Chapter 628: Takeshi Kitano! Get!

It rained for two consecutive days, slowly getting a bit smaller, but according to custom, it would be intermittent plum rain for a period of time afterward.

Fortunately, the Cherry Blossom Courtyard had a dryer, so there was no need to suffer the pain of underwear not drying~

Since they had already made an appointment yesterday, Naoki Nagayama went to the studio in the morning... and by the way, brought the movie script for *Kikujiro*.

Arriving at the studio office, Fang Cun Dayou gave a piece of good news first:

"Naoki-san, I've already made an appointment with the people from TV Asahi. Tomorrow at noon, let's go to a kaiseki restaurant to have a chat."

"Tomorrow?"

"What's wrong? Does Naoki-san have arrangements?" Fang Cun Dayou asked.

"Tomorrow night, Xiu-san's side is going to hold a wrap party."

After the crew finished work yesterday, Yin Tangxiu told everyone about this, and Naoki Nagayama happened to be there, so he agreed directly.

Fang Cun Dayou laughed: "It just so happens that one is at noon and one is at night, it doesn't delay anything."

Naoki Nagayama was speechless. Is this a question of whether it delays anything?

Drinking at noon, and drinking at night... Naoki Nagayama, who participated in two drinking parties, couldn't avoid being urged to drink... drinking less wouldn't work...

It seems that the East Asian region has such customs, where everything must be discussed at the drinking table...

"Fortunately, I'm still young..." Naoki Nagayama could only mumble this.

Naoki Nagayama still attached great importance to this cooperation, so he looked at the proposal for *Music Station* (the final, absolutely-no-changes version) again, making some notes while reading. Although he said he absolutely wouldn't change it, if TV Asahi had opinions... he still had to bow to society...

After waiting for a while, Xing Xing Jiahua at the front desk knocked on the office door and came in:

"Naoki-san, there are visitors from Ota Production Agency looking for you, saying they made an appointment yesterday. I settled them in the conference room."

"Ah, they're here~" Naoki Nagayama nodded. "Hua-chan, please help entertain them, I'll be there right away."

After Xing Xing Jiahua left, Naoki Nagayama tidied up the desktop and said to Fang Cun Dayou: "Dayou-san, do you want to go see them together?"

Fang Cun Dayou, who was buried at the desk, didn't even lift his head:

"If it were Xiu-san, I should go see him, but I'll pass."

Because Yin Tangxiu was the person in charge of film production, it was natural to see the lead actor of the company's important project, and although Fang Cun Dayou was also responsible for the work of the agency, he was already the president, and Zhi Kuan Da Shi of Ota Production was only a manager, so the levels didn't match!

Naoki Nagayama, who came to the conference room, pushed the door open and saw Xing Xing Jiahua making tea for two people. One of them had a humble smile on his face, which must be the manager Zhi Kuan Da Shi, and the other was naturally Takeshi Kitano, whom he had met once.

At this time, Takeshi Kitano hadn't experienced the car accident, the temperament of a gangster boss wasn't too excessive, and his private expressions weren't too fierce.

"Sumimasen, kept the two waiting." Naoki Nagayama said quickly.

"Haha, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." Zhi Kuan Da Shi stood up and bowed respectfully. "Nice to meet you, I am Zhi Kuan Da Shi of Ota Production, and beside me is Takeshi Kitano."

"Nice to meet you, I am Naoki Nagayama, please take care of me."

Naoki Nagayama bowed in response, and then laughed at Takeshi Kitano beside him, "Haha, Kitano-san, we're not meeting for the first time."

"Hahaha, that's of course, we are old friends~"

Takeshi Kitano, who came from manzai, had very quick eloquence and reaction ability, and immediately raised the relationship between the two to the level of old friends.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the people on both sides sat down, and at this time Naoki Nagayama began to talk about business.

"I invited the two here rashly this time because I want to invite Takeshi Kitano to participate in the next movie of Tree Friend Film." Naoki Nagayama handed over the script. "*Kikujiro*, this is a comedy about family affection."

Takeshi Kitano took the only script and read it without ceremony, making Zhi Kuan Da Shi beside him a bit embarrassed, but he immediately echoed:

"It is our honor to receive Director Nagayama's invitation. We will definitely cherish this opportunity this time..."

"Hey! Da Shi, I haven't agreed yet!"

Takeshi Kitano didn't mean to cover up at all, directly choking his manager in front of Naoki Nagayama.

In fact, his relationship with the agency was already very bad, his manzai partner was even about to go solo, and he didn't want to stay in this agency...

Originally, when he received Zhi Kuan Da Shi's notification yesterday, he didn't want to come, but the initiator of this movie invitation was Naoki Nagayama, and the previous meeting made him a bit interested.

"Ahem~"

Zhi Kuan Da Shi could only tactically cough, picked up the water cup and took a sip, and then was scalded by the hot tea and bared his teeth.

Seeing Takeshi Kitano on the side reading the script without saying a word, Zhi Kuan Da Shi could only continue to say polite words, at least so that the scene wouldn't be too quiet.

"Ota Production, besides sparing no cost in cultivating comedians, also hopes that artists can obtain broader development space..."

Naoki Nagayama could only nod and echo from time to time, feeling that this combination of manager and artist opposite was very interesting.

After Zhi Kuan Da Shi's mouth was almost dry, Takeshi Kitano finally finished reading the plot of the script roughly, and a playful expression appeared on his face:

"Naoki-san... this movie is clearly a tragedy! The kid didn't find his mother in the end!"

Naoki Nagayama said noncommittally:

"Kitano-san, the core of comedy is tragedy... I thought a manzai artist as outstanding as you should be able to understand."

Shakespeare didn't say this... This was said by Chen Peisi, who had performed countless classic sketches in later generations~

This was also another reason why Naoki Nagayama decided to use Takeshi Kitano to film *Kikujiro*. After all, although it was difficult to find actors who fit the fierce appearance and childlike heart, one could always find one among the actors in the entertainment industry.

But among them, those who deeply understood comedy were very few~

When Takeshi Kitano heard this sentence, he only felt like he was electrocuted. The insights from performing manzai in the past all surfaced in his heart at this moment. Those clumsiness, stupidity, bullying, and mockery that made the audience burst into laughter... weren't they the sad parts of the character?

"I didn't expect Naoki-san to understand comedy so well..."

Takeshi Kitano's face became serious, putting away the previous unseriousness and casualness.

"It's just insights gained from others." Naoki Nagayama didn't mean to claim every sentence as his own. "Kitano-san, *Kikujiro* actually looks like the protagonist is the child in it, but the real protagonist is Kikujiro, the adult who accompanies him."

"So the adult's name was also used in the movie's name."

Takeshi Kitano couldn't help nodding: "Yeah, this story is not so much about a child looking for his mother, but rather about that adult who has already grown up, looking for family affection during childhood..."

Takeshi Kitano, who had already developed a strong interest in this movie, began to discuss the movie's plot with Naoki Nagayama endlessly. As a guy with directing talent, he talked about filming in a very organized way, and after learning that Yuko Tanaka would also participate, he became even more enthusiastic.

And Zhi Kuan Da Shi on the side could only listen to the discussion between the two silently, drinking tea cup after cup.

In the end, Takeshi Kitano had already decided to participate in the filming of the movie, but still asked:

"Naoki-san, why did you choose me?"

"Hahaha, I thought Kitano-san would hold back and not ask~"

"Can't help it, although I have some insights in manzai, in the film circle, I am a newcomer..." Takeshi Kitano didn't feel guilty, but asked openly.

"First... Kitano-san's face... is very fierce, very consistent with the image of the movie character."

Takeshi Kitano shook his head. He had no way to deal with his triangular eyes, they were natural... but he only felt that it was more masculine in his heart, so he never worried about it.

"Secondly... Takeshi Kitano's award at the Blue Ribbon, in *Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence*, Kitano-san's smile left a deep impression on me." Naoki Nagayama recalled. "It's a feeling that is both cruel and innocent... Kitano-san has a child living in his heart..."

"This..."

Takeshi Kitano felt as if he had been seen through. This guy in front of him seemed to understand me better than I do myself...

Naoki Nagayama didn't continue. The consensus had just been reached, so he stood up and reached out his hand:

"Kitano-san, then it's settled, welcome to join the *Kikujiro* crew."

"Hai! Happy cooperation..." Takeshi Kitano shook Naoki Nagayama's hand.

Manager Zhi Kuan Da Shi on the side sighed silently. These two people, one sunny and handsome, one full of banditry, clearly two completely different types of people, could actually talk so openly and cooperate on a movie together...

In this world, sure enough, anything can happen!

The follow-up contract was naturally promoted by the legal department. When Naoki Nagayama sent the two out of the studio, it was almost eleven o'clock, and they had talked for almost two hours.

"Dayou-san, the lead actor for *Kikujiro* is settled." Naoki Nagayama said when he returned to the office.

Fang Cun Dayou seemed to have not moved his position all morning, still processing documents at the desk, a living rubber stamp.

"Oh? Is that so!" He sighed. "Since the lead actor has been confirmed, then the movie production committee can also start to be established... Naoki-san, this time, like other movies, go pull sponsorship and investment? Or do we do it ourselves?"

At the beginning of the year, it was mentioned that Tree Friend Film's movies should be like other movie production companies, sharing investment pressure by establishing a movie production committee, forming an industrialized production process, so Fang Cun Dayou had a question.

"Mm... let's forget about this movie~" Naoki Nagayama shook his head. "Let's use the box office share of my previous movie *April Story* to produce it!"

*April Story* had been released for two months, and the share for the second quarter happened to be caught up at the end of June. *Kikujiro* starts filming in July, just right.

"Mm, let's do that~"

Fang Cun Dayou didn't refute either. After all, the president definitely has privileges!

However, seeing Naoki Nagayama sit down again and start tidying up the proposal on the desktop... Is there nothing else?

"Naoki-san, since the movie lead actor has finished communicating, are you temporarily free of other things?" Fang Cun Dayou started to move, wanting to extract half of the documents from his desk to Naoki Nagayama. "Then it's just right, I still have documents that need to be processed..."

"Ah! This!"

Naoki Nagayama's face panicked. He was pulled by Dayou-san to process documents for most of the day yesterday. Is he going to be pulled as a strong laborer today?

"Ano, Maple-big brother! Maple-big brother called me before, saying there was a problem with the operation of the KTV!" Naoki Nagayama looked around for excuses, and as his brain turned, he took out Yongshan Maple as a shield. "We made an appointment to communicate!"

Looking at the wall: "Ah, it's 11 o'clock, the appointment was at noon! If I don't go, I'll be late!"

Saying this while putting away the proposal, he rushed out of the office with it in his arms... leaving only Fang Cun Dayou's hand extended in mid-air...

"Kono yaro..."

In fact, the Tree Friend Group already had quite a few people, and there were people in charge of various departments, so there weren't too many affairs that really needed Fang Cun Dayou to handle.

Most of them were following up on project progress, coordinating company resources, final audits, etc. Usually, it could be finished in half a day, but it was currently the beginning of the month, and it was the busiest time at the beginning and end of the month.

And Naoki Nagayama, who ran out of the studio at high speed, had already run into his car in the fine rain and really drove toward Roppongi.

Acting also needs to be done in a full set~

The KTV in Roppongi had become famous during this period. It just happened to be raining, and the KTV, which could be enjoyed indoors, became more and more popular with everyone.

However, there were only so many private rooms. Even if they were all full, the service intensity of the waiters didn't rise to an unbearable level, so Yongshan Maple was relatively leisurely.

After Naoki Nagayama arrived at the KTV, he actually saw two familiar figures in the lobby, Wen Yi Jin Cun and Bei Dou Zhong Ze... former little gangsters, later Maple-big brother's little brothers, signed artists of Maple-big brother's agency... and participated in the filming of *Crows Zero 2*...

"Jin Cun, Zhong Ze, why are you here?"

Looking curiously at the two guys wearing well-fitting suits, they were welcoming guests like doormen.

"Ah, Naoki-san." The cleaner-looking Wen Yi Jin Cun said, "Maple-big brother said the KTV is short of people. In the future, people who don't have much interest in the entertainment industry can transfer to the KTV side, so Bei Dou and I came over."

"So you also want to operate a KTV in the future?"

The slightly silly Bei Dou Zhong Ze nodded: "Maple-big brother said that in the future we will have dozens or hundreds of KTVs. As early veterans, maybe we can become general managers of a certain city!"

"..." After not seeing him for a few days, Maple-big brother's ability to paint big cakes has risen!

"Is Naoki-san here to find Maple-big brother? He is in the manager's lounge." Wen Yi Jin Cun said to Naoki Nagayama.

"Ah, he's there, then I'll go up first." The manager's lounge was in the corner of the second floor. Naoki Nagayama patted the two on the shoulder before leaving. "Work hard, the general manager won't be your peak!"

"!!!"

After arriving at the lounge, Naoki Nagayama found that the KTV shift leader Zhe Hong Li Tian was reporting something to Yongshan Maple.

"Naoki!" Yongshan Maple saw his cousin first and waved his hand to let Zhe Hong Li Tian go busy.

"Maple-big brother." Naoki Nagayama sat down on the sofa in the lounge. "Did something happen?"

"Recently, guys from the Yamaguchi-gumi in Tokyo also often come to play, always asking for discounts or free orders or something." Yongshan Maple showed impatience on his face, but his tone was still relaxed. "Maybe the little brothers don't understand, I will talk to their boss later."

Hearing that it was this matter, Naoki Nagayama didn't think much: "Other cities' KTVs will also encounter such things in the future, just treat it as accumulating experience in advance."

"Mm." Yongshan Maple nodded.

"Why did Naoki suddenly come over today?"

He couldn't say he was here to take refuge... Naoki Nagayama had already prepared a draft on the road and found an excuse. He didn't stutter at this time:

"Xiu-san's *After the Rain* is almost finished filming, and Tree Friend Film's next movie will be *Crows Zero 2*."

"How about it? Does the hegemon of Suzuran want to continue participating? Haha~"

Naoki Nagayama asked his cousin if he wanted to continue filming movies. After all, the focus was now on the operation of the KTV, and participation in entertainment industry affairs would inevitably become less.

"*Crows Zero*..."

Yongshan Maple was stunned, as if he had returned to that hearty battle in the sunset, as if that roar echoed in his ears again... Blood! It was surging!

So Yongshan Maple quickly picked up a bottle of iced beer and took a sip... instead, the blood flowed faster...

"Is it still Tamao Serizawa?" This strong man's tone was slightly hoarse.

"Mm!"

"Isn't he already the hegemon of Suzuran? Is there another journey?"

"Haha, Suzuran is just a high school after all." The person sitting on the sofa laughed. "Our next goal is... the world!"

Such chuunibyou lines made Naoki Nagayama unable to hold on! He couldn't help laughing out loud.

*Crows Zero* could completely become a series. *Crows Zero 2* is the battle between the two strong schools with Hosen Academy.

In fact, if the sales continue to be OK, the next *Crows Zero 3* will be the battle for the Toaru City where Suzuran High School is located, defeating the "Kurotaki Alliance" formed by multiple high schools, and organizations like the "Armament Front" composed of a few elites.

A huge hot-blooded universe, there are still many directions that can be expanded.

Yongshan Maple thought seriously: "Naoki... if we film it, will it take up a lot of time?"

"Mm... it shouldn't, after all, the protagonist of the next one is Genji Takiya, and Tamao Serizawa can only be considered a supporting role!" Naoki Nagayama laughed.

"Is that so..." Yongshan Maple showed a smile. "Then of course I want to participate!"

Neither his grandfather nor his father hoped that Yongshan Maple would continue the path of the yakuza, and plus he had already started operating the KTV, his yakuza career could be said to have ended.

However, the hot blood in his chest might still be able to continue in the movie! ===== CHAPTER 629 =====