Chapter 511

"Naoki-san, get up first~"

The coquettish tone came from his young girlfriend, who was clinging to the quilt to cover her body beside him. Her cute fingers gripped the edge of the thick quilt, her bare, fragrant shoulders exposed to the air, and her delicate collarbones were faintly visible. Her flushed cheeks were firm and smooth; one look told you the quality of her sleep last night had been excellent.

"Why doesn't Akina get up first~" Naoki Nagayama teased, lying on his side, "Clearly, you're closer to the clothes on your side!"

"No way, Naoki-san get up first!"

Akina Nakamori's words were full of childish stubbornness. The bright daylight magnified the shyness in the young girl's heart, and she looked at her detestable boyfriend with innocent eyes. He clearly knew she wasn't wearing anything under the quilt! And he was still looking!

"No!"

The two of them bickered in bed like children, neither willing to be the first to lift the quilt, to the point that even Eitaro couldn't bear to watch anymore!

The heavy, big dog ran into the bedroom. Now nearly a meter tall at the shoulder, Eitaro placed his front paws directly onto the head of the bed, intent on giving his master a passionate, slobbery face-washing!

"Hold on!" Naoki Nagayama couldn't take it, reaching out to block the dog's affection, and sat up himself. "Alright, I'm up, Eitaro, you can stand down!"

But this silly dog didn't know what it meant to stop while ahead; he continued to pace around the bed, his short, thick tail wagging non-stop, occasionally hitting the foot of the bed or the cabinet.

Naoki Nagayama had to brave the chilly early morning air, circling the bed to find his clothes to put on. During this time, Akina, still in bed, stared unblinkingly at her boyfriend's well-defined physique, her face turning even redder~

After putting on his clothes, Naoki Nagayama tidied up the clothes scattered on the chair and carpet and set them aside.

Then, he glanced at his young girlfriend, who was still staring at him, and shook his head.

"As expected, Akina is the lewder one~"

Under the morning glow, the entire city was slowly regaining its vitality.

After a simple wash, Naoki Nagayama told Akina, and then took Eitaro out for his routine morning run.

Meanwhile, Akina Nakamori, left behind at Shanyingyuan, slowly put on her clothes and got up.

Spare toiletries had already been placed in the bathroom. After using them, she put the new toothbrush and cup next to Naoki Nagayama's, and hung their matching towels side-by-side. Suddenly, she felt that this room had her own scent.

Once up, Akina carefully tidied the bedding in the bedroom, but the drawer of the nightstand piqued her interest. It was said that those single men would hide adult magazines or something in their bedrooms.

Looking around guiltily, Akina pulled open the drawer, and then her expression turned strange.

"Eww~~~"

Inside were actually condoms.

Walking down from the second floor, the weak morning light made the dark-toned living room seem somewhat cold. She could see the pristine dry landscape garden in the courtyard, and the cherry blossom tree, already withered and brown in winter, gave people a sense of lonely Zen.

Opening the glass door and walking out, the cool, fresh air rushed over. It was a bit cold, but her mood became even more refreshed.

Akina Nakamori breathed in the fresh morning air deeply, but suddenly felt a furry object brush past her feet.

Looking down, it was the chubby Miaotaro, stepping with a not-very-qualified cat-walk to a sunny spot on the corridor to lie down. Akina Nakamori seemed to hear this guy let out a sigh-like "Meow~~"

"Miaotaro, Naoki-san only took Eitaro out for a run~ He left you behind~"

Akina Nakamori squatted beside the orange cat and petted it; its fleshy belly showed that this big orange cat was very well-nourished.

The big orange cat didn't refuse Akina's petting because they had already met in Otaru; she was an accepted two-legged beast, only one step away from being a poop-scooper.

Regarding the two-legged beast's teasing, Miaotaro was disdainful, its very gaze full of contempt. "Meow~ Meow~ Meow~ (How could a cat like running around foolishly? Isn't it better to just lie down?)"

"I'm back~"

By the time Naoki Nagayama returned, Akina had already cooked breakfast and set it on the dining table like a virtuous little wife.

"Welcome back~"

Naoki Nagayama felt a bit dazed when he heard this reply, because after living in Shanyingyuan for so long, it seemed to be the first time someone had replied like this when he returned. Indeed, only with someone there does it feel like a home!

"Akina is quite capable~" Putting down the newspaper and looking at the breakfast on the table, Naoki Nagayama didn't skimp on praise, even though it was just white rice.

"Does Naoki-san go for a morning run every day?"

"Yeah, in order to have a healthier body."

To prevent the lumbar muscle strain, sciatica, nearsightedness, big belly, and cervical spondylosis he had finally managed to shake off from finding him again... This was a benefit he only got after living a second life, okay?

The two chatted about today's arrangements while eating.

"The morning papers still have a lot of our scandals~" Naoki Nagayama flipped through the newspaper. "They've rearranged all kinds of pictures again. There's even one saying Akina was driving without a license!"

"Haha, I'm going to get my driver's license!" Akina had already asked her agency to arrange driving school. "Then I can drive myself."

"Then you'll have to dodge the media and fans yourself~"

"Daijoubu, Akina-sama's driving skills will definitely be very good!"

"Today we are going to the place where we record the record, in Shin-Okachimachi, a recording studio called Shin-On Studio." Naoki Nagayama crunched on pickled radish. "The previous records of Shuyou Film were all recorded there. By the way, Akina, you've memorized the lyrics to 'Snow Flower', right?"

"Of course, but when recording, I still have to look at the sheet music to make adjustments." Although Akina Nakamori was very confident in her musical sense, she still had to be cautious in front of professional equipment.

"Hmm, the notification was a bit rushed, I don't know if they received the score." Naoki Nagayama frowned. "Better bring a copy."

As they talked, they chatted about the arrangements for the end of the year.

"Naoki-san is going back to Shizuoka, right?"

"Yeah, this year I should only go back at the beginning of the New Year. After all, my sister-in-law and little nephew are at home, and the house is limited."

Because his eldest brother's new house hadn't been built yet, his father and mother's old house seemed a bit crowded, so Naoki Nagayama didn't want to stay at home for too long.

"What about Akina? Going back to Kiyose?"

"I should also go back for a day during the New Year, because of the Red and White Song Assembly at the end of the year, so I shouldn't have time before the New Year!"

Akina Nakamori felt a bit disappointed, but she calmed down and said to Naoki Nagayama with a smile,

"Didn't Naoki-san say before that you were also going to participate in the Red and White Song Assembly? Then we can spend the New Year together!"

"Seems so." Naoki Nagayama also reacted. "But Akina will be on stage, and I can only be in the audience~"

Akina smiled: "Then I will say 'Happy New Year' to Naoki-san on stage!"

"Then I'll stand up and wave at you!"

"Haha~"

After breakfast, having prepared other things, Naoki Nagayama and Akina came to the study.

Akina Nakamori discovered that in addition to the previous piano, desk, and bookshelf, there was suddenly something like a drawing table in the study.

Looking at the park landscape line draft on the white paper, the young girlfriend was very surprised: "Has Naoki-san started learning sketching? Where is this?"

"Ah, that." Naoki Nagayama was rummaging for things in the desk drawer. "That's Shinjuku Gyoen. After visiting it before, I felt the scenery was very good... so I wanted to try and see if I could draw it down."

In reality, he was recalling the animated film "The Garden of Words" in his head. If he didn't draw it out, he always felt some images were flickering in his mind.

"Thinking of it and then doing it... truly worthy of Naoki-san." Akina, who was very good at drawing, studied it next to the line draft. "Such segmentation, such composition... Naoki-san, have you really never studied art?"

"Just drawing casually."

Naoki Nagayama found the sheet music for "Snow Flower". "Found it!"

Akina's attention turned back, seeing the manuscript paper taken out of the drawer. "Is this the original version?"

"Yeah." This score was composed last winter.

"Isn't it said that the songs created by Naoki-san are all written in notebooks?" Akina's eyes were filled with smiles. "I thought Naoki-san would hoard a lot of notebooks at home~"

"Who said that?" Naoki Nagayama's expression was very strange.

"Ever since the improvisation at Fuji TV last time, such stories have spread." Akina leaned against the chair and looked at the somewhat wrinkled manuscript paper. "I also heard that people at Shuyou Film are thinking about fighting for Naoki-san's notebooks to collect as treasures!"

"... Who made up this rumor?" Naoki Nagayama was between laughter and tears. "I just find a notebook to write on when I have sudden inspiration."

"So you're saying there really is a legendary notebook that records songs destined to explode in popularity?"

"... It's getting more and more outrageous!"

Akina Nakamori glanced at her boyfriend and acted coquettishly: "When can Naoki-san give me a notebook like that?"

"..." Facing his young girlfriend's suspicion, Naoki Nagayama pulled open the drawer and flipped through it casually. "Look, they are all written on manuscript paper, no notebooks!"

Akina Nakamori looked at the stacks of manuscript paper in the drawer and faintly saw words like "The Garden of Words", "Rain", "Tokyo Love Story", "Sudden Love", etc.

"Are these all songs created by Naoki-san?" Akina looked in surprise.

"There are also some unreleased scripts."

"Eh?!!" Akina Nakamori was so surprised she covered her mouth. "If a thief came to Naoki-san's study and stole these treasures, wouldn't they be able to become a rising star in the entertainment industry?!"

"..." Sometimes Naoki Nagayama was also surprised by his girlfriend's imagination.

"Akina, get this straight... The real treasure is me, okay!" Naoki Nagayama hugged Akina's slender waist. "And hasn't this treasure already been stolen by Akina?!"

Naoki Nagayama's words were like mead, sweet and intoxicating. Akina Nakamori only felt shyness and sweetness mix into a sweet and sour breath in her heart, which rushed to her head, and she couldn't help the smile at the corners of her mouth.

"Naoki-san's mouth is so sweet... How many girls have you deceived..." Putting down the manuscript paper, Akina pinched Naoki Nagayama's cheeks with both hands, as if she had evolved from a sweet girl into a mature woman, and asked both happily and angrily.

"Only one~ I promise~"

Naoki Nagayama hugged his girlfriend's waist, tilted his head, and kissed her.

And as if she were born knowing how, Akina also wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's head~

When they arrived at the Shin-Okachimachi recording studio, it was exactly 9 o'clock, and Onodera Shin of Shin-On Studio was already waiting.

"Naoki-san!"

"Onodera-kun, thank you for your hard work~" Naoki Nagayama helped introduce, "This is Akina Nakamori, who is here to record a record today."

"Nice to meet you, I am Akina Nakamori/Onodera Shin." The two bowed and greeted each other, and that counted as knowing each other.

"Naoki-san, the recording studio is ready, please come with me." Although Onodera Shin was a bit curious about why Akina Nakamori came with his boss, as a dutiful subordinate, he didn't gossip.

After going to the second floor, Naoki Nagayama let Akina Nakamori go to another room to prepare first, warming up her voice and stretching, and then he and Onodera Shin tested the equipment together.

Because they came quite suddenly, this recording didn't invite a band to record the accompaniment in advance. The vocals and music had to be recorded together, so there was a piano in the recording studio.

Naoki Nagayama first tested the sound. After all, they were all adjusted by professional tuners, so of course, it was very good. However, there would be a mix of other instruments later, and at that time, they would definitely have to invite a professional band to record it again.

After roughly trying it out, Akina also walked in: "Naoki-san, I'm ready~"

"Good~" Naoki Nagayama sat on the piano bench. This piano piece was naturally his own work. "Then let's sing it once."

"Hai~"

The soft piano melody rang out in the recording studio, like snowflakes falling one by one, and as the snow fell heavier, the gentle human voice joined in:

"

Stretching shadows lined up on the pavement (Stretching shadows lined up on the pavement)

Walking with you in the twilight (Walking with you in the twilight)

The dancing snow flowers (The dancing snow flowers)

Outside the window all the time (Outside the window all the time)

Without knowing when it will stop (Without knowing when it will stop)

Dyeing our streets white (Dyeing our streets white)

This year's first snow flower (This year's first snow flower)

We huddle together (We huddle together)

In this moment of gazing (In this moment of gazing)

Happiness overflows (Happiness overflows)

It's not about being spoiled or weak (It's not about being spoiled or weak)

I just want to be with you forever (I just want to be with you forever)

Just like this (Just like this)

The person singing and the person playing in the recording studio were just a couple of lovers.

This winter love song sung from Akina's throat was full of love, really fitting the artistic conception of the song.

Onodera Shin outside the recording studio listened quietly to the song coming from the speakers, feeling a warm emotion echoing in his heart. Under such a mood, the cold of winter didn't seem to count for much anymore.

After singing the song, Naoki Nagayama and Akina both felt very satisfied. If it weren't a rehearsal, maybe this version could be recorded directly!

"Akina, you performed very well!" Naoki Nagayama didn't skimp on praise.

"Naoki-san's piano playing was also very good!" Akina also had a smile on her face.

Onodera Shin outside the big glass inexplicably had a feeling of fullness, like the feeling of a puppy at home eating too much? After all, it was a love song.

This feeling should be the lingering breath after just singing, otherwise how to explain it? Could it be that Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori were really in love like the newspapers said? What a joke!

"However, this recording is on one hand to be used as the original soundtrack in the movie, and on the other hand to be used as a new record. So we need to record two different versions."

After entering the role of a musician, Naoki Nagayama began to explain the requirements for recording,

"The version in the movie... because of the overall somewhat sad atmosphere, Akina's voice needs to be a bit low and mournful, and I will also cooperate with deeper emotions."

"And the version for the record can be a bit clearer, and Akina's sweet falsetto can also be added..."

"If you want to describe it, one is the love of an experienced adult, and the other is a love that leans more towards young people."

Akina Nakamori understood somewhat: "Hmm... adult love, what is it..."

Speaking of young love, Akina could understand it a bit better, after all, she was experiencing it now... but the love of an experienced adult was a bit difficult~

Naoki Nagayama saw his girlfriend's hesitation and hurriedly guided her:

"Akina, let's record the young version of 'Snow Flower' first. As for the adult version..."

"After recording a few more times, when I'm tired of playing and you're tired of singing, with a faint fatigue but still not changing the yearning for love, that feeling is about right!"

Naoki Nagayama lightly stated the secret to how to sing adult love.

"..." Akina was silent.

Naoki-san, do you want to see what you are saying?!

So for you, adult love is...

"Tired, exhausted, but still want it", right?

Onodera Shin in the recording studio felt that Naoki Nagayama was a bit strange today.

After all, Naoki Nagayama had recorded quite a few songs in this recording studio. Although the method of getting singers into the state was a bit strange, they all eventually completed the song recording perfectly.

So this method of Akina Nakamori recording multiple times until she was tired, although a bit out of the ordinary, was not unacceptable.

However, another point was very strange.

In previous formal recordings, Naoki Nagayama's expression was very serious, as if there was a very accurate judgment standard in his mind. Even if the singer's singing was a little bit unqualified, he would point it out directly.

That state of expressionless modification and constant demands was very oppressive, which was why he was called the "Recording Studio Tyrant" by those who had participated in the recording.

"One more time." also became a nightmare for several singers during recording.

And today...

Naoki-san, what's with the smile on your face?

Why do you still joke when the recording isn't good?

Why is your voice so soft when making requests?

Can you take a break in the middle?

Are you actually serving tea and water?

Naoki-san,

You're not right!!!

And here, Naoki Nagayama brought Akina to the lounge next door, served hot tea, and said: "Akina, don't worry, this sense of fatigue is not something you can express just by wanting to. If you force your voice down, it's more of a sense of power.

After singing a few more times, it will appear naturally."

"But... if I sing too much, my throat will be hoarse!" Akina sipped the tea, her brows furrowed.

"Please rest assured about this, I will lengthen the recording interval!" Naoki Nagayama said, "Anyway, the young version has already been recorded, and the whole day will focus on the adult version of 'Snow Flower' recording."

"In the middle, we can take a break, have lunch, go out for a stroll..." Naoki Nagayama said, "Anyway, Ueno Park is right next door, and Senso-ji Temple is also nearby..."

"Ueno Park..." Akina Nakamori's gaze became softer and softer. "That place~"

That was the place where Naoki Nagayama confessed!!

"Yeah~" Naoki Nagayama also smiled. "Does Akina want to go see it again? The scenery during the day is different from the night~"

"Okay~"

The two of them told Onodera Shin and went out. The huge recording studio was instantly left with only the poor tuner!

"Take a short break... and record in the afternoon?"

"Looking for inspiration?!"

"Scenery sketching?"

"You two are clearly going on a date!!!"

After a morning of observation, Onodera Shin had basically confirmed that the relationship between his boss and Akina Nakamori was definitely problematic!!!

While tidying up the equipment, he couldn't help but mutter:

"Not to mention being fed dog food all morning, you actually want me to wait here?!!"

"Wait for what, another meal of dog food in the afternoon?!"

"What do you take me for? Eitaro?!"

"Eh? Who is Eitaro?!"