On March 1st,
Genji looked down through the reinforced glass wall of the Hinotori Building. The streets were crowded with people and cars. It was the same scene as always.
Before, every manga by Mirai-sensei caused a stir. You could see people reading manga, more or less, in the streets and bookstores. However, the scene after Pokémon's broadcast was very dull, as if its effect wasn't being appreciated.
If it weren't for the newspaper on the table informing Genji when the animation was broadcast and how lively Osaka was, he might have thought the animation had failed. This is the difference between animation and manga. When animation data is not released, it's difficult to judge whether it's successful or not from a societal perspective.
"No, maybe I'm not ordinary...",
Genji thought and laughed at himself. Pokémon is undoubtedly a huge success, but he doesn't live among the crowd. If he goes for a walk, buys food, takes the bus and subway like an ordinary elder, he should be able to hear many people talking about this animation.
Being separated from the crowd is a sign of success. Genji has worked hard most of his life, but he no longer feels the sensation of groping at the bottom of society, and his body can no longer endure that life.
If possible, Genji hopes to maintain his current life and status.
But this can no longer continue. After Pokémon's broadcast last night, many things unconsciously changed overnight. Today's world is completely different from yesterday's.
Genji looked towards the entrance of the Hinotori Building. A bright red Porsche stopped there, and two teenagers, a boy and a girl, got out of the car. Genji didn't pay attention to the girl, but stared at the boy. His mind was confused.
"Takumi, how can I keep you at Hinotori Publishing?"
Today is the day Hinotori Publishing starts work. The editorial department has not yet started work, but the entire animation production department is here. Pokémon's production is urgent, and no one dares to be lazy.
Takumi accompanied Shiori into the building.
"Hello, Mirai-sensei..."
"Good morning, Mirai-sensei...".
Everyone they met greeted him respectfully. Everyone in the company now knew that the head of the animation production department was Mirai-sensei, so, naturally, they were very enthusiastic. In contrast, Shiori, who looked dazzling, seemed to have been forgotten. This made her feel like a newcomer. She attracted attention wherever she went, but walking next to Takumi, she became a supporting character.
"Good morning."
Takumi replied to the greeting with a smile, and only recovered upon entering the office.
"Mirai-sensei."
Haru and Kenji had been waiting for Takumi for a long time. Upon seeing him enter, they stood up and said, "Good news! Pokémon animation's viewership is very high!"
"Mirai-sensei, we can wait for other stations to come!"
Both looked very excited. Takumi realized what they were saying: "Have the ratings come out?"
"No, not yet." Haru smiled and said: "But we know someone at the station. He told us that Pokémon's viewership is at least 15%!"
"15%?"
Takumi frowned slightly. The Cat and Mouse Couple's viewership seemed to be 34%. Pokémon still had a long way to go. But it didn't matter; after all, only one episode had aired.
"Haru. Finish with Shiori." Takumi said: "She promised to continue being a voice actress. Find someone to teach her."
Shiori learned dubbing for a while before the New Year, but to become a professional voice actress, she still needs more professional guidance.
"Okay." Haru nodded and took Shiori away. Shiori said goodbye to Takumi before leaving.
"Where is Miyuki?" After the two women left, Takumi asked Kenji: "Didn't you say she wanted to work at the company?"
He didn't see Miyuki near Haru and Kenji. He felt very strange.
"Not so early." Kenji smiled bitterly: "She just got discharged from the hospital and needs to rest for a while. We'll bring her back later."
"Then let her rest for a while." Takumi nodded, thinking it was fine.
"Mirai-sensei, this is today's work schedule...". Then, Kenji took out a schedule, and the two began to work.
That day was very busy. Shiori stayed in the dubbing room, separated by transparent glass. She could always see Takumi walking outside. Some adults followed him, holding materials and images and talking non-stop, and every time Takumi pointed out a problem, these adults seemed very frustrated.
"Great...".
Shiori was stunned, and her dubbing went off-key several times.
But Takumi was really busy. He had just returned from the New Year, and many mangaka and employees were disoriented, and their work was deficient everywhere. Takumi had to review the situation of each department and hold meetings. Even at noon, when he finally had a break, Guo Letong from Osaka TV arrived.
"What is he doing here?"
Takumi asked, curious, but he still made time to meet with him.
Guo Letong came to Hinotori Publishing to fight for more broadcasting rights for Pokémon. Osaka TV wanted the exclusive premiere of this animation, one week before other local stations, and, based on the existing broadcast, a rerun on Wednesday afternoon.
After several negotiations, Osaka TV offered a price of 100,000,000 yen per episode. This figure surprised Takumi. The station was so generous that he accepted on a whim.
Immediately, Takumi announced the news to the important members of the animation production department.
"100,000,000 yen!" he exclaimed.
"Oh my God, this is too much!"
Everyone was stunned by the amount. With a broadcasting fee of 100,000,000 yen per episode, Osaka TV alone covered the production cost of Pokémon. Not only that, but it even multiplied the profits. This was unimaginable when they were still Tsuki Animation Company.
"Animation is still about content..."
"Luckily, the current boss is Mirai-sensei, not Tanaka..."
"Damn it, we're all going to be rich in the future!"
Thousands thought about it, their hearts full of emotion, their eyes sparkling, as if they saw their salaries rapidly increasing.
"In the future, the production cost of each animation episode will increase to 40,000,000 yen." Takumi looked at their excited faces and smiled: "If you do this animation well, you'll surely get a raise in the future."
He knew what they were thinking and simply made a promise:
"Long live Mirai-sensei!"
"Team leader, I love you!"
The animation production team immediately became excited. In the afternoon, after work, the news quietly reached everyone's ears, and the entire animation production department was buzzing, significantly increasing work efficiency.
Takumi observed the progress and found that the second episode of Pokémon would premiere in two days.
In the afternoon, when it was almost time to leave work, Alice found him and said: "My father wants to see you."
"Okay."
Takumi thought it was a new topic, so he left his work.
"I read your new manga today." Alice said as she got into the elevator: "The story is very good, the pacing is very good; I like the image of Saber when she appeared; it would be better if you drew her more beautifully."
She looked at Takumi curiously, and Takumi supposed that she also wanted to draw that beautiful image.
Fate/Stay Night is a story about a group of people fighting for the Holy Grail that can grant wishes, and Saber is a very important character, and it is no exaggeration to say that she is the female protagonist.
Saber is a heroic spirit summoned by the male protagonist, so her appearance is, of course, important, and Alice's request is by no means excessive.
"Okay," Takumi nodded bluntly.
"Besides, I always have a strange feeling when I read this manga. Just in case, I want to ask you about those heroic spirits..." Alice wanted to say something, but the elevator arrived with a chime, so she had to drop the subject: "I'll ask you this question later. Go see my father first."
Takumi nodded, got out of the elevator, and entered Genji's office with Alice.
His office was permeated with the aroma of tea, as always. Takumi had studied there with Genji for a while and was very familiar with that smell.
"You're here, Alice, sit down first." After Genji asked his daughter to sit down, he smiled at Takumi and said: "Takumi, help us prepare tea. It's been a while since I've had any."
"Okay," Takumi nodded slightly and skillfully went to get the tea.
His attitude greatly pleased Genji. Then he shook his head and sat on the sofa opposite Alice with a pile of information. Genji put it on the coffee table. It was the information about Touhou Fantasy Township that Alice had given him during the day and that he had now finished reading.
"Do you like this theme?" Takumi asked, preparing the tea, and brought it to the table, asking carefully.
"Well, it's a very interesting theme." Genji took a few sips from the teacup and praised him: "Your tea preparing skills are good. Do you drink tea at home?"
"This..." Takumi was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said: "I don't drink tea at home."
In his opinion, tea and water are not very different.
How can I not drink it! 'Tea is the essence of Japanese culture. Drinking more tea won't harm you!' Genji stared at him. He is a typical tea enthusiast and wants to promote his philosophy whenever he can.
But Takumi is already used to it; it goes in one ear and out the other.
Genji talked about the benefits of drinking tea for a few minutes and finally changed the subject.
"This theme is interesting." He said: "But the operability is too low. We can't let the company's mangaka draw it...".
This answer is exactly the same as Alice's. Takumi was a little disappointed, but after Genji said it wasn't possible, the subject suddenly changed.
"Takumi, the company wants to organize a reader meeting for Mirai-sensei. What do you think? This Touhou Fantasy Township... you can show it at the party."
- - - -
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