wavenovel Chapter 1252, page 1261: Naoki-san should have died young!!!
Chapter 1252, page 1261: Naoki-san should have died young!!!
Chapter 1252, page 1261: Naoki-san should have died young!!!
The headquarters of Ken-On.
"Akina Sauce"
Tanaka Yoshiaki looked at Akina, whose eyes were still rimmed with tears even with makeup, and his tone was somewhat complicated.
"Our music planning team received a message."
"Nani?"
Akina was still immersed in the plot she had watched on the bus that morning, and her tone was slightly downcast.
"It's news from renowned composer Tokiko Kato; she feels there's a song that would be perfect for Akina to reinterpret."
Yoshiaki Tanaka took out the cassette tape and handed it to Akina.
The song is titled "The Broken Ship," and it describes the experience of being hurt in love.
Actually, Yoshiaki Tanaka originally thought this song was definitely not suitable for Akina Nakamori to sing, because the entire Ken-On team knew that Akina was now very happy in love.
She married a well-known, wealthy, handsome, and talented man in the industry and had a lovely daughter. There's no reason for her to be emotionally hurt and suddenly sing a sad song out of empathy!
But seeing Akina's appearance today, Yoshiaki Tanaka couldn't be sure, and he couldn't help but ponder:
"Has something happened between Akina-chan and Naoki-san recently?"
This melancholy demeanor, coupled with the swollen eyes clearly from excessive crying, suggests that Naoki Nagayama might really be cheating on his wife!
But as Akina Nakamori's manager, why are you also teary-eyed, Maki Ueda? You have no relation to Naoki Nagayama!
Akina was also a little surprised. The direction of her next album had already been decided, and it was going to be an exotic style.
However, he still took the cassette tape and started playing it directly on the player next to him.
As the music began, the sorrowful vocals delivered even more heartbreaking lyrics.
"
さびしすぎてこわれそうなの（It’s like feeling very scared）
I am a shipwrecked ship in love.
"
Listening to this melancholic melody, and recalling the scene I just saw in "I'm Sorry, I Love You," Akina seemed to feel the protagonist's pain at having to give up the love in her heart.
My eyes welled up with tears again!
"."
Seeing Akina start crying again, Tanaka Yoshiaki was speechless. He and Shimada Yuzo exchanged a glance, and the two men tacitly agreed that something must have happened between Nakamori Akina and Nagayama Naoki!
After the song ended, Akina paused for a moment, seemingly still immersed in the sad atmosphere.
"Akina-chan, if you don't want to sing this song, we'll politely decline Kato Tokiko's offer."
".No."
Akina shook her head.
"This is a wonderful song. Kato Tokiko-san giving me this song is a testament to her appreciation of my talent!"
Akina is currently in a phase of musical exploration, trying out various styles in order to integrate different influences and create her own unique style.
The song "Nanpasen" (难破船) combines traditional enka style with modern instruments, and its lyrics and melody perfectly touched Akina's heart.
"If the previous song was 'BLONDE,' this one might be a good opportunity to change up the style."
"Akina-chan means you're going to change this song for the next album?!"
"Hi!"
Akina nodded.
"I'd like to try recording it once first, thank you everyone~"
The style of the next album had already been decided and production was about to begin, so a sudden change would undoubtedly force the team to readjust.
However, at present, Ken-On is dominated by Akina Nakamori, who is the absolute number one. She has the final say on her own records. So even though Yoshiaki Tanaka is somewhat helpless, he still started to arrange work.
In addition to scheduling a recording time, a new project proposal and cover design are also needed, etc.
After Tanaka Yoshiaki went to hand over his work, the others who had participated in the discussion also left one after another. Akina, who was sitting in the office, was a little bored. She subconsciously looked around, then took out the manuscript of "I'm Sorry, I Love You" from her bag again and began to read it secretly.
It felt very clandestine, like a student secretly reading an extracurricular book during a middle school self-study session!
"Departures" has been in theaters for almost a week and has achieved remarkable success, putting pressure on other films released at the same time.
Under these circumstances, the second wave of promotional activities planned by the distribution department of Shuyou was also intensified. Naoki Nagayama, Momoe Yamaguchi, and Tomokazu Miura—the main creative team—started appearing on television programs.
Meanwhile, at Fuji Television, a minor incident occurred.
Naoki Nagayama was originally supposed to participate in a program to promote "Departures," and it was quite difficult to get the main creative team of "Departures" to participate in this movie-related variety show.
It's worth noting that the last time Naoki Nagayama, Momoe Yamaguchi, and Tomokazu Miura appeared together was at a media interview during a preview screening!
The program was going well; the host was asking about the movie and interviewing the Miura couple about their situation, and everyone seemed to be having a good time.
As a surprise, the program also included a segment for audience interaction.
It was at this stage that an accident occurred!
"Next is the audience interaction segment. Please welcome our first call-in audience member."
The host, holding a small card handed to him from the control room, read out the background of the hotline callers.
"Akimichi and Kako from Yamazaki Prefecture"
He spoke into the microphone:
"Miss Kazuko, can you hear me? You can speak now!"
Hey, I can hear you!
The voice of an audience member came over the loudspeaker; it sounded like a young woman.
"Okay, then, Ms. Mingdao and Ms. Jiazi, which member of the main production team would you like to ask a question?"
"I want to ask that scumbag Naoki Nagayama a question!"
"puff"
Momoe Yamaguchi, who was drinking water to soothe her throat, almost choked and quickly covered her chin with her hand.
She hasn't participated in a variety show in a long time. Are variety shows this exciting these days?!
Exclamations erupted instantly in the studio!
The host's expression froze.
"Mingdao and Jiazi, did you accidentally say something wrong?"
"No, it's that scumbag Naoki Nagayama! I have questions for him!"
"."
The host's forehead was visibly beaded with sweat. He glanced at Naoki Nagayama and quickly said:
"This audience member may have been too excited and is a little disoriented. Please take a short rest."
He was signaling to the director to quickly replace him.
However, Naoki Nagayama, who was standing to the side, was not angry. Instead, he comforted the host.
"Hey, Mr. Shiota, I'd also like to hear what's wrong with this lady. And why did you call me a scumbag?"
At this moment, Naoki Nagayama was more intrigued. Sometimes, confronting haters directly is quite interesting, because when you control the narrative, haters can't really hurt you.
Just like there was a strange and interesting program abroad in later years, where big stars read the comments from haters on Twitter, which made people fully understand the diversity of races.
After Naoki Nagayama finished speaking, the host signaled to the director to continue the previous hotline interview.
"Ms. Mingdao and Ms. Jiazi, please continue," Naoki Nagayama said, holding up the microphone. "I will answer your questions!"
Naoki Nagayama!
The voices of Mingdao and Jiazi coming from the speakers sounded very righteous.
"How could you let down Nakamori Akina, who loves you so much?!"
Looks like this is a fan of Akina!
".ha?"
Naoki Nagayama looked puzzled.
"How have I let Akina down?"
"Could the recent newspaper reports be false? Didn't Akina-chan cry in the car?! She even has tear stains on her face from crying all the time!"
On the hotline, Mingdao and Jiazi spoke non-stop, like a machine gun.
"This is definitely all your fault, Naoki Nagayama, you scumbag! You absolutely betrayed Akina-chan's true feelings!!!"
"Hmm."
Naoki Nagayama was somewhat helpless; the tabloid report from a few days ago had still managed to get out.
"The reason Akina cried is actually very complicated and cannot be explained in a short time."
"Heh, then I'll have to listen carefully to what Lord Nagayama has to say about this!"
Wait, why should I explain this to you?
However, Mingdao and Jiazi's words drew the attention of Miura Tomokazu and Yamaguchi Momoe, who looked over like onlookers, while the extras in the audience also widened their eyes.
The pressure of being under the public eye forced Naoki Nagayama to say a few words in his defense:
"Ahem, the reason Akina is crying is because she recently read a very touching novel and was moved by the plot."
"Heh, Lord Nagayama, if you're going to make up a reason, at least come up with a better one!"
I don't believe the voices on the hotline at all.
"Which novel on the market right now is this moving? If it's true, just tell me!"
"It's a novel I wrote, but it hasn't been published yet."
Naoki Nagayama shrugged and glanced at the onlookers.
"The title is 'I'm Sorry, I Love You.' It's a rather melodramatic romance novel that's likely to bring tears to the reader's eyes."
"."
For a moment, no one spoke. Everyone knew that Naoki Nagayama was a well-known author, but he usually appeared on public programs as a famous director.
After all, there are far more people watching movies than reading novels.
However, the host is a book lover:
"But Naoki-san, isn't your latest novel 'Full House'? It only went on sale last month."
"Yes, that's right~"
Naoki Nagayama nodded.
"I'm Sorry, I Love You" is scheduled for publication next year; it's currently still in its first draft.
"Ah, I see. That's why Ms. Nakamori Akina, as his wife, was able to see it first!"
The host immediately understood, and even felt a little envious.
"Naoki-san's first draft of his novel... is it already finished?! I can't wait to see it!"
Naoki Nagayama usually publishes one novel a year, but it seems he released an extra one recently, "Jurassic Park," at the end of the year. Readers thought that Naoki Nagayama was entering a period of prolific output!
I wonder if there will be extra updates this year!!
"Haha, I'll send Mr. Shiota a trial edition when the time comes!"
"Thank you so much!" the host exclaimed excitedly. "It would be even better if you could sign it!"
"no problem!"
Naoki Nagayama was having a great time chatting with the host in the studio, which made Mingdao and Jiazi on the hotline a little nervous.
"What new book?! Who would believe that?! Who knows if Naoki Nagayama is just making up a story?!"
"And... a mere novel, and it can make Akina-chan cry this much?! Who do you think you are, some great literary figure?!"
"Well"
Naoki Nagayama was somewhat exasperated; that's just how haters are—they won't listen to anything nice!
"Cough cough."
The host spoke up in defense,
"Nagayama-san is a renowned author who has won the Naoki Prize; calling him a literary giant is absolutely not an exaggeration!!"
It has been several years since Naoki Nagayama won the Naoki Prize. During this period, all of his novels were bestsellers, and it is no exaggeration to say that he has reached the pinnacle of the literary world.
He's just too young. The literary world won't accept such a young literary giant unless he dies young!
That's how it is with artists. As soon as the creator dies, the value of the work and the evaluation of the creator will immediately increase tenfold or a hundredfold!
If Naoki Nagayama were to pass away today, the introduction we would see in literature textbooks next year would be: Naoki Nagayama, the most brilliant writer in modern Japanese history!
Doesn't that sound exciting?! If Naoki Nagayama wanted to make a name for himself in history, he should have died young!
"I don't believe it! It must be a lie made up by Naoki Nagayama."
Mingdao and Jiazi on the hotline still didn't believe it.
"Princess Akina wouldn't be this heartbroken over just one of your novels!"
There's nothing I can do if you don't believe me.
Naoki Nagayama shook his head and said something that stung Akina's fans even more.
"But I'm the person closest to Akina~"
"you"
"Crack."
The sound of a hotline call being hung up on is just like the sound of someone slamming a door in anger.
"Ah, Lala's hung up."
Naoki Nagayama glanced at Momoe Yamaguchi and the others.
"Why doesn't anyone believe me?"
"Haha, Naoki-san is truly unconventional."
Momoe Yamaguchi laughed.
"Did your novel really make Akina-chan so sad?"
"Akina is still a child at heart, easily moved."
"Can I see it too?" Momoe Yamaguchi asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"."
Looking into Momoe Yamaguchi's eyes, and sensing her husband's gaze beside him, Naoki Nagayama felt immense pressure. This was a difficult question to answer. Everyone already knew the answer when the audience asked him if he was having an affair and who the other woman was.
"Once Akina has finished reading it, have her send it to you!"
Naoki Nagayama gave the most perfect answer.
"Thank you very much!"
With permission granted, Momoe Yamaguchi beamed with a radiant smile, and the host beside her was also eager to join in.
"Naoki-san, do you think I have a chance?"
"You can not!"
"."
In the evening, Naoki Nagayama and Natsuka were watching TV in the living room.
Akina hasn't come back yet because she has to attend a vocal lesson today. She's also going to perform on stage with Michael Jackson in September!
The penultimate episode of "Long Vacation" was playing on the television screen.
Looking at Aoyama Chikako's familiar face, Nagayama Naoki's thoughts drifted to Boston.
"Chika-chan and the others should be in Boston by now, right? Damn it, even I haven't been there."
The crew of "Long Vacation" were already on vacation in Boston, across the ocean. To be precise, they went on vacation after filming the final post-credits scene.
At this moment, it is still daytime in Boston.
Aoyama Chikako, dressed in a wedding gown, and Fukuyama Masaharu, in a white tuxedo, are running wildly through the streets of a foreign land, attracting the attention of many foreigners, just like in the opening scene of "Long Vacation".
On the green path in front of the cathedral, the two held hands and ran together toward the wedding venue, just like running toward their future happiness.
Behind the camera, Nishimoto Banyuki's smile never stopped. Indeed, love is sweeter when you watch others talk about it!
"Click!!!"
He shouted loudly into the walkie-talkie, and Nishimoto Tomoyuki was also filled with excitement.
"Everyone, we've wrapped up filming!!!"
"Oh, oh, oh~" "Okay~"
At the director's voice, the entire crew cheered. Aoyama Chikako and Fukuyama Masaharu held hands and twirled around. Some even threw papers and hats into the air.
"Alright, alright, we're abroad, don't embarrass the Japanese!"
The foreigners' stares made Nishimoto Banyuki quickly restrain himself, and then he began to give instructions to the crew.
"Put the equipment away and return it to the hotel."
"After that, everyone went shopping!"
"Let's have a party tonight!!!"
"Oh, oh, oh, okay, okay!" "Shopping spree, shopping spree!" "Gifts, gifts!" "Drinking, drinking!" "Have a party!" "Let's go flirt with handsome foreign men and beautiful women!" "Drive a silver car!" "..."
Suddenly, all sorts of strange cheers erupted; some people's repressed thoughts were released in a foreign land.
The cheers from the crowd echoed throughout the church, prompting the pastor to come out and see what was happening.
Seeing the appearance of this group of people, I couldn't help but make the sign of the cross on my chest.
(End of this chapter)