Ajal.
patreon
Chapter 20 - Animation Collaboration Invitation
🕑 Added 2025-09-14 11:32:37 +0000 UTCOutside the meeting room, the fervent atmosphere lingered.
In the corridor, employees huddled in small groups, their hushed conversations charged with excitement, all centered on the groundbreaking meeting that had just concluded.
“Fighting games… just the name makes my fists clench,” a planner said, mimicking a punch.
“Takuya-san’s proposal—it’s on another level…” a marketing staffer shook his head, searching for words. “Who’d have thought of this before?”
“Esports? First time I’ve heard the term, but now that I think about it, if our game tournaments catch on, we could really take it in that direction.”
“The real kicker is those names—Director Oba and Kurumada-sensei… My god, if we pull that off, this project’s scope is insane!”
Amid the chatter, glances of awe, curiosity, and probing landed on Takuya Nakayama as he exited the meeting room. Once, those looks carried anticipation of failure or amusement.
The “Takuya Effect,” once a playful jab, now carried weight. Many whispered to themselves: this “young master” wasn’t just coasting.
Unfazed by the stares, Takuya’s focus locked onto the marketing head, Suzuki, who was speaking with an assistant, preparing to leave.
He strode forward, a perfectly measured smile on his face.
“Mr. Suzuki, a moment, please.”
Suzuki turned, spotting Takuya, and his face lit up with a smile warmer than in the meeting, even giving a slight bow.
“Takuya-san, what can I do for you?” His demeanor was a stark contrast to before.
“No orders here,” Takuya waved off, keeping his posture humble but his tone carrying undeniable drive. “I’d like to confirm the next steps for inviting Director Oba and Kurumada-sensei.”
Suzuki’s smile stiffened subtly. The idea thrilled in the meeting, but executing it made him uneasy. These were big names, not at their peak but still daunting to approach for a custom animation.
“Takuya-san, you know both are prominent figures with tight schedules, especially Kurumada-san with his ongoing manga…” Suzuki paused, choosing his words carefully, wary of dampening the rising star’s enthusiasm. “And, frankly, Sega’s connections in the animation and manga world are limited. Reaching out directly might…” He trailed off, but the implication was clear—it was a tall order.
“I know it’s challenging,” Takuya cut in, direct and unhesitating. “But that’s what makes this project valuable. If it were easy, it wouldn’t be ours to pioneer.”
“Mr. Suzuki, I trust the marketing team’s capabilities and your resources.” His gaze met Suzuki’s, not pressuring but radiating sincere trust and expectation, more compelling than a command. “With enough sincerity, an unprecedented cross-media opportunity, and a proposal that excites them, I believe we can win them over.”
Suzuki, caught by Takuya’s confidence and determination, found himself at a loss for words.
“Here’s the plan, Mr. Suzuki,” Takuya continued, sensing the moment. “I’ll prepare a detailed proposal outlining the game’s world, core character concepts, and preliminary animation synergy ideas. Please work through Shueisha and Tatsunoko to contact them, aiming for a face-to-face meeting, even if it’s just thirty minutes.”
“If we can sit down with them, I’m confident I can show the project’s potential.”
“Understood, Takuya-san,” Suzuki replied, relieved by the “thirty-minute” benchmark, his tone firming. “I’ll get on it immediately and do everything to arrange the meeting.”
“Thank you, Mr. Suzuki,” Takuya said with a slight bow, his smile signaling a plan falling into place.
Securing external collaboration was just the first step. The internal engine needed fuel.
Without delay, Takuya headed to Development Team 3’s office.
The atmosphere in Team 3’s workspace was ten times more electric than the corridor.
Programmers huddled around monitors, pointing and debating the feasibility of effects with fervor. Artists sprawled papers or sketched on computers, swapping ideas intensely. The air buzzed with adrenaline-fueled excitement and a restless “storm’s coming” energy.
“Hey, did you hear? Our team’s taking on Takuya-san’s ‘K’ project!”
“Fighting games? Never heard of them! But from the president’s tone, it sounds huge!”
“The president handpicked this for us! Team 3’s gonna shine! Everyone, step it up—don’t mess this up!”
“Shine, sure, but… fighting games? How do we even start? We’ve only done platformers and shooters. This is uncharted territory,” a veteran programmer said, scratching his thinning hair, his face a mix of thrill and confusion.
Team leader Shimizu stood at the office’s center, watching his hyped yet uncertain team. His face glowed with excitement but held a trace of worry. He knew the “K” project was both a golden opportunity and a scalding challenge. Success could catapult Team 3 to Sega’s elite.
“Everyone, quiet down!” Shimizu clapped, trying to cool the feverish air. “I know you’re all fired up, and I get what this project means—more than anyone.”
His tone grew serious. “Fighting games are a new genre. We have no playbook to follow, no prior experience. Everything starts from scratch. That means massive challenges and countless hurdles.”
“So, from now on, we unite as one, pool our talents, and support each other to tackle this beast!”
As his words landed, the office door swung open. Takuya Nakayama walked in.
