Flying over the bubble era

Chapters 1566 and 1567. Creating a Trend

This is a fragile era.

For every steadfast hero, there is a protector who embraces the vulnerable. It doesn't matter if it seems superficial, nor does it matter if it possesses high literary merit.

Rather, in this era, playing the profound game is an offense to the audience.

Times have changed, and the older generation can no longer offer any experience to the younger generation. The era full of hope and opportunity is over, and past experiences are losing their effectiveness.

This incident shocked Shinichi Iwahashi, causing him to re-examine his current situation. Previously, although he had set trends, he was essentially conservative, considering what the public needed and exploring based on that.

Now, he's thinking about something else: creating trends.

“Mayumi-san, weapons aren’t made because there’s a demand for them. Once they’re made, there will naturally be a demand for them.”

“Creating trends is an art in itself,” Shinichi Iwahashi said.

He wasn't considering what the public needed, but rather what he, as a trendsetter, wanted the public to accept.

At the same time, it's clearly about providing the masses with trends and creating an atmosphere where they have choices. It's like wishful thinking that as long as weapons are laid down, war will stop, and as long as the enemy is eliminated, permanent peace will be achieved.

In a fragile era, the masses cannot accept the reality that they are actually "powerless," so they try to prove themselves in various ways that they are still respected and still have choices.

The entertainment industry is a place where dreams are created, and the bubbles that practitioners blow for the public are indeed colorful and not one-dimensional.

Shinichi Iwahashi was saying things his past self would never have said.

Watanabe Mayumi listened, completely absorbed. She thought to herself, "Iwahashi Shinichi has revealed the cold side of his heart." But then she realized that this was simply Iwahashi Shinichi's true nature; he was just no longer restraining himself at this moment.

However, this cold side ignites a passion for work.

"Is this what you mean by running two parallel lines?" she asked.

Shinichi Iwahashi replied to her, "Ms. Mayumi, social commentators are always keen to criticize the younger generation. But a society where young people are always the target of criticism means that the so-called adults are also deeply mired in fear."

In a world in turmoil, adults are filled with anxiety. When they point the finger at young people, accusing them of being empty-headed and lacking responsibility, they are only exposing their own cowardice.

It's because I'm powerless to fight reality, and I hate that young people have unlimited potential but I can't change it.

Adults hand over a chaotic world to young people, only to accuse them of being incapable of shouldering responsibility. This approach will not spur young people to wake up; it will only exacerbate divisions.

People who have lived through different eras tend to diverge from one another, and even peers can be divided due to different circumstances. Once a divided group chooses to band together for mutual support, it subconsciously closes itself off from the world.

“Seeds of hatred cannot grow into flowers. The coming era will be an era of division caused by hatred.”

In such an era, there is a need for a hero in the popular sense—a plan that was previously established and is now underway. Young people dislike the older generation, so heroes will inevitably become younger and younger.

On the other hand, closing oneself off means that the public needs more private and targeted comfort.

“We need all kinds of singer-songwriters, we need pop idols for specific groups, and we even need to expand beyond the entertainment industry. There are opportunities in everything related to entertainment.”

“As soon as the lights are turned on, moths will flock to them. Starlight and lamplight are both illusions… I’m not trying to fool the masses. I never want to hurt them. It’s just that for people in this era, even touching the starlight can’t bring dreams, and the starlight is so ethereal. Even lamplight, if it can bring some comfort and fantasy, isn’t a bad thing.” Shinichi Iwahashi spoke of a realistic outlook, but Mayumi Watanabe subtly sensed a touch of sadness in it. In a sense, honesty implies softness, and inevitably, it’s tinged with melancholy.

While she was feeling sad, Shinichi Iwahashi had already made up his mind.

Shinichi Iwahashi, who had previously asked himself on the phone, "To what kind of public are we taking responsibility?", has now calmed down and answered his own question.

“Mayumi-san, we have now entered an era where everything is possible. Not that everything can be sold, but that everything can be sold.” Shinichi Iwahashi said decisively.

His unyielding manner made everything Watanabe Mayumi said sound like she was just agreeing with him.

This huge market, this complex era, is enough to nourish all trends.

Even manufactured trends.

……

Talking about work in a familiar rhythm is the quickest way to calm your mind. However, throughout the day, whenever you have a moment of free time, a restless feeling inevitably creeps in.

It wasn't until I finished the last activity of the day and returned home that the restlessness vanished the moment I saw the lights in front of my house.

Shinichi Iwahashi couldn't wait to see Akina and his daughter Kokoro. He walked across the yard, stood in front of the door, and pushed it open as if unwrapping a long-awaited gift.

He looked at his wife who had come to greet him and suddenly said, "It feels like I haven't seen you in ages..."

Akina Nakamori's eyes widened, showing a moment of surprise at his words, before she realized what kind of mood Shinichi Iwahashi was in when he spoke.

She took her husband's hand and led him inside. "Now that you see me, are you at ease?"

Shinichi Iwahashi followed behind her, looking at the stubborn back of her head. This Akina Nakamori, though small in stature and prone to tears, undoubtedly possessed a strength that made her a pillar of support for Shinichi Iwahashi.

What I am experiencing right now is reality.

Whether times change or not, no matter what happens in the world or what decisions he makes, this is the only constant.

Neither of them brought up the sarin poisoning incident that had occurred that day.

After washing up, Shinichi Iwahashi went to see his daughter. By eleven o'clock, he could finally sit down and rest. The evening paper was on the table, untouched. He didn't even need to look to know what the headline would be.

Akina Nakamori came over with a tray and handed him a cup.

Shinichi Iwahashi glanced at the other glass on the tray, a half-smile playing on his lips. Akina Nakamori pretended to speak to herself, "Akina will have a drink with you too..."

After becoming a mother, Akina Nakamori had few opportunities to drink alcohol.

At this moment, faced with her husband's teasing, even the usually self-righteous woman felt embarrassed. Becoming a mother really changes things.

Shinichi Iwahashi found her little expression funny, but he could also guess that she was actually just being silly on purpose.

He handed another cup to Akina Nakamori.