Chapter 28

Chapter 28: 028, Naoki-san Really Is a Genius!

After washing up, the makeup artist lightly covered the dark circles under his eyes.

Nagayama Naoki waited beside the equipment truck in the studio, preparing to head to the outdoor filming location.

Once his excitement settled, exhaustion rushed in.

Dressed in a black suit, Nagayama Naoki leaned blankly against the open trunk of a car. He held a piece of bread meant to be breakfast, yet could not eat a single bite.

His youthful and handsome face looked pale and worn. Deep fatigue filled his eyes. His previously neat hair now fell messily over his head. The loose suit hung wrinkled and lifeless on his body. The cold morning light only intensified the sense of loss around him, making Nagayama Naoki appear both dejected and pitiful.

A certain actress once said that the most attractive thing about a man was a sense of fragility.

Higuchi Kanako and her assistant Koyanagi Marin were the first to feel it.

The two had just greeted the director when they noticed the male lead standing nearby, radiating that fragile aura. When Nagayama Naoki forced himself to smile at them, both women felt a shock run through their hearts, and an instinctive desire to protect him emerged.

“Naoki-san, what happened to you?” Higuchi Kanako asked worriedly. “How did you become like this after only two days…”

“Looking haggard, right?” came Ito Shuichi’s proud voice from behind.

“This was my method. Two days without sleep plus a little alcohol. Now the exhausted feeling of someone grieving a lost love appears naturally!”

“Shuichi-san, how can you do that!” Higuchi Kanako protested. “Isn’t Naoki-san too pitiful?”

“Exactly! How could you treat Naoki-san like this!” Koyanagi Marin added. “Naoki-san is such a good person.”

“Huh? But it’s for the commercial. The effect is great,” Ito Shuichi said, confused.

“Hmph, Shuichi-san is a demon.”

“That’s right, far too cruel.”

Nagayama Naoki was stunned. Early in the morning and he had already received a “good person” label?

The outdoor shoot went very smoothly. Higuchi Kanako filmed an indoor scene recalling memories while looking at a photo album, and thanks to the staff’s efforts, the single-shot transformation of the interior set was completed successfully.

Aside from Nagayama Naoki walking back and forth along the same street more than ten times, everything else could be considered highly satisfactory.

How to express sadness.

How to show nostalgia.

How to convey regret through body language.

Ito Shuichi personally coached Nagayama Naoki on set, earning cold looks from several female staff members.

“Naoki-san, thanks to you I’ve become a public enemy among women,” Ito Shuichi joked on the ride back that afternoon.

“Shuichi-san, have more confidence. Even without me, you’d still be a public enemy among women.”

“Hahaha, you brat.” Laughter filled the car.

The final scene returned to the shelter where they had once taken refuge from the rain. The exhausted male lead in his suit faced the heroine, identical to their first meeting, as colorful lights shimmered around them.

Suddenly a little girl ran over.

She was their daughter, standing in the same place to avoid the rain, pointing at the cherry blossoms blooming brilliantly just like before.

“That’s a wrap!”

Ito Shuichi had secretly prepared a confetti popper, startling everyone at the final moment.

The little girl on set turned out to be Ito Shuichi’s daughter. No one expected that this guy was already a complete family man with both son and daughter.

Next came editing work. Nagayama Naoki still needed to help, but filming itself had reached its conclusion.

“Naoki-san, you still need to join the editing. After all, it was your idea.”

“Yes, yes. But first, let me go home and sleep!”

That night Yoshimura Daitomo came again to drive Nagayama Naoki home.

“Thank you very much, Daitomo-san.”

“No problem. It’s my responsibility.”

After returning home, he forced himself to take a shower before collapsing onto the bed.

His final thought before consciousness faded:

“I’ve decided. Once I receive my payment, the first thing I’ll buy is a car.”

Reality proved that even a strong nineteen-year-old could not endure two sleepless days.

Nagayama Naoki woke up the next day from hunger.

When he opened his eyes, it was already 2 p.m.

His head felt heavy, without any sense of refreshment after sleeping.

He turned on the gas stove to boil water and immediately went to take a shower. When he came out, the water was ready. He dumped three packs of instant noodles into the pot, adding all the seasoning. Noodles cooked in a pot tasted far better than those soaked in hot water.

He devoured everything, finishing even the soup before finally calming his stomach.

After cleaning the kitchen, he listened to the answering machine messages. As expected, they were from Ito Shuichi.

“Naoki-san, did you oversleep? Don’t forget we’re editing today.” That was at 9 a.m.

“Naoki-san, still not awake? I can’t edit this alone. Hurry up and come!” That was at noon.

“Nagayama Naoki, are you planning to dump all the work on me? You bastard! Get over here now!” That was the most recent message.

Cold sweat ran down his forehead. Ito Shuichi was probably furious by now.

He hurried out and took a taxi to the studio.

Unexpectedly, when he saw Ito Shuichi in the office, the man was not angry at all. After glancing at him, he simply said, “Naoki-san, you’re here.”

Nagayama Naoki quietly asked Yoshimura Daitomo beside him, “Daitomo-san, what’s wrong with Shuichi-san? He’s not angry at all?”

“Actually, the film is basically finished. We just watched the full cut. Shuichi-san was probably moved by the regretful love story. Even someone my age almost had tears in his eyes.”

Was it really that effective?

Ito Shuichi seemed to regain his composure and turned around.

“Naoki-san, take a look too. I’ve already completed most of the work.”

A hint of dissatisfaction returned.

Nagayama Naoki began watching. As expected, Ito Shuichi was an experienced producer. The editing flowed smoothly, the montage techniques were skillful, and the flashback structure matched perfectly with the rhythm of the background music.

But…

“It feels a bit too smooth.”

Yoshimura Daitomo looked puzzled. “Isn’t smooth a good thing?”

Ito Shuichi also turned to him, staring as if unwilling to let him off without an explanation. To him, the work was already perfect.

“Shuichi-san, the story flows well, that’s true. But during the music section, when the heroine’s accident happens, could we add a braking sound and then silence for a few seconds?”

“That would leave the scene without sound. Wouldn’t that feel abrupt? …Wait, let me try.”

Ito Shuichi suddenly understood something and immediately began editing.

The studio naturally had braking sound effects available.

Soon, the new sample cut was ready.

The three sat together in front of the screen.

At the instant the braking sound played, all three seemed to stop breathing. Their hearts felt as if they skipped a beat.

Only when the music resumed did they breathe again.

After the sample finished playing, Ito Shuichi remained silent for a long moment before speaking:

“Naoki-san…

As expected, you truly are a genius.”