Chapter 909

After dealing with the group of reporters, Naoki Nagayama returned to his office once again.

He looked at the sunlight outside and sighed:

"Even with so much money, I still have to work... Being a first-generation rich person is really hard... In the future, it's my son or daughter who will enjoy the blessings... How annoying!"

After relaxing in a daze for a while, Naoki Nagayama picked up the "Nihon Keizai Shimbun" on the table and flipped through it to see if there was any latest news on the Japanese Finance Minister, and then picked up the American "Wall Street Journal" to read it carefully, understanding the latest international economic information.

The "Plaza Accord" would be signed soon, and American economists were all advocating for making the dollar less strong to reduce the U. S. deficit...

"A few more days..." Naoki Nagayama crossed his hands and rested them on the desk, his chin hidden behind his hands, striking the Gendo Ikari-exclusive contemplative pose, "Genta-san has already gone to the United States and is keeping a constant eye on the investment manager's operations... There shouldn't be any problems."

But after all, it was a fortune of 200 million dollars, so Naoki Nagayama was still somewhat concerned.

"During this period, I'll just make a phone call every day when the market opens..."

Looking at the economic news on the desktop, the corrective nature of history seemed to be real; major historical nodes had not shifted much, and the butterfly effect did not seem so terrifying. Naoki Nagayama was very satisfied with the scale of his future wealth.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

Just as Naoki Nagayama was daydreaming, the office door was knocked, but no one pushed it open. It didn't look like Xiu-san or Otomo-san.

"Please come in~"

The person who walked in was Masataka Komori. Wasn't this guy supposed to be promoting "Haijie Diary"?

"Naoki-san!" Masataka Komori had a pitiful expression on his face, "I'm back..."

"....... Eh?" Naoki Nagayama asked strangely, "Why the pitiful look? Aren't you promoting 'Haijie Diary'? You should be in Shikoku right now..."

"Ah, there's nothing left for me to do there!" Masataka Komori shook his head, sat on the sofa, and sighed, "Most of the roadshow promotion is finished. For the upcoming cities, Yukari-chan and Chikako-chan are enough... Anyway, I'm just a little director with no fame~"

"......"

Hmm, he's starting to sound like a resentful wife!

Naoki Nagayama looked at this guy with interest. You have to know that when you act pitiful to your boss, it's either because you need something or you've messed something up... Now, he was just waiting to see how he would perform!

"....."

Masataka Komori didn't hear a response from Naoki Nagayama, so he looked up at Naoki Nagayama, only to find their gazes colliding... This was very awkward...

"Ahem, Naoki-san..." Masataka Komori's skin hadn't thickened enough yet, and he was still a bit stiff when changing the subject, "I heard when I got back that Kijima-kun's '101st Proposal' is about to start filming?"

"Yes~ We just finished the production announcement meeting." Naoki Nagayama replied briefly and concisely.

"Eh... I also heard... Xiu-san is also working on a new film project?" Masataka Komori continued.

"Yes... that 'The Man with Zero Presence,' the script seems to have been perfected!"

"...... I also also also heard..." Masataka Komori mustered his courage, "Naoki-san is also going to film a family gangster movie?"

"Hmm..." Naoki Nagayama didn't hide it either, " 'Hayato's Legend: New World' is indeed based on my grandfather's experiences... It might start filming a little earlier than Xiu-san's movie..."

After telling Masataka Komori everything, Naoki Nagayama issued a soul-searching question:

"So... what's the matter? Masataka-kun?!"

"Naoki-san!!!" Masataka Komori let out a miserable cry, "Three films at the end of the year... and there's actually no part for me?! I'm your number one disciple (loyal dog)!!"

"......."

Naoki Nagayama rubbed his temples helplessly,

"First of all, I have never taken on any disciples... Second, didn't you just finish filming 'Haijie Diary'?! The box office projection for the first month has already exceeded 300 million, what more do you want?!"

"There are still three months until the end of the year! Everyone has something to film, except me!!!"

Masataka Komori forcibly assigned Naoki Nagayama a title, slapping the table and pretending to be heartbroken,

"Master!! I want to film a movie!!!!"

"......." I am NOT Coach Anzai!

Naoki Nagayama watched Masataka Komori perform without regard for his dignity and sighed... Who exactly corrupted the corporate culture of the Naoki-san Group?!

How is it that everyone's skin is so thick?!

"Stop making noise!"

Naoki Nagayama also slapped the table, making Masataka Komori shrink back immediately, sitting up straight and obediently, waiting to listen to the lecture~

Looking at the current situation, if Naoki Nagayama didn't have a good explanation, this guy seemed like he was going to camp out in the office!

"Masataka-kun~"

"Yes!"

"It's not that I don't want to assign you a project..." Naoki Nagayama consoled him, "It's really that we don't have any left on hand!"

"......"

Masataka Komori didn't speak, just looked over with resentful eyes... Whether there is one or not is just a matter of a word from you, Naoki-san!

Not to mention anything else, Naoki-san's private treasury is already an open secret at Naoki-san!

"Besides, we are hosting the Tokyo International Film Festival in October, and the task is very heavy!"

"Our Naoki-san Film has only three crews' worth of manpower. Kijima-kun, myself, and Xiu-san have already booked them. There's no one left~"

"With such a short time until the end of the year, three films are already enough for Naoki-san~"

"Masataka-kun, you worked hard for half a year filming 'Haijie Diary,' it's time to have a good rest... By the way, you've only been married to your wife for a year, you should spend some time with her~"

"......."

Seeing Masataka Komori's unmoved expression, Naoki Nagayama also got a little angry. He wanted to scold him, but the guy had such a "willing to suffer" expression that he couldn't bring himself to do it...

If he wanted to kick him out, this guy actually started playing the victim again, performing a complaint about his inner bitterness... he was just one step away from crying, making a scene, and hanging himself...

In short, he couldn't be driven away no matter what...

I'll say it again, who exactly corrupted Naoki-san's corporate culture!!!

"......." Naoki Nagayama's fingers tapped on the desk, and finally, he couldn't take it anymore, "Fine, fine, fine... You want to film a movie, right?!"

"I'll let you film!"

"I have a 'Battle Royale' here, you can try it!" Naoki Nagayama grinned, "But this is a movie that doesn't quite fit the modern social trend. If you're willing, go film it!"

"But if it doesn't sell well after you film it..." Naoki Nagayama said, "Masataka-kun, you'll have to work like a horse for me for the next few decades to compensate!"

"Yes!!"

Masataka Komori agreed without hesitation, without any fear at all!

What a joke, under the lifetime employment system, he, Masataka Komori, was going to work like a horse for you, Naoki Nagayama, at Naoki-san for the next few decades anyway!!! Not to mention that Naoki-san's treatment is very good~

Besides, the scripts Naoki Nagayama puts out, even if the sales aren't great, still have box office earnings of several hundred million!

In other production companies, that would already be considered the best film of the year!

And "Battle Royale," just hearing the name, you know it's a battle royale type movie, just like "Squid Game," but it's a new type of movie!!!

For him, a newly promoted director, being able to try this new type of movie is something he should be laughing about!

In short... Masataka Komori stood up with a satisfied face and walked toward the outside of the office:

"Then Naoki-san, I'm going to report to Xiu-san now... I believe there will definitely be a way for the subsequent crew allocation and film shooting preparations!"

At worst, we'll just hire more people, what's the big deal~

"I estimate..." Masataka Komori estimated the time, "Let's start filming in November... It'll be just right for a great start at the beginning of next year!"

"....... Get Out!"

"Yes!"

With the drop in temperature, the number of people in Japan preparing to go out for travel has started to increase.

The cherry blossom festival in spring, the fireworks tours in summer, and the autumn leaf hunting in autumn are naturally very good travel routes, but at other times, avoiding popular travel routes and peak crowds is also a very good choice.

Many workers have chosen to take their annual leave during this period, preparing to travel light and check off some attractions while it's neither cold nor hot.

And at this time, it is exactly the stage where "Midnight Diner" is spreading more and more widely among the working population~

"It should be here, right?"

Sakaguchi Keizo, as an ordinary corporate slave, took his annual leave during his busy schedule and finally arrived in this small town of Shizuoka~

He originally came to see Mount Fuji, but suddenly he felt hungry, and thinking that "Midnight Diner" was nearby, the idea of coming to take a look arose in his heart.

The izakaya opened by his older brother Aoki and his father Nagayama Ken had originally returned to its original hours, but they couldn't withstand the fact that there were quite a few people coming to check in... and they all came to check in in the middle of the night...

So they had to start shifts... Father on the day shift, older brother Aoki on the night shift...

He thought about waiting for the craze for this drama to pass before returning to their original routine... Fortunately, the izakaya isn't big, so one person is no problem. When dinner is busy, he can just let his mother, Nanako, come to help out a little.

It will probably only be this month. Once the broadcast of "Midnight Diner" ends, the number of people coming to check in will definitely decrease.

When night falls, the lanterns of "Midnight Diner" are lit, signaling that it has started its business from midnight to dawn.

"Boss~" Sakaguchi Keizo, with a corporate slave business smile on his face, lifted the curtain and walked in. His eyes lit up when he saw his older brother Nagayama Aoki, "It really is you, Boss!"

"....... Hmm, it's me~"

At the beginning, Nagayama Aoki wanted to explain, but these guys coming to check in wouldn't stop at all; they just treated him as the character in "Midnight Diner."

Slowly, he stopped explaining... maintaining a cool, aloof persona also saved him a lot of trouble.

"You can make everything on the menu from 'Midnight Diner', right?!"

"Yes, as long as I know how, I can..." Older brother Aoki didn't waste words, "Today's recommendation is tea-over-rice..."

"Tea-over-rice? The dish from the third episode!" Sakaguchi Keizo's face was full of joy, "How lucky, then I'll have a serving!"

"Please wait a moment..."

Nagayama Aoki silently began to prepare the dish. For a while, there was some silence in the izakaya... The customer also seemed unaccustomed to this atmosphere and started looking for things to talk about with Aoki:

"Boss... is there really a strip club nearby?"

"....."

Nagayama Aoki's mouth twitched. Nine out of ten customers who come to the izakaya ask this question,

"No... this is just a small town... Some segments in 'Midnight Diner' are grafted. The filming location is actually in another place, like Tokyo's Kabukicho..."

"So that's how it is~"

Sakaguchi Keizo nodded. He also knew about filming techniques,

"Then there are no yakuza thugs nearby? Like Ryu?"

"Yakuza members are everywhere..." Nagayama Aoki didn't hide it. In this era, the Yamaguchi-gumi is powerful, and other yakuza groups are also rampant; they can't be eradicated in big cities either.

However, the police stations in big cities are also quite capable; at least on the surface, there aren't that many yakuza incidents.

Sakaguchi Keizo seemed to have sparked an interest in chatting, looking at Nagayama Aoki and saying:

"Actually, when a group of us were watching 'Midnight Diner,' we were discussing that the boss of this izakaya must have a yakuza background. He has a scar on his face, and he's very proficient in holding a knife..."

"Ah, Boss, where is your scar?" Sakaguchi Keizo looked at Nagayama Aoki in surprise.

"That's a prop..."

"So, Boss, you have absolutely no connection to the yakuza?"

"......"

Actually, I can't say I have no connection... After all, my biological grandfather is a yakuza group leader, do I have to tell you that too?

Sakaguchi Keizo's expression stiffened for a moment, then he scratched his head and laughed:

"I knew it, reality is different from TV! I ran over here excitedly looking for 'Midnight Diner'...

Is it a bit ridiculous?!"

At this moment, Sakaguchi Keizo was still smiling at Nagayama Aoki, just like he faced annoying customers, stupid bosses, nagging girlfriends, and a cold life with a smile every day...

"At least the food is the same! Isn't it better to keep things simple? Just like this bowl of tea-over-rice..."

Nagayama Aoki offered the tea-over-rice while consoling him. White rice soaked in brown tea, topped with black shredded seaweed, green parsley, and red pickled plums, looked refreshing and delicious...

"Tea-over-rice, please enjoy..."

"Ah, arigato~"

Sakaguchi Keizo received the tea-over-rice, feeling somewhat flattered. At this moment, the boss of "Midnight Diner" seemed to have really appeared in reality.

He carefully used his chopsticks to pick up some rice, along with some toppings, and put them into his mouth... The warm rice was moistened by the bitterness of the tea, and after chewing, there was a little sweetness of the rice and the aftertaste of the tea leaves...

The freshness of the seaweed, the spiciness of the celery, and the salty-sweetness of the plum unfolded chaotically in his mouth, just like life with its different flavors...

Eating in large mouthfuls, Sakaguchi Keizo suddenly seemed to choke and started coughing... Nagayama Aoki quickly poured a glass of water and handed it to him~

"Hahaha, I can even choke on tea-over-rice~" The expression on Sakaguchi Keizo's face at this moment was somewhat distorted, it was unclear whether he was laughing or crying, "Hahaha~ what a useless guy..."

"Hahaha~"

"Haha... woo..."

"Woo woo woo..."

He suddenly started crying loudly...

Nagayama Aoki's body tightened a bit, but his mindset was relatively calm...

This wasn't the first time a customer had vented their emotions in the shop... it was just that this customer's level was a bit deep...

Japan is a very oppressive society. Although the economy is developing rapidly, as a worker who is a part of it, one is always kept under high pressure.

You must be respectful to superiors, you must kneel and lick the customers, you must be responsible for your family...

As a man, you should work hard, you should work to support your family, you should maintain the toughness of a Showa man, bleeding but not crying...

In this era, psychologists are not that common. The pressure accumulated in the hearts of corporate slaves can only be released in places like soaplands, nightclubs, etc...

If you don't have much money, you either drink or you can only hold it in your heart...

Maybe at some moment, the last straw will be added, and you'll go sleep on the railway tracks, or go hang yourself in the forest...

Those who are more capable might take out a homemade "Abe-cutter" gun from their bag and forcibly trade lives with the Prime Minister...

Most of those who watch the midnight slot are corporate slaves who work a lot of overtime...

They see a warm place like "Midnight Diner," seeing individuals chatting with the boss about the hardships of life in this small izakaya... naturally, they are full of longing for this place...

And for those guys who can find their way here following the TV signal, many of them actually have their pressure already fully accumulated~

So, feeling a scene similar to the one on TV, they couldn't help but substitute themselves into the role, treating themselves as ordinary diners in "Midnight Diner"...

Some people talk about trivial matters with Nagayama Aoki, some customers curse, some customers drink...

But this guy, who looks ordinary but can cry just by eating tea-over-rice... is indeed quite rare!

"Alright, alright, there's nothing that can't be overcome..."

Nagayama Aoki gently comforted the diner, not doing anything extra. He knew that once these diners' emotions were vented, they would return to normal... and then they would give a generous tip... It feels like "Midnight Diner," which operates in the middle of the night, has become a psychological clinic!

This guy Naoki-san... how can filming a drama be so strange?!

Nagayama Aoki watched helplessly as another customer arrived...

This guy was already teary-eyed the moment he walked in~

"When will this kind of troublesome thing finally end!"