"T-Talent… this is sheer genius!"
The department head was trembling with excitement, eyes burning with feverish admiration as he looked at Seiji. "Boss, with this proposal, we've already won!"
"Calm down. Go handle the casting."
Seiji just smiled faintly.
He already had ideas for shows that would make Human Observation look tame.
This was only the beginning.
"Yes, President!" The department head bowed deeply, his blood boiling with excitement as he rushed off to prepare everything.
With the concept confirmed, the next step was casting.
Thanks to the success of Legal High and Genesis Entertainment's soaring reputation, resumes poured in like snowflakes... many from A-list actors.
After a full day of sorting, the department head proudly brought a star-studded list to Seiji.
"President, here's the list of potential cast members. What do you think?"
Seiji gave it a quick glance... then pushed it aside.
"None of them."
"What? Why?" The department head was stunned. "They're all top-tier celebrities! They'll bring massive traffic!"
"Traffic?" Seiji shook his head. "Human Observation's core is authenticity. These famous actors all have their carefully crafted public personas. They can't drop them... and they definitely won't let us 'mess with' them for laughs."
He tapped another list... this one filled with second-tier and rookie performers.
"What we need are people hungry for a chance. People without that idol baggage. People willing to go all out for the show."
He smiled faintly. "They're real. And they'll do exactly as they're told. We can mold them into whatever the show needs."
The department head froze.
Only now did he realize the true difference between himself and his boss... it wasn't just creativity, but the depth of understanding. The cold precision with which Seiji saw entertainers as "components" of a grand machine sent chills down his spine, even as he felt a surge of awe.
And, as it turned out, Seiji was right.
Filming Day – Akihabara Streets
A young actor, dressed like a stereotypical otaku, clutched several anime-themed shopping bags as he shuffled down the street. Suddenly, two "delinquent" actors rushed in, bumping into him and knocking everything to the ground.
"Hey! Watch where you're going, you idiot!" one of them shouted viciously.
Hidden cameras... tucked in storefronts, signs, even trash cans... captured every reaction from the passersby.
A salaryman frowned but quickened his pace. A young couple hesitated, then quietly walked around.
And then... a blond high schooler in ripped jeans, looking even rougher than the delinquents, stepped forward.
"Hey, you think picking on people's fun?" he snapped, blocking their path.
Inside the disguised production van, Seiji watched the monitors, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.
"Zoom in on the kid's face," he ordered calmly. "Get that look in his eyes."
Another Scene – A Quiet Café
A washed-up middle-aged comedian sat by the window, looking dejected. After watching a nearby couple for a while, he finally stood and approached them.
"Excuse me… sorry to bother you. My wallet got stolen. Could you… maybe lend me some change so I can get home?"
The couple froze. They didn't recognize him.
They exchanged uneasy glances, whispering quietly to each other.
The cameras caught everything... the boy's hesitation, the girl's pity. Finally, she took out some bills and handed them over.
At that moment, hidden crew members posing as customers jumped up, lights flashing.
"Human Observation! Congratulations, you just passed our kindness challenge!"
The couple's expressions... shock, realization, and finally laughter... were captured perfectly.
Every second- and third-tier actor chosen for the show knew this was their chance of a lifetime.
They had no image to protect, no pretense to maintain. For the sake of entertainment, they'd throw themselves into anything... no matter how silly or risky.
Under Seiji's direction, the entire crew worked like a perfectly tuned machine... precise, disciplined, and entirely focused on the show itself.
The finished product far exceeded expectations... packed with both laughter and tears from start to finish.
The Night Before Broadcast
The internet was ablaze.
Tanaka Takeshi's show... backed by a massive lineup of celebrities... dominated social media trends.
Fans flooded hashtags, creating an illusion of guaranteed success even before airing.
Tanaka and the network execs were completely at ease.
"Promotion and buzz... that's what really matters!" Tanaka grinned at his phone. "That Fujiwara kid thinks creativity alone can win? What a joke."
The execs were already preparing a victory party... ready to mock the "arrogant rookie" who dared to challenge them.
Meanwhile, at Genesis Entertainment's top-floor office...
Megumi Kato, serving as Seiji's assistant, anxiously reported the situation.
"Fujiwara-sensei, their marketing is overwhelming. Online buzz-wise, we've been completely drowned out…"
But Seiji calmly sipped the tea she brewed for him, eyes never leaving the papers in his hand.
"The ratings will tell the truth," he said simply. "Everything else is noise."
Something in his quiet confidence steadied Megumi's heart.
The Night of the Broadcast
9:00 p.m., Japan Standard Time.
The so-called "Battle of the Century" for the entertainment industry began across countless screens.
On one side: Tanaka Takeshi's lavish, celebrity-packed variety show.
On the other: Genesis Entertainment's mysterious Human Observation, featuring unknowns and newcomers.
It was a strange, electric night.
In homes, bars, and dorms across Japan, the humble TV remote had suddenly become sacred.
At Wakaba Takafumi's Home
The veteran comedian, once a national treasure of laughter, wasn't smiling tonight.
He sat before the TV, drink in hand, eyes locked on the screen showing his own show.
The first five minutes were full of dazzling celebrity entrances... fans screaming, lights flashing. He nodded approvingly. "Tanaka really knows how to hype a crowd."
But ten minutes in, his brows began to furrow.
The first game segment: "Word Guessing"... a classic party staple.
The popular actor Yamada Ken drew the word gorilla. He frowned, thumped his chest twice halfheartedly, and quit... like doing one more move might hurt his pretty-boy image.
When an idol singer drew pig, she covered her mouth in horror, shaking her head, refusing to act it out.
Takafumi sighed. "Are they here to make a show or a photo shoot? A variety performer's basic rule is to let go of your pride! This… this is unwatchable!"
The screen descended into chaos... idols awkward and stiff, actors half-hearted, comedians' jokes falling flat into suffocating silence.
"This… is our work?" he muttered bitterly.
Watching himself forced into a fake smile beside his long-time rival made his stomach churn.
"What a disaster…" He shook his head, grabbed the remote, and muttered, "Might as well die knowing the truth."
"Let's see what Fujiwara-sensei made."
He switched the channel... to Human Observation.
Shimokitazawa – STARRY Live House
The venue was closed for the night.
Ikuyo Kita, Nijika, Ryo Yamada, and PA-san were gathered with their friends, Shimizu Eliza and Hiroi Kikuri, watching the broadcast projected on the wall.
"Whoa! It's Wakaba Takafumi! And that's Shining Girl! " Nijika squealed like a fangirl.
"Quite the lineup," Ikuyo admitted.
But fifteen minutes later, the excitement fizzled out.
The show shifted to a routine interview segment.
"Yamada-san," the host asked with rehearsed politeness, "we heard you're starring in a new blockbuster film. Any fun stories from the set?"
Yamada Ken flashed his polished, well-rehearsed smile. "Yes, the team is incredibly professional. I've learned so much from my seniors. Every day is full of challenges and rewards."
It was textbook. Polished. Empty.
The room grew quieter, heavier.
"This is… kind of boring," PA-san frowned. "There's no chemistry at all."
"Yeah. Dull," Ryo muttered. "Everything's scripted. Even the questions are weak."
"Ugh… I'd rather drink…" Kikuri groaned from the couch, dark circles under her eyes.
Finally, Ikuyo suggested, "Why don't we check out Genesis's show instead?"
"Yeah!"
"Do it!"
The girls cheered. Ikuyo switched channels... to Human Observation.
And instantly, everyone was hooked.
The first segment: "What would you do if your friend suddenly told you he won 300 million yen?"
A young comedian "revealed" the news to his friends.
One froze. Another lunged for the ticket. A third began calculating his share out loud.
And one, after a long minute of silence, grabbed his shoulder and whispered, "Don't let your wife find out about this."
The sheer spontaneity... the raw human hilarity... was magnetic.
"Whaaa... !!"
The room erupted in laughter.
"This is hilarious!" Nijika gasped, clutching her stomach.
"He really does it every time…" Ikuyo murmured, smiling with awe.
Meanwhile – Network Headquarters
Tanaka Takeshi and the execs lounged in a luxury conference room, sipping wine as they watched their "masterpiece."
At first, spirits were high.
"Hahaha! Wakaba-sensei still has it!"
"Look at the trending charts... we're dominating!"
But as the show went on, laughter dwindled. Faces hardened.
"…It's starting to feel… messy," one exec murmured.
Cold sweat formed on Tanaka's brow. He forced a laugh. "That's just the tension building. Big casts take time to sync!"
Even he didn't believe his own words.
As he stared at the disjointed celebrities on screen, doubt crept in for the first time.
"Will… the audience actually like this?"
The chairman's quiet voice cut through the room.
"The ratings will tell."
The mood turned icy.
At Genesis Entertainment
The atmosphere was the complete opposite.
The entire film department... and Megumi Kato, sitting in as secretary... were glued to the screen, roaring with laughter.
"HAHA! Did you see that guy's face? So real!"
"That girl actually jumped in to help the bullied otaku! So sweet!"
The room was alive with cheers, laughter, applause.
The department head slapped his thigh, shouting, "This is it! This is the boss's genius! We've already won!"
Megumi watched silently, completely absorbed.
Seeing those raw emotions on-screen moved her deeply.
She glanced toward Seiji's calm silhouette at the front of the room... and her heart rippled like a stone dropped in still water.
End of the Episode
An agonizing hour passed.
By 11 p.m., the ratings began to roll in.
Tanaka's phone buzzed. He took a deep breath and opened the message.
The numbers made his face go pale.
**[BREAKING: Network Variety Show Premiere Rating ... 8.3%]
"Eight point three…?"
He stared in disbelief.
It was even lower than his worst-case projection.
For a show of that scale, it was a total collapse.
"Impossible!"
At the same time, in the chairman's office...
"Sir… our ratings… only 8.3%..." the secretary stammered.
The chairman's brow tightened into a deep frown.
"Worse than expected?"
A heavy silence fell. Everyone felt the chill of impending doom.
At Genesis Entertainment
Every eye was fixed on the big screen as the next number appeared.
*[Human Observation* Premiere Rating ... 28.7%]
For a moment, no one moved.
Then... pandemonium.
"We won! WE WON! Twenty-eight point seven percent!!"
The department head jumped from his chair, fists pumping. "A new record! We just made variety show history!"
The staff erupted in cheers, hugging each other, laughing, crying.
Megumi stared at the number, heart pounding.
She looked again at Seiji's calm figure.
The admiration in her eyes had become something far deeper... undeniable and overwhelming.