Sunday — Nichimei TV Studio
"Check! Check!""Sound's good.""Microphone connection—OK.""Cameras are in position.""How's Mr. Hayashiki doing?""All set!"
The production crew moved with seamless coordination, and the assistant director was already helping guide Hayashiki into place.
"When the show starts, just follow the camera cues. Don't be nervous. Just relax and enjoy yourself."
Hayashiki nodded calmly.
From his seat on stage, he glanced toward the audience section. Sitting front and center were Editor Nanae Asamiya and Eri Kisaki. The latter gave him an encouraging thumbs-up and smiled brightly.
Hayashiki returned a soft smile.
Then, the director gave the countdown, and the red light on the camera came on.
The recording had officially begun.
"Good evening, everyone—"
"Welcome back to another episode of The All-Japan Detective Agency Unit! I'm your host, Takashi Matsuo."
A cheerful man with a middle-parted haircut and a wide smile opened the show.
Next to him stood a bubbly young woman pointing at her cheeks, smiling brilliantly.
"And I'm your co-host, Ayako Nagai—hello everyone!"
"As always, we'll be diving into tricky, unsolved mysteries submitted by viewers from across the country," Matsuo explained to the camera.
"And to help us today, we've invited a very special guest—Mr. Hayashiki, bestselling author of three consecutive hit mystery novels!"
At Ayako's cue, the camera shifted to Hayashiki.
"Good evening, everyone."
The studio lights reflected off his composed, elegant expression. His smile was gentle, refined—and devastatingly handsome.
The studio audience erupted in applause—mixed with audible squeals from several young women.
"Teacher Hayashiki is so handsome!"
Even Ayako Nagai couldn't help but gasp.
Though her tone was playful, the admiration in her eyes was genuine.
"Please, come back as a regular! You might just help us hit number one in the ratings!"
"That's not why you're trying to book him, Ayako," Matsuo chuckled.
"Why not both? Ratings and eye candy!" she teased.
"If that happens, the director's going to make me host from off-camera…"
"That's fine—we'll just keep your voice and put Mr. Hayashiki on screen!"
Laughter rippled through the audience.
Hayashiki smiled politely, playing along.
"Honestly, I thought being on a show like this would be more serious."
"Not at all," Matsuo replied. "We like to keep things light here."
"Right! This show is all about having fun with mystery," Ayako added.
Then she turned to Hayashiki, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"But seriously, you're shockingly pretty up close. May I ask you something?"
"As long as it's not a confession," Hayashiki joked smoothly.
"Can it be a confession?!"
"Please don't," he replied without missing a beat.
"Aww!"
The audience laughed again—though a few female fans seemed slightly jealous of Ayako's boldness.
Recovering quickly, Ayako beamed:
"Okay, serious question: do you have any skincare secrets? You have better skin than most women I know!"
"Well… I don't really do anything special. Aside from sunscreen, I suppose I do enjoy a good bath."
"Sunscreen and baths?"
"Yes. Excessive UV exposure accelerates aging. And as for baths—don't you ever notice your skin feels better after soaking in a hot spring?"
"Oh my gosh, you're right!"
"So it's important to stay hydrated, inside and out," Hayashiki replied with a soft smile.
In the audience, Eri Kisaki smiled too—relieved and proud. He looked completely at ease on camera, engaging and articulate.
The host, realizing he was being overshadowed by the banter, gently redirected the conversation.
"That's all fascinating, but I'm sure the audience is also curious—what's daily life like for a mystery novelist? Could you tell us a little about your routine?"
"Well, everything starts with a story idea," Hayashiki explained with a calm nod. "Once I've got something in mind, I sit down and start writing. I'll revise along the way, of course—but honestly, there's not much glamour to it."
"Still, some of the techniques in your novels are quite elaborate," Matsuo pressed, leaning forward slightly. "How do you come up with such intricate mysteries?"
"I've always had a strong interest in detective fiction. I tend to consume a lot of material, and I think carefully about what makes a case compelling. When it comes to building cases, I usually write in reverse."
"Reverse?" Ayako echoed.
"Yes. I often begin with the final scene—how the victim dies, the method, the twist. If I come up with something good, I work backward to build the rest of the story—the motive, the events, and the emotional arc. Kind of like firing the arrow first and then painting the target."
"That's a fascinating technique," Matsuo nodded. "So what's the hardest part of your writing process?"
Hayashiki hesitated for a second, then smiled sheepishly.
"Honestly? Naming characters."
His voice turned a bit softer.
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a sleek, black notebook.
"I'm really not good at naming people. So I carry this around with me. If I meet someone interesting, I'll ask for their name and jot it down to use later as inspiration."
"Whoa, there are tons of names in here!" Ayako peeked over, wide-eyed.
"That's so clever. I wonder… do I have the honor of being included?"
"Me too!" Matsuo jumped in playfully. "Imagine having your name turned into a mystery character. That'd be fun!"
"I'd be happy to," Hayashiki said with a smile, handing over the notebook and pen.
The camera zoomed in as Takashi Matsuo proudly signed his name inside.
Ayako followed with a giggle, adding hers beside it.
They were both clearly enjoying themselves—and doing a great job fulfilling the agreement made with Futaba Publishing. From the very start, the producers had planned to highlight Hayashiki's identity as a rising mystery author and promote his new book throughout the episode.
So far, the plan was working perfectly.