Tokyo Bubble Life

Chapters 1453 and 1462: I understand your feigned modesty, and I understand my ulterior motives!

Naoki Nagayama naturally made adjustments to the script for this "Fast & Furious" movie. After all, the first movie was set in Tokyo, and the sequels would expand to include racing in the United States and Europe.

After all, creating a universe of street racing is Naoki Nagayama's ultimate goal.

However, the plot and character development are largely the same, and it's also quite captivating.

By 9 a.m., the sun was already blazing. After arriving at the filming location in Ota Ward, it was still Ishikawa Katsura who led Nagayama Naoki toward the set.

Throughout the journey, Ishikawa Katsuyoshi frequently wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Naoki-san, the bar you requested is complete. It's a perfect 1:1 replica of the British style, with a solid wood bar and private booths. You could even open it for business right away!"

"Haha, then let's open a bar at the filming location after filming is finished!"

Naoki Nagayama joked with a smile.

"We might even make a lot of money!"

"Haha. Naoki-san is right, our filming location is just missing a bar!"

Ishikawa Katsuyoshi smiled and cheered, but there were actually quite a few bars outside the filming location. Everyone inside was shooting movies, and every second on the set was costing them money; there was no time for leisurely drinks.

As they talked, the two arrived at the film crew's location.

During the filming of "Fast & Furious," both Tomoyuki Nishimoto and Muneo Matsuo vied to help, so Naoki Nagayama had two assistant directors who could oversee the entire project, which greatly reduced the amount of work he needed to do on set.

Now, the camera positions are set up, the actors are in place, and even when explaining the scene, Matsuo Muneo can lead the actors in warm-up exercises.

"Naoki-san!" "Nagayama-san!" "Director." "..."

Upon seeing Naoki Nagayama, the crew members greeted him, and the previously relaxed atmosphere suddenly became tense. Everyone knew that it was time to officially begin!

Good morning, everyone! It's so hot today!

Naoki Nagayama, however, wasn't so nervous; instead, he smiled to ease the tension.

"Did you rest well yesterday?!"

"Great." "Got a good night's sleep!" "Full of energy today!"

Amidst the chattering replies, Naoki Nagayama walked over to the bar set and took a look around. It was a small bar that also sold food, with worn-out tables, chairs, and floors, a vintage solid wood bar counter, and behind it connected to an office and kitchen area with windows.

Meanwhile, Shizuka Kudo was behind the bar preparing her lines for the day.

"Shizuka-chan, how's your memorization of your lines going?"

Shizuka Kudo smiled and nodded.

"No problem at all!"

"Haha, that's the spirit we're looking for!"

Naoki Nagayama laughed, and then said,

"Since you're a bar girl, how about a beer first?"

Upon hearing the customer's request, Shizuka Kudo immediately sprang into action, her nimble movements behind the bar effortless, as if she had been working there for a long time.

"immediately!"

Shizuka Kudo is wearing skinny jeans and a black overalls today, which shows off her graceful figure.

Naoki Nagayama wasn't looking at it with a perverted eye; he was thinking about whether Shizuka Kudo was missing something at that moment.

"Here comes Naoki-san's beer!! Please enjoy!"

As she handed him a pitcher of beer, Naoki Nagayama spoke:

"Shizuka-chan, your outfit is great, but you should wear a pair of brighter earrings."

"Originally, this character was supposed to be the sister of a racing team leader, a wildcat, with tattoos or metallic belts to show her wildness. However, considering the needs of the shot, brighter earrings would be better."

"If the entrance shot starts from the doorway, the first thing people see when they walk in is your entire body, and the second thing they notice is your face."

"Huh?!"

Kudo Shizuka was taken aback. She hadn't expected that Nagayama Naoki, who had just been chatting with her, would suddenly switch to the role of director.

However, Shizuka Kudo was no newcomer and quickly realized what was going on:

"Hey, I'm going to find the props department to get a new pair of earrings!"

"Um"

Naoki Nagayama took a sip of his draft beer and then began to examine the other elements on set, making sure they met his expectations.

Just then, a group of male actors, led by Ken Takakura, walked in.

When Naoki Nagayama saw Ken Takakura in his leather jacket, he thought of a gang leader. He certainly exuded an aura of dominance!

The people who followed, such as Nanjo Yutaka and Ekin Cheng, seemed like his underlings. But when Matsuzaka Keiko appeared, everyone was amazed.

Because she was wearing a light-colored vest, she was bright and beautiful, with a powerful aura, and you could tell at a glance that she was the boss's woman!

The last one to enter, Leon Lai, was very handsome, wearing a white t-shirt, a worn-out denim shirt, and a necklace. He looked like the main character!

"Takakura-san is so domineering!"

Naoki Nagayama greeted Ken Takakura.

"Ha~~ To play this role well!"

Ken Takakura smiled, took off his jacket to the side, revealing a black T-shirt and his muscular physique.

"I've been working out to build muscle!"

"Haha, that's really impressive!"

Then Naoki Nagayama glanced at Yutaka Nanjo, Ekin Cheng, Lam Ching-yin, and the others, who were all dressed like street racers until dawn.

"Leon"

Naoki Nagayama circled around the guy who looked so much like him, sizing him up.

"He's definitely handsome. But he seems to lack a bit of 'badness'."

"Bad?"

"It has that gangster vibe."

Naoki Nagayama said directly,

"You're acting like a spoiled brat who's going astray!"

"Forehead"

Since they were on set, Naoki Nagayama naturally had the final say, and he directly beckoned Mayu Rena from the costume department over.

"Rena-san, come help Leon change his clothes."

"?"

Mayu Rena didn't quite understand. She had dressed up according to the requirements of the role, wearing a tattered denim shirt with a white shirt and metal chains, which was very suitable for the stereotypical image of a bad boy.

"It might work for others, but not for Leon; his features are too scholarly."

Naoki Nagayama shook his head.

"Go and have him change into a black shirt and a low-cut white undershirt. As for the necklace, change it to a metal chain style, but not too loose, just enough to wrap around his neck. Make sure his hair is neatly styled."

"."

Mayu Rena tried to think about it and felt that there seemed to be no difference. However, she still listened to Nagayama Naoki and took Ayame to change her clothes!

A short while later, Dawn, having changed his clothes, came over again, but this time everyone in the bar immediately turned their attention to him.

The black coat added a touch of mystery while perfectly balancing the scholarly air about his features. The low-cut white shirt revealed his neck and collarbone, a hint of sensuality that drew the eye and piqued curiosity. The metal chain around his neck, however, seemed to imprison him, both himself and others.

What a stoic bad boy!

Only a guy like this could make a worldly-wise wildcat fall in love at first sight!

Kudo Shizuka's eyes were practically drooling.

Once everything was arranged, Naoki Nagayama said to Tomoyuki Nishimoto and Muneo Matsuo:

"Okay, let's get ready to start filming!"

Okay~~

Nishimoto Tomoyuki and Matsuo Muneo quickly got to work, making sure all the crew members were ready!

"On your marks. Get set. Action!"

Naoki Nagayama shouted, and the entire room fell silent.

First, a wide-angle shot of the bar's entrance.

Then, as the camera shifts, Shizuka Kudo, who was originally bending over to keep accounts in the bar, appears. Her slender legs are encased in tight jeans, outlining a rounded curve in the middle. She wears a black short overall top, revealing a section of her waist.

The next glance, following the sparkling earrings, drew attention to her face. Her features were delicate and charming, her eyes lively yet revealing an untamed wildness.

He slowly turned his head, looking towards the door with anticipation in his eyes.

From another camera position, a young man walked in with his coat open, wearing a black overcoat and a white low-cut overalls. The metal chain around his neck gleamed, seemingly imprisoning his impulsive heart.

When Shizuka Kudo saw the person who had arrived, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and then she lowered her head as if to hide it.

After seeing the visitor sit down, she pretended to be calm and began to speak:

"Tuna sandwich, remove the crust, right?"

"I haven't decided yet," Li Ming said with a smile. "How does it taste?"

“For the past three weeks, you’ve been asking me every day at lunchtime how the tuna tastes.”

Shizuka Kudo turned her head, a smile in her eyes.

Yesterday was so-so, the day before yesterday was so-so, and today is the same~~

"Then one will do!"

"No crumbles?"

"don't want."

Kudo Shizuka stood up straight, turned around, and began to work at the kitchen counter.

This is how the first shot was filmed!

"Crack!!"

Upon seeing this, Naoki Nagayama immediately yelled "Cut!"

He walked into the store and said to the two actors:

"Shizuka-chan and Leon, you've both been in relationships, right?!"

"."

The two exchanged a glance. This was something they definitely couldn't say in front of the media, but there was no need to lie to Naoki Nagayama. They nodded.

"Hi!"

"Then you should know that ambiguity is the most beautiful stage."

Naoki Nagayama slightly opened his arms, seemingly recalling some memories.

"That feeling of 'I understand your feigned modesty, and you understand my ulterior motives'!"

"A casual glance, subtly scheming words, and flirtatious body language."

"."

At that moment, a thought suddenly arose in the minds of those listening nearby: "Naoki-san, he's so knowledgeable. And he's so eloquent."

However, Naoki Nagayama wasn't finished yet:

"When you two perform, in addition to eye contact and words, you also need to use some small hand gestures."

"For example, Shizuka-chan can use her pen to draw or mark on the ledger."

"Leon, you can flip through the magazine."

"."

After saying all that, Naoki Nagayama finally noticed Ken Takakura behind the screen window in the background:

"Takakura-san, just stay aloof and mysterious. Only show your back in the first scene!"

"Hi~~"

Ken Takakura waved his hand to indicate his understanding.

After seeing that the two had understood, Naoki Nagayama returned to his director's seat and nodded to Muneo Matsuo:

"Okay, let's do it again!"

"On your marks, get set, action!"

The atmosphere in the top-floor office of the Tree Friends Building was somewhat heavy.

Haruki Kadokawa looked dejected, sipping his plain water with a hint of helplessness, his mind racing:

"That guy, Otomo, won't even let me have a cup of tea because I'm transferring my shares to Nissan?!"

Yoshimura Otomo frowned and looked up from a pile of agreements:

"Haruki-san, I heard you!"

"Oops, I accidentally said it!"

Haruki Kadokawa dramatically covered his mouth, then said to Otomo Yoshimura,

"I'm telling you, Mr. Otomo is angry, but there's nothing I can do about it. You know how complicated the relationships are between the major corporations. This time, Nissan's people contacted other directors of Kadokawa and joined forces to force me out!"

"Our Kadokawa Bookstore has indeed owed a lot of favors in the past. That's why we had no choice but to transfer our shares!"

Haruki Kadokawa leaned back on the sofa and sighed.

"Otherwise, I wouldn't be willing to give up such good shares!"

It's important to understand that the Shuyou Group's annual net profit is in the tens of billions, and it keeps flowing in. Kadokawa receives nearly 10 billion in dividends every year. Where else can you find such benefits?!

"Don't talk like you've suffered a huge loss!"

Yoshimura Otomo directly exposed his pretense.

"Exchanged Tree Friends' shares for a portion of Nissan's shares and access to the Hibiscus Club. Isn't that already pretty good?"

"Oh?"

Haruki Kadokawa sat up straight instantly.

"How did you know, Otomo-san?"

"Hehe. With its current scale, Tree Friends naturally has friends too."

Yoshimura Otomo snorted. He was no longer the lowest-ranking talent scout in the agency he used to be!

Today, Yoshimura Otomo is the managing CEO of the Shuyu Group, a well-known figure in the entertainment industry. Furthermore, he has the backing of Naoki Nagayama, a newly emerging zaibatsu who has recently demonstrated his powerful connections.

He's a big shot with connections in politics, business, and the underworld!

It's relatively easy to check the details of the transaction between Kadokawa and Nissan. If all else fails, there's always the root of the tree-loving community—Kijima Kyō—to step in!

"Alright, Haruki-san, I think I can understand your choice now."

Yoshimura Otomo said that, after all, the other side was the Fuji Group, one of the six major conglomerates, wielding both a carrot and a stick. Even he himself would have to think twice if he were in their shoes.

"I just don't understand why the Yasuda family of the Fuji Group also sent people to Naoki-san's full moon celebration."

"How come Nissan, a subsidiary of Fuji, is suddenly acquiring Shuyu's shares?!"

"."

Haruki Kadokawa paused, looking at Otomo Yoshimura before him, realizing Yoshimura's current status and that some things no longer needed to be hidden.

"Yasuda is Yasuda, the Fuji Group is the Fuji Group, and Nissan is Nissan."

He sighed:

"Within large conglomerates, the struggle between various interest groups is even more intense!"

"The Fuji Group is now actually controlled by people from Nissan Motors. The Yasuda family has been relegated to only the textile industry."

"The Yasuda family attended the previous full moon celebration. Perhaps the Ayukawa family of Nissan felt that Kiyu was colluding with the Yasuda family, which might allow Yasuda to regain power."

"what?!"

Yoshimura Hirotomo's eyes widened.

"Is that why you want to acquire our Tree Friends shares and control the Tree Friends Group?"

That should be it.

Just like when Zhao Kuangyin seized the throne from the orphaned and widowed Chai family, although he treated them as honored guests and bestowed upon them a golden edict granting them immunity from death, he certainly did not want anyone to join forces with the Chai family!

The Ayukawa family at Nissan must think so too!

"."

Yoshimura Daitomo could only laugh. Such a ridiculous reason.

Fortunately, the majority of the shares in the Shuyu Group are in Naoki's hands, so even though the Ayukawa family of Nissan has acquired 10%, they can't cause any major trouble.

"Chunshu-san, you didn't tell them the details of Shuyou's shareholding, did you?"

"No. We're good friends after all."

Haruki Kadokawa shook his head. He didn't want to antagonize the thriving Shuyou, especially since Shuyou now had shares in Kadokawa!

During the previous share expansion, in order to retain a 10% stake in Shuyu, he exchanged his Kadokawa shares for it!

"However, after the share transfer, they will definitely demand a shareholders' meeting and an audit. This kind of information can't be kept secret."

"It's ok"

Yoshimura Otomo shook his head.

"Let's wait until the shareholders' meeting to talk about it. Naoki-san wants to see what their plans are!"

Naoki Nagayama also wanted to meet the person behind the scenes, since enemies in the open are easier to deal with than those in the shadows!

"Okay then."

Haruki Kadokawa didn't say much; he was just there to clarify the agreement.

"In that case, I'll head back now."

"Um"

Just as Haruki Kadokawa was about to leave, he suddenly stopped, looked at Otomo Yoshimura who was still reading the documents, and a faint sense of melancholy welled up in his heart:

"Otomo-san, we're still friends, right?!"

Yoshimura Otomo also paused for a moment, then looked up at Kadokawa Haruki, seemingly recalling their youthful days at the publishing house—a time of pure friendship devoid of any conflict of interest.

However, the two now stand in different positions, representing different companies, and Kadokawa Haruki has just transferred his shares in Kiyu to the Nissan Group, which has ulterior motives.

"Of course. Tree Friends and Kadokawa have always been friends!"

"."

Haruki Kadokawa pondered the meaning of this "friendship," feeling both helpless and somewhat relieved.

"That's good"

Then, he silently walked out of the office and closed the door.

(End of this chapter)