Monday evening, Haruki went back to the studio to oversee the final episode of Madoka Magica. He also carried the draft of Code Geass with him, ready to hand it to Kazuya.
When he arrived, the small space that once handled only 5 Centimeters per Second had nearly doubled in size and even moved locations to accommodate the growing staff. Kazuya had just returned from Kaznami Studio. These days, he stayed here until around 9 p.m. before heading home, and the routine was starting to wear him down. Juggling Kaznami work, Madoka Magica, and his family all at once, something had to give. Lately, he had been seriously considering leaving Kaznami for good. This studio alone already paid him five times more than Kaznami ever did.
Even as he thought about it, his eyes stayed glued to the screen, reviewing the upcoming Madoka Magica episode. They were well ahead of schedule, rare in this industry. Most studios worked neck-to-neck with deadlines, but here there was room to breathe. Compared to the endless stress at Kaznami, it was a relief.
Then came a knock on the door.
"May I come in, Kazuya?" Haruki's voice called.
"Come in," Kazuya replied.
Haruki entered, taking a seat. "I see you're happy with how Madoka Magica is turning out."
Kazuya nodded, almost smiling. "Couldn't be happier. With 5 Centimeters per Second and Madoka Magica, we're practically guaranteed a spot at the award shows. That'll get us more recognition in the industry, and streaming platforms will finally give us proper visibility. You know how it is. No matter how much money you spend on promotion, what matters most is recognition. If this continues, we'll even secure our own dedicated page on the platforms. That's huge. It means real power in how our works are promoted."
Haruki only half cared about the recognition, but when he heard about getting their own streaming page, he couldn't help but feel fired up.
"Kazuya, remember when you asked me if I had an idea for a new anime?" Haruki leaned forward, his eyes lighting up. "For the past two months, I've been working on this. You should read it. I won't spoil anything, but this is the most ambitious project I've ever taken on. If we animate it right, it'll go down in history as a modern classic, rivaling the old favorites. People get nostalgic about the shows they grew up with and call those the 'old classics,' and when they talk about modern classics, they don't always give them the same respect. I'm telling you, if we do this well, it won't just compete with those old titles, it might even replace them."
Kazuya had never seen Haruki like this. He always brought drafts with confidence, but this time there was something different, pure excitement. Whatever Haruki had written, it must be something special.
Code Geass had gone through many rewrites. Haruki had worked out the flaws, reshaped the characters, smoothed the pacing. In the original, Lelouch vi Britannia carried the whole show, but some uneven storytelling had held it back. Haruki was convinced his version would stand shoulder to shoulder with the greats, no, surpass them.
Anime these days, he thought, spoon-fed answers to the audience. If a plot didn't explain every little detail, people complained they couldn't understand. Modern "classics" were stuck in the shadow of the old ones because they didn't make viewers think anymore. But Code Geass would be different. It would challenge people. It would force them to connect the dots.
After some more talk about Madoka Magica, Haruki left for the night. Kazuya finished up his work, then finally headed home.
As he stepped inside, his 14-year-old son Souma greeted him, like always carrying his father's bag before he could even set it down.
Kazuya gave a tired smile. "So, how was school today? You didn't cause trouble for your mother, right?"
"No, Dad," Souma said, walking beside him toward the dining table.
As they sat down for dinner, Yuzuki looked over at her son with a raised eyebrow. "I caught him again watching Madoka Magica. He says all his friends at school are talking about it."
Kazuya turned his head slightly, and Souma looked away.
Yuzuki sighed. "I shut the computer before he got too far. I know there aren't strict age ratings for anime, but he's not ready for that series yet."
Souma frowned, frustrated. "But Mom, I'm Mizushiro-sensei's biggest fan. Everyone at school knows it. If I don't watch Madoka Magica, I'll fall behind. I got even more popular after I told them Dad works with Mizushiro-sensei."
Kazuya let out a small chuckle "You've built a reputation, huh?"
Souma nodded. "If I don't watch, they'll say I'm not a real fan."
Kazuya looked at him for a moment, then placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "You won't lose your title just because you're waiting. Mizushiro's making a lot of anime and manga. You already know more than most people. And you've still got time to enjoy everything, properly."
Souma glanced down, his stubbornness softening a little.
"You've seen how people talk about Madoka Magica, right?" Kazuya continued. "It's not just a normal story. You'll understand it more when you're older."
Souma didn't answer, but he nodded slowly.
"To make up for it," Kazuya said, "I'll ask Mizushiro to sign your whole Initial D collection. Every volume."
Souma's eyes widened. "Seriously?! Every single one?"
Kazuya ruffled his hair, smiling. "Yep. But no Madoka Magica until you're old enough, okay?"
Souma nodded eagerly. "I promise! I won't watch it."
Yuzuki shook her head. "You really are spoiling him."
After dinner, Kazuya retreated to his study. On the desk lay Haruki's draft. The bold title stared back at him:
CODE GEASS
He opened the first page.
The story began with the Holy Britannian Empire launching its invasion of Japan. Their newest weapon, towering humanoid machines called Knightmare Frames, crushed resistance. Japan lost its freedom, its identity, its very name, reduced to "Area 11."
And then came the protagonist, Lelouch vi Britannia. In secret, he swore to his friend Suzaku, "One day, I will destroy the Britannian ."
Kazuya kept reading. Lelouch, a brilliant student, was caught in the chaos of battle when he gained the power of Geass, the ability to command absolute obedience. One battle turned into a massacre. A Japanese rebel group was on the verge of collapse, but under Lelouch's command, they won. Taking on the mask of "Zero," Lelouch began gathering followers, shaping an army, waging war against Britannia.
Kazuya couldn't put it down. Hours slipped by. He told Yuzuki he'd be working late, but the truth was he was too absorbed to stop.
He read through Lelouch's victories, his manipulation of friends and enemies alike, his devotion to creating a world where his crippled sister Nunnally could live safely. He read of betrayal, sacrifice, and his hatred of the royal family that discarded him. His battles against his father, the Emperor, and his brilliant brother Schneizel. His rise, his fall, his burden.
When Kazuya finally reached the end of the draft, his eyes stung.
Goosebumps covered his arms. What a protagonist. What charisma. What intellect. A tragic hero like no other. He forgot, for a moment, that Lelouch was still just a high schooler. It was history in the making. Lelouch vi Britannia would go down as one of the greatest characters ever.
Kazuya had read and animated countless works, but he had never encountered a character like this. Not once.
This will change the top rankings. This will change everything.
And it wasn't just Lelouch. Code Geass blended genres in a way no classic had. War, politics, philosophy, mecha action, psychological drama, romance, super power, tragedy—it was all here, perfectly balanced. Now he understood why Haruki had been so excited.
Kazuya leaned back, staring at the title. He didn't want to just produce this. He wanted to direct it himself.
The draft promised over fifty episodes. A massive project. And he knew what it meant for him.
By the time he closed the script, it was 3 a.m. He made his decision. Once Madoka Magica ended, he would resign from Kaznami and devote himself entirely to this anime.
The next day, Kazuya immediately called Haruki.
"You're a genius, Haruki! How did you even come up with something like that? Do you have time to meet? I have so many questions about Code Geass."
"I'm free this afternoon, no classes. We can meet then," Haruki replied.
"I'll come to the café near your college at 1 p.m.," Kazuya said.
1 p.m., at the local café
As soon as Haruki entered, Kazuya could barely hold back. He launched straight into his questions, firing one after another. After getting his answers, he finally leaned back, satisfied. Hearing Haruki explain things only strengthened his conviction. This project was going to become a classic.
"So, we'll need a director. Do you have any recommendations?" Haruki asked.
"There's no need. I'll be the one directing Code Geass," Kazuya said firmly. "I'm resigning from Kazanami Studio."
Hearing that, Haruki couldn't help but smile. Deep down, he had always hoped Kazuya would be the one to direct, but as long as he was tied down at Kazanami, Haruki couldn't bring himself to say it. Kazuya had once told him that when the time came, he'd quit on his own terms. Now he had.
"Kazuya, I also had another idea," Haruki added. "What do you think about putting a teaser at the end of Madoka Magica's finale?"
"That's a great idea. I can't wait to animate this show."
He paused, then his expression shifted, remembering a certain line one that would come years later in the story. His lips moved as if he were already hearing it in his head:
"I swear I will destroy Britannia."
Goosebumps ran all over him again.
[Note: I've kept major spoilers out for those who haven't watched the show yet. I recommend watching it if you don't have another series lined up, as it's definitely worth your time. This is just a summary and a reaction, so if you decide to watch, this should give you some time before encountering any spoilers.]
["Have you watched Code Geass?"]
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon.com/Alioth23 for 60+ advanced chapters)