Otaku Translation: Absolute Number One C68

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Chapter 68: We Have Nothing

’s hands were clasped tightly together, his expression earnest and his voice smooth with a magnetic charm that could sell anything—whether it was recruiting talent or proposing marriage. blinked in surprise. While not exactly moved to tears, he couldn’t help but revise his opinion of Production Bureau—a massive organization with thousands under its direct command. Having their big boss personally show up at your door? Forget about ulterior motives; you couldn’t deny the sheer weight of sincerity behind this gesture.

But Chihara wasn’t naive. The internet had long since taught him to be skeptical, and no amount of flattery would make him jump into an agreement without thinking twice. This wasn’t ancient China where loyalty could be bought with food and clothing. Modern times called for practicality.

Rather than responding directly, Chihara paused for a moment before smoothly changing the subject. With a laugh, he said, “It’s truly an honor that your station holds me in such high regard, Director Shiga. You must have waited quite some time outside my apartment. I apologize for keeping you standing—it’s terribly rude of me. Please come in, please!”

Chihara gestured toward the door as if ready to welcome his guest properly. Shiga had no choice but to release his grip—he couldn’t keep pressing the issue without coming off as pushy. Instead, he watched as Chihara fished out his keys, unlocked the door, and bowed slightly, murmuring, “Sorry to trouble you,” before stepping inside.

Once they were settled in the cramped studio apartment, Chihara busied himself making tea. Meanwhile, Shiga glanced around the modest space, his curiosity piqued though he kept his poker face intact. When Chihara finally placed a steaming cup of tea in front of him, he chuckled and said, “I never expected someone of your stature to visit me personally, Director Shiga. It’s… unexpected, to say the least.”

Shiga sat there like a wobbly roly-poly doll, steadying the teacup with one hand as a polite gesture of thanks. He grinned sheepishly and replied, “Oh, this is nothing. At Kanto United TV, we value talent above all else. This is the treatment you deserve, Chihara-sensei.”

After a brief pause, he added, “To be honest, we should’ve approached you sooner. But we hesitated—our resources are limited compared to others, and we didn’t want to hold back someone of your caliber. Days passed, and when we heard nothing about you joining or , well… we decided to take another shot. So tell me, Chihara-sensei—are you still unaffiliated?”

Chihara took a seat across from him, mulling over the man’s words. Their intelligence work wasn’t half bad, at least—they knew who their competitors were. Maybe they’d assumed they couldn’t compete earlier and stayed away to save face. Now, sensing an opportunity, they’d swooped in. Ranked sixth nationwide and eyeing , Kanto United TV clearly wasn’t to be underestimated. Perhaps it wasn’t that they were weak—it was just that the top five networks had formed an impenetrable alliance.

Outwardly calm, Chihara answered truthfully, “For now, yes. They had some issues with the script.”

Shiga seized on this immediately, leaning forward with a grin. “That’s excellent news then! Could you consider giving us at Kanto United TV a chance?” His tone grew earnest. “We may not have the history or prestige of Fuji TV or Asahi, but there’s one thing we absolutely excel at!”

Chihara raised an eyebrow, amused. “And what’s that?”

“We’ll invest based solely on your word! No nitpicking, no delays—none of that nonsense!”

Chihara blinked. “My word?”

“Just say your show will crack the top ten of the ratings chart. If you’re confident enough to promise that, we’ll back you fully!”

Shiga sounded less like a polished executive and more like a brash street vendor hawking goods. It dawned on Chihara that during the winter season, Kanto United TV had barely scraped into the top ten before being bumped off by . For days afterward, newspapers mocked them mercilessly. Yet here they were, extending an invitation anyway. Impressive resilience, Chihara thought. And cracking the top ten? That meant competing for viewership—a challenge he felt confident tackling.

Still, memories of Kanto United TV’s awkward rivalry with the unserious gave him pause. In three or four years, the network might crumble under pressure from the “Big Five.” What would happen to his projects then? Would he be left holding the bag?

With a slew of long-running shows and valuable rights in his hands, he would undoubtedly hesitate, torn between jumping ship and staying put. Switching careers to become an ? That seemed drastic.

While Chihara mulled it over, Shiga pressed on, desperate to avoid outright rejection. “Chihara-sensei, let’s set aside —they’re too conservative. ? Forget them—they don’t respect talent. Those three major commercial stations left? Sure, they’re stable, but they already have flagship programs. Join them, and you’ll spend years waiting for opportunities. But us?” He spread his arms wide. “We have nothing.”

Chihara nearly nodded reflexively. He remembered—out of 25 slots on the popularity charts, Kanto United TV occupied four. One ranked twelfth, the rest languished near the bottom. On paper, it looked decent, but in reality? Grim.

He caught himself and offered diplomatically, “Your network has potential.”

Shiga waved him off with a chuckle. “Let’s not sugarcoat it, Chihara-sensei. I prefer honesty—you’ll see once we work together. Our broadcast network is newly restructured, and our production bureau lacks strength. Compared to the bigger stations, our output in both quantity and quality falls short. Viewers avoiding us is understandable. But we’re determined to create something great.”

He leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “That’s why we need someone like you. Others overlook your potential, but I see it clearly. You turned a late-night slot into a near-20% average viewership phenomenon. That’s genius—and exactly what our station needs. We’re willing to bet on you. My offer isn’t empty talk. Give us your word, and we’ll support you wholeheartedly, no matter what kind of program you envision.”

The sincerity was overwhelming. Chihara considered carefully. “What about time slots?”

“Pick any time you want. Unscheduled slots? Done. Scheduled ones? I’ll clear them for you.”

“And budget?”

“I won’t blindly approve reckless spending, but within reason—and within the rules—I guarantee your budget will be the programming committee’s top priority.”

Shiga’s straightforwardness impressed Chihara. Nodding slowly, he asked, “There are colleagues I’ve worked with before. We plan to collaborate moving forward.”

“No problem. A team of ten or fewer? Consider it done. Individual contracts, bundled agreements—you name it.”

Chihara smiled faintly. “Not quite ten, but one member is a female producer. Her rights need protection…”

“A female producer? Absolutely! Why wouldn’t we accommodate her? Heck, she doesn’t even have to be human!”

Chihara was momentarily speechless. Refusal felt impossible now. This level of commitment bordered on legendary. After a thoughtful silence, he ventured, “Director Shiga, if I accept these terms and my show tanks, aren’t you worried about losing everything?”

Shiga laughed heartily, exuding a rough-around-the-edges charisma. “What can I say? Win or lose, I’ll take my chances. I grew up scraping by—I’m used to losing!” His laughter faded, replaced by seriousness. “Chihara-sensei, don’t mistake me for a fool. Ever since Tales of the Unusual hit the charts, I’ve followed your work closely. I’ve seen every episode, studied your creative process—the wild ideas, the effort behind the scenes. Your talent goes beyond writing scripts. The big four networks churn out 30-40% hits regularly, so they overlook people like you. But we need standout programs—and we need someone like you. We’re placing our hopes on you. Trust our sincerity.”

He bowed deeply. “Please join Kanto United TV, Chihara-sensei. From the bottom of my heart, I beg you.”

Chihara shifted uncomfortably. Despite living in Japan for some time now, he still found this level of humility disarming. When Japanese people wanted something, they bent themselves into pretzels to get it.

Still, he couldn’t deny feeling tempted. Kanto United TV had gone from being the least likely option to rivaling Fuji TV and Asahi TV. But this decision affected not only his career but also Murakami and the others’ futures. He needed clarity.

After a pause, he spoke earnestly. “Director Shiga, I appreciate your sincerity deeply. But I need time to think it over—to discuss with my team. Can you wait?”

Shiga straightened, showing no hint of disappointment. For all his bluster, the man possessed patience. Grinning brightly, he replied, “Of course! This is a life-changing decision, Chihara-sensei. Take all the time you need. Kanto United TV’s doors remain open to you. Whenever you’re ready, call me anytime—day or night.”

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