Chapter 965: Beheading at the Noon Gate

Akina Nakamori had already changed her surname and become Akina Nagayama... This point had long been widely announced.

However, this was not a problem at all for fans and others in the entertainment industry, because in the current context of Japan, everyone just called her "Akina-chan" to show closeness~

This name had already been branded with Akina Nakamori's mark and currently belonged exclusively to Akina. Even if there were others with the same name, they had to admit... if someone shouted "Akina" on the street, they were definitely referring to the person standing at the pinnacle of the idol world!

"Akina-chan~"

Mari Yoshimura, the host of Fuji TV's *Night Hit* program, greeted the highly sought-after idol enthusiastically.

"Thank you for your hard work! Coming to participate in the year-end special edition of *Night Hit* this time..."

After all, it was the most famous music program of the Showa era. After repeated requests from the TV station, Akina couldn't refuse the request and agreed to participate in the year-end special edition as a guest.

"Not at all, I'm just singing one song..."

Akina maintained her consistent humility. Her pregnancy was no longer a secret within the entertainment industry, so even when participating in the program recording, Burning Productions had set strict rules: she was only there to sing one song, and she would not participate in any other game segments.

Although Akina felt that there was nothing wrong with her body, neither Burning Productions nor Fuji TV itself dared to take the risk... Offending Naoki Nagayama on this issue was not something to be trifled with.

"*Roppongi Junjouha*... it's really very suitable for the year-end carnival atmosphere~" Mari Yoshimura smiled and exchanged pleasantries. "Where is Akina spending the New Year this year?"

"In Tokyo..." Akina also smiled. "At my and Naoki-san's home..."

Before they were married, Naoki Nagayama and Akina would return to their hometowns for the New Year. Even if they had to stay in Tokyo until the last day because of work, they would still make a trip back to their hometowns and wouldn't prepare cold food or New Year's goods at their Tokyo residence.

But now that they were married, it was equivalent to having a family, so naturally, they would spend the New Year at Yamasakura-in and return to their hometowns after the New Year...

"I see~" Mari Yoshimura laughed. "It must be very novel to spend the New Year alone for the first year, right?"

"Yes, many things have to be prepared now..."

Thus, the conversation turned into a chat between housewives... Akina finally felt that her identity had truly changed.

You know, before this, those married, older women wouldn't talk to her about these things~

After chatting with Mari Yoshimura for a while, she returned to the group of young idols. However, looking at them, they were talking about where the new nightclubs had opened, which bars were interesting, the latest video game arcades having new machines... and when they were going to Hawaii for vacation...

She just felt that she was no longer in the same dimension as them~

Akina subconsciously touched her belly, as if she could feel a faint heartbeat... A life was being nurtured inside~

"Akina-chan~" Naoko Kawai walked to Akina's side and talked about a magazine that had recently become very popular. "Akina-chan, the wedding kimono you wore when you got married was really beautiful~"

"You saw it too~" Akina sighed. "It was all exposed by *Shukan Bunshun*~"

"I think the wedding kimono is very beautiful, it doesn't matter if people see it~"

Naoko Kawai didn't think it was a big deal that the photos were leaked. After all, as an idol artist, exposure meant heat.

"It's just... without my consent..." Akina was still a bit angry. "This is my privacy! *Shukan Bunshun* is wrong to do this... I've already asked the agency to sue them..."

"......"

Naoko Kawai was a bit surprised, but thinking that everyone's emphasis on privacy was different, she didn't express an opinion.

At this time, other idols also heard the conversation between the two. When they heard that Akina was going to go head-to-head with the magazine for the sake of the photos, they expressed their support one after another.

As artists, they themselves were often harassed by these paparazzi and obsessive fans. Although most of the time they compromised for the sake of exposure, as normal people, they naturally hoped that their privacy would be protected.

At least those guys who followed them, snuck into their residences... and even rummaged through their trash cans were absolutely unwelcome~

"Akina, you must give them a good lesson!"

Yoshie Kashiwabara said angrily. Because she was liked by the heir to the imperial throne, she was harassed even more by many paparazzi... Even if she went out to dance, she would be labeled as "having bad conduct and not being a good match for the royal family."

She had long since had enough!

"Yes... we must make the media reporters restrain themselves a bit!"

Toshihiko Tahara also agreed, especially the guys from *Shukan Bunshun*... they actually secretly inquired about the relationship between idols in Johnny's and President Kitagawa... If this were to be exposed, it would be a scandal among scandals in the entertainment industry!

A group of young idols discussed it one after another, and even old singers like Shinichi Mori were attracted.

These people with seniority had been bullied by the media even more... Hearing that an artist was actually going to sue a magazine, they also became interested...

Unknowingly, the group of people in this small circle became larger and larger, and it began to turn into a collective denunciation of the media, and Akina didn't know when she had become the leader...

"Everyone, I think we should unite and collectively boycott this kind of paparazzi sneak photography!" an artist suggested.

"Yes, let's start with Akina-chan!"

"If we are interviewed, we must support Akina together!"

"Yes, yes!"

"......."

Akina looked at the circle of indignant people, feeling at a loss. She didn't expect that she had actually started a movement... and she was the one holding the flag!

"Won't... this trigger some kind of riot..."

Such a worry arose in Akina's heart, but she immediately relaxed. She was someone who was about to semi-retire to raise her baby, so what was there to be afraid of!

At worst, she would just stay at home and raise her children... Naoki-san's money was already enough to spend for ten lifetimes!

On Naoki Nagayama's side, the editing work for *The Legend of Hayato* was going very smoothly.

"Naoki-san... when Brother Kaede says 'Who agrees, who opposes', should we add some shadows... to highlight his momentum!" Masataka Komori suggested.

Editing wasn't just about picking up film; adding special effects was also a very important part of it, and some scenes could even have filters inserted directly during editing.

"Hmm, that's possible!"

Naoki Nagayama nodded and continued to bury his head in the editing table.

"The side of the protagonist's domineering aura needs to be highlighted..."

"Yes~"

"Sosei-kun~" Naoki Nagayama called out. "Adjust the projector; we'll watch this plot in a while."

"Yes!"

Bit by bit, the sample film of *The Legend of Hayato: New World* was constantly being perfected, and it was expected to be finished before the end of the year, and then a test screening would be conducted!

"Naoki-san, Naoki-san!" The editing room door was knocked open, and Jia Hua Xing came in to find Naoki Nagayama. "Naoki-san, Mr. Kaede Nagayama is here..."

"Ah, Brother Kaede..."

Naoki Nagayama nodded, telling the others to continue working, while he himself went to meet his cousin.

After arriving at the office, Kaede Nagayama was standing in front of the window, admiring the scenery of Ikebukuro.

"Naoki... as expected, the office has to be in a high-rise building, and it needs to have a big window!" Kaede Nagayama turned around and laughed. "This office of yours is indeed luxurious..."

"This is Brother Kaede's first time here..."

Naoki Nagayama smiled and brought a drink to Kaede Nagayama.

"In the future, the KTV headquarters can also be changed to one..."

"That will take a long time..."

KTV was indeed very profitable, but it was still in the expansion phase, and money had to be spent on the cutting edge. It would still take some time to accumulate the funds to change to a new headquarters.

"How is Xinhai-chan doing? Has it been confirmed?"

"This is definitely no problem..." Kaede Nagayama laughed. "During the New Year, I'll take her to see Father and Grandfather..."

"You must explain the matter of the yakuza organization in advance!" Naoki Nagayama urged.

"Alright, alright, you're so long-winded!" Kaede Nagayama skipped his own topic and turned to Naoki Nagayama's side. "Has that person who leaked the secret been found out?!"

"Hmm, it's a reporter named Kotaro Obara. He actually went to the family temple to become a monk in order to photograph my and Akina's wedding..."

Naoki Nagayama said, reporting the information investigated by his subordinates, which made Kaede Nagayama feel somewhat surprised.

"This isn't filming a movie, is it!"

"Hahaha, it's like filming a movie!"

The two laughed for a while, and Kaede Nagayama continued to ask:

"Then what does Naoki plan to do? You called me over... Are you going to kidnap him? Then cut off a finger? Or..."

Looking at the throat-slitting gesture Kaede Nagayama made on his neck, Naoki Nagayama was somewhat terrified:

"Brother Kaede, I know Grandfather and Uncle might have lives on their hands... but have you killed anyone too, Brother Kaede?!"

"Ahem, ahem~" Kaede Nagayama awkwardly put his hand down. "Of course I haven't, I was just demonstrating..."

Naoki Nagayama breathed a sigh of relief:

"We are legitimate businessmen. There's no need to kill for the sake of a little face... Just give him a lesson!"

"Alright, I'll go gather the boys and give him a lesson!"

"No, no, no..." Naoki Nagayama shook his head. This kind of sneaky lesson didn't fit his plan. "Brother Kaede... I heard that those monks in the family temple are all ascetic monks, right?!"

"This... that is indeed the case..."

"There are punishments for monks who break the precepts, right?!"

"That goes without saying!"

"Then in the family temple, how are monks who give up halfway usually handled?"

"This... there doesn't seem to be any way to handle it..." Kaede Nagayama scratched his head. "Just let them leave the temple. After all, cultivation is voluntary..."

"But, what if that monk breaks the precepts and runs away?!"

"Uh... a monk who broke the precepts?"

"Hmm~"

"Hmm..." Kaede Nagayama looked at his cousin's expression and speculated slightly, "Catch him back? Punish him? Make him face the wall and reflect?"

"Hmm, hmm~"

"Uh... then how long should he be punished?"

"Until he knows he was wrong!" Naoki Nagayama said. "After all, the temple isn't a wolf's den or a tiger's lair..."

"......" Does this mean there is no time limit?! That's a bit too ruthless!

"Then I'll find someone to catch him back!"

Kaede Nagayama nodded. It would probably be fine once Naoki's anger subsided, and he could just let him go then.

"No..."

Naoki Nagayama showed a somewhat terrifying smile at this time.

"I want the monks in the family temple to go to the editorial department of *Shukan Bunshun* openly and bring the person back to the family temple in front of everyone!!!

After all, he has already been tonsured and become a monk, hasn't he?! He is a formal monk! He is a runaway monk from the temple..."

"You want to do it in front of everyone?" Kaede Nagayama picked his ears... "People will call the police! The police won't let you kidnap someone!"

"They won't!"

Naoki Nagayama said,

"As long as the monks explain it clearly... if they don't go with them this time... the next people to come won't be as polite as they are!"

As a former yakuza member, Kaede Nagayama also understood the effect of this kind of threat:

"That's true... but why do it in front of everyone and make it known to everyone?"

"It's precisely to make it known to everyone!" Naoki Nagayama said. "This way, people will know the consequences of offending me, and it will deter potential enemies... making them be careful when they think of me in the future!"

Although kidnapping people secretly would have a similar effect, it wouldn't be as shocking as letting the monks take the person away directly... It's like the difference between assassination and execution; surely a public execution can deter criminals!

Beheading at the Noon Gate... is precisely to expose the body to the public so that others will be afraid!!!

Presumably, after this time, the paparazzi in the media circle will think carefully when considering targeting Naoki Nagayama!

"......" Kaede Nagayama sized up his cousin. "Sure enough, you intellectuals have too many thoughts..."

"....."

"Alright, I'll notify the family and have a few monks from the temple come... This is their internal matter, so they will definitely come~"

Since it was the family temple of the Nagayama Group, it was naturally closely linked to the Nagayama Group... Perhaps the monks wouldn't participate in other matters, but since a monk who broke the precepts had appeared... they would definitely want to clean up the sect!

"Hmm, as soon as possible~" Naoki Nagayama wanted to take advantage of the highest heat to make people remember it in one go!

In the production bureau of Fuji TV, the heads of various programs were reporting their progress to the department head.

"Department Head Takano... the *Yearly Kanji* has been selected!" Program producer Fumio Kimura said. "Combined with the New Words and Buzzwords Awards... this year's Yearly Kanji is 'Marriage'..."

"So it is this one after all..." Takano Kazuki muttered.

Although many other important things happened this year, there were only two things that were the hottest in the entire entertainment industry for the whole year: the first half was Seiko Matsuda's marriage, and the second half was Akina Nakamori's marriage... and then there was Naoki Nagayama's Tokyo International Film Festival.

Among these two things, the marriages of the two top idols undoubtedly captured the most attention from the audience.

After all, the marriage process of the two top idols was full of twists and turns, full of surprises and topics...

Seiko Matsuda first dumped her old love and quickly married her new flame, leaving behind a century wedding worth 200 million...

Akina Nakamori accidentally got pregnant and married in a hurry... She wanted to keep it low-key, but it was eventually exposed...

Even the old grandmother on the side of the road would talk to others about the marriages of these two idols!

"Yes!" Fumio Kimura nodded, then asked somewhat hesitantly, "Department Head... on the day we announce the 'Yearly Kanji', can we invite the two idols to show their faces?

Although Seiko Matsuda has retired, it doesn't seem to be thorough... After returning from her honeymoon, she accepted an interview and didn't have much resistance to year-end programs..."

"Hmm... Seiko Matsuda is a career-oriented person. She broke up with Hiromi Go precisely because she didn't want to be a housewife in the first place..." Takano Kazuki nodded. This idol's career ambition was very strong, and she was using her marriage to Masaki Kanda to constantly increase her presence. "She won't refuse this kind of thing that increases exposure!"

"Yes!"

"Akina Nakamori is more troublesome here... maybe we have to go through Naoki Nagayama..." Takano Kazuki looked at Sugiura Taisuke... and Rumi Nishi beside him. "Let Rumi Nishi-san go and communicate... Isn't Rumi Nishi very familiar with Naoki-san!"

"???" Rumi Nishi was shot innocently!

"The possibility is still very high. After all, *Yearly Kanji* is a program initiated by Naoki-san!"

"......"

"Yes~"

Rumi Nishi was full of reluctance... She really didn't have any special relationship with Naoki Nagayama... they were just ordinary acquaintances! ===== CHAPTER 966 =====