sinovels Chapter 164 I'm going to become Zaizen Goro!
Chapter 164 I'm going to become Zaizen Goro!
Chapter 164 I want to become Zaizen Goro!
In late October, the autumn winds in Tokyo already carried a biting chill.
In the aftermath of the bursting of the bubble economy, the desolation on the streets was palpable. Closed shops were displaying "For Rent" signs, taxis were increasingly empty late at night, and the complaints from office workers in izakayas were louder than in previous years.
This is a dull era.
People didn't even dare to breathe loudly, for fear of being hit by a layoff list.
In this suffocating social atmosphere, "The White Tower" aired its fourth episode.
The plot has entered the heated phase of the professor election.
Goro Zaizen no longer concealed his ambition. Like a hungry wolf that had broken into a flock of sheep, he tore a bloody path through this white tower filled with hypocritical morality and outdated rules, using the most ruthless means.
He bribed, he formed alliances, he used every resource at his disposal.
But he also possesses absolute power. On the operating table, he is the undisputed king.
This combination of "absolute toughness" and "elitism" acted like a shot in the arm, plunging into the sluggish Japanese society.
People are fed up with being subservient. People are fed up with being gentle, kind, respectful, frugal, and modest.
In this harsh winter where the strong prey on the weak, people yearn to see a strong person. Even if that strong person is a "bad guy," at least he can control his own destiny.
Tokyo, Shinagawa Ward, Sato House.
Dinner time.
Sato's son, Kenichi, who is still in elementary school, was sitting cross-legged on the living room carpet, staring at the videotape in his hand with a depressed expression.
Ever since his dad "suppressed" him at the department store for wanting to buy a Kamen Rider belt, his stingy dad ultimately didn't buy him one.
As compensation, his dad rented him a videotape of "Kamen Rider BIACK RX".
"Tch—how stingy."
Xiao Jian muttered to himself as he put the videotape into the player.
On the TV screen, Kamen Rider is transforming, which is the climax that Ken has been looking forward to the most.
Just then.
"Clatter".
-
A hand reached out and ruthlessly pressed the stop button, then the rewind button.
Xiao Jian was stunned.
He looked up and saw his mother, Mrs. Sato, standing in front of the television, holding the remote control, looking completely at ease.
Mrs. Sato: "Stop watching, go do your homework. I want to watch TV."
Xiao Jian: "Huh?! It's only 9:50! My Kamen Rider just transformed!"
Mrs. Sato completely ignored him, pulled out the videotape and threw it aside, then quickly switched the channel to Fuji TV.
Mrs. Sato: "What transformation? Can Kamen Rider feed me? I want to watch my idol. I heard Kitahara Shin plays a doctor, and he's incredibly handsome. If Mrs. Yamada next door hadn't told me this afternoon, I wouldn't have known the show was already on its fourth episode!"
Xiao Jian was so angry he almost cried.
He turned to look at his father, who was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper, trying to get his help:
Xiao Jian: "Dad! Look at Mom! She's taking the TV from me again! You need to do something about her!"
Sato put down the newspaper.
He glanced at the opening credits of "The White Tower" that were about to start on the TV screen and let out a cold laugh.
Sato: "Hmph. Superficial."
Mrs. Sato raised an eyebrow: "Who are you calling superficial? You read your newspaper, I watch my play, what did I do to offend you?"
Sato: "I told you you're shallow. You're only starting to watch now? You're only watching it for his face, aren't you? I've been following this drama since the first episode."
Mrs. Sato was stunned: "What do you mean? You were secretly watching behind my back?"
Sato: "What do you mean by 'watching secretly behind your back'? I was working overtime the other two weeks ago, and I happened to see it on the TV screen at the train station, so I just watched it. This is a men's show, what do you, a housewife who only cares about looks, know about politics?"
Mrs. Sato laughed in exasperation and threw a cushion at her husband.
Mrs. Sato: "Huh? A men's drama? Kitahara Shin is our women's dream man! You middle-aged balding man, trying to make yourself look good! You're just trying to imitate how to be cool!"
Seeing that his parents were about to start arguing about "who is more qualified to read Kitahara Shin," Ken sat on the carpet and looked at them with an expression that said, "May the world end here."
Mrs. Sato seemed to have noticed her son's gaze as well.
She coughed, straightened her hair, put on a kind mother's expression, and pointed at the television, saying:
Mrs. Sato: "Ken, stop watching that Kamen Rider thing. Come on, watch this with Mom. Look at Dr. Zaizen, how impressive and capable he is. You should study hard and go to medical school when you grow up to become a doctor."
"Being a doctor is such a great profession, a secure job, and you're respected. Unlike your dad, who's a salesman and has to smile at clients all the time. Now that the economy's bad, he's even lost his bonuses."
Sato: 「————」
Sato: "Please keep quiet while I'm watching the show."
Xiao Jian was forced to sit there and watch the television screen.
After the opening theme, a man with slicked-back hair and sharp eyes appears on screen.
Xiao Jian clenched his fist.
What Zaizen Goro? What Kitahara Nobu?
Last time, because of you, the two of them argued for ages! It even made me unable to eat properly!
Because of you, I can't watch Kamen Rider anymore.
And I'm forced to listen to my mom's nagging.
"Kitahara Shin—I will hate you for the rest of my life!"
Shinbashi, an izakaya (Japanese pub).
It was already 11 p.m.
The TV series "The White Tower" had just finished airing, but the atmosphere inside the izakaya was unusually lively.
Several office workers, their faces flushed from drinking, sat together, their ties hanging loosely around their necks.
In the past, when they got drunk, they would just curse their bosses and grumble.
But today is different.
"Hey, Tanaka!"
A middle-aged section chief suddenly stood up, extended his right hand, and made a grasping motion in the air. His eyes were glazed, yet held a strange ruthlessness: "Give me the hemostat!"
The subordinate sitting opposite him paused for a moment, then reacted quickly, promptly handing him his chopsticks and shouting, "Yes, Professor!"
The section chief took the "hemostat" (chopsticks), gestured a few times on the plate of edamame, and muttered, "Remove the tumor—cut off all that useless budget! Only those at the top have the right to talk about dignity!"
"good!!"
People at the surrounding tables applauded, and some even raised their glasses and shouted, "Long live Professor Zaizen!"
This has become the most popular sight in Tokyo's izakayas lately.
It imitates Goro Zaizen's "air surgery".
This is not a joke.
For these overworked office workers who have been suppressed for too long, this action represents a psychological suggestion—"I am in control of the situation."
That unseen operating table represents their chaotic workplace; that removed tumor represents their annoying boss or difficult client.
Two years ago, when "Tokyo Love Story" was a huge hit, everyone loved watching it, but no one could imitate Kanji or Rika.
What does imitating cure mean? Indecisiveness?
What are you imitating Rika for? Running around with a big bag on your back?
That's a romance drama; you can only empathize with it, not imitate it.
But The White Tower is different. Every gesture, every glance, and even the arrogant gait of Goro Zaizen has become a symbol.
A symbol belonging to the elite, or rather, "people who want to become elites".
Ginza, a high-end bespoke tailor shop.
The store manager couldn't stop smiling as he looked at the thick stack of orders in his hand.
Business at the store has been exceptionally good this past week.
Moreover, all the guests' requests were remarkably consistent.
"I want that set."
The manager from the financial company who just came in pointed to a still of Kitahara Nobu in a magazine and said firmly, "It's this dark gray three-piece suit. Double-breasted, with a peak lapel like this. Also, make sure the shoulder pads are well-formed."
Store Manager: "Sir, this style is quite retro and requires a certain level of personal style. If you're not used to wearing a vest, it will be very hot."
Manager: "It's not hot! I want this one! Wearing this, I feel like I can go and bang on the table with those old men on the board! Even if it's just psychological, make it for me!"
People even scrutinize the details of the show, such as the color of the tie and the style of the cufflinks, with a magnifying glass, and then come to demand a one-to-one replica.
"Zaizen's style" has become the hottest fashion item in this bleak autumn.
People aren't buying suits.
What I'm buying is that sense of pressure that says, "Even if the whole world is against me, I will still win."
In the conference room of the Johnny & Associates public relations department in Roppongi, the atmosphere was frighteningly tense.
On the big screen, the ratings curve for TBS's "Hot-Blooded Detective" showed a significant decline after the fourth episode aired.
It fell below 20%.
Meanwhile, Fuji TV's "The White Tower" has already reached a viewership rating of 25%.
Why?
The publicity manager slammed the documents in his hand onto the table, scattering papers everywhere: "Haven't we issued enough press releases? 'Kimura Takuya is the most handsome police officer,' 'The Iron Fist of Justice,' 'The Romance of a Passionate Man'—these hashtags are flooding the screens every day! Why are the ratings still dropping?"
A young employee timidly raised his hand, turned on the TV, and tuned to the street interview program that was airing.
The footage shows a reporter conducting random interviews on the streets of Shibuya.
Passerby A (female college student): "Of course it's Professor Zaizen! Although Kimura is handsome too, I get tired of seeing that kind of hot-blooded idiot after a while. Professor Zaizen's ruthless pursuit of ambition is so sexy!"
Passerby B (middle-aged office worker): "Hot-Blooded Detective? I watched two episodes and gave up. In reality, where are there cops who can solve cases just by shouting out a code? The White Tower is much more realistic. I also want to be like Goro Zaizen; even though he's bad, he's strong."
The TV was turned off.
The conference room was deathly silent.
The supervisor's face was ashen, but he didn't slump down. Instead, he gritted his teeth and said, "It's just passersby joking around! This is only the fourth episode; it's not the end yet!"
Just then, the conference room door was pushed open.
A series of high heels clicked on the ground, carrying an undeniable sense of authority.
Mary Kitagawa walked in. She was wearing a Chanel suit, carrying a folding fan, and her face was expressionless.
"Vice President!"
Everyone immediately stood up and bowed in respect.
Mary walked to the head of the table, picked up the ratings report on the table, glanced at it briefly, and then threw it into the trash can.
"What's the panic?"
Her voice was cold, yet steady: "You've only lost by 5 points, and you're already preparing to write self-criticisms?"
The supervisor wiped the sweat from his brow: "But—it seems the audience's tastes have changed. They now prefer so-called 'human depth,' and feel our dramas are too—"
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"Too naive?" Mary chimed in, scoffing. "Depth? Humanity? Can those things put food on the table? These days, audiences are just looking for a villain to vent their frustrations because life's tough. It's just a passing fad."
"But idols are different."
She slammed the folding fan shut with a sharp "snap": "Idols are dreams. They are light. They are the only sweetness in their desperate lives. Kitahara Shin can give them the illusion of strength," but we can give them tangible warmth."
She stood up, placed her hands on the table, and her eyes were as sharp as an eagle's: "Since we can't suppress the plot for the time being, let's fight back with what we do best."
"Listen, starting tomorrow, we're launching Plan B."
"First, let Kimura go offline. No more of those high-profile press conferences, I want him to go to schools, shopping malls, to the places with the most people. Hold surprise meet-and-greets! Handshake events! Let those hesitant viewers see him with their own eyes, touch him with their own hands! Let them know that Takuya Kimura is a living, breathing idol who smiles at them, not the cold, aloof Professor Zaizen on TV."
"Second, a variety show bombardment. Contact all TV stations except Fuji TV and mobilize all of SMAP's resources."
Let Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and Shingo Katori go crazy giving this show a thumbs down in their respective shows. I want viewers to hear the name "Hot-Blooded Detective" no matter which channel they turn on the TV.
"third----"
Mary narrowed her eyes, a calculating smile playing on her lips: "Contact the screenwriter and add some spice to the script. Since the audience likes to see tragic stories, let's make that hot-blooded detective get injured."
Let him bleed to save lives, let him be misunderstood for upholding justice. Torture him to the core! Female fans can't stand this; as long as Kimura cries, the ratings will definitely come back.
"Kitahara Shin wants to compete with us in acting? Then we'll fight him to the death."
2
"Go ahead and do it. I want to see the ratings rise back above 22% next week. Otherwise, you can all submit your resignations."
"yes!!"
The following day, at a girls' high school in Tokyo.
The peaceful lunch break was suddenly shattered by a scream over the loudspeaker.
"Aaaaaah!! Takuya Kimura is here!! At the gym!!"
boom--!
The entire school erupted in chaos.
-
Thousands of girls rushed to the stadium like madmen.
When the long-haired man, wearing the leather jacket from the play, appeared in the center of the stage with a microphone, the screams nearly lifted the roof off.
"Hello everyone, I am Takuya Kimura."
He flashed his signature smile and waved to the audience: "I've been filming 'Hot-Blooded Cops' lately. It's tiring, with me running around to many places every day to catch bad guys—but as long as I think about giving you courage, I don't feel tired at all."
As he spoke, he deliberately made a tired but trying-to-be-energetic expression.
"Aaaaaah!! Kimura-kun, you've worked so hard!!"
"We'll watch it! We definitely will!!"
The girls in the audience were completely captivated; some were even so moved that they fainted on the spot.
At the same time, in shopping malls in Shibuya and plazas in Shinjuku—Kimura Takuya was like a tireless iron man, running around to five different places in one day.
Each time, it caused massive traffic disruptions.
Meanwhile, the other members of SMAP were also seen drinking heavily on various variety shows.
Shingo Katori dressed up in Kimura's costume and made funny imitations on the show, while Masahiro Nakai read lines from the drama with deep emotion on the radio.
Johnny's Entertainment, this massive entertainment machine, is finally running at full power.
On the nanny van.
Takuya Kimura slumped in the back seat, his smile completely gone, leaving only deep exhaustion.
He took the water his agent handed him and gulped it down.
"Kimura-kun, you've worked hard." His manager looked at his somewhat pale face, feeling a pang of sympathy. "Are we going to the next location? Maybe we can skip it for today—"
"go."
Takuya Kimura wiped the water from the corner of his mouth, his eyes still flashing with an alarming intensity.
He picked up the script next to him and glanced at the dense notes on it.
"We haven't lost yet."
-
He whispered, as if speaking to himself, and also as if speaking to his adversary atop another tower: "Kitahara-san, your surgery was truly brilliant."
"But my work here" — it's not over yet.
The car started again and sped into the Tokyo night.
This war over ratings is far from over.
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