Chatting (Continued)

This thought clung to him like a leech, swirling repeatedly in his mind.

Clearly!

He was clearly much older than the boy in the back seat named Tanaka Yukishin, and had more social experience and life experience!

He's a professional who's been working on film sets for years and can precisely control his expressions and lines!

But...

Why?

His conversation with Tanaka Yukishin over the past twenty minutes has indeed been "smooth."

Whatever topic he throws out—from Tokyo's weather changes to anecdotes from his student days, from future career plans to his views on current social issues—it's all there is to it.

Tanaka Yukishin always managed to catch them and respond flawlessly, with clear logic and even a sharp insight into people's hearts.

However, this "smoothness" brings only one result.

No, they are the only two.

Or, like the casual conversation about "dreams" at the beginning, his defenses were broken by the boy's seemingly casual yet earth-shattering statement about being the "President of Earth," causing this professional actor to instantly break down and burst into laughter.

Or perhaps he felt like a puppet, with the other person subtly taking control of the conversation without him even realizing it.

He tried to steer the conversation, but the boy always managed to steer the topic in a direction he neither anticipated nor could refute.

His carefully prepared lines and rhythm were rendered useless, leaving him only able to passively follow the other person's train of thought. His mind raced, yet he was still a beat behind, and in the end, he was enveloped by a deep sense of powerlessness—commonly known as being "pulled numb."

So, am I really a mature member of society and a professional actor?

Instead of a comedian like a manzai performer?

The moment that thought of self-doubt popped into his head, it was ruthlessly extinguished by Kotake Tatsunori.

I can't think about it... I can't think about it anymore!

It's working hours now!

Life as a member of society is full of hardships.

He doesn't have that much time in America to be sentimental and withdrawn.

Even if the sky falls, even if my heart is shattered into pieces, at least... not during work hours!

This reflects the awareness of a corporate slave, and even more so, the professionalism of a seasoned actor.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

Their gazes fell on the torrential rain outside the car window; it was from this rainy scene that they had started talking about the legendary "Rain Woman"...

Chance!

Kotake Tatsunori's spirits lifted.

The Rain Woman is a legendary yokai (supernatural being), isn't that a perfect starting point?

This allows for a natural transition to supernatural beings such as monsters, ghosts, spirits, and demons!

We must stay calm this time!

Let's get back to the topic!

He cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound natural and casual, with a hint of casual curiosity.

"Speaking of the Rain Woman, Tanaka -kun,"

He observed the boy's reaction through the rearview mirror. "Do you believe that monsters, ghosts, spirits, or demons really exist in this world?"

When he asked that question, Kotake Tatsunori already had the answer in mind.

Nine and a half out of ten young passengers I've encountered in the past would scoff and say, "What era are we living in? Why would anyone believe this?"

He even went over the other person's possible reactions and the lines he would use to guide them in his mind.

Tanaka Yukishin, who was in the back seat and had been gazing at the continuous rain outside the window, slowly turned her head upon hearing this.

His profile was clearly defined in the dim car lights, and his overly clear eyes looked into the rearview mirror, where they briefly met those of Kotake Tatsunori.

Then, the boy parted his thin lips slightly and clearly uttered two words.

I believe it.

"I knew young people these days wouldn't..."

Almost reflexively, with a sense of certainty that "I knew it," Kotake Tatsunori prepared to begin the script he had rehearsed countless times for "leading the unbelievers."

The brain only belatedly processes the information the other person is conveying halfway through the sentence.

He said he believes it?!

"Ah?!"

Kotake Tatsunori's voice suddenly rose an octave, like a rooster being choked, the second half of his words stuck in his throat, leaving him speechless!

He instinctively gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white.

The expression on his face froze instantly, switching from an air of certainty to a look of bewilderment and shock, as if asking, "Who am I? Where am I? What did he say?" His eyes widened in disbelief.

No way!

Not again?!

Kotake Tatsunori was roaring inside.

Are you trying to force me down the path of becoming a comedian?!

Where's the promised routine?!

It took him a full two seconds to find his voice, which was incredibly dry and strained, conveying a sense of forced collapse.

"That's... that's really strange! Most people I meet, especially young people, don't believe in these things... I never expected that you, Tanaka -kun... would actually believe in them..."

His tone was disorganized, as if he were saying, "This script is wrong."

Looking at his reflection in the mirror, which showed an expression of "worldview being shaken," Tanaka Yukishin's lips seemed to curve upwards in an extremely subtle way, so quickly that it was almost an illusion.

Then, everyone in the control room saw the boy in the back seat tilt his head slightly.

With an innocent yet slightly sly expression on his face, he spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I see... Well then, I won't believe you."

"Puff--!"

In the control room, Yamada Hayato finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing, quickly covering his mouth.

Shiraishi Rin covered his face and chuckled softly, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Onodera Mio widened.

"Huh? Huh? The captain has betrayed us?"

Kurosawa Takuma's interest grew even stronger.

???

Kotake Tatsunori felt like his brain blood vessels were about to burst!

He glanced at the back seat through the rearview mirror, his eyes wide as saucers, his face filled with indignation and a sense of utter disbelief.

Her expression changes faster than turning the pages of a book?!

I've only ever seen women's hearts as unfathomable as the bottom of the ocean, how can you, a man, be so fickle!

This job must be hellish in terms of difficulty!

Just as Kotake Tatsunori was about to burst out laughing in exasperation, Tanaka Yukishin spoke up again.

His voice remained calm, yet it possessed a strange penetrating power, instantly pulling Kotake Tatsunori back from the brink of collapse.

"Mr. Xiaozhu," the boy asked, "What do you think of the saying, 'A man is a boy until he dies'?"

The sudden change of topic caught Kotake Tatsunori off guard, but the passionate and sentimental saying, "A man is a boy until death," still resonated with him instinctively.

He composed himself, looked straight ahead again, and tried to regain his composure, replying with a touch of emotion.

"A man is a boy until he dies? I think... that's really something! It's full of that... unyielding spirit!"

"Uh-huh"

Tanaka Yukishin nodded, her tone carrying a subtle hint of understanding.

"After all, you've just been putting that into practice."

"Huh?" Kotake Tatsunori was taken aback, not understanding how this had gotten to him. "This... how do you explain it?"

"Speaking of this statement, stubbornness and a refusal to admit defeat should be considered very distinctive and defining characteristics, right?"

Tanaka Yukishin.

"If that's the case... then it's true!"

Kotake Tatsunori wholeheartedly agreed, feeling that he had finally found common ground.

"So, Mr. Xiaozhu, from the very beginning of our conversation, you've been trying to take the lead in the exchange. Even after repeated setbacks and failures, you haven't been discouraged and have persisted in trying again. Isn't this the most direct manifestation of a man's stubbornness and never-give-up spirit, a spirit that remains unchanged until death?"

Tanaka Yukishin's voice, carrying an all-knowing understanding, clearly reached Kotake Tatsunori's ears and was also transmitted to the control room through the microphone.

"Ah...?!"

Kotake Tatsunori was struck dumb!

He felt like he had been stripped naked and was standing under a spotlight!

The boy's words precisely exposed all the hidden "competitive spirit" and "stubbornness" that he himself had not even fully realized during those twenty minutes!

In that instant, a strong wave of embarrassment surged up my cheeks, burning hot.

He instinctively avoided the boy's gaze in the rearview mirror, his hands gripping the steering wheel trembling slightly.

In the control room, a chorus of suppressed gasps and gasps of shock instantly erupted!

"My God! No wonder, he saw through it all along! He completely saw through Xiao Zhusang's intentions!"

Hayakawa Yuki covered her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise.

"This insight... it's terrifying!"

Kitajima Toru slammed his fist on the table in excitement.

The audience erupted in excitement.

Yama%Kyuu Sashi 6V%III (II) Hayato Tomata exaggeratedly clutched his heart and collapsed into a chair.

"Ah! I've been seen through! The Captain's mind-reading ability has been activated! Kotake-san's manly heart has been completely exposed! This is going to be amazing!!"

Onodera Mio excitedly grabbed Yamada Hayato's arm and shook it.

"Ahhh! The captain is so handsome! He hit the nail on the head! Look at Xiaozhu's expression! Quick! Give me the microphone! I want to add a 'boom-boom!' heartbeat sound effect for him!"

Inside the car, after a brief moment of embarrassment and panic, Kotake Tatsunori's strong professionalism once again came into play.

He quickly adjusted his breathing, realizing that the most important thing now was to keep the show going!

He forced a slightly stiff but still natural smile and spoke candidly to the rearview mirror.

"Wow... you actually noticed, buddy... cough, well, it's a bit... but I can explain! As a taxi driver, I meet all sorts of people, both domestic and international. So, logically, I should be the one who can talk more, chat more, and control the conversation! But... but you always end up leading the way, so... cough, I got a little carried away and stubborn... I apologize for making you laugh."

He tried to attribute his stubbornness to professional habits, attempting to downplay the embarrassment of being seen through.

"It's okay, I understand."

Tanaka Yukishin nodded, her tone calm, as if she hadn't been the one who had just revealed the secret.

Then, changing the subject, she posed another question, cleverly steer the conversation to a deeper level.

"But since we're talking about men, Mr. Xiaozhu, what kind of words, spoken by whom, do you think would give a man the strongest sense of victory, accomplishment, and satisfaction?"

He specifically emphasized the "object" and the "sense of accomplishment" and "satisfaction".

"What kind of words... what kind of person... a sense of accomplishment... a sense of satisfaction?"

Kotake Tatsunori repeated the keywords, frowning as he pondered seriously.

This question may seem ordinary, but coming from the "captain," he dared not be negligent in the slightest.