by Is it true that working in the media means taking risks like this? In the seventh episode of the anime ” I Want Someone Else in the Next Life,” there was a scene where Nao Shiota (CV: Rumi Okubo), who had been offered a job as a female announcer at a central broadcasting station, was threatened. The typical villain who takes advantage of weaknesses caused angry voices on social media, such as “he’s a scumbag who should be condemned.”
At a particular gathering, Nao was approached by her ex-boyfriend Ozu Kento (CV: Tachibana Shinnosuke), whose parents were an entertainment agency executive and a famous freelance announcer. Recently, there have been some nasty rumors about Ozu. A model girl Ozu had introduced to people around him was almost taken to a hotel by force, resulting in a criminal case-level commotion. Ozu had many acquaintances who were models, and there were widespread rumors that shady characters were using him.
Nao was aware of the rumor, but Ozu was the one who brought it up. When Nao looked puzzled, Ozu laughed and said, “It’s the other way around.” Those around him had not forced Ozu to introduce him to women; he had been introducing unsuccessful talents and girls, hoping they would become models for his big clients and get a commission from them.
After hearing the truth from Ozu, Nao asked him why he had told her such a story. Ozu didn’t even try to hide his intention to use Nao and asked him a straight question: “You slept with Miyama Kirishima, didn’t you?” When Nao wanted to deny it, Ozu continued, “Normally, a woman who has already been offered a job as a news announcer wouldn’t date a yakuza.”
When Nao was at a loss for words after hearing, “I have pictures and videos,” he continued, “And didn’t you smoke marijuana when you were in America? Two years ago with a classmate from university.” Nao desperately denied having done anything like that, but Ozu threatened her, saying, “Just by being there, I can make it sound like I did it.”
Feeling cornered, Nao asked, “What do you want me to do?” Ozu demanded that she summon Kirishima and Yoshino to a specified location, and if that was possible, he offered to “act as if none of this had happened.”
Ozu’s yakuza-like threats have led to a flood of condemnation on social media, with comments such as “He’s a scumbag who should be condemned,” “Ozu-kun, scum,” “Oh, that annoying ex-boyfriend is the worst — I hope he dies,” and “Another bad-tempered scumbag has appeared.”
The anime “I Want to Be Someone Else in the Next Life” is based on a popular manga by Asuka Konishi, which is currently being serialized in “Monthly Afternoon” (Kodansha). It depicts a love story between Yoshino, the granddaughter of the boss of the “Somei-gumi,” a direct descendant of the “Kirigatani-gumi,” the largest yakuza group in Kansai, and Kirishima, whose great-uncle is the head of the “Miyama-tikka,” a direct descendant of the “Toso-kai,” the largest yakuza group in Kanto.
Episode 7 “If You’re Indifferent, It’s Better to Be Hated, Part 2”
From the bus window, Nao spots Kirishima and Yoshino walking together. Nao gets off the bus to follow the two and is called out by Yoshino, who had been with Kirishima earlier. Yoshino and Nao then start talking about someone they both know: Kirishima. Nao begins to speak about Kirishima’s past, something Yoshino didn’t know about.
Then Nao’s ex-boyfriend Ozu finds out about her past actions and her relationship with Kirishima, revealing a weakness that could affect her future life. So, what is Ozu’s request for Nao?
