Otaku Translation: Absolute Number One C80

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Chapter 80: A Man of Honor and Loyalty

got straight to the point, catching off guard. But he quickly smiled and replied, “Yes, we’re always looking for talent! Feel free to come over anytime.”

Chihara had a favorable impression of Fujii. Regardless of skill level, Fujii’s meticulous and dedicated work ethic aligned well with his expectations, making continued collaboration seem promising. However, Fujii hastily clarified, “It’s not me, Chihara. It’s and .”

If it were just Chihara, Fujii might have swallowed his pride and reached out, even in dire straits. But with Murakami Iori also involved, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. After all, when Murakami was betrayed, Fujii hadn’t dared to speak up. The guilt weighed too heavily.

Chihara was slightly surprised but quickly asked with concern, “What happened to them?” Yoshizaki Shingo, the former assistant director, and Tsumura Haruki, the director’s assistant, were familiar faces. Their roles fell under Fujii’s management, so they weren’t typically targeted by others in the crew. Only the producer could discipline them—but surely wasn’t foolish enough to start internal conflicts so early?

Was he losing sight of priorities?

“Tsumura was dragged into Yoshizaki’s mess,” Fujii sighed. “You know Yoshizaki—he’s prone to complaints and sarcastic remarks…” With that, Fujii briefly recounted what had transpired.

Yoshizaki Shingo was competent at his job. He executed tasks diligently and effectively, but his habit of voicing grievances undermined his efforts—classic workplace sabotage. For instance, during Chihara’s unconventional decision to cast idols, Yoshizaki grumbled incessantly about coaching inexperienced actors. His complaints lasted a month, only ceasing once results materialized.

Previously, this hadn’t been an issue. Murakami Iori’s mild temperament tolerated such behavior, and Chihara didn’t mind as long as the work was done well. But Ishii Jiro was different.

Yoshizaki harbored resentment toward Ishii for taking over the show. Though he outwardly complied, privately, he vented his frustrations repeatedly, expressing sympathy for Murakami Iori. Word eventually reached Ishii.

Initially, Ishii chose to ignore it. Having inherited the project, he lacked confidence and focused on stabilizing the team by throwing money around and hosting gatherings. With the new writing team scrambling to produce scripts and meet filming deadlines, he turned a blind eye—until today.

After the ratings analysis meeting, already in a foul mood, Ishii arrived at the studio to find Yoshizaki ranting again. This time, Yoshizaki lamented the bleak outlook, criticized the current scripts, and speculated whether Ishii would scapegoat Fujii if collapsed. Tsumura, Yoshizaki’s ally, chimed in with lighthearted agreement, adding fuel to the fire.

Though Ishii might have brushed it off initially, Yoshizaki crossed the line by mocking Ishii’s handling of the transition, praising Chihara for his integrity and loyalty, and predicting happiness for Chihara and Murakami.

At its core, this was idle gossip among colleagues, but Ishii couldn’t tolerate it. The script issue hit too close to home. Seething, he confronted Yoshizaki—and Tsumura by association.

Fujii relayed the story, omitting inflammatory remarks like "incompetent princeling” to avoid being implicated. Finally, he said, “The argument got heated. Offending a producer like Ishii means Yoshizaki and Tsumura will struggle in the crew. Yoshizaki’s contract is short-term and nearing expiration, and Tsumura’s is temporary. Ishii can easily make life difficult for them. Even if I try to protect them, they won’t last long. So… I’m here to ask if you’d consider taking them in. Tsumura’s no problem, but Yoshizaki… despite his sharp tongue, he’s capable and has good intentions…”

Asking for help didn’t come easily to Fujii, a proud man much older than Chihara. But Chihara, needing reliable hands to balance the influx of new team members, readily agreed. “No problem. Have them contact me directly.”

Pausing briefly, Chihara added, “How are things going for you, Fujii? How’s Season Two?”

Fujii spoke candidly. “Not well. At today’s analysis meeting, Ishii blew up, demanding better scripts from the writing team. He knows the show’s riding on Season One’s coattails, but honestly, the team’s doing their best. The scripts are passable—it’s just impossible to match your level, Chihara. Looking back, I realize how strong you really are. I used to doubt your ability as a solo writer, but now I feel embarrassed.”

Chihara coughed awkwardly, deflecting the praise. “Be careful. Ishii has a history of shifting blame.”

“I’m not worried. Worst case, I’ll return to directing infomercials for a couple of years. Everyone knows the reality. The network won’t sideline me.” Fujii remained pragmatic. Sensing his discomfort, he added, “I’m hesitant to approach Murakami-san directly. Could you communicate on my behalf? Just a temporary position for Yoshizaki and Tsumura will suffice. If I switch projects later, I’ll bring them back.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll handle it.”

“Please send my regards to Murakami-san.” With that, Fujii hung up. Reflecting on his situation, he regretted not joining Chihara’s rebellion. Despite his best efforts, eight writers combined couldn’t match Chihara’s output. As the director, he felt powerless.

Chihara sighed but found solace. Yoshizaki’s steady camerawork and Tsumura’s management skills would be assets for Hanzawa Naoki. Adding reliable hands to the team was always beneficial.

He promptly called Murakami Iori, summarizing the situation and delegating the matter to her. Unfazed, she accepted without hesitation. Familiar with both individuals, she bore no ill will toward Fujii, whose guilt stemmed from complex human emotions.

With the crisis resolved, Chihara finally called his apartment manager, requesting a part-time cleaner. The manager agreed, noting the abundance of unemployed individuals during the recession. Weekly cleanings cost around 25,000 yen, negotiable down to 20,000 yen. Chihara accepted, planning to gift the manager a bottle of fine wine as thanks.

Returning to his desk, Chihara resumed writing. The scene script flowed smoothly, aided by his training and passive formatting skills, but the literary script posed challenges. Lacking flair, his prose resembled dry fish. Yet, it was necessary. The literary script would impress programming committees and actors alike, serving as bait to attract top talent.

Buried in writing, the phone rang again. Without pausing, he picked up with his left hand. “Who’s calling?”

“Master, it’s me.”

Recognizing the sweet voice, Chihara’s heart sank. Amidst his busy schedule, he’d forgotten about her! Composing himself, he chuckled, “Oh, it’s you. What’s up?”

Had she grown impatient waiting for him to invite her over? Truly, recent events had consumed his attention.

“I called to congratulate you on your new show’s premiere!” Michiko chirped, her voice adorable even through the phone. “My mom and I watched it together. She says the ratings will soar.”

Ah, her mother was nearby, explaining the sugary tone. Lowering his voice, Chihara teased, “Did your mom send you to ask about appearing in ?”

He suspected , seeing his renewed success, sent Michiko to secure benefits. However, Michiko responded earnestly, “Sorry, Master. I can’t study right now. Don’t rush me—I’m on set for a while. Once filming wraps, I’ll come immediately.”

Her mother was indeed present. Smiling, Chihara asked, “What are you filming?”

“A low-budget indie film by . I’m playing a supporting role similar to . I owe this opportunity to you, Master.”

Chihara paused, then laughed. “Well, since you’ve already taken the role, give it your best shot. Complaining won’t change anything. When you finish, come visit—I’ll arrange something fun for you.”

“Thank you, Master!” Michiko’s gratitude sounded genuine. “Mom promised me a long vacation after this film. I’ll rush over as soon as possible!”

“Good luck!” Chihara encouraged, genuinely pleased. This seemed like a chance for her and her mother to mend fences. After a few more cheerful words, Michiko hung up. Chuckling, Chihara returned to his script.

He planned to dedicate one to two months refining it. By then, Human Observation’s filming would near completion, allowing him to split the team and begin casting for Hanzawa Naoki. Under the head writer system, his authority was unmatched—but so was his responsibility.

Day and night, he worked tirelessly. A week flew by, bringing mid-April and the broadcast of Human Observation’s second episode.

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