Became an American Retro Novelist - Chapter 162



Only Noblemtl

162.

The day after ‘About T: TV Series’ aired, I heard the aggregated ratings from Julia.

[About 1.2 million households.]

“······.”

The moment I heard those words, I felt like I had been hit in the head with a hammer.

What did I hear wrong just now?

As I was thinking about that, Julia confirmed it.

[Approximately one-sixth of California TV subscribers watched ‘About T: TV Series.’]

“This is crazy.”

That was the only thing that came out.

Julia said that there is about one television per household in California, meaning there are about 6.5 million TV subscribers. And since there are also cases where people watch dramas together in dormitories or other gathering places, it means that there may be more people watching the drama than I thought.

I was struck by the sheer scale of the numbers. I realized the impact my work was having across California.

[It seems that the sales of the single-volume edition that was released together with the television broadcast also caught fire. I went to an event in the book corner of a large department store, and I received several requests asking if I could ask the author to do a signing event. As the saying goes, “When the water comes in, don’t pour it down,” so now is the time to go all out.]

“Well, on weekends······ I think I can somehow make time.”

I answered, a little bewildered.

Just last night, I heard from my department classmates, including John Smith, that we should go to the lobby and watch a drama together when we have time, but I was worried that the original author’s presence would make it difficult to concentrate on the drama or ruin the fun atmosphere for everyone, so I didn’t go and just stayed in my room and did my homework.

‘I felt a little relieved when John said he killed her.’

I never thought the results would be this great.

I once again realized the power of the medium called ‘television’.

Even in this day and age, no, even more so in this day and age, people would prefer television over books. As described in ‘Country of Losers’, people have become accustomed to increasingly convenient forms of media.

Thanks to that benefit, my work will continue to sell better, but I also feel a bit bitter.

‘I wonder if everyone will remember About T as a drama rather than a novel…’

It was just then.

[It’s all thanks to the author’s work. ······They asked me to convey that.]

“yes?”

[It seems that California Pictures also took a breather because the author wrote such a great original story. Oh, do you know? LBS and California Pictures put a lot of effort into this work. They even advertised it quite a bit. Even though it was only a pilot episode.]

“Yes, it was.”

[I think they were being pressured by their superiors one way or another due to performance issues. Especially California Pictures. They said that the production of the season is practically 100% confirmed, so they asked us to take good care of it.]

“Well, it could have been possible since you chose the drama well.”

[No, that’s not true.]

Julia said firmly.

[That’s right. The drama was really well made. I felt like the writer had beautifully recreated the world of ‘About T’ that he had imagined. However, the writer was the one who wrote such a good piece with an imagination that no one else could, and isn’t that something that only ‘God’ can do, not anyone else in the world?]

“thank you.”

······This gentleman, do you know how to read other people’s minds?

I couldn’t be too happy because of the memories of the past ‘Dead Man’s Heaven’, but you came to comfort me in this way.

Well, I’ve never really been conscious of it until now, but I felt like she was like an older sister.

‘Julia is much younger than me now, so it’s kind of funny to think that way.’

I thanked her and hung up the phone.

‘I learned something.’

Yeah, let’s not overthink it. The drama is getting a good response anyway.

I smiled and left the dorm to go to class.

***

A few days have passed since ‘About T: TV Series’ aired.

While watching the drama live with her family at home, Alexa Flair saw her screen time with her own eyes, and she hugged and screamed with her close family.

Only then did I truly realize that something like a dream was unfolding before my eyes.

I’m on TV!

That too, as a role in the television series ‘About T’ written by a god I really like!

For Alexa, it was a special feeling. Even if it was just an extra with only one line, she was so happy that she could participate in the work of someone she loved more than anyone else.

When I went to the national cheerleading competition and won, I was on television all over the country, but at the time, the experience of winning was so precious that I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was.

But now I feel the power it holds very vividly.

So I was really excited and a few days later I called God and bragged to him.

“God, did you see me on TV? I saw it! I saw it!”

God could not properly answer that question.

“··················haven’t you seen it?”

The life in Alexa’s eyes suddenly disappeared as she spoke on the phone.

God tried his best to explain why he had not seen ‘About T: TV Series’.

There’s only one TV in the dorm, and I, the original author, couldn’t watch it because I thought it would just make the atmosphere weird, but I requested a video from the broadcasting station, so let’s watch it together later!

······After hearing a series of stories that sounded like excuses and understanding the situation, Alexa answered cautiously.

“Oh, well, it might be uncomfortable for a writer to go to a place where everyone can watch together.”

“I’m sorry, I really wanted to see you too. ······” replied Shin.

“No! No! We’ll see each other again later anyway. In fact, that’s what I’m most looking forward to.”

Alexa laughed bashfully, tangling the already tangled phone cord even more, and talked to God on the phone for a long time.

Then, I turned around at the sound of a cough and saw my father standing behind me.

“······Who are you?”

“Oh, my God. Should I call you?”

“No, it’s okay.”

My father’s attitude was somehow stiff.

Shin is somewhat embarrassed when his father comes to talk to him for a moment.

Alexa tilted her head, unable to understand the strange relationship between the two men, and soon hung up the phone, regretting that it was time to go to work and that she wanted to talk to God a little more.

These days, Alexa has started driving.

Like most American teenagers, her parents bought her her first car, and she began driving it to work with a new spirit. The little 1982 Ford Escort was used, but Alexa was thrilled at the thought that she could drive it to Stanford whenever she wanted.

The problem was that she wasn’t used to driving yet.

Bang-! Bang bang!

“sorry!”

······She was innocent, so she opened her window and apologized to each car that honked its horn. If God had been next to her, he would have been unusually flustered and thought, ‘No matter what, changing lanes in five places at the same time is crazy.’

Still, somehow, driving, she entered an office near Hollywood.

And then, as if he had been waiting for her, CEO Karl Hobbes greeted her.

“Alexa! Our agency’s biggest star!”

“Hello~! CEO! Good morning everyone!”

“Hello, Alexa!”

“Did you sleep well last night?”

“I enjoyed the broadcast!”

The models who had their photoshoot scheduled for today welcomed her in a friendly atmosphere.

After seeing Karl Hobbes praising her so much, Alexa quietly listened to his story without complaining.

As it turned out, there was a reason.

“I got an offer to appear in the regular season too! I asked the FD there and he said that the ratings for the pilot episode that aired this time were no joke! Let’s give it our all!”

Normally, a normal person here would show humility.

However, as she developed various social relationships since childhood, Alexa instinctively learned that there were people who would be dissatisfied with just ‘humility’. People tend to be dissatisfied even when those who have something flaunt it, and dissatisfied even when they show humility.

Of course, Alexa, being the trusting type, knew that these people gathered here were not the kind of people who would do that.

Still, I said this just in case.

“I’ll go and say hello to the PD often, and I’ll work really hard on my acting to get a lot of work! I’ll let you know how many great models and actors we have at our agency!”

It was straight to praising someone else.

The conversation naturally turned to her, and everyone burst into laughter at her cheerful reaction, which seemed naive in some ways.

“It’s okay! Just go and work hard!”

“I don’t think there will be time to talk to the PD separately?”

“While you’re eating, can I sneak up next to you and······?”

Surprisingly, her super powers were put to good use in this ‘entertainment industry’ environment.

***

A week after ‘About T: TV series’ aired.

Kate Moore, whom I ran into in a class I was attending for audit purposes, was the one who spoke to me first for some reason.

“Give me some time after you finish.”

“Would you like some coffee?”

“kid······.”

She opened her eyes wide for a moment, then sighed and nodded.

“okay.”

Judging from how surprisingly docile she was, it seemed like she had something to ask.

‘If you ask me to lend you money, I should run away immediately.’

Although I thought it was half-joking, I had no difficulty guessing that what Kate was going to say would have something to do with ‘About T: TV series’.

And it was just as I thought.

A nearby coffee shop I went to after class.

After ordering coffee and cake and sitting down, Kate started by saying this.

“I’ve been acting weird lately because of you.”

“······what?”

My eyes widened at the completely unexpected words.

As I reached for my bag to run away, the conversation continued.

“I thought about it. What on earth is the problem with my wavering heart? And I came to this conclusion. What you did to me, what you showed me. That’s the problem. You defiled me. I wasn’t originally like this, but because of you, I’ve been having strange thoughts lately!”

Kate’s voice gets louder as she speaks, seeming excited.

“Hey, hey. Are you a friend? Everyone misunderstands. This isn’t some cheap comedy. Why are you leaving out the subject?”

I looked at Kate, feeling my reputation at school being manipulated in real time.

Oh, they’re already chattering away. I’m screwed.

“That, that is, that is what I am saying.”

I’m confused because of ‘About T’.

Kate nodded and said.

Unfortunately, the volume was the same as when I last spoke.

“Yeah, that’s right! Every night I can’t sleep and I keep thinking about it!”

“Say it clearly, Aboutti!!!!”

I, too, got excited for a moment and shouted in agreement.

Kate looked at me with horrified eyes.

“Why, why are you screaming? Are you a savage?”

“No, you’re looking at me strangely from the side!”

“Why do you care about your surroundings?”

“It’s funny that you, who pays more attention to what others think than anyone else, say that.”

I laughed in disbelief and sat back down, crossing my arms.

“Did you enjoy watching it on TV?”

“······Awesome.”

She blushed brightly.

I wanted to punch him in the nose.

“It’s not just me. All the kids in my dorm are completely captivated. The visuals, the actors’ acting, the story, the music… they’re all in perfect harmony… I’m watching the recording every night right now. I’ve already watched it eight times.”

“Aren’t you studying?”

“That’s the problem!”

Teacher Kate Moore, who asked teasingly, smiled as if finally understanding.

“I don’t know why! But it’s so much fun! Just running around Los Angeles with Tony and Kate! That’s all there is to it, and in fact, the novel is more fun because there are a lot of parts that are omitted from the description······!”

“You’re a good guy.”

“huh?”

“Oh, no. No.”

This guy, I was impressed just now.

Ahhh-. I was saved by Kate Moore, who likes novels more than movies-.

“Keep going.”

Anyway, even though I understood the general situation, I encouraged him to keep talking.

In times like these, you should just tell your story yourself. That way, you can sort things out.

“I don’t know.”

“Are you the one who gets so excited while watching a drama?”

“Yeah, I’m not really like this. My daily routine is completely broken.”

“Isn’t it just because you’re so stressed out?”

“huh?”

Kate tilts her head at my comment.

I explained to her, step by step, aspects of herself that she was currently unaware of.

“You said you felt empty after coming to college. In that situation, it was fun to watch the video ‘About T’ that portrayed what you think of as an ‘ideal’ school life.”

“Uh, uhm. I don’t know. But I like the way I look now.”

“Hey, how can a person live doing the same thing every day? Sometimes you need to take a break.”

“······.”

“That’s why you watch dramas every day to satisfy yourself vicariously.”

“Oh, definitely.”

“Have you had fun lately? What did you do during the vacation?”

“Seasonal semester.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Why, why! You have to graduate quickly and get a job!”

“What are you going to do with that job?”

“Day?”

“Then what?”

“marriage?”

“and?”

“Giving birth? ············gasp.”

Kate Moore’s face turned bright red for a moment.

Hey, look at this kid. I knew it, but he’s more sinister than I thought.

But originally, suppressed desires tend to make people more dissatisfied.

I opened my mouth cautiously, thinking that it might be rude if the other person heard me.

“People need to know how to relax. When do you get a break?”

“How do you solve that?”

“Well, there are many ways. Meet up with friends and hang out.”

“Alone? Because I don’t have any friends.”

Oh, that’s sad.

I answered in bewilderment in front of Kate, who was saying sad things so casually.

“Just make friends.”

These were the words of a man who would have no friends if Alexa or Doofy hadn’t approached him first.

“You know my situation. There’s no one at school that I really want to open up to.”

“Do you think that opening your heart to someone is what makes a friend?”

“Yeah, for me it is. And actually, I’ve never done that before.”

“······Well then, there is a way.”

“What is it?”

“You just have to make a ‘secret friend.’”

A friend with whom you can freely confide your feelings without any other social connections.

My name is Secret Friend.

End

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