12. On TV

Sunday

Nichiuri TV, studio

"Hoo! Hoo!"

"Soundcheck"

"Microphone connection OK."

"Okay, the camera has been adjusted."

"How is Mr. Hayashi preparing?"

"No problem."

"Okay, when the show starts, please pay attention to the direction of the cameraman. Don't be nervous. Just try to be relaxed during the show."

The show's stage control was very capable.

While the director was getting everything ready on the scene, the program assistant was also helping to guide Hayashi Yoshiki into the state.

Hayashi Yoshiki was quite calm.

He looked towards the audience seats at the studio and saw editor Asamiya Nanae and Kisaki Eri in the front row. Kisaki Eri even gestured to him to cheer him on with her hands.

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled back.

Then, after the director gave the order, the show officially started shooting——

"Good evening, everyone—"

"This week we will continue to present the All Japan Detective Agency Unit. Today, I, Matsuo Takashi, will be explaining it for you."

After the opening, the host Matsuo Takashi, with a middle-parted hairstyle and a smiling face, spoke first.

Right behind him was the young female host, who was pointing her index fingers at her cheeks with a bright smile: "And his assistant host, Nagai Ayako, who everyone is very familiar with."

"We will answer all the difficult cases sent to us by people from all over the country." Matsuo Takashi faced the camera with a smile.

"To this end, we have invited a special guest today: Mr. Hayashi Yoshiki, a mystery novelist who has written three consecutive best-selling mystery novels."

At the signal of Nagai Ayako, the photographer turned the camera to Hayashi Yoshiki.

"Hello, everyone."

In front of the camera, a faint and noble smile appeared on Hayashi Yoshiki's exquisite beauty.

The audience below suddenly burst into enthusiastic applause, and there were even screams from girls.

"Hayashi-Sensei is so handsome!!!"

Even Nagai Ayako exclaimed, and although it was intentional, the reaction was genuine.

"Please, come here and become a regular guest, then maybe we can secure the top spot in ratings!"

"You're not allowed to do this to get the first place in ratings, Ayako." Matsuo Takashi said with a smile.

"Can we both be pleasing to the eyes and get first place in ratings at the same time?"

"But if that happens, the director will definitely ask me to stand outside the camera to host the next episode."

"Yes, just keep Mr. Matsuo's voice."

There was laughter from the audience.

Hayashi Yoshiki couldn't help but laugh and said, "I thought participating in this show would be very serious."

"No, we have always been very relaxed, Hayashi-Sensei," said Takashi Matsuo.

"Yes, this is a very relaxing program."

Nagai Ayako said this and suddenly became infatuated with you: "But Hayashi-Sensei is really amazingly beautiful, especially now that I'm sitting next to you, the feeling is even stronger! Excuse me, may I ask you a question?"

"Okay, but it shouldn't be a confession, right?"

The smile on Hayashi Yoshiki's face was calm and clear, and he also joked.

Nagai Ayako's face lit up: "Can I confess my feelings?"

"Please don't."

"Ah!"

Laughter was heard from the audience again, but it seemed that some female fans were dissatisfied.

The dejected Nagai Ayako immediately smiled again: "Well, actually I want to ask Hayashi-Sensei if you have any secrets for maintaining your skin, because you look more delicate than most girls!"

"Well... although I may not be very conscious about this, in addition to sun protection, another thing I might do is take a bath."

"Sunscreen and bathing?"

"Yes, frequent exposure to strong ultraviolet rays will accelerate aging. And as for bathing, I wonder if Miss Nagai will suddenly feel that her skin has improved when she occasionally takes a hot spring bath?"

"Ah, it really is!"

"So it is also very important to hydrate the skin."

Hayashi Yoshiki said with a smile.

In the audience, Eri Kisaki watched the performance of Hayashi Yoshiki on the stage with a smile on her face. She felt relieved to see him being calm and fluent in his speech.

The host saw that the guest and the assistant host were chatting happily but he was a little out of tune, so he had to smile and change the topic: "Speaking of which, not only me, but the audience should also be curious about what the work of a mystery novelist is like. Hayashi-Sensei, can you tell us about this?"

"If you're a mystery novelist, you must think of the story first." Hayashi Yoshiki looked at him and answered politely and gently: "Once you think of the story, you start writing, and make some revisions during the process... Actually, there's nothing much to talk about."

"Well... But there are some very sophisticated techniques in Hayashi-Sensei's works. May I ask how you came up with cases like these?" Takashi Matsuo made a somewhat curious expression.

"It's mainly because I'm more interested in detective stories. I usually take the initiative to get information related to this area, read a lot and think a lot. And when it comes to cases, I'm more accustomed to writing in a backwards way."

"Backwards?"

"Yes, like the death of the deceased, the way of death or the method of committing the crime... If I think of a good scene, I will first decide on this scene and then work backwards to write the cause, process and emotions of the story. It's like shooting the arrow first and then drawing the target."

"So there is such a method. Is there anything that gives you the most headache when you are creating, Hayashi-Sensei?"

"The most troublesome thing is probably naming the characters."

As if feeling a little embarrassed, Hayashi Yoshiki's gentle voice became a little softer. He took out a black notebook from his arms and opened it:

"Because I'm really bad at naming, I always carry a notebook with me... Well, if I meet someone I'm interested in, I'll ask them to leave their name on it, and then I'll use it as a reference when naming the character."

"There are indeed a lot of names recorded..." Nagai Ayako exclaimed.

"Hayashi-Sensei is really thoughtful. I wonder if I would be honored to leave my name on it?" Matsuo Takashi was very supportive and continued, "Haha, if the name can be used as a reference to become a character in a novel, I think it would be very interesting."

"Of course, Mr. Matsuo."

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled and handed the notebook and pen to the other party.

In front of the camera, Matsuo Takashi happily wrote his name on the notebook, and then Nagai Ayako followed suit and left her name on the notebook.

I have to say that both hosts are very professional.

The agreement reached between Futaba Publishing and the program organizers is to promote Hayashi Yoshiki's new works more on the program. Therefore, from the beginning of the program to now, the two have been constantly talking about Hayashi Yoshiki's author identity and new book.