Chatting

The group of overly excited guys in the control room seemed to have been so overwhelmed by his appearance and the "perfect" rainy day that they had temporarily forgotten about this incident.

However... if it would be interesting for him, and he might sign the consent form for the broadcast, then it wouldn't hurt.

Compared to those girls who were "captured" by his male beauty and, thinking he didn't know, secretly took photos from the shadows.

Such legitimate inquiries actually appear... quite "civilized".

"Oh, where is Shimokitazawa? Tanaka -kun?"

Kotake Tatsunori continued to press for details about the address, which was a natural extension of the casual conversation and a response befitting a driver.

Tanaka Yukishin finally turned her gaze away from the window and looked at the driver's half-face reflected in the rearview mirror, her tone casual and languid.

"Just drive however you want. I've never tried to slowly enjoy the scenery from inside a taxi in this heavy rain before."

"Huh? This..." Kotake Tatsunori was taken aback, his face showing genuine difficulty. "Brother, I drive to earn money to support my family."

He instinctively reacted like an ordinary driver when faced with "unreasonable demands."

"It's nothing." Tanaka Yukishin, looking relaxed. "Taxi fares are calculated based on distance and time, right? You can just calculate it."

Kotake Tatsunori's mind raced, and he quickly got into character, starting to "calculate" with deliberately slowed speech, carrying a hint of petty, street-smart manner.

"Um... well... the fare is the starting price plus extra mileage... considering this awful weather, for safety, I'll definitely drive slower than usual, about 3/5 of my usual speed... and since you want to enjoy the scenery, I'll slow down even more, to... 2/5 of the speed you'd drive on a sunny day? That way, the distance traveled in the same amount of time will be shorter, but the meter will charge more for the time portion... let me calculate... um... before you get out, I'll add the starting price to the actual distance traveled, plus the extra time charge for driving slower? So, the total price will be about... um... 1.5 times the normal price on a sunny day? Is that alright?"

Although the driver's words were a bit convoluted, the logic was clear.

Tanaka Yukishin understood almost immediately after he finished speaking.

Driving safely in the rain and the desire to enjoy the scenery cause a sudden drop in speed (2/5 of the original speed) → the distance traveled in the same amount of time is reduced → but the time-based fare on the meter increases → the total cost is approximately 1.5 times that of a normal trip on a sunny day.

"Can."

Tanaka Yukishin nodded readily, turned her head back to the car window, rested her left elbow on the windowsill, and cupped her left cheek in her palm, continuing to admire the bizarre and colorful cityscape outside the window, washed by the torrential rain.

Kotake Tatsunori felt certain that the current topic was appropriate and decided to steer it in the direction set by the program team.

Looking in the rearview mirror, he said with a tone of envy and wistfulness, "Tanaka, you seem to have such a leisurely life; your family must be very well-off. I'm so envious. As for me, a corporate slave on the bus, I drive for over ten hours a day just to earn a living, without even a moment to stop and appreciate the scenery... Sigh..."

"No, I come from an ordinary family; it's just that I have some abilities."

Tanaka Yukishin responded absentmindedly, her gaze still lingering on the fleeting neon lights outside the window.

Kotake Tatsunori pressed on, raising the core question.

"Speaking of which, young man, you're so young and handsome, you're sure to have a bright future! What... do you plan to do in the future?"

There was a moment of silence inside the car.

Raindrops pounded against the car roof and windows, and the windshield wipers swung rhythmically from side to side.

The boy in the back seat slowly turned his head. His eyes, which were still too clear even in the dim light, seemed to pierce through space and land on everyone in the control room through the rain-drenched car window.

He smiled faintly, yet with a strange, magical quality, and uttered two words clearly.

"Long ball."

"Ball... ball length?"

Kotake Tatsunori was completely dumbfounded and subconsciously repeated it.

Because of the language barrier, the pronunciation of "ball leader" didn't immediately connect to its specific meaning (unlike the pronunciation of "chieftain").

The confusion on his face was utterly genuine, and his brows were furrowed in a knot.

"Um... buddy, could you explain it a little more clearly? What is the length of the ball?"

Tanaka Yukishin raised her voice slightly.

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried a natural calmness, clearly reaching Kotake Tatsunori's ears, and also being clearly transmitted to the control room through the microphone hidden inside the car.

"The length of the Earth."

"Puff--!!!"

Caught completely off guard, Kotake Tatsunori's psychological defenses were utterly shattered by this absurd and overly "chuunibyou" answer.

I couldn't help but burst out laughing!

He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, his shoulders heaving violently, causing the steering wheel to wobble slightly.

Noticing this, for safety reasons, he quickly put down his left hand and held the steering wheel with both hands.

The reaction was even more intense in the control room!

"Puhahaha--!!"

Screenwriter Kitajima Toru was the first to break down, spraying the mouthful of water he had just taken a sip all over his notebook.

He coughed violently while slamming his fist on the table and laughing uncontrollably.

"The length of the Earth?! Takakura! Takakura! Look! Footage! God-tier footage!!"

He pointed excitedly at the screen, almost laughing until tears streamed down his face.

Director Takakura Sho was also dumbfounded, his facial muscles twitched, he tried to hold it in but couldn't, and finally let out a long sigh of helplessness and amusement.

"This young man is really..."

Assistant director Hayakawa Yuki covered her mouth, laughing uncontrollably, while still shouting into the walkie-talkie.

"Attention all units, recording has begun!"

Producer Jinguji Aya was taken aback at first, then the corners of her delicate lips couldn't help but curve upwards. She shook her head, a hint of surprise and amusement flashing in her eyes.

The guest seating area erupted in excitement!

Yamada Hayato slid straight off the chair to the floor, clutching his stomach and curling up, letting out a deafening honk.

"Hahahaha--!! Earth's president?! My god! The god of ratings has descended upon this episode! Director! What's the point of guiding this with any ghost story? This boy is a walking embodiment of ratings!!"

He laughed and pounded the ground, completely disregarding his image.

Shiraishi Rin, who had been maintaining an elegant sitting posture, completely lost it at this moment.

She covered her mouth with one hand, but her shoulders trembled uncontrollably. Her gray-blue eyes were filled with an incredulous smile, and her cheeks were flushed.

Looking at Tanaka Yukishin's strikingly beautiful face on the screen, yet so earnestly uttering those words, she murmured, "The contrast... is too strong... This scene... is incredibly impactful..."

Onodera Mio was stunned at first.

Then it was noticed that all the cameras were turned toward the VIP table.

His eyes immediately flashed with an astonishing light.

She suddenly grabbed Yamada Hayato's arm, pulled him up a little from the ground, and screamed excitedly.

In order to gain exposure, she really sacrificed all her integrity.

"Ahhh! Captain! Please accept my deepest respect! Airi-chan! Quick! Please grant my wish! I bow to the Captain!!"

Even the actor Kurosawa Takuma, known for his cool and aloof demeanor, showed a crack in his expression at this moment.

He was first taken aback, then his lips curled up uncontrollably, eventually turning into a low, pleasant chuckle.

"... Interesting. Really interesting. This chuunibyou (middle school syndrome)... it's terminal, yet it's so... self-righteous."

Kitajima Toru managed to stop laughing, wiped away the tears that had come out of his eyes, and loudly proposed to Takakura Sho.

His tone was full of excitement and a sense of "I told you so."

"Hey Takakura! Don't hesitate! Change targets immediately! I've already thought of a title for this episode—<The Biggest Crisis in the History of Human Observation! Amidst a Series of Project Failures, a Chance Encounter with a Once-in-a-Millennial God-like Handsome Young Man Claims to be the Governor of Earth!> How about that? It's guaranteed to be a hit!"

To be honest, he had a love-hate relationship with Takakura Sho.

I love his talent and his extreme pursuit of program effects, but I hate that he was too obsessive when Yueyi was the first to appear and that Yingqiu Yi (Seven) was stubborn and single-minded.

For example, he had suggested that the project "The Taxi Has a Ghost" be left until the fall or winter season, when it would be more natural to turn on the heating when it's cold. Also, "Human Observation" has more than one project to work on.

But Takakura Sho stubbornly insisted on taking down this tough nut this summer.

However, it is precisely this almost obsessive personality that has enabled "Human Observation" to break through time and time again and achieve high ratings.

For example, Kotake Tatsunori's immediate and completely genuine reaction after hearing about the sightseeing.

This was the result of Takakura's insistence on an "immersive" experience for the actors and the preparation of various contingency plans.

As the main screenwriter providing real-time support, Kitajima Toru has already lost countless brain cells today in order to help Xiaozhu steer the various passengers' casual conversations towards the topic of "paranormal phenomena."

Now that he has encountered such a top-tier gem as Tanaka Yukishin, he will naturally do his best to change direction—the project can be done later, but missing out on this kind of ordinary person material with divine looks and eloquent speech would be a lifelong regret!

Takakura Sho's face showed obvious struggle.

He does have some obsessive-compulsive tendencies and perfectionism, which is especially evident when he's making shows.

But Kitajima Toru's words struck him like a hammer blow.

He glanced at the breathtaking profile picture on the main screen, captured even in the dim light of the train carriage on a rainy night, then at the crystal-clear message transmitted in real time: "The Earth's leader," and at Kotake Tatsunori's completely genuine, uproarious reaction...

He knew that Kitajima Toru was right.

Hayakawa Yuki also chimed in at the opportune moment, speaking at breakneck speed.

"Director! Absolutely feasible! Have Xiaozhu-san improvise immediately! If a suitable opportunity arises, try to steer the conversation slightly towards the mystique of our original plan, even if it's just a slight touch! If we really can't find a starting point, then abandon the original plan altogether and focus on the people! Capture everything about this Captain! His looks, his charisma, every word he utters is a ratings boost!"

"All right!"

Takakura Sho suddenly slapped his thigh, a resolute glint finally appearing in his eyes, all his previous hesitation vanishing.

"You're right! This kind of material is extremely rare! However, the saying that it only appears once every ten thousand years..."

He paused for a moment, then glanced at the screen again, as if trying to make sure he hadn't missed anything.

Director Takakura Sho's style is rather old-fashioned and pragmatic.

Human recorded history may not even be ten thousand years long.

So he thought, why not join his peers in proclaiming that this is a beauty that appears only once every few hundred or thousand years?

Producer Jinguji Aya, who had been calmly observing from the sidelines, spoke up at the opportune moment, her voice carrying an air of knowing everything.

"Director Takakura, he was without makeup. On a scale of 100, I'd give him 93-94 points. I think Mr. Shiraishi would agree with that assessment?"

She looked at Shiraishi Rin.

Shiraishi Rin nodded immediately, her tone full of certainty.

"Absolutely fair. His bone structure, skin, and temperament are all top-notch. This score is undeniable, even without makeup."

Jinguji Aya nodded slightly, then turned her gaze back to Takakura Sho and posed a crucial question.

"So, what if he makes a few tweaks, like a more suitable makeup and styling? Would it be an exaggeration to say he only appears once in a million years?"

Director Takakura Sho suddenly realized!

Yes!

This kid is completely without makeup right now!

He's already devastatingly handsome, but if he were to...

I can't even imagine what that scene would look like!

"Absolutely no exaggeration!" Takakura Sho firmly, his eyes gleaming with astonishing light. "Let's go in this direction! Kitajima, keep the title! Yuki!"

"Clear!"

Hayakawa Yuki energy. She quickly grabbed the walkie-talkie, her voice rising slightly with excitement.

"Attention all units! Target change! The key figure is the passenger in the back seat—codename 'Ball Captain'! Driver Xiaozhu, be adaptable and prioritize capturing all of Ball Captain's words and actions! The original 'Project Ghost' guidance is now a secondary option; try to get involved if there's an opportunity, otherwise abandon it! Action! Continue recording!"

The atmosphere in the control room was instantly ignited; everyone was on high alert, their eyes glued to the main screen.

Chapter 149, Chat

Twenty minutes, only twenty minutes have passed.

Kotake Tatsunori's palms were slightly sweaty as he gripped the steering wheel.

It wasn't the heat, but a different kind of indescribable fatigue and... self-doubt.

Outside the car window, the torrential rain continued to fall.

The windshield wipers swung wildly across the windshield, emitting a monotonous and rapid scraping sound, as if mocking the turmoil in his heart.

Am I really a professional actor?