Chapter 333: What to do when your sister shows up while you're on a date?

After entering April, Tokyo seemed to be embraced by cherry blossoms.

During the day, one could see red, pink, and white cherry blossom rain drifting slowly through the streets and corners; at night, one could enjoy even more colorful blossoms under the neon lights.

The whole city was permeated with a sweet scent, yet when one tried to sniff it closely, it slipped away from the nose, only to come back and tug at one's heartstrings when one wasn't paying attention.

Naoki Nagayama listened absent-mindedly to the chatter of Tomo Arimura and Shuichi Yin Tang. They talked about the promotion of "Hana Yori Dango," then discussed Junko Ito's "Dislocated Time and Space," and it seemed they would soon bring up the filming process of "Cat's Eye."

Once a company grows a bit larger, or perhaps once it reaches a certain scale, the monthly work meetings become increasingly long-winded. Moreover, they insist on confirming the month's work arrangements during the meeting, even though the content has actually been settled beforehand.

Helplessly, as the president, one must attend such meetings... I'm about to fall asleep~

"Naoki-san? Naoki-san!" Tomo Arimura's voice brought the wandering Naoki Nagayama back to consciousness. "What do you think of the proposal just now?"

? Proposal? What proposal?

Although his brain was a mess, at this moment, as long as he kept a straight face and gave a universal answer, it would be fine:

"I have no objections..."

This neutral response actually hid the second half: "You guys figure it out yourselves~"

But as soon as the words left his mouth, Naoki Nagayama noticed Tomo Arimura's eyes light up instantly:

"Really?! Naoki-san! Then it's settled!"

"Eh?" What is? What's settled?

"Then for the next half month, the company's work is entrusted to you, Naoki-san!" Tomo Arimura said, "I'm going to contact the national tour for Junko Ito in every city!"

"If there's any work you're unclear about, you can contact me by phone~"

Only then did Naoki Nagayama realize that what Tomo Arimura had been talking about was organizing a national tour for Junko Ito. However, the other newcomers in the room had no experience with this, so the veteran had to lead Masami Inada to expand into various cities across Japan.

At the same time, the daily management of Tree Friends Film naturally couldn't be left unattended, so Shuichi Yin Tang had just suggested:

"Why don't we let Naoki-san manage it temporarily~ It's only half a month anyway~"

Shuichi Yin Tang also widened his eyes at this moment. He only knew that Naoki Nagayama was the one who disliked handling trivial matters the most. He had only said it casually, never expecting him to have no objections?

This... the sun didn't rise from the west, did it!

Naoki Nagayama, sitting in the main seat, had no way to voice his bitterness. With one careless move, he had taken on a troublesome task. However, looking at the dozen or so pairs of eyes in the meeting room, he couldn't bring himself to make excuses.

"Fine... then leave it to me."

After the meeting ended, Shuichi Yin Tang ran over to gloat: "Naoki-san, you were actually spacing out during the meeting, right?"

Naoki Nagayama's eyes turned into dead fish eyes... Staring (? _?)....

"Shuichi-san, were you doing this on purpose?"

Shuichi Yin Tang laughed it off and avoided the question: "Hahaha, Naoki-san, no matter what, for the next half month, Ganbatte!"

Hmph, isn't it just managing the company for half a month? What's the big deal?

Those bosses are all usually quite idle anyway...

After feeling annoyed for a while, Naoki Nagayama didn't take it to heart. Taking advantage of having nothing else to do, he went out to the supermarket to restock, buying snacks, drinks, and ingredients for the evening.

Today, he had an appointment for Akina to come to Mountain Cherry Court to watch the show in the afternoon!

The unstoppable Yuki Saito, with a Best Newcomer Award and a debut song that hit number nine on the Oricon chart, was putting immense pressure on all the newcomers who debuted in 1983, making even seniors like Seiko Matsuda, Naoko Kawai, and Yoshie Kashiwabara feel the heat.

There was already an Akina Nakamori eyeing the throne, and perhaps one could add Junko Ito to the mix, and now another Yuki Saito had emerged?

The idol business was getting harder and harder!

However, behind these top idols, there seemed to be the shadow of one person...

"Naoki Nagayama..."

35-year-old Daiko Nagato looked at the Oricon charts sent by his subordinate. As the founder of the music production company Being, Inc., he naturally paid close attention to new idol singers.

"I originally thought he was just a composer, then I learned he was a best-selling author, but I didn't expect him to become a well-known film figure recently. I didn't expect him to be so outstanding in record production as well."

"Even though the things he does are scattered and messy, they all turn out quite decent..."

Daiko Nagato said to his subordinate Satoshi Fukunaga, who had delivered the data, "Satoshi-kun, don't you think so?"

"Yes, it's quite reckless... but the development trend looks very good."

"Of course, he already has two first-tier idols under his name; those agencies must be dying of envy!" Daiko Nagato complained, "They'd love to tie Naoki Nagayama up and make him produce records for them!"

If it weren't for the fact that Being Records had excellent music creators like Tetsuro Oda and his own younger brother Ujishide Nagato, he would have wanted to tie Naoki Nagayama up too.

In five years, the fledgling Being Records had managed to gain a foothold in the industry, but it still lacked any particularly brilliant songs or prestige, so this year they still had to cooperate with the veteran CBS Sony.

Satoshi Fukunaga looked at his boss, who was still pondering the charts, and continued: "President Nagato, besides female idols, Tree Friends Film seems to have launched a new label called 'Rebellion' with Sony Records recently."

"Oh? With Sony Records?"

"Yes, it's a label specifically created for a newcomer at Sony Records named Yutaka Ozaki."

"Really? For a newcomer?"

"Yes, Yutaka Ozaki is currently very active in the underground music scene and live houses."

Daiko Nagato became interested: "This... is there something special about Yutaka Ozaki?"

After all, the people Naoki Nagayama favored and provided songs for were either first-class idols or his own artists, and facts had proven they all had great potential. Creating a label for someone else's artist was something that had never happened before.

Could this guy actually become a hit too?

"Satoshi-kun, organize his data and bring it to me."

"Yes!"

After his subordinate left, Daiko Nagato began to ponder his company's next plan: finding excellent singers, producing high-quality records...

Accumulating strength, Being Records still needed to continue building up~

After Naoki Nagayama finished shopping at the large supermarket, he went home with bags full of goods.

After arranging the snacks and drinks on the coffee table, he went to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients.

"Eitaro~ Don't move around! These aren't dog biscuits for you!"

The big dog looked carefully at the colorful things on the coffee table, then quietly snatched a bag of cookies and hid it in his dog house... Naoki Nagayama had fed him these before...

The agreed time was 2:00 PM. With some time left, Naoki Nagayama washed the fruit, placed the "Hana Yori Dango" tapes next to the projector, brewed a cup of hot tea, and waited for his guest on the veranda while watching the cherry blossoms.

The warm afternoon sun shone on the cherry blossoms in the courtyard. There was no wind, and pink and white petals drifted down from time to time. The small, tender petals landed on the dry landscape in the courtyard, adding a touch of tenderness to the originally lonely scenery.

"Ding-ling~"

I don't know how much time had passed, but the doorbell of Mountain Cherry Court, which rarely rang, suddenly sounded. Naoki Nagayama walked toward the front door while saying, "Just a moment~"

"So punctual? No, even early?" The clock in the living room showed it was only a quarter to two.

After opening the door, through the lattice of the courtyard gate, Naoki Nagayama saw a water-green floral dress, full of vitality like spring. It looked familiar, but the face was blocked by a pattern, making it blurry.

He didn't think much of it and quickly opened the gate:

"Welcome to Mountain Cherry Court... Aki... Tsuruko?!!"

"Ta-da!" Naoki Tsuruko appeared at the door, shining. "Nii-chan, surprised? Unexpected?"

"..." Surprised? Tsuruko, translate this for me, what kind of surprise is this?! It's more of a shock!

"Tsuruko... why did you come so suddenly!"

When he talked to his family two days ago, the time hadn't been confirmed yet; she was supposed to come to Tokyo only two days before school started.

"I was bored at home~" Tsuruko walked into Mountain Cherry Court brazenly. "It just happens to be the cherry blossom season in Tokyo, so I came early."

Naoki Nagayama hurriedly closed the courtyard gate and chased after her: "Then why didn't you tell me!"

"Ha, of course, it's to give Nii-chan, who is all alone, a surprise!" Tsuruko dragged her suitcase, making a rustling sound, and skillfully placed it in the bedroom on the second floor. "I specifically didn't ask Mother to call!"

After entering the room, she immediately shouted at the top of her lungs: "Eitaro, your Tsuruko-nee-chan is here! Come over here and let me pet you!"

The big dog had already curled up in his dog house, even putting his front paws over his ears, as if that would make him invisible.

"Eh? Nii-chan is so extravagant, actually preparing so many delicious things!"

Tsuruko took a small apple from the coffee table and ate it without any hesitation. Who knows who she learned this from? She had no sense of restraint in her brother's house... even though she was very reserved back home.

"Hehehe~" Naoki Nagayama gave a fake smile. "Tsuruko, since you're here this time, are you ready to go straight to university for registration?"

"Yes! Didn't Nii-chan say I could live in the Waseda apartment? So I'll go adapt to that side for a while."

Eitaro still didn't escape the clutches, being grabbed by Tsuruko and petted all over, letting out miserable "Ying-ying-ying" sounds.

"Besides, it's the cherry blossom season, so I can finally wander around for a while! There won't be time once school starts~"

Naoki Nagayama offered some advice based on experience: "... Tsuruko, actually, university is very idle~"

But he got a side-eye in return: "Nii-chan, how would you know? You never went to university?"

First blood!

"I see other university students are very free, falling in love... feeling like their minds aren't on their studies~"

Tsuruko looked straight at him: "Nii-chan, you've never been in love, how would you know where their minds are?"

Double kill!

Naoki Nagayama dropped the subject, not wanting to give Tsuruko another chance to stab him.

Just then, sharp-eyed Tsuruko saw the tapes next to the TV: "Ah!! Nii-chan, is this the 'Hana Yori Dango' tape?"

"Yeah..."

"All the episodes?"

"Yeah..."

"Where did Nii-chan get them?"

"... I filmed it..."

"Oh oh oh, Nii-chan, can I watch it?"

Naoki Nagayama sighed in his heart. What else could he do when his sister suddenly showed up while he was on a date with a girl? He could only watch it together...

"Sure, I actually had an appointment with someone else to watch it today."

Tsuruko rummaged through the tapes and asked curiously: "Oh? So there's a guest? Do I know her?"

"It's Akina Nakamori. Because she's too busy with work and didn't have time to wait for the broadcast... I decided to let her watch it in advance..."

Naoki Nagayama was just explaining the reason when he heard the doorbell again.

The gate of Mountain Cherry Court had never been as busy as it was this afternoon, but this time, it should be Akina~

Akina Nakamori, standing at the door, wore a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a mask—the standard celebrity travel outfit.

She wore an oversized light gray sweatshirt that reached her thighs, and the loose neckline revealed a white shirt underneath, looking casual, comfortable, and elegant.

Looking at this two-story villa surrounded by bamboo, the girl felt a bit sentimental. Naoki-san's house had always been like this, but the cherry blossoms in the courtyard had bloomed again, looking beautiful even from outside the wall.

As the courtyard gate opened, Naoki Nagayama's handsome face appeared. Akina waved happily: "Naoki-san, I'm here~"

"It really is Akina-san this time~"

For some reason, Akina felt Naoki-san's smile was a bit unnatural~

"Hahaha~ If it wasn't me, who else would it be?"

Following Naoki Nagayama into the house, she saw a girl's back in the living room, bending over and rummaging in front of the TV. A water-green floral dress showed a long waist and slender figure, full of youthful vigor.

"There really is someone else?" Akina was shocked at first, then suddenly felt a wave of grievance: "Naoki-san actually made an appointment with someone else to watch it together?"

Looking at Naoki Nagayama's eyes, they were already a bit misty...

"Naoki-san... how..."

"Ah... Akina-chan, it's a coincidence. Tsuruko came to Tokyo today~" Naoki Nagayama didn't see Akina's expression and said directly, "What a big surprise she gave me..."

"Tsuruko?"

Upon hearing this name, various thoughts flashed through Akina's little head:

"Is this the girl's name?"

"Is it so intimate to call her by her first name directly?"

"He really has another girl in his heart!"

"Scumbag! Heartless Naoki!"

After reacting for a while, Akina finally remembered who this name was.

"Naoki-san's sister?"

At this moment, the girl in the living room turned around, saw Akina, and a smile bloomed on her face: "Akina-chan, you're here!"

She walked over with light steps, grabbed Akina's arm affectionately, and started chattering away...