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Chapter 129. I Can't Do Anything...
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As a once-famous director, even though he had to step back and lay low for a while, after years of experience in the industry, Akiyuki Shinbo no longer had the typical mindset of a rookie, thinking "I'm the best," or "Only I can save the industry."
However, even so, the act of humbling himself to cling to someone else's coattails wasn't something one would expect from him.
Yet, reality can sometimes be stranger than fiction. When Shinbo convinced himself that Jolyne Cujoh was using this situation to ensure they could focus entirely on filming the final scenes of "Battle Tendency," he found it difficult to approach the project with his usual calmness.
After all, Shinbo couldn't bring himself to just dump all the responsibility onto Jolyne Cujoh. If it were only about the potential for the project to lose money, Shinbo might not have felt so pressured.
As a seasoned veteran, he understood that even the most experienced directors in the industry can't guarantee that their projects will be successful.
In fact, after understanding the challenges of filming "Battle Tendency," Shinbo had already prepared for the worst. He had given his all, and if they still couldn't produce a satisfactory result, he'd feel disappointed, but nothing more.
It was as if he was poised for a triumphant comeback, only to fall flat with his second project. In such a case, the industry wouldn't view him as a returning champion but merely as someone who got lucky once.
If this had happened in the past, Shinbo might have had to step back from the industry again. But with a unique boss like Jolyne Cujoh, Shinbo was confident he wouldn't need to do that this time. He didn't need to care about the rumors; he just needed to focus on making good films and proving himself.
So, despite the difficulty of filming "Battle Tendency," under Pucci's influence, Shinbo, who saw Jolyne Cujoh as a visionary and ambitious industry leader, adopted an attitude of doing his best and leaving the outcome to fate. However, if Jolyne Cujoh were to join the crew now... that would change everything!
This wasn't about slacking off with the boss around. It was simpler than that. Shinbo simply couldn't betray the person who had given him a second chance and believed in him, Jolyne Cujoh.
Even if it meant losing his dignity, even if it meant asking others for help, even if it went against Jolyne Cujoh's idea of them each getting "training," Shinbo didn't care. He just wanted to hold on tight to Pucci's support and beg for help!
After the incident with Nobuo Tobita, Shinbo realized that the reason Pucci was chosen as director while he was only the assistant wasn't just because Pucci had joined a few days earlier. It was also because Pucci was vastly more skilled in certain areas than he was.
His ability to guide actors, especially in turning Nobuo Tobita, who had almost been abandoned by the industry, into a star, was something Shinbo couldn't hope to match.
Thus, when Gintoki Sakata, who had been planning to relax by playing some pachinko, walked into the arcade, he immediately ran into Pucci, as if Pucci had been waiting for him...
"H-Hello, Director Pucci... I-I didn't expect you to enjoy playing pachinko too..." Gintoki stammered, his expression tense, while inwardly cursing Caesar Zeppeli.
Sure, everyone knew Gintoki loved pachinko, but who else would still be playing pachinko at such a critical time? Whenever Gintoki visited, he usually found himself alone in the arcade. Well, except for the one time Caesar had joined him. So... Caesar, did you betray me!?
As Gintoki silently cursed Caesar in his heart, he stood there like a student caught playing with his phone in class, nervously awaiting Pucci's judgment.
"Don't be so tense. I didn't come here just to catch you playing... Well, I guess I did, but not because you like pachinko. It's about the final battle in the last episode of 'Battle Tendency.' You've read the script, right?" Pucci continued, "Can you handle it?"
"..."
Can I handle it? Handle what exactly? Anyone who hadn't read the script might ask that. But unfortunately, Gintoki Sakata, who had read the script for "Battle Tendency," knew exactly what Pucci was asking.
Facing Kars, who couldn't be killed by magma or by the very planet that birthed countless lives, could he avoid falling into despair?
After witnessing Kars effortlessly use the Ripple, which he had painstakingly trained to master, at a hundred times its effectiveness, could he still muster the will to fight?
Unlike his first escape, this time, Stroheim was by his side. But compared to the deep bond between Speedwagon and Joseph, Stroheim and Joseph's connection was more like a camaraderie. It was akin to how Goku barely reacted when Vegeta or Piccolo died, but was enraged to the point of becoming a Super Saiyan when Krillin was killed. This was only natural.
In this situation, with the script assigning him the role of Joseph, would Gintoki still be able to conquer his fear?
Without the daredevil plane race against Kars to discover the ultimate being's weakness, after realizing that Kars' perceived weakness was merely due to him not being serious, could he still find the courage to claim he had found a way to defeat Kars and actually attempt it?
'Can I do it?'
Gintoki looked down at himself, deeply silent in response to Pucci's question. The answer seemed obvious.
'I can't do anything...'