Chapter 20: 020, HALO Personal Studio, Aiming to be Master Chief

The meeting the next day was very harmonious; after all, they had cooperated well before, and the future prospects were foreseeable.

The profit split would remain at the previous 3:7 ratio. Nagayama Naoki did not demand a higher percentage just because the previous results had been good.

After all, it was already at a high level within the industry.

However, if it were a long-term advertising contract lasting one year, they could not use the previous one-off cooperation contract. This time, the main topic of discussion between Yoshimura Otomo and Nagayama Naoki was his joining the STARTLIGHT agency.

"Otomo-san, I really still don't want to limit my personal career to an agency~" Nagayama Naoki said with some difficulty. He truly did not want to join an agency; after all, once you join, you become a mere employee.

"I see, Naoki-san. The conditions at our STARTLIGHT agency are very good, and the relevant terms can be negotiated," Yoshimura Otomo tried to salvage the situation. "Personally, I do have a certain amount of authority to adjust the contract terms."

Since it was a major contract lasting over a year, if a single commercial was worth 50 million yen, the annual turnover would be at least 600 million. With such a massive deal, the agency naturally wanted to keep the model under their own control.

If he joined the agency, he would be one of their own, and they would have ten thousand ways to make him obey orders.

"Hai, I know your sincerity, Otomo-san, but I am sticking to my thoughts on this matter. As for me, I have actually never had the intention of developing a career in the entertainment industry." When negotiating business, one naturally asks for the moon and settles for the earth.

"Kuso, and yet you're already appearing on TV programs," Yoshimura Otomo thought to himself. The agency had, of course, quietly investigated Nagayama Naoki's background and knew that this young man was simply negotiating terms, so he could only grumble inwardly.

"Naoki-san, do you have certain concerns regarding the agency? Everything is negotiable. Furthermore, for large-scale business, personal income distribution can be an issue regarding taxation. If you join an agency, all these complicated matters will be handled for you."

According to Japanese customs, once one has a formal job, they are often tied to the company for a long time. Especially in the entertainment industry, agencies can be practically like criminal organizations, with countless "unspoken rules."

"Otomo-san, as for joining an agency, please forget it. If my family finds out I joined another agency, they might actually break my legs," Nagayama Naoki used the excuse of his gangster family background again.

In reality, the Yamaguchi-gumi had indeed extended its reach into the entertainment industry. As a member of a gang, if one did not join their own agency, they might even be required to cut off a finger.

However, regarding the relatives and friends of the mob, it really just depended on how good the relationship was.

But since outsiders didn't know, he could certainly borrow the prestige of that "tiger skin."

At this moment, Yoshimura Otomo remembered the scene where he had been intimidated by Nagayama Naoki before: "Ah, didn't you say last time, Naoki-san, that your family wouldn't object?"

"Ha, Otomo-san, I heard that a practice called a 'personal studio' is becoming popular abroad. One can undertake various businesses in their own name and handle tax matters accordingly." Nagayama Naoki revealed his trump card.

Personal studios were not a new concept. In Japan, they generally appeared in industries like construction or manga. In the entertainment industry, even top superstars did not have the concept of establishing a personal studio.

This was because advertisers, magazines, TV stations, and other exposure channels had been firmly controlled by major agencies for decades. Leaving an agency was equivalent to leaving the industry; without the backing of a major agency, one wouldn't even get a walk-on role, let alone business opportunities. Establishing a personal studio was essentially a dead end.

However, Nagayama Naoki's situation was somewhat special. He himself had no intention of developing in the entertainment industry, and this time the other party was practically begging him, so he could certainly make use of it.

"Arere, Naoki-san, are you planning to cooperate with us under the name of a personal studio?" This was just a replica of their last cooperation, only changing from an individual to a studio.

"Hai, I believe this method is most beneficial for future development!"

Beneficial for future development? That was a joke. After this commercial cooperation, who would give business to an obscure, unknown personal studio?

But Yoshimura Otomo clearly had no other choice. The client had set their sights on Nagayama Naoki, and in the new advertising plan, Nagayama Naoki played a very important role.

"Sou desu ne, Naoki-san, I understand. Then we shall sign the contract under the name of a personal studio." Yoshimura Otomo finally compromised.

"Then, what is the name of Naoki-san's personal studio?"

"Ah, regarding that, it hasn't been established yet. I'll need to trouble Otomo-san to help me register a shell company~"

"Arere?" You actually want us to help you register it???

Is this kind of operation even allowed?

A few days later, Nagayama Naoki's personal studio, HALO, signed a contract with the STARTLIGHT agency.

"HALO... Halo, huh? Come on, be the Master Chief, hahaha~" He was full of mischievous humor.

Thus, Nagayama Naoki met the artistic producer, Shuichi Itou, again; he was still his part-time director.

Their relationship was indeed deep!

During their discussion, Shuichi Itou explained that the entire series of commercials would consist of four parts, corresponding to the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and catering to different tastes.

It was already February, so the next soda would be cherry blossom flavored. It wasn't cherry flavor, but actual cherry blossom flavor? How novel.

Listening to Shuichi Itou's introduction of the commercial's plot...

In the cherry blossom season, two people take shelter from a light rain under the eaves of a convenience store. Beside them, cherry blossoms fall from the trees, turning into Tomimasu's cherry blossom flavored soda. This pair of strangers eventually becomes a couple. The voiceover line is: "What does a cherry blossom taste like?"

As Nagayama Naoki listened to his description, he couldn't help but drift away.

Two young strangers, sheltering from the rain under eaves, the cherry blossoms nearby, becoming a couple... it seemed to connect with something from his past. Memories flooded into his mind like a spring.

*Sakura, sakura, I want to see you, no, I want to see you right now.*

*It's okay, don't cry anymore, I am the wind, enveloping you.*

*Sakura, sakura, I want to see you, no, I want to see you right now.*

The beautiful, melancholic, yet hopeful song "Sakura ~Anata ni Deaete Yokatta~" (Cherry Blossoms, I'm Glad I Met You) began to echo in his ears, and the images from the music video he had seen surged in along with the melody.

"Naoki-kun, Nagayama-kun!" Shuichi Itou's tone was slightly dissatisfied. "Are you listening? Do you have any opinions?"

"Hai, I am listening!" Nagayama Naoki snapped back to reality.

"Sou ka, then do you have any opinions on the commercial's plot?" Shuichi Itou thought he was just being perfunctory and insisted he say something.

"Ano... Itou-san~ actually, I do have a bit of an idea." Having just remembered a song, a vague idea had formed in his mind.

(End of Chapter)