Chapter 949: Naoki Nagayama & Akina Nakamori have announced their marriage!

The news of the press conference had naturally already spread, yet the media were uncharacteristically unified in their actions; surprisingly, they hadn't reported any news in the papers...

No media outlet was willing to report only that "Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori are about to hold a press conference, or perhaps announce happy news," while accompanying it with only a single photo of Kenichi Hanami, the president of Burning Productions.

Everyone hoped to personally record the pair's statements at the press conference, personally snap photos of them together, and then print the headline "Naoki Nagayama & Akina Nakamori have announced their marriage!" in bold, heavy font on the front page—preferably accompanied by a cover photo taking up half the page!

In this carnival of public opinion, not a single media outlet was satisfied with reporting only the peripheral details.

Time flew by, and just like that, a night passed...

The originally cool autumn felt somewhat sultry last night, stuffy enough to make one irritable and unable to say exactly what was wrong, as if something were brewing...

Even the morning papers were filled with incredibly boring news—things like interest rate changes, rising housing prices, and year-end reviews of activities at Senso-ji Temple—making it feel as if one hadn't read anything at all.

"Naoki-san, are you full?"

Akina Nakamori was energetically tidying up the dining table, taking away even Naoki Nagayama's plate, which had only a few crumbs left.

"If you're done eating, let's do your makeup!"

"... Me too?" Naoki Nagayama said helplessly. "Isn't it enough for me to just wear a formal suit?"

"At least you need to spray your hair with setting spray!" Akina was very firm at this moment. "And your eyebrows need to be groomed properly..."

Watching his fiancée's serious expression, Naoki Nagayama couldn't argue and could only let her work on him, then watched as Akina also began to apply her makeup and change her clothes.

She changed into a plain-colored kimono, put her hair up, and applied very white powder to her face; the whole look was so plain she seemed like an ascetic woman... she looked simply too dignified.

However, Naoki Nagayama didn't dare to object; Akina's hormone levels were currently unstable, and her morning sickness had become intense, so everything would be done according to her mood.

Anyway, in Japan, marriage announcements don't necessarily pursue festive colors like red.

After finishing their makeup and waiting at home for a while, their dedicated driver, Chian Toda, drove Naoki Nagayama's Toyota Century to take the two of them to the press conference location.

Tokyo's Imperial Hotel is always very lively; during the previous Tokyo International Film Festival, many foreign stars had stayed there.

However, since receiving the call from Burning Productions yesterday, the hotel had immediately taken action, clearing out a banquet hall and setting it up for the press conference.

Fresh flowers, a red carpet, tables, microphones... and most importantly, the gold folding screen, had all been set up.

From very early on, people had been arriving continuously...

First were the people from Burning Productions, including staff members like Fusanori Akiko and Maki Ueda, and then President Kenichi Hanami...

Then came the people from Shu-Yu; Masami Inada was specifically in charge of the agency side, so he came too, and even Otomo Yoshimura came over...

One after another, reporters from major media outlets and newspapers in the entertainment industry all arrived. Under the direction of the staff, they found their positions, set up their video cameras, still cameras, lighting, and microphones, and then began an anxious wait.

Before long, the banquet hall was filled with a low, buzzing sound...

And just at this moment, a black Toyota Century slowly drove into the vicinity of the Imperial Hotel...

"Naoki-san, there seem to be a lot of paparazzi on both sides of the road," Chian Toda said, glancing at the rearview mirrors. "There should be even more in front of the hotel. Shall we drive straight through?"

"Yes, drive straight to the hotel's underground parking lot. Masami-kun has already arranged for personnel..."

As the most famous couple in the entertainment industry at the moment, Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori naturally knew what kind of sensation their public appearance would cause, so they would drive straight to the underground parking lot and, escorted by staff, take the employee elevator to the backstage lounge of the banquet hall...

Not giving the paparazzi a single chance!

"Hai," Chian Toda nodded and continued driving quietly.

Sitting in the back seat, Naoki Nagayama looked through the car window curtains at the reporters on both sides of the small road. They were all clicking their shutters at the car, chasing after it to take pictures... but fortunately, none were bold enough to want to lie in front of the car to stage an accident.

Suddenly, he felt a hand grip his. He turned his head to look; although Akina's face didn't show nervousness, her expression was slightly stiff.

"What's wrong?" Naoki Nagayama smiled. "You've held so many press conferences; are you still nervous, Akina?"

"This time is different from before," Akina muttered softly. This time, they were announcing their marriage!

"Oh, right, I'm here this time..." Naoki Nagayama rubbed Akina's hand. "Akina-senpai needs to take good care of the newcomer who is accepting an interview with Akina-nee-san for the first time..."

"Pfft~"

Akina Nakamori burst into laughter, and the nervousness in her heart dissipated quite a bit.

The car drove along the small road into the Imperial Hotel's underground parking lot. The hotel had naturally arranged the parking space closest to the elevator. Then, as soon as the door opened, a crowd of people surrounded the car, leaving only a path leading to the employee elevator... the elevator door was already open...

The two got out of the car quickly, walked into the elevator quickly, and only after arriving at the backstage lounge of the banquet hall did they get a temporary break.

Akina Nakamori hurriedly used the makeup kit brought by Maki Ueda to touch up her makeup, while Naoki Nagayama chatted with Kenichi Hanami and Masami Inada:

"How many media outlets have come outside?"

Masami Inada smiled: "All of Japan; everyone who could come has come..."

"Is it that exaggerated?"

"There's barely enough room to stand in front of the gold folding screen..."

"Hanami-san," Naoki Nagayama turned to the president of Burning Productions, "I've troubled you this time~"

"It's nothing... this is what the agency should do." Kenichi Hanami nodded and said with quite a bit of emotion, "And this time, you two actually notified the agency in advance... so there was time to prepare..."

In the past, whether it was announcing their relationship or their engagement, the agency had actually found out from the media... even things like dates being photographed were only known after they were exposed, without even a heads-up...

At least this time, announcing their marriage, they finally notified them in advance! Thinking about it, he actually felt a bit comforted!

"..."

Naoki Nagayama turned his head unnaturally; most of those seemed to have been on his whim...

After continuing to communicate about the subsequent press conference and discussing the question-and-answer process and the questions to be answered with the host, the time was almost ten o'clock.

"President..." Fusanori Akiko opened the door and walked in. "Naoki-san, Akina-chan... it's time!"

Kenichi Hanami glanced at Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori, who were ready, and nodded:

"Then I'll go out first... Naoki-san, Akina-chan, you two go out afterward!"

"Hai~"

Akina Nakamori took Naoki Nagayama's arm, her face slightly nervous.

"We will go out together~"

Inside the banquet hall, after the host holding the microphone maintained order, the buzzing discussion had stopped.

Huajian He stepped forward to explain the reason for today's press conference to the media, and then, under the slightly impatient gazes of everyone, he still said:

"Next, Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori themselves will announce this news to everyone!"

As the side door opened, the clicking of shutters and the constant flashing of strobe lights became the background for their appearance. Akina Nakamori, arm-in-arm with Naoki Nagayama, slowly walked out from the door.

Escorted by staff, they walked all the way to the front of the gold folding screen and sat down behind the interview table... As the male party, Naoki Nagayama naturally spoke into the microphone without hesitation.

"Minna-san, thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to come to today's press conference..."

"I said before that if Akina and I were to get married, we would definitely inform everyone... Now, that time has come..."

"Akina and I will hold our wedding at the end of November and officially become husband and wife..."

While Naoki Nagayama was speaking, Akina Nakamori looked at him softly from the side, her eyes filled with indescribable happiness and peace of mind~

The sound of shutters at the scene was like a machine gun, and the reporters were not stingy with their film, pressing frantically... as if they wanted to blind Naoki Nagayama with their camera flashes...

The microphone was passed to Akina's side, and Akina Nakamori also began to speak:

"Thank you all for your concern. The decision to marry was made after careful consideration by both of us... We hope to receive everyone's blessings... Naoki-san and I will definitely be happy!"

Through the white, blinding flashes in front of him, Naoki Nagayama seemed to hear the sound of some hearts breaking...

"Next, we enter the question-and-answer session..." After the two finished speaking, the host said to the restless reporters at the scene, "Each reporter only has one chance... Please raise your hand if you want to ask a question, and please maintain order..."

Then he began to look for reporters raising their hands... Naturally, everyone raised their hands...

"Naoki Nagayama-san!" The first lucky person was born. He took the microphone and asked the question he had been brewing: "May I ask where the wedding will be held? And what time..."

"As for the time, it's November 30th... exactly the last day..." Naoki Nagayama smiled. "The wedding location is in Shimizu City, Shizuoka... the Nagayama family temple..."

"Why not hold it in Tokyo?" the reporter hurriedly asked again.

"Because of family tradition..." Naoki Nagayama replied peacefully; he knew this was actually a setup. "Afterward, in Tokyo, we will hold a thank-you banquet..."

The host hurriedly took the microphone, stated the rule of one question at a time, and then passed the microphone to another reporter.

"What is the wedding ceremony?"

"Buddhist style..."

"Will you invite the media to broadcast it live?"

"Akina and I both think it's better to keep the wedding low-key, so we won't be inviting the media..." Naoki Nagayama replied. "There won't be a live broadcast either..."

"What about the wedding video? Will it be sold?"

"No!"

"At least invite a few media outlets; everyone really hopes to see Akina-chan wearing a white kimono!" a reporter pleaded. "Even if it can't be broadcast live, photos are fine!"

"Sumimasen, Akina wearing a white kimono is something only I can see!"

Seeing Naoki Nagayama reject the media so decisively, the reporters at the scene were very dissatisfied, and there were even sounds of booing...

However, Naoki Nagayama had no intention of changing his attitude, nor did he have any intention of leaving the banquet hall. Both sat calmly in front of the cameras...

After the noisy atmosphere quieted down again, the reporters' questions continued.

"Akina-chan, where do you plan to go for your honeymoon?"

"Probably North America..." Akina Nakamori said. "Europe is also possible..."

"You haven't decided yet?"

"I really like Brazil, and I also like Italy... But the honeymoon will be after the New Year; we still have to participate in the Kohaku Uta Gassen at the end of the year~"

"You're still participating in the Kohaku Uta Gassen?" a reporter asked in surprise. "Then what about the Japan Record Awards at the end of the year?"

"Hai, we will also participate in the Japan Record Awards... This was decided long ago and will not change for the time being."

Akina Nakamori answered the questions honestly. This matter was indeed decided, and unless a major change occurred, it would not change...

"Naoki Nagayama-san, may I ask when you plan to have children after marriage?" the next reporter continued to ask.

"Uh..."

Naoki Nagayama complained in his heart: We already have one, but I'm not telling you.

"Let fate decide..."

When the child is born eight months later, I'll tell you all that this is a heaven-sent premature baby~

The microphone was passed to another reporter:

"Naoki Nagayama-san, how did you propose? Can you tell us?"

"This... it was just like a normal family..." Naoki Nagayama recalled slightly and smiled as he told him. "I brought gifts to Akina's house and begged her father, 'Please hand Akina over to me; I will make her happy...' 'If you don't agree, I'll elope with Akina!'"

"Hahaha~" "How could that be!" "That's a threat, right..." "..."

The banquet hall burst into laughter, and Akina Nakamori lightly punched Naoki Nagayama, but there was also a smile on her face... Finally, there was a bit more of a joyful atmosphere~

Next, the reporters asked about interesting things that happened when the two were dating...

What kind of opportunity brought the two together...

In each other's eyes, what is the other half like...

How did they confess, how did they propose...

All kinds of questions, almost turning their romance upside down so they could write a detailed report.

During other interviews, Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori might have replied vaguely, but at the marriage announcement press conference, they naturally spoke in more detail.

Chance encounters while traveling abroad, dates in first-class airplane cabins, booking out high-end restaurants, custom-made fireworks displays, birthday celebrations with blimps in the sky, sapphire rings on luxury yachts...

Various amazing romantic moves; they could probably write a textbook on romance...

The title would be "How to Marry a Top Star"!

Time passed slowly in this question-and-answer session...

"Akina Nakamori-san... I have one more question!" Near the end, the last reporter asked very cautiously, "Will you retire after marriage?"

Akina Nakamori restrained the smile on her face slightly and said seriously:

"Regarding retirement, Naoki-san and I have discussed it many times...

In the end, I really do love singing...

After marriage, I might reduce some work and shift my focus to the family...

So, I will not retire completely...

I still want to sing for the people who are waiting for me!!"

When these words came out, the reporters at the scene were excited and even applauded... Momoe Yamaguchi's retirement had set off a trend of marriage and retirement throughout Japan...

This year, Seiko Matsuda also got married and retired... If they lost Akina Nakamori again, the fans would be heartbroken!

Fortunately... Akina-chan won't leave us!

"Looking forward to Akina's new album after marriage!" ===== CHAPTER 950 =====