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

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Prologue | Wavering Dream | Remake our Life!


Part 1

I was dreaming.

I don't specifically remember what I was dreaming about. I only remembered the feeling of something sweet, gentle, and comforting surrounding me.

Lately, the dreams I had been seeing were mostly terrible ones.

The gray days of my former life as a working adult. Sometimes, they were grotesque versions of those experiences, exaggerated and made even uglier. Other times, they were like a collection of the empty, uneasy, indescribable feelings of loneliness I had carried inside me. They were all horrible dreams that left me drenched in sweat when I woke up.

But at some point, the dreams I saw gradually became brighter.

The clouds like those of the rainy season that had covered the sky above me all this time gave way to blue skies, and the cool colors that had filled everything gradually changed into warm colors.

I don't know what it was about my state of mind that caused this. But there was no doubt that my daily life and my feelings toward various things had influenced them.

Today, too, I had such a dream. Still wrapped in that soft, pleasant feeling, I woke up and sat up. It still felt as though a faint pink haze was covering everything in front of me.

I lightly shook my head, then took the plastic bottle beside me and poured water down my throat. I could feel the water replenishing my dried-out body and bringing it back to life.

Through the transparent plastic bottle, I could see the room in the share house where I had spent all this time. I had been given the chance to live those ten years over again, and without knowing anything, I had chosen to go to an art university and spent three years with friends I had happened to meet. 

I let out a sigh, set the plastic bottle down, and looked up into the air.

"This one feels much more like a dream."

Looking back, it had all been one impossible thing after another.

From a world ten years in the future, where I had become so fed up with everything that I was about to throw it all away, I had returned without warning to the world of ten years earlier. The creative industry, which had once felt like a distant world. We clashed, laughed, cried, and there were even setbacks that made me think everything might fall apart. But taking all of it together, I had been living in a miracle. 

"It's not a dream, is it?"

After a major setback, I made several decisions.

So that I wouldn't ruin their wonderful futures. So that I could meet those sparkling versions of them that I had seen in the world I once lived in again.

"I should get up."

As if to shake off the gentle atmosphere that still remained, I stood up. Lately, my daily routine had become taking a light walk in the morning, then taking a shower and working on various things after I was completely awake.

When I looked at the clock, it had just passed 10 a.m. By the time it was almost noon, Shinoaki, who always tended to stay up late, would probably wake up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Then, I would prepare lunch, and we could talk about today's work while eating. 

While running through a simulation in my head, I finished getting ready to go outside. I quietly walked down the stairs and opened the front door, only to be hit all at once by the strong morning sunlight and the still somewhat chilly winter air.

"Cold..."

Though I shivered involuntarily, I kept walking. Today would surely be another fulfilling day. No, making it that way was my job. 

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

Part 2

After coming back from my walk, taking a shower, and starting to prepare lunch, I was completely awake and just about ready to get started with the day when, sure enough,

"Fwaaah... good morning~~~"

Shinoaki woke up a little after noon. She greeted me with a big yawn, blinking her still-sleepy eyes.

"Good morning. What do you want to do about breakfast? It’s already ready, though..."

When I asked that,

"Thanks, I’ll eat~. But before that, I’m going to take a shower."

she said, then went back to her room to get some clothes to change into.

Watching her like that gave me a sense of reassurance, and I found myself thinking back on various things. All of them were about her past and what lay ahead for her.

It had been almost three months since I changed the way Shinoaki approached her work. 

I never thought things would go that smoothly from the beginning, but little by little, she had started to develop the resolve she needed as a creator.

She had gone from simply being someone who liked drawing to someone who made a living from drawing. She had always been serious by nature, but I felt that where she placed her perspective had changed.

Until now, I had been the one handling decisions about what work to take and doing the research, but she had also started looking things up herself online, and little by little, she had begun to express her own opinions.

But that did not mean she had moved beyond simply being a creator. When it came to things like strategies for marketing herself as a professional and building her own brand, she still had a long way to go.

However, it would be difficult to expect that much from her right now. So, to keep her brain from becoming overloaded, I had also started taking care of things like her meals and physical condition.

"If it helps her grow... then I guess that's good"

Of course, I knew that if I did too much, it could lead to dependence.

That's why this was only temporary. It was a fleeting time of togetherness that would eventually come to an end.

"Ha~ that feels so refreshing. But just taking a shower still leaves me feeling cold."

With her face flushed and glowing from the warmth, the determined one emerged from the bathroom.

"It’s still winter, after all. Be careful not to get chilled after your shower."

"Mhm!"

With her smiling so brightly, there was, at first glance, no sign of the great determination or sternness she had as a creator.

But once we actually started talking about work, her expression and words changed completely. Her attitude of facing things head-on had begun to show clearly.

"Iowa Soft... Ah, that’s the bishoujo game company that contacted us the other day. Shinoaki, they’re asking you to do the original artwork for two characters. What do you think?"

I asked Shinoaki, who was biting into a slice of bread right in front of me,

"Hmm, I talked with the president, but I didn’t really understand why they asked me. And I couldn’t really see what kind of game they wanted to make, either."

Contrary to her gentle, soothing voice, some rather harsh comments came out.

"Also, the graphics artist’s coloring felt a little old-fashioned. I think there’d be a noticeable difference if they were placed alongside my illustrations, so I’m going to turn it down~"

"Mhm, got it. So... how should we handle the email?"

"I’ll send it myself~. I think it’d be less rude if I told them directly"

Saying that, she eagerly bit into her bread again.

Even when turning down offers, Shinoaki had started making a point of handling them herself as much as possible, even though she was still not used to it. I would take over the communications once her workload started piling up, but she had begun handling important communications herself.

I thought it was proof that she was really starting to see her work as her own responsibility.

"Then, next up, what should we do about the single illustration for Monthly Moe Girls?"

"Ehto ne, that one was the editor in charge last month’s——"

She had stopped using phrases like “I don’t care” or “I’ll leave it to you” as much as she used to. She would always give some kind of opinion, and when she wanted to ask me something after that, she had started asking, “This is what I think, but what do you think, Kyoya-kun”. 

It wasn't something I had told her to do. It was something she had decided, of her own accord, that she should do.

(She's becoming Akishima Shino)

Right before my eyes, she was growing.

A girl who had come from Fukuoka and loved drawing was transforming into a creator with worldwide recognition. I was here now, watching it happen.

As her fan, there was nothing that could make me happier.

(I'm glad I made up my mind and decided to do this)

Looking back, trying to limit her work and force her into a set framework had truly been a foolish move.

Thanks to Saikawa, and Shinoaki herself, I'm glad things didn't turn out that way.

(All that's left is for her to develop a professional mindset.)

The awareness that, as a professional, she was selling her name, skills, and, above all, her work. Knowing who she was, deciding how she would develop that self, and then creating a path for her to grow.

Even among actual top professionals, there are few who can truly do this well, but I believe that by stepping in there, I can be of some help to her in one way or another.

It will probably take a little more time before Shinoaki can stand on her own. Until then, I will be her hands, feet, and head, so that I can provide her with the best possible support.

I am like the training wheels on a bicycle. One day, she will definitely be able to take them off.

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

Part 3

After finishing lunch, Shinoaki returned to her room as usual.

"I want to concentrate today, so I’ll have dinner separately~"

"Okay, then, do your best."

We waved our hands at each other, and I returned to my own room as well.

The space suddenly fell completely silent. All sorts of thoughts were running through my head.

I sat down in front of the desk with my PC, rocking slightly in my chair as I thought about various things, until I pulled up the matter that had been weighing on my mind for so long from my desktop. 

"The project... I have to move it forward."

Mystic Clockwork. A title made by a software company I admired, which I had seen in the future I once visited.

Whatever it meant, I had given that name to the project I had been thinking about. There wasn't any particularly strong reason for it. But strangely enough, the title fit the project I had in mind perfectly.

As I tapped away at the keyboard, I gradually fleshed out the project. In fact, to properly build the story, I needed Tsurayuki's help, and the artwork and music were also things that could only come together with the creators I trusted. 

But I would create that initial spark.

Because that was something I had decided a long time ago.

As a producer, toward my ultimate goal.

"I’ll put this all together, create an opportunity, and then..."

I’ll turn it into a project that involves everyone. That was exactly what I wanted to do after coming to this world.

I remembered my conversation with Horii-san the other day.

Horii-san had originally made a name for himself as a director before becoming a producer, and I had a mountain of things I wanted to ask him.

"There really isn’t much I can answer for you."

In front of Horii-san, who gave a wry smile, I asked a direct, simple, but difficult question.

"What kind of person is an excellent producer?"

Even though you simply call someone a producer, there are many different forms that role can take. Some people get deeply involved in the content, while others do not intervene at all. Money, time, personnel, how to arrange all of those things, and everything else besides—the scope of the job is unclear and chaotic. That is what the work of a producer is like.

Horii-san also pondered this question for a while. When I thought he was finally about to speak,

"Hashiba-kun, do you watch baseball?"

Suddenly, he asked me that.

"Yes, well... a little."

I didn’t have any particular team I supported, but I sometimes found myself reading news articles and columns with interest about teams known for the interesting ways they managed games and developed players.

"I actually like it quite a bit. I watch it because I think it’s packed with all sorts of elements, from the decisions made during a game to the stove league... in other words, negotiations and maneuvering outside the season, as well as developing and acquiring players."

I see. So that was why he brought up this topic.

"So, there’s something a manager I like once said. He said, ‘The strongest team is one that can win even if the manager is sleeping on the bench during the game.’"

"Even if he’s... sleeping?"

In other words, that meant the manager didn’t make any decisions or do anything during the game.

"Exactly. Basically, you can take that to mean that the abilities of each player, along with their ability to think and act on their own, are functioning to their fullest. So, if you read between the lines, it shows just how important development and preparation are."

Horii-san paused there for a moment before continuing,

"Don’t you think the same could be said of producers?"

With that, he gave me a bright smile.

Now, I find myself thinking back on those words once again.

"An environment where an excellent work can be created even if the producer doesn’t do anything during production..."

Indeed, if something like that were possible, it would be an ideal situation.

All I would have to do is gather the money and bring the people together, and everything would fall into place.

Of course, in reality, it wouldn’t end there, but there are even people who go so far as to say that the entire structure of the team determines everything, so improving each individual’s abilities is absolutely essential.

"I’m not wrong about this, am I?"

Shinoaki had become able to act this consciously, Tsurayuki had become a professional writer, and Nanako had also begun taking the initiative to create her own songs. In terms of the independence I had been thinking about all this time, I think they had finally begun to reach the state I had hoped for. If that was the case, then all that remained was figuring out how to create that environment.

"I still don’t have anything concrete in sight, though."

My job was to prepare so that I would be ready whenever that opportunity came.

It was a day that was still a little too cold to be called spring, with my fourth year of university just around the corner. 

I felt a sense of fulfillment unlike anything I had ever experienced before.