shrugged. "After all, it has to be released before Christmas..."

"That's a pity~" Yasuko Ikenobo was also helpless. She originally wanted to pull Naoki Nagayama to increase the heat again.

But then she turned to talk about another thing:

"I heard that Tree Friends Film is calling for the establishment of a 'Tokyo Film Association'? Is there such a thing?"

"Oh? Ikenobo-san has heard of it too?"

Naoki Nagayama didn't intend to hide it. He promoted it for his good friend,

"The idea was proposed by Shuichi-san... After the two sessions of the Tokyo International Film Festival were successfully held, we indeed believe that the Neon film industry lacks a representative industry association... The current Directors Association, Producers Association, Screenwriters Association... are all parts of the film industry... and cannot represent the entire film industry."

"So, Naoki-san, are you guys taking the lead in establishing one?"

"Haha, such things must naturally be top-down..." Naoki Nagayama shook his head and looked at Yasuko Ikenobo. "Ikenobo-san, the Ministry of Education or the Agency for Cultural Affairs should take the lead... We are just calling for it."

Of course, the chairman naturally had to be competed for... Entering the committee was also a must.

"I see..."

Yasuko Ikenobo nodded. If it could be successfully established under the leadership of cultural departments, it would definitely be an important political achievement for revitalizing Neon film!

If she, Yasuko Ikenobo, pushed it, then a Vice Minister position might be impossible, but a Ministry of Education official position might be worth fighting for...

"Naoki-san... let's find a time to talk about this in detail! Some of my friends are also very interested!"

"Yes..." Naoki Nagayama nodded and said with a smile, "I'll pull Shuichi-san along when the time comes!"

The two clinked glasses, and this meeting was considered settled.

Just as he was thinking about continuing to build rapport, Ken Harada, the Chief of the Economic Planning Agency who was chatting earlier, came over:

"Naoki-san, why are you hiding here?!"

"Ah, I was in the back, just met the Prince..." Naoki Nagayama said.

"Forget about the Prince~"

In the eyes of real-power officials, the royal family was just a mascot. After Ken Harada nodded to the two ladies, he pulled Naoki Nagayama's arm.

"Come quickly, didn't we just talk about the international currency market... Tell us more about that so-called 'slap in the face' theory..."

"....."

Watching Naoki Nagayama being pulled away, Akina and Yasuko Ikenobo were both speechless.

"Look... marrying someone who is too excellent is like this..." Yasuko Ikenobo said to Akina with a smile.

"That's also a happy trouble~" Akina also smiled~

"Alright... let me take Akina to meet others... let Naoki-san know that he also married an excellent wife!"

"...... Hahaha, thank you, Ikenobo-san~"

?? I felt very unhappy writing half of the plot, so I added an update! It's finished!

? (End of chapter)