HPDBC Chapter 177 Track Promotion, Bet Under the TV Tower
Chapter 177 Track Promotion, Bet Under the TV Tower
Chapter 177 Track Promotion, Bet Under the TV Tower
A racetrack in Saitama Prefecture.
Although the winter sun was bright, the wind was still biting.
The roar of the engine tore through the air as a modified Nissan GTR sped along the track like a red lightning bolt, its tires screeching as it rubbed against the pavement around corners.
"CUT! That was awesome!"
The director shouted through a megaphone.
This is the recording site of the fourth episode of "Kitahara Shin Can Do Anything!"
Because the ratings for the first three episodes were so phenomenal, TBS executives immediately decided to move the variety show, which was originally scheduled for late-night slots, to the prime-time Saturday afternoon slot of 1 p.m., and doubled the production budget.
This episode's theme: [Challenging Human Limits: Extreme Speed].
The guest is Rie Miyazawa.
Today she changed into a red and white racing girl outfit. The tight cut accentuated her increasingly mature figure, and her long legs trembled slightly in the cold wind, but her delicate face held an indescribable melancholy.
"What are you looking at?"
Kitahara Nobumasa, wearing racing gloves, noticed Miyazawa Rie's expression, which resembled that of a wronged wife, and couldn't help but laugh: "What's wrong? Don't you like this outfit?"
"It looks good, indeed."
Rie pulled her down jacket tighter around herself and muttered under her breath, "But President, you're being way too rude. I'm the agency's star actress, and here I am, holding up a sign for you as a race queen—"
"That's called sacrificing oneself for art."
Kitahara Shin spouted nonsense with a straight face, "And later, I'll let you sit in the passenger seat and experience what real speed and passion are all about."
"I won't sit! I'll throw up!"
Just as the two were arguing, a black Toyota Supra pulled up in front of them.
The car door opened, and a man dressed in professional racing gear stepped out.
Kei Tsuchiya City.
A famous Japanese professional race car driver, known as the "Drift King".
"Kitahara-san, I've long admired you."
Tsuchiya took off his helmet, revealing a set of white teeth. "I heard you used to practice backflips and knife throwing, but this is racing. It could kill you."
That's a very direct and arrogant statement.
But in the realm of racing, he is the absolute king.
Please give me your guidance.
Kitahara Shin smiled and shook hands.
The next segment is a solo performance by Keiichi Tsuchiya.
He showcased dazzling skills on the track: continuous S-curve drifting, low-flying, and even performed a difficult "blade overtake" (using two wheels to press on the curb to cut the inside line).
Every turn elicited gasps of surprise from the staff on site.
Rie Miyazawa was completely dumbfounded, her mouth agape in an "O" shape. The photographer very considerately shoved the lens right in her face, perfectly capturing that "shock of someone who has never seen anything like it before."
"How is it?"
Tsuchiya stopped the car and patted the steering wheel with a hint of smugness. "Kitahara-san, want to give it a try? If you think it's too dangerous, then forget it. After all, you're an actor; it wouldn't be good if you hurt your face."
This is a form of reverse psychology.
It's also a natural arrogance of professional players towards amateur players.
Kitahara Shin remained silent.
He simply put on his helmet silently and then pointed to the GTR parked next to him.
"Rie, get in the car."
"Huh?! I have to go too? No way—"
"Get in the car."
Kitahara Shin's voice was beyond question.
With no other option, Rie Miyazawa reluctantly got into the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, gripped the armrests tightly, and closed her eyes: "If I die, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"
Kitahara Shin ignored her rambling.
He gripped the steering wheel with both hands.
[Item Name: Midnight Ghost (Nissan Fairlady ZS30 Mod) Activation]
moment.
The whole world seemed to slow down in his perception. Every corner of the track, every grip point, and even the change in tire temperature were clearly presented in his mind in the form of data.
"boom!!!"
The engine roared.
GTR launch control.
Keiichi Tsuchiya had been standing on the sidelines with his arms crossed, ready to watch the spectacle unfold, but the next second, his pupils suddenly contracted at the speed of that cornering—it was too fast!
Logically speaking, entering a corner at that speed would definitely cause the engine to understeer and go off the track.
but.
Kitahara Shin did not apply the brakes.
A second before entering the curve, he suddenly turned the steering wheel in the opposite direction and pulled the handbrake, using the weight transfer to make the rear of the car swing out instantly.
This is not drifting.
This is... inertial gliding?!
Just as the car was almost gliding sideways through the apex of the corner, he precisely shifted into second gear and floored the accelerator.
The red GTR was like a wild beast out of control, yet it was held back by an invisible rope, grazing the guardrail by a millimeter as it roared out of the bend.
"This—this is impossible!"
Keiichi Tsuchiya's eyes widened.
This kind of control over the vehicle's center of gravity, this crazy back-and-forth darting on the edge of losing control, is something no ordinary person could do! This kid is insane!
Inside the car.
Rie Miyazawa could no longer make a sound.
The intense centrifugal force pressed her firmly into the seat, and the scenery outside the window became a blurry streak of light. She felt as if her soul was about to fly away.
"Hold on tight."
Kitahara Shin's voice was frighteningly calm.
Ahead lies a series of hairpin bends.
Keiichi Tsuchiya previously used the standard "outer-inner-outer" wiring here.
But Kitahara Shin chose a path that no one expected.
He drove half of the car body directly onto the inner drainage ditch.
By using the edge of the drainage ditch to wedge the tires, like a tram, the front of the vehicle was forcibly pulled into the apex of the curve.
Running in drainage ditches!
Holy crap!!
Keiichi Tsuchiya, standing on the sidelines, immediately started swearing.
This kind of thing, which only exists in comics, has actually been done in real life?!
One lap completed.
The timer stopped.
It was a full two seconds faster than Tsuchiya Keiichi's previous time.
In short track speed skating, 2 seconds is an insurmountable barrier.
"squeak--"
With a perfect drift, the GTR came to a smooth stop in front of the camera.
The car door opened.
Rie Miyazawa's legs were weak, and she practically crawled out. Her face was pale, her hair was disheveled, and her eyes were vacant, as if she had just been to hell.
The hood of the GTR was still radiating heat, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of burning tires.
Kitahara Shin removed his helmet, his black hair slightly disheveled from sweat, but this only added to his wild charm. He wore his signature, slightly playful smile as he glanced at Miyazawa Rie, whose soul seemed to have left her body, in the passenger seat.
Then, he turned to the camera lens shoved right in his face, held up one finger, and said casually, "Exciting, isn't it?"
"That drainage ditch around the bend was just an appetizer."
He paused, his eyes becoming deep and dangerous: "Next, we're going to film a TV series that's even more exciting and insane than this."
"The name is — The Flowers of Evil."
"I am the producer and lead actor, and ———"
He paused deliberately for three seconds, and only when everyone in the room held their breath did he slowly utter the name: "Yoshino Sayuri."
"ha?!"
The megaphone in the director's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".
If you didn't count the noise of the broken horn, the entire racetrack would have been deathly silent.
All the staff looked at Kitahara Shin as if he were crazy.
Sayuri Yoshinaga? That national treasure-level actress? That "Showa Goddess" who is picky about even movie scripts and almost never accepts dramas on commercial television?
You want to work with her? And you want to drag her into acting in something as ominous as "Flower of Evil"?
"It's a lie, a lie, right?!"
In the passenger seat, Rie Miyazawa was on the verge of motion sickness, her face as pale as a sheet. But the moment she heard that name, she seemed to be electrocuted, turning her head sharply and even suppressing her nausea.
"—Are you serious? Yoshinaga-sensei?! I'm going to act in that drama too?!"
Her eyes widened, her voice trembling. It was a tremor of fear and excitement. To act alongside a monster of that caliber—if you didn't fight with everything you had, you'd truly be crushed to dust!
Meanwhile, standing not far from the car, Tsuchiya Keiichi was taking off his gloves and looking at Kitahara Shin with a complicated expression.
As the "Drift King," he had just witnessed Kitahara Shin's incredible "inertia drift" combined with the "drainage ditch run." That kind of reckless maneuver sent chills down his spine, even for a professional racer like himself.
The results of it?
This guy was speeding like crazy, almost totaling his car, all for—to get a GG?!
"Holy crap—"
Keiichi Tsuchiya couldn't help but swear, shaking his head with a wry smile: "You actually risked your life to promote your new drama? Are you an actor or a madman?"
Although he complained, there was a genuine respect in his eyes when he looked at Kitahara Shin.
People who can do anything to the extreme deserve respect, no matter what field they are in.
"Cut! Perfect!!"
The director finally snapped out of his daze, his face flushed with excitement. He picked up the broken megaphone and yelled, "That take was perfect! It's definitely a scene from the year! Quick! Did you get that close-up of the drainage ditch?!"
A week later.
This episode has aired.
Blasted.
It completely exploded.
On a Saturday afternoon, families across Japan were having lunch or relaxing. When they saw a red GTR on TV seemingly defying the laws of physics as it slung over a drain and rounded a bend, countless people were so shocked they dropped their chopsticks.
"Holy crap! That's special effects, right?!"
"No! That was real footage! Even Keiichi Tsuchiya was stunned!"
"Kitahara Shinya is too versatile! He can even race cars? Is there anything he can't do?!"
However, before the audience could recover from the shock of the car chase, the final bombshell completely blew up the public opinion field.
[Sayuri Yoshinaga descends to earth! Nobu Kitahara's new drama "Flower of Evil" officially announced!]
The evening editions of major newspapers were urgently reprinted, with these words appearing on the front page as the headline.
For Japanese people of that era, Sayuri Yoshinaga was more than just an actress; she was a symbol, a "royal member" of the film industry. She actually condescended to act in a television drama, and even collaborated with Nobu Kitahara, who had just won the Best Actor award!
This "trump card" combination is practically a nuclear weapon level of deterrence.
In Tokyo, the offices of the senior executives of various television stations were trying to win over Kitahara Shin after he won the Best Actor award.
Now?
They've gone mad. They've all gone mad.
The TBS production director, staring at the ratings report, was filled with regret: "Why didn't we sign him to a long-term drama contract? Why did we only sign him to a variety show?!"
An NTV (Japan Television) executive slammed his fist on the table: "Contact Ota! No matter the cost, even if we have to clear our prime time slot, we have to snatch 'The Flower of Evil'! This is absolutely the drama of the year!"
Even NHK, which has always been at odds with Kitahara Shin, had producers secretly inquiring about the possibility of collaboration.
In the center of this enormous vortex of fame and fortune, all eyes are focused on one person.
Kitahara Shin.
But he didn't rush to respond to any of the TV stations' outrageous offers.
Because he had already chosen the battlefield.
Minato Ward, Odaiba.
The iconic spherical building of Fuji Television shimmered with golden light in the setting sun.
The conference room door was tightly closed.
The air was so tense it felt like you could wring water out of it.
At one end of the long table sat the director of production and the director of programming from Fuji Television, along with a large group of executives with solemn expressions, as if facing a formidable enemy.
On the other end, there were only two people.
Kitahara Shin, and Ota Masakazu.
Negotiations have begun.
"Kitahara-san".
The production director wiped the sweat from his brow, his tone a mix of ingratiation and probing: "Regarding the broadcasting rights for 'Flowers of Evil,' Fuji TV is extremely sincere. You can choose any prime-time slot, and we can offer 5000 million yen per episode."
This is an astronomical price.
It's worth noting that at the time, the production cost for a typical Japanese drama episode was only around 2000 million yen.
But Kitahara Shin did not show a satisfied expression.
He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic "tap, tap" sound.
Money is not a problem.
He said calmly, "I only have three requirements."
"First, I want to be the executive producer. Not just the lead actor, I want to have absolute control over this series."
"Secondly, the script is entirely overseen by Shinji Nojima, and its subject matter involves crime, the darker side of human nature, and even ethical taboos. The television station is not allowed to interfere with the content under the pretext of 'censorship'."
"Third, I have the right to choose the actors. Apart from Yoshinaga-sensei, I will use people from my agency for the other supporting roles."
The moment these three conditions were announced, the meeting room erupted in uproar.
"This—this is against the rules!"
The director of the programming department panicked. "The executive producer is usually someone from the station. And Nojima Shinji's script—you know, it's too dark. What if the sponsors complain? And the casting—using all the newcomers from your agency, that's too risky!"
This treats the television station as a mere broadcasting platform, even taking away the right to review content.
This is almost unprecedented in the history of Japanese television.
"So there's no room for negotiation?"
Kitahara Shin stood up, as if to leave, "It's alright. I think TBS or NTV would be very interested in Yoshinaga Sayuri's first drama."
"Wait a moment!!"
The production director suddenly stood up, almost knocking over his chair.
He watched Kitahara Shin's resolute back as he quickly calculated the gains and losses in his mind.
Although the conditions are harsh and the risks are enormous.
but----
That's Kitahara Shin! The monster who just achieved a 39.8% viewership rating! And then there's Yoshinaga Sayuri!
If this drama airs on another channel, Fuji TV will really have to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) as an apology.
"We agree! We agree!"
The production director gritted his teeth, as if cutting off a piece of his own flesh, and said, "But—Kitahara-san, this is an exception after all. We need a guarantee."
"Can."
Kitahara Shin stopped, turned around, and revealed a victor's smile: "Then let's sign a betting agreement."
"If the average viewership rating of 'Flower of Evil' exceeds 25%, then Fuji TV will cover all the advertising costs."
"I even want a higher percentage of the revenue from the next series."
"If it doesn't reach 25%, I won't take a penny, and I might even have to pay out of my own pocket to cover the production costs."
25%.
This is an extremely high bar for a dark-themed drama.
But Kitahara Shin downplayed it.
"make a deal."
I walked out of the Fuji Television building.
The setting sun cast long shadows of the two of them.
Ota Masakazu held the newly signed, brick-thick contract, his hands still trembling.
"President—are you really sure?"
Da Tian swallowed hard. "25%—and I have to mentor so many new people. What if—"
"There's no 'what if'."
-
Kitahara Shin gazed at the bustling Tokyo Tower in the distance, his eyes burning with ambition: "Ota, prepare to issue the announcement."
"Let all aspiring young actors know that the doors of Kitahara Agency are now open."
"in addition----"
He turned his head and glanced at Ota: "Tell Rie and Nanako to get ready."
"Hellish training is about to begin."
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