Otaku Translation: Absolute Number One C72

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

Thank you.

Everyone from

was brimming with enthusiasm for her new job. On her second day, she began fulfilling her duties as a "," arriving early to wait outside Chihara Rinto’s apartment building. When Chihara emerged right on time, he wasn’t surprised—this had been their agreement the previous evening.

Technically, Hitomi had already started “working” yesterday. She’d followed him from the fish market back to his apartment and watched him write for half the afternoon before leaving happily as dusk fell. They’d also agreed that she would accompany him to this morning, essentially acting as his bag carrier.

Chihara had initially opposed the idea. He wasn’t some high-profile figure who needed an assistant trailing after him, and he suggested Hitomi head straight to Kanto United TV on her own. But given their proximity and her insistence, he eventually relented. At worst, it meant she’d take a slight detour. Besides, it was better to let her feel useful; otherwise, she might feel guilty about accepting payment without contributing.

Dressed in somewhat plain but clean and tidy clothes, Hitomi greeted Chihara enthusiastically as soon as he stepped out of the building. Mimicking the demeanor of a professional personal assistant, she took his briefcase and asked solicitously, “Chihara-sensei, have you eaten?”

“Yes, I have. What about you?”

“I’ve eaten too. Shall we get going then?”

Chihara nodded and set off toward the station, with Hitomi trailing behind, carrying his bag. After a few steps, she piped up again. “Today’s your first day at Kanto United TV, isn’t it, Chihara-sensei?”

“That’s right,” Chihara replied casually. “I’m not sure what it’ll be like.” He’d spoken to Murakami Iori briefly the previous evening. According to her report, everything was proceeding smoothly thanks to the unwavering support of the production bureau director. There were no obstacles, and everyone seemed eager to help. The office space had been prepared with astonishing speed.

“It’ll definitely go well!” Hitomi chimed in confidently. “At Kanto United TV, Chihara-sensei will surely create even better programs!”

“Let’s hope so. Let’s give it our all.”

“Yes, I’ll work hard!” Hitomi nodded vigorously, though Chihara couldn’t see it from where he walked ahead.

He didn’t respond further, lost in thought. This truly marked a fresh start, a new challenge. The thrill of stepping into unfamiliar territory tightened his chest while simultaneously filling him with anticipation—he thrived on challenges, refusing to let life pass by uneventfully.

Humans only lived for roughly twenty thousand days, each one precious and irreplaceable. Life was fleeting, and he believed strongly in making every moment count.

Lost in these reflections, Chihara suddenly heard a rhythmic drumbeat crescendoing softly in the background. Gradually, other instruments joined in, creating an upbeat melody that perfectly matched his mood. Without realizing it, he found himself absorbed in the music, his body instinctively tensing. His brows furrowed, his gaze sharpened, and his lips pressed into a thin line. Shoulders hunched slightly, he strode forward with purposeful strides.

The sensation was invigorating—a warrior marching toward battle. This is how life should feel!

But after taking ten or so steps, he noticed the startled glances of passersby and snapped back to reality. Turning his head toward the source of the music, he saw Hitomi walking solemnly beside him, her expression serious and resolute, exuding an almost comically fierce aura.

Unable to suppress his exasperation, Chihara asked, “What exactly are you doing?”

Hitomi gave him a puzzled look. “Isn’t this part of following you to work?”

“I mean, why are you playing music while we walk?”

“Oh!” Hitomi patted her waist, realization dawning. “You’re talking about this. It’s our first day heading to work, so naturally, we need special background music. It boosts morale!”

More like boosting absurdity, Chihara thought wryly, resisting the urge to smack her upside the head. Instead, he extended his hand. “Give it to me.”

Confused, Hitomi handed over her portable cassette player—the same device she used to practice standard Japanese. Chihara promptly turned it off and stuffed it into his pocket, continuing onward. She really does remind me of Stephen Chow’s characters, he mused. Who knew she’d bring such antics into real life? Incredible.

Hitomi stood rooted to the spot for a moment before hurrying to catch up. Doesn’t he like it? she wondered. When the protagonist embarks on a grand mission, there should always be epic background music! Chihara-sensei is just too serious—he doesn’t understand the exhilaration of life!

---

They soon arrived at Kanto United TV’s headquarters, located in . Situated near , the area boasted numerous cultural facilities, embassies, and convenient transportation options, including a public helicopter pad and fast boats departing for the bay. Many television networks favored setting up shop here.

Standing before the main entrance, Chihara surveyed the premises. The layout resembled Tokyo Eizo Broadcasting (TEB): a central building flanked by annexes, with production facilities tucked away in the rear. However, Kanto United TV’s structures appeared taller and newer, albeit lacking its own radio division or independent broadcasting tower.

From what Chihara understood, Kanto United TV’s registered capital stood at 11.5 billion yen—a mere fraction compared to behemoths like TEB, whose capital approached 60 billion yen. Established in the 1970s under ’s investment, the network had undergone significant expansion during the late 1980s and completed restructuring in 1992. By bringing in additional shareholders, it established itself as the core of a regional broadcasting network spanning areas such as the , Hokkaido, Kansai, Aichi Prefecture, Shikoku Island, and much of Kyushu. Its audience reached approximately 30 million households—or around 90 million viewers.

However, beyond the Kanto region, its influence waned considerably. While statistics painted a broad picture, its traditional stronghold remained confined to the Kanto Plain. Compared to the nationwide reach of Japan’s top five networks, Kanto United TV still lagged behind.

The network faced a developmental bottleneck. First, it lacked historical prestige, production prowess, and flagship programming, resulting in weak reliance even among affiliated stations. Second, the big five networks actively stifled its growth—notably by denying it access to coveted baseball broadcasting rights. Baseball being Japan’s most popular sport, securing these rights was crucial for any top-tier broadcaster. Yet, through tacit collusion, the big five maintained a united front, ensuring Kanto United TV never secured them. Left to languish, the network endured both public frustration and private grumbling from affiliate stations.

It was par for the course—newcomers often faced bullying in any industry.

After observing for a while, Chihara led Hitomi inside. They quickly reached the newly established base Murakami Iori had set up at Kanto United TV. Though not yet officially inaugurated, had already arranged accommodations, symbolizing their integration into the family.

Unlike Tokyo Eizo Broadcasting (TEB), which had relegated Tales of the Unusual to a dilapidated meeting room, Kanto United TV treated them with far greater respect. They’d been assigned a proper suite complete with individual offices, planning rooms, conference spaces, guest reception areas, lounges, and private restrooms.

Murakami Iori showed no surprise at Hitomi’s presence, having been forewarned via phone the previous evening. She greeted the young woman warmly. Whether intentionally or not, Hitomi’s efforts to ingratiate herself had clearly paid off—Murakami viewed her favorably.

Exchanging pleasantries, Murakami guided Chihara and Hitomi through their new domain, finally leading Chihara to the largest private office. Pushing open the door, she smiled. “Take a look. If anything’s missing, I’ll arrange it later.”

Glancing around, Chihara noted the vase filled with fresh flowers on the large desk—a thoughtful touch added within barely sixteen hours. He settled into the plush leather chair, spinning halfway around to inspect the supplies: stationery, a computer, a telephone with fax capabilities—all accounted for. Smiling, he said, “Everything’s perfect. Thank you, Murakami-san.”

Concerned, he added, “You didn’t stay up until midnight last night, did you?” You’ll burn yourself out, he thought. If something happens to you, I’ll blame myself...

Murakami shrugged off his concern. Unlike Chihara, she was accustomed to the relentless pace of elite companies. Overwork was practically a prerequisite for success. “Time was tight,” she explained matter-of-factly. “But thankfully, I didn’t have to handle everything alone. Director Shiga mobilized plenty of assistance.”

She felt immensely satisfied—not only with the resources provided but also with Shiga Ayumu’s evident goodwill. Producing subpar content now would feel like a betrayal of his trust. Thanks to Chihara’s reputation, she finally had backing, reducing the likelihood of being scapegoated by programming committees.

Seating herself opposite Chihara, Murakami pulled out a thick document. Her tone grew serious. “Chihara, here’s the preliminary staffing arrangement for our team. Take a look and let me know if adjustments are needed. I’ve also drafted a list of potential crew members along with brief resumes. Review them for any unsuitable candidates.”

Chihara wasted no time, shifting immediately into work mode. From his briefcase, he retrieved a stack of papers and handed them over. “Here’s the initial draft for . My handwriting might be messy, but skim through it first. We can discuss shortly.”

Both dove into their respective documents. Sensing the gravity of the moment, Hitomi discreetly retreated to brew coffee, determined to excel in her role.

Once they finished reviewing, they exchanged feedback briefly. Then, Murakami excused herself to gather personnel. Time was short, and she intended to enforce strict deadlines—no one would leave until the day’s tasks were complete. Armed with authority from the production bureau’s top brass, she wielded unprecedented power, even more so than at TEB. Anyone slacking off would face consequences.

Meanwhile, Chihara leaned over his desk, revising the draft proposal. After a while, he felt an itch on his cheek and turned to find his “personal assistant” eyeing him intently. Chuckling, he said, “I don’t need help right now. Why don’t you explore the place and familiarize yourself with the environment?”

Currently, the creative team was focused on conceptualization. Since the operational team hadn’t yet formed, Hitomi’s responsibilities were limited. Ideally, she should have spent a few more days gutting fish before joining, but since she’d arrived early, he figured she could afford to wander aimlessly for a bit.

Delighted, Hitomi replied, “Then I’ll check if Murakami-san needs anything. Call me if you need me, Chihara-sensei—I’ll come running!”

“Go ahead,” Chihara said with a dismissive wave, already lowering his head to continue writing.

Hitomi slipped out quietly. Not long afterward, Murakami returned to escort Chihara to the program planning room, where five or six variety show planners awaited. After a brief introduction, Chihara commandeered a whiteboard to outline the format and selling points of the upcoming program.

The planners listened attentively, jotting down key points. As auxiliary creators, their role involved refining details, identifying gaps, and drafting shooting plans under Chihara and Murakami’s dual leadership.

The whiteboard gradually filled with notes. Sketches detailing specific scenes were pinned up, and someone brought back a lump of clay to sculpt a model set for hosts and guests to visualize interactions. This facilitated group discussions, allowing further refinement of details.

Murakami periodically checked in, adjusting preparations based on finalized specifics. Meanwhile, the planners grew increasingly bewildered.

Wasn’t this supposed to be a fledgling project? How could the details already be so meticulously fleshed out? Their usual task of supplementing ideas seemed redundant here.

If you like this project, please rate or leave a review 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