Tokyo: My Best Actor Gear List

Chapter 207 The Girl Who Accepted Her Loss at the Bet, Invited to the Cannes Film Festival

Chapter 207 The Girl Who Accepted Her Loss at the Bet, Invited to the Cannes Film Festival

After finishing recording an NHK program, Kitahara Shin drove to Chiyoda Ward in the afternoon.

This is the luxury villa he bought earlier, right next to Matsu Takako's house.

The car was parked outside the yard, and Kitahara Shin pushed open the door and went inside. As soon as he reached the entrance, he saw a busy figure inside the house.

Matsu Takako was dressed in a very simple gray tracksuit, her hair simply tied in a high ponytail. She was holding a mop, scrubbing the wooden floor like a professional cleaner. The strenuous work had made her sweat profusely; her thin cotton T-shirt was soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to her body, subtly outlining the youthful and beautiful figure of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.

Kitahara Shin stood at the door without moving.

He waited quietly for a while, until Matsu Takako stopped what she was doing, straightened up, and wiped her sweat with her hand, before he spoke.

"May I come inside?"

Matsu Takako was so focused on her work that she didn't hear the door open at all. Startled by the sound, she turned to look at Kitahara Shin and blinked.

"If you come in now, you might make the entryway I just mopped dirty. Wait a moment, I'll get a bag and put your shoes on for you, then you can come in."

After saying that, she put down the mop and ran quickly towards the storage room.

Kitahara Shin stood there, lost in thought. After a while, Matsu Takako came over with two blue plastic shoe covers and handed them to him. Kitahara Shin took them and put them on, and the two walked into the living room together.

Upon entering, Kitahara Shin was stunned by the scene inside.

All the previously unused furniture was tightly wrapped in huge, transparent plastic bags, with some places even labeled with detailed categories. On the floor in the center of the living room, there was a whole bunch of highly professional tools, including buckets, brushes of various sizes, and specialized cleaning agents.

Kitahara Shin: "Are you planning to make my house so shiny it's practically sparkling?"

Matsu Takako looked at him with some surprise.

"Isn't that your goal? And if I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it to the best of my ability. What's the point of me coming to your house to work if I just do a shoddy job?"

Kitahara Shin was speechless. He smiled helplessly.

"Then let me help you. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Matsu Takako pursed her lips and pointed to several large solid wood pieces of furniture in the corner.

"Then you can go over there and help me move those things, move them aside. I also need to clean up the dust underneath."

Come on, you're strong enough anyway.

Kitahara Shin smiled.

"it is good."

The two then immersed themselves completely in the arduous cleaning work.

Kitahara Shin's physical strength was indeed extremely formidable. Even after carrying heavy furniture for several hours, he didn't feel tired at all, and his breathing remained steady.

But Matsu Takako wasn't quite up to the task.

Even though she was an energetic young woman, after cleaning for four or five hours straight, constantly bending over, wiping, washing rags, and carrying buckets of water, she was almost exhausted.

By evening, I had finally managed to clean the entire house thoroughly.

Matsu Takako squatted on the ground, tidying up the cleaning tools. She felt completely soaked, sweat dripping down her face, her clothes clinging to her body, making her look extremely tired.

Seeing how exhausted she looked, Kitahara Shin smiled and handed her a clean towel.

Kitahara Shin: "Thank you so much for your hard work."

Matsu Takako took the towel and wiped her face. Looking at Kitahara Shin's expression, she nodded seriously.

"It's nothing. I just lost a bet, so I have to keep my promise."

Kitahara Shin looked at her.

"If you don't mind, let me treat you to a meal."

Matsu Takako looked up at him.

"What should I eat?"

She instinctively wanted to refuse. But then she thought about it and realized she had put in so much effort today, sweating profusely. If she didn't get something back from Kitahara Shin, she would feel like she was missing out. Besides, she usually wouldn't refuse a free meal.

Just then, Kitahara Shin's cell phone rang.

He answered the phone, and Akina Nakamori's voice came through the receiver.

Akina Nakamori: "What are you doing?"

Kitahara Shin answered truthfully.

"I'm cleaning the villa I just bought."

Akina Nakamori: "Then come to my place later. I have a surprise for you."

Kitahara Shin blinked. He glanced at Matsu Takako, who was standing to the side.

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Kitahara Shin looked at Matsu Takako and smiled sheepishly.

"Something urgent has come up, so I have to go now. I'll treat you to dinner another day."

Matsu Takako blinked, but didn't seem to care too much, and nodded obediently.

"Alright then. I'll go back by myself."

Kitahara Shin felt genuinely bad for having someone do all that hard work only to be stood up, and he made a mental note of the meal. He grabbed his coat, quickly went out, got into his car, and drove away.

Matsu Takako watched the Porsche drive away from the yard, then picked up the remaining cleaning tools and went back to her house next door.

Just then, her mother, Noriko Fujima, had prepared dinner.

Matsu Takako first took a refreshing shower in the bathroom, changed into dry clothes, and then sat down in the dining room.

But she seemed a little lost in thought while eating.

Her mind kept replaying the expression on Kitahara Shin's face when he answered that phone call. It was a look that was clearly different from usual, very gentle, the kind of look that only comes from someone who is truly focused on the other person.

What kind of person could make him make that kind of expression?

Matsu Takako ate a few bites of rice absentmindedly, then put down her chopsticks.

She looked at her parents.

"I'm full. I'm going upstairs to rest now."

After saying that, she got up and walked towards the stairs.

Matsumoto Koshiro and Fujima Noriko were both puzzled as they looked at the barely touched food in their daughter's bowl. How could she have eaten so little after a whole afternoon of heavy physical labor?

Matsu Takako returned to her room and closed the door.

She went straight to her desk, turned on her computer, and began searching online for various news and gossip related to Kitahara Shin.

In fact, she had previously witnessed Rie Miyazawa secretly kissing Shin Kitahara on the set of "Flower of Evil," and had also heard some rumors about his womanizing within the industry.

But at this moment, she just couldn't help wanting to know more.

Even she herself couldn't understand where this sudden, intense curiosity came from.

Meanwhile, inside a luxury apartment in downtown Tokyo.

As soon as Akina Nakamori hung up the phone, Rie Miyazawa, who was sitting on the other side of the sofa, couldn't help but come over.

"Akina-nee, what did he say he was doing?"

Akina Nakamori: "He said he was cleaning the newly purchased house."

Rie Miyazawa snorted coldly, curled her lip, and her face was full of disbelief.

"Akina-nee, I suggest you keep a close eye on him. He's definitely keeping a mistress."

Nanako Matsushima, who was helping to tidy up the coffee table, stopped what she was doing and looked puzzled.

"Rie, how did you figure that out?"

Akina Nakamori smiled.

"Rie's intuition is sharper than any of ours. But it's definitely a bit unusual. She's usually so busy, why would she suddenly go out and clean the house herself?"

Izumi Sakai sat on the single sofa, listening to the three women's analysis, her feelings somewhat complicated. She couldn't help but speak up for Shin Kitahara.

"Maybe he just wants to go there and set it up himself. After all, even if you hire someone to clean, you still need to oversee the furniture placement and room layout yourself."

Rie Miyazawa shook her head, looking disappointed in her.

"Sister Quanshui, you're being too naive, that's why he can easily bully you."

Izumi Sakai weakly retorted.

"But—Shin-kun has never bullied me."

Akina Nakamori smiled and waved her hand, interrupting their usual bickering.

"Alright, alright, that's enough for you guys. Go and bring out the dishes we've prepared and set them out so he can come over and eat together."

""

Watching the women get up and head to the kitchen to get busy, Akina Nakamori leaned back on the sofa and slowly began to experience a long-lost joy of interacting with people.

Although the time spent alone with Kitahara Shin was wonderful, his current career expansion meant he was busier than most people could imagine. He would often be on set for half a month at a time and wouldn't see her. Even though he tried his best to make time for her, the time they actually spent together was still relatively limited.

On the contrary, Akina Nakamori and Izumi Sakai have more flexible schedules. As singers, their work mainly involves recording variety shows, holding concerts, participating in offline events, or recording new songs in the studio, leaving them with plenty of free time.

Akina Nakamori knew very well that she had passed her peak of popularity. Although her comeback had brought back a lot of buzz, the entertainment industry is extremely cruel, and lasting success always depends on producing high-quality work. If it weren't for Shin Kitahara consistently providing her with those excellent songs that drove the market crazy, she would probably have already started her decline.

Because she spends so little time with Kitahara Shin, Nakamori Akina values ​​her friendships with her close female friends even more.

She found that everyone was actually very considerate.

Needless to say, Izumi Sakai and Nanako are already inseparable best friends. Nanako has always maintained great respect for her and remained well-behaved. As for Rie Miyazawa, although she always speaks with a touch of arrogance, she also holds her in high esteem.

When Rie was deeply mired in her family troubles, it was Kitahara Shin who pushed her to come to him, and he, as someone who had been through similar experiences, gave her a long period of advice. Their experiences were remarkably similar; both had been exploited and manipulated by their relatives. After completely severing those toxic family ties, they cherished this somewhat strange, yet genuinely existing friendship even more.

After waiting a while, the sound of the door opening came from the entrance hall.

Kitahara Shin pushed open the door and walked in. He had just changed his shoes and looked up when he saw his four female confidantes sitting in a row in the living room.

He blinked, a subtle sense of tension rising within him.

Kitahara Shin: "Is today some kind of special day?"

-

The four women looked at him at the same time, all with smiles on their faces.

Akina Nakamori: "What do you think? Why don't you guess?"

Kitahara Shin stood there, lost in thought. His mind raced, going through all four people's birthdays, only to find the dates didn't match. What day was it?

Seeing him standing there, deep in thought and looking completely serious, the four women finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Rie Miyazawa: "Alright, alright, I was just teasing you. We just happened to all have some free time today, so we got together for a meal. Come on over and eat."

Akina Nakamori stood up and walked to Shin Kitahara. She naturally took his hand, pulled him to the dining table, and sat him down in the center seat.

Akina Nakamori: "Today, each of us made a dish ourselves. You can taste them, then tell us who made which dish, and then decide who made the best one."

Seeing Akina Nakamori's unusually playful demeanor, Kitahara Shin finally relaxed.

He smiled slightly.

Kitahara Shin: "Okay, I'll try it."

At first glance, the gathering resembled a treacherous banquet, but once seated, it turned out to be a warm and inviting family dinner.

After dinner.

Nanako Matsushima and Rie Miyazawa took the initiative to clear the dishes and went into the kitchen to wash them.

Izumi Sakai sat on a single sofa in the living room, picked up a wooden guitar, and gently plucked the strings, playing a soft and relaxing melody.

Kitahara Nobu and Nakamori Akina went to the balcony.

A cool night breeze blew. Kitahara Shin had expected a round of subtle questioning tonight, but the dinner turned out to be unusually pleasant. He knew very well that bringing these women together and ensuring they had a harmonious family dinner without any conflict required immense tolerance and courage. It was clear that Akina was subtly guiding and accommodating them.

Kitahara Shin looked at Akina's fair and beautiful profile, reached out and gently stroked her cheek.

Kitahara Shin: "Anyway, thank you so much."

Akina Nakamori turned her head and smiled slightly at him.

Akina Nakamori: "What's wrong?"

Kitahara Shin shook his head, about to say something. Akina raised her hand and gently pressed a finger against his lips.

She turned to look at the night view outside the window. Recalling the betrayals and despair she had experienced before, and comparing them to the peace and tranquility she had now, it felt like a lifetime ago. Looking at the people in the room, she occasionally felt a little jealous, but more than anything, she felt grateful for the life she had now.

Thanks to the [Ring of Life] that Kitahara Shin had secretly equipped her with, Akina's physical functions were excellent, and her aging process was greatly slowed down. Although she was already twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, she looked like she was only in her early twenties.

Akina withdrew her finger.

Akina Nakamori: "There's really no need to say anything else. However, I still have a wish."

Kitahara Shin quickly pressed for more information.

Kitahara Shin: "What is your wish?"

Akina Nakamori chuckled softly.

"There's no rush. It's okay, I can wait a few more years."

Kitahara Shin was completely bewildered and had no idea what was going on.

Akina didn't explain. She turned around, took a step forward, and gently hugged Kitahara Shin, burying her head in his broad, warm chest.

Inside, the sound of a guitar strumming against the spring water flowed in like a gentle stream. Akina closed her eyes and, in time with the soft guitar melody, softly hummed a song in Kitahara Shin's arms.

The cozy night has passed.

The next morning, as soon as Kitahara Shin arrived at the company, Ota Shoichi rushed into the president's office with a bright red face, clutching a transoceanic fax.

Kikujiro's Summer has been officially selected for the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

In addition to inviting director Takeshi Kitano, the organizing committee made an exception and specially noted on the fax: "Please be sure to invite Mr. Nobuki Kitahara, the film's first screenwriter, to attend as well."

In the Japanese film industry of the 1990s, the Cannes Film Festival was an absolute pinnacle, its prestige irreplaceable. If we were to rank the international standing of Japanese directors and screenwriters:

At the very top of the pyramid are legendary figures like Akira Kurosawa (Kagemusha) and Shohei Imamura (The Ballad of Narayama), who have won the Palme d'Or, the highest honor at Cannes.

The second tier consists of film masters who are nominated for the Cannes main competition and recognized by international film critics.

The third tier consists of domestic commercial film directors who wield considerable influence and win local Academy Awards.

Many renowned local directors have spent their entire careers making films without ever even touching the Cannes red carpet. But with just this nomination invitation, Kitahara Shin has directly stepped into the second tier of "masters."

This invitation was of great significance to him.

This time, he went to France not with a "passport" for being an "actor," but with proof of his status as a "core creator." In the entertainment industry, where the hierarchy of contempt is extremely strict, this directly helped him shed the remaining "idol star" image, allowing him to completely leap into the giant class recognized by both capital and art.

Kitahara Shin placed the fax on the table.

The landline on the table rang.

Kitahara Shin pressed the speakerphone button.

Takeshi Kitano: "Did you receive the fax? Those old French guys on the organizing committee have pretty good taste."

Although his tone still carried that carefree, roguish air of a middle-aged rogue, the excitement and joy in his voice were impossible to hide. This was the first time Takeshi Kitano had truly received recognition on the highest stage of the three major European film festivals.

Kitahara Shin smiled.

Kitahara Shin: "Congratulations, Director Kitano."

Takeshi Kitano: "Stop being so polite. You're the lead screenwriter this time; your name is printed bigger than mine on the invitation. Clean up your mess back home, and as usual, I'll send a car to pick you up on the day you leave."

Kitahara Shin: "Okay. See you at the airport."

After hanging up the phone, Kitahara Shin looked out the window.

He knew perfectly well that once the official Cannes invitation was published in the domestic news, the entire Japanese film and television industry would be shaken to its core. Those once high and mighty, self-proclaimed orthodox academics and traditional capitalists would be collectively silenced.