Chapter 62

The Nakamori family went off to celebrate,

and Naoki Nagayama certainly couldn't follow them,

but he was certainly very happy; after all, little Chubby Akina was finally taking a key step,

and the future diva of a thousand faces no longer seemed so far away.

Recalling Akina Nakamori in her peak period in his mind, as well as that lonely, thin figure later on,

Naoki Nagayama looked at the back of the chubby Akina's family celebrating,

hoping that in the future, they could always be this happy!

Leaving the television station, it wasn't even noon yet,

and the filming efficiency was indeed quite high.

Naoki Nagayama, as the producer of *Tales of the Bizarre*, had been absent for several days,

so the slightly guilty producer chose to go to the set first to see if he could help with anything, and incidentally mooch a bento from the set.

The studio for Shuichi Ido had become the dedicated venue for *Tales of the Bizarre*.

After driving there, Naoki Nagayama discovered that the studio had undergone a major renovation over the past few days,

with a large oval outer shell built outside, and the inside completely decorated to look like the interior of an airplane cabin.

It looked like they were filming *Air Doctor*.

Seeing the realistic airplane cabin inside, built from scratch within a few days,

sometimes you have to admire the sets of early television,

where, in an era without special effects, the realistic scenes simply made people feel immersed,

and they didn't lose out at all compared to the post-production effects of the future that claimed to cost hundreds of millions.

Director Shuichi Ido was in the "airplane cabin" giving acting instructions to a large group of actors. This scene involved many actors, which really tested the director's skills.

But looking at his flashy attire, it seemed he was also playing a role in the play.

The lead actor was a young actor he didn't recognize, a bit handsome, but probably not famous; otherwise, he wouldn't have come to this not-yet-famous drama.

It was a pity; the original lead was Shun Oguri, but he hadn't been born yet.

The girl acting opposite him was quite pretty, but she looked a bit like a night-club worker—he didn't really invite a young lady who cosplayed as a nurse at a club, did he!

But given Shuichi Ido's nature, this possibility was quite high.

The set was busy, so Naoki Nagayama certainly couldn't go in and disturb them with questions, so he greeted the staff and ran into the backstage office to read the newspaper and rest, while waiting for lunch.

Before he finished reading the newspaper on the table, Shuichi Ido pushed the door open and entered:

"Naoki-san, don't be lazy here! You have to be responsible for the story you wrote until the end!"

"???" Naoki Nagayama was puzzled, "Shuichi-san's skills as a director are clearly much stronger than mine?"

"Kuso... I really don't want to refute that." Shuichi Ido looked like he had been dealt a blow,

"But the feeling of filming it is like a group of people faking their identities to gain fame and praise! Isn't that a very hypocritical thing!"

"Eh? The script should have said it was a coincidence, right?"

"But if it isn't, it isn't! Even if you're misunderstood, you should explain the truth directly!

This is about saving lives; what do these people take human life for?"

Naoki Nagayama hadn't thought of this point.

In the Showa era of 1981, although the chivalrous spirit had declined, there wasn't the "entertainment-to-death" atmosphere of the 21st century,

and people still valued human life, righteousness, and cause and effect quite highly.

The previous stories either involved fantasy or leaned toward thrillers, so he hadn't paid much attention to these aspects,

but this story leaned toward mocking reality and reflecting society, so he had to consider the connection between the plot and the spirit of the times.

Memories of the future also had to match this era.

Naoki Nagayama thought for a while,

"I see."

The original ending in the script was a happy one, and they saved people,

but it didn't match the current ideological atmosphere of the people...

"Shuichi-san, if that's the case, why not change the ending to the plane crashing?"

"Ah?"

"Originally, I thought a flight attendant could successfully land the plane, but thinking about it, that's actually impossible~

It's such a high-difficulty, professional job."

"Then the original happy ending is just gone?"

"Hahaha, before the crash, of course, it has to be happy!

The doctor saves people, the flight attendant defeats the bad guy, the anesthesiologist fulfills their wish, the nurse isn't discovered...

It needs highlights, brightness, and everyone needs to be smiling.

But at the end, the scene has to shift, and the plane crashes at the airport!

In the end, let the audience get the idea that all deception, hypocrisy, and acting are in vain!

Doesn't this plot direction feel very impactful!"

Shuichi Ido thought about it according to Naoki Nagayama's description and couldn't help but shudder:

"Naoki-kun, are you a devil? The audience will hate you to death~"

This way of holding the audience's psychology in his hands was too much like a devil playing with people's hearts; at this moment, Naoki Nagayama was simply like an evil villain boss.

"What are you saying, Shuichi-san!" Naoki Nagayama retorted, "Isn't the ending of *Grandma* also a big reversal like that?"

"That's different; that twist makes people feel horrified and surprised,

but this kind of reversal today is completely playing with the audience's emotions~

First, it stirs up the audience's false and beautiful expectations,

then breaks them to show the true reality!

There's also a bit of black humor and karmic retribution, which will make people think."

Naoki Nagayama smiled: "Karmic retribution?

Hahaha, then why not add a bald actor and have him pretend to be a monk!"

"Naoki-san is indeed a devil! To dare to mess with the Buddha..."

Although he said that, Shuichi Ido still quickly went to find a character actor.

What a guy who says one thing but does another!

Although it was changed like this, the core of the whole plot—that "everyone is playing a role in society"—hadn't changed,

and the ending was even more meaningful.

It should still be very popular~

Because of the temporarily added plot and characters, lunch was delayed for a while,

but Naoki Nagayama finally got to eat the bento from the set.

When getting the bento, the uncle handing them out certainly didn't dare to throw the bento on the ground, and he didn't blame Naoki Nagayama for delaying the whole crew's meal, nor did he sing, "You are a piece of shit, your life is cheaper than an ant..."

During the afternoon filming, Naoki Nagayama honestly did the producer's work. Because he had ready-made memories of the future, he accelerated the filming progress of the crew by more than a notch.

Shuichi Ido said during a break: "Naoki-san is quite talented in the film industry! Why not come and learn to direct movies with me~"

Naoki Nagayama didn't refuse. He already had the memories of *Hana Yori Dango*, and there might be more in the future, so the opportunities to come into contact with the film industry would definitely increase.

But he couldn't say that directly to a good friend; otherwise, where would his face be?

"In that case, Shuichi-san, for the sake of your sincere invitation, I'll reluctantly agree to learn from you!"

Shuichi Ido looked helpless: "Kuso, you make it sound like I'm begging you! Konoyaro!"

But having said that, it meant he had agreed to teach him.

Men are just so awkward~