Chapter 19

Fujita Keiko did not delay and came on time the next afternoon.

Nagayama Naoki received the specific information about the three plots of land in the car and immediately took a liking to a warehouse near Kōtōmachi.

Exiting the JR Toshima-guchi station, passing through a small street lined with restaurants and izakayas, behind one of the izakayas.

The location was very convenient, and students from Waseda University and Tokyo Fuji University often spent their weekends here.

This plot of land was originally a pre-war air-raid shelter, which later became a temporary warehouse for storing fish caught from the sea. Fresh fish was refrigerated here and then distributed to different stores in northern Tokyo.

After the Great Kanto Earthquake, RB's fish market was centralized in Sukiya, and with the advancement of refrigeration technology and transportation, the warehouse in Kōtōmachi was later used to store tools, wood, and various other items.

The entire warehouse was about 200 tsubo (approximately 660 square meters) and only had one floor, but it was 4 meters high. Most people who came to see it thought that this height was unsuitable for a two-story mall, and for izakayas and restaurants, 200 tsubo seemed excessive and impractical.

In the end, this warehouse became a difficult property to sell, with an overall price of around 80 million yen.

Nagayama Naoki was interested in this plot of land. As a pre-war building, it was very sturdy and had good soundproofing. Although the height was not suitable for a two-story structure, it could be decorated with promotional lights, decorations, and a stage and bar on the ground floor, making it very suitable.

While thinking about the future interior design, Nagayama Naoki said to Fujita Keiko, "Keiko-san, this plot of land seems very nice. Let's go with it~"

"Hey, Naoki-san's decisiveness is still as firm as ever~" Keiko, who was already used to Nagayama Naoki's style, began preparing for the next steps.

"Well, since we've decided, why don't we have dinner and a drink together, Naoki-san? It's this time of day, and there are many izakayas around here~" Fujita Keiko adjusted her trendy "Seiko head" hairstyle, looked at Nagayama Naoki, and her eyes sparkled.

Is this about having dinner, or is it about something else...

"Ah, it's already this time!" Nagayama Naoki quickly adopted a straight man's tone, "I have plans to go to a pachinko parlor with friends, and I'm about to be late!"

"Thank you, Keiko-san, for your help today! I won't have dinner, I need to catch the train to meet my friends." Nagayama Naoki thanked her repeatedly and then turned and left decisively.

"Then I'll leave the rest to you, Keiko-san. I'll be going now, bye~"

"Hmph, this wooden, stupid, baka!" Fujita Keiko stomped her feet in frustration a few times and then drove away.

Nagayama Naoki still cherished his 19-year-old virginity.

...

Because it was a full payment, the transfer of the warehouse was processed quickly.

He also asked Fujita Keiko to introduce him to a reliable first-class architect, Honma Takashi, and discussed the construction requirements for the disco, hoping to have the design plans drawn up first, with a budget of around 15 million yen.

Budgets always end up exceeding the estimate...

The money that was once a full 100 million yen is now almost depleted. Money really doesn't last long when you spend it!

...

...

The cold wind of February was even colder, and the late spring chill was particularly trying.

After communicating with Honma Takashi, the design plans were finalized, and he had already found a construction team to start the renovation and construction.

The project is expected to be completed by April.

So, what to do for the next two months?

Nagayama Naoki, lying lazily in the kotatsu, began to ponder the meaning of life.

It seemed that apart from the obsession with becoming rich, he had no other life goals.

What kind of life should one live, filled with poetry and distant places? What is my pursuit? Why am I in this world...

Slowly, Nagayama Naoki began to ask himself the three famous ultimate questions of life: "Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going?"

His mind became increasingly confused. These are questions that even the wise Plato might not be able to answer, and Nagayama Naoki certainly couldn't, nor could 99.999% of the people in the world.

If one could understand these questions before the end of their life, perhaps they could say they had not lived in vain.

Just as his thoughts were wandering, the phone rang.

It was Yashimura Daikichi (a lecherous Mediterranean uncle).

"Naoki-kun, it's been a while. How are you?"

"Hey, I'm doing well, how about you, Daikichi-kun?"

"Thanks to you, my work is going smoothly."

"Oh? That's great to hear." The two exchanged pleasantries, and Nagayama Naoki waited for Yashimura Daikichi to get to the point.

"Actually, Naoki-kun, I'm calling today because of the GG (commercial) again."

"Ah, wasn't the GG already finished? Did the client have issues with the results?"

"Ha ha ha, no, the GG was very successful. But the client did come to us."

"Didn't you say before that this GG was a test for a series of sodas? Since the ume-flavored soda sold well, the orange, cherry, watermelon, and other flavors are also being prepared for release."

Ah, a very common strategy. I remember a certain forest sugar-free soda in the future also followed this route, releasing over a dozen flavors in a year.

Nagayama Naoki was still puzzled: "That's great, but what does this have to do with me?"

"Hey, I was just getting to that. Actually, after the last GG, the client is very optimistic about Naoki-kun's image."

Yashimura Daikichi was a bit out of breath as he spoke.

"Plus, Ido Shuichi proposed a plan to turn this series of GGs into a series of stories about fruit flavors, covering the entire year's new product promotions for Yumekiri Beverage."

"I heard that the plan was very well-received by the head of Yumekiri Beverage's marketing department!"

"Ha, that's a very interesting idea." Nagayama Naoki thought to himself that Ido Shuichi must have a deep connection with Yumekiri Beverage to secure the entire year's new product promotions.

"From what you're saying, Daikichi-kun, are you inviting me to continue shooting GGs?"

"Hey, as the initial representative of this series of GGs, Ido Shuichi believes that Naoki-kun can serve as a connecting thread throughout the story."

"I wonder what Naoki-kun thinks about continuing to participate in the GGs?"

Nagayama Naoki had nothing to do recently, and the previous collaboration was quite pleasant, so he had no objections to continuing, especially since he would be paid.

"Daikichi-kun, I understand. I'm okay with the collaboration for the GGs. Is the profit-sharing ratio the same as last time?"

"Regarding that, Naoki-kun, this time we're shooting a year-long series of GGs, so the contract will be different. Would it be convenient for us to meet and discuss the details?"

"Hey, of course, that's fine."

So, the two agreed to meet at the office the next morning. Yashimura Daikichi offered to pick him up, and Nagayama Naoki happily agreed.

"Speaking of which, maybe I should really get a driver's license?" Nagayama Naoki realized that he was always being picked up by others, "And maybe buy a car~"

After all, the money from this GG shoot should be substantial.