LRAB Page 163
Page 163
For the first time, she realized that, without her noticing, Itsuka Yuto was no longer just her first fan, her junior, or the object of her emotional entanglement.
He was her muse, an indispensable source of inspiration in her creative process.
This realization filled her with panic and unprecedented frustration.
That night, Kasumigaoka Utaha experienced another writer's block.
Frustrated, she shut down her computer, left the room, and went to get a glass of water.
As I passed the study door, I heard Eriri and Yuto discussing something in hushed tones.
"...No, I think Noah shouldn't choose to fight here, but should try to communicate with that mechanical behemoth using his incomplete emotions!"
"Communication? But that guy's already under virus control!"
"But its core programming may still retain the instinct of a guardian! Wasn't Eve's grandfather the designer of this behemoth? This could be a foreshadowing!"
"...I get it! Use family ties and memories to awaken the beast ravaged by the virus! This idea is brilliant! Yuto, you're a genius!"
"It was our idea."
Listening to the tacit and energetic conversation inside, and to Eriri's heartfelt admiration and praise, Kasumigaoka Utaha's hand holding the water glass trembled slightly.
A feeling called "jealousy" gripped her heart tightly.
She once thought that only she could reach such a harmonious level of artistic expression with Yuto Itsuki.
But now, that position has been taken by someone else.
She was taken over by that blonde loser she always looked down on, who could only draw childish illustrations.
She silently turned around, went back to her cold room, and threw herself heavily onto the bed.
In the darkness, she buried her face in the pillow, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
It turns out that being excluded feels so unpleasant.
It turns out that watching the person you love create a dazzling world with others while you can only be an observer is so painful.
For the first time, Kasumigaoka Utaha experienced the taste of being a loser.
And all of this was brought to her by that man.
"Itsuka... Yuuto..."
She uttered the name through gritted teeth in the darkness.
……
Volume 1: Chapter 150: Buyout
After two weeks of tireless effort, the initial proposal for "Song of Wasteland Rebirth" was finally completed.
This is more than just a business plan.
It includes a 10,000-word story outline, a 30,000-word opening chapter, and a thick full-color visual design book illustrated by Eriri.
The concept art collection includes everything from the protagonist's three-view character design to the wasteland world's scene concept art, as well as the detailed designs of key props and mechanical behemoths. Its level of completion has far exceeded the scope of a preliminary project proposal.
When Yuto finished formatting all the text and placed it together with Eriri's character design book, both of them felt a sense of unreality.
"We...we really did it." Eriri stroked the art book, her voice trembling.
On the cover is a painting she meticulously created: on a wasteland of yellow sand, restorer Eve, with her back to the picture, holds the hand of the doll Noah and walks together toward the broken sunset on the distant horizon.
The whole scene is full of a sense of story and a desolate hope.
"Yes, we did it." Yuto looked at the work that embodied the hard work of the two of them, and his heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment and pride.
This proposal is not only a response to Akane Kousaka's test, but also a challenge they are issuing to Utaha Kasumigaoka and to everyone who doesn't believe in them.
“So… next, it’s time to hand it over.” Yuto’s expression turned serious.
He called Ando, the producer at A-1 Pictures, explained the situation, and hoped that through him, the proposal could be formally submitted to Akane Akasaka.
After listening to the phone call, Ando remained silent for a long time before saying in a complicated tone, "Itsuka-sensei, you really know how to cause me trouble..."
"Do you know what status Ms. Kousaka has in the industry? If she's not satisfied, your and Ms. Kashiwagi Eri's future careers in the industry will be very difficult."
“I know, but I believe in our work.” Yuto’s tone was calm.
“…Alright.” Ando sighed. “For the sake of ‘Farming King,’ I’ll help you with this.”
"Tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., bring the proposal directly to A-1 Pictures and I will try to get it on Ms. Akasaka's desk before her meeting this afternoon."
"Thank you, Mr. Ando."
After hanging up the phone, Yuto and Eriri exchanged a glance, both seeing tension and determination in each other's eyes.
Success or failure hinges on this one move.
……
The next morning, Yuto and Eriri arrived at A-1 Pictures' office building with the proposal.
Ando was already waiting downstairs. He took the thick folder, weighed it in his hand, and showed a surprised expression: "This... this is a preliminary proposal? This is almost as big as the final setting book for an anime."
“We are very sincere,” Yuto said succinctly.
Ando gave the two of them a complicated look and nodded: "I understand. You two go back and wait for news."
"Remember, whatever the outcome, don't act impulsively."
After saying that, he turned and walked into the building.
Watching Ando's figure disappear through the door, Eriri clenched her fists, her palms sweaty: "Yuto, I...I'm so nervous."
“Me too,” Yuto said frankly. “But we’ve done everything we could. Now, we can only trust Eve and Noah.”
Eve and Noah, whom he mentioned, are the protagonists in their writing.
Eriri nodded, her mood calming down a bit.
……
Meanwhile, in the top-floor office of A-1 Pictures.
Akane Akasaka leaned back in her leather office chair, listening to the report from sound director Shinsuke Takahashi.
"...Overall, Ms. Aoyama Nanami's performance in the second half of 'Farming King' was nothing short of perfect."
"Her grasp of the character's emotions has completely surpassed the scope of a newcomer. Mr. Takahashi, do you think she has the potential to become a top-tier voice actress in the future?"
Shinsuke Takahashi adjusted his glasses and replied seriously, "Ms. Akasaka, I don't think the word 'potential' is applicable to her anymore."
"Her current abilities are more than enough to be the lead in any A-level production, and the guidance of Itsuka-sensei is indispensable in this regard."
“Yuto Itsuka…” Akane Akasaka tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, making a series of rhythmic sounds, “An interesting kid.”
Just then, there was a knock on the office door, and producer Ando walked in.
"Ms. Kousaka, I apologize for disturbing you." He respectfully placed the thick folder on Akane Kousaka's desk.
"What is this?" Akane Akasaka raised an eyebrow.
"It's an original animation project jointly submitted by Itsuka-sensei and Kashiwagi-sensei," Ando carefully chose his words.
"Oh?"
"The two of them? I thought that kid would choose to cooperate with Xia Shizi. It seems that my student is more influential than I thought."
She waved her hand, indicating that Ando and Takahashi could leave.
She was the only one left in the office.
She picked up the proposal, and the first thing that caught her eye was the cover drawn by Eriri.
With just one glance, her usually calm and collected eyes showed a change in expression.
"……interesting."
She murmured to herself, then turned to the first page of the proposal.
Time passed by minute by minute.
Akane Akane read it very slowly and very carefully.
From the story outline to the character biographies, and then to the 30,000-word main text written by Yuto, she didn't miss a single word.
Finally, she opened the thick visual design book.
When she saw Eriri's imaginative and detailed post-apocalyptic world, and Noah and Eve's emotionally charged sketches of their interactions, she stopped tapping her fingers on the table.
She flipped through the entire setting book, then closed it, shut her eyes, leaned back in her chair, and remained motionless for a long time.
After an unknown amount of time, she opened her eyes, picked up the internal phone on the table, and dialed her secretary's number.
"Pass down the notice: all afternoon meetings are canceled."
"Also, connect me with the editor-in-chief of Shinazugawa Bunko and tell him that Aniplex wants to buy the next work of Bishoujo Kashiwagi and Eri Kashiwagi."
"No, it's about buying the priority rights to their collaboration for the next ten years."
"Let them name their prices."
When the editor-in-chief of Shinazugawa Bunko received a call from Akane Akasaka himself, he almost thought he was hallucinating.
"Ms. Kousaka...you mean...buying out the exclusive rights to the collaboration between the 'Sweet Girl Knight' and 'Eri Kashiwagi' for the next ten years? And the price...we can name our own?"
The editor-in-chief's voice was trembling.
This is unheard of in the industry.
It is common to buy out the copyright of an author's work.
While it is rare to buy out the priority rights to several future works by a well-established top author, there are precedents.
However, directly buying out an author and illustrator's collaboration for ten years, and offering a blank check for any price, is like using a nuclear weapon to blow up fish in a pond—it's completely unreasonable.
“I’ll only say this once.” Akane Akasaka’s tone on the other end of the phone left no room for argument. “I need to see your response and a preliminary contract within an hour.”
"If you can't do it, I'll go to Kadokawa."
"We can do it! We can do it! We'll get right on it!" The editor-in-chief was so startled he almost jumped out of his chair.
The moment the phone was hung up, the entire editorial department of Shinazugawa Bunko erupted in chaos.
"Editor-in-Chief! Is it true? Aniplex is going to sign Itsuka-sensei and the others for ten years?" Machida Sonoko was the first to rush into the editor-in-chief's office, her face full of disbelief.
"Absolutely true! Akane Akasaka called personally!" The editor-in-chief waved his arms excitedly. "Quick! Legal department! Marketing department! Everyone get moving! One hour! We need to come up with a proposal worthy of this contract!"
This news, like a magnitude 12 earthquake, caused a violent tremor within a very small circle.
When Machida Sonoko told Itsuka Yuto the news in a trembling voice, Yuto was stunned.
"Ten years? Name your price?" He stood in the living room of his apartment, holding his phone, his mind blank.
He had thought the "Wasteland Rebirth Song" project would succeed, but he never imagined it would be in such a groundbreaking way.
Akane Kousaka's decision was no longer an endorsement; it was a gamble.
She gambled Aniplex's reputation and immeasurable funds on his and Eriri's creative career for the next ten years.
"Yuto... what's wrong? Was... was he rejected?"
Seeing his blank expression, Eriri, who was standing to the side, nervously tugged at his sleeve, her voice almost breaking with tears.
She had already prepared for the worst.
Yuto snapped out of his daze, looked at her anxious little face, and suddenly felt that it was all worth it.
He reached out and hugged Eriri tightly, whispering in her ear in an unreal tone, "We did it, Eriri."
"Eh?"
"We have won a great victory."
He told Eriri about Akane's decision in detail.
Eriri was completely stunned after hearing this.
She leaned against Yuto's chest, her blue eyes unfocused, muttering repeatedly, "Ten years... priority cooperation rights... This... this isn't a dream, is it?"
It wasn't until Yuto pinched her cheek hard and she felt real pain that she burst into tears.
But this time, the tears weren't tears of grievance and resentment.