Chapter 8: My Choice
1974words
"The winner of this year's 'Golden Hummingbird' National Short Drama Creation Competition, the final grand prize goes to—"
The host drew out his voice, stretching the suspense to its limit. Hibiki unconsciously held her breath, while Kenta Suzuki and Ai Sato beside her were so tense they resembled petrified statues.
"——Work number 03, 'Echo by the Sea'!"
When this completely unfamiliar name was announced, Hibiki felt as if all strength had instantly drained from her body. The world first fell into a brief silence, then was filled with thunderous applause and background music. She watched as the previously unknown academic team in the neighboring seats hugged each other in tears, walked onto the stage, and received from the chairman of the jury that trophy she had dreamed of.
"Ah... I guess we weren't good enough after all," Kenta Suzuki's voice was filled with disappointment.
"Our work was probably too 'wild'," Ai Sato said dejectedly.
Hibiki didn't speak. She just silently watched the dazzling light on the stage, yet surprisingly, her heart wasn't filled with the gut-wrenching disappointment she had imagined. Perhaps because her expectations had been too high, the defeat somehow felt unreal. Or perhaps, at the moment when "Hibiki's Comeback" was completed, she had already received the award that mattered most to her.
Just as she was about to get up and leave, the chairman of the jury on stage, an old director highly respected in the film industry, suddenly picked up the microphone.
"Please stay seated, everyone. There's one more thing to announce," his voice was steady and powerful, immediately quieting the audience who had been preparing to disperse.
"During the judging process of this competition, there emerged a work that both delighted and 'perplexed' all of us judges." The veteran director's face revealed a hint of an intriguing smile, "Its style is so unique, its emotions so abundant, that we cannot define it with any existing award category. It's not perfect, even somewhat rough, but it's filled with astonishing originality and emotional power strong enough to penetrate the screen."
Hibiki's heart, without warning, skipped a beat.
"After unanimous deliberation among all committee members, we have decided to create a special award specifically for this work—the 'Jury Special Award'!" The veteran director's voice suddenly rose. He picked up an envelope and announced loudly, "The recipient of this award is—entry number 17, 'The Comeback of Hibiki Dingdong'! Director, Hibiki Natsume!"
The spotlight suddenly moved away from the main stage, like a divine beam of light, precisely falling on Hibiki. Everyone in the venue turned their heads, focusing their attention on this unknown young girl sitting in the last row.
Hibiki was completely stunned. Her mind went blank, and she could only instinctively stand up, stiff and awkward, pushed by Kenta Suzuki and Ai Sato's ecstatic screams and encouragement, then walk onto the stage with clumsy steps amid the delayed but incredibly enthusiastic applause from the audience.
She accepted the heavy crystal trophy, which had a line of elegant small text engraved on it: "In honor of all souls who gaze at the stars while standing in the mud."
"Director Natsume," the old director held her hand, his eyes full of admiration and encouragement, "keep filming. Film what you want to film. This era needs unconventional voices like yours."
Hibiki looked at the complex expressions of those industry bigwigs in the audience who had once dismissed her, at Ren Kurosawa's still expressionless profile but with a slightly upturned corner of his mouth, and at Yusuke Tachibana applauding vigorously for her in the corner. Her eyes grew hot, and tears welled up without warning.
She didn't win the championship, but she earned something more precious than the championship—respect.
When she walked off the stage, several men in suits immediately surrounded her. They were representatives from different investment companies, and each politely handed her their business cards.
"Director Natsume, we greatly admire your talent and hope to have an opportunity to discuss future collaboration."
"Our company has a support program for emerging directors, and your style aligns perfectly with our investment direction."
Hibiki looked at the stack of gold-embossed business cards in her hand, truly feeling for the first time that she was no longer the leader of an amateur troupe who had to rely on scams and tricks to secure investments. With her own work, she had earned her first genuine ticket to the future.
A few days later, in a solemn attorney's office, Hibiki signed the final document.
As the notary firmly stamped "Debt Fully Repaid" in bright red on the contract, the 50-million-yen nightmare that had troubled her countless days and nights finally transformed before her eyes into a weightless piece of paper with no legal effect whatsoever.
The prize money from the competition, along with the intention-to-cooperate payments from several investment companies afterward, was enough for her to pay off all debts to the Saionji family at once, as well as the amount Akira Saionji had later "lent" to her in his personal capacity.
"Congratulations, Miss Natsume." Akira Saionji sat directly across from her, still maintaining his elegant and proper demeanor, except today, he no longer addressed her as "Director Natsume," "From this moment on, you are free."
Hibiki looked at the document, feeling neither wild joy nor moved to tears. She simply felt that something heavy and tense that had been inside her body suddenly disappeared. An unprecedented, almost weightless lightness enveloped her. She let out a long, long sigh, and in that breath, it was as if she had expelled all the bitterness, awkwardness, and fatigue of the past year.
Freedom. So this is what it feels like.
With the remaining funds, the first thing Hibiki did was to officially register and establish the "Hibiki Dingdang Film" studio. She didn't choose an expensive office building for its location, but instead settled on the second floor of Yusuke Tachibana's café.
It was an attic filled with sunshine and the aroma of coffee, transformed by Hibiki and her team into a small yet beautiful creative space. The walls were covered with various movie posters and storyboard sketches, while in the corner sat the latest prop models made by Kenta Suzuki, and Ai Sato's makeup station was neatly organized.
On the day of the studio's opening party, the small attic was packed with people. Juniors from the drama club, actors they had collaborated with, and even Kirin Soda and that difficult old school janitor sent congratulatory flower baskets.
Just when the party atmosphere was at its peak, a familiar figure appeared at the door.
It was Ren Kurosawa. He wore a simple black T-shirt and carried what looked like a high-end champagne gift box. His face still wore that impatient expression, but his eyes involuntarily softened the moment he saw Hibiki.
"Weren't you... going to sign a contract with Producer Osumi?" Hibiki looked at him with some surprise.
"I refused," Ren Kurosawa said casually, as if talking about something trivial. He walked up to Hibiki, handed her the champagne, then pulled out a document from his pocket and placed it on the table. "This is my partnership agreement. I, Ren Kurosawa, will now be a partner and artistic director of 'Hibiki Dingdang Film'."
Hibiki was stunned, and everyone around them fell silent.
"Why?" Hibiki asked in confusion, "That was 'The Silent Rails'..."
"There is only 'correctness' there, no 'fun'," Ren Kurosawa looked into her eyes, emphasizing each word. "For me, filming what I want to film is more important than filming what is 'correct'. And what I want to film can only be created when I work with you."
Before he finished speaking, another man with his own background music made an entrance in an even more flamboyant manner.
"Well said!" Akira Saionji, dressed in a bright pink suit, walked in surrounded by a group of black-clad bodyguards, holding an incredibly lavishly designed investment proposal in his hand, "I also think that watching certain people make films is much more interesting than making money myself."
He handed the proposal to Hibiki, flipping his hair stylishly: "I, Akira Saionji, announce that in my personal capacity, I will become the long-term strategic investor of 'Hibiki Dingdang Film'. I won't interfere with any creative work, and will only be responsible for showering you with money when you run out of funds, just enough to keep you filming."
The atmosphere in the attic, due to the consecutive "airdrops" of these two men, became both bizarre and lively.
At that moment, Yusuke Tachibana emerged from the crowd with a smile, carrying an enormous celebration cake decorated with strawberries and cream. He didn't make any grand statements, but simply, as always, placed the cake steadily at the center of the table, then naturally took his position beside Hibiki, picked up a knife, and handed it to her.
"Here, cut the cake." His voice was forever so gentle, like a clear spring, instantly neutralizing all the tense atmosphere in the room.
Hibiki looked at the scene before her, feeling a bit of a headache, but more than that, an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and happiness. She looked at the three men standing before her simultaneously: one, an artistic partner who could resonate with her soul; one, a source of joy who could bring her endless excitement and material security; and one, an emotional haven who could make her feel safe and warm at any time. These three people, in some miraculous way, together formed her complete and vibrant life at this moment.
She suddenly smiled, a smile as radiant as the midday summer sun.
She took the champagne handed to her by Ren Kurosawa, picked up the investment proposal delivered by Saionji, and finally accepted the cake knife passed to her by Yusuke. Then, raising her glass, she cleared her throat and, with a queenly demeanor, delivered her famous "non-choice" declaration that would later become legendary in the industry:
"Listen up, everyone!" Her voice was crisp and clear, filled with unquestionable confidence and freedom, "At work, Ren Kurosawa is my soul; in life, Akira Saionji is my source of happiness; and in spirit, Yusuke Tachibana is my harbor."
She looked around at the three men with different expressions, mischievously winked, and declared:
"I won't let go of any of them!"
The air froze for three seconds.
Ren Kurosawa, Akira Saionji, and Yusuke Tachibana, three men who could be considered pinnacles in their respective fields, now looked at each other with expressions that transformed from bewilderment to shock, and then to a kind of helpless resignation mixed with amusement. Finally, looking at the girl before them who was grinning like a little fox that had stolen candy, they all, simultaneously and helplessly, smiled with indulgence.
"Really... there's no helping it with you." Saionji was the first to raise his glass.
"...Troublesome woman." Ren Kurosawa muttered under his breath, yet he too raised his glass.
Yusuke Tachibana just smiled, looking at her with an "I knew this would happen" expression in his eyes, and gently raised his glass.
“Cheers！”
The four of them, along with all the team members around them, raised their glasses together. The crisp sound of clinking glasses, mixed with the noisy laughter, echoed in this small attic filled with sunshine and dreams. The camera slowly pulled back, showing the azure blue sky outside the window. A story that belonged to them—new and filled with infinite possibilities—was just beginning.
