Otaku Translation: Absolute Number One C112

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Chapter 112: Let’s Go to the Movies Together

On the same evening that Chihara Rinto agreed to attend the premiere, Episode Six of Hanzawa Naoki aired as scheduled. This episode marked the beginning of a new story arc.

The protagonist, Hanzawa Naoki, had been transferred from the Nishi-Osaka branch back to Tokyo headquarters, where he took on the role of deputy manager in the Second Business Division. Over the course of nearly a year, he achieved remarkable success. However, disaster struck when Iseshima Hotel, one of Tokyo Central Bank's major clients, suffered a staggering loss of 12 billion yen due to failed stock speculation. The situation was dire enough to potentially trigger a domino effect of financial collapse. Entrusted by the bank president, Hanzawa stepped into the crisis to revive the struggling hotel.

It didn’t take long for Hanzawa to uncover the shady dealings behind the scenes—someone had manipulated the system to secure loans. Enter Oowada, the new board director and ultimate antagonist: the very same man whose ruthless "umbrella retraction" tactics had driven Hanzawa's father to suicide years ago. As if that weren’t enough, Kurosaki, an old nemesis from the Ministry of Finance’s Financial Risk Control Committee (and formerly an investigator at the National Tax Agency), also emerged, seeking revenge against Hanzawa. With these players converging, the drama escalated into a tense three-way standoff.

The second half of Hanzawa Naoki maintained its hallmark traits: fast-paced storytelling, powerful performances, and razor-sharp dialogue that gripped audiences while simultaneously keeping them on edge. Despite these strengths, the ratings painted a more complicated picture. The episode averaged a 30.1% viewership rating, peaking at 34.2%—a mere 0.1% increase from the previous episode.

This slight dip felt like a warning sign. Panic rippled through the production team, wiping away the relaxed atmosphere brought about by overwhelmingly positive reviews in the past two weeks. They gathered around charts and graphs for over two hours, analyzing every detail. Eventually, they concluded there wasn’t anything wrong with the filming itself; if anything, the issue lay with the script. The transition to a new storyline had caused some viewers to drop off, but their absence was offset by newcomers drawn in by the buzz. As a result, the average viewership remained virtually unchanged.

It was frustrating yet inevitable. Balancing tight pacing with extended narratives wasn’t easy. Still, not all was lost. Episodes one through five of Hanzawa Naoki were already being released on VHS tapes and DVDs, quickly becoming hot commodities in bookstores and video rental shops alike. Sales and rentals soared.

For those unfamiliar with Kanto United TV’s history, Hanzawa Naoki represented a milestone for them. It was the first series to top the ratings chart since the network formed its broadcasting consortium—and arguably the station’s first big-budget hit. Everyone from executives down to support staff treated it with utmost seriousness, demonstrating rare unity across departments. Case in point? The rapid release of home media—a move typically delayed until after the entire season aired. Normally, studios preferred single transfers to save costs, given Japan’s notorious frugality (even toilet paper often came in single-ply).

Still, this early release proved beneficial. In an era when watching dramas online could be frustrating to the point of making viewers want to tear their hair out, this could make it easier for viewers to catch up on missed episodes. Once they were up to date, they’d dive into following the show, which could further boost ratings. Plus, Chihara stood to earn 5% of the licensing revenue!

Upon hearing this news, Chihara couldn’t help but speculate about his potential earnings. While Kanto United TV might lag in other areas, merchandising was undoubtedly their forte. Endless tie-ins made estimating profits tricky without consulting ledgers, but he guessed the amount would likely reach tens of millions of yen—at least in short-term gains. Long-term returns promised even more.

Of course, working behind the scenes meant earning less than actors. Top-tier actresses could rake in hundreds of millions annually—not primarily through salaries but via endorsements, commercials, and appearances. Directors and writers lacked such opportunities, leaving them at a disadvantage. But still, compared to the average white-collar worker earning roughly ten million yen per year, pulling in several million in just three months wasn’t bad at all!

Thinking ahead to end-of-season bonuses, Chihara realized that while his income paled next to actors’, it was still significant—a solid foundation for future ventures. He thought briefly of Yasuda Shintaro, currently monitoring economic trends, particularly in internet economics. It wouldn’t be long before his expertise became useful.

If he truly wanted to make serious money, though, he’d need to leverage his unique advantage—his knowledge of the future—to generate wealth exponentially.

Lost in these pleasant thoughts, Chihara chuckled wryly and shook them off, refocusing on work. Thanks to Sugano Makoto’s relentless shooting schedule, progress had improved significantly. Nearly three-quarters of Episode Eight had been filmed, but there was no room for complacency. Finishing early meant peace of mind sooner.

Three hectic days later, it was finally time for Michiko’s fateful premiere night. Having promised to attend, Chihara knew backing out wasn’t an option. But as he pulled out the ticket Michiko had left him, hesitation crept in.

Since he was going anyway, why not invite Hakuba Neiko along? Killing two birds with one stone—supporting his apprentice while spending time with someone special—seemed efficient. But was it too presumptuous to ask her outright?

What if she said no? Worse yet, what if inviting her ruined their budding friendship?

Damn it, why wasn’t there a manual for dating? Why did romance have to be so hard?

After pondering for a moment, Chihara decided it was worth a shot. Even if rejection loomed, testing the waters couldn’t hurt. Summoning his courage, he dialed the number of the small restaurant where Hakuba sometimes stayed.

“Hello, Kitahashi District Restaurant. What can we assist you with?”

“I’m looking for Hakuba Neiko-san.”

A pause followed. “Is… is that Chihara-sensei?”

Chihara blinked, recognition dawning. “Ah, Yamagami-san! Helping out at the restaurant again? No school today?”

“Yes! Summer vacation’s already started!” Aiko said, a hint of puzzlement in her voice. “Chihara-sensei, may I ask why you’re calling for Neiko-nee?”

“Well,” Chihara improvised, “I got tickets to a film premiere from a friend. Going alone feels awkward, but I don’t know many people here. I thought maybe your cousin would like to join me. Do you think she enjoys movies? If not, that’s fine too.”

Silence greeted his query. Then faint bickering erupted in the background:

“What’s this about a premiere?”

“It sounds fun! Just say yes!”

“No way—he wants to ask Neiko-nee on a date!”

“Oh, it’s not for us…”

Chihara sighed inwardly. So much for subtlety. These kids really did share everything, didn’t they? After a moment, Aiko returned to the line, sounding slightly flustered.

“I’m sorry, Chihara-sensei. Neiko-nee isn’t home right now, so she can’t go.”

“I see…” Chihara murmured, pausing thoughtfully. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Aiko might be lying. After all, she had a history of fibbing. After a moment, he pressed, “Where did she go?”

“Asakusa.”

“Asakusa?” Chihara echoed, disappointment sinking in. Aiko’s tone suggested honesty rather than deceit. Still, he pressed further. “Do you know when she’ll be back?”

“No idea,” Aiko replied quickly.

Resigned, Chihara prepared to wrap up the call politely. But then another commotion bubbled in the background. Inspiration struck. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Nishino and Futazeno are there, right? Are they free tonight?”

If he couldn’t get Neiko, bringing those three girls might provide insight into her world—and perhaps win over some allies in the process.

Seizing the opportunity, Chihara laid out his plan. Aiko hesitated before responding cautiously, “You want to bring us instead?”

“If you’re available, sure! Free tickets, after all. And since school’s out, you must have plenty of free time, right?”

Glancing between Sagiri and Seiko, Aiko saw Sagiri nod eagerly—she loved anything novel—and Seiko practically vibrating with excitement. Not only was attending a cultural event appealing, but meeting Chihara in person? Priceless. Besides, Seiko had recently purchased a “genius screenwriter-exclusive pen” and a Hanzawa Naoki commemorative album. An autograph from the man himself would complete her collection.

After weighing the pros and cons, Aiko relented. “We do have time, and we’d love to go. If it’s not too much trouble, we’d be happy to tag along.”

Politeness shone through Aiko’s usual eccentricity. Smiling, Chihara finalized plans. “Great. It’s still early. Around six-thirty, I’ll pick you up. Let your parents know beforehand.”

“Yes, Chihara-sensei!” Aiko hung up, excitement bubbling over. She hadn’t attended a premiere either, and summer boredom made the prospect irresistible.

Futazeno Seiko fretted momentarily. “I don’t have proper clothes here. Can I just wear casual attire?”

“School uniform works perfectly!” Sagiri declared confidently. In Japan, school uniforms were considered formalwear, acceptable anywhere. “Besides, no one will pay attention to us. We’re just tagging along with Chihara-sensei for the experience!”

Despite her words, the trio scrambled to prepare outfits. After all, how often did one get invited to a movie premiere? When Chihara arrived in a taxi shortly afterward, introductions flowed smoothly. Aiko assured her parents that Chihara was a trusted friend of Neiko’s, easing his departure with the girls in tow.

Thus, Chihara embarked on his mission—part reconnaissance, part charm offensive—as they headed toward the cinema hosting the premiere.

The translation of the entire book is nearly complete, with roughly only 30 chapters remaining.

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