Chapter 6: 006, An Unexpected Encounter with a Little Fatty Vegetable

Chapter 6: 006, A Chance Encounter with a Little Chubby Vegetable~

The hallmark of the Showa era was the use of cash. After signing the contract, Sanwa Taisei took 10 million yen in cash out of the finance office, packed it into a kraft paper envelope, and handed it directly to Naoki Nagayama.

After a hearty meal at a high-end restaurant, Naoki Nagayama, carrying a large sum of money, returned to the Makino family’s small house, and his heart finally began to settle.

The money had come too easily, making it hard for someone who had spent two previous lifetimes as a diligent worker to believe. Naoki Nagayama opened the kraft paper envelope again, placed the 10 million yen on the low table, and picked up one of the bills. On this 10,000-yen note, it wasn't Yukichi Fukuzawa, as it would be in the future, but Prince Shotoku.

Looking at the stern Prince Shotoku on the paper and thinking of the various ways to get rich in the future, Naoki Nagayama chuckled: "Please continue to look after me, Your Highness."

What should one do after making money? Spend it?

Having earned his first pot of gold, Naoki Nagayama’s first choice upon returning to his room was to take a beautiful nap.

Although he had confidence in himself, Naoki-san, who had just transmigrated, was actually quite worried about falling into the predicament where "a single penny can stump a hero."

At the very least, until he had saved up enough for the end-of-the-month rent, he was still occasionally worried that Mrs. Makino might suddenly ask, "Naoki-san, it’s time to pay the rent!"

Waking up from his nap, he was once again an energetic young man.

Naoki Nagayama went straight to knock on Genta Nakai’s door. After spending some time together, the two had gone from acquaintances to friends. Unsurprisingly, this graduate was still enjoying the decadent life between graduation and starting his new job.

"Didn't you go for any company interviews, Genta-san?"

"I went yesterday. There was a dinner at a high-end restaurant in the evening, and then we went dancing at a disco in Roppongi," Genta Nakai said, not without pride. "Taking a day off today~"

"So impressive! As expected of a top student from Hitotsubashi University, Genta-san!" Naoki Nagayama played the role of the supportive sidekick perfectly. "How much 'gift money' did you get?"

Genta Nakai raised his eyebrows and replied with a smile: "200,000 yen!"

People really are different! After working hard for over a week and stealing future materials to produce a single, the copyright only sold for 10 million yen—it wasn't even as good as this guy going to a few more interviews!

Although he knew that his future royalty income would far exceed this figure, he still felt a small blow at the moment.

"Truly amazing, Genta-san!"

"Haha, right?" Genta said as he led Naoki Nagayama into his room. "How is your single doing, Naoki-san?"

"It’s already sold! After receiving the payment, I wanted to invite you and Suzumi-san out for a meal," Naoki Nagayama explained his intention. "I wonder if you and Suzumi-san are free~"

"No need to be so extravagant, Naoki-san." Genta Nakai knew Naoki Nagayama’s financial situation. "Suzumi-san and I only helped out because we were curious about your experience~"

"Hahaha, I know, but this is my way of showing appreciation. I troubled you both so much before." Naoki Nagayama showed a hint of happiness. "The copyright for 'Cherry Blossom' sold for 10 million!"

Hearing this, Genta Nakai exclaimed: "Sugoi! 10 million! I'm so jealous~ You’re rich now, Naoki-san!"

Though he said that, there wasn't a hint of jealousy in his eyes. "Then we must have a great meal!"

He turned and walked toward the landline to contact Suzumi Hoshino.

As expected, for these top students from prestigious universities, 10 million was probably just the equivalent of a few extra interviews.

When young people make money and celebrate, they naturally go to Roppongi in Minato!

In the end, Genta Nakai and Suzumi Hoshino took Naoki Nagayama to a dance hall in Roppongi. It was already evening when they arrived; it wasn't very crowded yet, and warm-up music was playing on the stage.

The three found a booth a bit further from the dance floor and ordered some snacks. They were quite expensive and tasted average, but they were paying for the atmosphere.

During this time, Suzumi Hoshino kept pestering Naoki Nagayama with questions; she was very curious about everything at the Sun Music agency!

"I didn't see Seiko-san; she was very busy," Naoki Nagayama had to reply. "I only met the manager in charge of some of the agency's affairs."

"Did you get any signed records? Any merchandise?"

"No," Naoki Nagayama felt a bit of a headache; fans were indeed hard to deal with. "But if the song is officially released, they should send over some samples. I'll give you one then!"

"That would be great! If it has Prince Seiko’s autograph, that would be even better~"

*Sigh*... A woman who is never satisfied.

As they chatted, more people arrived, and the music began to grow louder. People were already starting to sway their bodies to the beat on the dance floor.

Come to think of it, Naoki Nagayama had been to a few bars in his past life, but this was his first time in a Showa-era dance hall. Looking at everything in the venue, he felt a sense of novelty, as if he were in a foreign land.

It was just a pity that Naoki Nagayama, who was not yet 20, couldn't drink. He could only watch as Genta Nakai and Suzumi Hoshino’s faces grew redder and their conversation grew merrier.

At some point, the dance hall became more crowded, and people on the dance floor began to follow the lead dancer. It wasn't quite like the discos that would become popular later; there was actually a lead dancer on the floor, performing a dance that seemed very popular but which Naoki Nagayama knew nothing about.

Genta Nakai and Suzumi Hoshino looked like they were having a great time, their eyes meeting and their smiles blooming like flowers. Poor Naoki Nagayama could only silently eat "dog food" in the booth. He had paid for the tickets, he had paid for the booth, he couldn't drink the alcohol, and he didn't know how to dance.

After another song ended and the crowd dispersed to rest, he unexpectedly saw Suzumi Hoshino and two or three other girls being cornered by a few rowdy young men. From afar, he could hear the characteristic tongue-clicking—it seemed to be another major feature of the Showa era: Yakuza.

Genta Nakai’s face turned red with anger, and he stood in front of Suzumi Hoshino. Naoki Nagayama also rushed over immediately.

Upon closer inspection, this group of Yakuza were complete fakes. They were just a bunch of young punks looking for trouble, dressed in flashy, hippie-like clothes. Naoki Nagayama had impressions of his grandfather in his memory; real Yakuza wouldn't look like that, let alone the fact that these people were clean and didn't have a single tattoo!

Naoki Nagayama felt even less intimidated. He immediately stepped in front of Suzumi Hoshino and, incidentally, blocked the other girls behind him as well. "What do you guys think you're doing!"

The group replied in a messy, incoherent way: "What's the problem? We just want to make friends with the little ladies~" "Onore~ You want to die?" "Kora yarou!" "Baka yarou!" "Kime..." They were clearly a bit too drunk.

Facing these drunks, Naoki Nagayama pushed aside the people surrounding them and scolded, "You bastards, sober up! If you're drunk, go home and find your mothers!"

Genta Nakai also chimed in from the side: "That's right, you bastards, go home and find your mothers!"

What he got in return were more messy insults: "Teeme (you bastard)!" "Bukkoroshite yarou (I'll kill you)!"

Naoki Nagayama wasn't afraid of the situation escalating or being beaten up. Anyone who had watched *Young and Dangerous* knew that in the Showa era, if you could open a dance hall in Roppongi, how could the boss not have gang connections? It was either their own property or they had paid protection money.

Within a minute or two, a waiter arrived, flanked by a burly man in a floral shirt. A fierce tattoo was visible on his open chest. Upon arriving, he didn't say a word; he slapped the youths across the face, extinguishing their fire immediately, followed by an even more menacing tongue-click.

Afterward, the burly man led the young men out. They looked like quails, having lost all their previous arrogance.

The dance hall manager stayed behind, bowed to the onlookers, told everyone that it was just a small incident that had been resolved, hoped everyone would continue to have a good time, and signaled for the band to start playing again.

Then he bowed to Naoki Nagayama and his group. "Sumimasen, I am very sorry for the poor management that caused such an unpleasant experience for our customers!"

"The dance hall has prepared a booth on the second floor and some small gifts for you all, hoping to make up for the joy you lost~ Please, this way~" He began to lead the way.

A dance hall that could operate in Roppongi was indeed very smooth in its dealings.

Naoki Nagayama, of course, had no objections. Genta Nakai, Suzumi Hoshino, and the four girls who had been with them also followed. The manager clearly took them all for friends.

Once they reached the booth on the second floor, the noisy music suddenly felt a bit further away. It was indeed a better spot. The manager had the waiters bring a series of drinks, and thoughtfully prepared juice for those who couldn't drink alcohol. Such attention to detail...

After everyone sat down, they discovered that the four girls were clearly a family; the two older ones looked a bit more mature, perhaps bringing their younger sisters out to play?

The girl who looked the oldest said to Genta Nakai and Naoki Nagayama: "Ano, thank you both for your help just now. I am Akie Nakamori."

Hmm? That name felt familiar.

Genta Nakai, who seemed the most outgoing, said: "No problem, no problem. Those bastards were bothering my friends anyway~ Oh, the beauty next to me is Suzumi Hoshino, and this young handsome guy is Naoki Nagayama!"

"Nakai-kun, Nagayama-kun, Hoshino-san, it’s a pleasure to meet you all. These are my three younger sisters." "I am Akiko Nakamori~" "I am Akina Nakamori~" "I am Akiho Nakamori~"

The three greeted them in turn.

"Nakamori... Akina?" Naoki Nagayama couldn't help but speak up to confirm after hearing that soft voice.

"Hai, I am Akina Nakamori. Is something wrong?" The middle-school girl with a round face looked up, staring at Naoki Nagayama with a confused expression.

The youthful, round face with baby fat in front of him overlapped with the legendary Showa diva in his memory. At that moment, Naoki Nagayama thought to himself: "It really is the little chubby vegetable, Akina Nakamori!"

(End of chapter)