It really was the kind of move only capital would make.
But when Sora Kamakawa thought it through carefully, the deal itself was actually quite simple. All he had to do was sacrifice a portion of Natsume Yuujinchou's copyright profits in exchange for a chance to become truly famous in Japan's anime industry.
With the quality the second season of Natsume Yuujinchou could achieve, combined with the sheer exposure that would come from broadcasting on Seiun TV, the series would definitely become a hit. Not just a hit, either. It would rise to a completely different level of popularity from the first season.
As long as he became famous, earned enough money, and built real prestige, then the works he made afterward would give him the leverage to negotiate far better terms with broadcasters.
At that point, this level of sacrifice was not something he could not accept.
For most creators, it would be painful. An entire lifetime might pass without them ever producing more than a handful of truly top-tier anime. If one breakout success had a massive share of its profits carved away by someone else, of course it would hurt.
But that was not a problem for Sora Kamakawa.
There was no denying that Natsume Yuujinchou was a masterpiece with extraordinary critical reputation. But in terms of commercial value, among the mountain of works stored in his system library, it certainly was not near the top.
As long as he could use Seiun TV's immense broadcast reach to gain more emotional points, then later exchange those points for works with far greater commercial value, this little loss in copyright profit would be a minor matter at best.
After thinking it over, Sora Kamakawa asked,
"But if Natsume Yuujinchou Season 2 is going to air during Seiun TV's prime-time slot, isn't a total investment of only twenty million yen a little too low? If we really reach an agreement, I think both sides could invest fifteen million each and make the second season into a production with a visual style - "
"Wait a moment, Director Sora Kamakawa," Yukina said, setting down her wine glass with a faint smile, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I never said that if we reached an agreement, Natsume Yuujinchou Season 2 would be broadcast in Seiun TV's prime-time slot."
Her tone was soft, but the meaning behind it was anything but.
"The first season's performance was decent enough. But if a series wants a prime-time slot, then naturally it would need the level of promotional resources reserved for an S-class production. To be honest, based on the first season's performance, it would be very difficult for our network to approve that sort of decision."
When he heard that, the tension in Sora Kamakawa's brow slowly eased.
So that was it.
She had come here to toy with him.
If he, as the director of Natsume Yuujinchou, chose to downplay the first season's results during a conversation, that was called modesty. He had every right to be humble.
But for Seiun TV to say it?
The same Seiun TV whose heavily funded The King Dragon of next door had been beaten black and blue by the first season of Natsume Yuujinchou in practically every category?
That show had aired in prime time.
And yet now, according to her, Natsume Yuujinchou Season 2 somehow did not qualify?
Beside him, Sumire had been listening quietly the entire time, but the forced smile on her face vanished the instant she heard those words. What remained was a calm, chilly stillness.
"May I ask something, then?" Sora Kamakawa said, his voice even. "If Natsume Yuujinchou Season 2 is not worthy of receiving resource support and a prime-time broadcast, then which work is?"
"This will be officially announced by Seiun TV in a few days anyway, so there's no harm in telling you now." Yukina looked at him with the faintest trace of a smug smile. "It's a new anime by Director Touga Kuze, written by Natsuyuki Shirasawa. It's already scheduled to air for two consecutive cours, summer and fall, both in Seiun TV's prime-time slot."
She looked pleased with herself.
As though merely invoking Touga Kuze's name was enough to crush Sora Kamakawa's confidence.
And with that, the hostility she had been trying to conceal finally slipped out into the open.
"Excuse me. I'm going to the restroom for a moment."
Still wearing a polite smile, Sora Kamakawa rose from the table. But the moment he stepped out, the warmth vanished from his expression.
Inside the restroom, he pulled out his phone and searched for information about Maki.
As expected.
He had already found it strange. There was no such thing as hostility for no reason.
In this world, there was only one person he had ever truly offended, and that was Maki.
Last year, two of Maki's anime had aired on Seiun TV. Since that was the case, then someone like Yukina, a manager in the production department responsible for animation investments and acquisitions, would definitely have had contact with him.
At first, Sora Kamakawa had not thought too much about it. He had assumed they were simply connected through work, nothing more.
But then he found an old post on NatsuYume from one of those bloggers who specialized in exposing anime-industry gossip. The article mentioned rumors of a relationship between the well-known anime director Maki and a female manager in Seiun TV's production department.
And it was not just gossip-blog speculation.
Even earlier than that, an anime media outlet had published an article discussing the same matter.
Maki's skill as a director was acceptable, sure, but Japan had no shortage of directors better than him. Even so, Seiun TV had invested in him twice in a row last year. There had been Unkai Senki Season 2 in the winter cour, then The King Dragon of next door in the fall cour. More than seventy million yen had been poured into him over the course of a single year, only for the result to be a laughingstock of a director who walked away from the Tokyo Animation Festival without a single award.
So that was the real reason.
He had a girlfriend inside Seiun TV's production department, someone in a position to help push him upward.
Once Sora Kamakawa linked Maki and Yukina together, the whole thing became ridiculous enough to make him laugh.
But once that relationship became clear, Yukina's intentions also became painfully obvious.
If Seiun TV partnered with him, then the network would gain a stake in Natsume Yuujinchou.
From that point on, Sora Kamakawa would inevitably have to deal with Seiun TV personnel throughout the project. The story structure for Season 2, the production process, the storyboards, even the selection of seiyuu and subcontracting partners - everything would likely end up under the scrutiny of some investor-side supervisor sent by Yukina.
If she wanted to disgust him and vent her boyfriend's resentment, there would be plenty of chances.
If Natsume Yuujinchou Season 2 got ruined under a mess of bad interference and failed to deliver results, then Sora Kamakawa's reputation in the industry would plummet. The title of "genius young anime director" would become a joke overnight.
And if the show succeeded anyway, Yukina would still find a way to claim part of the credit for herself.
No matter how it turned out, she would come out ahead.
By the time Sora Kamakawa returned to the table, his heart actually ached a little.
That dinner cost several thousand yuan - no, in this place, several tens of thousands of yen.
Thrown straight into the sea.
"Waiter, the bill."
He said it loudly enough for the whole room to hear.
"The bill?" Yukina, who had still been drinking, froze in place.
Sumire stared at him too, caught completely off guard.
"Sumire, let's go," Sora Kamakawa said with a smile.
Yukina's face changed instantly.
"Director Sora Kamakawa, what is the meaning of this? Is this how your company treats its guests? I was sent here by Seiun TV to discuss cooperation with you."
"But didn't we fail to agree on terms?" he replied, smiling just as before. "If we didn't agree, then what exactly are we still eating for? If Manager Yukina is hungry, catch a flight back to Tokyo now and you'll still make it in time for a late-night meal. Everyone here is busy. Let's not waste any more time."
You still want to eat?
Eat what?
Even if the whole table went to waste, he was not going to let her have another bite.
At his side, Sumire looked completely stunned.
She had been angry at Yukina's attitude too, but in her mind, even if this cooperation failed, there might still be another chance in the future. Acting like this meant Sora Kamakawa was offending Yukina so thoroughly that any future cooperation with Seiun TV would become nearly impossible.
"Director Sora Kamakawa, you really are wildly arrogant for someone so young." Yukina laughed in anger now. "Winning a mere three trophies has already made you think you're invincible, hasn't it? You don't even put Seiun TV in your eyes anymore."
She had spent years in Seiun TV's production department. No matter which animation studio she visited to discuss a partnership, people always humored her, flattered her, and handled her with care.
This was the first time she had ever been treated like this.
And it was happening in front of four subordinates.
"Don't misunderstand," Sora Kamakawa said with a laugh. "I do take Seiun TV seriously. I just don't think much of you. At your age, still acting this childishly is honestly embarrassing. If Maki can't accept defeat, then tell him to win it back with his own ability."
The instant she heard that, Yukina understood why his attitude had shifted so abruptly.
Behind her, several of the employees who had accompanied her were already red in the face, desperately suppressing their laughter.
This was not how the script was supposed to go.
For a moment, Yukina actually looked blank.
She had already done her homework. Among the four major networks, only Seiun TV had shown any intention of cooperating with Sora Kamakawa. So no matter how poor the conditions she gave him were, as long as he still had any ambition to climb higher in the anime industry, then he should have accepted her demands in the end.
After that, once he was working under her terms, wouldn't he be hers to handle however she liked?
But the attitude Sora Kamakawa was showing now, the words he was saying now...
"Let's go, Sumire."
He picked up his belongings and motioned for her to follow him out.
"Sora Kamakawa, if you walk out that door today, then don't ever dream of working with Seiun TV again for the rest of your life!"
Yukina's furious voice rang out behind him.
Heh.
As long as someone like her stayed in that manager's position, he would gladly keep his distance from Seiun TV anyway.
Sora Kamakawa turned back with a completely unconcerned smile.
That only made Yukina feel even more provoked.
"I'll make sure everyone in Tokyo's television industry hears about your arrogance. Don't even fantasize about working with the other three major networks in the future. You still dared to talk to me about prime-time broadcasting conditions? Do you think you're fit to compare yourself to Touga Kuze?"
Sora Kamakawa had already stepped through the door, but he still stopped and turned around to answer her in a calm voice.
"Talking like that, you'd think you were the president of the entire Japanese television industry."
Then he looked at her one last time.
"And don't get too full of yourself. I have no issue with Touga Kuze or Natsuyuki Shirasawa. But I really didn't like the way you assumed that bringing up those two names would make me feel insecure and back down. If their new work really does end up colliding with the project I'm about to make in the same season, then when that time comes, you'll find out which side should have stepped back."
Sumire was not stupid. From the fragmentary exchange between the two of them, she had more or less pieced together the whole situation.
She let out a soft sigh.
The street outside was covered in snow. The two of them walked side by side along the wintry road, white breath spilling into the air.
"What is it?" Sora Kamakawa asked with a faint smile.
"I was just thinking..." Sumire lowered her gaze for a moment. "All we wanted was to quietly make anime people would love. So why do all these troubles keep finding us?"
"Because we were nobodies before, and now we're not," Sora Kamakawa said. "That's all it is. The tree that rises above the forest always gets hit by the wind. Things like this might happen even more often from now on. Best get used to it."
As he spoke, he took out his phone and called Ryo Yukishiro, the head of production for the Southern Broadcast Alliance.
A few simple exchanges were enough to finalize the decision to work with them.
When the call ended, Sora Kamakawa cast aside the rest of the night's unpleasantness and turned to the girl walking beside him through the snowy street.
"Sumire, starting tomorrow, our company has a new job."
There was a quiet light in his eyes now, something restrained but unmistakable.
"The title of our new anime is Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World."
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