Chapter 890

The case in Aomori Prefecture seemed rather strange.

The Japanese government did not want the public to completely ignore it, because that would make them look like they were not taking corrective action seriously.

But they also did not want the public to pay too much attention, because that would make them look incompetent.

The same applied to the National Police Agency and the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office—they did not want the public to ignore them, as that would make it seem like they were not doing anything, but they also did not want too much attention, because that would ultimately be a bad thing.

Thus, the authorities simultaneously suppressed public discussion while issuing real-time updates, then labeled all online information as false rumors to be debunked, and with the added incident involving Aragaki Yui, public interest quickly faded.

Japanese people possess an innate coldness and apathy toward charitable donations, compounded by the Unification Church's retreat, so after the Aomori case maintained heat and debate for over a week, public attention began to shift elsewhere.

That was the final episode of the first season of the second part of 《Hand of God》.

Because Uesugi Muneyuki himself was very busy, 《Hand of God》 originally planned for two seasons with 23 episodes plus one special recap episode, but due to his schedule, it was compressed into two seasons of 18 episodes plus two recap episodes, two information episodes, one highlight reel episode, and one behind-the-scenes episode—shortly put, due to insufficient content, President Kameyama stretched the runtime. However, on Christmas Eve at the end of December, when the final episode of 《Hand of God》 aired, it seemed as if the entire nation of Japan was sitting in front of their televisions. At the start of broadcast, ratings reached 38.7%, the Kantou region peaked at 51% instantaneously, and the final average rating was 48%. Fuji Television plunged into a massive celebration.

Some people cried, some shouted, some knelt on the ground with palms together chanting Amida Buddha.

48%.

Not the instantaneous peak, but the average rating; the Kantou region's instantaneous peak was 52%, while the Kansai region, which most dislikes the Kantou region, also reached an instantaneous peak of 46%, with an average of 40.6%.

The Kantou region's average rating was forty-eight percent.

This number would be considered a super hit even during the bubble economy era, and in the Hikawa era, it would be a true myth.

The highest-rated television drama in Japanese history is NHK's morning drama 《A Shin》 (1983), with a single-episode peak of 62.9% and an average rating of 52.6%, a record unbroken in Japanese television history to this day.

If considering commercial television, the highest was the 1983 TBS family drama "Precision Wood (Collapsing Blocks)", with the Kantou region's final episode rating at 45.3%. Now, a new era has arrived!

President Kameyama personally opened a bottle of 1982 champagne and sprayed it over his two magic pills, splattering it everywhere.

The director hugged the cameraman and wept, the cameraman hugged the lighting technician and wept, the lighting technician hugged the stagehand and wept, the stagehand, who did not even know the lighting technician, also joined in weeping. On social media, the top three real-time trending topics were all occupied by 《Hand of God》.

The first was "Hand of God Finale," the second was "Uesugi Muneyuki Shirakawa Mai Hot Spring, one y," the third was "Moving Tears Cry What 3." Someone on Twitter said, "I used up all the tissues in my house," someone on Instagram said, "This is the best drama of the Hikawa era, no doubt," someone said, "Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai are the Reiwa-era Kimura Takuya and Yamaguchi Tomoko," someone corrected them, saying, "No, they are Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai of the Hikawa era, needing no one's prefix."

Meanwhile, this year's Kohaku Uta Gassen is predicted to have a viewership rating of only 30%.

The NHK President stared at this number and sighed: "No need to calculate—we've already lost."

"President, why don't we invite Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai to host next year's Kohaku?" a board member proposed.

No one dared to answer.

Because no one dared to confirm whether Uesugi Shiro would come, their current status for NHK is already that of "major figures," and NHK cannot tolerate being rejected—it would be a true humiliation for them. They would only extend an invitation if Uesugi Shiro were certain to accept, and only then would they send it.

But Uesugi Muneyuki is not from the entertainment industry; he is swamped with work—why should he necessarily accept your invitation?

Amidst joy and sorrow, Fuji Television held its year-end party at the Tokyo Imperial Hotel, where President Kameyama Chihiro delivered a speech at the celebration banquet, holding a wine cup, his face flushed like a boiled crab.

He said many things; at first, it was all gratitude—thanks to the production crew, thanks to the actors, thanks to the sponsors, thanks to the audience.

Finally, he raised his wine cup, his voice rising eight degrees, as if declaring war on the world: "NHK is no longer an enemy of our scale!" The hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted into deafening cheers.

Someone whistled, someone slapped the table, someone spilled wine on the person beside them, but no one paid attention.

Because everyone knew the president was speaking the truth.

NHK is a public broadcaster, has no advertisements, is not swayed by ratings, has a stable viewership, and has a habit of national viewership. But so what?

Forty-eight percent versus thirty percent (predicted)—the difference of over ten points represents more than ten million televisions.

Over ten million households, on the same night, chose Fuji over NHK!

This is the people's choice!! You don't like it? What are you, anyway?

On social media, people began joking: "The Kohaku Uta Gassen is prepared for those who don't watch 《Hand of God》," and someone replied, "Then isn't it just for aliens to watch?"

"Hahahahahaha ahahahahahahaha~"

Fuji booked the largest banquet hall, setting up fifty tables. The light from the crystal chandelier fell upon the white tablecloths, champagne glasses stacked into a tower, sushi and wagyu beef piled onto the tables as if cost were no object.

Artists skilled in long-sleeved dance moved among them, exchanging cups and toasts, laughter never ceasing.

Uesugi Muneyuki was specially invited to attend, seated at the main table, with Shirakawa Mai on his left, Tsumabuki Satoshi on his right, and producer Kinoshita Hiroko and the director opposite him. He was not accustomed to such occasions, but tonight was an exception.

Tonight, he was the protagonist.

Everyone wanted to clink glasses with him, everyone had something to say to him, everyone wanted to brush a bit of gold dust onto that sacred halo. "Uesugi-san, I won't say anything else." Kameyama Chihiro excitedly embraced Uesugi Muneyuki: "Great kindness needs no thanks—from now on, whenever you make a request, I, Kameyama, will comply without hesitation; you want my moat, I'll agree to it!"

"Who wants your moat?!!!" Uesugi Muneyuki angrily retorted.

This segment was recorded by Fuji, prepared to be aired later as behind-the-scenes footage.

During the performance segment, the popular members of the 48 Group took the stage to sing. Their song was the kind where you know what they're singing from the prelude—a youthful, energetic type—and dozens of girls in identical uniform skirts lined up on stage, turned, jumped, their skirts flaring, filling the screen with pale thighs and uniform smiles.

But when Akai Saka 46 appeared, the natural lead singer was the current center position, Hirate Sarina, standing at the very front and center, wearing a black performance outfit with a red-checkered skirt, over-the-knee boots, refined makeup, and when she flicked her hair back, it carried a fierce, unquestionable aura.

She is the ace of 46, the pearl in the palm lifted by Diet member's son Yūasa Yōichi, the most valuable face in the entire group. But today, her gaze never left that one table.

At the far end of that table sat Miyawaki Sakura.

Miyawaki Sakura did not go up.

She wore a light pink formal dress, her hair pinned up, revealing a slender neck. Her seat was not in the 48 Group's area, but in the "Special Guest Seats" beside the main table.

Those seated there were the main cast and production staff of 《Hand of God》—the innermost circle of the entire celebration banquet.

She sat there, sharing the same table with Shirakawa Mai, Tsumabuki Satoshi, and Uesugi Muneyuki.

Because she is Fujitō Sakura, the second female lead of 《Hand of God》—a name every Japanese viewer can call out, a real, flesh-and-blood character.

The 48 Group on stage continued dancing their perfectly synchronized routine, each person in their designated position performing the prescribed movements, their smiles fixed at the mandated angle and arc. They are a group of excellent, professional, flawless idols.

But they are not actors.

Xiao Yinghua is.

Between them, a tragic, thick wall has already risen!

Hirate Sarina stood above, smiling as she sang the final line, smiling as she bowed, smiling as she exited the stage.

Her expression management was flawless, but the moment she stepped down from the stage, her smile vanished.

Her smile slowly faded like receding seawater—first the curve of her lips flattened, then the light in her eyes died, and finally her entire face became a wall of nothing, white and blank.

Alas, alas!

Why? For what reason?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I worked hard for so long, and only managed to get a minor role in the second-to-last episode, with just five shots!

And that stinky bitch, actually!

And there is someone else who is even more unwilling than her.

That evening, someone fired at Hand of God!

"The reason I wasn't chosen for God's Hand is because I refused someone's industry rules!"