Chapter 9

Chapter 9: 009, “Photoshoot is fine, but pay more!”

“Damn it, I accidentally used the old talent scout pitch…” Yoshimura Daitomo realized too late that he had just said something he used in the past when recruiting gravure models.

He hurriedly corrected himself. “Ah—no, not a photoshoot, an advertisement, an advertisement!”

Nagayama Naoki tensed slightly. This middle-aged man who had been staring at him in a somewhat suspicious way didn’t look very reliable.

“An advertisement like what?”

“What do you mean, like what?”

“The kind printed on small cards.”

“Small cards? No, not that. If anything, it would be printed on soda bottles.”

Yoshimura Daitomo looked a bit confused. Small-card ads didn’t seem to be a common thing yet.

At Yoshimura Daitomo’s invitation, they sat down in a yakitori restaurant. It was lunchtime, and the aroma of grilled meat stimulated everyone’s appetite. Naoki could feel his saliva increasing. After all, his takoyaki earlier was long gone.

“Naoki-kun, I used to come to this place often. The owner’s grilling technique is excellent.” Yoshimura Daitomo skillfully ordered a yakitori set meal plus some cold dishes like chilled tofu, then handed the menu to Naoki. “Please order whatever you like. The set meal here is quite famous.”

“Alright, I’ll have the classic yakitori set meal, plus an extra charcoal-grilled chicken heart set.” Portion sizes in Japanese meals were notoriously small; two sets were barely enough for a young man.

While waiting for the food, Yoshimura Daitomo explained the advertisement in detail.

“So it’s a new soda product. But usually soda campaigns are launched in summer, right? It’s already the end of the year.”

“Yes,” Yoshimura replied. “It seems to be a trial product in a new product line from headquarters, so the campaign came rather suddenly. We’re also in a hurry to find a suitable model.” He did not mention that previous candidates had already been rejected. “When I saw you today, your image matched the product very well, so I wanted to ask if you’re interested.”

“If selected, besides this campaign, you might even become a brand ambassador in the future.” Typical Shōwa-era “big promises.”

Naoki wasn’t short on money. But he had just spent almost all his assets on a property purchase. After rent and expenses, he had only a little left. Royalties would only come in two months.

Originally, he planned to return home for the New Year, wait for royalties, then use them to expand into more investments and build a financial snowball.

But if there was quick cash now, that wouldn’t be bad either. However, modeling contracts usually came with strict conditions.

“Yoshimura-san,” Naoki asked, “I heard that modeling requires signing pretty strict agency contracts, right?”

“Yes, if you join the industry, you do sign contracts. But our agency’s contracts are very standard—basically the same as major agencies. That part you can rest assured about.”

“But I don’t really plan to enter the modeling industry at the moment,” Naoki said. “My family still wants me to go back and inherit the family business.”

Yoshimura Daitomo panicked a little. This directly affected his year-end bonus.

“Naoki-kun, the modeling industry has great prospects! Honestly, with your looks, you have huge potential. You could even transition into management roles later, or use it as a stepping stone into the entertainment industry as an idol.”

“And this opportunity with Tomo Juice is rare for young people!” he added quickly. “If I may ask, what exactly is your family business? Can it really offer such a future?”

He took a long sip of his drink, trying to calm himself.

He slipped. Naoki immediately realized the other party was anxious because of how urgent the client situation was. That meant he could negotiate more.

Naoki decided to apply more pressure.

“Ah, it’s nothing too big. My grandfather is a branch leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi in Shizuoka. My parents also hope I’ll contribute to the family business in the future.”

“Pfft—” Yoshimura nearly choked. “Yamaguchi-gumi?!”

In the Shōwa era, the Yamaguchi-gumi was at its peak—something ordinary people feared deeply.

“I-I see… in that case, family obligations are indeed important…”

His speech became fragmented. He was completely thrown off balance.

Looking at the refined and handsome young man in front of him, he couldn’t believe he was allegedly the descendant of a Yamaguchi-gumi branch leader.

At that moment, the yakitori arrived. Naoki tried one piece. Crispy outside, tender inside, perfectly fatty.

“Yoshimura-san, the chef’s skill is impressive.”

“Please enjoy,” Yoshimura replied, now slightly restrained.

The meal continued, though Yoshimura’s enthusiasm had faded. After the meal ended, he finally recovered a bit.

“Naoki-kun, it’s a pity… family business should be respected. You shouldn’t go against your family’s wishes.”

“Yoshimura-san, no need to be so formal. Just call me Naoki. As for the family business, actually there are my uncle’s family and my older cousin who can inherit it.”

What?

Then why mention Yamaguchi-gumi in the first place?

Yoshimura could almost hear his inner frustration.

Still, Naoki continued, “I can consider the advertisement, but I don’t intend to become a professional model.”

“I see,” Yoshimura said. “So you want to take this job in your personal capacity?”

He understood this arrangement; some public figures did accept ads this way. But for a newcomer…

Then he realized something.

The pace of the conversation had already been controlled by Naoki. Had he been deliberately thrown off balance? This young man was not simple.

But if this deal failed, he would lose his bonus and his reputation at work.

“So, Naoki-kun, why don’t we do a test shoot this afternoon to see if you’re suitable?”

Meaning: if it works, proceed; if not…

Naoki smiled. “Of course. A photoshoot is fine too—but the pay needs to go up.”