After a detailed explanation, Kamiyā Yuu told Uehara Etsuki about the predicament he was currently facing.
"The greatest difficulty right now isn't technical, nor is it the visuals. As you've seen, these 3D models are the result of my work over the past half month. I'll need about another month to fully complete them. The problem lies in the music. For this short 3D animation, I've prepared two pieces—one theme song and one background track. To complete these, I'll need the assistance of a music studio."
"But hiring a music studio requires a considerable amount of money. With my current salary, it's impossible to gather that amount in a short time. The fastest solution I can think of is 'online crowdfunding.' That's why I need your permission—I'd like to use your reputation as a guarantee."
"I know this request will put you in a difficult position, but to complete this work as soon as possible, I have no choice but to shamelessly ask for your help. Uehara-sensei is probably the only person who can assist me in this matter."
"The files on the computer desktop are the sheet music for these two pieces."
Kamiyā Yuu stood up and gave a deep bow, his tone more sincere than ever before.
The atmosphere in the office grew heavy. With his head lowered, Kamiyā Yuu couldn't see Uehara Etsuki's expression. After a moment of silence—neither too long nor too short—he heard her calm voice, tinged with slight confusion.
"Kamiyā-kun, do you understand what what you just said represents?"
"Yes. It's a kind of offense to your reputation."
Uehara Etsuki shook her head and straightened her posture. Her sharp gaze swept over Kamiyā Yuu as she spoke in a low voice, "I've never cared about outside opinions. But can you really achieve what you just promised? A 3D animation of this quality—even a professional team couldn't complete it in just one month. I'm not doubting your ability. I just hope your decision is the result of careful consideration."
"I possess something that even professional teams don't have. I'm certain I can complete this work!" Kamiyā Yuu lifted his head and met her gaze, answering with firm, unwavering confidence.
Their eyes met, and Uehara Etsuki could feel his determination and self-assurance. She extended her slender hand, slowly closed the laptop on the desk, lowered her gaze, and let out a soft sigh.
"Ah… I've underestimated you again, Kamiyā-kun. Since you're this determined, then no matter my position, I have no reason to refuse you. If you want to do it, then go ahead."
Kamiyā Yuu's breathing quickened as he asked repeatedly, "So… you agree?"
Uehara Etsuki pushed the laptop back toward him and smiled faintly. "Yes. Because right now, more than anyone else, I want to see you grow in this field. Your abilities have already exceeded my expectations. Just as I said before, I won't become a rope that holds back your development. Since I agreed to be your teacher, I must fulfill my responsibility. There's no better time than now to give you a push, isn't there?"
Kamiyā Yuu swore that the gentle smile on Uehara Etsuki's face at that moment was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the world.
"Thank you… very much!" Kamiyā Yuu bowed deeply once again!
After the meeting, Uehara Etsuki lost all interest in continuing her key animation work and sank into deep thought. Gazing out at the intoxicating hues of the setting sun, the soft smile on her face carried an indescribable meaning.
"Honestly… who would have thought that in just the blink of an eye… a fledgling would grow into an eagle capable of soaring through the sky."
"Ah… I think I can understand Aoi's feelings a little now."
...
In Kamiyā Yuu's room, the clicking of the mouse and the crisp tapping of the keyboard blended. His eyes were fixed on the computer screen, carefully observing every detail of each scene model.
—Uehara-sensei's words… It's hard not to feel motivated after hearing them. Compared to a witch, hmm… maybe a goddess of spring suits her better.
Recalling Uehara Etsuki's words of trust, Kamiyā Yuu felt a warm current flow through his heart. It had to be said that not only did Uehara Etsuki possess the gentle and refined appearance of a perfect Yamato Nadeshiko, but her inner qualities also embodied everything that defined one.
A smile flickered in Kamiyā Yuu's eyes as his hands rapidly manipulated the MAYA modeling software, refining the details of the 3D scene. At the same time, he left the rendering work to the software itself. As a fully mature 3D modeling program proven in the market, its semi-intelligent modeling features could handle most of the workload for him.
Especially when it came to image rendering, Kamiyā Yuu would often leave his laptop running overnight, letting it process and render each designed frame. By now, his laptop had been running at full load day and night for several weeks. It was as durable as the famous Nokia phones from his previous world—no matter how much he pushed it, it showed no signs of breaking down. The only issue was the fan noise, which was unbearably loud.
"With Uehara-sensei's approval secured, the next step is to win over the audience," Kamiyā Yuu said confidently to himself. If he wanted the crowdfunding to succeed, relying solely on his key animation and Uehara Etsuki's reputation wouldn't be enough—he needed to present genuine sincerity that would convince people he had the ability to produce animation.
He was already putting that plan into action: a preview hybrid MAD based on the 'Red' arc. Much like a promotional PV for an anime, he would create a three-minute hybrid MAD using the 'Red' arc, showcasing its uniquely styled, intense battle scenes set to an energetic track from this world. It would end with a scene of Ruby Rose standing under the moonlight, petals drifting around her, as she faced the giant wolf Sif from afar.
This kind of MAD wasn't difficult to produce. Kamiyā Yuu already had the necessary materials on hand, and it could be treated as a byproduct of creating the 'Red' arc. With the added appeal of the MAD, the audience would have a reason to believe in his crowdfunding project.
After all, crowdfunding wasn't something that could be accomplished casually. In this matter, Kamiyā Yuu needed to be responsible—to Uehara Etsuki, to everyone willing to participate in the crowdfunding, and even to the "Fakebook" website that would approve the project. "Fakebook" itself had the capability to host crowdfunding campaigns, but its review process was extremely strict. For individuals without backing, launching a crowdfunding project was practically impossible.
"I still need to contact a professional music studio. As the production manager, Mr. Fujiwara should have quite a few connections—I can try asking him. As for Kimura Jirō, that unreliable member of the production department… better forget about him."
The production department was involved throughout the entire animation process, so it had access to every stage and department involved in animation production.