Otaku Translation: Absolute Number One C105

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Chapter 105: The Squid Sketch

received the letter two days later. When she opened her mailbox and found an unusually thick envelope, she was momentarily surprised. She took it to her room, carefully slit it open with a paper knife, and unfolded the densely packed eight pages of stationery. A faint smile spread across her face as she realized just how amusing truly was.

Sitting at her desk, she began reading. As she progressed, her smile widened, her eyes narrowing into cheerful slits. Halfway through, she couldn’t help but chuckle softly—My standard Japanese must be better than I thought. This Chihara-san genuinely hasn’t realized I’m from !

The jokes were hilarious. She laughed quietly for a moment before continuing to the next page. But as she read further, something felt off. The delicate, poetic descriptions of landscapes didn’t seem like something Chihara Rinto would write—it wasn’t in his nature. His handwriting said it all; his rushed scrawl often blurred letters together, legible but hurried. If penmanship reflected personality, he was clearly impatient. It was hard to imagine him taking the time to savor scenery.

She suspected he’d “borrowed” these passages from a book or magazine. Smiling wryly, she let it slide and turned her attention to the short modern poem included in the letter:

One day, I suddenly wanted to wander.

To see a different sky.

To breathe unfamiliar air.

To feel a freedom that belongs only to me.

To gaze upon the pure land within my heart.

I haven’t been to the desert yet,

But already I sense its desolation.

I haven’t reached the seaside,

But…

After finishing, she pondered for a while. No, this definitely didn’t seem like something Chihara Rinto could have written. He struck her as someone with an intense drive for success, even when complaining about exhaustion. His resilience hinted at someone always ready to regroup and charge back into battle—a man meant for worldly pursuits. The idea of him seeking solace in wandering or yearning for inner peace seemed far-fetched.

Still, she loved the little poem. Reading it several times over, she continued with the rest of the letter. She enjoyed his travel recommendations and sympathized with his work-related frustrations. Setting the letter aside, she marveled at how engaging it had been. Even someone as reserved as herself couldn’t deny its charm. Chuckling softly at her own amusement, she spread out fresh paper and prepared to reply.

In her response, she teased him about the quirks of Kansai people, shared her recent experience attending a marine festival (praising the ), and thanked him for the travel tips. She joked about where he’d found those scenic descriptions and the poem, asking if he could recommend the source material. She added some mundane details about her daily life, then reread her draft, comparing it to Chihara Rinto’s eloquent prose. Dissatisfied with her own lackluster writing, she decided to include a light-hearted touch—a whimsical ink painting of a grilled squid. If he ever wanted to try making it himself, he’d have a guide.

Once sealed and stamped, she set the letter aside for mailing the next day. Only then did she pause, laughing softly at herself. How strange—when had they started exchanging letters? Was this…a ?

---

left much to be desired. Despite the short distance, nearly three days passed before the letter reached Chihara Rinto. Eagerly tearing it open, he read intently, soon breaking into a rueful smile. So she’d spotted the plagiarism so quickly? How did other get away with copying entire works without raising suspicion? Here he’d barely lifted a few sentences from his colleagues’ essays, and she’d already seen through it.

Thankfully, his ego was resilient enough to shrug it off. Continuing to read, he found her casual recounting of everyday life endearing, almost as if she were leaning close, smiling gently, and sharing her thoughts in person. Flipping to the final page, he stared blankly at the ink sketch of a squid, initially unable to make sense of it. Realizing he’d held it upside down, he burst out laughing once he turned it right-side up.

He hadn’t expected Hakuba Neiko to dabble in . While the subject matter—a squid—was unconventional for such an art form, it was undeniably charming. Taping the squid illustration to his bulletin board, he reread her letter, then began drafting a reply. Admitting that parts of his previous letter were borrowed, he confessed his lack of literary flair, though he insisted the poem was his own creation—it was the only way to explain its origin. He then dove enthusiastically into discussing the squid sketch.

This time, he wrote honestly, no longer delegating tasks to others now that his secret had been uncovered. Influenced by his morally flexible mentor, he harbored no guilt about using his position for personal gain—but there was no point persisting in futile efforts once discovered.

Finishing his draft, he polished it meticulously, copied it neatly, and sent it off with . Anticipating Hakuba Neiko’s response, he reflected on how much easier correspondence was compared to his earlier attempts at meeting her at the restaurant. Those attempts were clumsy—either he was too busy, or she wasn’t around. Writing letters, on the other hand, offered endless room for imagination, creating a uniquely beautiful connection.

Amidst these musings, aired. To Chihara Rinto’s surprise, the show’s popularity exploded sooner than expected. Its average ratings surged by 4.7%, reaching an astonishing 28.2%. Peak viewership broke the 30% barrier, hitting 30.6%, catapulting the series to the top of the charts.

The news shocked everyone, including Murakami Iori, the production manager responsible for attending executive meetings. Worried about potential errors, she repeatedly requested verification despite the odd looks from the meeting chairperson. Once confirmed, however, the numbers proved accurate—not just tallied by but cross-referenced by independent agencies and rival networks. With negligible chance of error, Chihara Rinto delved deeply into the thick analysis report prepared specifically for their team.

Amazingly, there were still fools in the world. After airing the “tenfold revenge” bun segment in Episode Three, they managed to sell over 300 units. Didn’t these customers realize that TV shopping sold 10-yen items for 500 yen? The bun was identical to supermarket versions, merely oversized with ’s face printed on the packaging!

Noticing Chihara Rinto poring over merchandise sales figures, Murakami Iori chuckled. “Operations says peripheral sales are climbing steadily. They’re sticking to their plan to increase inventory tenfold. That revenge buns? They’re ordering another 3,000 units, aiming to sell out by next week.”

Chihara Rinto nodded silently. Before he could process the excitement of topping the charts, Operations was already capitalizing on the momentum to boost TV shopping revenue. Though trivial, this wasn’t worth dwelling on. Flipping to the next page, he listened as Murakami Iori continued, “They’ve also requested adding ads to the opening and closing credits.”

Sighing, Chihara Rinto asked, “We already have ads. Are they asking for more?”

“No, it’s optional. They’re seeking our input—you decide.” Murakami Iori shrugged. Backed by influential allies, the production bureau wasn’t obligated to comply. Revenue-driven Operations sought approval purely for profit maximization, unlike the ratings-focused production side.

Chihara Rinto rested his fist against his chin, weighing the options. Money was tempting, but not at the cost of compromising quality. “No additional opening ads—the pacing can’t suffer. Closing credits, fine—we’ll give them that courtesy. But they need to increase our promotional budget.”

Murakami Iori jotted a note, smiling. “I’ll negotiate with them. On another note, newspapers have begun discussing Sugano Makoto. Some columns mention his past indiscretions.”

Chihara Rinto hadn’t yet read today’s papers, but this mattered far more than buns or ads. Concerned, he asked, “Is this natural buzz, or is someone deliberately targeting him—or us?”

Having witnessed internet-fueled public shaming countless times, he knew better than to underestimate public opinion. Sugano Makoto’s past might resurface opportunistically to undermine . In entertainment, sabotage among actors and idols was common.

Murakami Iori shook her head. “It’s unclear if anyone’s pushing this narrative. For now, mentions remain superficial.”

Chihara Rinto nodded thoughtfully. “Understood. Let’s wait and see.”

If incidental, best to let old wounds heal naturally rather than react prematurely. He hoped it was mere alarmism. Yet, with Hanzawa Naoki’s explosive rise to the top, nearing 30% average viewership mid-season, widespread media coverage was inevitable. Addressing societal issues resonated deeply, fueling controversy.

After two days of praise, a tabloid dropped bombshell photos documenting Sugano Makoto brutally assaulting someone in a bar years ago. Graphic and shocking, they ignited public debate. Could such a man portray Hanzawa Naoki, a paragon of virtue? Would his success normalize bad behavior? Might audiences be corrupted?

Public discourse shifted dramatically, questioning whether Sugano Makoto deserved redemption—or condemnation.

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