dognovel Chapter 61 Christmas Eve Offensive
Chapter 61 Christmas Eve Offensive
(First of all, a huge thank you to reader "GoS" for the God-level certification and the Gift King award!! Thank you for your support! Also, thank you to "Phoenix Who Loves Purple Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Porridge" for the God-level certification! Thank you to "Looking Forward" for the God-level certification! Thank you to "Jia Bei Li Meng" for the twenty consecutive update reminder tokens! I have received all the rewards from readers, and I will continue to work hard! Thank you so much for your support! Two extra chapters today~)
In December 1987, Tokyo went into complete frenzy.
With the rebound in US stocks and the Bank of Japan's easing measures, year-end bonus expectations have reached a record high. On the streets of Ginza, taxi drivers wave refusal gestures, only stopping for passengers holding up three fingers (meaning they want three times the fare). Department store Christmas trees are adorned with genuine Swarovski crystals, and hotel bookings in Akasaka are already full until next year.
In this bustling season, The Club in Azabu-Juban still maintains its unique tranquility.
Second floor, the core study.
"Mr. Saionji, we take your request very seriously."
Sitting opposite Shuichi was Sato, the managing director of Dentsu GG Corporation.
This powerful figure, who controls the mouthpiece of the Japanese media, is sitting upright with his hands on his knees, adopting an extremely humble posture.
Since "Black Monday," the entire upper-class circles of Tokyo have known that the Saionji family is not only wealthy, but also possesses the ability to foresee the future. Being able to secure a contract with the Saionji family is not just a business deal, but also a matter of prestige.
"Managing Director Sato."
Xiu Yi pushed a proposal over.
"This Christmas, I'm going to buy the big screen at Studio Alta in Shinjuku. And all the prime time slots on Fuji TV and TBS late-night programming."
Managing Director Sato took the proposal and turned to the first page.
He was stunned.
There is only one photo in the picture.
Beside an empty, desolate abandoned railway track, a lone yellow shipping container stands.
Below is only one line of small print:
"In this bustling Christmas season, do you want to hear your true voice?"
SA Karaoke Box
"This..." Managing Director Sato hesitated for a moment, "Mr. Saionji, isn't this a bit too... depressing? Everyone's supposed to be having fun at Christmas, this kind of 'lonely' guy might not fit the festive atmosphere, right?"
"It is precisely because everyone is arguing that the silence is deafening."
Xiu Yi picked up his black tea, his tone indifferent.
"Managing Director Sato, Tokyo is too noisy these days. Everyone is forced to socialize, forced to laugh, and forced to please their superiors at drinking parties."
Trust our market research.
Xiuyi put down his teacup, his gaze deep.
"We will proceed with this plan. Budget is not an issue; SA Investment will make the full prepayment."
Upon hearing the name "SA Investment," Managing Director Sato's pupils contracted slightly.
"Understood."
Managing Director Sato closed the proposal, stood up, and bowed deeply.
"Dentsu will fully cooperate. We will make this 'Silent GG' resound throughout Tokyo on Christmas Eve."
……
at the same time.
Marunouchi, headquarters of Saionji Industrial.
A brand new set of company bylaws lay on the desk.
SA Leisure Systems Co., Ltd.
"Please stamp this, President Itakura."
Satsuki sat on the sofa by the window, holding a comic book in her hand, and said without looking up.
Itakura wiped the sweat from his hands, stamped his personal seal on the document, and then affixed the company's official seal.
"Young Miss, isn't this operation a bit too large?"
Itakura looked at the map on the wall.
In just two months, SA has established fifty outlets in Tokyo, totaling three hundred container boxes, by taking advantage of the odd-numbered plots of land it acquired at low prices.
"This is nothing."
Satsuki turned a page of the comic book.
"The purpose of establishing this new company is to implement systematic management. From now on, cleaning, maintenance, coin recycling, and equipment debugging will all be handled by dedicated personnel."
"We need to manage these metal boxes like we manage McDonald's."
She closed the book and pointed to the dozens of large cardboard boxes piled up in the corner.
"Was that just shipped back from Shanghai?"
"Yes!" Itakura immediately perked up. "These are 'Grade B' products sent back by Factory Manager Takahashi. There are four hundred of them in total. Although they are said to be defective, I had someone examine them, and unless you use a magnifying glass, you can't see any flaws at all."
"very good."
Satsuki smiled.
"Let's issue a notice."
"Special Christmas Event: Spend a total of 10,000 yen at SA Karaoke Box or recharge your membership card to receive a free 'S-Collection Christmas Limited Edition T-shirt'."
"Remember, emphasize that it's a 'limited edition.' It also needs to come with that ridiculously expensive black box and gold-stamped paper bag."
Itakura swallowed hard.
"Young Miss, that was a ruthless move."
"They sell it for 30,000 yen at the Shibuya store, but here you get it for free if you top up 10,000 yen, plus 10 hours of karaoke time..."
"This is practically free!"
"I think college students who want that 'S' logo but can't afford the real thing will definitely come and support it."
Satsuki stood up and walked to the window.
"We'll use these four hundred defective items to pry open the pockets of young people in Tokyo."
"More importantly, we need to pry open their ears."
"Only by luring them into the box can Sachiko's voice enter their minds."
……
December 24, 1987.
Christmas Eve.
A light snow began to fall in Tokyo. The swirling snowflakes, illuminated by the neon lights, transformed into pink specks of light.
The whole city was in a frenzy. The streets of Roppongi were packed with people, and couples strolled hand in hand along Omotesando admiring the lights.
But a strange scene appeared beside the railway tracks in Shimokitazawa.
Five yellow shipping containers, now wrapped in huge red ribbons and decorated with twinkling LED lights and Christmas wreaths, looked like five enormous Christmas gift boxes scattered in the snow, radiating a warm glow in the dim wasteland.
A long line formed in front of these gift boxes.
Those were hundreds of young people, shivering from the cold, yet their eyes still burned with fervor.
"Hurry, hurry! I heard there are only ten free gifts left tonight!"
"Really? Are they really giving away that S-Collection T-shirt?"
"Why would I lie to you! My roommate got hers yesterday! That packaging box, wow, it'd be impressive to take it home!"
A couple in the middle of the queue; the boy took off his scarf and wrapped it around the girl's neck.
"I'm so sorry, Misaki. I was planning to take you out for a French meal, but we couldn't get a reservation, and besides, my bonus..."
"It's okay."
The girl named Misaki breathed out white puffs of air and pointed at the huge yellow box.
"I think this is pretty cool. It's just the two of us, and we don't have to listen to the noise from the uncle at the next table."
"And... I want that T-shirt too."
It was finally their turn.
The boy readily pulled out 10,000 yen and slapped it on the table.
"Top up! I want that T-shirt!"
"Okay, here's your membership card and gifts."
The part-time worker handed over a heavy black paper bag with a gold-stamped "S" printed on it.
The boy took it, as if he were receiving some kind of medal.
The two climbed into container number three.
"Bang!"
The heavy, soundproof door closed.
The world fell silent instantly. The cold wind outside, the vibrations of the train tracks, and the noise of the queuing crowd all vanished.
The private room was very warm, and the warm orange light shone on the leather sofa.
"Wow, it's so warm."
Misaki took off her coat and eagerly tore open the black paper bag.
Take out that white T-shirt.
It's well-made and has a smooth feel. Although it's a B-grade product, to those who don't know much about it, it's a legendary item from that high-end brand in Shibuya.
"That's awesome!" Misaki happily gestured with her hands.
"Hehe, let's sing then!"
The boy sat down in front of the karaoke machine and put in a coin.
"What do you want?"
"Of course it's Tatsuro Yamashita's 'Christmas Eve'! It's a must-play tonight!"
The prelude begins.
The boy was about to speak when he realized he was a bit out of tune.
"Oh dear, this song starts off a bit high..."
Just then, he saw the red button in the lower right corner of the screen: Guide Vocal.
"Try this."
He pressed it.
next second.
A female voice came from the speaker.
"It rains when the night is over, and it snows when it rains..." (After the rain passes late at night, it will probably turn into snow...)
That voice.
It wasn't the original male voice of Tatsuro Yamashita, but a clear, powerful female voice with an indescribable gentleness.
It doesn't feel like a performance, but rather like a story.
It pierced through the electronic accompaniment, through the slightly dry air in the private room, and struck directly into the hearts of the two people.
The boy froze, forgetting to sing along.
Misaki stopped gesturing with her clothes and turned to look at the speaker.
"Who is singing?"
"I don't know... I've never heard this voice before."
"It sounds so good..." Misaki murmured to herself, "Listening to her voice, I feel... I feel like that empty space in my heart has been filled."
On this cold Christmas Eve, inside this cramped tin box.
Sachiko's voice was like a pair of warm hands, soothing the anxiety and inferiority complex of the young couple caused by poverty and their inability to go to upscale restaurants.
At this moment, they didn't need a French feast or champagne.
As long as we have this voice, this T-shirt, and each other, that's enough.
……
At this moment.
On the overpass opposite Shimokitazawa Station.
Two figures were standing by the railing, looking down at the long line of shipping containers.
Itakura was wearing a thick down jacket and kept rubbing his hands together.
Beside him stood a girl wearing a white knitted hat and a dark blue scarf. Most of her face was hidden behind a mask, revealing only a pair of clear eyes.
Sachiko Kamaiike.
Or rather, the future ZARD.
"Did you see that?"
Itakura pointed down.
"The couple who came out of box number 3 just now, judging from their expressions, seemed to have been crying, but now they're smiling happily."
Sachiko watched that scene unfold.
She saw the girl clutching the paper bag containing the T-shirt tightly, seemingly humming something.
Although she couldn't hear, Sachiko could understand the lip movements.
These are lyrics from "Christmas Eve".
"Is that my voice?"
Sachiko asked softly, her voice sounding muffled behind her mask.
"It's yours."
Itakura nodded firmly.
"The young lady is right. Not everyone wants to go to disco on this crazy night. There are many people who just want to find a place to hide and listen to their own voice."
"You did it, Ms. Sachiko."
"You are their...painkiller."
Sachiko's eyes felt a little hot.
She reached out and grabbed the cold railing.
Before, when she worked as a receptionist at a real estate company, she felt superfluous. When she worked as a model at a racetrack, she felt cheap.
But tonight.
Watching ordinary people find solace in her songs, she felt for the first time that weighty thing called "value".
"I want to go back to the recording studio."
Sachiko suddenly turned around, her eyes resolute.
"Huh? Now? It's Christmas Eve..."
"Now."
Sachiko tightened her scarf.
"I still have so many songs I want to sing. I want to record all that feeling... that feeling that warms people up."
She walked quickly down the overpass.
The silhouette is no longer lost, but carries a kind of persistence that only an artist possesses.
Itakura paused for a moment, then smiled with satisfaction.
"Hey! Wait for me! I'll take you there!"
……
The clock struck midnight.
On the giant screen of Studio Alta in Shinjuku, the "Lonely Container" GG lit up for the last time.
Below it, thousands of young people are carrying paper bags printed with the "S" logo and flooding the streets.
Unbeknownst to them, the Saionji family had already completely swindled all the money from their pockets.
All they knew was that this Christmas Eve was cool.
SA Karaoke Box.
On this night, it officially transformed from an experiment in subculture into a synonym for Tokyo's trendiness.
And the ghostly songstress hidden in the box, along with tonight's snowflakes, drifted into the dreams of countless people, waiting to emerge from the earth one day in the future.