The eighth episode of the TV Asahi drama series "Reborn ~The Last Hero~" (Tuesdays at 9 PM), starring actor Issei Takahashi, aired on June 2nd. A scene in which NEOXIS president Kosei (Issei Takahashi) and Eiji (Fumiyo Kohinata) talk on the phone was depicted, and Kosei's reaction at that time caused a stir on social media.
◇The following contains spoilers.
Kosei Neo, who has been reincarnated as Hideto Nomoto (played by Takahashi in a dual role), asks Sarasa (Anne Nakamura) to persuade the current Kosei Neo in order to protect Akari Shopping Street, but NEOXIS decides to acquire Akari Shopping Street. When Tomono (Ouji Suzuka) tells him this fact, he is furious, which makes Hideto (with Kosei's mind inside) suspect that Tomono might be the one who killed Kosei in his previous life.
Appointed as the negotiator for Akari Shopping Street, Tomono tries to negotiate while being considerate of the shopkeepers, but Eiji and others resist, making little progress, and he is removed from his negotiating position. Then, due to interference from NEOXIS, led by Kosei, Akari Shopping Street's businesses become unsustainable.
Later, Eiji receives a call from Mitsumasa from this era. Mitsumasa begins by asking Eiji, "Why don't you stop being so stubborn?" and offers 100 million yen as compensation if Eiji agrees to vacate the premises. However, Eiji rejects the offer, saying, "Not everyone will bow down to money. How on earth does a person like you come to be? I'd like to see the faces of your parents. I... I feel so sorry for you." Mitsumasa is speechless for a moment, then bursts out laughing and replies, "Well, I'm surprised, I never thought you'd say something like that to me..." and says, "Let's both do our best," before hanging up.
Then, Tomono and Eri (Mayu Yokota), who could no longer keep up with Kosei's methods, quit NEOXIS. As people drifted away from him, Kosei drank alone in an empty room.
On social media, many people focused on Mitsumasa's reaction when he spoke to Eiji on the phone. Comments included: "I felt something was off about President Neo's pained expression when he was told, 'I'd like to see what your parents look like,'" "I can't help but wonder, 'I can't believe you're saying that to me'" "If Mitsumasa's true self is Hideto, then his reaction to Eiji's words makes sense" and "This reaction to 'I'd like to see what your parents look like'... so it really is Hideto, isn't it?"
Furthermore, many viewers speculated about the "real culprit" who pushed Mitsumasa, with comments such as, "Could it be that Hideto Nomoto (Mitsumasa Neo) pushed him?", "In episode 1, it seemed like Hideto's dad was at the scene. What does that mean...", "Could it be that his father pushed President Neo?", "Perhaps he pushed himself... to exchange his life for something else," and "Was it Tomono or Sarasa who pushed him!?"
