Tokyo Bubble Life

Chapter 1345: My biggest competitor is myself?!

Chapter 1345: My biggest competitor is myself?!

At Fuji Television's headquarters, the Christmas special edition of "Yoru Hit" is being filmed, and Akina Nakamori has returned to Fuji Television after a long absence.

"Akina sauce, sashibuli~"

As the newly appointed male host, Mu Yuan spoke to her in front of the camera.

"It's the grand finale again today! How does it feel?"

"I'm a little nervous," Akina said, covering her mouth and laughing. "Because it's been a long time since I've recorded a show."

"Oh?" Makihara was a little surprised. "Akina-chan gets nervous going on stage?"

"Hi, I get nervous every time I perform!"

Akina nodded, completely lacking the domineering aura of an idol queen when not performing.

"Worried about not performing well."

"That's probably because of their pursuit of a perfect performance!" the other female host, Yoshimura Mari, interjected. "Akina-chan has always placed great importance on her stage presence! Her outfit for today's performance is different from before."

"Hi, because it's Christmas, we used festive colors."

Today, Akina was wearing a red off-shoulder dress, and even her gloves were bright red. The overall look was very vibrant, but she added a black veil over it, which toned down the red and made her look more like a noblewoman.

Wow, she's so beautiful and has such a great presence!

Looking at Akina Nakamori's delicate features and smooth, flawless skin, Yoshimura Mari couldn't help but sigh.

"Akina sauce is becoming more and more appealing!"

"Not at all. Truthful Saint is truly dignified and elegant."

"Haha~"

Hearing the two ladies next to him praising each other, the host, Mu Yuan, had to interrupt:

"Akina-chan, I heard the stage is quite different today?"

"Hi, today the stage design team created a backdrop for a cherry blossom blizzard, which is very poetic and beautiful!"

Akina nodded and said,

"It's the most beautiful stage I've ever seen!"

"Oh? In that case, we'll have to look forward to it!"

"Let's enjoy together Akina Nakamori's 'The Lost Ship'!"

While the host was still speaking, Akina walked over to the performance stage in a few steps.

The spacious stage, covered only by a single layer, appeared somewhat empty. Behind it, a cherry blossom-shaped artificial tree branch was adorned with pink blossoms, reminding Akina of the cherry blossom tree in her own yard that had recently blossomed.

As Akina walked onto the stage and the music began, snowflakes began to fall from above.

Falling snowflakes and standing cherry blossoms intertwine, one white and one red, one moving and one still, under the lights, rendering the stage as if in a dream!

Snowflakes even landed on Akina's hair and shoulders, adding a touch of coolness to her appearance.

The cherry blossom blizzard, such a beautiful sight, surprisingly complements the melancholic atmosphere of "The Lost Ship" perfectly, much like the fleeting nature of love.

After the song ended, all the extras applauded, and even the host couldn't help but praise them:

"If we were to choose the most beautiful performance, this would definitely be it!"

"Akina sauce is definitely the best!"

"."

Since Akina was the final performer, all the guests sang together after her performance, and that marked the end of the recording.

Back in the lounge, Akina slowly removed her makeup, feeling waves of fatigue wash over her.

"Akina sauce~"

Kyoko Koizumi changed her clothes early and went to the lounge to look for Akina, intending to ask her to go out and play.

However, seeing how tired her friend looked, she hesitated.

"What's wrong? Why do you look so tired?!"

It's worth noting that Akina is known for her hard work; even with more than a dozen schedules a day during her debut period, she could still keep her spirits up!

Moreover, she's only in her early twenties, which is the age when she should be hungry again by 12:30 after eating at 12:00!

"I waited a long time before going on stage. I was very tense, so I'm a little tired now! I just want to go home and sleep!"

Akina rallied her spirits and explained to her friend.

Actually, it's because of the pregnancy. At three months, the fetus is growing rapidly, so the mother is prone to feeling tired and sleepy.

"Eh~~" Kyoko Koizumi said with a hint of regret, "Looks like we can't go shopping!"

"."

Although it's easier to disguise oneself now that it's cold, and you can't really be recognized if you're wearing a down jacket and a mask, just thinking about two popular celebrities shopping together is still quite troublesome.

"It's probably not going to work."

Akina shook her head.

"Isn't Kyoko-chan busy right now?"

"Tonight is the last scheduled event."

Kyoko Koizumi is also a top-tier entertainer with a very busy schedule.

"Let's grab some late-night snacks and then head back!"

Just as the two were talking, Nishirumi from Fuji Television came into the dressing room.

"Akina-chan and Kyoko-chan are here too~"

Nishirumi's face was full of smiles. Her enthusiasm for Nakamori Akina was not only because of her fame, but also because she was the partner of a Fuji shareholder.

So, the TV station executives wanted to cultivate a good relationship, so they sent Nishirumi to make the necessary arrangements.

"Akina-chan, has today's recording finished?"

"Hi!" Akina was a little surprised, but still nodded with a smile. "Nishirumi-san, are you still working overtime today?"

"Of course, although it's time for a holiday, for the media industry, holidays are actually the busiest time!"

Nishirumi sighed for a moment, then after discussing some work, she asked,

Is Naoki still making movies on Jurassic Island?

“Hmm,” Akina nodded, “They’re on the island every day now, saying they’re trying to wrap up filming before Christmas!”

"Ah, another masterpiece by Naoki-san is coming! I heard that 'My Neighbor Totoro' was also Naoki-san's idea!"

"Hi, the prototype was Naoki-san's idea~"

Akina, of course, wouldn't hide this fact; it was her husband's creation.

"However, the production of the subsequent animated film was completed through the hard work of the team members!"

"I really want to see it, but it's not showing until Christmas."

Nishirumi sighed twice before speaking.

"Once Naoki-san finishes filming, we definitely need to visit him sometime."

After all, Naoki-san is a shareholder of Fuji, and there are some things that need to be reported this year!

"Haha, I'll let you know when Naoki-san gets back!"

Akina spoke with practiced ease and formality; she had long since adapted to the role of Mrs. Nagayama and could handle her husband's social interactions without any problems.

A few minutes later, after Nishirumi left, Kyoko Koizumi, who had been ignored for a long time, finally spoke:

"Akina-chan, you spoke with such authority just now! Nishiru-san is acting like a subordinate."

Nishirumi is now one of the core members of Fuji Television's production department. She is very famous in the entertainment industry. Everyone knows that her words carry weight in variety shows, dramas, and so on.

Therefore, even when facing a popular celebrity like Kyoko Koizumi, he is very confident, perhaps even more so. However, when speaking to Akina Nakamori just now, his tone was completely obsequious.

"Nishirumi-san is related to Naoki-san."

Akina said,

"Actually, she and Naoki-san have been friends for a long time, and she's more relaxed talking to him. But she's more careful when talking to me."

The same applies to interpersonal relationships. You can speak casually to a powerful person, but you must be respectful when speaking to your sister-in-law.

Nobody wants to be whispered in someone's ear at night.

"The boss's woman!"

Kyoko Koizumi joked with a smile.

"Akina-chan really has a lot of style these days!"

"."

Akina was amused by her friend and reached out to tickle her; their laughter filled the lounge.

Naoki Nagayama had already returned home.

Away from being the all-powerful director on set, he's still the same father who gets bossed around by his daughter when he gets home.

Akina went to record a TV show tonight, so Naoki Nagayama was even more indulgent towards his daughter, carrying her on his shoulders to reach for the stars on top of the Christmas tree.

"Flower sauce, just touch it."

Naoki Nagayama reminded his daughter,

"If you take that star down, Mom will scold you when she gets back!"

Xiaoxia's expression froze slightly, as if she was thinking of the times her mother scolded her. In this family, Naoki Nagayama and Akina's roles were that of a kind father and a strict mother!

Naoki Nagayama simply couldn't bring himself to be fierce towards Natsuka.

"Don't be afraid! I'm not fierce!"

The little guy tried to embolden himself with words, but his little hands still wanted to take the star down!

"."

Naoki Nagayama was speechless. Wasn't he afraid? He could only move his body a little further away so the little guy couldn't reach him.

Just as the father and daughter were playing tricks on each other, the phone in the living room rang!

"Dingling bell~"

Upon hearing the phone ring, the little guy immediately abandoned the star on the Christmas tree, grabbed his father's hair, and gestured towards the phone.

Now at home, she's most curious about this phone that occasionally makes a sound!

"Moshi moshi, this is Yama-oka-in."

"Naoki?"

The voice of Nagayama Kaede came through the microphone, along with the sound of a child crying, which must be Sayuri.

"Brother Feng? What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." The voice on the other end of the line was very calm, so it shouldn't be anything serious. "I just wanted to ask if you're spending Chinese New Year in Tokyo this year?"

"Hi, I'm definitely spending this year in Tokyo. I'll go back later."

Naoki Nagayama nodded.

"Where's Brother Feng? Is he going back?"

"No, I'm not going back this year either."

Nagayama Kaede said directly.

“My grandfather is gone, and the gang is gone too. My father, a grown man, doesn’t want the mansion to be so quiet and deserted.”

"So he plans to come to Tokyo to spend time with me and catch up with some old friends."

The Nagayama Group disbanded, but some of its core members found a home at Nagayama Kaede's karaoke bar, mostly as managers. These people were almost all Nagayama Kumahara's former brothers.

Moreover, due to the popularity of karaoke bars, they make a lot of money, and many have settled down in Tokyo, not returning home except during the Lunar New Year.

Some single people will still work overtime at KTV during the Chinese New Year. After all, nightclubs are the same; they get busier during holidays!

"We're planning a party after Christmas. Father wants to invite all the former gang members from Tokyo for a get-together."

"."

Former gang members throwing a party? A bunch of burly men from the five major groups and three divisions gathered together—does the police think the Nagayama-gumi is rebuilding?

Naoki Nagayama silently complained to himself, but didn't say anything more:

"Hehe. As long as Uncle Xiong Yuan is happy!"

"He's very happy every day now!" Nagayama Kaede laughed. "Being a factory owner is actually quite nice!"

The timber business is doing very well this year, and the money earned is no less than what we used to make from fighting and killing. The key is that this money is legitimate and can be spent freely!

Moreover, I heard that without any oversight, Nagayama Kumahara found quite a few lovers in a year. What a rebellious middle-aged man!

Nagayama Kaede naturally didn't care about his father's philandering; his mother had been dead for many years.

"Anyway, we'll have a great get-together in Tokyo!"

"By the way, we plan to go back to pay respects to our grandfather on the second day of the Lunar New Year."

Nagayama Kaede asked.

"Naoki, how about we go back together?"

"OK."

I was going back on the second day of the New Year anyway, so it would be even better to go with Nagayama Kaede. If we broke down halfway, we'd have someone to help us!

The two chatted warmly for about ten minutes. Xiaoxia, standing nearby, even managed to grab the microphone and greet Uncle Feng inside. Naoki Nagayama also heard Xiaosai's voice.

Now, Little Lily from Brother Feng's side is starting to learn to talk too~

After the two doting fathers exchanged parenting tips, they hung up the phone.

"alright."

Naoki Nagayama placed the microphone back on the base from the little girl's hand, and then said to her,

"Huajiang, shall we watch TV?"

"it is good!"

When the TV was turned on, it was showing the evening news. Naoki Nagayama was about to change the channel, but a news item by the host caught his attention.

"Is Tokyo about to have its first snowfall? Probably around Christmas time?"

For a moment, the melody of "Snow Flower" echoed in Naoki Nagayama's mind, and then came the tradition of the film industry in recent years: when the first snowflake falls in Tokyo, it is the time when "Love Letter" is re-released!

"Ya Bai!"

Naoki Nagayama suddenly sat up straight, startling Natsuka in his arms.

"If 'Love Letter' is re-released during Christmas, won't it clash with 'My Neighbor Totoro'?!"

It's worth noting that new young couples appear every year, and with the growing tradition of couples watching "Love Letter" during the first snowfall, the film consistently performs well at the box office during its re-releases!

Therefore, cinemas will definitely increase the number of screenings!

"Isn't this just like family members fighting over each other?!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, this is troublesome!"

Seeing her father frown, Xia Hua, nestled in his arms, couldn't help but frown as well, speaking like a little adult:

"Now we're in trouble!"

"."

"Hua Jiang, you think so too, right?"

Naoki Nagayama glanced at his daughter and, seeing her delicate brows furrow, couldn't help but smile.

"But it doesn't matter, the people in the publicity department will be the ones who are in a real mess!"

"Haha~ The biggest competitor for 'My Neighbor Totoro' is actually itself. I wonder what kind of expressions Eiichiro Watanabe and the others are going to have on their faces!"

At this point, Naoki Nagayama's expression actually showed a hint of schadenfreude.

"Sigh... I actually laughed at my subordinates. How wicked I am!"

(End of this chapter)