Chapter 825: To Qinglai, meeting the parents!

Naoki Nagayama had traveled the road to Qinglai before, so it didn't feel unfamiliar now.

Driving the Toyota Century to show respect, Naoki Nagayama took Akina Nakamori to her old home in Qinglai in the morning... to meet the parents~

In April in Tokyo, cherry blossoms were in full bloom everywhere. Petals falling with the breeze landed in the water, traveling along the river to spread the spring scenery across both banks.

The pink petals had a tender, translucent white, just like the cheeks of the girl in the passenger seat, so endearing~

"Naoki-san, are you nervous?" Akina Nakamori turned her head and asked her boyfriend with a grin.

"....... A little bit~" Naoki Nagayama looked serious, "After all, this is a very formal visit~"

"Don't you have that feeling of your heart racing and your head sweating?"

Akina Nakamori didn't believe him and even reached out to touch her boyfriend's forehead. Finding no trace of sweat, she pouted in disappointment.

"Eh~~ You're really not nervous at all......"

Naoki Nagayama sighed helplessly: "Akina, just because you were shaking with nerves when you went to my house, you don't have to want me to be the same!"

"...... Don't say that!"

Akina reached over and covered Naoki Nagayama's mouth with her hand.

"That was just because I hadn't eaten breakfast that morning and had a bit of hypoglycemia-induced trembling!!!"

"......"

Actually, anyone who knows Akina a little better knows that although she usually looks cheerful and confident, she is a coward at heart. Even as a top idol singer, her hands would shake before going on stage!

However, once this girl got on stage, she could fully immerse herself and deliver a perfect performance... The reason for this situation has always been an unsolved mystery...

One shouldn't mess around in the car. After Akina pulled her hand back, she started chattering again:

"Today, besides Father, Miho is also there....."

"Hmm?" Naoki Nagayama was subconsciously startled, "Doesn't that mean I need to prepare another gift...."

"No need~" Akina Nakamori explained, "...... Just giving them to Father and Mother is enough~"

"Is that so~" It seems that's how it is in Japan.....

"Besides Miho..... are there others at home?" Naoki Nagayama continued to ask.

"No more..... they are all married..... and have moved out~"

Akina Nakamori replied. If there are no other reasons, in this era, especially for young people in the countryside, marriage generally happens very early.

"That's good~"

Naoki Nagayama was most afraid of five siblings plus parents plus the grandmother—eight pairs of eyes all staring at him alone!

Oh, and if you add Akina herself, that's nine pairs..... wait, if you add the nephews, that's ten pairs!

It really is a huge family!!!

As the car moved forward, the houses on both sides of the street began to look older, mostly wooden, lacking the hardness of steel and concrete. The streets were no longer paved with concrete, and one could even occasionally see traces of livestock......

Qinglai City is considered one of Tokyo's satellite cities, but calling it a city, it's more like a town.

Akina, sitting on the side, looked at the scenery outside the window, and her mood began to liven up.

"Naoki-san, I used to come here often to buy groceries!" "Naoki-san, that's the place we came to film last time!" "Ah, it's been so long since I've had the snacks from this shop!"

It wasn't until they reached a house with a flag flying that Naoki Nagayama finally stopped.

As the Toyota Century slowly pulled up to the entrance, Akina Nakamori took a deep breath:

"We're here...."

"Hmm, let's go in then!"

Naoki Nagayama got out of the car, took the gifts from the trunk, and then looked curiously at the flag next to the house.....

"Akina, I've wanted to ask before, why is there always a flag hanging?"

"It was raised after I debuted..... it seems to be for blessings or something...."

Akina Nakamori said, anyway, it's a habit of her parents' generation.

"Naoki-san, I'm going to knock on the door now!"

"Hai, hai, hai, I'm ready!"

Entering through the low wall, there was a somewhat narrow entrance hall. Whether it was the Shan Ying Yuan or the current 80 Building, the entrance halls were much larger than this.

However, it was very tidy, and there were slippers for changing.....

"Oka-san, I'm home!" Akina shouted inside, as if she had suddenly gained a boost of confidence.

"Welcome home...."

Chieko Nakamori, wearing a kimono, walked out with small steps. Seeing Akina Nakamori and Naoki Nagayama, she greeted them very gently,

"Naoki-san is here~"

After all, the first few children were already married, and she had gone through the process of meeting the parents four times already, so she was naturally very calm.

"Chieko-san, it's been a while since I last greeted you......" Naoki Nagayama presented his gifts, "A small token of my appreciation, please accept it...."

"Arigato! Please, come in quickly!"

Chieko took the somewhat heavy gifts generously and then led the two toward the inner room.

Akina Nakamori helped carry the gifts, then took her mother's arm and walked in front, while Naoki Nagayama just followed along~

When they reached the guest room, they saw Akina's father, Akio Nakamori, already sitting on the tatami, with the youngest sister, Miho Nakamori, beside him.......

"It's been a while...... Nakamori-san...." Naoki Nagayama bowed formally to greet him.

"Hmm, Nagayama-san....."

No matter what his status was outside, as Akina's father, Akio Nakamori naturally maintained his posture when facing his daughter's boyfriend who had come to visit,

"The last time we met was four years ago!"

Although he knew his daughter was dating Naoki Nagayama, their earliest interactions were before Akina's debut—once to discuss the patent for cat-ear hair accessories, and once for a support event.

"Hai~" Naoki Nagayama nodded, "I haven't had the chance until now....."

After two sentences, the room suddenly fell silent. The two men didn't know what to say next.

Naoki Nagayama was meeting the parents for the first time, while Akio Nakamori didn't know what to ask.....

The previous sons-in-law were all ordinary people; just asking about their careers, income, and whether they could shoulder the responsibility of taking care of his daughter was enough~

But this guy across from him...... his career and income went without saying; one could tell from the blue Porsche he gave his daughter that he could certainly provide her with a wealthy life. And both his appearance and talent were impeccable...... it was just his character.....

The rumors circulating might be wrong, but they couldn't be entirely baseless...... However, it wasn't convenient to ask to his face.

But at this moment, Naoki Nagayama couldn't hold it in anymore..... It wasn't because of Akio Nakamori, but rather Miho Nakamori next to him, who kept making funny faces and winking.......

What does this guy want to do...... perform manzai?!

"Miho? What are you doing?!" Fortunately, at this moment, Chieko Nakamori walked in with tea. Seeing her youngest daughter's behavior, she quickly scolded her, "You're not a child anymore, how can you be so rude!"

"......." Miho Nakamori finally restrained herself.

And Akina, who had followed her mother in, finally sat down next to Naoki Nagayama......

"Naoki-san...... please have some tea~" Chieko handed the tea to Naoki Nagayama and then asked smoothly, "Was the trip here okay today~"

"Hai, it was smooth sailing....." Naoki Nagayama replied, "It took just about an hour from Takanawa to Qinglai...."

"Takanawa? Aren't you living in Chiyoda?"

Chieko naturally knew that her daughter was already living at someone else's house, but Akina had just returned from promoting out of town, and with the meeting of the parents, the matter of moving seemed not to have been mentioned yet.

"Because the house in Chiyoda is being renovated, we are temporarily staying at the 80 Building in Takanawa." Naoki Nagayama didn't hide anything and said it directly.

"I see...... Is it inconvenient for work now?"

"Not really....."

Just like that, they started from small talk and gradually began to chat. No wonder Akina said her mother was omnipotent; one could tell from her social skills that she easily bridged the distance in interpersonal communication.

Akina would sometimes help Naoki Nagayama fill in details. Akio Nakamori would occasionally interject when hearing about his current work, and Miho Nakamori would also occasionally ask about the current situation in the entertainment industry.

But what put Naoki Nagayama at ease was that it seemed the novel "Paradise Lost" hadn't spread to the countryside yet, otherwise it would have been awkward if he were asked about it now~

Lunch was naturally eaten at Akina's old home. Chieko made her specialty fried meat patties, and Akina unpacked the gifts she had brought, taking out the medicinal wine Naoki Nagayama had given Akio Nakamori, wanting to have a little drink at noon.

"Let me drive this afternoon~"

As for driving back in the afternoon, that's what Akina said to Naoki Nagayama.

I don't know what this little girl is trying to do......

"Naoki boy!" After a few cups of high-proof medicinal wine, Akio Nakamori's face turned red, and his tone began to relax, "If you marry my daughter, you must be single-minded, you know?!"

"Hai! I will!"

Naoki Nagayama nodded repeatedly. It was impossible to say no at this time, even if the future father-in-law across from him hadn't been single-minded toward his own wife.....

After a few more cups, even his eyes became blurry:

"If you dare to bully Akina, I won't let you off! Do you hear me?!"

"Hai, I definitely won't~"

Although he wasn't much of a qualified father, at this moment, even if he was just putting on a show, he at least had a bit of responsibility~

However, as he continued to drink, Akio Nakamori became even more drunk...... With this kind of alcohol tolerance, how could he have produced Akina, such a heavy drinker?

It wasn't until he saw Aunt Chieko drink her fourth cup of wine without changing her expression that Naoki Nagayama finally understood.

"Naoki-san, please forgive my husband's rudeness. He doesn't usually drink high-proof alcohol...."

Chieko helped the about-to-pass-out Akio Nakamori back to the bedroom, and only then did she continue to entertain Naoki Nagayama.

"Ha, I don't drink this kind of high-proof white liquor often either...." Naoki Nagayama said with a smile, "It is indeed a bit too strong. One or two cups per meal in the future will be enough~"

"Hmm, I will remind him~"

Chieko sighed. Akio Nakamori and she were almost separated now. If it weren't for the two daughters who hadn't married yet, their marriage might have already come to an end....

Thinking of this, she looked at Naoki Nagayama:

"Naoki-san, our Akina has a very strong personality and is very reckless. If she causes you any trouble in life, I hope you can be more tolerant~"

Naoki Nagayama quickly said:

"Not at all, not at all. Akina is a very excellent woman. Being able to date her is my luck!"

Akina, who had been on the side, felt very indignant when she heard her mother's words, but was full of smiles when she heard her boyfriend's words. Chieko sighed secretly; she was completely taken over~

"Speaking of which.... about Akina's work....." Chieko suddenly thought of this point. Akina Nakamori was still working in the entertainment industry, "If Akina marries you, Naoki-san, do you hope Akina will return to the family?"

"Chieko-san, Akina and I have already discussed this point...." Naoki Nagayama glanced at his girlfriend, "I am not that kind of old-fashioned family that wants the wife to give up everything and take care of the family wholeheartedly...... If Akina doesn't like singing anymore, then she can choose what she wants to do..... Women of the new era should have their own dreams....."

Chieko breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the ease on her daughter's face, she exclaimed:

"So that's how it is..... That's really great~"

When Chieko was young, she was also a girl with her own dreams, but after marriage, she gave up her dreams and became a housewife.

Although she was proud of raising six children to adulthood, she still felt some regret when thinking of her own dreams...... But it seemed her daughter could balance both~

Akina Nakamori leaned on her mother's shoulder:

"When one day I don't want to sing anymore, I'll go be a kindergarten teacher..... take care of little kids! Little kids are the cutest!"

"If you like little kids so much, have one yourself!"

Chieko tapped Akina Nakamori's forehead, making Akina blush, and she acted spoiled:

"I'm still so young......."

"When I was your age, I had already given birth to Akiko!"

"......."

Naoki Nagayama naturally couldn't interject in the above conversation and could only silently eat the dishes on the table. The fried meat patties were indeed very good..... the texture was chewy, the meat juices were rich, full of meat aroma and the fragrance of fat......

The atmosphere at the dining table without Akio Nakamori seemed very harmonious. After the meal, the chat in the guest room was also very harmonious.

They even talked about when they planned to get married.......

"Regarding this point, it's not particularly urgent for now...... After all, we are only in our early 20s, and there is still so much we haven't experienced yet~" Naoki Nagayama looked at Akina, "We will only consider marriage in about a year or two......"

"Yes, yes....." Akina also nodded on the side, "I don't want to settle down in these two years either...."

Seeing her daughter say this, Chieko didn't say much more, but in her heart, she felt it was a pity. If such a good man, who also had a reputation for being a playboy, wasn't tied down sooner, she couldn't be at ease.......

She would have to talk to Akina properly in private later. Anyway, getting married wouldn't affect anything......

Just at this moment, Chieko saw the look in her youngest daughter Miho's eyes and remembered the conversation from last night. She sighed in her heart.....

"Naoki-san, speaking of which, Miho is also very interested in the entertainment industry. From the perspective of an agency boss, do you think she has the potential to develop in the entertainment industry?"

The meaning of the question was very clear: if she has potential, help her debut~

"Hmm...."

Naoki Nagayama didn't have any aversion to Miho. Akina in this period didn't either. The two were sisters from childhood to adulthood. Although the younger sister had been a bit jealous of the older sister in recent years, this was also a normal reaction...... If he could help, helping a little wasn't impossible......

However, debuting at this time was not a good choice!

"Chieko-san, Miho-chan....." Naoki Nagayama's expression became serious, looking at the two of them separately, "If Miho just wants to experience the feeling of being an idol, then that's nothing. I can arrange the relevant operations for her debut; that's just a small matter....."

He squeezed Akina's hand that reached out from under the table, letting her not worry, and then continued,

"However, if Miho wants to make being an idol her career and become a star, to be honest, there is no chance now~"

"Since the generation of Momoe Yamaguchi, the selection of idols has never stopped. 'Star! Birth!' is just one of them. There are many talent shows like 'Hideki Saijo's Younger Brothers and Sisters'....... Every year, dozens or hundreds of candidate idols are exported to the entertainment industry...... and there are shows like 'Twilight Nyan Nyan' for high school idols....."

"To put it bluntly, there are so many idols now that they are a dime a dozen....."

Naoki Nagayama's words were direct and had weight,

"There are too many idols, and the quality is uneven, which has led to a great decline in people's perception of idols. The industry has already felt this trend..... In the next ten years, I think we will usher in an 'Ice Age' for idols..... Except for idols who already have a huge fan base, it is very difficult for other idols to get ahead......"

"Even top idols like Akina and Seiko Matsuda are seeking transformation...."

He looked at Miho Nakamori and said seriously:

"If Miho wants to be a star, then there are two paths she can take now: one is music and singing, to be a singer; the other path is to further her acting skills, to be an actress....... With the influence of Akina and me, if she has talent, getting ahead is no problem~"

"If she is just interested in entering the entertainment industry, then being an agent or doing behind-the-scenes planning are options....... There are many choices in this regard, and the opportunities will be greater...."

Naoki Nagayama actually suggested that Miho be an agent or planner. After all, to be a star, the most important point is that one's appearance must have character......

Whether it's beautiful with character or ugly with character, a beauty can naturally attract attention, and if one is ugly, one can also be a character actor; both can make people remember you.

Miho Nakamori wasn't ugly. How ugly could a young, lively girl be?

It's just...... relatively ordinary~

Just like the ordinary people seen on the street, the kind of ordinary person who wouldn't make people remember you.

Listening to Naoki Nagayama's introduction, Chieko and Miho Nakamori both began to think seriously, feeling for the first time that the future was so clear......

Akina Nakamori said on the side:

"You have to think clearly..... Besides being hard, there are many, many other bad things in the entertainment industry......"

Finally, it was Chieko who spoke:

"Arigato, Naoki-san...... I will let Miho think it over properly......"

"If you need my help, just ask...."

"Hmm, sorry to trouble you~"

Next, Chieko gently moved past this topic and shifted the question to another aspect, continuing to learn about her daughter's boyfriend.

Today's visit didn't end until after three o'clock. After Naoki Nagayama said goodbye, Akina Nakamori led her boyfriend, who had almost sobered up, into the car.

"Is the Toyota Century too big for Akina?" Naoki Nagayama looked at his girlfriend adjusting the seat and smiled, "Can Akina drive it?"

"Daijobu! Don't underestimate me!" Akina Nakamori was full of confidence, "It's just a bigger car body~"

"The horsepower is also much higher....."

As she spoke, she felt the car launch, which was startling.....

"Akina-chan, relax....." Naoki Nagayama immediately sobered up and quickly comforted her in a soft voice, "Don't step on the gas pedal so heavily all at once...."

"Oh~~~"

Listening to Naoki Nagayama's words, Akina slowly became familiar with the Toyota Century until she finally got onto the highway steadily~

On the road, Akina, who was driving, suddenly asked: "Naoki-san...... did Miho's matter make things difficult for you....."

"Of course not~" Naoki Nagayama replied very casually, "Launching an idol actually doesn't cost much..... What I said before was indeed my true thoughts....."

"However, for Miho-chan, it's better not to rush into the entertainment industry...... The entertainment industry is not a good place, there are too many temptations. Miho-chan is different from Akina; she won't be able to handle it....."

With so many lights and wine, surrounded by flattery and schemes, plus the hard work and pressure...... Without a resilient spirit, an ordinary girl won't be able to hold on......

Although Akina couldn't be seen on the surface, her inner strength and stubbornness were more prominent than ordinary people......

Which ordinary girl could continue to participate and win a debut opportunity after being eliminated three times in the "Star! Birth!" finals~

"In short, I still hope Miho finds an ordinary job~" Naoki Nagayama said, "If she really wants to enter the entertainment industry, doing behind-the-scenes work is better...."

"Hmm, I will persuade her~" ===== CHAPTER 826 =====