booktalesy Chapter 217 The Brilliance of the New Year's Eve, the Retreat of the Battlefield
Chapter 217 The Brilliance of the New Year's Eve, the Retreat of the Battlefield
Chapter 217 The Brilliance of the New Year's Eve, the Retreat of the Battlefield
The last day of 1993 was New Year's Eve.
The atmosphere in the backstage dressing room of the NHK Red and White Song Festival was tense yet exciting.
Because the Japanese Drama Academy Awards ceremony was moved slightly earlier this year as an exception, Akina Nakamori and Izumi Sakai, who were waiting backstage, were able to see Nobu Kitahara's extremely arrogant speech at the awards ceremony through the TV in the dressing room.
The award-winning news went viral across the internet.
Looking at the arrogant man with a side parting on the screen, the two top divas couldn't help but start teasing each other.
"Seriously, it seems like Shin-kun is getting younger and younger, and has more and more of that arrogant drive as he gets older," Nakamori Akina chuckled, covering her mouth, but her eyes were full of undisguised admiration. "Although I don't dislike him. After all, when he pulled me out of the mire, he had this same unreasonable drive. If he hadn't pushed me, I probably wouldn't have gotten to that point by now."
Sitting next to her, Izumi Sakai nodded in agreement, softly echoing, "Yes. Although Shin-kun usually seems very gentle when he's with us, he can be quite tough in certain situations."
Upon hearing this, Nakamori Akina suddenly turned her head, looking at her with a mischievous glint in her eyes, like a little girl who had discovered a new continent, and drawled out her laughter, "Oh? Very hard in certain places? Izumi, what do you mean—in which aspect?"
Sakai Izumi was stunned for a moment, then realized the implied meaning in Akina's words, and her cool, fair cheeks instantly turned bright red.
"Akina-nee! Stop teasing me, I—I didn't mean anything else!" Izumi waved her hand in a fluster, her neck turning pink with embarrassment.
Seeing her innocent and adorable appearance, Akina couldn't help but laugh out loud. But as she laughed, her eyes gradually became distant and sentimental. She gently shook her head and sighed, "Actually—originally, my idea was that in another year or two, I should officially retire."
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Upon hearing this bombshell, Izumi froze, staring at her incredulously: "Wait? Really? Akina-nee is retiring?"
"Yes." Akina nodded with a smile, her tone revealing a sense of relief after going through many trials. "In the past few years, I have experienced too many things, and I have given everything and all my talents to the stage without reservation. I always feel that I may not be able to produce any particularly amazing works in the future, and I really don't want to grow old on the stage and disappoint the fans who have always supported me."
At this point, Akina's gaze returned to Kitahara Shin on the television screen, before she looked tenderly at Izumi beside her.
"But now, seeing how driven Shin-kun is, seeing your pure love for music—I'm thinking, maybe I can also try harder?"
Izumi Sakai looked at Akina and smiled earnestly and firmly, "I think you can definitely do it, Akina-nee! There are still so many people who want to keep listening to your singing."
Looking into the clear, bright eyes of the spring, Akina couldn't help but sigh, reaching out to pinch her cheek: "However, in this respect, I still can't compare to you. You are truly pure to the core."
This is indeed the case.
Since becoming a sensation and dominating the Oricon charts, Izumi Sakai's life has remained almost unchanged.
Anyone who has gained such immense fame and fortune would have their lifestyle and consumption habits changed to some extent.
But the spring water lives like an ascetic.
Unless there's an occasion where she absolutely has to wear a beautiful dress to meet Kitahara Shin, her usual attire in private is always faded jeans paired with an oversized denim jacket. Occasionally, she'll wear a skirt, but it's always in an extremely simple style.
She was completely unfussy about food, readily enjoying even the cheap bento boxes from the film crew. If Akina hadn't constantly dragged her to experience Tokyo's various expensive high-end Western restaurants, she probably would never have even seen those top-quality ingredients. As for jewelry, luxury handbags, she had absolutely no interest in them.
Her only hobby is driving, but she doesn't want to buy any flashy luxury cars, feeling that would be a waste. The car she drives every day is still the old, secondhand car that Kitahara Shin personally repaired for her.
Aside from that, she immerses herself in the world of music. When she has free time, she likes to sit on the balcony of her apartment, or find a quiet park, sit on a bench, feel nature, and enjoy the breeze. Afterward, she'll go back, pick up her guitar, play some music, and write some songs.
They live freely, without any worries, just like the wind.
It is precisely because Izumi has such a carefree and easygoing personality that Akina can get along with her so closely and happily. Because Izumi really has no aggression or competitive spirit, being around her makes people feel relaxed like never before.
Akina reached out and gently took Izumi's hand, saying sincerely, "Nobu-kun taught me how to bravely face the world, but Izumi, you taught me how to relax. Thank you so much."
Izumi blinked, grasped Akina's hand in return, and gave her an incredibly warm smile.
Shortly after, the two women changed into their gorgeous performance outfits and, under the watchful eyes of audiences all over Japan, took to the stage of the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen together, occupying a very late, core headlining position.
Kitahara Shin, who could have been comfortably watching the performance in the VIP room, was instead wearing a hat and mingling in the crowded audience.
As these two stunningly beautiful songstresses walked onto the stage, Kitahara Shinya, like any ordinary enthusiastic fan, stood up and waved his glow stick, cheering them on loudly.
On stage, Izumi and Akina exchanged a glance as they rehearsed their positions. When their eyes swept across the audience and precisely caught Kitahara Shin, who was bouncing around in the crowd, the two divas couldn't help but burst out laughing for half a second.
Then, the melody began. They started their divine duet, "The Invisible Vow," which they had co-written.
Following that, they each performed a medley of several chart-topping classic tracks. Their perfect vocals and impeccable dance—
His stage presence completely ignited the entire Red and White Song Festival, making this moment of transition from 1993 to 1994 incredibly special and dazzling.
After the performance, the two divas returned to their backstage dressing room.
Kitahara Shinya had already arrived through the staff entrance. Upon seeing him, he smiled and clapped, "You two were fantastic tonight! Your performance was as consistently excellent as ever; you stole the show!"
As Akina removed her earrings, she gave him a playful glare: "Why did you go to the audience to join in the fun? You didn't even tell us beforehand! And you were jumping around way too much just now. I saw you bump into the back of that old man in the row in front of me from the stage."
Kitahara Shin laughed and said shamelessly, "It's okay, it's okay. I apologized to that person in front, and he has forgiven me because I'm a huge fan of yours."
Seeing Kitahara Shin's unusually silly expression, the two women exchanged a glance and couldn't help but chuckle.
"What are your plans for the future? Where are you going to celebrate the New Year?" Akina asked casually as she straightened her clothes.
Kitahara Shin shrugged: "I'm fine with anything. It's up to you guys. You can go wherever you want."
Upon hearing this, Akina didn't make the decision herself, but instead gestured with her eyes to the nearby spring, indicating that she should speak first.
Izumi Sakai blinked and gently pursed her lips. She seemed to hesitate for a long time, going through a fierce internal struggle, before finally blushing and mustering the courage to ask softly, "Then—can we go to your house?"
Kitahara Shin paused for a moment, then his eyes softened, and he nodded with a smile: "Of course."
Half an hour later, the three of them returned together to Kitahara Shin's luxurious high-rise apartment in the city center.
It's worth mentioning here that many people might traditionally think of detached villas as more luxurious. However, in places like Tokyo where land is incredibly expensive, what truly showcases top-tier wealth and status are high-rise penthouse apartments in prime locations with extremely tight security.
Kitahara Shin's apartment, which fetched a staggering 2 billion yen during the peak of the bubble economy, is a superb luxury residence offering unobstructed views of the entire Tokyo Tower skyline at night. He usually stays in an apartment near his company due to his busy work schedule, and hasn't been back to this place in a long time.
However, the moment Kitahara Shin took out the key and opened the door, all three of them froze on the spot.
The spacious living room was brightly lit. And on the sofa, dressed in silk pajamas, snacking and watching New Year's Eve entertainment, were none other than Rie Miyazawa and Nanako Matsushima!
The scene instantly fell into a deathly silence.
"What are you doing here?" Kitahara Shin blinked and asked in surprise.
Rie Miyazawa stood up from the sofa, straightened the hem of her pajamas, and replied with utter righteous indignation, "Why can't I be here? Didn't you say before that we could use any room in this apartment? My relationship with Nanako..."
We happened to be studying acting techniques for the same film, so to make it easier to exchange ideas, I decided to move in for a few days. What's up?
She feigned innocence and glanced at Akina and Izumi behind Kitahara Shin: "Oh my, did you two just come back from the Kohaku Uta Gassen? Nanako and I just listened to your performance on TV, it was so beautiful."
Kitahara Shin stood at the door, his lips twitching slightly.
What kind of dedication to honing acting skills is this?! That excuse is so lame.
Even a fool could tell that those two guys were definitely doing it on purpose!
It's highly likely that the idea came from Rie Miyazawa, that cunning little fox, who then dragged along the seemingly obedient but actually ruthless Nanako Matsushima to carry it out.
What was supposed to be a heartwarming "three-person" New Year's Eve celebration was turned into a chaotic scene involving five people.
Kitahara Shin felt a bit of a headache, but he was thick-skinned and thought that since they were all family, he could just sleep in the guest room tonight, it didn't matter.
However, at this time, Akina Nakamori changed her usual gentle older sister demeanor.
She wasn't angry. She simply changed into her slippers, walked calmly forward, smiled at Rie Miyazawa and Nanako Matsushima, and said in an unquestionable tone, "Rie, Nanako, could you two come with me for a moment? I have something I'd like to talk to you about privately."
Upon hearing this, Rie Miyazawa's smile froze for a moment, and Nanako Matsushima blinked, her eyes flickering.
However, under the overwhelming aura of Akina, who was the "official wife" and a senior figure in the music industry, the two eventually followed her obediently into a bedroom next door and closed the door with a "click".
Only Kitahara Shin and Sakai Izumi remained in the living room.
Kitahara Shin glanced at the closed door, then turned to look at Izumi, who stood somewhat awkwardly to the side. He smiled and walked over, reaching out to gently squeeze Izumi's soft palm.
Spring blushed slightly at his sudden act of intimacy, her watery eyes looking at him timidly.
Kitahara Shin feigned ignorance, leaning close to her ear and whispering, "What do you think those three will talk about when they go in?"
"I...I don't know—" Quanshui lowered her head shyly, her voice as soft and sweet as cotton candy.
Seeing her like this, Kitahara Shin found it extremely amusing. Even though their relationship was already incredibly close, whenever Izumi was alone with him, she always acted like a shy, lovestruck young girl. This most genuine and pure reaction was an ultimate emotional value that no other woman could provide.
Kitahara Shin, unusually, felt a slight urge to tease. He lowered his head slightly, his warm breath brushing against Izumi's ear, and whispered, "So tell me—if I kissed you right here, would they come out and see?"
Izumi shuddered, abruptly raising her head, her eyes darting around in a panic, her breathing erratic with tension. But despite this, her instinctive reaction wasn't to push Kitahara Shin away, but rather to obediently close her eyes.
Meanwhile, inside the room.
Akina didn't get angry; instead, she looked at Rie Miyazawa and Nanako Matsushima with utmost honesty.
"I know that as everyone becomes more popular, more friction and conflict may inevitably arise in our lives." Akina's voice was calm yet firm. "I won't hypocritically say that I'll avoid these conflicts; let's all rely on our own abilities. However—"
Her gaze instantly turned extremely authoritative: "I hope that tonight, both of you can back down and give way to me. At the very least, don't interfere with my time to talk with Xin Jun tonight."
Rie Miyazawa blinked, forcing a calm expression as she explained, "Akina-nee, I didn't mean to stop you. I was really just discussing acting with Nanako here. What I mean is—we have a long road ahead of us, we'll all be working at the company from now on, there's no need to hold a grudge over something as small as tonight, don't you think?"
Looking at Rie Miyazawa's beautiful, defiant face, Akina finally understood the girl's true thoughts. She smiled and said, "Of course. However, I also know that in this industry, there are some things that we might never get if we don't actively strive for them."
She paused, then offered her bargaining chip: "Consider this a favor I owe you. If you can give me the space tonight—"
Give it to me and the spring water, and I'll repay you next time. Is that alright?
Nanako Matsushima, who had been standing silently to the side, adjusted her glasses and suddenly spoke up decisively: "I agree. I'll be going now."
Rie Miyazawa froze, watching Nanako turn to grab her bag. She quickly grabbed her hand and, in a low, furious voice, yelled, "You traitor! How could you just leave like that? Didn't we agree—"
Nanako Matsushima turned to look at Rie Miyazawa, her eyes filled with seriousness and rationality as she advised, "Rie, don't push people too hard, and don't be too greedy. Akina-nee has been very kind to us at the company. Today is New Year's Eve, and we should respect the order of arrival. There's no need for us to make things unpleasant for everyone at this time."
Hearing Nanako's insightful words, Akina looked at her with a hint of admiration in her eyes, and nodded with a smile.
Then, the door was opened.
When Rie Miyazawa and Nanako Matsushima came out of the room, they saw Shin Kitahara holding Izumi's hand. The two were sitting on the sofa, watching the New Year's Eve program on TV as if nothing was wrong. However, Izumi's face was as red as a ripe apple.
Rie Miyazawa watched this scene, holding back her emotions for a long time, before finally letting out a sullen hum: "Then Nanako and I will be leaving first. You guys—have fun!"
Kitahara Shin blinked and waved to them very naturally: "Take care on the road, and Happy New Year!"
With a bang, the large, luxurious apartment was now empty except for Akina, Izumi, and Kitahara Shin.
The three of them exchanged glances, understanding the unspoken understanding in each other's eyes.
Akina stretched lazily, revealing her incredibly alluring curves. She turned to look at Kitahara Shin, her eyes sparkling. "Alright, everyone's gone. It's getting late, Shin-kun, let's take a bath and go to bed."
Kitahara Shin smiled and nodded, stepped forward, gently hugged Akina from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and whispered in her ear, "Thank you."
He knew that if Akina hadn't stepped in and dealt with those two troublesome little devils, tonight would definitely have been a very unsettling New Year's Eve.
Feeling the warmth of the man's embrace, Akina's ears turned slightly red. She turned her head and said, half reproachfully and half spoiledly, "What can I do? Who told me to run into such a troublesome nemesis like you?"
It's clear that they're going to finish what they were doing tonight.
The scene shifts to the other side of Tokyo.
Rie Miyazawa and Nanako Matsushima returned to Rie's apartment.
As soon as she entered, Rie Miyazawa angrily kicked off her shoes, took a bottle of red wine from the wine cabinet, poured a full glass, and prepared to drown her sorrows in alcohol.
Nanako Matsushima quickly went over and stopped her from pouring the wine, saying helplessly, "Alright, alright, it's New Year's, you don't have to be this angry, do you?"
Rie Miyazawa turned her head, staring at her with a mixture of frustration and resentment: "Aren't you even a little bit frustrated? We arrived at the apartment first!"
Nanako sat down on the sofa and shrugged nonchalantly. "What do I have to be upset about? Besides, it's just that Rie was too greedy. These things are all about first come, first served. Akina-nee and Izumi-nee just finished their New Year's Eve performance; they're in their most excited moments. If we were to interfere now, wouldn't we just be asking for trouble?"
After being bluntly scolded by Nanako, Rie Miyazawa was speechless for a long time, her face turning red, but she couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
She could only sullenly pick up her wine glass, take a big gulp, and then sit cross-legged on the carpet, glaring angrily at the television screen.
To prevent her from getting completely drunk, Nanako had no choice but to sit beside her and watch the boring New Year's Eve late-night show with her.
at the same time.
Outside a traditional shrine in Tokyo.
Having just completed her Hatsumode (first visit to a shrine in the new year), Matsu Takako, wrapped in a thick scarf, was walking home with her parents.
The cold wind blew on her face in the early morning, but she felt unusually clear-headed.
Recalling the Kohaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Song Battle) she watched on TV tonight, and the dazzling, arrogant presence of Akina Nakamori and Izumi Sakai on stage, a strong longing suddenly welled up deep within Takako Matsu's heart.
She looked up at the fine snow falling from the night sky.
Will I be able to become like them someday in the future? Will I be able to become a shining star on stage, representing an entire era?
If we just follow that arrogant yet omnipotent boss—perhaps all of this really isn't a dream.
Thinking of this, the sixteen-year-old young lady from a prestigious family had boundless expectations for the future in her eyes, and her steps became lighter.
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