Chapter 579

Momoko Kikuchi, wearing a floral suspender dress, had her face shape elongated a bit under the modification of the makeup artist. In her sweet appearance, she added a touch of coldness.

The afternoon sunlight was gentle but not dazzling. The bright light shone on her fair cheeks. Her soft eyebrows were full of affection, her soft features were innocent and ignorant, and her white-red skin could even see a fine layer of fluff on her face, like a sweet peach glowing.

On the side of the small path near Musashino University, some shots of "April Story" were being filmed, but Momoko Kikuchi was very nervous.

Because before filming, Naoki Nagayama, who was the director, only said one sentence:

"Momoko-chan, this scene is female lead Uzuki Unno looking for that bookstore named Musashino-do... Because she doesn't know the way, she is asking for directions while riding a bicycle."

Then he let her perform in front of the camera...

"Momoko-chan, remember not to smile... Once you smile, it's too sweet, and there's no such shy feeling of being timid!"

He didn't explain the play at all, had no planning of the position, and had no specific command, actually handing everything over to her, a newcomer who was filming a movie for the first time.

So Momoko Kikuchi's heart was uneasy, but she could only say "Go for it" to herself, and then started the journey of searching like someone who had never been to Musashino University before... She was indeed here for the first time...

Behind the camera, watching Momoko Kikuchi cross the road, ride from here to there, and then ride back, and also ask the landlady of the shop on the road... the ignorance, anxiety, and nervousness on her face were very obvious...

"The performance is not bad~" Naoki Nagayama said to Ito Shuichi Itou beside him, "This girl has a lot of spirituality!"

Hearing this, Ito Shuichi Itou and Masataka Komori, who was controlling the camera, turned their heads to look at him... Momoko Kikuchi didn't perform at all, she really didn't know the way.

With the movement of the lens, the crew moved back and forth on this road, soon attracting the attention of a group of students... Sure enough, university students are very idle...

And when it came to the shot of resting and reading on a bench on the grass, the surroundings were already surrounded by a group of young people watching the fun...

However, before officially filming, Naoki Nagayama still had one thing to do.

"Masataka-kun, don't have pressure!" Naoki Nagayama patted his shoulder, "Isn't it just kissing in front of so many people! What's the big deal! Keep still, just be a background!"

Masataka Komori showed a bitter smile. Beside him, his girlfriend, Qingyuan, was already blushing and couldn't speak.

When Masataka Komori called to say he was coming to help film a shot before, he didn't say there were so many people watching!

Ito Shuichi Itou, who took over the camera, encouraged from the side: "It doesn't matter, just pretend that the people beside you don't exist! Masataka-kun, Rina-chan, this is all for film art!"

So in the eyes of everyone, this pair of young lovers hugged each other a bit awkwardly on a bench, and then started kissing affectionately...

"Oh oh oh oh~ oh oh oh oh~"

The young people watching exclaimed. Is this something that can be watched for free?!

"Momoko-chan, don't look!" Naoki Nagayama hurriedly reminded, "Get ready quickly!"

"Ah, hai!" After Momoko Kikuchi reacted, her face was shy, and she sat on the bench next to her.

"Everyone around, don't make any sound!" Naoki Nagayama made a paper horn with a newspaper and shouted towards the venue, "Action!"

In the lens, Momoko Kikuchi originally found this quiet bench and was thinking about reading the book in her hand. When she aimed her eyes, she discovered the "spring palace play" being staged on the neighboring seat... Her expression immediately became stiff, wanting to escape but not knowing what to do to not attract attention...

But when acting here, Naoki Nagayama suddenly shouted: "Cut!"

"Momoko-chan, don't look for the bicycle directly... walk away first, and then remember you have a bicycle, and go back to find it... only then can you express the feeling of nervousness..." Naoki Nagayama rarely explained the play, and by the way said to the couple beside him, "And Masataka-kun, there's no need for you to stop when I shout Cut..."

Following his "Action!" again, Momoko Kikuchi started to perform again...

This time, the nervousness and awkwardness of the semi-mature girl seeing the affectionate couple were immediately expressed.

With the distance of Momoko Kikuchi, the lens also slowly lengthened... The sky full of sunlight in the background was incomparably brilliant. This beautiful spring light!

"Cut!"

The crew members happily picked up Momoko Kikuchi, while Naoki Nagayama and Ito Shuichi Itou ran to the back of the camera to watch the shooting effect of the monitor screen.

However, because of the previous words, the couple in the field didn't stop, but instead kissed more enthusiastically...

Masataka Komori's breathing was slightly heavy. This was the first time he was intimate with his girlfriend in front of everyone, although it was a contribution to art...

However, feeling the eyes of the crowd gathered on him, tingling and numb, why did he feel even more excited?!

The light requirements for "April Story" were very strict, so filming took at most four or five hours a day. The seven-day filming could be said to be very tense!

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the shots filmed on the first day were considered finished. Naoki Nagayama told the crew to continue filming early tomorrow morning, and then walked towards bookstores, canteens, and teaching buildings to scout the venue for tomorrow in advance!

"Itou-san, are you coming tomorrow?" Naoki Nagayama asked his good friend.

"Of course, anyway, there's nothing to do..."

Ito Shuichi Itou was lying. There were actually many things in Tree Friend Film, but with the capable Tai Yoshimura sharing the burden, many things were pushed away by Ito Shuichi Itou.

"Sigh... Itou-san, just wait for Yoshimura-san to settle accounts with you at the end of the year!"

"Heh, isn't it just settling accounts~ Am I someone who lacks money?!" Ito Shuichi Itou was very disdainful, chatting and laughing with Naoki Nagayama while walking towards the destination.

On the small bookstore facade, a large poster was hung, which read "Naoki Prize-winning work Family Tree, new book on the market! Don't miss it!"

In the center of the store, new books were stacked into a pyramid shape. The top one was standing up, and the cover clearly wrote—"Tomorrow I Will Date with Yesterday's You"!

"Naoki-san, isn't this your new book!" Ito Shuichi Itou said in surprise, "It's already on the market!"

"Yeah... said it was on the market in early March. So fast." Naoki Nagayama was very busy these two days and didn't take care of this matter at all, "It looks like it's already spread to bookstores in Tokyo!"

"Haha, this 'April Story' just happens to promote Naoki-san's new book!" Ito Shuichi Itou was very happy for Naoki Nagayama, "The sales will definitely increase greatly!"

"I'm not worried about this." Naoki Nagayama signaled Ito Shuichi Itou to listen to the discussion beside him.

In this bookstore, two or three university students had already picked up the novel and read the beginning.

"Ting Shu's book! Hope it's not a sad love story this time!" This one was abused by "Koizora"!

"Looks very interesting... lovers on opposite timelines!" Another one couldn't wait to read it, regardless of the store manager staring behind the cash register.

While Naoki Nagayama and Ito Shuichi Itou were chatting, several people had already picked up this novel to check out!

"It's really popular!" Ito Shuichi Itou had to admit that Naoki Nagayama would have another bestseller novel.

"Haha, let's go and chat with the store manager and borrow this store to film some shots tomorrow."

Naoki Nagayama walked up and chatted with the store manager:

"Store manager-san!"

"Hai, welcome to Musashino-do, guest..." The store manager looked up and his first impression was "This person is so handsome, simply comparable to me," and then he reacted and whispered, the person in front of him was actually...

"Naoki Nagayama?!"

"Shh~" Naoki Nagayama made a gesture of keeping it secret, and then said, "Store manager-san, have something to discuss with you. Do you see if it's convenient?"

"Something?"

The store manager was a bit surprised, thinking he was asking about the sales of the new book. Personally going to the bookstore to investigate the situation is also something authors occasionally do, "Please say..."

"It's like this, we want to borrow this bookstore as a scene tomorrow to film a movie..."

Naoki Nagayama quickly told the story of filming "April Story" in the store manager's surprised expression. Hearing that it was just filming a few shots, the store manager agreed without hesitation, but had a request:

"Naoki-sensei, I wonder if you can give us an autograph?!"

He pointed to the Polaroid photos on the advertising wall behind the cash register and said: "Many authors who come to our Musashino-do will leave photos as souvenirs!"

It's similar to theme bars abroad. If a celebrity comes, they will definitely leave some photos, autographs, etc., on one hand to improve the style, and on the other hand, it's also a feature.

"Hai, no problem!"

Naoki Nagayama also agreed readily.

After the two left, a little girl buying a book asked the store manager curiously: "Store manager, who was the one who just went out? Didn't see clearly, but felt very handsome."

The store manager looked at the "Tomorrow I Will Date with Yesterday's You" in the little girl's hand and sighed:

"That's Naoki Nagayama, the author of this book... It's a pity. Originally you could have gotten an autograph!"

"Eh?!!!" The little girl was dumbfounded and hurriedly ran out to look, but couldn't see the two anymore...

"Kuso, didn't make it in time!"

"Don't be sad first..." Looking at the dejected little girl, the store manager comforted, "Naoki Nagayama will come to the bookstore to film a movie tomorrow! You can buy the book first and find him for an autograph when he comes!"

"Honto ni?!"

"Of course, if it weren't for seeing you are pitiful, I wouldn't tell you! Don't tell anyone else!"

"Mm mm!" The little girl nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.

After turning around Musashino University again and imagining all the scenes to be filmed tomorrow, Naoki Nagayama then separated from Ito Shuichi Itou and returned to Shanyingyuan.

In spring, the days are still short and the nights are long. When arriving at Shanyingyuan, the hazy night was like thin gauze covering the outline of the small western-style building, which looked dreamy under the embellishment of the courtyard landscape lights.

Naoki Nagayama parked the car in the garage and comforted Eitaro who rushed up:

"Alright alright, didn't take a walk in the morning, taking you for a night run at night is fine, right!"

"During this period, maybe I will have to go for a night run. I am busier in the morning..."

The cherry blossoms in the courtyard bloomed quite a bit after a day. The pink and white flowers already occupied about 30% of the whole, and the whole cherry tree became "plump."

Looking at the few petals falling on the dry landscape, Naoki Nagayama sighed: "Probably in two days I can see the scene of cherry blossoms flying."

"The cherry blossoms in Musashino might be slightly later... but filming still needs to be hurried!"

There were fewer people on the night run at night, and the door of the Aoyama small shop was also closed. Old man Aoyama seemed to have gone back long ago.

That's good... otherwise I would have to explain the situation of Chikako Aoyama again.

After the second album was sold at the beginning of the year, Chikako Aoyama, like her senior, started promotional activities in major cities all over Japan. Currently, the song "Arigato (Thank You)" is still very popular and has been occupying the top ten in the Oricon charts.

In contrast, Chikako Aoyama is busy... almost on the road and in activities every day, and has lost a lot of weight now... making old man Aoyama very distressed.

This is the fate of early idols!

Naoki Nagayama thought of "Evening Meow Meow" and the Cat Club again. From the newcomers this year, it can be seen that the supply of idols is already too much, and the idol industry has reached a state of saturation!

Any change might cause the ice age of the idol industry to arrive in advance!

"But what does this have to do with me, a movie director!" Naoki Nagayama didn't worry about this. At worst, he would turn all these idols into actors when the time comes!

"Right, Akina... will Akina be affected?"

Thinking of his little girlfriend, Naoki Nagayama quickened his pace back.

After returning to Shanyingyuan, he first made a call to the pager and then waited for a reply. He had an appointment with Akina Nakamori. International long-distance calls are too expensive, so naturally, he called from here.

After Naoki Nagayama finished dinner and took a shower, the pager beeped...

"Moshi Moshi Moshi Moshi, Akina?" Naoki Nagayama dialed the international long-distance call.

"Ah, Naoki-san!" The voice in the receiver was still full of energy, "Have you been waiting for a long time?"

"Anyway, I'm at home..." Naoki Nagayama smiled, "Is Akina still filming very late today?"

"Hmm, it's already reached the final stage!" Akina, far away in Guandao, was very happy, "It will be almost all filmed tomorrow... But there is still a connection for 'The Best Ten' at night, so I have to wait until the day after tomorrow to set off and come back!"

Hearing that his girlfriend was coming back, Naoki Nagayama was of course very happy, but also a bit strange:

"Didn't you rest in Guandao this time? Play around?"

"After going back, it's the promotion of 'South Wind'..." Akina Nakamori said, "Because 'North Wing' has been released for a long time, plus the production of the album delayed time, so the agency wants to start promotion."

"'South Wind'?"

Naoki Nagayama remembered this tropical-style song. From this song on, Akina Nakamori put forward more opinions on song selection, dance, clothing, styling, etc.

"Hai! Very enthusiastic song!" Akina was also very confident in this song.

On the phone, Naoki Nagayama didn't want to talk about serious topics like the trend of the idol industry, but just chatted about the daily life during the recording process, and also said that he had already started filming "April Story" here.

"Naoki-san's 'April Story', it will be released in April, right?" Akina Nakamori asked non-stop, "How is the filming? Is it in time?"

"Just started. Although it's a bit urgent, after all, it's a movie with a shorter duration... it should be no problem."

"Is that so~" Akina asked another question, "Then how is the lead actress?"

"..." Naoki Nagayama seemed to smell vinegar, "Very beautiful~"

"Eh~~~" The tone on the receiver side was elongated.

"But not as good-looking as Akina!" As a potential sea king, this awareness is still there!

"Hmph!"

Akina Nakamori in the Guandao hotel was lying on the bed. She didn't say anything, but her raised calves were already swinging lightly!

"Akina, does Ken-On have any plans for you to continue filming movies this year?" Naoki Nagayama asked.

"Movies... seems to be many projects to choose from..."

Akina Nakamori heard Fusunori Akina say that ever since she won the Best Newcomer Award, many directors and producers had extended olive branches.

At this time, Naoki Nagayama thought of the situation in his previous life, the unscrupulous means of Johnny's to promote its idols, and hurriedly said:

"Akina... if there is no suitable script, don't take the play. This point must be emphasized to the agency... The agency might consider some revenue and let the artists under it take many movies, but this is very bad for the artist's career."

"If you can't judge the quality of the script, you can show it to me first..."

To Akina Nakamori, this was her boyfriend caring about her future development. You know, her boyfriend is a well-known big director who has won the Best Director and Best Film awards at Japan's two major film awards...

So at this time, her heart felt like it had eaten honey: "Hai, I understand! I will let Fusunori-san explain it to the agency!"

However, Naoki Nagayama was still a bit worried:

"If the agency puts pressure on you, you just say that I am planning a project here and will invite Akina to star!"

"Eh? Really?!!!" Akina Nakamori happily turned over and sat up, "Naoki-san has a new project? Can we film together again?!!"

Akina Nakamori wasn't happy because she was going to star in a movie, but because if there was a new project, she could act with her boyfriend again!

The time to be together would increase again!

"Hmm, it's still in the preparation stage."

Since it was said to this point, Naoki Nagayama naturally wouldn't say it was a temporary idea. Anyway, he had the script here!

"So looking forward to it!" The happy tone in the receiver could be felt even here.

Akina Nakamori was chattering on the phone about the possible schedule for this year, the time to return to Tokyo, etc., as if this project was about to start filming in the next moment.

And Naoki Nagayama was seriously starting to think about what he should film with Akina this year?!

"Love Generation" or "Tokyo Love Story"?