My Name is Hiroshi Nohara, Star of Neon Film and Television! Chapter 38: Exactly Who Won?

Tuesday's morning light spilled over the Tokyo tropolis, bathing this massive, bustling international tropolis as if in holy light.

TV Tokyo Production Bureau Headquarters Building.

Nohara Hiroshi arrived the earliest.

"Mmm, this sll really makes one helpless." He frowned slightly, his face also sowhat helpless.

Because the faint residual sll of alcohol mixed with food from last night's celebration banquet still lingered in the office, akin to the tenderness remaining after a grand festival ends, the deities depart, and the vitality of human life has yet to fully dissipate.

He walked to the window and opened it.

Conveniently looking at the dense traffic and ant-like pedestrians downstairs. The entire city, like a massive precision machine just awakening, began its new day's monotonous and regular breathing.

He knew that today, within the rhythm of this breathing, a few different trills would be added.

Soon, the section's door was pushed open. Minamura Hoshi and Haseji Kakeru ca in almost simultaneously. The two young n's faces carried a post-hangover exhaustion and a ntal excitent. Their dark circles looked like the smoky colors of glory smoked out after their valiant fight last night.

"Sensei Nohara, good morning!"

In their greeting carried a heartfelt, almost believer-like devoutness.

"Morning." Nohara Hiroshi nodded at them.

A mont later, Suzuki Kiyoto and Hashishita Ichiro also arrived, but Hashishita Ichiro left after saying a brief greeting.

Looking very rushed.

But everyone knew Hashishita Ichiro's job.

"Good morning everyone! Co eat breakfast!"

Following that, Kitagawa Yao, who arrived last, ca in carrying breakfast. She placed warm coffee and sandwiches one by one on everyone's desk.

As the office assistant, during the previous busy tis, she was already accustod to bringing breakfast for everyone.

"Thanks." Nohara Hiroshi also took an egg sandwich and began eating.

However, while eating, as if abiding by so tacit understanding, they sat around that largest conference table, their gazes occasionally drifting towards the door.

They were waiting.

Waiting for Hashishita Ichiro, who had just left to fetch the verdict.

"To be honest." Minamura Hoshi took a sip of coffee, attempting to use the caffeine to suppress that nervousness, but his voice still wavered slightly: "Last night, when I went ho, I watched that 'Onibo Samurai' again..."

"Then what do you think?" Haseji Kakeru imdiately chased with a question, everyone's gaze focusing over.

"The production... is truly speechless."

Minamura Hoshi's tone carried an admiration belonging to technical staff: "Windmill Studio truly lives up to being top-tier in the industry. That animation, those special effects, every fra seems to have been burned out with money. I dare say, in neon these past few years, very few TV animations can reach this level."

His words caused the slight relaxed atmosphere that had just risen in the office to sink again.

Even Kitagawa Yao echoed softly: "Mm... the visuals are indeed very beautiful, the art style of that samurai is also very handso. My older sister watched it and said the visuals look much better than our animation."

Once these words ca out, Haseji Kakeru frowned, retorting sowhat unconvinced: "It looks good, but... but it always feels like sothing is missing. That story is too cliché. A wrongfully killed samurai takes revenge, and is finally moved by a high monk... I've heard this kind of story in Rakugo since elentary school. It falls far short of our 'Yamishibai'. After watching it, that lingering effect... Last night I had a dream, dreaming the elevator doors opened, and outside was hell."

"Exactly!"

Minamura Hoshi also nodded vigorously, also speaking quite unconvinced, "The terror of 'Onibo Samurai' is placed on the surface, it's telling you 'I'm going to scare you'. Whereas Sensei Nohara's terror quietly drills into your brain, and suddenly gives you a strike right when you think it's safe. This... this is a gap in realms!"

The more the two young n spoke, the more excited they got, seemingly wanting to add a bit of confidence to their side by belittling the opponent.

"Enough."

Suzuki Kiyoto, who had been silent, slowly opened his mouth at this ti. He held a cup of hot tea; the curling tea mist made his weather-beaten face look sowhat blurred.

His voice wasn't loud, yet carried a steadiness leaving no room for interference:

"Do not casually evaluate the opponent. Although Section Chief Iwata's character isn't that great, his ability and resources in this industry are rock solid. Being able to integrate so many top-tier talents and resources to produce such a work is an ability in itself. Before the final numbers co out, any evaluation is premature."

His words were like a basin of warm water, gently dousing the two young n's sowhat hot-headed blood.

They looked at each other, pursed their lips, seemingly wanting to say sothing. But thinking of the care Section Chief Suzuki had given them, they still sighed and didn't say anything.

In the office, the tense quiet returned.

Right at this mont, the door opened.

'Click!'

Hashishita Ichiro walked in.

Everyone's breathing stagnated at this mont.

"It's here!"

Hashishita Ichiro walked excitedly to the desk and placed that piece of paper in the center of the desk.

"How is it? How is it?!"

"It should have broken 5, right?"

"But yesterday was Tuesday, logically there shouldn't be too high of a viewership rating increase."

"Look at the results, look at the results!"

Everyone gathered around, like watching a teorite that just descended from outer space.

"Late-night animation 'Yamishibai', eighth episode viewership rating: 4.97%."

"Viewership rating level - Top Tier!"

"Oh!"

A burst of irrepressible cheers rang out.

Although it failed to break through the 5% threshold as expected, this number was already enough for them to hold their heads high and accept everyone's complints.

This was likewise an achievent sufficient to go down in the annals of history!

"Look here." And Hashishita Ichiro took out another report, smiling mysteriously: "There's a secret oh!"

"What?" Everyone looked over, including Suzuki Kiyoto, their complexions instantly stunning slightly.

That was the viewership rating report for "Onibo Samurai"!

"Evening animation 'Onibo Samurai', premiere viewership rating: 5.03%."

The office was instantly dead silent.

5.03%.

This number was like a small mountain obstructing them in front. They looked at this achievent; in the end, it was still short by just that little bit.

A trace of imperceptible disappointnt began to quietly spread in the air.

"Everyone."

Nohara Hiroshi's voice rang out calmly at this ti.

At so unknown ti, he had stood behind the crowd, his gaze falling on the second report. That look was like looking at an interesting ga opponent.

"What are you disappointed about?"

The crowd was stunned, looking at him.

Nohara Hiroshi extended a finger, lightly tapping those two reports.

"One is early morning at 12:20 AM, one is exactly at 11 PM. One is the 'death slot' everyone considers garbage ti, the other is the 'late-night full feature broadcast ti' that all advertisers desperately squeeze their heads to get into."

The corners of his mouth curved into a faint arc carrying endless sarcasm.

"Thirty minutes of broadcast ti, countless tis the promotional resources, the industry's top-tier production team, what was exchanged, is a 0.06% lead."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping across every face that gradually turned from shock to comprehension. His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a resounding slap, fiercely striking the unseen opponent's face.

"Tell , exactly who won?"