Chapter 761: Wandering alone in the ocean～

The bustling preview screening finally came to an end.

Returning to the studio, Naoki Nagayama happened to see Shizhi Araki waiting for someone at the front desk~

"Araki-kun, are you waiting for me?"

Naoki Nagayama asked curiously, looking Araki up and down... his clothes were gaudy and colorful, and he was wearing a large gold Rolex. Why did it feel like he was doing performance art? ~

"No~" Shizhi Araki shook his head and struck a pose, "I'm waiting for Momoko Kikuchi and Hideki Saijo~"

"You made contact so quickly?" It was only two days ago that he was notified~

"Yes, Hideki Saijo is currently in a phase of seeking opportunities. Because his domestic career has entered a downward trend, there is news that he is developing toward overseas markets..." Shizhi Araki explained, "So when his agency heard that Tree Friend wanted to invite Mr. Hideki Saijo, they were very proactive in accepting the appointment."

It is said that one only travels far when the family is poor. If they were doing well in Nihon, how many idols would think about developing overseas...

Although he is still a first-tier artist, Hideki Saijo is getting older after all. In an era where young idols born in the 60s are taking over the music scene, the lives of these great seniors look glorious on the surface, but inside...

Truly, the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves in front... The waves in front can't make waves even if they want to!

"Haha~" Naoki Nagayama wanted to laugh, but seeing so many people at the front desk, he held it back, "Then Araki-kun, just wait a little longer~ If there are any difficulties during the meeting, come to the office to find me. I'll be staying here for a while~"

"Hai! Arigato!"

Shizhi Araki was very grateful. Although he was experienced, due to special reasons, he basically had no fame in the industry now. Even though the screenwriter of "Love Generation" was also Naoki Nagayama, it was still a bit difficult to invite Hideki Saijo.

However, with Naoki-san's fame, if he personally came to stand for the TV series, presumably there wouldn't be any problems.

After Naoki Nagayama arrived at the office, he saw Otomo Fangcun, who seemed to be nailed to the office desk. His long-dormant soul of snarky commentary began to stir:

"Otomo-san, every time I see you in that chair, I think you've grown together with the office chair!"

"......"

The Mediterranean-haired middle-aged man, provoked, had sharp eyes,

"Naoki-san... you know the consequences of me standing up, right?!"

"Uh... uh?" Naoki Nagayama felt some pressure, but was still a bit confused.

"Tree Friend has so much work... If I stand up, someone has to sit down!" Otomo Fangcun looked at Naoki Nagayama and said, "Xiuyi-san is filming a movie... so Naoki-san, who among the three of us do you think has the time to sit in this position?!"

"Ah, this..." How did the matter come to me!

Naoki Nagayama hurriedly changed to a serious expression: "Ahem, Otomo-san, I suddenly feel that you and the office desk are a great match, it's just that the office chair is a bit old, maybe it's not very comfortable to sit on...

Decided! For the New Year, I'll send you a set of ergonomic chairs to protect your lumbar spine, so you won't get tired from sitting for a long time..."

"You've started talking nonsense again..." Seeing his friend start spouting nonsense again, Otomo Fangcun helplessly let Naoki Nagayama off, focused his attention on the documents in his hand, and asked by the way, "Is the preview screening over?"

"Ah! Yes!" Naoki Nagayama sat back in his chair in a relaxed manner, "It ended very smoothly!"

"How was it? Did any problems arise?" Otomo Fangcun lowered his head and said silently, "I mean, was there any situation between Naoki-san and the media?"

"What kind of situation could I have?! Otomo-san, don't go splashing dirty water around!" Naoki Nagayama was quite indignant.

"Heh~"

"......"

Forget it, I'm tired... Naoki Nagayama didn't intend to argue anymore: "Feng-dage announced his decision to retire at the press conference."

"Retire?" Otomo Fangcun then raised his head again, "So young?"

"Going back to inherit the family business..." Noticing that Otomo Fangcun's gaze was a bit off, he explained, "Not the underworld, but a KTV nightclub."

"Ah, that one!"

Otomo Fangcun naturally understood KTV; this was Naoki Nagayama's original invention.

"Speaking of which, Naoki-san... the growth trend of KTV is very enviable... The economic newspaper says that everyone is looking forward to the first listed KTV enterprise, saying it is the most vibrant new business format in recent years..."

"Such a big cake, just handed over like this, won't Naoki-san feel heartbroken?"

Otomo Fangcun was really quite emotional. Naoki Nagayama could be said to be the founder of discos and KTVs. If others had a similar idea in their lifetime, they would definitely settle down to manage it, and they wouldn't have to worry for the rest of their lives.

"Heartbroken for what... There are so many ways to make money, why choose such a tiring one..."

Naoki Nagayama really didn't care. An industry like nightclubs that relies heavily on manual service is fine to open one or two for fun, but managing it would take a lot of effort, and it's bitter and tiring, and one has to face many problems...

Just facing the provocations of local bullies requires a sufficiently solid backing.

"That's easy to say..."

Even in Nihon, which is in a rising phase, making big money is not something ordinary people can think about.

"Dong dong"

Just as the two were chatting, the office door was knocked.

Xingxia Suzuki's head poked in: "Naoki-san... Araki-kun is calling for help!"

"Hai, I'll be right over~" After Naoki Nagayama agreed, he stood up and said to Otomo Fangcun, "Otomo-san, look, I'm very busy..."

"......" Is there a need to be so dramatic...

After the conference room door opened, he saw a handsome guy sitting opposite, accompanied by two agents... This is the treatment of a first-tier idol.

And on the other side, there was Momoko Kikuchi, who was slightly nervous, and Shizhi Araki, who had a helpless face...

"Mr. Araki, forgive me for being blunt..." As soon as Naoki Nagayama entered, he heard the older agent speaking, "My artist heard the reputation of Tree Friend and Mr. Naoki Nagayama, that's why she wanted to come and communicate about the script... But we have never heard of Mr. Araki's fame..."

"That's for special reasons!" As soon as Naoki Nagayama entered the door, he took over the conversation, nodded to the three people in front of him, "A bit rude, I am Naoki Nagayama..."

"Ah, Director Nagayama..." The agent hurriedly apologized, "Nice to meet you, I am Hideki Saijo's agent, Zhijie Songwei. Please take care of us~"

Then Hideki Saijo also stood up: "Sumimasen, Songwei-san's tone was a bit over the top just now..."

"I am Hideki Saijo, I've heard a lot about you... Please take care of us~"

After the greetings, Naoki Nagayama sat in the main seat without hesitation and continued the topic just now:

"Araki-kun, take off your watch..."

"Eh?" Shizhi Araki looked over in surprise. After receiving confirmation, he took off the Rolex and placed it in the middle of the table.

Hideki Saijo and Zhijie Songwei looked at each other, feeling a bit strange:

"What is Naoki-san doing? What does this have to do with our topic just now..."

"Didn't you say you didn't know Araki-kun's fame?" Naoki Nagayama smiled, "Actually, Araki-kun plays a crucial role in every project of Tree Friend, it's just that his presence is low, and his credit is forgotten every time... This has led to the strange phenomenon that no one in the industry has heard of him."

"Haha, Naoki-san, are you joking?" Hideki Saijo felt a bit grotesque. Would an agency like Tree Friend actually make such a joke?

"What level of low presence would make people unable to remember the credit for work!"

"You don't believe it?"

Naoki Nagayama smiled, then pointed to the Rolex on the table and said:

"Saijo-san, is this your Rolex?"

"? How is that possible, this is clearly the one that... eh? Who put that on the table!"

Hideki Saijo subconsciously looked to the side. Clearly, there was a man sitting there in brightly colored clothes, and the two sides had just introduced each other... He actually couldn't remember his name all of a sudden!

"His name is Shizhi Araki... Now you believe it~"

Naoki Nagayama signaled Shizhi Araki to put on his watch. This Rolex with extremely strong presence suddenly connected the cognition in their brains... The guy wearing the Rolex is Shizhi Araki!

At this moment, the few people opposite looked at Shizhi Araki in surprise... This is no longer just low presence! This is clearly a superpower!!!

One could even go to the women's bathhouse to peek and do it openly! (Kuso, why am I a little envious!)

"It's actually true!!! There really is such a thing!!" Hideki Saijo exclaimed.

Naoki Nagayama used a story to explain it to them slightly,

"Generally speaking, whale calls are 20 hertz, but in very, very rare cases, there is occasionally a whale in the ocean whose call reaches about 50 hertz.

Such a whale will not be heard by its companions. When it sings, no one hears it, and when it is sad, no one pays attention to it. It wanders alone in the ocean..."

"It is very likely that Araki-kun's magnetic field is a bit different from others, which led to everyone not being able to remember him, but after getting along for a long time, they will get used to it and won't forget him~"

"......"

Shizhi Araki, who heard this story for the first time, felt the same way, and even had the urge to shed tears...

As for the others, they were curious and suspicious. They had never heard such a story before.

Among them, Momoko Kikuchi, as a girl, even emotionally thought that Naoki Nagayama had specially made up this story for Shizhi Araki... He is indeed a talented writer!

After the emotional mood of everyone passed, they began to continue discussing the production details of "Love Generation".

"I can guarantee Araki-kun's directing ability... Actually, the recent 'Kikujiro's Summer' had Araki-kun as the assistant director." Naoki Nagayama said very sincerely to the three people opposite, "And as the author of this script, I will naturally pay attention throughout the filming process..."

"With such a script, plus Saijo-san's blessing, and the resource support of Tree Friend, it will definitely get good ratings~"

"Another aspect is that this TV series was agreed upon with Fuji TV, and it is completely led by Tree Friend... Filming while broadcasting, if there are problems, it can be adjusted at any time..."

Naoki Nagayama's guarantee and the quality of the script itself made Hideki Saijo very tempted!

Idols live on their youth, especially male idols... With age, the once handsome face slowly disappears. As the peak of former male idols, he is now in a period of declining popularity.

However, at this age, he is still considered a young generation in the entertainment industry. If he can transform because of this, perhaps it is a very good choice.

Thinking of this, Hideki Saijo finally made up his mind:

"Araki-kun, Naoki-san, after communicating with the two of you, my worries have dissipated... I have decided to join the filming of 'Love Generation'. Please take care of me in the future!"

"That's really great!" Shizhi Araki stood up excitedly. He is a fan of Hideki Saijo!

"Please take care of us!" Naoki Nagayama also stood up and shook hands with them.

Next, naturally, was the step-by-step signing process...

After everything was completed, Naoki Nagayama and Shizhi Araki politely sent Hideki Saijo away from the front door...

"Arigato, Naoki-san!" After the people left, Shizhi Araki bowed and thanked him very seriously.

If it weren't for standing up for him, Naoki Nagayama wouldn't have lowered his posture so much... Before, artists from all walks of life were breaking their heads to participate in his movie projects!

"No problem, no problem... Araki-kun, I have high hopes for you! Don't let me down!" Naoki Nagayama patted Shizhi Araki on the shoulder.

He could feel the loyalty +1+1+1... constantly popping up on Shizhi Araki's head... No matter what, he shouldn't have to worry about ninja assassinations in the future!

Returning to the studio, the heroine Momoko Kikuchi was also preparing to leave, but since she was one of their own, it wasn't so grand... She talked to the employees she knew in the company before preparing to say goodbye.

"Momoko-chan." Naoki Nagayama saw her and had some words to exhort her.

"Naoki-san?"

Momoko Kikuchi walked in front of Naoki Nagayama. Her cheeks, which hadn't lost their baby fat, were tender and tender, really like a plump peach...

"The heroine of this 'Love Generation' is an urban working woman..." Naoki Nagayama said, "During this time, go and learn about the image of urban women... The styling and outfits should also lean toward being more mature... to facilitate the subsequent filming."

"Hai!" Momoko Kikuchi nodded, "I understand!"

"Well, during this time, I will notify Yamin-kun to arrange less work for you... Prepare well!"

"Hai!"

After a round of work in the studio, it was already evening when Naoki Nagayama came out.

"Time really passes quickly! No, it's only fast when I'm busy..."

It was already winter, and the night always fell faster and faster. During the time he drove home, the light in the sky became much dimmer.

The originally light blue sky turned into a deep azure, as if a cold filter had been applied to the city, full of a melancholy and mysterious feeling.

Passing the junction of Chiyoda and Bunkyo, Naoki Nagayama vaguely remembered that he had a house here, which was being used as a warehouse for fan letters...

He looked up at the sky, it didn't seem too late, Naoki Nagayama decided to take a look~

The small apartment on the second floor, that small semicircular balcony had an exotic style and looked very cute.

Walking in from the front door of the apartment building, Naoki Nagayama got the spare key from the manager and opened the door.

A faint smell of dust and paper came out. Some messy letter paper was placed on the table in the living room, and more was packed in boxes in the bedroom. He had been here a few times in the first half of the year to read fan letters...

However, the logic of "My Tomorrow and Yesterday's Date" seemed too complicated. Even though professional critics gave it good reviews, it was not as popular as the previous "Sky of Love" and "Love Letter" when reading this kind of book.

After writing two replies casually to explain the logic of time, Naoki Nagayama got bored and didn't stay any longer.

After walking out the door, he looked at the neighbor next door. That used to be Naoko Kawai's apartment, but surely there was no one there now.

After walking out of the apartment, the sky became darker and darker~

The cold wind blowing on his face made his spirit even clearer... Looking up into the distance, a bright golden color looked even more dazzling in the dim light.

Anyway, nothing to do... Since I'm here~

Naoki Nagayama walked over leisurely~

In a small green belt at the corner, a golden ginkgo tree looked so abrupt among the green leaves and withered branches. Looking forward, there were more than a dozen similar ginkgo trees one after another.

The ginkgo trees were not as green as in spring and summer. The leaves on the trees were sparse or dense, some were green-yellow, some were orange-yellow, but most were golden...

A breeze blew, and the golden leaves on the trees, like small fans, kept flapping, as if waving to others; and those leaves scattered on the sidewalk paved a beautiful carpet, as if inviting others to appreciate it.

This cold winter is their most gorgeous time.

"No one said it's quite beautiful here~ It's a pity I didn't bring a camera..."

Naoki Nagayama walked on the sidewalk with relaxed steps. There were not many people here, and it seemed that not many people knew about such beautiful scenery.

Suddenly, a whistling sound of the Shinkansen came. On the other side of the ginkgo green belt was actually the JR line. After walking a bit further, he arrived at Ochanomizu...

"This is... Hijiri Bridge?" Naoki Nagayama walked over a bridge and felt it was very familiar, "The filming location of 'Suzume'!"

Naoki Nagayama looked down from the bridge. A train whistled past under the bridge, and the conical train and the Kanda River next to it were driving side by side. At this time, a train also passed through the Marunouchi Line. The feeling of three lines running in parallel made Naoki Nagayama feel a bit wonderful~

"If there was a boat on the Kanda River at this time..."

Just as Naoki Nagayama was thinking this, a small boat actually drove over from the corner. The pointed bow cut through the water surface, forming two V-shaped water lines~

"Hahaha, it really came~"

Naoki Nagayama laughed happily, making the passing pedestrians unconsciously move a little further away.

At this moment, the river surface, which seemed to have a blue filter added, shimmered and reflected the white embankment. The two whistling trains were like natural dividing lines, constructing a perfect golden angle, like a masterpiece naturally cast~

"Exactly the same as in memory~"

In his brain, there seemed to be scenes of "Suzume", and even more artistic photos that he had scanned online, showing him the scenery here decades later...

It's a pity that others don't know at all~

No one knew Naoki Nagayama's mood at this time, whether it was lonely or happy. In short, he watched for a long time on this Hijiri Bridge until the hazy moon appeared in the sky...

"The sky isn't dark yet, and the moon is out~"

Naoki Nagayama glanced at the crescent moon that appeared in the deep dark blue sky, then looked at the river surface shimmering with faint blue light, shook his head, and prepared to go home.

He originally wanted to take advantage of this inexplicable emotional impulse to try to recall more memories, but his upgraded brain seemed to have really lost the ability to achieve success in one step. He actually only had some fragmented scenes.

When he returned to Shanying Court, the sky was completely dark, and even the circle of bamboo at the door could only see blurred shadows.

After driving into the garage, Eitaro enthusiastically welcomed Naoki Nagayama, but Naoki Nagayama had a feeling that he couldn't be happy:

"Eitaro~ Go play by yourself first... Your master, I... have something on my mind~"

After speaking, he walked slowly to the second floor and entered the study...

The mood was there, the fragmented scenes were there, but he couldn't remember anything, as if something was blocked in his mind... He had no interest in doing anything else.

Naoki Nagayama had to try to dig out this inexplicable thing...

Trying to combine the scenery of Hijiri Bridge seen in Ochanomizu with the scenes flashing in his brain on sketch paper, Naoki Nagayama originally thought it would be logical to recall the anime movie "Suzume"... But after drawing for a long time, there was only extreme irritability.

"Where exactly did the problem arise..."

Lying on the back of the chair, closing his eyes and thinking, the study was completely quiet, and even Eitaro was not let in...

From outside the window came a few light chirps of unknown insects. Is it a cricket? But it was much lighter and much more blurred~

In the blurred night, the rustling sound of bamboo leaves blown by the wind was like calm lake water stroking the shore~

Gradually, a quiet lake surface seemed to emerge before Naoki Nagayama's eyes, the moon was in the middle of the sky, and the faint blue light was broken and rippling on the lake surface...

The lazy singing voice seemed to come from afar, with a relief that was sad but not hurt and endless longing:

"

Omoi wa mizuiro no shizuku no naka de yureteru (In this night, the longing for you is like a crescent moon)

Mikazuki ga tenohira ni ukabu kono yoru ni (The light reflected in the blue water droplets floating in the palm of my hand is swaying gently)

"

Naoki Nagayama opened his eyes, feeling a bit surprised and relieved. The name of this song is "Mizuiro" (Water Color)~

It fits very well with the melancholy and sadness that started in the afternoon and I don't know where it came from... Perhaps I heard this song on some sleepless night before~

The lazy and slightly hoarse female voice was still echoing in his brain. This is a song that only needs to be sung a cappella to make people immerse themselves, and the lyrics are written like poetry.

Naoki Nagayama recorded the music score, and then while humming the melody, he looked for musical instruments in the study, wanting to restore the singing voice he heard... This is not a piano piece, it needs to be accompanied by other instruments to sound good.

When Akina Mori returned, it was almost ten o'clock~

In the past few days, besides preparing for the preliminary selection of the Japan Record Awards, she also had to rehearse for the Red and White Assembly with other idols. It can be said that she was extremely busy.

After returning to Shanying Court, she was surprised to find that only Eitaro came to welcome her, and the lights on the first floor were not turned on.

"Eitaro, Naoki-san hasn't come back yet?" Akina hung up her clothes, touched the dog's head, and asked.

I saw Eitaro's little tail turning fast, and he was about to take Akina Mori to the second floor~

"Did he go to the bedroom to rest? So early?" Akina was a bit strange. Naoki Nagayama usually went to sleep at 12 o'clock, very regularly, "Could it be that he is sick?"

There was no one in the bedroom on the second floor, but light shone through the crack of the study door.

After opening the door and entering, Akina Mori saw Naoki Nagayama holding two maracas, humming a song while shaking up and down as if exercising...

"Naoki-san?" Akina Mori was a bit relieved and a bit amused, "What are you doing?"

"Ah, Akina is back~" Naoki Nagayama stopped, "I'm matching the sound of musical instruments... I feel like Shanying Court seems to be missing some different musical instruments... Well, it seems like there is also a music room missing..."

Akina Mori walked to the desk and saw the sketch on the desktop at first glance:

"This is?"

"This is a place I saw today, Ochanomizu's Hijiri Bridge... I feel the composition is very good, so I want to draw it down~" Naoki Nagayama walked to the side and explained.

Then Akina saw that song again...

"'Mizuiro'?"

"Well, a newly written song..."

Akina Mori suddenly became curious. Her boyfriend would have new inspiration from time to time and write various different songs...

Following the melody on the music score, Akina also hummed:

"

Kisetsu wa kagiri naku mawari tsuzuketeru kedo

(The four seasons cycle endlessly)

Watashi no kono kokoro ni hikaru mizuiro wa

(My restless heart)

Itsu itsu made mo kawaranai sora to umi no iro

(Like the color of the sky and the sea that will never change no matter when...)

"

Naoki Nagayama hummed the melody on the side, using maracas to beat the rhythm for Akina. Akina didn't use the low and powerful voice when singing, but only used the voice of normal speaking. Akina, who hadn't turned into a smoky voice yet, was unexpectedly consistent with the feeling of the original singer~

"A very sad, very lonely feeling~" Akina Mori suddenly turned to look at her boyfriend and hugged him tightly, "Naoki-san, did you encounter something sad?"

"......"

Even if he usually behaves relaxed and cheerful, existing alone in this completely different world, misunderstood by no one, unable to tell anyone, just like that whale with a call of 52 hertz... wandering alone in the ocean~

This huge sense of loneliness would still emerge in Naoki Nagayama's heart from time to time, but before, he would either drink a little wine or go running... He could always get through it~

"If Naoki-san encounters something sad, you can tell me~" Akina Mori raised her head and looked at Naoki Nagayama, "If sadness is divided into two, both people will have less~"

Naoki Nagayama felt warm in his heart, and his heart seemed to be hit lightly... This time he didn't have to get through it alone...

He stroked Akina's back with both hands and patted her to let her rest assured:

"I just saw some scenery and felt something~"

"Does Akina know?

In the Ochanomizu neighborhood, there is a street with few people, and there are ginkgo trees on both sides... The leaves are like golden fans..."

"Hmm..."

"The river water of the Kanda River will divide into two water lines in front of the speedboat..."

"Hmm..."

"Three Shinkansen trains whistled past at the same time..."

The two people in the study hugged each other gently, whispering, and even Eitaro sensibly didn't go to disturb them~

The night gradually deepened~ ===== CHAPTER 762 =====