Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna

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Thank you for your support Saylesma, La Fayette and Joshua Berry

Chapter 2 | Combo | Remake our Life! 


——— Latter Half ———

Part 7

It has been almost six months since Kawasegawa Eiko was chosen as “Miss Daigeidai” through what may be considered a strange coincidence.

At first, she was determined to turn this idea around, but after hearing the praise of those involved and hearing their pleas for her to do it, she now participates in a number of events, apparently.

The reason why I say “apparently” is that it was taboo to ask her directly about this Miss Daigeidai, and I knew that if I did, I would be subjected to physical damage by brute force, so it was a natural courtesy to ask her nothing.

"I told them not to touch it under any circumstances, and if they touched it and made fun of it I'd grab them by the neck and twist it off, so nobody said anything, and I felt relieved that everything was okay... I didn't expect this, really."

Kawasegawa looked discouraged and anguished as she applied sauce on the griddle and scraped it off with her spatula with grueling force. If my neck had been on the griddle, it would have been torn into eight pieces by that painful-looking spatula.

"Really, uhm... sorry."

"That's fine. It certainly seems to have been a coincidence, so I'll hate my bad luck."

Immediately after the event, she grabbed me by the neck and moved to this nearby okonomiyaki restaurant, where I was repeatedly interrogated the whole time.

In short, she suspected that I had come here to make fun of Kawasegawa Eiko for participating in this event as Miss Daigeidai.

But that was quickly dispelled. It was because there were witnesses.

"Well, I'm really sorry, I asked Paisen to show me around and this is what happened."

It was all thanks to Takenaka-san explaining the situation.

"It's okay, there's nothing wrong with that in itself. But again, it's just my bad luck."

Saying so, Kawasegawa looked at me,

"You're really nice to all girls, without discrimination?"

"Eh, i-is that so."

"Hmph," she said, turning away as usual.

"U-Uhm... I'd like to ask something."

Takenaka-san, who had been feeling somewhat intimidated, raised her hand.

"Do you want to ask me?"

When Kawasegawa asked back, Takenaka-san nodded vigorously.

"Uhm, Kawasegawa-san is that Kawasegawa-san, right? The one who also made a game with Paisen and produced "Starry Song"..."

"Yeah, that's true, but what about......it!?"

The moment Kawasegawa nodded, Takenaka-san's body jumped.

"I knew it! Uhm, I really admired you! You're the Kawasegawa-san who was Paisen's good partner and led the work to completion with your outstanding processing ability and judgment, right? It's such an honor to meet you! Please shake my hand!!"

Having said all of that in one go, Kawasegawa gently held out her hand to her, and Takenaka-san shook it back with all her might, rubbing her cheek against hers.

"W-What's with this girl, Hashiba?"

Naturally, Kawasegawa is perplexed.

"That's just the way she is. She's not a bad kid, so just forgive her."

"Even if you told me to forgive her! Mou!"

Earlier she should have been experiencing the height of embarrassment, but now it was replaced by bewilderment, and she looked as if she had no idea what to do.

"I have a mountain of questions I want to ask you, Kawasegawa-san! I take this rare opportunity to ask you all of them now, can I?"

"C-Calm down! For now, stop shaking that hand you're holding so wildly! Slowly lower it and let go!"

"No way, this is just a sign of my affection, respect, and heartfelt feelings towards Kawasegawa-san! Ah, if you don't mind, can I have your autograph too?"

"Why would I give you my autograph? Stop it alrea...... Wai, don't cling to me! Get away from me!"

As was the case with Saikawa, I wonder what it is about Kawasegawa's charm that attracts and keeps her juniors hooked?

(Well, this has completely changed the atmosphere... so it's okay)

Considering the explanation she gave earlier, it seems that after all, Takenaka-san may have saved me.

——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Part 8

Afterward, a most unusual scene unfolded as Takenaka mainly asked Kawasegawa all kinds of questions while stirring the okonomiyaki.

The questions were wide-ranging, covering topics such as the difficulties of production and how Kawasegawa acquired the necessary skills, but Kawasegawa answered all of them with well-articulated logical answers.

(As expected of her, in this part)

Well, I did feel a little chill down my spine when she sometimes expressed her resentment toward me.

Anyway, the dinner party that started so suddenly ended more peacefully than I had expected, and we headed home.

On the way, I left Kawasegawa who said he had something to do at Tennoji, and Takenaka and I took our usual train on the Minami-Osaka Line. The rush to get home had just died down, and we were lucky enough to be able to sit side by side.

"Fuuh~, what a pleasure to have a seat!"

"Yeah, it was a good time. Good timing."

"Anyway, Kawasegawa-san was an incredible person. I'm glad I got to talk to her!"

Then, what came out of Takenaka-san's mouth was admiration for Kawasegawa.

"But how did you know about her? Most people don't pay attention to what goes on behind the scenes."

"What are you talking about, paisen? You know that Takenaka has always been the type of person who only pays attention to those kinds of things~"

That's right. I could say that it was only natural that she knew Kawasegawa, since she had dared to seek me out instead of all the other members of the platinum generation.

"You know, Takenaka-san"

"Yes?"

"Did you ever do anything like this? Like art, music, or scenario writing."

Most of the students in the Department of Film and New Media have come to the department after working in other genres. Of course, there are people like Kawasegawa who came here with the intention of making films from the beginning, but most of them, like Shinoaki, Nanako, and Tsurayuki, started out in another genre and then became interested in film.

That is why I thought Takenaka-san might be in that line of work.

"No, I was not like that. I tried all kinds of things, but they didn't work, and I just gave up. I really couldn't do anything~"

That is an unusual pattern.

"So then, when you saw Haru Sora or Starry Song, was there anything about it that really drew you in to the arts or the sounds?"

Suddenly.

"Of course, I am amazed at the people who are actually doing the creative work. I had nothing special in my hands, whether it be art, music, or scenarios."

Takenaka-san's expression seemed to have a hint of something unusual on it.

"I had the impression that in the art world, if you weren't in the top echelon, you couldn't get a job. So I was always depressed, thinking that I'd never make it into that world. But then I found out that there was a way to do it called producing."

For a moment, I was startled.

I longed to make things and wanted to be involved in it, but I didn't know what to do.

And from there I became interested in producing...

"So I started to look at the people behind the scenes. I thought that things like announcements, the way characters are named, detailed text, and things that don't have a creator's name on them must be made by people behind the scenes, so I decided to observe them. I also talked to friends on the internet who were knowledgeable about such things, and that's how I finally discovered the existence of Paisen."

She looked at me and smiled.

"I admired Paisen even though I had never met or talked to you before. I could only imagine what he was like and what he did, but I could tell that without him, this work would probably not have been possible, or that everyone would not have been able to come together."

She then learned of the existence of the University of the Arts (Daigeidai) and changed her mind from the general private university in Tokyo that she had been considering, and applied to the Department of Film and New Media.

"But when I entered the program, I found that first-year students did not interact with the upperclassmen at all. I thought about joining a club, but I decided to ask one of my teachers first, so I went to see Kanou-sensei!"

"So, you asked about the part-time job directly, and then you came to Succeed."

Takenaka-san replied with a smile, "That's right~!". 

"But I'm surprised sensei listened to you."

Kanou-sensei is very considerate of her students, and she will give them friendly advice, but this is only after they have made and thought things through. She does not take kindly to students who are idle and have no particular goal in mind, to the point of being cruel.

No matter how strongly Takenaka-san begged, if it was just words and actions, it would have been a bit of a curiosity and that would be the end of it. She may have said something like "I'll let you meet next time," but it seems like she went too far by introducing him to a part-time job at Succeed, which is said to be difficult to get into.

I wondered what kind of trick she used. When I wondered,

"Ah, of course, I didn't go empty-handed! I heard she was extremely busy, so I made a presentation sheet for her!"

"P-Presentation sheet...?"

"Yes~!"

Here's the tactic she employed.

When making an appointment with sensei, she managed to get it together by saying that she could get everything done in just 30 minutes, and then she apparently wrote up how much she wanted to meet Hashiba Kyouya, her reasons for doing so, and even her vision for what she would do if they met, in a 10-page document file, which she boldly presented in front of sensei. 

"When I explained this to her, Kanou-sensei laughed so hard that she said, "No, you're funny, I'll connect you to Hashiba then!" Ah, would you like to take a look at my presentation sheet? I always kept it in my bag thinking I might show it to Paisen!"

Saying that, she handed me a sheet in a printed and clear file.

"I see, I understand now."

If I were the pre-30 year old me, this tactic would have been a common one in a way, and not particularly surprising. 

However, Takenaka-san was a high school student until just a short while ago. If such a girl had prepared a solid presentation sheet and presented it in front of her teacher without fear, Kanou-sensei would have surely greeted her with a big smile on her face.

(And this is really well done.)

She said she stopped halfway through both drawing and writing, but the writing was well-crafted and easy to read, and the use of illustrations and layout were of a quality that was long past the level of a college student.

I see, it wouldn't be strange to introduce this girl to a part-time job at Succeed.

"And then, you successfully passed the interview for the part-time job, and now we have time to be together."

"That's right! But Takenaka is a first-year student, and has classes, so I don't seem to get a chance to talk to Paisen at all."

When I was told that, I was stunned.

"Eh, wait a minute, Takenaka-san, making time for a part-time job is quite......"

"It was tough! I had a lot of trouble with the class schedule. But I was prepared for this to be the only way to talk to you directly."

When I first heard that she'd pursued me, I thought she was an odd girl. But that impression was more along the lines of "interesting."

But when I heard her story again, I finally realized that the level of “odd” was different.

I thought it was just amazing, purely. It wasn't just that she'd pursued me out of admiration. It was because she had that determination that she was here now.

"That's why Paisen is a sinful man."

She said in a funny way, 

"I see..."

For me, the words hit me squarely in the face.

The thoughts I had been thinking about earlier came back to me. As I listened to her talk, many things came to mind.

It was like I was looking at my former self.

She wanted to create things, but she didn't have any particular skills or passion for them more than most people, and yet she wanted to be fully involved in the process. It was from this contradictory and seemingly convenient desire that she discovered the path of producing.

Moreover, unlike me, who once gave up on my dream and took the safe route, she kept on exploring and working hard, keeping the dream she had at the beginning intact. She didn't make excuses, and instead chose to act immediately, which is how she ended up finding me.

As I looked at her happily fiddling with her phone beside me, I realized that I was in awe, respect, and quite strongly interested in her. At the same time, I also felt a sense of fear of being the object of admiration.

(I guess that's the kind of horrible thing I was using as motivation.)

It is not uncommon to hear stories of people who admire a creator and follow in his or her footsteps. A close example would be Saikawa. I used this relationship, in a sense, to inspire Shinoaki, and also to motivate Saikawa. 

But it also led to pressure to change someone's life. I didn't ask them directly, but I'm sure I was aware of it somewhere in my mind, to a greater or lesser extent.

I pretended to ignore it. I told them that it was just my ego, but I left it up to them to decide how it would affect them.

Luckily, the girls developed a good relationship and competed with each other on that basis. So far, it has been a good rivalry and a senior/junior relationship. But it was just their hard work and luck working in the best direction.

——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

To continue to admire someone who approaches you with admiration.

I realized that I was experiencing that very fear right now.

——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

"Fuwaah...Paisen, I'm sorry if I fall asleep next to you again..."

"It's fine, don't worry about it."

With a “Ye~s,” I immediately heard Takenaka-san's sleeping breath. I felt a fluffiness and then body heat around my shoulders. 

But it was completely different from what I had felt before. There was no way I could have any evil feelings. There was an immense pressure hanging over me.

——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Part 9

I woke up Takenaka-san at Kishi Station, saw her off, and then got on the bus back home.

It's been getting late lately. When there's not much to see, you can't help but focus on your inner self.

That is why I have been worrying about this and that at this time of night.

(There's not much I can do.)

It may sound cool to say “producing,” but in the end, it is just an application of what I have seen and heard. Moreover, I have only gathered knowledge from 10 years later, and there is little that I have been able to establish as Hashiba Kyouya, who lives in this era.

I walk down the road from the bus stop, thinking about such things. The distance seems shorter when I walk while thinking. When I came to my senses, I was already in front of my house.

I turned the key and opened the door with a hazy feeling of uncertainty. The lights were off in the living room, and everyone seemed to have gone back to their own rooms.

"Everyone's doing their best."

With a sigh of relief and a little sadness, I went up to the second floor.

I turn on the light in my room and go to the computer. I write a light summary of what happened today. By keeping a simple diary like this, I can see where I stand and how my thinking has changed, so I try to write as much as possible these days.

"I met with Kawasegawa. I thought it was typical of her to tackle any job well. And then I heard Takenaka-san's story..."

I had written that much, but then I thought,

"Hmm?"

I noticed a gentle knock.

"Who could it be?"

I got up from my chair and approached the entrance to the room. I turned the knob and opened the door,

"Sorry for this so suddenly. Can I talk to you for a moment?"

There was Tsurayuki.

"Mm, it's fine. Shall we go inside for now?"

"Yeah," Tsurayuki answered and entered the room. He sat down more carefully than ever on the cushion where he used to sit when we used to work together.

"Well, how are you doing? Are you busy with your part-time job?"

"Mm, thanks to that, I'm working very well. I'm still a newbie, so I'm still learning how to be useful."

When I answered, Tsurayuki groaned "Hm~m" and scratched his head.

"I see, that's true... you're busy, you don't have much free time."

Clearly, he was hesitant to say anything.

"Tsurayuki, is there anything you'd like to ask me?"

I guessed and gave a leading input,

"No! It's not like that. This is purely my own opinion, but, well, ..."

Tsurayuki stopped speaking there, suddenly put both hands on the table.

"Kyoya, please! Can you take a look at my work?"

He bowed his head and pleaded.

"Eh?"

I could only utter a word of surprise.

"F-First of all, tell me in detail what's going on."

"Y-Yeah."

Tsurayuki raised his head and began to consult with me again.

The problem he wanted to discuss was simple, but as expected, it seemed like it would be difficult to solve.

I had heard that he was having a hard time revising his light novel manuscript, but he could not think of anything he could do to strengthen it in his own way.

"They don't want me to fix just the parts that have red in them."

Apparently, his editor says that the red marks are merely a way to point out the key points, and it is the writer's effort and intuition that makes the difference in how they add more ingenuity and make the work more interesting.

"That being said...It's so vague that I really don't know where to revise it or how to revise it."

Authors can never get a complete bird's eye view of their work. It is only when a reader catches sight of the work that the author is able to understand it.

"So you want me to be that reader..."

Tsurayuki had asked me to be the person to provide a filter and some additional feedback before sending it back for editing.

"Of course, I'd like you to read it and let me know what you thought of it. If I hear what you thought, I'll interpret it in my own way and reflect it in my revisions."

"I see...Hmmm."

If he just wants me to read it and give my opinion back, I can do that right away. In itself, it is not that serious. However, if you think about the level of making a meaningful point or giving feedback, it suddenly becomes a difficult request.

Yoichi Kawagoeki

After all, this is the work that will see Kawagoe Kyoichi step out into the world. The responsibility is heavy. But if I run away, Tsurayuki's suffering will not go away.

I had no choice but to accept it.

"Okay, I'll give it a try."

"Really? That would be a huge help, I'll count on you then!"

Tsurayuki's expression brightened at once. It seemed the revising had been pushing him harder than I had thought.

(In the meantime, I guess I'll go buy a bunch of light novels tomorrow...)

First of all, I had to read carefully the light novels that were popular during this period. It was necessary to learn what was popular and what genres were popular at that time, and not just memorize them.

I also decided that I would compare the manuscripts that are up now with the ones that are selling and try to list as clearly as possible how they differ in terms of expression, structure, etc.

(Let's do it first, we'll talk about it later.)

I wrote a stop by a bookstore in my plans for tomorrow and took a deep breath.

——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Part 10

The next day, after class, I went to the bookstore and bought a bunch of new copies of a novel, just as I had decided to do yesterday, and returned to the share house with a paper bag full of them.

"I'm home."

I opened the door, holding the paper bag by the waist, to find that Shinoaki was in the living room making ramen noodles.

"Welcome back, I see you went to the bookstore."

She called out as she saw the bag I was carrying.

"I had to do some studying, so I went to the bookstore to buy some books."

Shinoaki nodded and said, "Hmm",

"Is that, by any chance, regarding Tsurayuki-kun?"

"Eh, why did you think that?"

Thinking that Tsurayuki wanted to keep it a secret from everyone, I gave a vague answer,

"The other day, when Kyoya-kun was not here. He said, "I'm having some trouble, so I might talk to Kyoya-kun about it"."

I see, so that's what he said.

"Well, it was just a little help. So, Shinoaki, how is the illustration going now?"

I was just casually asking about the progress.

"Hmm..."

Unexpectedly, Shinoaki tilts her head.

"Can I ask you to listen to me for a moment?"

With that said, she asked me to come to her room.

During the game production process, I had been to Shinoaki's room many times. So I had an idea of where I would sit when I arrived, but I felt a little nervous because there had been a short interval between visits.

(More books have been added...)

The usual mountains of art books and documents have increased in quantity and become even more impressive.

"Sorry, it's always so messy."

"No, it's okay. What do you want to talk about?"

Shinoaki smiled and sat down in the center of the room, which was still full of documents, and looked at me.

I followed her lead and sat right in front of her.

"Then I'll tell you."

Her worries were, in a sense, extravagant. However, they were profound worries, given Shinoaki's personality and creative awareness.

A light novel for which Shinoaki is in charge of illustrations is currently being prepared for publication. The manuscript was being drafted smoothly, and the character designs were almost finalized.

It was a situation that seemed worry-free, but,

"It makes me a little uneasy when no one tells me anything."

That was exactly what worried Shinoaki.

The editor in charge this time was a young man whose kind and gentle personality left a very good impression, but at the same time, he gave his immediate approval to everything that came his way, which was a little worrisome.

He seemed to be a big fan of “Blue Planet” drawn by Shinoaki, and he seemed to trust her work more than necessary.

"Of course, he's a professional editor, and I'm sure he's taking a good look at it."

So, Shinoaki's request was,

"You mean you want me to double-check your illustrations?"

"That's right, I thought Kyoya-kun could handle it."

Checking illustrations is something I have done for a long time, including at my previous job. I am confident that I can check the way the illustrations are presented, the poses, and the facial expressions, etc., better than an amateur.

However, this is a light novel illustration. There will naturally be points that differ from the way games and movies are presented, and there are many elements that have never been seen before, such as the difference between color and black-and-white.

I had to check them all out of the blue. Moreover, I could not take it lightly when I knew that my checks were likely to be considered very important.

(But I also understand why Shinoaki is worried.)

Checking is an important process that includes psychological effects. No matter how perfect the content may seem, there are often cases where people doubt whether it is really true when they are told that there are no parts to fix.

So, there is even a way to reassure the creator by intentionally pointing out minor areas.

Shinoaki's drawing skills are amazing. So, it is entirely possible that he really couldn't point out the problem,

"Okay, I'll give it a try."

If just one person helps her feel much more secure, then let's give it a try.

"I'm sorry, you're a big help~"

Shinoaki looked genuinely relieved. Just looking at her, it was clear that the check position was necessary.

Also, go to bookstores and look around at art books, game fanbooks, and the covers of light novels. This was a time when there were still websites that circulated illustrations, so it is important to take a good look around there as well.

(Tomorrow, I'll have to bring a bigger bag.)

With light novels and art books, it looks like I'll be carrying quite a lot of stuff every day.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Part 11

The next day, I had a part-time job, so I decided to stop by the bookstore alone afterwards.

I was the only one on my shift today, so it was very quiet on the way home.

"Somehow, I'm starting to get used to that lively atmosphere."

Feeling a bit lonely, I enter a bookstore near Kishi Station.

Like when I had looked for video-related books before, this bookstore had a good selection of books that were tailored to the needs of its size. Perhaps it was because they had picked up on trends while working with art university students, or perhaps they had adapted to the fact that the part-timers were art university students, but either way, I was grateful.

That's why I often run into people I know at the University of the Arts here. I ran into Kuroda once before, and if you include acquaintances from clubs and departments, and probably people I didn't even realize I knew, the number must be quite large.

"Let's see, the art book is... this way."

Beside the strangely well-stocked comic section, there is a shelf lined with large-format books. Along with Japanese and Western art photo books, there was a solid variety of art books related to bishojo illustrations.

I was about to pick up a recently released art book of video games on a flat stand,

"Areh, isn't that Kyoya."

A familiar voice called my name.

"Nanako, you're here."

Unlike when she is usually at home or at the university, Nanako was a little more dressed up today.

"I was on my way home from a meeting. I came here hoping to find the sheet music I was looking for, but I guess I came up empty."

As she said this, she looked closely at the art book I was holding,

"...Kyouya, do you like girls like this?"

On the cover of the art book, there was a young child who could hardly be described as a love interest.

"I kind of understand what you're trying to say, but you've got it wrong. It's just a reference."

Nanako said "He~e" and nodded,

"I see, Kyoya is studying a lot."

"It's less about studying and more about seeing things for myself when I'm interested in them. If you become a know-it-all, you won't learn anything."

That sounded reasonable, but I don't think I would have taken an interest in illustrations so seriously if Shinoaki hadn't asked me for advice.

"Well, you know. Kyoya's interest is in music, too, right?"

Nanako asked, glancing at me.

"Of course I am ... Why?"

When I asked her what she meant by the question,

"Kyoya, do you have a little time after this?"

She replied not with an answer, but with an offer.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Part 12

After listening to Nanako's story, we returned to the share house together. I went back to my room, put my art books on the floor, and lay down on the futon.

"Hmm, what should I do?"

Nanako's story, like Tsurayuki and Shinoaki, was asking for advice about what she was currently working on.

Moreover, it was something more directly related to her own work.

"Producer, huh?"

As I roll over, I recall what Nanako asked me to do.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

In the past, when Nanako was approached by the doujin community for collaborations and requests, I ventured to let her handle the situation herself. I felt that if she lost her independence, it would hinder her growth in the future.

As a result, she was able to think for herself and make contact with the outside world and create on her own. Although there were times when she had to ask for help in areas she was not sure about, she was at a level where it was safe to leave everything else completely up to her.

But now that she was able to do things on her own, Nanako wanted to do things at a higher level.

"Whether I'm writing an original song or uploading a version of a song I've already sung, I want to make sure I have a clear idea of what I'm aiming for, or what I want to do in the future, so I want to put it all together."

"But isn't that something that Nanako can do now too?"

In fact, Nanako had begun to give considerable thought to her creative activities. Whether it was the choice of songs or the selection of collaborators, it was obvious that Nanako had thought about her actions in her own way.

"It may look done, but it's not enough."

Nanako took a deep breath and opened the browser on her PC, "Look at this."

"It's a ranking of people who are currently working hard on singing covers."

Nico Nico Douga has rankings for each category. Genres like "Utaite" and "Vocaloid" are the most popular, and the rankings change rapidly every day.

Among them, Nanako has been able to make it quite far up the rankings. It's fair to say that she is already somewhere around the middle of the rankings among fans in the area.

But she said,

"I know this may sound naughty, but I want to go higher."

She came to clearly state her goal.

"It's not that I want to be showered with praise or anything like that. I want more and more people to listen to my music. So I think I have to work harder for that."

"But", she paused,

"If things continue as they are, I'll be spending a lot of time thinking about it, and I might not be able to keep up with them. In fact, I've heard that some of the higher-ranked ones are doing it with more than one person, and I was wondering if it's time for me to start thinking about that, too."

"So you want someone to think up strategies?"

"Yes, that's it! But if I thought of who I could ask, the only person I could think of was Kyoya."

Certainly, if she wants technical support for singing or composing, she can ask Sugimoto-san from the music department, but when it comes to Vocaloid or the internet community, it's easy to see why she would naturally turn to me.

Above all, I think the impression from last year's competition was strong.

"But I'm only an amateur when it comes to music. I think I'll be voicing my opinion based on that."

"That's fine when it comes to music. Rather, I'd like you to speak as if you were a representative of what the average listener thinks."

Nanako said so, but considering the desire she had expressed earlier, it was obvious that such a leisurely opinion would not be enough.

However, it was strange to refuse because of my lack of ability. Because I was responsible for dragging her down this path, and most of all, I was looking forward to her future more than anyone else.

I was leaning heavily towards accepting the job, but I made one final confirmation.

(Just to be on the safe side, I have to make sure I don't make her dependent on me.)

"Nanako, I'm sure you understand, but this is something I'm doing on the premise that you'll think about it together with me."

However, as if she had been waiting for me to say that, Nanako said.

"Think for yourself, right? Of course I intend to. I won't just follow Kyoya's advice, I'll think it through carefully before I answer."

If she had intended to do that, there would have been nothing more for me to worry about.

"Okay, I'll give it a try."

"Thank you!! It would be very encouraging to have Kyoya work on it with me!"

Nanako was overjoyed, and it was decided that I would produce it.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

I thought that from now on, the distance between me and everyone would gradually grow apart, but I ended up being involved again, albeit in a slightly different way.

But each of them has become much more specialized, and more than anything, the mission has shifted to one of improving quality in a way that I hadn't expected, a more difficult one.

What I have done so far has also been highly important for the so-called “progress” of the production process. From this point on, however, it is clear that the “production” part will become more important.

"Producer, huh?"

I mentioned the job I was aiming for again.

This position is responsible for steering highly specialized creators and controlling quality while being aware of the consumer's point of view. Naturally, it requires knowledge and experience in all areas, as well as good judgment.

And now it's finally my turn to do it.

I really wanted to improve my skills, but this job itself may not be something that can be done based on perfect preparation.

"Maybe this is how everyone learned."

I had no choice but to prepare myself.

Regardless of what I have done, I have already become an influence on someone else. I have come to realize once again that there is no way to escape it.

It is easy to say “take responsibility,” but it is not something that can be said so casually.

"Because your life is at stake."

Rather than pretending to be a hypocrite by saying such heavy words, it would be better to just say it's ego. After all, hasn't that been how it's been since that future day?

You have someone to lead you with, and you have someone to show your back. It was at this time that I learned that in order to improve myself, I had to improve others.

The road to becoming a producer is a long and difficult one. But it is definitely a very interesting and worthwhile path to walk.

"Let's do it."

I felt like I was finally starting to see the path ahead, albeit vaguely.