Chapter 478: Why is Akimoto Yasushi kneeling while looking at Nagayama Naoki?

If taking a boat from Izu Oshima to Tokyo, a jetfoil only takes two hours, while a large merchant ship takes four to five hours.

Having stayed on this island, which possesses the only desert in Japan, for nearly a week, Ido Shuichi decided to give the entire crew a break and return to Tokyo for two days of rest, so everyone boarded the merchant ship.

"Yuko-san, going back this time, it should be the first rehearsal for the Red and White Song Battle, right?" Nagayama Naoki and Tanaka Yuko were chatting while looking at the deep blue sea from the side of the ship. "Is it okay to have not trained for such a long time?"

"Hai, daijoubu!" Tanaka Yuko was full of confidence. "On the nights we were filming, I would review the flow of the Red and White Song Battle in my head, and the hosting script is already memorized by heart."

"Even though you're already this tired, you can actually find time to memorize the hosting script?" As expected, those who can succeed all have hardships that others don't know about!

"There's no other way. The rehearsal is coming up soon!"

Tanaka Yuko's humility made Nagayama Naoki feel a bit ashamed, because as a guest for the FNS Music Festival, he hadn't even thought about his award presentation speech yet.

As a national actress now, after Tanaka Yuko returned to Tokyo, she still had some other announcements and interviews, so after the ship reached the port, she was immediately picked up by her manager.

Ido Shuichi and Nagayama Naoki, on the other hand, took the crew back to the studio first.

"Naoki-san, Shuichi-san! You're back!"

The little sister at the front desk, Hoshi Jiahua, welcomed the crew's return very enthusiastically, giving people a feeling of finally returning home.

"Mm, just taking a short break midway." Nagayama Naoki smiled. "Otomo-san is there, right?"

"Hai, Otomo-san has been in the office the whole time."

Ido Shuichi gave instructions to the crew members behind him: "After everyone puts their things down, you can go back and rest. Gather here again in two days."

"Hai~" n

"Jia Yi-chan, wait a moment, I'll take you home right away~"

Afterward, he walked into the office with Nagayama Naoki, found his seat, and collapsed onto it all at once~

"Spending all day on the island, now my clothes feel like they've been soaked in salt water." Ido Shuichi complained while looking at Yoshimura Otomo. "Outdoor filming is just troublesome."

"Yeah, not to mention that place, it always felt gloomy~" Nagayama Naoki chimed in.

Yoshimura Otomo poured coffee for the two of them: "Haha, so how is the progress of this shoot? Have the location shots all been completed?"

Ido Shuichi nodded: "The good news is that it's finally finished! After this, it will be in the city of Kyoto."

"Then today is?"

"We always need to rest a bit, and let the crew relax as well."

"I see." Yoshimura Otomo didn't have any objections; regarding filming matters, he had always deferred to Ido Shuichi and Nagayama Naoki.

However, his gaze turned to Nagayama Naoki beside him: "Since it's a holiday, Naoki-san shouldn't have anything to do, right?"

Nagayama Naoki, who was drinking coffee, suddenly became nervous: "Otomo-san, what are you going to do?"

"Of course, it's about 'Evening Meow Meow'! Sugiura Tai from Fuji TV has already spoken with me on the phone; the studio is finished, and the script is ready. We're just waiting for the candidates for the Cat's Eye Three Sisters and Kikuchi Etsuro's people!"

Yoshimura Otomo stated the recent progress of the preparations.

"Uh, what does that have to do with me?" Nagayama Naoki didn't understand. "Just go rehearse! Record!"

Yoshimura Otomo rolled his eyes: "Naoki-san, you have to know, you are one of the initial planners of the program. Without your presence, how can the debut show proceed!"

"This..."

"Also, there have been some problems with the promotion of Chikako-chan's debut song, and we need Naoki-san to help!" Yoshimura Otomo seemed to want to maximize Nagayama Naoki's utility. "If you still have time, Being Records also hopes to communicate with Naoki-san regarding Ozaki Yutaka's year-end record awards..."

Ido Shuichi beside them seemed to have choked on his coffee: "Cough cough, hahaha~"

"Naoki-san, it looks like you have a lot to do! I won't disturb you! Jia Yi-chan is in a hurry to go home!" After saying this, he left Nagayama Naoki and Yoshimura Otomo in the office.

Looking at Yoshimura Otomo's calm gaze, Nagayama Naoki suddenly felt that the coffee in his hand had lost its aroma:

"Otomo-san, can we take it one thing at a time?"

"Hai, then let's first discuss the promotional push for Chikako-chan..."

When Nagayama Naoki returned to Shanyingyuan, the sky had already darkened.

Having been dragged to handle work for an entire afternoon, even a young lad felt a bit exhausted now, not to mention that he had to go to Fuji TV tomorrow to conduct the first recording of "Evening Meow Meow".

The landscape lights in the courtyard had already been turned on. Under the pale white light, the October cherry blossoms occasionally dropped one or two pink-white petals, landing on the white dry landscape, indistinguishable, filled with a desolate and beautiful meaning.

"Home is still the best! Ying Taro, Miao Taro! I'm back!"

Then he opened the door and saw Nagayama Hezi collapsed on the sofa watching TV, holding potato chips in one hand and drinking soda in the other. Ying Taro was pinned under her feet, and after seeing Nagayama Naoki, he could only wag his tail.

As for Miao Taro? In order to avoid Nagayama Hezi, Miao Taro seemed to no longer be in this house~

"Ni-chan, welcome back~" Nagayama Nagayama Hezi waved her hand, greeting her older brother.

"... Nagayama Hezi, is it just you?" Nagayama Naoki had thought her best friend Ishii Chunshui would also be there.

"Ah, Chunshui-chan had to go back home!" Nagayama Hezi sat up straight. "It seems there's something at home that needs to be handled."

"I see." Nagayama Naoki stroked the dog head of Ying Taro who had run over. "Nagayama Hezi, have you eaten dinner?"

"Eating right now..." Nagayama Hezi held the potato chips in her hand, hesitated for a while, and then, seemingly very heartbroken, handed over a piece. "Ni-chan, do you want to eat?"

"..."

Should I say that as expected of a university student? Just fooling around like this at night is fine!

"I'll go order some dinner to be delivered." After all, he had been busy all day, and Naoki Nagayama didn't feel like cooking himself. "Do you want anything, Nagayama Hezi?"

"Want, want, want! I want steak! Lobster! Abalone!" Nagayama Hezi became spirited immediately upon hearing this.

"Baka! Only ramen and rice bowls!" It's so late, the only delivery food that can quickly fill a stomach is this kind. Steak, lobster, and the like require going to a restaurant to pack them...

"Che... then I want tonkotsu ramen! Add tempura!" Nagayama Hezi said this unwillingly, and even added a side dish.

When the two starving people finally ate dinner, the sky had already completely darkened.

Nagayama Hezi, who had originally been disdainful, was eating very deliciously at this moment. Nagayama Naoki asked: "Nagayama Hezi, don't you eat dinner when you're here?"

"Too troublesome~" Nagayama Hezi bit into the tempura. "Buying ingredients, cooking, washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen... eating a meal takes two to three hours! As expected, being a housewife is very tiring!"

"Yeah, Mother is very hardworking." Nagayama Naoki also thought so. "Nagayama Hezi, have you been in contact with home recently? Is the little nephew okay?"

"Ah, the little nephew has already been brought home!" Nagayama Hezi was very happy when she mentioned it. "Now he's already much heavier than before!"

"By the way, the little nephew's name has already been chosen! It's called Nagayama Yecao!"

"Pfft..." Nagayama Naoki almost spat it out. "Yecao (Wild Grass)? How could you use this?"

"It's because we hope the child will have the tenacious vitality like wild grass!" Nagayama Hezi said solemnly, and then her face fell. "Father said so! Because wild grass is not easy to wither... the little nephew was premature after all, we hope he can grow up healthy..."

"Did Big Brother agree to this too?"

"Mm, that guy Big Brother can't say any big principles." Nagayama Hezi had no choice; her own big brother inherited Father's honesty and reticence, and generally wouldn't say anything.

"Sigh... alright..."

Since the child's father had agreed, what could Nagayama Naoki say?

However, Yecao...

Having not woken up in his own bedroom for a long time, Nagayama Naoki felt that this sleep was extremely comfortable.

When he opened his eyes in the morning, Ying Taro didn't come over to wake him up; it looked like he had been dragged away by Nagayama Hezi to watch the door again.

Feeling that all his vitality had returned, Nagayama Naoki made breakfast after washing up: bread, bacon, fried eggs, and milk; white rice still felt a bit strange.

"Ni-chan, are you going out again today? Are you coming back tonight?" Nagayama Hezi was eating bread in big mouthfuls; she had to go to class in a while.

"Mm, going to supervise the production of a program." Nagayama Naoki said unhurriedly. "I'll be in Tokyo today and tomorrow, and will go out again after resting."

"What program?" Nagayama Hezi was very curious.

"A talent show called 'Evening Meow Meow', it's estimated to be released next week."

"Eh? A talent show, what kind? Can one debut? Can I participate?" Nagayama Hezi's eyes lit up. "If I participate, would I be the legendary 'connection' contestant?! The kind that gets escorted to the championship all the way?"

Nagayama Naoki rolled his eyes: "... You're too old! You don't meet the participation conditions!"

"You!!!!" Stung in a painful spot. "Clearly I'm not even 20 years old! Baka!"

"In the idol industry, 18 is already very late..."

After finishing breakfast while bickering with his own sister, Nagayama Naoki drove his convertible toward Fuji TV.

Having not been in Tokyo for a while, he discovered that the maple leaves on the road had all changed color, and there were also some autumn-blooming flowers competing for beauty in the flower beds: the colorful autumn cherry blossoms, the clusters of pansies, the gorgeous crabapple flowers, and some rosemary that looked like little butterflies...

It is said that spring is the time when flowers compete for beauty, but in fact, autumn flowers are not inferior at all.

He had already been to the Fuji TV building many times this year. Nagayama Naoki came to Sugiura Tai's new office familiarly, but after entering, he was surprised to find that Akimoto Yasushi was also here.

"Tai-san, Akimoto-san, morning." Nagayama Naoki greeted them. "Why is Akimoto-san also here?"

The chubby young man also had a smile on his face: "Because I need to concentrate on preparing for the program recently, I'm temporarily working here."

"Hahaha, I think Akimoto-san will be stationed at Fuji TV from now on~" Sugiura Tai interjected. "Naoki-san came just in time, come and take a look at today's program script!"

Saying this, he handed over the document in his hand.

"Hai." After Nagayama Naoki took it, he looked at the content inside. "Mm... cat ear headbands, cat dance..."

He looked up at Akimoto Yasushi: "It's actually the symbol of the Wild Cat Group's previous appearances~"

"Mm, I think with the gimmick of the Wild Cat Group, people will pay more attention." Akimoto Yasushi didn't feel embarrassed.

"Ha... it's just that I don't know how many people will still remember this point."

Nagayama Naoki was noncommittal. In an era where idols are updated so quickly, how many people can still remember the group Wild Cat Group?

The other processes were similar to those in the planning document, just refining the content according to the currently popular forms.

"It looks like there's no problem." Nagayama Naoki nodded to indicate. "Next, we need to try it out while rehearsing on-site."

Akimoto Yasushi and Sugiura Tai were both ready. The three of them discussed the recording matters of the program in the office for a while, and only after Nishi Rumi came to report that the studio was ready did they go to the studio together.

Important figures always appear last~

When the three giants of "Evening Meow Meow" walked into the studio, the huge studio was actually noisy, because more than a dozen girls were chattering inside, and there were various instructions from other staff members.

Nagayama Naoki also saw Yoshimura Otomo bringing the Cat's Eye Three Sisters, talking with Fukuhara Ayano and Nonaka Saka brought by Kikuchi Etsuro. That harmonious appearance... as expected of female artists who hustle in the entertainment industry!

"Cough cough cough, Minasan, please be quiet!" After Sugiura Tai exchanged a few words with the staff on-site, he took the microphone and walked onto the stage in the middle. "We are about to start the first rehearsal, everyone please pay attention! Quiet!"

With the help of the sound system, Sugiura Tai quickly controlled the scene.

"First, let me introduce myself. I am the general manager of 'Evening Meow Meow', Sugiura Tai." Sugiura Tai first introduced the people who had the final say in the studio. "This one here is the producer of 'Evening Meow Meow', Nagayama Naoki, and the one beside him is the executive director of the program, Akimoto Yasushi!"

"Next, we will direct the rehearsal of the entire program."

After saying this, Sugiura Tai directed the staff on-site and started arranging the program rehearsal process, while Akimoto Yasushi communicated with Kikuchi Etsuro, arranging the appearances and dances of the group of girls selected.

And Nagayama Naoki... he was catching up on old times with the five members of the Wild Cat Group...

"Long time no see, Ayano-san and Saka-san." Nagayama Naoki hadn't seen these two since the Wild Cat Group was poached, but he didn't have any ill feelings toward them; group splits and such were not their fault.

"Hai, long time no see..." Fukuhara Ayano and Nonaka Saka still had very good feelings toward this former boss who had pushed them from adult magazine models to the screen with one hand.

"If we cooperate again this time, I'll have to trouble you two!" Nagayama Naoki said. "You shouldn't have forgotten the previous cat dance, right?"

"Hai, we have been practicing all along!" Fukuhara Ayano revealed a smile, still as cute as ever.

Not long after, the entire studio began to quiet down. Following Akimoto Yasushi's direction, after roughly going through the entire program process, the rehearsal officially began.

"Minasan, do you still remember the Wild Cat Group that amazed everyone before?"

"After experiencing a year of separation, the cute representative and the singing representative who went solo have reunited with the Cat's Eye Three Sisters!"

"First, let the members of the Wild Cat Group greet everyone!"

After the host's passionate speech, the music for the previously choreographed cat dance began to play. The three members of the Wild Cat Group stepped to the rhythm and walked onto the stage, starting to perform the cat dance that used to make people's hearts itch.

Although it was the first rehearsal and they weren't wearing the iconic cat ear headbands and cat outfits, the familiar dance moves, plus the iconic pose at the end and the "Meow" sound at the end, all seemed to bring people back to when the Wild Cat Group had just exploded in popularity.

"Hai, Arigato!" The host would usually tell some jokes at this time and interact with the guests; on one hand, it was to add interest to the program, and on the other, it was to give the studio some time to change scenes.

However, it was skipped during the rehearsal, and he went straight down the process. The content of "Evening Meow Meow" was very rich, with dance performances, interviews, jokes, and some sketches choreographed by Akimoto Yasushi, etc.

But today was the first episode, and the most important thing was to highlight the characteristics of the program, which were the dozen or so ordinary girl assistants selected from all over the country.

So it was put to the front directly!

"From the national applications, we have selected these kawaii girls as assistants for the program. Come, let's first get to know the members of the Kitten Club!"

The girls who had already undergone several days of training lined up and walked onto the stage, and also used the cat dance as the opening dance.

After the familiar music started, a group of girls began to perform the sexy and cute cat dance. The dance moves were not graceful, and they were not as sexy as the real Wild Cat Group, but they did look quite cute.

However, during the performance, Nagayama Naoki was frowning the whole time off-stage, not saying a word.

"What's wrong?" Sugiura Tai walked to the side and asked. "Naoki-san seems to have questions?"

"Mm... the cat dance, it seems a bit too sexy." Nagayama Naoki frowned and said. "It doesn't quite match the atmosphere of the Kitten Club."

"Is it because these girls can't express the sexy side?" Akimoto Yasushi also walked over and discussed with the two of them. "Perhaps it would be better if they wore the costumes?"

"I feel that the Kitten Club and the Wild Cat Group should be different. Underage kittens, no matter how much they want to express their sexy side, they can't achieve it." Nagayama Naoki said. "Members of the Kitten Club should have their own characteristics; they cannot develop toward the Wild Cat Group."

"Akimoto-san, Tai-san, the main focus of our 'Evening Meow Meow' program should be the Kitten Club."

"Mm..." Akimoto Yasushi and Sugiura Tai both began to think seriously.

While the three big shots were discussing below, the rehearsal on stage was still going on, but it was like a team without a coach, just going through the motions according to the script. Slowly, many eyes turned to the three people off-stage.

Nagayama Naoki was thinking, how could he make the Kitten Club more deeply rooted in people's hearts?

To make them have magic, so that people can't forget them once they see them! In his previous life, he vaguely remembered that this program was famous for a certain addictive song, it seemed to be called "Don't Take Off Someone's Sailor Suit" or something, but he hadn't heard it... an old music show from decades ago, he wouldn't specifically loop it to brainwash himself!

The two words "brainwashing loop" jumped out in Nagayama Naoki's mind, and then he associated it with the Wild Cat Group and the cat dance again, and a memory emerged.

An addictive song that was popular on short video platforms and TikTok, cute female streamers with different faces...

"Right, addictive brainwashing songs, related to cats, aren't there any!"

This time it was just a simple song, Nagayama Naoki's head just felt a bit dazed, and he said to Sugiura Tai who was thinking beside him, "Tai-san, do you have paper and a pen?"

"Eh?" Sugiura Tai was startled, looked around, and wanted to ask the staff for paper and a pen.

Just at this moment, Yoshimura Otomo stepped forward quickly, took out a large writing pad from his briefcase, and handed over a pen: "Naoki-san, here!"

"Eh? Otomo-san?" Nagayama Naoki was surprised, but the addictive song in his head was already looping. He immediately took the pen and started writing. "Arigato!"

Sugiura Tai looked suspiciously at Nagayama Naoki, who had found a spot to squat down and started burying his head in writing things, and then looked at Yoshimura Otomo: "Naoki-san, he is...?"

"Ah! My Naoki-san sometimes suddenly gets inspiration for songs! Because it's very sudden and he doesn't want to forget, he will ask people for paper and a pen to write it down!" Yoshimura Otomo's tone was filled with pride. "So those of us who are familiar with him will carry paper and a pen with us. This time it finally came in handy!"

"Eh?" Sugiura Tai and Akimoto Yasushi both looked at Yoshimura Otomo with disbelief.

You're not joking, right? You're saying Nagayama Naoki is composing a song right now? Wanting to compose and write lyrics on the spot?

How could there be such a person? It takes others a month to write a song, okay!

Akimoto Yasushi knew a little about composition. He didn't believe it and walked to Nagayama Naoki's side to squat down, looking toward the writing pad.

The name of a song had indeed been written on it! And he was already writing the musical score!!!

"We learn to meow together..." Akimoto Yasushi looked at the name of this song, and then saw the fully perfected musical score. He roared in shock in his heart:

"It's real! It's really written out!!!"

The strange actions of several people attracted the attention of people in the studio. Everyone was curious about what had happened between these people, for example, why was Akimoto-san kneeling while looking at Nagayama Naoki?

In just a few minutes, this addictive "We Learn to Meow Together" was composed. Nagayama Naoki breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and handed the writing pad to Sugiura Tai:

"Tai-san, please let the band try to play this song. The melody is very simple."

Then he looked at Akimoto Yasushi: "Akimoto-san, the lyrics are also quite simple, just let the members of the Kitten Club learn it."

"... Hai..." Sugiura Tai took the writing pad in shock, but still asked, "Naoki-san, did you really compose a song in just a few minutes?"

"Haha, I already had the idea when I was with the Wild Cat Group before, I just gathered it together at this time." Nagayama Naoki replied modestly. "It's all accumulation from before, not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning~"

Sugiura Tai looked suspiciously toward the band, letting them see if they could play it.

And Akimoto Yasushi also looked at Nagayama Naoki with eyes like looking at a god:

"Naoki-san, I've decided, from now on you are my idol!"

"..." Nagayama Naoki was speechless. You're not a beautiful girl, I don't want to have a fan like you!

After copying that musical score many times, the studio paused for a while. The band started learning the new musical score, and Akimoto Yasushi also took the lyrics to teach the girls of the Kitten Club!

Not long after, the light and addictive melody began to ring out in the studio, giving people a feeling of wanting to jump.

Then the girls' singing started:

"

Sore minna de, issho ni nyan nyan nyan nyan nyan

(We learn to meow together, meow meow meow meow meow)"

"Anata no mae de, nyan nyan nyan nyan nyan nyan nyan

(Act spoiled in front of you, ayo meow meow meow meow meow)

"

Listening to the addictive song from the future ringing in the studio of the Showa era,

Nagayama Naoki really felt a sense of confusion from the intersection of time and space. The video creators of the future wouldn't have thought that their song would be sung decades ago, right?

However, addictive songs are brainwashing everywhere,

Soon everyone started learning to meow meow meow,

The entire studio was immersed in this happy atmosphere of meowing.

Thanks to "deity frozen" for the idea, my action is fast, right? The idea was proposed at four o'clock, and it was written at six o'clock! Hahahaha~

End of chapter ===== CHAPTER 479 =====