Otaku Translation: Absolute Number One C90

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Chapter 90: The Audition Invitation for the Lead Role

The drama was adapted from the "," but the title itself was the protagonist's name, underscoring just how critical the role of Hanzawa Naoki was to the series. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that casting the right actor could determine 50% of the show’s ratings.

’s preliminary list of actors consisted mostly of popular, award-winning performers. Many had accolades under their belts and undeniable talent. Still, perhaps due to preconceived notions, found it easier to cast supporting roles than the lead. Every actor he considered seemed to fall short when compared to —either not quite fitting the image or lacking something intangible. Unable to decide on his own, he called everyone together to discuss. This wasn’t like casting for Tales of the Unusual, where he could simply gather actors and use the [Spiritual Compatibility Rate] skill one by one. With these high-profile actors, he’d have to narrow down the list first before relying on that unreliable ability as a last resort.

The team took a break from their work to focus on this crucial decision. They pulled up videos of past performances by the actors on the list, critiquing appearances, charisma, and acting chops. After hours of debate, they finally reached a consensus: Hanzawa Naoki should be played by .

Awata Isao, 31, was in the prime of his career—the golden age for male actors. Since making his official debut at 21, he’d starred in numerous hit dramas, led several big-budget productions, and even headlined a national sensation. He’d won multiple “Star Awards” as well as Best Supporting Actor at the and Best Leading Actor at the .

Chihara Rinto studied Awata’s photos for a long time, setting aside his preconceived notions. Could Awata pull off Hanzawa Naoki? He certainly looked the part. His features were sharp yet approachable, exuding a clean-cut, trustworthy demeanor. His presence was commanding, with piercing eyes that radiated masculinity. As a bank executive, there was nothing about him that would break the audience’s immersion.

Reviewing Awata’s previous work confirmed his acting prowess. There was no question about his skill. Among the available options, Awata seemed like the best choice. In this parallel world, finding someone identical to the original Hanzawa Naoki was impossible. All they could do was select the most suitable candidate based on reality—and Awata fit the bill perfectly. If [Spiritual Compatibility Rate] didn’t flag any major issues, he’d be the one.

Chihara made the call. “Send him an audition invitation. Ask if he’s interested.”

Murakami nodded in understanding, then slipped away to handle the details. She mentally calculated the offer: typically, actors of Awata’s caliber commanded around 1.5 million yen per episode. But since hadn’t worked with him before, they’d need to sweeten the deal. Maybe 1.8 million yen per episode? And what about profit-sharing rights…?

While Murakami Iori was mentally working through the details, she slipped away in a flash. Chihara Rinto didn’t concern himself with how she planned to negotiate with Awata Isao. If negotiations fell through, he had a backup plan: personally deliver the script and persuade Awata himself. He was confident no actor could resist such a compelling story.

He pinned Awata’s photo to the whiteboard and returned to refining the storyboard with Yoshizaki Shingo and Shiraki Keima. A few hours passed, and just after lunch, Murakami called with good news: Awata had agreed to the audition, scheduled for three days later. Moreover, Awata expressed interest in meeting Chihara to discuss acting and scriptwriting.

Chihara was pleasantly surprised. What had seemed like a daunting task had resolved itself effortlessly. He praised Murakami for her efficiency, calling her the production’s ace producer. Satisfied, Murakami briefly updated him on the supporting cast auditions before ending the call. Chihara returned to the whiteboard, studying Awata’s photo again. Adjusting his mindset, he began to see Awata in a more favorable light. Imagining him as Hanzawa Naoki, he grew increasingly satisfied.

While Awata might not surpass Sakai Masato, his strengths in other areas could compensate. The final result wouldn’t fall too far behind. That was acceptable. The script was solid, the storyboard was progressing well, actors were being lined up, the crew was restructuring, and the budget was ample. In ten days, they’d begin filming. By summer, they’d dominate the airwaves, cementing their place in the industry.

Perfect. The plan was on track. Work was going smoothly. As for his personal life… winning over Hakuba Neiko and building a real connection with her—that was another challenge entirely. For now, though, he needed to focus. Today, he’d visit the restaurant for dinner, spend more time with his future wife, and ensure no one else swooped in while he wasn’t looking.

Lost in thought about the future, he returned to his seat and resumed work. Daydreaming wouldn’t get anything done; action was key. But barely two hours later, at around 2:30 PM, Murakami called again. This time, it wasn’t good news.

“Awata’s agency changed their mind,” she said. “He’s no longer interested in auditioning. The appointment is canceled.”

Chihara frowned. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure. I just received the notification,” Murakami replied, equally confused. “It came from a regular employee—not even his agent.”

“Was it a salary issue?” Chihara suspected foul play. Such unprofessional behavior invited criticism, even if turning down auditions was common in the industry.

“It shouldn’t be. I hinted at offering above-standard pay and substantial profit-sharing. If they were unhappy, they could’ve negotiated instead of outright rejecting us.”

Murakami paused. “Should I try again? Or… maybe we should consider another lead? What about Ikeuchi Tasuku?”

Chihara sighed. Trust humans to ruin plans just when things seemed perfect. Barely two hours ago, everything had been on track. Now, their top choice was gone.

Replace him? He flipped through the actor profiles again. Ikeuchi Tasuku had been a runner-up, but Chihara disliked him. He seemed too delicate, his acting style too soft. He might work as Hanzawa Naoki’s loyal friend, but lacked the boldness and edge to portray someone willing to defy higher-ups.

Frustrated, Chihara continued flipping pages. Murakami waited silently on the line, letting him decide. Perhaps due to bias, Awata now felt like the only viable option. Though Chihara wasn’t completely satisfied with him, anyone less suitable felt even worse.

After much deliberation, he said, “It’s still Awata. I’ll go talk to him myself. Arrange a meeting as soon as possible.”

The lead role was too important to compromise. He’d take the script and personally convince Awata, painting a grand vision for the project. Though the audition invitation included a condensed version of the script registered with the Writers’ Guild, he doubted Awata had read it thoroughly.

Murakami acted swiftly, hanging up to make the arrangements. Hours later, she called back, sighing. “I finally reached his agent, but they refused to negotiate. All I got were empty platitudes. It seems they’re genuinely uninterested.”

Chihara didn’t hesitate. “I’ll go to the agency—or directly to the actor. Give me the address.”

Murakami hesitated. “Let me handle it, Chihara. I’ll do my best to bring him back.”

“No,” Chihara insisted. “I’ll take the script and explain in person. That shows sincerity.”

He understood the stakes. Losing Awata meant risking the show’s quality or starting fresh with an unknown actor—a risky gamble for a production of this scale. To secure the best possible lead, swallowing his pride was a small price to pay. Without ratings, there’d be no pride left anyway. He had to try, at least to meet Awata face-to-face and use the unreliable system to verify compatibility.

Reluctantly, Murakami provided the address. Armed with a copy of the script, Chihara set out for . Located in , it occupied half a floor in an office building.

Upon arrival, Chihara approached the receptionist. “I’m Chihara Rinto from Kanto United TV. I’d like to speak with Awata-san or his agent.”

The receptionist smiled professionally. “Do you have an appointment, Chihara-san?”

“My colleague contacted you earlier. Please check—I believe they’ll agree to see me.”

The receptionist nodded and picked up the phone, whispering into the receiver. After a moment, she looked up. “I’m sorry, Chihara-san. Awata-san isn’t here, and his exclusive agent, Kawaguchi-san, is meeting with an important client. Would you mind scheduling another time?”

Chihara remained calm. “I’ll wait.”

Confident in the script’s quality, he knew actors often chose projects as much as projects chose them. If Awata read the script, he’d likely reconsider.

The receptionist escorted him to a waiting room, offering tea before leaving. Chihara sat there, sipping the tea, for nearly three hours. By the time he checked his watch—it was almost 6:30 PM—he’d grown restless. His status didn’t grant him the authority to barge into offices and demand answers. Instead, he returned to the front desk, intending to ask if Kawaguchi was meeting the Prime Minister himself.

But as he stepped out of the waiting room, he spotted Awata Isao laughing and chatting with a group of people as they exited a nearby room…

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