Otaku Translation: Absolute Number One C83

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Chapter 83: Defection

was the first direct subordinate ever had in his career, which made him somewhat special. With this in mind, Chihara set aside his current tasks and struck up a conversation with him, asking about his situation. To his surprise, Shiraki’s circumstances weren’t great—likely collateral damage from Chihara and Murakami Iori’s abrupt departure.

After took over the production team, one of his first orders was to retrieve any planning documents or draft scripts for , even abandoned drafts from . But when he questioned Shiraki Keima, the latter played dumb. In reality, Chihara had left behind what could only be described as an “odorless septic tank” of unusable material, and Shiraki had dutifully flushed it all down the drain, erasing every trace. He’d cleaned his cubicle so thoroughly that it looked like a crime scene scrubbed clean with hydrogen peroxide.

Ishii came up empty-handed. Suspecting Shiraki was a loyalist to Murakami and Chihara, he didn’t outright fire him—stability within the team mattered—but neither did he promote Shiraki to assistant writer as originally planned. Instead, Shiraki was relegated to menial office tasks, essentially becoming a glorified errand boy.

Fortunately, Shiraki’s innate talent allowed him to slip under Ishii’s radar after just a few days. Now, he enjoyed significant downtime, spending most of his day online. When Chihara heard this, he felt a pang of guilt, but Shiraki brushed it off, eagerly updating him on the show’s current state—just as he used to do during their time together.

The ratings were holding steady, but Ishii remained dissatisfied. His frustration mounted as he repeatedly rejected scripts submitted by the writing team. The writers, in turn, grumbled among themselves, arguing that creating two to three short episodes per week under such tight deadlines already stretched their abilities. They insisted the quality was passable given the constraints.

But Ishii wouldn’t accept mediocrity. He demanded scripts surpassing Season 1’s standards. The writers countered that brilliance couldn’t be forced—it required inspiration, luck, and timing. “How did your predecessor manage it?” Ishii shot back. “Chihara wrote two to three shorts per week, averaging one every two days, while maintaining high quality. How can eight of you fail where one succeeded?”

Unable to refute his logic, the writers simmered with resentment but reluctantly promised to improve. Admitting they were collectively inferior to Chihara stung too much to voice aloud.

Though barred from creative meetings, Shiraki’s knack for gathering intel hadn’t dulled. He revealed that had proposed emulating Season 1’s success by casting idols to boost ratings temporarily while giving the writers breathing room. However, Ishii hesitated, deeming celebrity guests beneath the show’s prestige. He leaned toward recruiting established actors through personal connections instead.

Fujii bristled at first but eventually relented. “Do whatever you want,” he muttered inwardly. “You’re the producer.”

Beyond the strained relationship between the writers and Ishii, morale among the crew plummeted. Even with generous overtime pay, complaints spread like wildfire. Everyone seemed disgruntled.

This wasn’t surprising. Murakami Iori had been beloved by her team—not because she demanded respect but because she earned it. Her humility, kindness, and thoughtfulness fostered camaraderie. Despite immense pressure, she regularly checked in with individual crew members, keeping spirits high. Leading by example, she worked punishing hours—fourteen-plus daily—and bore the physical toll without complaint. Over time, her dedication inspired loyalty. Under her leadership, the set buzzed with positivity, contributing significantly to smooth operations. The decision to replace her with Ishii felt like a betrayal.

Though no one dared openly oppose Ishii, many privately despised him. Some mocked him behind his back, dismissing his attempts to win favor through lavish dinners as futile. If Ishii were hit by a bus tomorrow, half the crew might cheer.

Shiraki recounted these details with unsettling enthusiasm, seemingly oblivious to the irony of spilling secrets about his current employer to his former boss. Yet, his indignation stemmed from a sense of justice. Ishii’s actions transformed what should have been a routine power grab into something far more sinister. By targeting Murakami—a respected figure who sacrificed herself rather than surrender her post—Ishii painted himself as the ultimate villain. Shiraki reveled in exposing the chaos Ishii wrought, secretly hoping the man would implode.

Listening to Shiraki’s lengthy update, Chihara marveled at both his typing speed and the schadenfreude coursing through him. Ishii deserved every ounce of trouble coming his way. “Serves you right for trying to snatch someone else’s hard work!” Chihara thought smugly. “Next time, think twice before coveting what isn’t yours.”

Perhaps emboldened by the anonymity of cyberspace, Shiraki hesitated briefly before posing a bold question: “Chihara-sensei, may I learn from you? Would that be okay?”

Chihara blinked at the screen, unsure how to respond. “I don’t have much to teach you, Shiraki-kun. Honestly…”

Truthfully, he lacked confidence in his own ability to consistently produce high-quality scripts. Otherwise, he wouldn’t resort to remaking existing works. Explaining this to Shiraki felt awkward, but the younger man persisted. “Sensei, please don’t be modest. Your talent is undeniable. I truly wish to study under you—even informally, as an apprentice.”

Realizing his request might raise suspicions, Shiraki quickly added, “I’ll quit my job immediately!”

“No need,” Chihara replied, startled. “You worked hard to get into . Quitting would be a waste.”

“But I feel like I’m wasting my time here,” Shiraki argued passionately. “I genuinely want to learn from you. Give me a chance, and I swear I won’t disappoint you. Please, believe in me, Sensei!”

His earnestness tugged at Chihara’s conscience. Unlike Michiko, whose sole ambition was escaping her mother’s clutches, Shiraki sought mentorship wholeheartedly. Rejecting him outright felt wrong. Still, taking responsibility for another person’s growth weighed heavily on Chihara. Could he guide someone effectively based solely on scattered insights from modern analyses of ? What if he failed and inadvertently ruined Shiraki’s career?

After some deliberation, Chihara offered a compromise. “Don’t throw away your job so impulsively. It’s tough to find stable employment these days. As for learning scriptwriting, feel free to visit me after work. We can discuss anything you’re curious about.”

“May I come directly to your office?”

“Yes, whenever you’re free. No need to resign; I trust you. Here’s the address…” Chihara trusted his instincts enough to believe Shiraki wasn’t a corporate spy. Besides, copying scripts wasn’t easy—even with originals in hand, it drove him to despair. If Shiraki harbored ill intentions, attempting plagiarism would likely leave him equally frazzled.

After waiting a while without receiving a reply, Chihara assumed Shiraki had gone offline or been called away for work, so he turned back to his own tasks. Less than an hour later, however, Shiraki appeared at his door, beaming. “Sensei, I’m here!”

Chihara stared at him, incredulous. “Why are you here at this time? Wait! Don’t tell me…”

“I handed in my resignation letter already!” Shiraki declared proudly.

Chihara winced, feeling simultaneously impressed and exasperated. Turning him away now seemed cruel. Sighing, he conceded, “I can offer you an assistant writer position, but stability isn’t guaranteed. If ratings drop, we might all end up unemployed. For now, help me prepare scripts for the summer season. Ask questions anytime—I’ll do my best to answer.”

Shiraki bowed deeply, gratitude shining in his eyes. “Thank you so much, Sensei!”

Chihara promptly informed Murakami Iori, requesting a contract draft for their newest team member. Thrilled by Shiraki’s arrival, Murakami wasted no time arranging everything. Within hours, a desk materialized in Chihara’s office, and Shiraki completed his defection—from TEB’s errand boy to ’s assistant writer. Further formalities could wait; Murakami would handle them.

Reflecting on the bizarre turn of events, Chihara retrieved parts of ’s completed manuscript and assigned Shiraki tasks like proofreading, logic checks, and minor edits. Peering curiously at the literary and scene scripts, Shiraki asked, “Sensei, did you start drafting scenes before finishing the detailed outline?”

Chihara paused, flustered. “That’s not an outline—it’s a chronological literary script…” Sure, it was concise, but labeling it an outline? Regaining composure, he added sheepishly, “Well, it hasn’t been polished yet. You could call it an outline… My writing skills aren’t great, and I’ve been struggling with this aspect.”

An idea struck him. Remembering Shiraki’s strong prose, he ventured, “Shiraki-kun, would you consider handling this task? Polishing the literary script to make it more engaging?”

Shiraki hesitated, unsure. “Can I really pull it off?”

“Give it a try,” Chihara encouraged. “If the results are good, you’ll take over this role permanently. If successful, you’ll co-author the literary script.”

In truth, Chihara believed Shiraki outshone him in this area. Writing in Japanese never came naturally to him—let alone crafting elegant prose. Had it been otherwise, he’d have authored novels alongside scripts!

Taking a deep breath, Shiraki vowed solemnly, “I’ll give it my all, Sensei!”

And so, they dove into their respective roles. Chihara focused on crafting core plots, while Shiraki followed closely behind, refining and enhancing the text. Gradually, Chihara realized how smoothly collaboration flowed. No wonder Japanese dramas thrived on team-based writing systems—it was exhilarating!

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