Chapter 285

The night had grown deep. Naoki Nagayama lay half-reclined on the living room sofa, watching a noisy variety show, a smile occasionally appearing at the corners of his mouth.

Eitaro, lying on the other side of the sofa, displayed the proper qualities of a biological foot warmer. Even though he was so sleepy he could barely open his eyes, he still contributed his body to keep his master warm.

Outside the light and shadows of the television and the warm glow of the desk lamp, the entire Shanyingyuan was silent.

The courtyard, separated by a glass sliding door, felt like it was in another dimension once closed; one couldn't hear the sounds from inside at all. Occasionally, when a cold wind blew, one could only see the shadows of the cherry tree branches swaying gently on the courtyard wall.

Although it was already very late and he was a bit tired, Naoki Nagayama showed no signs of going to bed. His gaze occasionally swept over the telephone beside the sofa, as if he were waiting for something.

Akina Nakamori, who had just finished the rehearsal for the All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards and had also taken part in the live broadcast of "THE BEST TEN," had just returned from the television station; it was already nearly dawn.

"Arigato, Koji-san." Akina said goodbye very politely to Koji Okawa, who had brought her back. "Take care on the way~"

"Hai, Akina-chan, get some good rest too~"

After returning to her small apartment, she really wanted to throw herself onto the sofa and turn on the television.

But Akina Nakamori also knew that if she lay down, she probably wouldn't want to get up again, so she could only force herself to wash up before dragging her light, floating body to lie down in the kotatsu in the living room.

The warm, cozy feeling almost made Akina fall asleep immediately, but her closed eyes were disturbed by a rhythmic red light. It turned out the indicator light on the living room phone had been blinking the whole time.

She originally didn't want to listen; it was very likely just work instructions or something similar. But just like how many people feel the need to click away red dots, most people have a mild obsessive-compulsive disorder.

"Ah~~~ as expected, I still have to listen to it~"

Pressing the play button, a familiar voice came out: "Akina-chan, this is Naoki Nagayama..."

As Akina Nakamori listened to Naoki Nagayama's message, her sleepiness vanished. When she heard that the letter had just been found, she couldn't help but think,

"No wonder he didn't come to the concert... I thought he didn't want to listen~"

Hearing Naoki Nagayama say it was a real pity and that he really wanted to see Akina's concert, the corners of Akina's mouth had already lifted slightly, and the small annoyance in her heart had dissipated.

When she heard him ask for a ticket to the Osaka concert, she quietly talked to herself: "I just won't give it to you, hmph, who told you to miss this one in Shibuya~"

After listening to the message, Akina felt her mood suddenly improve. She just wanted to pick up the phone and call back, but she saw the time on the phone—it was already dawn!

"At this hour... Naoki-san must be asleep, right?"

Akina Nakamori's beautiful eyebrows gathered slightly, turning her clear, black-and-white eyes into half-moons. Her lips also pressed together slightly, moving her full, straight nose bridge. Her pretty face was full of hesitation.

After hearing the message, she really wanted to talk to Naoki-san, but if she called someone at this hour, wouldn't it be a bit rude? What if she woke Naoki-san up? But if she didn't call today, she would have to go to work early tomorrow, and she would have to wait another day to talk to Naoki-san...

What should she do~~~

Just as she was hesitating, as if by some divine intervention, Akina's hand had already pressed the callback button, and then, as if feeling guilty, she found an excuse for herself:

"Maybe he isn't asleep yet. Let's try, just try!"

"Ding-a-ling~~"

The ringing of the phone beside the sofa rang out abruptly, making Naoki Nagayama, who was dozing off while watching the variety show, wake up instantly. Even Eitaro lifted his head.

Looking at the wall clock, it was actually already dawn, but Naoki Nagayama still picked up the receiver:

"Moshi moshi, this is Shanyingyuan~"

"Naoki-san?" A soft voice came from the receiver. "Are you not asleep yet?"

"Ah, it's Akina-chan." Naoki Nagayama perked up. "I've been waiting for Akina-chan's reply since I left the message. I just thought I wouldn't receive Akina's call today~"

Naoki-san has been waiting for my call... Suddenly feeling that she was also being looked forward to, Akina Nakamori felt as if she had drunk a cup of warm, sweet red bean soup; her heart was filled with sweet warmth:

"Naoki-san, actually, you didn't have to wait..."

"How could that be?!" Naoki Nagayama's voice rose a little, as if Akina had said something incorrect. "I've already missed Akina-chan's first concert; no matter what, I couldn't miss the chance to express my apologies to Akina~"

"Akina-sama~ Missing the Shibuya concert was truly inexcusable. Please forgive me! But please give me a chance to let your fan support you at the Osaka concert!"

The voice full of playful tone made Akina Nakamori unable to help but feel playful herself.

"That is true, but Naoki-san, that wasn't the first concert, you know. There was already one in August. If you count it that way, Naoki-san has already missed two. What should we do about that?"

"Honto?" Naoki Nagayama really didn't know Akina had already held one. "Did I miss such an important occasion without even realizing it?! Hontoni sumimasen! Then... absolutely, absolutely must not miss the Osaka concert! Akina-sama, please give your fan a concert ticket~"

"Hmm, since such an important fan has said so, then I'll reluctantly forgive you." Akina couldn't help but laugh as she listened to Naoki Nagayama's "pleading." "Haha, Naoki-san, stop saying that. 'Akina-sama' and all that, it's a bit embarrassing~"

"Haha, besides Akina-sama, there might be people calling you Akina-denka or Akina-hime in the future. This is just letting Akina-chan adapt in advance~"

"What is that~ What kind of nonsense are you saying~" A blush appeared on Akina Nakamori's face; she seemed truly a bit embarrassed and couldn't think of what to say next for a moment.

Naoki Nagayama saw that the topic had gone stale and immediately changed it. "Akina-chan, coming back so late today, what were you busy with?"

"I went to participate in the rehearsal for the All Japan Cable Awards today, and I sang a song halfway through." Akina's tone became normal. "Naoki-san, that song 'Sed Love' is already number two on The Best Ten."

"Is that so? Akina-chan is truly amazing!"

"It's because Naoki-san's song is good~"

"No, no, it's because Akina-chan performed it well!"

The two began to praise each other, and for a moment, it actually felt like commercial mutual flattery. It was Akina who broke the cycle.

"Is Naoki-san busy with anything lately?"

"Me? Lately, I've been mainly busy with the casting preparations for a television drama~" Naoki Nagayama continued, "And the public opinion events like the previous film awards."

"Ah, is that the scandal? The one with Yuko Tanaka?"

The tone on the other side of the receiver was very calm, but Naoki Nagayama seemed to sense something.

"Yeah, it was just a normal chance encounter while shopping, and then a regular meal. I didn't expect it to be photographed. Plus Yuko-san's previous scandals, it just got linked together..."

"So, Naoki-san and Miss Yuko Tanaka are not dating?" The tone was still very calm, but the speaking speed was slightly fast.

"Akina-chan, I promise you, absolutely not!"

On the other side of the receiver, Akina Nakamori's hand, which had been gripping the phone tightly, relaxed a little, as if she had let go of some worry. She said softly:

"What are you promising me, Naoki-san..."

Naoki Nagayama smiled helplessly: "It's just that at that time, everyone thought I had scandals with every actress I collaborated with~ In any case, I didn't want Akina to misunderstand~"

"Scandals with every actress you collaborated with..." Akina Nakamori suddenly remembered that episode of "Waratte Iitomo!" "Ah, speaking of which, Naoki-san really seems like that kind of playboy, saying things like 'Because of you, I will remember this minute' in a variety show~"

"Uh..."

"Was Naoki-san really that wooden before? Or have you always been the playboy type? I'm already a bit suspicious~"

Akina was very excited when she talked about it. After she watched the videotape of that episode, she was also shocked, and then she discussed it with the staff she knew for a long time, reaching a conclusion: Naoki Nagayama must be someone who is very good at pleasing women!

"It really was just a sudden thought... Tamori-san kept urging me... suddenly asking me to imagine a romantic scenario or something..."

Naoki Nagayama felt it was getting hard to explain, so he simply gave up.

"In any case, it just turned out like that..."

"Hmm-hmm..."

Akina didn't speak on the other side, only using a modal particle to express her emotions. In Naoki Nagayama's mind, the image of Akina holding up her index finger and saying "There is only one truth" instantly appeared.

"Is Akina-chan very concerned?"

"? Nani?"

"Concerned about whether I am a playboy?"

Hearing this question, Akina, who was sitting beside the phone, became nervous. One hand tugged at the cushion in front of her, the corners wrinkled again and again, but she still stubbornly said:

"... I... I'm not concerned at all! What does it have to do with me whether Naoki-san is a playboy!"

Sensing the tension in Akina's tone, Naoki Nagayama felt as if there was a thread on his heart, connected to another heart an unknown distance away.

It was loose, but he could vaguely sense the other person's feelings through it.

As if he had grasped something certain, Naoki Nagayama's heart relaxed.

"Haha, if Akina-chan says you're not concerned, then let's assume that's the case~"

Afterward, he simply chose to lie flat. "Anyway, it's impossible to explain clearly~"

"... You should still explain it clearly..." Akina said dryly, wanting to say that she was actually concerned, but she couldn't say it no matter what.

"Forget it, forget it. Actually, being a playboy isn't all that bad, right? At least others won't have such strict requirements, and talking to people can be very relaxed~"

Naoki Nagayama said jokingly, and then lowered his voice: "Akina-chan, you will dream of me tonight~"

Akina was hesitating about whether to show her attitude of being concerned when she suddenly heard this sentence from Naoki Nagayama.

She only felt a shock enter her head from her ears. She felt a bit dizzy, and a hot current quickly spread across her face. Even the cushion in her hand was almost grabbed until a hole appeared. Her originally relaxed calves were now tensed tightly, and her feet were curled together.

A few seconds later, when she came back to her senses, Akina Nakamori was both shy and annoyed. Countless thoughts and emotions were mixed together. In a very short time, all her emotions could only be expressed in the most primitive and intense language of life—"Baka~~~"

Then, with a slap, she hung up the phone.

Listening to the busy signal in the receiver, although he understood that being a flirt would definitely have bad consequences, this "Baka" really surprised him.

"She wouldn't really be angry, would she~"

But let's leave it for today. He couldn't call back again, lest he really get scolded...

Naoki Nagayama sat up straight and looked at Eitaro, who had also lifted his head.

"Eitaro, let's go to the bedroom to bathe and sleep!"

After washing up, Naoki Nagayama on the bedroom bed quickly fell into a deep sleep, heartless and carefree. Even in his dreams, the corners of his mouth were still lifted slightly.

Meanwhile, Akina Nakamori in the Nakano apartment fell into a long period of hesitation after hanging up the phone. Even when she got into bed, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She covered herself entirely in the quilt, muttering:

"Hmm... Naoki-san is such a baka!"

It didn't know how long it took before the room slowly quieted down. Akina, who was hugging her pillow and gradually drifting into dreamland, still had her eyebrows slightly furrowed, but a smile also appeared on her face...

The next day was a sunny winter day.

Naoki Nagayama, who had woken up, was full of spirit. The fatigue from the trip had been completely eliminated.

After his routine morning run and washing up, he put on a light gray trench coat and scarf and prepared to head to the Fuji Television building. He had been quite busy last night and hadn't decided on the male lead; he had to go and confirm it today.

Arriving at the garage, he didn't choose the solemn Toyota Century but instead chose the stylish convertible sports car again. Facing the brilliant sunshine, the driving sports car seemed even more vibrant.

When he arrived at Fuji Television, it was already 9 AM. Naoki Nagayama walked in familiarly. When he reached the fourth floor, Taisuke Sugiura and Rumi Nishi were naturally already at their seats in the First Production Department.

"Taisuke-san, Rumi-san, good morning~"

The bright sunshine shone on Naoki Nagayama's fair cheeks, and his handsome features were glowing. The smile on his face seemed even warmer than the sunshine. Under the light gray trench coat, his straight, slender figure and perfectly proportioned lines made him look like someone who had walked out of a foreign fairy tale.

Rumi Nishi, who turned her head, widened her eyes, as if she wanted to keep this image in her eyes forever. It wasn't until Naoki Nagayama walked up close that she came back to her senses and greeted him:

"Naoki-san, good morning~"

Then she couldn't help but say: "Naoki-san is simply too handsome! When you walked over, it was like you were glowing."

Taisuke Sugiura, being a man, didn't act as infatuated as Rumi Nishi: "Rumi, put away your lustful heart. Naoki-san is just a bit more spirited today."

However, when he looked at Naoki Nagayama, there was a slight hint of jealousy in his eyes. This guy, how does he seem so handsome...

"Hahaha, don't tease me, you two~" Naoki Nagayama laughed it off. "I came today to confirm the casting."

Speaking of business, Taisuke Sugiura returned to being shrewd and capable: "Yesterday, we already compiled the scoring sheet. The candidates are these few."

Several resumes with photos were placed on the table.

"Also, we removed Masahiko Kondo."

"?"

"Otomo-san told us yesterday that that guy actually slandered the fairness of our selection in the garage. Even the security staff heard it..." Taisuke Sugiura's face didn't look very good. If it caused a scene, it was inevitable that he would be scolded by his superiors.

"This..."

"Forget it, ignore him. Naoki-san, just choose from these people and confirm the casting for Hanazawa Rui."

Naoki Nagayama had no choice but to look. The list was full of artists with excellent qualifications, even Takayuki Takemoto, the first one, was on it.

Picking and choosing among the candidates, he was still a bit hesitant.

"These few people all have some shortcomings. If it really doesn't work out... then choose this..."

Before he could finish speaking, Rumi Nishi, who had been stealing glances at Naoki Nagayama, suddenly spoke up and interrupted:

"Naoki-san, why don't you play Hanazawa Rui yourself!"

"Eh?" X2

"Don't you think it's very suitable? Naoki-san is also an actor, right? Regarding the understanding of the character, and his image... there is truly no one more like a Prince Charming than him!"

Taisuke Sugiura had never considered it from this perspective. After hearing it, he looked at Naoki Nagayama, and the more he looked, the more he felt what she said was right...