The alternating production schedules of the game 'Warship Girls Collection (Kantai Collection)' and the movie version of 'RWBY' had finally made Kamiyā Yuu's days much more fulfilling. At the very least, he no longer felt so bored that he had nothing to do. When it came to producing the game 'Warship Girls Collection,' he approached it as a personal hobby project. He maintained a certain level of rigor, but he had no intention of investing too much energy into it, nor did he plan to spend excessive effort managing it. Otherwise, he would be putting the cart before the horse and delaying the production of the animation.
"As for the game's development potential, I'll wait until the company grows bigger before exploring it. Making a simple card collection game like this, whether now or in the future, will bring returns far greater than the cost of producing it."
Looking at the neatly stacked pile of warship girl character drafts on his desk, Kamiyā Yuu's lips curled into a satisfied and excited smile. He picked up the thick stack and flipped through it.
"Not bad. There are two hundred and thirteen character designs for the initial roster. I personally designed thirteen of them, asked my teacher to design ten Western British-style warships in his spare time, and most of the remaining designs were adapted from the game in my previous world with some modifications."
"After several days of constructing the game systems within my consciousness space, the gameplay model has finally been finalized, too. At least it won't feel somewhat dull like the original."
"What's left now are the servers and the finalized character illustrations. For the web version, renting a high-quality server should be enough to support around one hundred thousand players exchanging information online. No, with the current budget, I can just directly buy several sets of premium servers and save myself the trouble of setting up the official website for the 'Yosuganosora' Animation Studio later on. As for the game servers, if active players exceed one hundred thousand, we can simply restrict logins or limit account registrations. Anyway, 'Warship Girls Collection' is only a hobby-oriented game project right now, so it doesn't matter how many people play during the early stages. As for the finalized illustrations, these character drafts will be handed over to Morishita Aoi. She'll contact capable illustration studios or artists to create the final artwork based on the designs."
Making a card collection game was much simpler than producing an animation. In just over twenty days, Kamiyā Yuu had already completed all preparations aside from the detailed artwork itself.
In truth, unless it was a large-scale production, card collection games were not especially difficult for ordinary companies in the industry to make. The most important thing was the design of the gameplay systems and mechanics. As long as there was a complete concept for the game, theoretically, any ordinary game developer could independently complete the production aside from the character illustrations.
Thanks to the abilities of his consciousness space and his references to the game systems from 'Kantai Collection' in his previous world, Kamiyā Yuu had directly skipped the most troublesome stages.
Everything was ready!
Holding the stack of warship girl design drafts, he stood from his office chair and walked over to Morishita Aoi's desk. Raising the drafts slightly, he greeted her with a smile.
"Aoi, remember the thing I mentioned last time?"
While organizing documents, Morishita Aoi scanned through several pages before neatly signing her name with a fountain pen. Hearing him, she paused slightly, elegantly crossing her slender black-stockinged legs before turning her head to look at him calmly.
"The thing about finding professional illustrators?"
Kamiyā Yuu nodded and placed the thick stack of drafts on her desk.
"Yeah. These are the character drafts that need finalized illustrations."
Seeing the thickness of the pile, Morishita Aoi's delicate brows furrowed seriously. She lowered the leg she had just crossed and picked up the more than two hundred character drafts, examining them carefully.
"This is what you've been busy with lately? Character designs for female anime characters? They don't seem related to 'RWBY' at all."
Kamiyā Yuu shrugged.
"Just a hobby project to pass the time."
Morishita Aoi fixed him with her sharp phoenix-like eyes and continued in a solemn tone.
"Then what exactly are they for?"
Being stared at so sternly, Kamiyā Yuu could only smile bitterly and explain honestly.
"I'm making an anime-style card collection game. I worked on these character designs as a hobby whenever I finished my tasks for the 'RWBY' movie."
Morishita Aoi's expression shifted into helplessness. She brushed aside her short black hair, revealing part of her beautiful profile as she softly lectured him.
"Yuu, you really are hopelessly scatterbrained. You want to involve yourself in anything that interests you. It's hard to truly accomplish anything that way. At the very least, it would've been more appropriate to wait until the 'RWBY' movie was finished. Otherwise, what will the others in the company think? I know you're capable and have your own ideas. You've already done well with the 'RWBY' production work, which is why I'm saying this. Anyway, I'll hand these drafts over to some professional illustration studios. During the half month while we're waiting, focus your energy properly on the production of the 'RWBY' animated movie."
Ordinary people really would not understand Kamiyā Yuu's situation. Under these circumstances, even if he wanted to defend himself, he could only remain speechless.
"Aoi, being a little less strict would be nice." Beside them, Uehara Etsuki leisurely sipped tea and smiled gently.
Morishita Aoi glared at Kamiyā Yuu with a look that carried both helplessness and slight irritation.
"It's because you spoil him too much, Etsuki. You've always been like this, ever since the days at Kyoni Animation."
—So I get caught in the crossfire even when I'm not saying anything!
Kamiyā Yuu tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling, unsure what to say.
"But Kamiyā-kun can handle it, doesn't he? His hobbies can also serve as a way to hone his talents," Uehara Etsuki replied unhurriedly.
Morishita Aoi glanced at Kamiyā Yuu, then set down the character drafts and rubbed her forehead with a sigh.
"I admit he's capable, but everything needs limits."
Uehara Etsuki was considering things from Kamiyā Yuu's personal perspective, whereas Morishita Aoi preferred to make judgments by considering herself, Kamiyā Yuu, and the 'Yosuganosora' Animation Studio as a whole.
Kamiyā Yuu straightened his expression and seriously assured her,
"I know what you're worried about, Aoi. Since I'm the one who founded the 'Yosuganosora' Animation Studio, and since I personally invited you here, I'll take responsibility properly."
"Ah~ Honestly, you two are impossible. Yuu is the president after all, so even if you act willfully, I can only obediently go along with your way of doing things."
Morishita Aoi held her forehead and shot him an annoyed glance. Seeing such a professional career woman speaking in such a faintly feminine, slightly spoiled tone gave Kamiyā Yuu an oddly electrifying feeling.
Morishita Aoi was definitely a hidden seductive beauty.
After spending half a year together day and night, along with Kamiyā Yuu's deliberate attempts to grow closer, he had long since integrated himself into the social circle of Morishita Aoi and Uehara Etsuki. What depressed him, however, was that because of his age, the two women unconsciously treated him like a younger brother. Not only did he completely lack the authority expected of a company president, but the distance that once existed between them as friends had vanished. Morishita Aoi would naturally and subtly look after him, just like the lecture she had just given him.
Usually, Morishita Aoi preferred to coldly observe the immature behavior of others from the sidelines.
Kamiyā Yuu did not dislike this kind of interaction. Unable to suppress a laugh, he said,
"How about we go to a nearby izakaya this weekend? Order whatever you want, my treat."
"Oh~ I can't pretend I didn't hear that. Yuu, count me in too!"
Before Morishita Aoi could answer, Yūki Chinatsu, who was staring at a computer screen in the distance, called out sweetly without even turning around. It was impressive that she could continue complicated 3D modeling work while still listening in on their conversation.
Kamiyā Yuu looked at Morishita Aoi's faintly smiling gaze, then at Uehara Etsuki's calm and gentle expression before sighing.
"Yes, yes. Invite Miyauchi-san and the others, too. Everyone can come together."
The corners of Morishita Aoi's lips lifted slightly before she returned to a serious expression and nodded.
"Alright."