Chapter 525

A biting cold wind blew through, making this city of steel and concrete feel even colder.

Occasionally, one or two snowflakes drifted down from the sky, adding a few plain-colored patterns to the snow-covered ground everywhere.

Yet, in such cold weather, the popularity of the streets in Tokyo became even more vibrant. Because it was the last week before the New Year, most students were already on vacation, and office workers were also starting their holidays one after another.

Tokyo had encountered a long-awaited snowfall before the New Year, so there were even more people going out to enjoy the snow and have fun.

Chiya Osaki, an office worker, dragged her boyfriend out for a stroll, but they didn't buy anything; they just wandered aimlessly on the street. If you don't waste such a wonderful time, how can you call it youth?

"The first snow of 1983 came a bit earlier than in previous years~"

Chiya Osaki held the arm of her boyfriend, Daihito Akimoto, talking while looking at the surrounding snow scene.

"Chiya-chan, the way you talk is just like singing..." A doting smile appeared on Daihito Akimoto's face. "Do you want to be a singer?"

"Since you said so, Daihito, I'll go participate in an audition!" "Great... I'll go cheer you on!"

A couple in the throes of passionate love were showing off their affection on the street, determined to feed all the single people on the whole street!

Just as Chiya Osaki was thinking about where to go for a stroll next, a moving singing voice suddenly reached her ears:

"

The first snow of this year (The first snow of this year)

We snuggle close together (We snuggle close together)

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

Happiness overflows (Overflowing with happiness)

"

The delicate lyrics instantly captured Chiya Osaki's heart; this was practically a portrait of her and her boyfriend:

"Whose... song is this?"

In the record store, Chiya Osaki and Daihito Akimoto looked together at Akina Mori's newly released song "Snow Flower," as if they were meeting this idol for the first time.

Chiya Osaki said, "I previously thought Akina Mori was just a teen idol, but I didn't expect... she could actually sing such a song... It's decided, from today on, she is my idol too!"

Daihito Akimoto scratched his head: "Chiya... isn't that a bit too hasty..."

"Not at all, look, she's also the lead in this movie! The image on the poster is so beautiful!" Chiya Osaki pointed to the movie poster next to them and said, "'Love Letter'... that movie adapted from the novel! It's a romance movie!"

"..." Daihito Akimoto looked at his girlfriend's expectant eyes and seemed to have understood what she meant. "Then, shall we go see this 'Love Letter' next?"

"Since you want to see it so much, Daihito-kun... then I'll reluctantly accompany you to watch it!" Chiya Osaki revealed a smile.

"..."

Daihito Akimoto shook his head helplessly, but seeing his girlfriend's bright smile, a warm current seemed to flow through his heart again.

"Anyway, I hope it's a sweet movie~"

Naoki Nagayama arrived at the Iwanami Hall by car. He still remembered that the last time he came, it was for the preview of "A Scene at the Sea."

"Nothing has changed here!" Naoki Nagayama said, looking at the entrance at the street corner.

"Isn't that normal? Since I started college, nothing has changed here." Ito Shuichi Yin Tang, who got out of the car with him, didn't think much of it and pointed to the poster on the wall. "At least they put up the movie poster for 'Love Letter,' didn't they?"

Naoki Nagayama had nothing to say; Iwanami Hall was just that quirky...

After passing through that elevator, they arrived at the lobby from the last preview, but this time there weren't as many audience members and other industry insiders participating in the preview.

A simple background wall, a small table placed in front, and then a pile of cameras and microphones waiting like tigers watching their prey.

Naoki Nagayama and Ito Shuichi Yin Tang took a detour to the backstage and found that Fusunori Mingxing was already there waiting with Akina Mori.

"Naoki-san, Ito Shuichi-san, you're here!" Fusunori Mingxing greeted them first.

Ito Shuichi Yin Tang walked over to shake hands: "Hi, this sudden media meet-and-greet must have delayed your schedule too."

"Yeah... the sudden release caught everyone off guard!"

Starting from yesterday afternoon, the suddenly inserted interviews and announcements caught everyone off guard. Fusunori Mingxing said this with a bit of resentment, specifically for Naoki Nagayama to hear, but when he turned his head, Naoki Nagayama had already walked over to his own artist to talk!

Naoki Nagayama walked to Akina's side, looking at her somewhat exhausted appearance, feeling a bit heartbroken:

"Akina, did you work very late yesterday?"

"About the same as usual..." Akina Mori shook her head and still revealed a smile. "I thought I wouldn't be able to see Naoki-san for a while, but I didn't expect to see you today!"

"It seems there are several more announcements later, we'll record them together." Naoki Nagayama said.

"Yeah..."

"Ahem!" Fusunori Mingxing's cough attracted the attention of the two. "Akina-chan, Naoki-san, you can get ready to go on stage... let's finish early, there's other work later."

Naoki Nagayama nodded and took the lead to walk at the very front, while Ito Shuichi Yin Tang, who was last, protected Akina Mori in the very middle.

As soon as they appeared, the clicking of the camera flashes never stopped. It wasn't until all three sat down in front of the table that it slowly quieted down.

"Today's media meet-and-greet for the creators of 'Love Letter' officially begins, media reporters can ask questions!" The manager, who was guest-hosting, went straight to the topic. In an instant, one hand after another was raised.

He randomly pointed to one... and heard this reporter holding the microphone ask:

"May I ask Mr. Naoki Nagayama, is the sudden release of 'Love Letter' this time a special plan? If so, what are the considerations?"

"This should be the question everyone is most concerned about~ Did it scare everyone to come so suddenly? Haha~" Naoki Nagayama laughed. "Of course this was planned... I had hinted before that it would be released during the first snow in Tokyo..."

"On one hand, it's to give everyone a surprise, on the other hand... because this movie has an indissoluble bond with snow, whether it's the main filming time or the theme song, it's firmly combined with the concept of snow, so I thought about releasing it at this point in time..."

Based on this question, Naoki Nagayama rambled on for a long time, making the waiting reporters a bit impatient. After the answer was finished, another reporter immediately grabbed the microphone:

"I would like to ask Ms. Akina Mori, as this is your first time acting in a movie, you played three different images, do you feel it was difficult? And what is it like to work with Mr. Naoki Nagayama?"

Akina Mori had already answered such questions many times, and she wasn't flustered at all upon hearing it: "It's a challenge, and also an opportunity... Mr. Naoki Nagayama is an actor with rich performance experience... he gave a lot of guidance... I'm very grateful..."

Just when Fusunori Mingxing wanted to change to another questioner, he didn't expect this reporter not to listen obediently, but instead picked up the microphone again: "Ms. Akina Mori, I have one more question!"

Fusunori Mingxing immediately wanted to maintain order: "This reporter friend, one person can only have one question, please follow the rules!"

"Sumimasen, that last one was a company question, this question of mine represents the thousands upon thousands of Akina-chan's fans who have watched the movie!"

That young reporter spoke righteously, and then loudly asked his question,

"Akina-chan, I saw a kissing scene in the movie! Did Naoki Nagayama steal your first kiss?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the scene instantly quieted down. Fusunori Mingxing seemed to be stunned, while the other reporters looked at the two on stage full of anticipation. Clearly, if it were said, whether it was the first kiss or not, this was a big gimmick!

Akina Mori's fair cheeks immediately started to turn red...

Naoki Nagayama was a bit speechless; these reporters were truly afraid the world wouldn't be in chaos... He picked up the microphone: "This reporter friend, Akina won't answer this question... As an actor, cooperating with the script to perform is work!"

"But, this is a question many fans are desperately wanting to know!" The young reporter looked at Naoki Nagayama, revealing a somewhat jealous look... He was one of Akina's loyal fans!

After seeing the character played by Naoki Nagayama kiss the heroine played by Akina Mori in the movie... although he was very immersed while watching, he always felt a sense of being NTR'd after coming back to his senses...

"Reporter-san... let's ask some professional questions!"

He signaled Fusunori Mingxing to quickly change to the next questioner.

However, the young reporter still struggled and said: "Sumimasen, please tell us! Akina-chan, no matter what the answer is..."

Fusunori Mingxing reached out to take the microphone, but that reporter dodged nimbly and still wanted to speak. The reporter group was in a mess, which was laughable to watch!

Akina Mori looked at the increasingly chaotic scene and understood that if she didn't reply, it wouldn't be able to continue...

"Actually, I can answer this question." Akina Mori steadied herself and revealed a professional smile. "Actually, that was my first kiss on screen."

"Then... off screen..." A simple inquiry came from among the reporters.

"Although it deviates from the theme of the meet-and-greet, it's nothing to tell everyone..." Akina Mori was much calmer than before. "That was when I was in the second year of junior high... At that time, a group of male classmates were playing very wildly, and as a result, they pushed me to the ground, and then a male classmate was also pushed, and then we bumped into each other..."

Although she was forcibly pretending to be calm, Akina Mori was still a bit shy when she finished speaking... "And then I immediately ran to the restroom to wash my mouth clean..."

The reporters off stage listened quietly. I don't know which reporter interjected: "That guy did it on purpose! I'm going to beat him up!"

Hearing this, the crowd off stage burst into laughter...

Next, under the strong direction of Fusunori Mingxing, the meet-and-greet went very smoothly, but the reporters' questions were all aimed at Naoki Nagayama and Akina Mori, such as how to invest emotions in the play, how they thought of filming in Otaru, what they wanted to express with 'Love Letter', why the theme song "Snow Flower" was sung by Akina Mori, recent scandals, etc.

They chatted for about half an hour, which just about satisfied the reporters' appetites.

"Does anyone else have any questions?" Fusunori Mingxing saw that the frequency of questions was starting to decrease and felt it should end. "Since that's the case..."

"Chotto matte!" Ito Shuichi Yin Tang, who had been sitting on the side, suddenly interjected. "Is it ending just like this?"

"Don't the reporters have any questions to ask me? Are there no scandals or anything to ask about?"

"Am I really that lacking in status?"

The people present looked at Ito Shuichi Yin Tang's surprised face and were also slightly embarrassed.

Next to him were the male and female leads who were in the limelight, the woman's popularity was exploding, and the man was the director...

There really wasn't anything they wanted to ask you, Ito Shuichi Yin Tang (who are you, and what are you doing here?)!

After a slight cold spell, a reporter who was very good at handling people raised his hand: "May I ask Director Yin Tang, why did you participate in the filming of 'Love Letter'? At that time, you should have been filming 'Ringu', right?"

"..."

So you're saying I'm not attending to my proper duties?

In the movie theater in Ikebukuro, on the wide movie screen, "Love Letter" was playing.

Starting from the sudden breath in the white snow, a journey about unrequited love, exploration, and letting go began.

Chiya Osaki held Daihito Akimoto next to her, snuggling together to watch Hiroko on the big screen, from the moment she sent out a letter, slowly learning about her deceased lover, that unrequited love hidden in the past.

Otaru in winter, clean and bright, didn't look like the world in reality. Hiroko met the girl who looked very much like her here—Itsuki Fujii...

"Wow..."

Seeing the shot of the male Itsuki Fujii leaning against the window in the memory, the girls in the screening hall all exclaimed!

Like the female Itsuki Fujii in the movie, they stared fixedly.

After hearing "Snow Flower" yesterday, Rinka Aoyagi and Yamashita Yumi Yamashita, who had each brought their boyfriends, were also covering their mouths at this time, looking at the image on the big screen with dazed eyes.

And the boyfriends next to them were curling their lips with disdain. It's just Naoki Nagayama, their girlfriends are all infatuated!

They didn't expect at all that when the movie just started, they were also captured by Akina Mori's beauty.

In the valley piled with thick snow, Hiroko couldn't suppress the emotions in her heart and shouted loudly:

"How—are—you? I—am—fine! How—are—you? I—am—fine! How—are—you? I—am—fine!"

As she shouted, tears flowed out, and Hiroko cried loudly, as if saying goodbye to the emotions of the past.

The girls in the movie theater had slightly red eyes at this time, and those with rich emotions had already cried out.

At the very end, female Itsuki received the last book "In Search of Lost Time" from her junior, then pulled out the library card and flipped it to the back... On it was drawn a sketch of the female Itsuki Fujii from her student days...

A touch of gentleness lingered in the hearts of the viewers for a long time. The green and restrained unrequited love of the young boy and girl was like a trace that wouldn't fade for a long time, remaining in people's minds...

After the movie finished playing, Rinka Aoyagi and Yamashita Yumi Yamashita gathered together, chattering about the plot in the movie,

"It was so handsome!" "It was like coming out of a dream!" "From now on, Naoki Nagayama is my idol!" "But he seems to be a playboy!" "So what, as long as he's handsome!" "That's true~"

The two boyfriends next to them looked at each other and smiled, looking helpless. What should they do at this time? Be jealous? That would be too tacky!

After watching this movie, the girls might have remembered the handsome boy from middle school; and the boys, naturally, would also recall the girl who was once as brilliant as summer flowers!

Daihito Akimoto was in a very melancholy mood...

Chiya Osaki noticed it and asked with some worry: "Daijoubu?"

"Ah, I just remembered something from middle school~" Daihito Akimoto said subconsciously, but immediately felt the atmosphere was wrong.

Chiya Osaki's expression was calm: "Oh? What happened to Daihito-kun in middle school?"

"Could it be that there was also a girl who sent a love letter? Are you still in contact? How about it, do you want to write another one to ask?"

Daihito Akimoto hurriedly explained: "No, no, we haven't been in contact for a long time~ Chiya-chan, the one I love now is you!"

"... Oh? If you say so, there really is such a person!" Chiya Osaki's expression felt like the weather outside. "Sure enough, men are all like this! Even with a new love, they can't forget the old one!"

"... No, Chiya-chan, listen to my sophistry... no, explanation! Listen to my explanation!"

"I won't listen, I won't listen..." Chiya Osaki walked out of the movie theater entrance, looked at the snow outside, and couldn't help shouting loudly,

"How—are—you? I—am—fine!"

The people entering and leaving the theater entrance were quiet for a while, when suddenly another voice shouted: "How—are—you? I—am—fine!"

Immediately after, as if they had agreed, many audience members who had watched the movie started to participate:

"How—are—you? I—am—fine~~~~"

Gradually, everyone who watched it today started:

"How—are—you? I—am—fine~~~~"

From this day on, a new urban legend was formed!

It is said that every year when it snows, a strange phenomenon occurs at the entrance of movie theaters in Tokyo.

Many couples, after walking out of the movie theater, will shout at the park opposite the theater:

"How—are—you? I—am—fine~~~~"

Director Kinji Fukasaku hadn't rested. Early in the morning, after learning about "Love Letter," he had been inquiring about news of this movie.

After calling Yoji Yamada, the other side also said they just learned about this matter and also mentioned the media meet-and-greet.

As far as he knew, in just one day, the movie "Love Letter" had already set off a frenzy in Tokyo.

Once people started watching "Love Letter" in the early stages, and major newspapers' reports and TV programs started discussing this movie, then it was certain that this movie would be the most important news hotspot for the New Year this year.

"Yamada-san, have you watched it? 'Love Letter'?" Kinji Fukasaku asked.

"... I haven't watched it yet..." Yoji Yamada replied in the microphone.

"Why? As a director, with such a movie released, shouldn't you go watch it as soon as possible?!" Kinji Fukasaku was a bit dissatisfied; this implicated him in not knowing how the movie was filmed!

"Kinji Fukasaku... I'm already over 70 years old..." Yoji Yamada was a bit angry. "This is a romance movie, do you want me to go watch it with that old woman at home?!"

"..." Kinji Fukasaku was choked; he really couldn't force this. "Since that's the case, I understand~"

After hanging up the phone, he thought about how to understand this movie. Even if he didn't sabotage it, he wanted to understand well what Naoki Nagayama had filmed it into.

As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

"How about I take the kids' mother to watch it?" Kinji Fukasaku thought subconsciously, but seeing Sanae Nakahara's figure walking over, he immediately stopped the thought. "I'd better go watch it with Keiko Matsuzaka some other day!"

Sanae Nakahara had no idea what her husband was thinking. She brought over a bowl of medicinal soup, her expression very kind, even with a smile, and said softly:

"Taro... ah no, Kinji-kun, it's time for medicine..."

For some reason, Kinji Fukasaku felt slightly uncomfortable and smelled the bowl of medicine: "What medicine is this?"

"This is a type of nourishing medicine in Kampo. Your body is weak, so I specially brewed it to nourish you..." Sanae Nakahara persuaded. "Drink it quickly, it won't be good if it gets cold."

Kinji Fukasaku looked left and right, and finally opened his mouth and drank it.

After all, this was specially brewed by the kids' mother! It was the wife who bore his children, the old couple who had been together for more than 30 years!

It was the woman who had been silently enduring behind his back even though he was always cheating on female artists and had constant sex scandals!

What could happen!

It's just...

"This medicinal soup is a bit bitter... but it feels like it has a bit of an almond taste?"

Sanae Nakahara's expression didn't change: "Yeah, there are almonds in the prescription... Good medicine is bitter to the taste, right~ It's normal~"