"...Look closely! We lawyers aren't gods... we're just human! We can't decide who's good or evil. The only thing we can do is fight for our client's best interests within the law. That, and that alone, is the truth!"
Arima Takuya's three-minute monologue exploded with power.
His gestures were wild and expressive, his tone switched seamlessly between sarcasm and conviction, and his sharp eyes embodied Komikado Kensuke's essence almost perfectly.
The department manager stood frozen, speechless.
He couldn't believe the president had found such an incredible hidden gem in some no-name corner of the theater scene.
This performance easily surpassed most so-called "top actors".
When the scene ended, Arima panted for breath, eyes flicking nervously toward Seiji.
Seiji didn't hesitate. "Congratulations. You're hired."
"R-Really?" Arima's eyes widened. His head felt light.
He'd actually been chosen... the male lead!
Seiji gave the manager a look. The man immediately handed over a contract.
"Arima-kun, this is your agreement," Seiji said.
Arima snapped out of his daze, grabbed the pen, and signed without a second thought.
He didn't even glance at the terms. This was the opportunity of a lifetime... after ten years of waiting, he wasn't about to let it slip away.
Unfair clauses? Penalty fees? Industry traps? None of that mattered.
Even if it meant falling into every pit, he'd gladly jump.
"Thank you so much, Fujiwara-sensei! I swear I won't let you down!" He bowed deeply.
"Good." Seiji stood. "The manager will handle the follow-up with you."
He patted Arima's shoulder and left the café, escorted out by Arima and the overly excited manager.
An hour later, Arima returned to his theater troupe and handed in his resignation.
"You're quitting?"
The troupe leader sighed, thinking Arima had finally given up on his dream. "Alright then. Go pick up your half-month's pay... I've already approved it."
"Thank you, Director." Arima bowed sincerely. He'd remember this kindness.
After collecting his wages, he quietly packed up his things.
He ignored the sidelong looks and whispers... "Knew he'd give up eventually."
On his way out, he overheard a few junior actors gossiping about Legal High's recent troubles.
"Serves Genesis right. Trying to muscle into the TV business... what were they thinking?"
"Yeah, no actors, no network backing. They're finished."
Arima's lips curved into a cold, dismissive smile.
Idiots.
They only mocked because they'd never had a chance themselves.
If they were offered one, they'd throw themselves at it like moths to a flame.
Fear the big studios? The networks?
No one cared. What mattered was making it.
Gripping his fist tight, Arima turned and walked away without looking back... from the place that had buried ten years of his youth.
With the casting issue solved, Seiji moved on to the next problem... distribution.
Through a headhunting firm, he easily obtained the contact information of executives at Japan's major online streaming platforms.
The first call he made was to a company called NikoNikoStream.
Its CEO, a middle-aged man named Kondo, was frowning at a report showing a steep decline in user engagement. He sighed heavily... until his phone rang with an unfamiliar number.
"Hello? Who is this?" he asked.
"Good afternoon, Kondo-san. This is Fujiwara Seiji."
"Fujiwara… Seiji?" Kondo frowned, assuming it was a scam call, and almost hung up.
"I know your platform's facing user growth stagnation," Seiji said smoothly.
"You've been trying to buy rights to old TV dramas to attract viewers, but it's not working. Your core audience is young... they don't care about dated stories."
In just a few sentences, Seiji laid bare the company's problems and future prospects with unnerving precision.
Kondo's suspicion gave way to shock.
This man spoke like someone who'd been in the industry for decades.
He clearly wasn't a scammer.
"F-Fujiwara-sensei! My apologies! You're absolutely right. What advice do you have for us?"
"I have a new series," Seiji said calmly. "I'd like to stream it online. If you're interested, meet me at the Imperial Hotel rooftop restaurant in an hour."
"Interested?! Of course! I'll be there immediately!"
An hour later, in the hotel's private dining room, Kondo confirmed that the young man before him really was that Seiji Fujiwara.
His respect... and nerves... shot through the roof.
Seiji praised NikoNikoStream's agility in the market, and as Kondo responded with polite humility, he smoothly proposed collaboration:
Legal High would premiere exclusively on their platform.
Kondo was instantly tempted. He could tell this was a golden opportunity.
But the businessman in him still tried to haggle. "Fujiwara-sensei, you know our platform isn't exactly flush with cash…"
Seiji's tone stayed light. "You're not the only one with limited funds. And Genesis doesn't need to enter the drama market. Our video division already makes plenty of money elsewhere."
The message was clear. A soft voice... but unmistakable pressure.
Cold sweat trickled down Kondo's back.
"N-No, of course! We'd be honored to collaborate with you, Fujiwara-sensei! We'll offer our best terms!"
By the end of lunch, Kondo left beaming.
Not only had he secured the rights to Legal High, but he'd also accepted three additional bold proposals from Seiji.
Over the next few hours, Seiji repeated the same tactic with two other platforms... and secured identical deals.
In the end, Legal High would premiere simultaneously on NikoNikoStream, AbemaTV, and Hulu Japan.
Two episodes would air back-to-back on launch night.
Each platform would pay Genesis based on average view counts per episode, with rates increasing in tiers as the show's popularity grew.
On top of that, Genesis would share in all ad revenue and new-member profits.
When Seiji later handed the contracts to the film department manager and Genesis's top attorney, Sakaguchi Ken, both men were stunned speechless.
How had the president managed to get three platforms to sign such a one-sided deal... in a single afternoon?
"P-President… how did you even pull this off?" the manager stammered.
Seiji only smiled faintly.
"Timing," he said. "You just have to know where the world is heading."
Meanwhile, at a high-end cigar lounge in Akasaka, the executives of Toho and several major TV networks were toasting.
"Hah! That Genesis company must be in chaos by now," the Toho director laughed, blowing a ring of smoke. "Trying to break into TV? They should've known better. That's what happens when you don't play by the rules!"
"Exactly. I heard they can't even find second-tier actors anymore, and every investor's pulled out," a Fuji TV producer sneered. "That kid Fujiwara's just a screenwriter. Thought he could play god."
They clinked glasses, already celebrating what they believed was Genesis's downfall.
At a TV studio's greenroom, a veteran media critic was basking in praise after a live talk show.
"Professor, your analysis was brilliant again! Ratings hit another record!"
The critic gave a modest smile. "I only stated the obvious. Challenging the old order always comes at a price. Genesis may be talented in animation, but diving into live-action drama was reckless. A shame, really... Fujiwara's gifted, but he's overreached."
He sipped his tea, satisfied with his own "prophetic insight".
Online, countless commenters echoed the sentiment... declaring Legal High a doomed project.
But inside the headquarters of NikoNikoStream, AbemaTV, and Hulu Japan, the mood couldn't have been more different.
"President! It's insane! Since we dropped the Legal High trailer, app downloads are up thirty percent in 24 hours! Pre-registrations for VIP memberships just passed fifty million!"
"Same here! We've had to expand server capacity twice already!"
"Seiji Fujiwara's name alone drives traffic! This partnership's a jackpot!"
Each CEO watched the numbers skyrocket, faces glowing with excitement.
They could already see it... how Seiji would lead them in overturning the old TV order and ushering in a new era of streaming dominance.
The Legal High storm was about to break.
9 p.m.
For Japan's TV-viewing public, it was a routine evening.
Every network was airing the usual predictable dramas, ratings holding steady.
But online, a tidal surge was building.
Countless young people, office workers, and disillusioned drama fans opened NikoNikoStream, AbemaTV, or Hulu Japan... all for one purpose:
Legal High.
Shimokitazawa, STARRY Livehouse.
The underground stage was dark, the projector flickering to life against a white curtain.
The members of Kessoku Band, along with PA-san and Kikuri Hiroi, were all gathered, surrounded by chips and soda.
"Hmph. I wanna see what kind of mess that useless playboy made this time," Seika Ijichi muttered, arms crossed... but her eyes stayed glued to the screen.
"Yeah, he'd be better off writing songs," Eliza Shimizu mumbled around a mouthful of chips.
Nijika Ijichi clasped her hands together, face tense with anticipation. "If it's Seiji's work, it'll be amazing. I know it."
The commercials ended.
A stylized, high-energy opening theme blasted through the room... the show had begun.
Silence fell.
Five minutes in, the entire Livehouse was dead quiet except for the rapid-fire courtroom dialogue on-screen... and the crunch of potato chips.
When Arima Takuya's Komikado unleashed a barrage of absurd yet brilliant legal arguments, obliterating his opponent, Kikuri nearly spat out her drink.
"Holy crap! This guy's such a jerk... but I love him!" she laughed, eyes shining.
Even Ryo Yamada's perpetually stoic face showed a flicker of surprise.
The pacing was razor-sharp, the reversals relentless, the dialogue crackling with wit. Everyone was glued to the screen, completely forgetting the passage of time.
By the end of the first episode, when Komikado won the case and pocketed thirty million yen, walking off with a smug grin, the girls couldn't hold back their awe.
"That was amazing!" Nijika cheered, eyes sparkling.
"The timing, the dialogue... everything was perfect," PA-san murmured.
Even Seika had to concede, "...Yeah. It's actually kinda good."
Her words said "kinda," but her eyes were practically pressed against the screen.
Eliza stared blankly, muttering with a complicated expression, "Damn it, Seiji… even live-action, really?"
Then the second episode began, seamless and fast.
Once again, they were drawn in completely.
When the ending credits finally rolled, everyone sat in stunned silence, wanting more.
"That's it?" Nijika groaned, crestfallen.
"Why only two episodes per week?! This is torture!" Seika shouted, suddenly realizing she'd become the very fan she used to mock.
"I'm watching it again!" Kikuri grabbed the remote. "You recorded it, right?"
They were completely hooked.
The "irresponsible playboy" they'd mocked had, once again, stunned them all with his impossible talent.
Meanwhile, across Tokyo in a luxury apartment, Utaha and Eriri sat side by side on the couch, having just finished the same two episodes.
"Monster," Eriri muttered. Her golden eyes shone with awe... and a hint of envy.
Utaha smiled faintly. "I told you. For him, this kind of thing is effortless."
Eriri bit her lip, refusing to admit it... but she didn't argue.
The gap between them and Seiji felt vast, impossible to cross... and yet mesmerizing.
Back in Akasaka, at that same cigar lounge, the Toho executive and his TV allies lounged comfortably, smirking as they started Legal High.
"Hah. A no-name actor, streaming release? Pathetic. Let's see what trash this is," the director scoffed.
But as the plot unfolded, his grin slowly froze.
The chatter died.
Only Komikado's machine-gun monologue echoed through the room.
By the time the first episode ended, the executive's cigar had slipped from his fingers, burning a dark hole into the carpet.
He didn't even notice.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
=====
You can read up to chapter 170 on patreon.com/NiaXD.