Chapter 6

Chapter 6 — 006: Encounter with a Little Chubby “Greens”

One defining feature of the Shōwa era was cash-based transactions. After signing the contract, Sanwa Daisei returned from the finance office with ten million yen in cash, placed inside a kraft envelope, and handed it directly to Nagayama Naoki.

After a full meal at an upscale restaurant, Naoki returned to the small room at the Makino residence, only then gradually calming his mind.

The money had come too easily. As someone who had lived two lifetimes as a diligent worker, he still found it hard to believe. Naoki opened the kraft envelope again, laid the ten million yen on the low table, and picked up one of the bills to examine it closely. The 10,000-yen note did not yet feature Yukichi Fukuzawa as in later years, but Prince Shōtoku instead.

Looking at the solemn face of Prince Shōtoku printed on the bill, and thinking of all the future ways to become wealthy, Naoki chuckled softly.

“Please take care of me in the future as well, Your Highness.”

What should one do after making money? Spend it?

After obtaining his first “bucket of gold,” Naoki chose to take a good afternoon nap first.

Although he was confident in himself, having just transmigrated, Naoki still worried about ending up in a situation where a single coin could stifle a hero. At least until the rent for the end of the month was secured, he occasionally feared Mrs. Makino might suddenly say, “Naoki-san, it’s time to pay rent.”

After waking up, he was once again full of energy.

Naoki went to knock on Nakai Genta’s door. After some time together, the two had gone from acquaintances to friends. As expected, the university graduate was still enjoying his post-graduation, pre-employment idle life.

“Didn’t go to any company interviews, Genta-san?”

“I went yesterday. They arranged a high-end dinner afterward, then we went to a Roppongi disco club to dance,” Genta said proudly. “So I’m resting today.”

“Incredible! As expected of a Hitotsubashi University elite, Genta-san!” Naoki complimented him knowingly. “How much money did you get?”

Genta raised his eyebrows and smiled. “200,000 yen!”

As expected, comparisons were deadly. After more than a week of effort and even using knowledge from the future to produce a single song, the copyright only sold for ten million yen. It wasn’t even as much as this guy earned from a few job interviews.

Even though he knew royalties would eventually far exceed this amount, he still felt a small blow.

“Truly impressive, Genta-san!”

“Haha, right?” Genta laughed, then led Naoki into his room. “So, how’s your single going?”

“It’s already been sold!” Naoki replied. “Since I received the payment, I wanted to treat you and Suzumi-san to a meal. I was wondering if you both are free.”

“You don’t need to spend that much, Naoki-san,” Genta said. He knew Naoki’s financial situation. “Suzumi-san and I only helped because we were curious about your story.”

“Haha, I know, but it’s still my way of saying thanks,” Naoki said lightly. “The copyright for Cherry Blossom sold for ten million yen.”

Hearing this, Genta exclaimed, “Sugoi! Ten million! I’m jealous! Naoki-san, you’re rich now!”

Despite his words, there was no real jealousy in his expression. “In that case, we definitely need to celebrate properly!”

He turned toward the landline to call Hoshino Suzumi.

For elite university graduates, ten million yen was probably just the result of a few more job interviews.

When young people earned money, they naturally went to Roppongi in Ginza.

In the end, Genta and Suzumi brought Naoki to a disco club in Roppongi. By the time they arrived, it was already evening and the crowd was still thin. Soft warm-up music played on the stage.

The three of them chose a booth slightly away from the dance floor and ordered some snacks. The food was expensive and average in taste, but what they were really buying was the atmosphere.

During the meal, Suzumi kept asking Naoki questions, clearly very curious about everything at Sun Music.

“I didn’t get to meet Seiko-san—she’s very busy,” Naoki replied. “I only met her manager handling part of the agency affairs.”

“No signed records? No merchandise?”

“None,” Naoki said helplessly. “But if the song is officially released, I should receive sample copies. I’ll give them to you then.”

“That’s great! If there’s a handwritten autograph from Lady Seiko, even better!”

Tch. A greedy woman.

As they talked, more people arrived and the music grew louder. People on the dance floor had already begun moving to the rhythm. Unlike later disco styles, there was even a lead dancer guiding the crowd in what seemed to be a popular dance of the time, though Naoki could not recognize it at all.

Genta and Suzumi seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely, exchanging glances and smiling brightly. Naoki could only sit in the booth and silently suffer the display of affection—he paid for everything, could not drink, and could not dance.

After another song ended, the crowd dispersed briefly. Unexpectedly, Naoki noticed Suzumi and a few other girls being surrounded by several rough-looking young men. The exaggerated tongue-clicking sounds could be heard even from a distance—a hallmark of the so-called yakuza presence in Shōwa-era entertainment districts.

Genta’s face turned red with anger as he stepped in front of Suzumi. Naoki immediately rushed over as well.

But upon closer inspection, these so-called “yakuza” were nothing more than posers. A group of flashy-dressed young men trying to act tough. Naoki’s inherited memory from his grandfather confirmed it—real yakuza did not dress like this, and they certainly did not appear so clean with no tattoos at all.

Feeling reassured, Naoki stepped forward and shielded Suzumi and the other girls.

“What do you guys think you’re doing?”

The group responded chaotically:

“Just trying to make friends with the girls~”
“You wanna die or what?!”
“Baka yarō!”
“Shut up!”
“Idiot!”

Clearly, they were drunk.

Naoki pushed them back while cursing, “You idiots, get sober and go home to your mothers!”

Genta also chimed in, “Yeah, go home to your mothers!”

This only triggered more insults and threats:

“I’ll kill you!”
“Damn you!”

Naoki was not worried at all about escalation or being beaten. Anyone familiar with gangster films knew that discos in Roppongi during the Shōwa era were never without backing—either owned by the underworld or paying protection money.

Within a minute or two, staff arrived with a burly man in a floral shirt. Tattoos peeked out from his open chest. Without a word, he slapped the rowdy youths repeatedly until they immediately quieted down. Then came even more intimidating tongue-clicking sounds as he dragged them out like frightened chicks.

The club manager remained behind, bowing deeply to the crowd, apologizing for the disturbance, and assuring everyone that the issue had been resolved. The band resumed playing.

He then bowed again to Naoki’s group.

“We sincerely apologize for the poor experience. As compensation, we have prepared second-floor seating and some small gifts for you. Please follow me.”

A textbook example of smooth Roppongi nightclub management.

Naoki had no objections. Genta, Suzumi, and the four girls who had been involved followed along as well; the manager clearly assumed they were all together.

Upstairs, the atmosphere became quieter and the seating noticeably better. Drinks were served, including juice for those who could not drink alcohol. The attention to detail was impressive.

Once seated, they realized the four girls were actually a family—two older sisters and a younger group brought out for fun.

The eldest girl spoke first.

“Um… thank you for helping earlier. My name is Akina Nakamori.”

Hm? That name felt familiar.

Genta introduced everyone. “I’m Nakai Genta. This is Suzumi Hoshino, and this is Nagayama Naoki.”

The girls introduced themselves one by one:

“I’m Akaho Nakamori.”
“I’m Akina Nakamori.”
“I’m Miho Nakamori.”

“Akina… Nakamori?”

Naoki repeated the name unconsciously.

“Yes, I’m Akina Nakamori. Is something wrong?”

The middle-school girl with a round, slightly chubby face looked up at him blankly.

That immature, baby-faced image overlapped with the future legendary diva of the Shōwa era in his memory.

At that moment, Naoki thought:

So this is Akina Nakamori…