Otaku Translation: Absolute Number One C115

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Chapter 115: Work Hard, Career First

Chihara Rinto could never see himself becoming a monk. The idea of putting his faith in deities or spiritual forces—things so intangible and unpredictable—wasn’t something he could wrap his head around. They were too unreliable to factor into any serious plan, let alone depend on as a lifeline. He preferred to trust in himself and those close to him rather than place faith in such abstract notions. Besides, Futazeno Seiko’s suggestion that he could balance monastic life with drama production seemed utterly preposterous.

Being both a monk and screenwriter? That was laughable. Human energy is finite; even dedicating oneself fully to one pursuit doesn’t guarantee success. Attempting two entirely unrelated endeavors simultaneously would be nothing short of madness. Chihara considered himself an ordinary person without the extraordinary ability required for such multitasking. Moreover, he already had career plans mapped out. If he chose Hakuba Neiko, it would mean moving to Kyoto to manage a temple—a lifestyle completely at odds with his aspirations. Even splitting his focus between running a temple and pursuing his ambitions felt impossible. His dream was clear: he wanted a partner who would support and empathize with his professional journey, much like Hanzawa Naoki’s wife did in the drama series. But the thought of devoting half his life to temple management made his stomach churn.

He couldn’t picture himself chanting sutras either. The more he thought about it, the more tangled things became. Hakuba Neiko’s complicated family situation only deepened his doubts. As much as he admired her, when push came to shove, his career goals took precedence over everything else. Still, the idea of letting go gnawed at him. After all, finding someone whose company he genuinely enjoyed wasn’t easy.

Chihara sighed heavily, feeling the weight of his predicament settle onto his shoulders. On the ride back from dropping off Yamagami Aiko and her friends, he remained unusually silent, lost in thought. Futazeno Seiko noticed but hesitated to disturb him further, shelving her earlier request for an autograph.

When they reached Yamagami’s family restaurant, Chihara bid them farewell and prepared to return to Kanto United TV, where a meeting awaited him. Just as he stepped into the taxi, Seiko rushed after him, concern etched across her face. “Chihara-sensei,” she called softly, “are you alright?”

Her voice pulled him out of his reverie. Turning to look at this outwardly aloof yet endearingly awkward girl, he managed a small smile. “I’m fine,” he reassured her. “Just need some time to think.”

With that, he waved and got into the car, leaving behind a puzzled Seiko. The premiere ceremony had taken longer than expected, and he needed to hurry back to the studio.

As the taillights disappeared into the night, Yamagami Aiko turned to her companions, perplexed. “What’s gotten into him? Becoming a monk isn’t exactly shameful. Why does marrying Neiko-nee have to mean inheriting the temple? Is he really giving up because of that?”

The Hakuba branch temples were wealthy, owning numerous plots of land scattered throughout Kyoto. Annual maintenance fees alone brought in substantial revenue, not to mention other assets tied to the property. Aiko had refrained from mentioning these details earlier, fearing they might pique Chihara’s interest in Neiko. To her surprise, far from being enticed by the prospect of wealth, Chihara appeared troubled, his brows furrowed as though contemplating retreat.

This reaction baffled her. “How strange,” she murmured.

Nishino Sagiri chuckled knowingly. “Maybe he’s just unwilling to follow Neiko-nee’s predetermined path.”

“Love sure is complicated,” Aiko sighed wistfully. Sagiri grinned mischievously. “Complicated makes it interesting! Personally, I find him quite fascinating.”

Aiko shot her a skeptical glance. “You think someone like him is good?”

“Well, I didn’t say ‘good,’” Sagiri clarified with a sly grin, gesturing toward Seiko, who stood gazing longingly in the direction Chihara’s car had vanished. “But that poor sap over there clearly does. Look at her moping around—it’s almost pathetic.”

Aiko frowned disapprovingly. “She’s hopeless.”

“No, she’s clueless,” Sagiri corrected under her breath.

The two exchanged quick whispers before lunging forward to drag Seiko toward the house. “Your stupidity is acting up again! Let’s get you inside and fix it!” they teased.

Seiko scowled, protesting, “What did I do now?!”

Her mind was still on Chihara, sensing a sudden dip in his usually confident demeanor. But Aiko and Sagiri paid no heed, laughing and pulling her along until the three dissolved into playful chaos. At this stage of their final year of high school, moments like these were fleeting treasures.

---

Chihara spent the entire night wrestling with his thoughts. By morning, he leaned toward abandoning the idea of pursuing Hakuba Neiko altogether. It wasn’t as though losing her meant the end of the world. Yet, despite his resolve, a lingering attachment tugged at him. This indecisiveness was a recurring flaw of his—if he set his sights on something, he couldn’t resist trying to claim it, regardless of whether it suited him. Perhaps it was a flaw rooted deep within him.

Unable to come up with a better solution, he decided to table the issue for now. Work demanded his full attention, and hasty decisions about personal matters could wait.

The next day, dark circles framed his eyes as he entered the conference room. Murakami Iori greeted him with genuine concern. “Chihara, don’t overwork yourself.”

She’d heard how late he stayed at the station last night, calling meetings until nearly dawn. Worried about his health, she placed a thermos on the desk. “My mom made some soup for you. Drink up—it’ll help.”

Chihara accepted gratefully. Their partnership was built on mutual trust and shared stakes; accepting favors like this was second nature. Opening the thermos, he found chicken broth infused with medicinal herbs. Smiling faintly, he said, “Thank your mother for me. Tell her I appreciate her kindness.”

“She watched your recent interview,” Murakami replied warmly. “She cried over your story and adores you now.”

Chihara shifted uncomfortably, suddenly self-conscious. Maybe he’d exaggerated his struggles during the interview, but what choice did he have? The truth of his past was bleak enough. Fudging facts on television carried too great a risk—he valued stability above all else.

After exchanging pleasantries, they discussed today’s agenda. Efficiently coordinating tasks, they finalized the day’s schedule in no time. Before Murakami left, Chihara handed her a draft script. “Take a look at this. Give me your thoughts.”

Pausing mid-step, she returned to her seat and skimmed through the pages. “Is this a SP?” she asked curiously.

In the world of Japanese dramas, “SP” refers to a special episode. Japanese dramas are usually broadcast in seasons, but the next season often doesn’t follow immediately. For example, Season 1 might air in the spring, while Season 2 doesn’t come until the following fall. So in between, they’ll slot in a few SPs to keep the momentum going and prevent the audience from forgetting everything.

Normally, an SP is a standalone mini-story, almost like a short film. It might flesh out a character beyond what the main episodes covered, explore a behind-the-scenes story of the main plot, or fill in small gaps the original series didn’t have time to address. But for Hanzawa Naoki, the SP had a different purpose—it needed to fill the broadcast schedule. The show only had ten episodes, and in that other world where it originally aired, production difficulties and unexpected issues caused it to go on hiatus for two weeks. As a result, it never managed to reach the typical twelve-episode count. When Chihara Rinto recreated the series, he didn’t dare change the pacing recklessly. He knew his limits—he was still basically a newcomer with little industry standing. A failure at this stage could be disastrous, so he had no intention of sabotaging himself with risky decisions.

But once broadcasting began, even if he couldn’t reach twelve episodes, he at least needed eleven. Otherwise, wasting half a month of airtime would be far too unfortunate. So he made use of his skill, Dual Focus, and during filming he scribbled ideas whenever he could. In the end, he drafted an SP—a half-original story at best, more like something created because he was pushed onto the stage with no choice. Still, it was a small attempt, born out of necessity.

Feeling uncertain about his creation, he sought Murakami’s feedback. She flipped through the script quickly, then handed it back with a reassuring smile. “It’s great.”

Chihara scrutinized her expression. “Do you really think so?”

Confused by his hesitation, she reviewed the script again but found nothing amiss. The SP expanded upon the main storyline, focusing on heartwarming domestic scenes between Hanzawa Naoki and his wife. These moments enriched the emotional depth absent from the original episodes due to pacing constraints. Satisfied, she nodded. “Yes, it’s excellent. The plot flows naturally, and viewers will love it.”

Relieved, Chihara grinned. “Then I’ll turn it into a storyboard and add it to our shooting schedule.”

Murakami shrugged dismissively. Creative decisions were his domain, just as production logistics were hers. With a casual wave, she left, leaving Chihara to reflect on the script in hand.

Standing up, he headed toward the studio. No matter how tempting the idea of balancing work and personal life sounded, reality dictated otherwise. Success required singular focus.

Work hard. Career first.

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