Chapter 966: He should be the one to rise to the top! He

A sunny winter morning...

Eitaro was always very punctual. After waking up his master, he would frolic in the spacious courtyard, wanting to check for any bones or dog food he had hidden away before~

The frost that had condensed in the morning had been dried away by the sun, revealing the somewhat withered leaves underneath. The vegetation that had endured the cold wind all night now stretched out its branches and leaves, embracing the hard-won warmth.

It was already winter, and the cherry trees in the courtyard had shed their leaves again, leaving only brown, thin branches. In the flower beds, only evergreen leaves remained, and not even a flower bud could be seen...

"Akina..." Naoki Nagayama stood in front of the window, overlooking Eitaro frolicking in the garden downstairs, and asked his newlywed wife who was organizing her clothes, "Do you think we should replace the courtyard with a batch of flowers... like hyacinths or cyclamens?"

"What's wrong with the flower beds now?" Akina brought the suit and matched it for her husband.

"There are no flowers~"

"That's a normal natural law~" Akina changed to another tie, feeling quite satisfied before signaling Naoki Nagayama to put it on. "When the spring comes and the flowers bloom next year, they will naturally bloom..."

"......"

But there are no flowers now... Naoki Nagayama originally wanted to say that the flower beds were for aesthetics, but seeing Akina's matter-of-fact expression, he shut his mouth~

Forget it, let's just listen to Akina on this kind of thing; she's pregnant with the baby!

"Alright, let's use the blue patterned tie with this suit today!" Akina looked at the effect on her husband's upper body and nodded repeatedly...

Her work was gradually decreasing, and she was becoming more and more invested in the role of a wife, handling housework, preparing meals, and matching outfits for Naoki Nagayama to go out, all of which she was becoming more and more adept at.

Akina also liked the feeling of taking care of Naoki Nagayama; after all, becoming a competent housewife was also one of her ideals.

Today, Naoki Nagayama was going to Fuji TV with Akina to participate in a program recording. Since they were both participating, they needed to match their outfits well.

It was another request involving personal favors... Originally, neither Naoki Nagayama nor Akina intended to show their faces, but their relationship with Fuji TV was indeed very good...

Breakfast was very simple, but the nutrition was very rich~

While waiting for the driver to arrive, Naoki Nagayama flipped through the morning newspaper and clicked his tongue in wonder:

"The Japanese people's attention is all on the entertainment industry... This year's Yearly Kanji is actually 'Marriage'... It must be referring to the marriages of the two of us and Seiko Matsuda!"

"There are also reasons from other aspects... I heard that the marriage rate this year has risen a lot..."

The two of them occasionally muttered, having different views on the same thing...

"Maybe it's the final glory... In a few years, the marriage rate will definitely go down!"

"How could Naoki-san have such an idea... Isn't the current society thriving?!"

"People don't get married when things are thriving..."

This year could be considered the first year of the bubble. In the next five years, the economy would become increasingly better, and the stock market and real estate market seemed as if they would never collapse. In the end, there was even the boast of buying out New York.

In the bubble era, making money was too easy, and one person could live very well.

Women, who previously didn't have high status in Japan, had undergone a subversive transformation. Feminism was rampant, the idea of female independence was widely welcomed, and there even appeared situations where women were respected and men were looked down upon...

Those who could get married were true love! But how could there be so much true love!

Under these circumstances, how could the marriage rate go up~

Of course, these thoughts only swirled in Naoki Nagayama's mind; he didn't have the intention to argue with Akina... This kind of thing couldn't be argued to a result; only facts could prove it.

Fusinori Akina arrived quickly, and Naoki Nagayama and Akina got into the luxury car exclusively provided by Burning Productions.

"Has Akina-san's subsequent arrangements been decided?"

Naoki Nagayama asked. After all, Akina would basically be semi-retired next year, and there wouldn't be much work coming out, so a gold-medal manager like Fusinori Akina couldn't just keep waiting.

Fusinori Akina said while driving:

"It hasn't been determined yet, but I should be taking on Burning Productions' new idols..."

"New idols?"

Fusinori Akina glanced at the couple in the back seat through the rearview mirror, feeling that it didn't matter if he said it out loud,

"Hmm, Yukiko Okada... We at Burning Productions have been in contact for a long time~"

"Did Yukiko-chan agree?!" Akina looked over curiously. She only knew that they had been in private contact before.

"Almost..."

Naoki Nagayama was also very curious:

"Yukiko-chan is currently a potential stock of Sun Music. How did you persuade her?"

"......"

Fusinori Akina paused, but still said:

"Yukiko-chan's contract is about to expire, but she is not yet an adult, and the guardianship is still in the hands of her parents... We went to find her parents privately and proposed very good conditions..."

"Oh? That easy?"

Naoki Nagayama didn't believe it. This shouldn't be the biggest reason. Sun Music would also propose new conditions... Yukiko Okada's potential had already been revealed, and the agency wouldn't let go easily.

"And also..." Fusinori Akina let go. "We heard some bad rumors about the president of Sun Music and Yukiko Okada... We told her parents about this..."

"......."

Naoki Nagayama and Akina looked at each other, and both had some ideas in their hearts...

Because in this era, many idols were not adults when they debuted, and the guardianship obligation after debut was with the agency. Therefore, in order to take care of underage girls, agencies would let them live in the president's home...

Of course, this was also a kind of favor, and most of the time, they only took such care of the idols with the most potential... For others, they would just find a dormitory and send them in...

Wait, come to think of it, when Akina debuted back then, Akira Hanami didn't take such care of her!!!

Akina lived in an apartment by herself!!!

That's right, when Akina just debuted, she wasn't that famous among the same batch of idols, and being chubby, she could only be said to be very cute... The sales of her debut song weren't outstanding either...

Oh no, it seems like I've discovered a blind spot!!!

Naoki Nagayama hurriedly shifted his thoughts and continued to ask:

"Did she have an illicit affair with the president?"

A mature opposite sex like an agency president was still very attractive to underage little girls, not to mention that he also had absolute power over the artist's career...

"Hard to say..." Fusinori Akina said. "There were just signs... Obsessive fans witnessed the president of Sun Music entering Yukiko Okada's room at night... and internal staff also spread gossip..."

"The important thing is that the president's wife has clearly opposed Yukiko Okada continuing to live at home and wants her to move out! The news has spread widely..."

"In short, we communicated these things to Yukiko Okada's family... and Yukiko-chan is currently under great pressure. Sun Music treats her as a commodity, and she can discover this too!"

"Whether in terms of career, spirit, or emotion, she is very painful now... She has depression... and may even have suicidal tendencies..."

"So moving to another agency at this time is a breathing opportunity for her... Of course, Burning Productions will pay the corresponding price..."

Akina listened as if she were listening to gossip... She also knew that the first year or two of an idol's debut would be very hard, but she didn't expect that Yukiko-chan already had tendencies to commit suicide.

"When will Yukiko-chan move over?"

"Because there are still some set businesses, it will be until April next year... However, after the New Year, Burning Productions will take over, with four months as a transition period..."

"That's good..."

After understanding the matter of Yukiko Okada's transfer, Naoki Nagayama wanted to continue asking about some situations, but Yamasakura-in was not far from Fuji TV, and in the blink of an eye, they were already there, and his desire to talk was gone.

Many reporters had already gathered at the entrance of Fuji TV. They didn't know where they got the news, but today both Akina Nakamori and Seiko Matsuda were coming... and both were bringing their family members~

When the car stopped at the entrance, many reporters surrounded them.

"Akina-chan, did you come with Naoki Nagayama today?" "Akina-chan, what is your confidence for the Record Awards?"

"How is the rehearsal for the *Red and White Song Assembly* going?!" "......"

Of course, some people wanted to interview Naoki Nagayama:

"Director Nagayama, how is the production of the new movie going?" "Mr. Nagayama, what is your view on the wedding scene being exposed?" "Naoki-san, can you let Akina-chan continue to work after marriage?" "Akina belongs to everyone, you can't hide her!"

"......?"

I don't know when some strange fans mixed in... and were pushed away by a group of reporters~

After Naoki Nagayama got out of the car, he walked around the back of the car and then picked Akina up. He had a gentle expression on his face, but he didn't say a word... He had to maintain this coldness; he didn't just accept interviews casually!

Akina said sorry to the reporters and answered one or two questions, such as "I will do my best for the Record Awards..."

"Regarding the leak of the photos, friends in the media circle should boycott this kind of behavior that infringes on privacy... The private life of an artist is also personal privacy... Burning Productions has already formally filed a lawsuit regarding this matter~"

"......"

Such a murderous answer made the reporters stunned for a moment, and even somewhat at a loss... They had never been confronted head-on by an idol like this; usually, the agency would issue such a statement.

You know, even big names in the entertainment industry would at most dodge and not answer when facing reporters.

Watching Akina Nakamori's back as she walked into Fuji TV, a reporter was stunned for a moment and sighed:

"After Akina-chan got married, she seems to have become 'sharper'..." "Yes, there were times when she clashed with reporters before, but there wasn't this feeling... How should I put it?" "A feeling of having confidence, right?!"

Everyone nodded in agreement when they heard this. Although the guy guarding her on the side hadn't said a word, no one dared to ignore him!

However, some reporters were naturally unconvinced:

"As an artist, there should be no privacy in the first place! We reporters do this because everyone is paying attention! Didn't Akina-chan get a lot of heat because of us before! Why is she turning her back on us now!"

"Exactly, exactly..." "Ungrateful..." "Wait, don't say that!"

Naoki Nagayama and Akina naturally didn't pay attention to the discussion behind them. After the two walked into Fuji TV, they were greeted by many acquaintances, leaving them with no time to reply.

"Naoki-san, over here..." Rumi Nishi led the way in front. It was also her who contacted Naoki Nagayama and the others before. "The live broadcast room for *Yearly Kanji* is on the fifth floor..."

"Everything is ready in Kyoto, right?"

"Yes, yes, quite a few people have come from Kiyomizu-dera... The people from the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation have also arrived."

Today's program was a live broadcast. Kyoto was writing characters on the spot, and the studio would also conduct a satellite relay broadcast simultaneously... They had invited guests who were closely related to this year's candidate kanji to come for interviews.

Of course... the most famous ones were the two couples related to the character "Marriage"...

"Seiko-san!" Walking into the studio, Akina Nakamori called out in surprise and greeted Seiko Matsuda inside. "Long time no see!"

"Akina-chan, long time no see... The TV station also invited us..."

"Seiko-san's complexion has gotten better..."

"Of course the complexion will be good if I don't work!"

"....."

Watching the two women chat together like this, and then become like good friends whispering to each other, occasionally bursting into laughter, Naoki Nagayama still marveled at the speed with which girls became familiar with each other...

Conversely, it was very difficult for men to become familiar so quickly...

For example, now he and Masahiro Kanda were just nodding acquaintances with basically no intersection. After the two looked at each other, they laughed somewhat awkwardly.

"Kanda-san, long time no see... What have you been busy with recently?"

"Filming a TV series..." Masahiro Kanda said politely. "Nagayama-san, what have you been busy with recently?"

"Producing a movie..."

"Do you smoke?"

"No, no..."

"..... Hehe~"

"Hehehe~"

They looked like two simpletons!

In fact, this was because the gap in age and status between the two was very large, and it happened to be reversed, with the younger one having a higher status, which was why it was so awkward...

If it were a private occasion, the two could talk about their careers, talk about married life, complain about their respective wives... After going back and forth, they would quickly become familiar, but now they were about to go live, and it was too rushed.

"Currently, the head of Kiyomizu-dera is fasting, waiting to write this year's Yearly Kanji..." The host talked eloquently to the camera, signaling the camera to turn to the side. "However, before that, we have invited guests who are closely related to this year's Yearly Kanji... Let's invite them to talk about their views on the Yearly Kanji..."

"Next, let's invite Seiko Matsuda and Masahiro Kanda!"

Enthusiastic applause broke out in the studio...

"Akina Nakamori and Naoki Nagayama!"

The applause and cheers in the studio broke through the sky...

Hearing these cheers of different momentum, Seiko Matsuda's expression stiffened slightly. This was of course a blow to her, who was very career-oriented... However, the expression on her face immediately turned around, revealing her signature sweet smile...

The entertainment industry is very realistic. Seiko Matsuda hadn't been exposed for more than half a year, so her popularity was naturally not as good as Akina Nakamori, who had just gotten married and whose wedding photos had been leaked, creating big news!

"Both of you are newlywed wives. What are your thoughts on 'Marriage' in the Yearly Kanji?!" The host threw the topic to the two female idols.

"I think..." Seiko Matsuda spoke first, still with a sweet smile and voice. "Marriage is the happiest and most beautiful thing in life... Everyone choosing this character shows that everyone's pursuit of happiness and beauty is consistent..."

As expected of the most perfect female idol! She said the empty and big words that followed the mainstream directly... and still made people feel very sincere...

When the camera turned to Akina Nakamori, Akina picked up the microphone and laughed "pfft" before she could speak, and even wanted to hide behind Naoki Nagayama beside her...

Naoki Nagayama raised his arm, turned around, and also laughed and whispered something... This kind of intimacy was something that Seiko Matsuda and Masahiro Kanda beside them couldn't act out even if they tried!

The audience present also laughed...

"What is it... what's wrong?" The host was infected. "Akina-chan is so happy! And wants to hide?"

"Because I think..." Akina adjusted herself and said to the camera, "The thoughts I said were too childish..."

"Nani nani?" The host pursued. "What thoughts?"

"I think those who chose 'Marriage'..." Akina sat up straight and said to the camera, "are just like children, seeing others get married and wanting to see the novelty... liking to join in the fun..."

"Join in the fun?" The host was stunned for a moment, then also revealed a smile. "If you put it that way, it seems so..."

"Ah... Seiko-chan got married, let's go take a look... Ah, Akina-chan also got married, let's hurry up and take a look, and soak up the joy... Ah, this year's Yearly Kanji has 'Marriage'... let's go join in the fun too... Hahaha~"

The host couldn't help but burst into laughter, and the studio became lively as well. The crowd seemed to find the idea of joining in the fun quite fitting... and it gave those voting for the wedding a sense of rubbing off on some good fortune.

After all, it was the end of the year, and everyone hoped for more blessings and joy...

Although it was regarded as a childish behavior of children... but what's wrong with children? Children are inherently innocent and sincere!

Who isn't a baby!!!

The atmosphere in the studio became better and better, and the host also asked for the thoughts of other guests. The other candidate kanji actually represented important events in Japan this year!

Including "Film", which was very related to Naoki Nagayama...

The Palme d'Or, the Tokyo International Film Festival, and other grand events in the film industry, this year could be said to be a year of great development for the film industry, and it spread Japanese culture to the whole world!

It was definitely a milestone time node!

"Naoki-san, what are your thoughts on the character 'Film'?"

Naoki Nagayama naturally wouldn't be so nonsensical and said very seriously:

"The achievements made by the film industry this year are obvious to all... Thanks to the strong support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology... and the dispatch of a commissioner like Section Chief Yasuko Ikenobo to guide us... Otherwise, the Tokyo International Film Festival could not have been a complete success!"

"Of course, there are also film production factories like Shu-Yu, Kadokawa, Shochiku, Toho, and Toei, all of which have sent capable personnel..."

"Especially the jury, under the leadership of Shohei Imamura..."

This was a live broadcast facing the national audience!!! After last year, Yearly Kanji had already attracted a lot of attention, and the number of viewers was almost one-tenth of Japan's population!

At such a time, how to do face-saving projects, how to manage upwards, how to unite comrades... Naoki Nagayama gave everyone a lesson!!!

"This guy Naoki Nagayama... he should indeed rise to the top!!" People with hearts silently learned in their hearts, "Even bootlicking is so outstanding!!!" ===== CHAPTER 967 =====