Chapter 77

Chapter 77: “If You Need Anything, I’ll Be at the Front Desk”

After the fireworks ended, the boat began turning back.

Desserts were served after the mushroom soup.

Perhaps because of the alcohol, the music in Nagayama Naoki’s head never stopped until the boat returned to the dock. It made him feel as if he were inside a virtual-reality game—background music automatically playing, audible only to himself.

After drinking, he naturally could not drive. Calling a substitute driver would be troublesome, and since he was already at the hotel, Nagayama Naoki simply booked a room and decided to stay the night.

An ordinary hotel of the Showa era was similar to later budget chains, but high-end hotels were hardly inferior even compared with the future. In fact, they possessed an even stronger classical elegance.

The same pretty receptionist guided him to his room. Before closing the door, she added:

“Sir, if you need anything, I’ll be at the front desk. Anything at all.”

Were front desks at luxury hotels always this idle? Weren’t there usually attendants for service?

With his head still dizzy and accompanied by that internal BGM, Nagayama Naoki did not think too deeply about it. From past experience, memories from his previous life would soon fade again. Although this time the melody had turned into a brainwashing loop, he still needed to write it down.

Using the memo paper and pen provided on the hotel desk, Nagayama Naoki transcribed the melody of the instrumental piece.

The title of the composition was:

“On a Night When Fireworks Flicker.”

It was not Kenshi Yonezu’s famous “Uchiage Hanabi.” This was a pure instrumental work.

The gradually emerging drum rhythm resembled fireworks blinking in the quiet night sky.

Some listeners would hear beauty, some warmth, some calmness, others regret.

Although the title was in Japanese, the piece was unexpectedly an original Chinese composition. The composer was Yu Chong, a mysterious musician whose instrumental works Nagayama Naoki often used as background music while working or studying.

After writing down the score, the effects of the alcohol completely faded, and even the persistent music in his mind slowly stopped.

So it really had been caused by drinking.

Outside the window, night had fully fallen, yet it was only seven in the evening. He had boarded the boat around five-thirty; the entire cruise had lasted only about an hour and a half.

Emotionally it felt like he had gone through countless ups and downs, yet it was merely an illusion produced by alcohol.

Feeling slightly sweaty, Nagayama Naoki took a shower and changed into a yukata.

Afterward he felt completely refreshed.

Anyone who had drunk alcohol knew that once the half-drunken state passed, a strange clarity followed—wide awake, with no trace of sleepiness.

He had no interest in watching television. Since this was a high-class hotel with facilities such as a swimming pool, bar, sauna, and massage area, he decided to go out and explore.

Before leaving, he requested dry-cleaning service for his dirty clothes, then went to the fourth floor wearing his yukata.

The swimming pool, sauna, and massage facilities were all located there. The rectangular pool had three lanes, and along the window side stood a row of reclining chairs. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows lay the night view of the Sumida River.

Only a few people were present at the pool that night, two of them chatting while leaning against the edge. Having just showered, Nagayama Naoki bought a pair of swim trunks at the pool counter and entered the water.

Having grown up by the sea, swimming was already ingrained in his instincts. He moved back and forth through the long pool with practiced skill. Combined with his naturally fair complexion, he looked almost like a pale streak cutting through the waves.

After several laps, he rested against the pool’s edge.

Suddenly, with a splash, someone entered the water nearby.

A beautiful woman swam past in the neighboring lane, her freestyle smooth and effortless.

Why call her beautiful? Those who understood needed no explanation.

Although it was a public pool, staring openly would be inappropriate. Nagayama Naoki did not pay excessive attention. He climbed out, walked to a reclining chair by the window, and rested while looking at the scenery outside.

Yet the more one tried to avoid something, the more it approached.

Before long, a chair one seat away shifted. Turning his head, he saw that the woman from the pool had also come to rest there.

Her face felt strangely familiar to him.

Especially those crescent-shaped eyes—appearing single-eyelidded yet actually double-lidded.

Who was she? Did he know her? Where had he seen her before?

He fell into thought but could not recall. However, staring at someone for too long naturally annoyed her. If she had not noticed that the one looking at her was a young and handsome man, she might already have lost her temper.

“Hey, you over there. Haven’t you looked enough?”

The sentence snapped Nagayama Naoki out of his thoughts.

The beauty beside him sat upright on the reclining chair, now wrapped in a bath towel, staring directly at him.

“You over there!” she called again when he failed to respond immediately.

At that moment, an image suddenly flashed through Nagayama Naoki’s mind—the voice calling “Ani-san~~.”

Excited, he blurted out:

“You’re Tanaka Yuko!!!”

The shout startled Tanaka Yuko.

As an actress already with two works released, being recognized was normal. But what was wrong with this young man? Why suddenly shout like that? Was something wrong with him mentally?

In the spacious pool hall, many people turned to look.

Tanaka Yuko quickly shrank into her chair and spoke softly:

“Please don’t get so excited. Are you trying to cause a commotion? You’ll disturb everyone else.”

Nagayama Naoki immediately realized his recklessness.

“I’m sorry. I got excited after recognizing a celebrity.”

“Oh? Are you my fan?”

“Uh…”

Denying it would be awkward.

Thinking carefully, aside from that famous “Ani-san” line, he actually knew very little about this Showa-era beauty. In his memory she might have played Empress Dowager Cixi once, though he had never really watched the film—only seen numerous edited clips online mixed among all kinds of strange videos.

He had barely watched any of her works.

After previously pretending to be a fan of Matsuda Seiko and nearly creating a misunderstanding—one he had barely resolved with Nakamori Akina—Nagayama Naoki had already experienced the pain of needing countless lies to cover a single lie.

After hesitating, he decided not to lie this time.

“Well… I wouldn’t say I’m a fan. I’ve only occasionally seen films featuring Ms. Tanaka Yuko.”

Then he realized he had not introduced himself.

“My apologies. My name is Nagayama Naoki. Nice to meet you. Please take care of me.”

Since he was not actually her fan, the atmosphere became slightly awkward.

“Nice to meet you…”

Tanaka Yuko still wanted to know which work he had seen.

“Nagayama-san, which film did you watch me in?”

This was bad. “The Incident at Amagi Pass” had not even been filmed yet.

He had stepped into a trap he himself had unknowingly set earlier.

How should he answer now?