Otaku Translation: Absolute Number One C100

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

Thank you.

Everyone from Otaku Translation

Chapter 100: Is Five Seconds Enough?

Nishino Sagiri was the kind of girl who rarely felt such a strong urge to watch the next episode of anything. Yet Hanzawa Naoki had unexpectedly resonated with her brainwaves—she loved its fast pacing, solid performances, and the intricate banking jargon that made her feel like she’d gained new insights.

Unfortunately, her wishes didn’t dictate TV schedules. The network wasn’t airing back-to-back episodes; instead, it moved on to the next program as scheduled: the variety show Human Observation.

The trio didn’t switch channels or turn off the TV—they kept watching. They were familiar with this show, though they didn’t usually go out of their way to catch it. It was more of a default choice when bored.

As the host and guests exchanged pleasantries, the three girls continued chatting about Hanzawa Naoki. Futazeno Seiko, now fully recovered from the drama’s cliffhanger ending, beamed. "Chihara-sensei really delivered again. Such high-quality work!"

Yamagami Aiko reluctantly nodded but quickly added, "Five hundred million yen—that’s an insane amount of money! I wonder if he can recover it... And Sugano Makoto was amazing too. His expression during that final vow was so cool."

She couldn’t quite articulate why his performance stood out, but everything about him—his expressions, movements—had an undeniable charm. He perfectly embodied the essence of a workplace elite, while Hanzawa Naoki himself radiated charisma. There was depth beneath his composed exterior, exuding both strength and anticipation.

For Aiko, she adored both the actor and the character equally.

Sagiri said nothing, merely sighing softly. Having to wait a week for the next episode was the downside of following a series—it lacked the binge-watching satisfaction of watching recorded tapes.

After her wistful sigh, her attention shifted to Human Observation, where she suddenly spotted a familiar face—one they’d just seen in Hanzawa Naoki. It was Onuma Arata, the young actor playing Hanzawa’s contemporary friend Tomari Shinobu—a rising talent in the industry.

Several supporting actors from Hanzawa Naoki had previously appeared on Human Observation, though none had caught her eye before. But now, fresh off watching the new drama, hearing this “banking elite” talk about how “HR is everything” piqued her interest. Excitedly nudging her friends, she exclaimed, "Hey, look at this!"

Aiko and Seiko stopped debating and turned toward the screen. They quickly realized this segment involved observing how actors reacted to odd situations during interviews. Their amusement grew when they recognized someone familiar—Konoe Hitomi, squatting below the camera wearing a baseball cap!

Onuma Arata sat perched on a stool, waiting to film what he thought was a promotional interview. As usual, he smiled at the host, listening to Hitomi counting aloud from beneath the camera: "Official take one, ready… 1, 2, 3, 4..."

Onuma froze mid-smile. This countdown sounded oddly... ascending? He furrowed his brows slightly but maintained his grin, unsure what was happening. By the time Hitomi reached "19, 20, 21..." his confusion peaked. She counted all the way to "60" before signaling the start of filming. By then, Onuma was visibly relieved yet slightly drained, causing the director to call cut immediately.

"Onuma-san, please try to appear more natural," the director suggested politely.

Onuma bowed apologetically. "Sorry, I couldn’t adjust my state properly."

"No problem." The burly middle-aged director remained calm. "Let’s try again."

"Yes!" Onuma reset his posture, ready once more. Meanwhile, Hitomi resumed her task with unwavering seriousness: "Official take two, ready… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5..."

Though Onuma should have been looking at the host, he couldn’t resist glancing sideways at Hitomi. By the time she reached "42," he raised a hand hesitantly. "Um… wouldn’t a five-second countdown suffice?"

The director blinked. "Is five seconds enough?"

Onuma nodded wordlessly. Professional actors needed mere moments to get into character, but Japanese entertainers typically avoided offending TV staff. Smiling awkwardly, he clarified, "Yes, five seconds is plenty."

The director chuckled sheepishly. "Ah, my apologies, Onuma-san. We’re used to shooting infomercials. Interviews are still new to us." With that, he smacked Hitomi lightly on the head with the script. "Five seconds is enough!"

Seeing Hitomi cower under the reprimand, Onuma quickly apologized. "I’m sorry for causing trouble with my request."

"It’s fine, let’s continue."

Filming resumed normally, though Hitomi shot Onuma a resentful glare. Despite feeling uneasy sitting atop the stool, Onuma regained composure during the proper "5, 4, 3..." countdown. Once filming began, he seamlessly transitioned into his role, engaging naturally with the host.

The host introduced Onuma to the audience and asked, "You’re currently starring in our station’s new drama, Hanzawa Naoki, correct?"

"That’s right. It’s a story about..." Onuma launched into a brief synopsis, fulfilling his primary purpose for appearing. Afterward, the host posed several questions before shifting focus to Onuma’s personal life. Smiling, he inquired, "I heard you regularly exercise and practice karate. That’s impressive!"

Onuma paused mid-nod, sensing something amiss. Politely interrupting, he corrected, "Actually, my hobby is reading. Could there be a mistake in the script?"

The host checked his notes. "No, your hobby is listed as karate. You’re even a fifth-degree black belt and a national champion."

"I’m not..." Onuma glanced helplessly at the director, who then looked questioningly at Hitomi. Without missing a beat, Hitomi declared, "My research confirms you’re a fifth-degree black belt specializing in karate."

The director turned back to Onuma, who hesitated. "Perhaps she confused me with someone else. There’s a retired karate athlete named Onuma who fits that description..."

"Oh no!" Hitomi’s eyes widened in shock, resembling saucers. Before she could react further, the rolled-up script landed squarely on her head, eliciting another flinch. The director quickly apologized to Onuma. "Terribly sorry, Onuma-san. She’s new and clearly made a grave error. I’ll ensure she’s disciplined accordingly."

Pausing briefly, the director hesitated again. "However, Onuma-san, the script has already been submitted for approval. Making changes now might cause issues for everyone. Would you consider... adopting these hobbies temporarily?"

Onuma sighed, scanning the hopeful faces around him. "Alright, fine. My hobbies are reading and karate."

"Thank you so much!" The entire crew bowed deeply. Then, catching sight of a cue, the director signaled for a karate uniform and plywood boards to be brought in. Apologetically, he added, "We’ve also prepared a segment showcasing your skills. If you wouldn’t mind..."

Onuma’s expression mirrored someone who’d swallowed three flies. However, after some persuasion, he reluctantly donned the karate gi and began breaking boards with exaggerated cries of "Ah!" and "Hey!"

---

Of course, this was all staged—a clever promotional stunt for Hanzawa Naoki. Ordinary viewers like Aiko, Seiko, and Sagiri weren’t privy to behind-the-scenes details. Watching Onuma’s agonized yet resigned performance—splitting boards and attempting high kicks—they burst into uncontrollable laughter, rolling around the room.

Aiko laughed hardest, tears streaming down her cheeks. "So that’s what Hitomi-neesan has been up to..."

Seiko joined in, giggling uncontrollably. Sagiri, less dramatic than the other two, mused aloud, "Didn’t Hitomi-neesan appear in episode three-to-last last season? Didn’t you see her?"

"No, I think I watched that episode. Was she in it?"

"Yes, during the scene where a passerby gets caught between two yakuza gangs fighting in an alley. She blended into the crowd."

"That episode was hilarious too, but I completely missed Hitomi-neesan. Why didn’t you tell us?" Aiko complained instinctively.

"I assumed you noticed!" Sagiri retorted. "She played a delinquent so convincingly she knocked the passerby’s glasses off!"

"We should rewatch it later. Hitomi-neesan seems perfect for shows like this."

They were carefree high school girls, enjoying the entertainment without overthinking. While Hanzawa Naoki left them impressed, they soon immersed themselves in the comedic antics of Human Observation. For others watching silently, however—like those observing Onuma suffer through board-breaking stunts—laughter wasn’t necessarily on their minds...

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: 20 Advance chapters

Access fee $3.00 Monthly