Chapter 730

After resting in Otaru for one night, the film crew set off again the next day.

"First go to Jozankei and Hoheikyo, go to Jigokudani in the afternoon, and you can soak in the hot springs at night~" Yasushi Akimoto said while looking at the itinerary. These places are famous spots for autumn leaf hunting in Hokkaido.

Hearing this, Naoki Nagayama's heart stirred: "Noboribetsu Jigokudani... If we go there, isn't it next to Lake Toya?"

"Hi, the two places are not far apart, both are hot spring towns~" Yasushi Akimoto said happily, "We've been running for two days, and our bodies are very tired..."

But Naoki Nagayama happened to think of his vacation home. It seemed like he could just go and take a look... Ishida Kokai said that he hadn't been to see the cottage after it was built!

"Akimoto-san, let's stop for a while when we pass by Lake Toya~"

"Does Naoki-san want to soak in the hot springs at Lake Toya?" Yasushi Akimoto was a little curious. Anyway, both places were fine.

"No... I have a vacation home over there. I haven't been to see it since it was built... I want to take the opportunity to go and see it~" Naoki Nagayama thought that if there were no problems, he could stay there for one night~

Of course, he had to call the person managing the house first to have it cleaned up in advance~

"......."

Yasushi Akimoto was stunned. What kind of person is this! He didn't even go to see his own house after it was built... Is it because he has too many houses to take care of?!

"Ahem, if Naoki-san wants to, of course there is no problem..."

"Arigato~"

Just as the two were talking, Akina Nakamori ran over briskly, took Naoki Nagayama's hand, and asked:

"What's wrong? What are you talking about?"

The journey over the past two days made Akina very happy, especially since she heard the piano piece Naoki Nagayama played specifically for her yesterday... So she was very relaxed and happy now~

"We were talking about the itinerary..." Naoki Nagayama explained the vacation home at Lake Toya to Akina, saying he wanted to go and see it.

"Does Naoki-san actually have property at Lake Toya?!"

Akina Nakamori exclaimed in surprise. She knew that her boyfriend had a special obsession with real estate; he had several houses in Tokyo and some in Kyoto... But she didn't expect him to have one in Hokkaido too!

"I even have one in the United States!" Naoki Nagayama said with a smile, and then popularized the trend of real estate appreciation to his girlfriend, wanting to pull her into the real estate speculation group as well.

Akina listened helplessly. She didn't know how many times this had happened~

Sigh... Knowing the future development trend, it was really hard for him to abandon this love for land...

The maple leaves in Jozankei were different from those in the Daisetsuzan Mountains.

Walking through the quiet forest, listening to the murmuring sound of water nearby, the maple trees on both sides turned from green to yellow, and then from yellow to red. The red, yellow, and green leaves blended and intertwined, dyeing the penetrating sunlight into various colors, so colorful that it made people unable to tell whether it was reality or a fairy tale.

Standing on the Futami Suspension Bridge, watching the flowing water, a few red leaves followed the water downstream, looking just like swimming fish in the water~

Naoki Nagayama took a deep breath, as if to take the breath of autumn into his lungs... However, he only saw a small hand reaching out from behind and covering his mouth and nose all of a sudden...

Akina Nakamori stood on tiptoe behind Naoki Nagayama, one hand supporting her boyfriend's arm, while the other hand wanted to murder her husband!

"Akina!"

Pulling down the hand covering his mouth, Naoki Nagayama turned his head and saw the brilliant smile on Akina's face. Her black and white eyes were like autumn water, full of Naoki Nagayama's reflection.

"Haha, Naoki-san is not allowed to be angry! Otherwise, it will ruin such beautiful scenery!" Akina said seriously, looking cute as if she hadn't done anything wrong.

Naoki Nagayama looked at the pretty face close at hand and had the urge to kiss her... But no! There were two cameras set up nearby! And a dozen bright light bulbs!

So he could only pick up his girlfriend and spin her around~~

Maki Ueda watched this scene with bright eyes, and a look of satisfaction appeared in her eyes. Since the two hadn't started dating, she had been by Akina Nakamori's side and could be said to have participated in her artist's romance throughout the whole process.

After eating sugar for so long, she finally tasted the sweetest flavor!

In the noisy and warm journey, Yasushi Akimoto silently recorded the interaction and playfulness of the two, and had to sigh again that this recording was too simple. He, the program producer, didn't need to plan any interactions at all, and the recording effect was very good...

Is this the legendary return to simplicity?

So this is the true meaning of producing a program! You only need the protagonists themselves! Just like the popularity of "Waratte Iitomo!" is because of Tamori, and the longevity of "Tetsuko no Heya" is because of Tetsuko Kuroyanagi...

The top-level ingredients actually only need the simplest cooking method!

Yasushi Akimoto has realized it!!!

It's Thursday again~ It's time for the live broadcast of "The Best Ten".

At noon, the TBS production team received the latest record data... In the pre-program recording discussion, the program director and hosts Hiroshi Kume and Tetsuko Kuroyanagi were together.

"Today's second place is 'Jikkai' again~" Program director Hitoshi Nagashima said while looking at the converted data, and then asked other staff members, "Have you contacted Nakamori Akina's agency?"

"Hi, Akina Nakamori's manager replied that Akina-chan is currently recording a program in Hokkaido." Program assistant Hitoshi Yamagishi replied, "She might not be able to make it to the live broadcast."

"How can this be!"

Hitoshi Nagashima frowned. He knew very well that the most important thing about "The Best Ten" program was these popular idol artists, especially those standing at the top of the female idol pyramid.

"Yamagishi, communicate well with the agency. Since it's a program recording, there must be cameras. Setting up a satellite relay is not a difficult task..." Hitoshi Nagashima said, "If it really doesn't work, we'll send a few people over... In short, we still hope she can appear on the program..."

"Hi, I understand!" Hitoshi Yamagishi nodded in agreement.

As the hottest music program, the budget of "The Best Ten" production team was overflowing, and they could even go abroad for program production... Sending a few people to Hokkaido was just a drop in the bucket.

After hearing the director's arrangement, Hiroshi Kume asked Tetsuko Kuroyanagi beside him curiously:

"I did hear that Akina-chan is recording a variety show. Kuroyanagi-san, do you know what variety show it is?"

"I heard it's a novel romance variety show..." Tetsuko Kuroyanagi's information network was very powerful. There wasn't much in the entertainment industry she didn't know, and she had also heard about Yasushi Akimoto's planning. "It's being recorded with Naoki Nagayama, following the route of autumn leaf hunting..."

"Oh? So that's it~"

After hearing this, Hiroshi Kume silently noted this point, thinking that there would be topics to talk about during the live broadcast at night... The little girl who watched the program two years ago is now openly dating in front of the audience...

Thinking about it, time really flies~

He has also spent so much time on this program... Recently, he also felt a sense of powerlessness... Should he make some changes...

In a trance, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi continued to discuss the singers performing today and the general script with Hiroshi Kume...

In Noboribetsu Jigokudani, it was not yet winter, and the production team did not find any monkeys soaking in the hot springs here.

However, compared to other places, the maple leaves next to Jigokudani had a bit more ethereal clouds and mist... The red leaves nourished by water vapor seemed to be more gorgeous than in other places, dyeing the desolate volcanic crater ruins with a moving red.

But it wasn't very friendly to program recording...

"Kitahara, wipe the camera lens again!" Yasushi Akimoto checked the camera lens and said to assistant Katsuhisa Kitahara.

Then he communicated with Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori about the shooting angle and other matters here... Finally, he had some feeling of a program director~

After staying here for a while, the production team finally recorded some satisfactory material. However, at this moment, Maki Ueda walked over, holding a pager...

Naturally, it wasn't Akina Nakamori's. She and Naoki Nagayama had agreed that the pager could only be used between the two of them~

"Akina-chan, Fusunori-san paged us." Maki Ueda whispered to Akina Nakamori, "The agency still hopes that tonight's 'The Best Ten' live broadcast can be done. After all, it's an important exposure channel, and TBS will also send people over..."

"Live broadcast..."

Akina Nakamori glanced at her boyfriend. Although she didn't want to add work during the trip, this was something artists had to accept!

After Maki Ueda finished speaking, she went to communicate with Yasushi Akimoto. As a manager's assistant, she was no longer a naive newcomer, and she was absolutely capable of handling communication and coordination work.

And Yasushi Akimoto naturally wouldn't disagree. Making a living in various TV stations, making things convenient for others is making things convenient for oneself... Besides, he had worked at TBS before.

"Naoki-san, there is a live broadcast of 'The Best Ten' tonight..." Akina Nakamori walked to Naoki Nagayama's side and informed her boyfriend about this.

"Oh? Relax?" Shuichi Yin Tang's eyes lit up, "Does Otomo-san mean drinking flower wine?!"

"..." Da Otomo was helpless; he really was very greasy!

"Yin Tang-san, save some energy..." He gave Shuichi Yin Tang a requirement list, "Do some things you are good at, and find some inspiration~"

"? Magazine cover shoot? Rie Miyazawa?" Shuichi Yin Tang saw the requirement list, looked up at Da Otomo, "Is that the little girl who was just brought in?"

"Hmm... Rie-chan's main work at the moment is magazine photos; originally it was handed to others to shoot... This is your old profession, Yin Tang-san, you can help shoot a bit, look at young people more, and find some youthful feeling..."

After Da Otomo finished speaking, he lowered his head and began to handle other matters.

"Er..." Shuichi Yin Tang looked at the list in his hand and hesitated. His mouth moved slightly, "Otomo-san... but this girl is too young! Does she really have to shoot this kind of photo? She is about the same age as my daughter..."

Da Otomo was stunned for a moment, and only then did he react:

"You idiot! What are you thinking about randomly!!! This is a proper magazine cover!!! We are no longer that small workshop that only takes adult magazines!"

"..."

Shuichi Yin Tang was so ashamed that he left in a hurry.

And only then did Da Otomo sigh; Shuichi Yin Tang really hadn't changed his true nature!

But on second thought, if it weren't for Naoki-san, perhaps he and Shuichi Yin Tang would still be shooting adult magazines to this day...

Mount Tengu in Otaru was the most famous filming location in 'Love Letter'.

In the afternoon, the film crew arrived at this second stop! It could be considered revisiting old haunts!

"This is the location where we filmed 'Love Letter'." Akina Nakamori pointed at an empty canyon full of energy, "It was right here that Itsuki Fujii lost Itsuki Fujii, and then let go!"

As the camera pulled toward the distant canyon, Akina Nakamori pulled Naoki Nagayama, who was beside her, into the frame:

"Naoki-san, it seems many people are asking, before you wrote the novel 'Love Letter', did you come here and have a sudden inspiration?"

Naoki Nagayama shook his head helplessly and said to the camera:

"No! I hadn't been here! I just knew there was such a place... Look, the so-called mountain keeper who lives halfway up the mountain and reminds mountain climbers is all fictional..."

The house that was filmed was actually a vacation home for a family.

After explaining, Akina Nakamori happily pulled Naoki Nagayama to stand on the hillside of the canyon, and the two of them shouted the most moving lines from 'Love Letter' together:

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

A faint echo reflected back from the canyon, as if there really was a voice in the canyon responding to the two of them.

And the film crew on the side, after recording all this, also had a few people join the shouting team, so a group of people were howling like ghosts in this canyon...

At this moment, a local happened to pass by here, and after seeing this scene, shook his head:

"Another bunch of fools... It hasn't even snowed yet!"

Yasushi Akimoto waited until the people from the film crew had vented their emotions, and said to Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori:

"Naoki-san, Akina-chan, next let's go to that old Western-style house you filmed at... Let's see the place where you filmed..."

When everyone arrived at the old Western-style house on the outskirts of town, they were surprised to find that it had already been transformed by the owner into a themed homestay, and it seemed to be very popular; the rooms were full now.

Just as the production team was still peeking and observing outside, a resident saw them with sharp eyes...

The girl ran quickly to the door, almost falling on the slope, but still looked at Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori and shouted:

"Itsuki Fujii!!!"

Soon, others in the room also heard the news and came over...

Akina Nakamori and Naoki Nagayama were surrounded by guests, who were very excited to ask questions.

"Akina-chan and Naoki-san, what are you here for?" "Are you here to film a sequel?" "Is this the film crew?" "How long are you staying this time?"...

Akina Nakamori was already very used to this situation and generously told them that they were recording a program and revisiting an old place... Then she happily took photos with everyone as a souvenir...

Naoki Nagayama could only serve as a background board, occasionally answering questions, and then showing a smile...

After the fans appeared, Yasushi Akimoto arranged for the staff to take candid shots. In his eyes, this sudden little accident was undoubtedly the best interlude, which would bring a novel effect to the program.

Surrounded by the crowd, the two walked into the old Western-style house.

There hadn't been much change here. After all, it was a themed homestay, and it kept the furnishings from when "Love Letter" was filmed: numerous books stacked together, filling the corners of the room, a cozy and clean large sofa, and a warm fireplace...

On the balcony in the corner of the second floor, outside the semicircular window was the setting sun, and the hillside was draped in golden afterglow...

There was also an old-fashioned piano, staying there quietly...

"Naoki-san, that piano is still there!" Akina Nakamori looked at the piano in surprise, still remembering that Naoki Nagayama had played a piece for her here...

"Really~"

Naoki Nagayama was also very emotional. He opened the piano lid and gently pressed a key...

"Ding~~~"

The clear piano sound came out. This piano had been well maintained and was not out of tune at all!

The long-lost piano sound made Naoki Nagayama's hands itch. Without paying much attention to the others behind him, he looked at Akina beside him and said:

"Akina, watch me play a song for you!"

"Eh?" Akina was a little surprised. "Now?"

"Yeah~"

Saying that, Naoki Nagayama sat down, took a deep breath to adjust, and thought about what he wanted to play.

"Summer" from "Kikujiro"? He had been tired of listening to it lately!

Change to another one? Naoki Nagayama went through his previous piano pieces, but suddenly thought of the many anime he had recalled some time ago, among which was a very familiar song... The theme song of "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day", "Secret Base"!

If it were changed into a piano piece, it didn't seem impossible...

So a soothing and lyrical piano melody came out from the second floor...

The moment Naoki Nagayama started playing the piano, Yasushi Akimoto signaled the production team to set up the cameras and raise the microphones.

This was really great!

There was actually a solo performance by Naoki Nagayama!

Everyone knew that Naoki Nagayama was a famous musician, but he rarely performed himself; it was almost non-existent!

Finally, it could be recorded this time!

And Akina Nakamori beside him, looking at Naoki Nagayama with eyes full of pride and joy—wasn't that the best annotation of their relationship?!

Softly asking the production team to adjust the angle, Yasushi Akimoto also began to appreciate this soothing and lyrical piano piece...

Under the twilight sun, the soothing melody permeated the corner of the balcony. The soothing rhythm and crisp piano sound seemed to be telling you something... A faint nostalgia, and a seemingly sorrowful emotion came from the music...

As the song ended, the surroundings were quiet, and everyone was savoring it.

Yasushi Akimoto couldn't help but ask: "Naoki-san, what is the name of this piano piece?"