Vol 2 Chapter 3: The Lost Dragon — Akihito Kajiwara’s Report

“Y-Yes, please give me the job!”

I, twenty-five-year-old actor Akihito Kajiwara, hung up the phone excitedly. It was a call from my manager about a new job.

“I have the perfect job for you, since you’re from Kyoto.”

It was a travel program; something like a Kyoto version of See the World by Train. The episodes were short, but it was going to be about the beautiful scenery of Kyoto. My time’s finally come. I’ve only gotten bit parts up until now, but at last…

“I can’t believe this is happening.”

No matter how you looked at it, it was a lead role on a national network. I sighed deeply and plunked myself down on the couch. A scroll hung on the wall in front of me: Hokusai’s painting of Mount Fuji. Family drama had resulted in the one I’d inherited being burned, but I found the same painting in a store and bought it. The name of the painting was…

“Uhh, what was it again?”

I opened the notes app on my smartphone and found the words “Dragon Over Mount Fuji.” Right, that was it. I nodded. At the same time, I recalled what that man—Kiyotaka “Holmes” Yagashira—had said:

“Akihito’s ‘Dragon Over Mount Fuji’ was painted by Hokusai three months before his death. Hokusai was almost ninety when he left this world, but his final words were ‘If only Heaven would permit me another five years, I could become a true painter.’ He lamented on his deathbed that he wanted to paint more and improve his skill. You could say that he was a true artist.

“I believe Kajiwara wanted to say, ‘If you really want to pursue a career in entertainment, then do so with the proper amount of passion. Don’t go at it half-heartedly. And just like the Mount Fuji in the painting, become the best in Japan. Become a star, like the dragon ascending in the sky.’ I’m sure he was supporting you, even if he couldn’t say so.”

I felt myself tearing up again. Now that I think about it, ever since I learned about my father’s dying wish from Holmes, better jobs have mysteriously been coming my way. Right after that, I’d gotten the major role of Lysander in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and now, I’m going to be the main actor in this program. If I impress people with the travel show, it could lead to another big job.

I can’t believe I get to promote Kyoto. Neither of my parents were born in Kyoto, and I don’t even speak Kansai dialect, but that doesn’t change the fact that I grew up here. I’m a “Kyoto man” too, technically.

Kyoto would be full of gorgeous sights as autumn progressed. However, I only just came home to Tokyo, and now I’m going to have to go back to Kyoto. Plus, the girls in Tokyo are going to be upset and say, “You’re leaving me to go to Kansai?” Still, my face relaxed into a content smile. They said they were thinking of showing Nanzen-ji Temple first, so it might be a good idea to check it out before the filming. Before that, I could pay a visit to that guy at Kura…and learn about the temple from him. Knowing him, he’d act annoyed but kindly explain nonetheless. I looked at the picture of Holmes I’d taken at the party the other day and smiled.