Otaku Translation: Absolute Number One C61

Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.

Thank you.

Everyone from Otaku Translation

Chapter 61: Not a Single Step Back

What is the most unforgivable act in this world? A thousand people might offer a thousand answers. But for , there was no question: was the gravest sin of all.

When attacked by an enemy, he could retaliate, plot revenge, or even bide his time to rise again. Failure didn’t faze him; setbacks were merely stepping stones on the path forward. What he could never tolerate, however, was betrayal—a dagger thrust from behind by someone he trusted. Such wounds were unpredictable and left him unable to focus fully on his goals.

By extension, he vowed never to betray those who stood beside him. It wasn’t negotiable—it was principle. And had done nothing wrong during their shared journey toward success. On the contrary, she’d given her best effort, fulfilling her duties without fault. Even if she wasn’t the most brilliant producer, her dedication made her an invaluable companion. How could anyone accuse her otherwise?

Moreover, Murakami had always treated him sincerely—with genuine goodwill. She wasn’t just a colleague; she was a friend.

There was no denying it: Murakami Iori was both his comrade and friend. Now, she was being sacrificed by the for reasons unknown. Surely, she must be suffering—angry, hurt, and powerless. In such a moment, to exploit her misfortune for personal gain would be despicable. Even turning a blind eye would amount to betrayal, compounding her pain tenfold.

Yes, Chihara craved money and recognition—they were essential tools for achieving his ambitions. But that didn’t mean he was willing to stoop to any means necessary. If he were truly shameless, he would have long ago pursued Yamagami Aiko’s sister, treating her as a replacement regardless of her happiness or consent.

But Chihara still possessed humanity, morality, principles, and boundaries—even if they seemed foolish to some. Yes, one day he would achieve his goals, but not at the cost of betraying his comrades. Let cowards mock him if they wished.

Betray a comrade today, sell out a friend tomorrow, trade a lover for glory the day after? Never. He chose solidarity over selfishness. He would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his allies, facing attacks head-on, retaliating together, avenging wrongs together. Not a single step back.

If he abandoned his companions now, who would support him when he faltered? Without loyalty, how far could he truly go? He’d become nothing more than another faceless cog in the machine.

For a fleeting moment, doubt crept into his heart—but only for a moment. Like moonlight breaking through clouds, clarity returned. Calmly yet firmly, he declared, “No, Kurata-san. This matter concerns me directly. I oppose replacing the producer of our team. I reject the decision of the programming committee.”

Kurata Shin froze, his earlier confidence fading. He struggled to comprehend Chihara’s reasoning. After a pause, his expression hardened. “Chihara-sensei, do you understand what you’re saying? You’re defying the highest authority within the production bureau. You’re destroying your career!”

The production bureau oversaw programming across multiple channels, managing 87 ongoing shows and employing over five thousand staff—not counting auxiliary personnel or dispatched workers from affiliated organizations. As one of the core pillars of , its operations were vast and intricate. Without absolute authority, chaos would ensue.

The programming committee’s decisions were sacrosanct. No one—not even a genius—could challenge them.

Chihara nodded lightly. Having voiced his opposition, the greed and hesitation that once clouded his mind vanished. He relaxed, smiling faintly. “Kurata-san, I know exactly what I’m saying. Shall I repeat it? I, Chihara Rinto, oppose the programming committee’s decision. I demand Murakami Iori’s immediate reinstatement. Otherwise, I will refuse to cooperate further. It doesn’t matter whether Ishii Jiro takes over—or even if the entire programming committee intervenes. My stance remains unchanged.”

Kurata fell silent. What he had assumed would be routine diplomacy turned out to be a confrontation with an unexpectedly stubborn opponent. Creative teams were notorious for harboring idealists—too many dreamers ill-suited for the harsh realities of the workplace.

After a moment, he waved dismissively. “Bando-kun, leave us. I need to speak with Chihara-sensei privately.”

The young assistant named Bando snapped out of his daze, retreating hastily while inwardly incredulous. Was this man insane? To spurn such lucrative offers merely to defend a former superior? Truly, fools abounded this year—and here were two in quick succession.

Had their roles been reversed, Bando wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice even his wife if it meant securing advancement. Principles like fairness and justice paled before cold, hard cash and career prospects. Clearly, Chihara was a naive newcomer squandering his innate talent.

As the door clicked shut, silence filled the room. Kurata didn’t rush to speak. Instead, he opened his cigar case, selected a slender cigar, clipped its tip, and lit it. Drawing deeply, he exhaled a thin veil of smoke, studying Chihara intently before asking, “Chihara-sensei, are you involved romantically with Murakami-san?”

When wealth and fame failed to sway him, lust remained the only plausible motive. Beyond that, Kurata couldn’t fathom why this young man would act so recklessly. Such behavior defied every rule of corporate survival.

“No,” Chihara replied calmly, unperturbed by the insinuation. “We share a normal professional relationship. But belongs to her—it shouldn’t be taken away. Whatever your reasons, it’s unjust.”

Kurata nodded, refraining from further inquiry. His tone grew colder. “Chihara-sensei, the bureau values you—or rather, your potential. But that doesn’t give you license to defy upper management. Regardless of your feelings, the programming committee’s orders must be obeyed. Do you understand?”

Chihara shook his head decisively. “I won’t comply with such a foolish command. I stand by my demands.”

With no subordinates present, Kurata’s words became blunt and unvarnished. “To preserve the programming committee’s authority, we don’t hesitate to blacklist individuals for decades—even geniuses. No one is indispensable, Chihara-sensei. Despite our admiration for you, discipline will be enforced. History is littered with others like you—few met pleasant ends.”

Chihara shrugged nonchalantly. “You can’t blacklist me. My contract expires on April 6th—in less than two weeks. If you wish to sideline me for that brief period, feel free.”

Kurata blinked, startled. Uninvolved in day-to-day operations, he hadn’t realized Chihara’s contract was so short-term. By convention, someone of Chihara’s caliber should have renewed months ago. Murakami Iori had intended to negotiate better terms post-March, repeatedly postponing renewal discussions. Now, this oversight left Kurata scrambling.

After a thoughtful pause, his tone softened again. “It’s unnecessary, Chihara-sensei. This situation involves factional disputes—complicated matters beyond your control. Your resistance won’t change anything. Don’t throw away your future for naught. Truly, it’s not worth it.”

Chihara understood the underlying dynamics. The bursting of Japan’s economic bubble had crippled the nation’s economy. While stability had partially returned, companies discovered bloated workforces unsuited to the new reality. Some employees, difficult to dismiss outright, were shuffled off to affiliated enterprises under various pretexts. Tokyo Eizo Broadcasting (TEB), as a key affiliate of Eastern Union Economic News, received several such transfers—including individuals who joined the programming committee, strengthening the parent company’s influence.

This group, colloquially known as the , wielded significant power. Murakami Iori had once aspired to join them, drawn to a respected female executive within their ranks. Her rejection stung deeply. Now, it seemed the faction sought to expand its reach by sacrificing her entirely.

But what did these machinations matter to him? Their power struggles encroached upon him and his ally—with no room for compromise.

“I cannot accept this,” Chihara stated flatly, rising to his feet. “Then I’ll need a new job. TEB isn’t worth my efforts. I’ve said all I needed to say, Kurata-san. I hold firm to one condition: if you want me to continue working on Season Two of Tales of the Unusual, reinstate Murakami Iori immediately.”

“That’s impossible,” Kurata sighed. “She openly defied the programming committee and has already been penalized. If we let her off, others would follow suit, and the production bureau would collapse.”

“Then there’s nothing more to discuss,” Chihara replied briskly. “Do I need to return tomorrow? If so, I’ll bring books to pass the time. Rest assured—I won’t write another word.”

Kurata couldn’t believe his ears. One last attempt: “A new contract—triple your salary, raise royalties to 5%, guarantee awards. Any other requests? We can negotiate.”

His goal was simple: pacify Chihara enough to ensure a smooth transition under the new producer. Sincerity oozed from every word. Hell, if Chihara requested a wife, Kurata would deliver—one tailored precisely to his specifications. Height, weight, personality, educational background—he’d find perfection itself.

It wasn’t difficult. Japan lacked dedicated broadcasting majors; anchors were cherry-picked beauties from universities nationwide. Plentiful options existed: curvy or slim, wholesome or sultry, demure or commanding. Privately negotiated, monthly rotations weren’t unheard of either. Broadcasters weren’t buses—they were subways (Note.1). Inserting Chihara into this system posed no challenge.

Yet Chihara’s resolve remained unshaken. Even offering Kurata’s wife and daughter wouldn’t sway him now. “Negotiations? Send Murakami-san. She knows where to find me.”

With that, he turned to leave. Just as he reached the door, Kurata called after him. “You can’t take the show with you, Chihara-sensei. All copyrights and derivatives belong to TEB. Remember? You’re barred from similar projects for five years. Even if you walk away, the production bureau will rebuild the writing team. They’ll succeed where you left off—and surpass you. Are you really okay with that?”

“I’ve read the contract. I’m aware.” Chihara paused, glancing back at Kurata. “But let me remind you—the show isn’t as easy to manage as you think. Good luck.” Sacrifice demanded cost. Chihara was prepared. Without hesitation, he added, “Please relay a message to Ishii Jiro. We’re all professionals in this circle. If he dares push things this far, may he beware. Should opportunity arise, everything we’ve lost today will be repaid tenfold.”

With that, he closed the door and strode toward the Tales of the Unusual office. There awaited drafts, outlines, and partial scripts for Season Two—all destined for the flames. Not a single word would remain for TEB or Ishii Jiro.

Damn them. They’d disrupted his plans, wasted three precious months. When the chance arose, he’d make them pay—dearly.

Note 1: Public bus and subway are being used as metaphors/slang here. Calling someone a “bus” suggests that many people have “ridden” them (implying promiscuity). A “subway” exaggerates this idea even further (implying even more crowded or indiscriminate).

If you like this project, please vote for this novel through the link below, thank you.

https://www.novelupdates.com/series/absolute-number-one/

Join our discord you will receive update notification

If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.

All the tiers provide an off-line reading experience

Tier 1: 10 Advance chapters

Access fee $3.00 Monthly