sinovels Chapter 187 Even the Niche Experts Couldn't Hold Back
Chapter 187 Even the Niche Experts Couldn't Hold Back
Chapter 187 Even the Niche Experts Couldn't Hold Back
Monday, January 1993, 5.
The air in Tokyo already carries a hint of early summer heat.
The city didn't come to a dramatic standstill tonight as rumored. Trams were still running, and convenience store lights were still on. However, if you were walking through a densely populated residential area right now, you'd notice a strange sense of "resonance."
In those honeycomb-like apartment buildings, the lights shining through countless windows are accompanied by the flickering frequency unique to television screens.
From upscale detached houses in Setagaya to old apartment complexes in Adachi Ward; from exhausted office workers who have just loosened their ties to housewives who have finished their chores early and are now lounging on the sofa.
At this moment, the air seemed to freeze in the living rooms of millions of homes. There was no idle chatter, no sound of snacking, only the faint hum of the air conditioner and the sound of rain coming from the television.
Today is the finale of "Flowers of Evil".
After the layers of foreshadowing, plot twists, and oppression in the first nine episodes, Shinji Himuro, the "devil detective" who walks on the edge of black and white and manipulates humanity, finally faces his long-destined judgment tonight.
[Scene: An abandoned church]
The scene shows torrential rain.
Shinji Himuro, wearing his signature trench coat, was soaking wet and holding a gun. At his feet lay a dead man—the true mastermind behind the entire serial murder case, the son of a powerful figure who escaped legal punishment.
This was his last "crime".
The sound of sirens grew louder as they approached, and blinding red and blue lights pierced the night sky.
Sayuri Yoshinaga plays Professor Takahashi, who has now resumed her role as a police informant (assistant). She leads a large number of special police officers into the church, guns in hand, aimed at the "student" she once tried to save but who ultimately fell into the abyss.
"It's over, Himuro."
Yoshinaga Sayuri's voice trembled, her eyes filled with regret and complex emotions: "Put down the gun. I have all the evidence. Everything you did—instigating, murder, fabricating the scene—this time, you can't escape."
Shinji Himuro slowly turned around.
There was no panic, no despair.
He looked at Sayuri Yoshinaga, a relieved smile spreading across his face. That smile was as pure as a child's, completely belying the image of a blood-stained demon.
"I know."
He threw the gun on the ground, raised his hands, and let the SWAT team rush up, pin him to the ground, and handcuff him.
[Scene: Detention center interrogation room]
The final conversation.
The two sat facing each other across the iron bars.
Yoshinaga Sayuri looked at the once spirited elite detective before her, now a prisoner, and finally asked the question that had been hidden in her heart all along: "Was it worth it? To become like this for a justice that cannot be defined by law—do you regret it?"
The camera slowly zoomed in, giving Kitahara Shin a super close-up.
On that face, which was devoid of any makeup and even appeared somewhat haggard, the eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.
He stared at the camera as if he were staring into the eyes of millions of viewers in front of the screen.
"Professor, the world is never simply black and white."
His voice was deep, yet possessed a penetrating power: "In the shadows where the sun doesn't shine, there's an abundance of filth. That filth hides in the cracks of power, behind the veneer of money; the police can't touch it, the law can't see it. So-called 'justice' often falls far short of its due."
He paused, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips: "Someone always has to be the cleaner. Even if their hands are stained with blood, even if they fall into hell."
"I failed. But I believe—"
His gaze hardened, as if piercing through iron bars to see into the distant future: "My will will endure. In those dark places, more 'cleaners' will step forward, waiting for those criminals who have escaped punishment."
The image freezes.
black screen.
End.
Fuji Television, monitoring room.
"It's broken!!"
A roar shattered the deathly silence.
All the staff jumped up and hugged each other; some were even moved to tears.
The numbers on the screen eventually stopped at a terrifying height:
30.4%!
It not only exceeded the 25% performance guarantee, but also broke the historical record for similar dark-themed TV dramas.
This is the hardest road to travel—darkness, humanity, and anti-heroism.
But the results proved that as long as the quality is good, the audience can be "educated".
That night, Kitahara Shin's name once again resounded throughout the Japanese film and television industry.
All the capital, all the producers, and all the TV station executives were doing the same thing at that moment, frantically dialing Kitahara's office number.
Quotations came in like snowflakes.
A 100 million yen salary? Sure!
The right to modify the script? Give it to me!
The right to appoint the director? Give it to me!
As long as we can get this "King of Ratings" to participate, any conditions are negotiable.
Because everyone has realized that even "non-mainstream" subjects can become blockbusters in Kitahara Shin's hands. So what if he were to direct a mainstream commercial film? Wouldn't that be phenomenal?
however.
Early the next morning.
Just as the outside world was speculating which Hollywood director would accept a film contract with this "King of Ratings" or which big-budget commercial drama he would star in.
As usual, Kitahara Shin appeared at the recording of his sponsored variety show, "Kitahara Shin Can Do Anything".
The theme of this challenge happens to be "music".
On stage, the lights are focused.
Instead of choosing common instruments like the piano or guitar, Kitahara Shin pulled out the slightly worn harmonica from his pocket, the one that had comforted the film crew on that stormy night.
[Equipment: Rusty Harmonica (Blue) - Activate]
There was no accompaniment.
When the first note flowed from his lips, the audience, who had been excited about the finale of "Flowers of Evil," instantly fell silent.
That's a variation of "Summer," the theme song Joe Hisaishi composed for "Kikujiro's Summer." It's light and bright, yet carries a touch of nostalgia, as if instantly transporting you back to that carefree childhood summer filled with the noisy chirping of cicadas.
The song ended.
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience. They were astonished—how many more surprises did this man hold that they didn't know about? Excellent acting, a screenwriter, and now he even plays the harmonica so beautifully?
"Truly worthy of being called 'Kitahara-san, who can do anything.'"
The host walked onto the stage with an expression of admiration, and taking advantage of the lively atmosphere, asked the question that everyone in Japan was concerned about: "So, after creating the miracle of a 30% viewership rating, everyone is guessing your next plan. Is it to go to Hollywood? Or to continue filming a sequel to 'Flowers of Evil'?"
Facing the camera, Kitahara Shin put his harmonica back in his pocket, his smile becoming exceptionally bright: "Neither."
He adjusted his posture, his tone relaxed yet resolute: "I've made up my mind. My next project will be a return to film."
"The director I collaborated with is Takeshi Kitano."
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
The audience and the host were stunned. Takeshi Kitano? The Takeshi Kitano who recently had two flops, was criticized by the media as "box office poison," and only makes incomprehensible violent films?
"Kitahara-san—are you serious?" the host asked instinctively. "The current public opinion regarding Director Kitano seems to be—"
"public opinion?"
Kitahara Shin chuckled lightly, interrupting him directly, his eyes unwavering: "To me, Kitano-san is not only the benefactor who discovered me for the role in 'Violent Man,' but also an underestimated genius."
He looked at the camera, as if declaring to everyone: "The claim that he's box office poison is ridiculous. In my opinion, he's the most unique director in all of Japan. This time, our new film together is called 'Kikujiro's Summer'."
"I believe that when that genius meets someone like me who can do anything, the most incredible chemistry of the summer will be created."
"Let's wait and see."
at the same time.
The influence of "Flowers of Evil" did not dissipate with the finale; instead, it began to penetrate deeper into various fields.
University of Tokyo, Department of Psychology.
The lecture hall was packed.
On the podium, a renowned professor of criminal psychology is playing a clip from "The Flowers of Evil".
"Everyone, please pay attention to Shinji Himuro's micro-expressions in this shot."
The professor pointed to Kitahara Shin's ambiguous smile on the screen, his expression serious: "This is a classic example of the contradictory unity of 'antisocial personality disorder' and 'an extreme sense of justice.' The screenwriter and actors' grasp of criminal psychology is frighteningly precise."
"This drama is not just entertainment, but also the best teaching case."
It's not just the University of Tokyo.
Law and sociology departments at prestigious universities such as Waseda and Keio have begun to use "The Flowers of Evil" as a research topic. Even the traditionally conservative "Education News" has published an in-depth paper entitled "Looking at the Psychological Defense Mechanisms of Adolescents Through 'The Flowers of Evil'".
This drama series has transformed from a "harmful book" into an "academic classic".
This shift has attracted the attention of a particular group.
That's what's known as a "niche expert".
A standalone video rental shop called "Black Cat" near Waseda University.
This is a gathering place for artsy young people and movie buffs.
The shop always plays obscure and difficult-to-understand French New Wave films, and most of the customers have long hair, wear old trench coats, and have melancholy eyes, all to show off their taste.
Ijuin Toru was one of them.
As a third-year film student, he has a principle: he will never watch TV series with a viewership rating exceeding 20%.
In his view, the things that the masses like are just industrial assembly line garbage, full of cheap sentimentality and formulaic plots. Only films like those by Tarkovsky and Godard, which no one can understand, deserve to be called art.
Therefore, when "Flowers of Evil" became a hit throughout Japan, he scoffed at it.
-
"Isn't this another one of those sensationalist dramas made just to grab attention?"
He said dismissively to his friend, "I heard they're going to film some kind of plot twist? Probably just another one of those kid-baiting tricks."
I can't be bothered to watch it.
However, things started to go wrong.
In the past few days, the discussions he has heard at school have become increasingly outrageous.
It wasn't just girls who only knew how to follow celebrities talking about it; even the strictest professor in the class, who hated commercial films the most, was recommending this show in class.
"Ijuin, this week's assignment is to analyze the behavioral logic of the male protagonist in 'Flowers of Evil'."
His friend patted him on the shoulder, "Do you want to watch it? We've agreed to go to the video arcade together."
"I'm not going."
Ijuin Toru rolled his eyes. "This kind of vulgar stuff would only dirty my eyes. Besides, I have enough credits; I don't need to do this kind of assignment."
"But—" my friend hesitated, "This time it counts towards participation grade, and if I don't submit a report, the professor might fail me. Your last paper on 'The Dogs of Andalus' received a low grade; they said it was too unrealistic—"
Ijuin Toru froze.
Failing a course?
That won't do. If my family finds out, I won't have any living expenses.
"————Alright then."
He sighed, his face looking like he was about to be executed: "I'll take a look then. But make it clear, I only care about the plot's logic; I absolutely won't be moved by such low-level acting."
Half an hour later.
In a private room at a video arcade near the school.
Several students huddled together as the first episode of "The Flowers of Evil" played on the screen.
Ijuin Toru stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the corner of the sofa, his face full of resistance.
"Rainy night — kneeling and begging for mercy — tsk, the color tone is too deliberate."
97
"This kind of lighting and shadow is clearly a poor imitation of film noir techniques."
As he watched, he mentally ranted and raved, trying to maintain his "know-it-all" dignity in this way.
but.
When the plot was halfway through, Shinji Himuro, played by Shin Kitahara, turned off the recorder in the interrogation room, lit a cigarette, and revealed the eyes of the "instigator".
Ijuin Toru, who had been crossing his arms, lowered them at some point.
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on the screen.
That look—
That deep-seated repression and madness, that tension that teeters between light and darkness—
Is this really a TV series?
This is fucking cinematic quality!
Moreover, it's not one of those commercial popcorn movies; it's the kind of cinematic quality with a strong auteur style that can strike right at your soul!
"This visual language—is quite interesting."
He silently admitted it to himself.
End of episode one.
The private room was silent. Everyone was too shocked to speak by the depressing ending.
Ijuin Toru felt as if cat claws were scratching at his heart.
He wants to see the next episode.
really want.
That longing was like an addiction, making him restless. But looking at his friends, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
"How is it, Ijuin?"
My friend turned around excitedly, "Isn't it amazing? This show is just as good as those American and European dramas, right?"
Ijuin Toru coughed, forcing a straight face, and said in a strained tone, "Hmm—it's alright. Just so-so. Some parts were handled with a bit of originality, like the double plot twist, so it's barely watchable."
"Do you want to watch episode two together? We've borrowed the tapes."
37
"Pshaw, who has time to read this?"
Ijuin Toru stood up, straightened his trench coat, and said with a cool expression, "I still need to go back and write that paper about Godard. You guys can see."
After saying that, he pushed open the door and left, his back view resolute.
Ten minutes later.
Ijuin Toru ran breathlessly into the "Black Cat" rental shop.
"Boss! Do you have the DVDs of 'The Flowers of Evil'? The complete set!"
The shop owner, a balding middle-aged man, looked up at him as if he were an idiot: "Young man, are you awake? Don't you know how popular that show is right now? It was sold out as soon as we opened this morning, and reservations are booked until next week."
"W-what?!"
Ijuin Toru felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
He then visited two more rental shops nearby.
"That's all."
"All borrowed."
"Only the first episode, do you want it?"
Standing on the street, looking at his empty hands, Toru Ijuin felt an unprecedented despair.
Do we really have to wait until next week?
That was pure torture!
He gritted his teeth, took out his mobile phone, and dialed the number of the friend he had just spoken to.
Her voice trembled slightly, and her face flushed red: "Feed—Tanaka?"
"Hey, Ijuin? What's up? Weren't you supposed to be writing about Godard?"
"Um—cough cough—"
Ijuin Toru took a deep breath, his voice barely audible, "Have you guys finished watching episode two? Could I borrow that tape to watch?"
"ha?"
A teasing laugh came from the other end of the phone: "What? Even the brilliant scholar has changed his tune? Didn't you just say it was 'barely watchable'?"
"So long-winded!"
Enraged, Ijuin Toru yelled into the phone, "One episode isn't enough! I need to read the entire complex text before I can conduct a more serious, profound, and comprehensive critique! I'm doing this for academic research! Don't you understand academics?!"
"Okay, okay, academic research."
His friend didn't call him out on it, saying, "Then come over to my place. We bought fried chicken and beer, and we're planning to binge-watch all night."
"————Wait for me, I'll be right there."
hang up the phone.
Without any hesitation, Ijuin Toru turned and ran towards his friend's house.
Screw niche.
Fuck Godard.
I absolutely have to watch this show tonight!
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