Chapter 1161

During the lunch break, Naoki Nagayama made a phone call to Tomokazu Miura from his office.

"Tomokazu-san, I have a role here that I think your image might be very suitable for..."

"Really?" Tomokazu Miura was a bit excited on the other end of the line. "Is it a role in 'Departures' that Naoki-san is preparing?"

Tomokazu Miura thought it was a supporting role. One must know that although seven years had passed, the side effects of marrying Momoe Yamaguchi hadn't dissipated yet. Nowadays, while he had more work, most of it was third or fourth-tier roles; even second-tier roles were rare.

So even though he knew Naoki Nagayama and Tomokazu Miura were in contact, his agency didn't expect him to be the lead this time, only hoping to find a supporting role later.

This is the consequence of an ordinary person marrying a national idol!

"Yes." Naoki Nagayama nodded. "We are casting today... Do you have time to come to the Tree Friends building?!"

"Of course!" Tomokazu Miura was very excited on the phone. "I will definitely come this afternoon!"

After hanging up, Ito Shuichi Ito, who was nearby, spoke up:

"If Tomokazu Miura plays the male lead... it would be great if Momoe Yamaguchi played the female lead! That would definitely cause a sensation!"

"Don't even think about Momoe-san! She really doesn't want to step into the big dyeing vat of the entertainment industry again~"

Naoki Nagayama shook his head directly. He was quite familiar with Momoe Yamaguchi and knew she was a woman who was soft on the outside but firm on the inside, with a firm plan for her own life.

One must know that retreating at the peak of one's career is something only wise and decisive people can do, and Momoe Yamaguchi had truly stuck to it for a lifetime.

"Well... I was just thinking about it."

Ito Shuichi Ito smacked his lips and said, then stood up and walked toward his office.

"Eat your fill and rest for a while; we have to continue auditions in the afternoon!"

"......"

Generally speaking, Japan doesn't have the habit of a lunch break, and no one knows who started it, but Tree Friends actually had the habit of a lunch break.

Naoki Nagayama shook his head, leaned back in his boss chair, squinted his eyes, and thought about the candidates he had seen in the morning...

By the afternoon, the previously empty waiting room was crowded again.

"I wonder if they decided in the morning."

"Such a film role should be considered carefully..."

Then, after Naoki Nagayama, Ito Shuichi Ito, and Kijima Kyo all arrived in the audition room, Yukika Suzuki began calling people in according to the morning's rhythm.

"Harada-san, please begin!"

Naoki Nagayama said to Yoshio Harada, another acting powerhouse of the 80s.

"Hai..."

Yoshio Harada took the cello handed over by Kijima Kyo, set his posture, and actually played Bach's "Cello Suite No. 1" directly...

His expression was sincere, the melody moving, making people immerse themselves in it... When the piece was finished, Naoki Nagayama and Ito Shuichi Ito couldn't help but applaud.

"Harada-san... I didn't expect you to play the cello so well!"

"Not at all... I just practiced this piece separately." Yoshio Harada said modestly.

"That's still very impressive~"

Amidst such praise, Yoshio Harada felt as if he had already secured the role... However, Naoki Nagayama still didn't give him immediate affirmation on the spot.

"Harada-san... please go back and wait for news... If we select the role later, we will notify you!"

Such overly official words, just like the polite remarks of every HR person, make people feel cold~

"..... Hai!"

Yoshio Harada was a veteran actor after all. After respectfully taking his leave, he decided to have his agent come and operate more.

"Next..."

"....."

Yukika Suzuki was doing the work of a guide, so only Xing Jiahua Xing was on duty at the front desk.

Late in the afternoon, a car stopped at the entrance of the Tree Friends building, and then a handsome face in a formal suit stepped out from the back seat... making people recognize the visitor at a glance.

"Tomokazu Miura... -san?"

Xing Jiahua Xing subconsciously looked at the audition list; Tomokazu Miura's name shouldn't be on it, right?

"Hai... Xing-san..." Tomokazu Miura had been to the Tree Friends building before and knew the front desk. "Naoki-san called me to come and audition for a role in 'Departures'..."

"Ah... Hai!"

Xing Jiahua Xing naturally wouldn't be bored enough to confirm such a small matter, so she nodded and immediately led Tomokazu Miura toward the waiting room.

"Miura-san, there are currently seven or eight candidates ahead of you... You might need to wait a while."

"Haha, daijoubu!"

Tomokazu Miura nodded peacefully. He was invited by Naoki-san himself, so his chances were already higher than theirs; waiting a little while was nothing.

Xing Jiahua Xing led him to the waiting room, gave a brief explanation to Yukika Suzuki, and returned to the front desk.

After entering the waiting room, Tomokazu Miura recognized many acquaintances at a glance, and they recognized Tomokazu Miura... But since they were competitors, everyone just nodded to each other.

"Why did Tomokazu Miura come..."

"Does he actually want to compete for the male lead in the film?"

"Usually he wouldn't, right... Wasn't he always a supporting actor before?"

"He's successful in love, he shouldn't want more in his career..."

Everyone was also a person who had experienced the era of "The Dancing Girl of Izu," "Blood Suspect," and "Haru no Shirayuki." They knew how high the national idol was at that time, suppressing other male actors until they couldn't breathe...

Fortunately, this guy didn't escape the beauty trap, married the national goddess, became a public enemy, and disappeared from the entertainment industry.

In recent years, he seemed to have a little popularity, but he was only spinning around in second or third-tier supporting roles. How did he want to compete for the male lead this time?!

And it was the male lead of Naoki Nagayama's film?!

Isn't this just wishful thinking?!

The waiting room slowly quieted down in a strange atmosphere. Except for the sound of Yukika Suzuki coming to call people, only the occasional sound of a cello could be heard...

As the candidates finished their auditions one by one, finally, as the sunset gradually faded, it was Tomokazu Miura's turn!

"Mr. Tomokazu Miura, you can go for the audition!"

"Hai!"

Tomokazu Miura tidied his clothes a bit and then slowly walked into the audition room, only to see Naoki Nagayama, Ito Shuichi Ito, and Kijima Kyo sitting in front.

"Tomokazu-san... finally waited for you!" Naoki Nagayama greeted with a smile.

"Hai... I came over in a hurry..."

Tomokazu Miura said a little, then nodded to Ito Shuichi Ito and the others.

"Directors, please give me your guidance!"

"Haha, if you rushed over, you haven't read the script yet, right!" Naoki Nagayama signaled Kijima Kyo to hand him the script. "The segment to be auditioned this time is a cellist who has just joined the mortician industry, coming into contact with a corpse for the first time, appearing very uncomfortable..."

Even without preparation, Tomokazu Miura was a veteran actor after all. After reading the script, he adjusted a little and then began the performance without props.

He messed up his hair a little, showing a panicked expression... then walked to the mirror in a few steps, saw the face in the mirror, and seemed unable to believe it was himself...

He wanted to touch his face, but suddenly remembered that his hands had touched a corpse...

A look of both terror and disgust rose on his face, and he picked up the soap nearby and began to wash his hands... After washing his hands, he observed them, and washed them again...

Then he looked at himself in the mirror, still feeling it wasn't enough, feeling that his whole body seemed to be contaminated with bad luck, and finally, as if he were about to cry, he began to take off his clothes to take a bath...

"Cut!"

Kijima Kyo called cut in time...

If Tomokazu Miura walked out of the audition room disheveled, the three men in the room would all face social death!

"As expected of Tomokazu-san!" Ito Shuichi Ito exclaimed, "The emotional progression is very reasonable!"

"Yes... it presents the character's psychological changes..."

"The emotional outburst at the end, like venting, is also very infectious!"

Naoki Nagayama naturally expressed affirmation of Tomokazu Miura's acting skills. After saying a few words to Ito Shuichi Ito, he looked at Tomokazu Miura:

"Tomokazu-san, can you play the cello?"

"Sumimasen, I don't..." Tomokazu Miura said apologetically. "But I learn musical instruments very quickly..."

"Mm-hmm, that's fine!"

Naoki Nagayama didn't have too many requirements. He was actually quite satisfied with Tomokazu Miura... After chatting about the role and the film for a while, Naoki Nagayama still said to Tomokazu Miura according to the official script:

"Tomokazu-san, the audition for today is fine. We will notify you if we have news later!"

"Hai, thank you, Naoki-san!"

Tomokazu Miura nodded and prepared to leave.

But at this moment, Naoki Nagayama looked at Tomokazu Miura's full face shape...

It looks like the happy fat after marriage! Even if his career isn't going well, Momoe Yamaguchi still takes good care of him in life!

"Tomokazu-san... our character is in a period of sorrow... so he needs to show a relatively haggard appearance..."

Tomokazu Miura had been in the entertainment industry for so long that he naturally wouldn't fail to hear the subtext:

"...... I see, I understand~ Arigato~"

"Mm... then Tomokazu-san, go back and wait for news!"

"Hai!"

When Tomokazu Miura walked out of the audition room, he couldn't suppress the excitement in his heart and even wanted to shout... In the end, he held it back.

After returning to the car, he saw his face in the rearview mirror... It was indeed a bit full, and it looked very happy at a glance...

"Starting today, no more eating!"

After returning to Shanyingyuan in the evening, Naoki Nagayama talked to Akina about the casting.

"It's actually Tomokazu-san..."

Akina and Momoe Yamaguchi were good mom friends who often exchanged parenting experiences. Hearing that Tomokazu Miura could get the role, she was very happy.

"Momoe-san can finally rest easy now!"

"How come?"

"Before, Momoe-san's in-laws were a bit dissatisfied with her, saying that marrying her offended many fans and delayed Tomokazu-san's career..."

Akina said some things from women's conversations.

"Now it's finally back on track!"

"....... Haha, marrying a top idol, there's no helping that~" Naoki Nagayama looked at Akina and smiled. "Akina also has many fans who hate me, saying they want to send razor blades!"

"No way, those aren't real fans! I've already asked the fan club manager to stop them!"

Although Akina cherishes her fans, if she has to compare them with Naoki Nagayama, her husband is naturally the most precious! Loving the house and its crow is true love!

"The ones who caused trouble have already been expelled!"

"Good, good, good~"

Naoki Nagayama hugged little Xia Hua and leaned close to Akina, giving her a kiss, and then Xia Hua also excitedly wanted a kiss...

After coaxing her daughter, Akina said:

"By the way, Naoki-san... I was going to teach you how to dance the tango today!"

"Today?"

"Mm-hmm, it's very easy to learn! You'll learn it as soon as you try!"

Akina took the baby, pulled Naoki Nagayama, and walked toward the functional area on the east side of Shanyingyuan. After returning in the afternoon, Akina had prepared the music player in the home practice room.

The wooden floor in the home dance practice room was clean, and a few yoga mats were spread in the corner. Akina put little Xia Hua on them and let her crawl around...

And she herself pulled Naoki Nagayama to the middle of the dance studio:

"Naoki-san, get ready!"

"Hmm?"

"Hold my hand... raise it to shoulder height..."

Akina raised one hand while holding Naoki Nagayama's hand, and pressed Naoki Nagayama's other hand on her waist.

"Put your other hand on my waist..."

Then she explained:

"A bar of tango is four beats, slow is two beats, fast is one beat... Follow my lead with your steps...

Listen to my command... 1234... da-da-da-da..."

Naoki Nagayama had more or less some common sense about dancing, so even if he wasn't very familiar with the tango, it wasn't difficult to follow along.

However, as the practice progressed, such lines involuntarily popped up in his ears...

"Tango is just lying down and walking... three steps, one inch, two turns back..."

"Waist to the left, hand wave to the right..."

Then the teacher in the red sweater began to teach people how to dance the classic sketch of the tango... Recalling this scene, Naoki Nagayama couldn't help but laugh out loud...

"Pfft..."

"???"

Akina looked up at her husband with some confusion.

"Naoki-san, what are you laughing at?"

"....... Uh... I remembered something funny..."

Akina, who was a bit confused, continued to teach Naoki Nagayama the dance steps. Before long, the two were dancing quite well... Akina nodded with satisfaction:

"Very good, Naoki-san's limbs are still very flexible, you didn't step on my feet!"

"Ha, I still have a little talent!"

"That's good, let's try dancing with the music next..."

Akina walked to the player, pressed the play button, and a violin melody began to play. The distinctive opening immediately evoked Naoki Nagayama's memories...

"Is this 'Por Una Cabeza'?"

"Do you know this tango dance music too, Naoki-san?" Akina said with a smile. "As expected of a genius musician..."

"Since it's so famous, I've naturally heard it~"

"Por Una Cabeza" is a very famous tango dance piece, a representative work of the golden age of tango music, which swept through high-society balls in Europe and America.

However, what left a deeper impression on Naoki Nagayama was that this dance piece appeared in many films... such as the very famous "Scent of a Woman"...

The classic restaurant dance scene in it is unforgettable.

The melody rang out, and Naoki Nagayama and Akina also began to dance in the dance practice room, as if they were on a dance floor~

As the dance steps progressed and the melody accelerated, numerous memories flooded into his mind. Naoki Nagayama felt as if he had entered the film, dancing a pleasant tango with a beautiful lady under the eyes of everyone...

"A woman's scent is like a mysterious book, you have to read it with your heart..."

Then it turned into the voice of the invisible man speaking righteously at the hearing...

"I've come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew!

But I never took it. You know why?

Because it was too damn hard!"

(End of chapter)