Chapter 208

If you treat a debut as a test, Akina Mori's debut, to be serious, didn't have as excellent results as those of her peers.

On one hand, sweet idols were already becoming saturated, and the audience had too many choices. Not to mention that Akina Mori debuted much later than the others.

On the other hand, the previous act of buying up all the magazine pages brought some heat, but in the conservative and conformist Japanese society, the negative effects of such extreme behavior were also very serious.

The audience began to scrutinize this newcomer with a stricter attitude.

It had been more than a week since her debut, and the sales of her debut song "Slow Motion" were poor, ranking outside the top 50 on the Oricon chart. This result could be called a flop.

However, Akina on TV now didn't seem to be hit by this result at all. Instead, she was full of confidence, expressing herself on stage. Her skilled performance of "Slow Motion" made the guests and audience applaud.

Naoki Nagayama finished the ramen in his bowl and said to Eitaro, who was gnawing on a teething stick: "Eitaro, do you still recognize the big sister on TV? It's the big sister who made the delicious pork ribs that day."

After Eitaro heard his name, he raised his head, sticking out his tongue and looking at Naoki Nagayama with an expression that said, "I'm just a dog, what kind of madness are you having?"

Naoki Nagayama, having been snubbed, tidied up the tableware and then curled up on the sofa to watch other variety shows.

But in his mind, he was thinking: Did Akina receive his letter?

On the other side, Otomo Yoshimura rushed back to the studio, travel-worn.

He had been too busy lately. Junko Ito's second single needed promotion, and there were many things to do for the filming of "Hachiko Monogatari." Even though Masami Inada could share some of the work, he felt he couldn't keep up.

"Yin Tang-san, I'm back."

Shuichi Yin Tang was no longer petting the dog but was looking at the cast list: "How is it? The reply from Nana Okada's side?"

"Hi, they have already agreed."

Shuichi Yin Tang was just confirming it. He knew in his heart that there was at least an 80% chance that Nana Okada would agree. After all, going from a top-tier idol who could compete with Momoe Yamaguchi and Junko Sakurada to a second or third-tier actor now, it was impossible not to feel the gap. Even the agency wanted to see if they could make a comeback.

Speaking of which, the idol industry is truly very cruel. The peak period of many idols is actually only a year or two, after which they disappear like shooting stars. Idols who can stand in the entertainment industry for a long time are few and far between.

Shuichi Yin Tang looked at the shooting plan in his hand again. This movie might be Nana Okada's comeback.

"Otomo-san, since all the actors have been found, then next, we should prepare to start filming."

Otomo Yoshimura had just gulped down some cold water and was unbuttoning his shirt to fan himself.

"That's right. The main sets have been built, and we've found an experienced dog trainer."

This dog trainer was only a consultant, providing professional guidance when it was necessary for the Hachikos to perform certain actions.

"Then Otomo-san, we're just missing a priest!" Shuichi Yin Tang thought for a moment. "What do you think about the shaman from the last movie?"

Japan also has a lot of inertia in this regard. The huge success of the last movie made both Shuichi Yin Tang and Otomo Yoshimura feel that the shaman had a bit of good luck. It was only natural to ask her to perform the opening ceremony this time.

"Hi, let's do that. I'll go contact the shaman and pick a good day while I'm at it." Otomo Yoshimura said as he prepared to go out again, a character who couldn't stay idle. "By the way, Yin Tang-san, remember to notify Naoki-san!"

"Of course, I won't forget."

Naoki Nagayama was curled up on the sofa, unwilling to get up.

Sipping tea, eating a cookie, petting the dog—this kind of lazy, guilt-free time-wasting was something he couldn't get in the past few days.

The TV was rebroadcasting the Ultraman special effects drama. As the most all-around Ultraman of the 80s, Ultraman 80 was the most versatile warrior of light among all Ultramen and the only one with no record of defeat.

Oh, that's the Ultraman with a fin on his head that looks like a mohawk, the most classic image.

"Oh ho ho, Ultra Kick~" Naoki Nagayama laughed as he watched the scene where Ultraman 80 kicked the monster down. "The actor for this Ultraman must be very agile; he's quite nimble."

Just at this moment, the phone nearby interrupted Naoki Nagayama's mood for reminiscing.

"Who would it be at this time?"

Picking up the receiver, before Naoki Nagayama could speak, the person on the other side spoke hurriedly.

"Naoki-san? This is Kuniharu Morikawa. I just finished reading your novel. I have to say, Naoki-san is truly too talented. This kind of story development is completely unexpected. The love between the protagonists is connected by two strangers who have never met; it's truly very attractive."

Kuniharu Morikawa said a long string of praises in one breath. Naoki Nagayama could only express his gratitude while the other side was catching their breath.

"Arigato, Morikawa-san. Your recognition is the best affirmation for the novel."

Did he finish it so quickly? Did he start reading as soon as I left Shogakukan, without even eating lunch?

As a professional editor, reading a novel is completely different from the way ordinary readers scan through it. At the very least, it needs to be read carefully word by word, taking more than three times as long.

There is also a joke in the publishing industry that professional editors will pick out all the typos of the author and then deduct money based on the characters.

"Naoki-san, I'm calling to tell you that we at Shogakukan will definitely publish this 'Love Letter'. Please be sure to choose our publishing house!"

Many authors actually have the habit of sending one book to multiple publishers, comparing prices and conditions, and then choosing the best one to sign with.

Although Naoki Nagayama didn't seem like that kind of person in his impression, Kuniharu Morikawa didn't want to take any risks: "We will definitely give better conditions than last time!"

"Ah, that's great!" Naoki Nagayama thought it would be the same as last time.

Kuniharu Morikawa had already decided to go to the director's office today to report and must make the director give better publishing conditions.

"Then Naoki-san, please wait for my good news." The tone on the other side of the receiver sounded like a samurai about to go to war.

"Hi, thank you so much."

After hanging up the phone, there was actually nothing particularly surprising. Naoki Nagayama had always had confidence in this novel.

However, this phone call also made Naoki Nagayama lose the mood to continue staying on the sofa watching TV. Looking at the sky outside, it was clear and sunny, just the right scenery for the outdoors.

"Eitaro, let's go out and play!"

Hearing the keyword "go out and play," Eitaro became excited immediately, quickly brought the dog leash over, and wagged his tail excitedly.

Naoki Nagayama also found his camera, loaded the film, and then took Eitaro into the convertible.

Leaving the gate of Sanyingyuan, Naoki Nagayama drove straight towards Nezu Shrine in Bunkyo Ward. He had seen in the news on TV before that Nezu Shrine was currently holding an Azalea Festival. It is said that there are more than 3,000 azaleas to admire, and you can also visit the shrine~

Meeting the gods on the day the azaleas bloom—that's really a good idea.

It's actually not very far from Chiyoda to Bunkyo Ward. On the smooth roads in the afternoon, you can reach it in less than half an hour.

Nezu Shrine is right next to the University of Tokyo, so there are many students in the shrine admiring the flowers, walking together in twos and threes, looking at the flowers while also appreciating the ancient buildings in the shrine.

Naoki Nagayama parked the car outside and took Eitaro into the shrine from the Omotesando entrance. Of course, he blended in inconspicuously with the young men and women who came to admire the flowers.

After entering the shrine, you can immediately see large patches of azaleas blooming on the small hillside on the left. After crossing the sacred bridge, you can buy tickets at the gate and then queue to enter the Tsutsuji-en (Azalea Garden).

Walking and stopping on the paths in the garden while holding Eitaro, he didn't know before that individual azaleas could actually be called "colorful."

In this azalea garden, there were red, purple, pink, and pure white ones. Some azaleas were intense and enthusiastic, with flowers covering the entire plant; some were delicate and shy, with flowers hidden under green leaves; and some were still just buds.

Under the clear sky, this sea of azaleas seemed to be welcoming the arrival of summer with its beautiful colors, like the most beautiful intersection between spring and summer.

Eitaro would also lean close to the azaleas from time to time to sniff the fragrance of the flowers, while Naoki Nagayama was looking for the best angle, wanting to record this beautiful scenery.

Walking to the end of the road, besides the Azalea Garden, there is the Otome Inari Shrine. The environment here is very quiet, with only the gurgling sound of water under the plants and a few leisurely koi in the pond.

However, Naoki Nagayama didn't intend to avoid the hustle and bustle of the world today. Instead, he came back along the mini version of the thousand torii gates on the side. This fiery red torii path was like moving the torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine to Tokyo, but it could only allow one person to walk through.

After returning to the gate, he continued to move along the approach, washed his soul at the water pavilion with water at a constant temperature throughout the seasons, and then visited the enshrined gods Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Oyamakui-no-Mikoto, Hondawake-no-Mikoto, and so on.

Although Naoki Nagayama didn't believe in gods, he still followed the local customs and threw 100 yen into the money box.

Naoki Nagayama also tried the "Literary Master's Resting Stone" in the shrine, but he didn't feel the literary inspiration of writers like Natsume Soseki or Mori Ogai at all.

Sigh, it seems I really don't have the realm of a literary master.

Wandering around the shrine, an afternoon passed quickly. After Naoki Nagayama found a restaurant outside to fill his stomach, it wasn't until it was completely dark that he slowly took Eitaro home.

The phone in the living room was flashing. Someone had indeed called in the afternoon.

Naoki Nagayama pressed the recording button, and the voice of Shuichi Yin Tang came out:

"Naoki-san, you're actually not staying at home?" This questioning tone showed he completely understood Naoki Nagayama's daily routine.

"Then listen to the recording when you get back. Naoki-san, the other preparatory work for 'Hachiko Monogatari' has been completed. We plan to hold the opening ceremony next Monday. Haha, we still asked the same shaman as last time~"

"In short, don't be absent then. That's all!"

So it's officially starting filming. Naoki Nagayama scratched his head. Does that mean only this weekend is left to continue being idle? And then next week starts the busy filming workload? How does it feel as busy as an ordinary corporate slave?

Just as Naoki Nagayama was about to turn off the recording playback, the phone rang abruptly, giving him a fright.

While answering the phone, he silently made a threat:

"Damn it, I got scared again. The next one will definitely be 'The Ring', making everyone afraid to answer the phone!"

"Naoki-san? What afraid to answer the phone?" A sweet female voice came from the other side of the receiver. Could it be Akina Mori?

"Akina-chan, is it actually you?"

"What's wrong? Why wouldn't it be me?" The tone in the receiver sounded very relaxed. It seemed she wasn't disappointed by the results of her debut song at all.

"Hahaha, nothing. I just finished listening to a phone recording. Just as I wanted to turn it off, Akina-chan's call came in, and I got a fright."

The other side of the receiver also laughed: "Is that so? That's really a coincidence. However, I'm sorry for scaring you, Naoki-san. Sumimasen!"

Finally, she used a child's tone to apologize, which made Naoki Nagayama unable to laugh or cry: "Does Akina-chan think I'm a child?"

"Haha, isn't someone who gets scared by a phone a child?"

"Humph, if you say that, I will definitely make a horror movie in the future, making everyone get scared by the phone!"

"That's really something to look forward to, hahahaha." Akina Mori laughed non-stop. "Did Naoki-san just come back from outside?"

"Hi, I went to Nezu Shrine today to attend the Azalea Festival. The azaleas there are really beautiful; there are more than 3,000 of them." Naoki Nagayama described the azaleas he saw today vividly, making Akina Mori on the other side of the receiver envious.

"I'm so envious of you, Naoki-san. The Azalea Festival, I really want to attend too~"

"Akina-chan must be very busy lately, right?" Naoki Nagayama asked. "Running around the country after your debut?"

"Hi, I was in Hakone this morning, and then I went to TV Asahi to record a program in the afternoon." Akina Mori suddenly remembered something. "I finally returned to the apartment and found the letter you sent, Naoki-san. Thank you very much for your encouragement, Arigato!"

"Ha, you just received it now? That's really hard work." Naoki Nagayama's tone deepened slightly. "Does Akina-chan feel that idol life is the same as you imagined?"

"Hmm." It was as if she was thinking for a while. "It's about the same as I imagined. Although it's very hard to go out for bookings on weekends, for me, I feel this is a meaningful job. Thinking about it this way, the hard work doesn't count for much."

"Is that so~" Naoki Nagayama laughed. "Then it seems Akina-chan is born to be an idol~"

For ordinary people, idol work is very hard, but Akina Mori can find meaning in it for herself. Perhaps this is the cornerstone of the future "chameleon diva."

Taking advantage of the free time, making a phone call to a good friend, talking about recent situations, and chatting about work troubles, it soon became late at night.

Until the phone hung up, that sense of relief continued into her dreams.