"How is it?"
Uehara Etsuki sat across from Kamiyā Yuu, her delicate brows slightly furrowed as she watched him examine the character design sketches she had submitted.
Once upon a time, the two of them had been in the same situation—but back then, their positions had been reversed, with Uehara Etsuki reviewing the artwork Kamiyā Yuu submitted to her.
This was the second time she had submitted character design artwork to Kamiyā Yuu.
Yesterday, when she submitted her first draft, she had also experienced, for the first time, having her work judged unsatisfactory by him.
The character design she was responsible for this time was Kanade Tachibana's appearance after transforming into Madokami.
Everything, from the outfit to the character's image, required a completely new design.
"Sensei, the dress design is certainly gorgeous enough this time, but it's still missing a certain transcendent sense of solemnity. It shouldn't be built upon realism, but rather upon fantasy elements. Hmm... something closer to the feeling of a goddess."
Kamiyā Yuu shook his head and slid the design sheets back across the desk.
The character design created by Uehara Etsuki was ten times better than Madokami's appearance in the original work, yet it still failed to reach the image he envisioned.
"I see."
Holding the design sheets in both hands, Uehara Etsuki carefully examined them again.
Yet she still could not find any obvious way to improve them according to Kamiyā Yuu's vague description.
Her brows knitted together even tighter.
To be honest, she did not entirely understand what he meant.
Kamiyā Yuu noticed her confusion.
After glancing at the computer screen on his desk, he thought for a moment and beckoned to her.
"Sensei, could you come over here for a moment?"
Uehara Etsuki looked puzzled but nodded.
"Of course."
With graceful steps, she walked behind him.
There she saw Kamiyā Yuu manipulating his computer with the mouse, displaying an immense image of the cosmos enhanced with visual effects.
Countless stars revolved across the screen.
Brilliant nebulae and dazzling starlight complemented one another.
The entire image was filled with an indescribable fantastical beauty.
Kamiyā Yuu was extremely satisfied with the results of his work over the past few days.
Turning around and folding his arms, he explained:
"This image was completed this morning. It's also the background for Kanade Tachibana's appearance, the character design you're responsible for."
"The character design I need from you should be based on this scene."
"You've already read the script, so you should know how this part of the story develops."
"The magic-circle-style background has been handed over to Kuroneko. That's also a major project, though fortunately, she's quite skilled in that area."
"As for the cosmic background itself, I'm handling it personally."
"The requirements for key animation aren't particularly high here, and most of the work can be completed directly on the computer."
Uehara Etsuki studied the image quietly before asking softly:
"Kamiyā-kun, could you send a copy of this background image to my computer as well? It would make character design much easier if I could work directly from the background."
After seeing the image, she immediately understood the fundamental reason Kamiyā Yuu had rejected her previous draft.
The Kanade Tachibana she had drawn was based on a modest amount of fantasy styling.
This background, however, clearly showed that what Kamiyā Yuu wanted was a surrealist character design.
"Of course. I'll email it to you later."
Kamiyā Yuu smiled while rolling his sore shoulders.
Before Uehara Etsuki had come to see him, he had been working nonstop on this cosmic background since morning.
The workload had been immense.
Once the image was handed over to the photography department as a reference template, his portion of the work would be nearly finished.
"Thank you."
Then, Uehara Etsuki noticed his movements.
"Kamiyā-kun, are your shoulders bothering you?"
Kamiyā Yuu patted one shoulder with his opposite hand and shook his head.
"Yeah. I've been working nonstop since morning, so my muscles are getting a little sore."
"A short break should be enough."
"I'll have Aoi replace this chair later. Keeping my arms suspended while working at the computer all day inevitably leaves my muscles exhausted."
Uehara Etsuki smiled helplessly.
Placing her hands on his shoulders, she began gently massaging them.
The pressure was neither too light nor too heavy.
It was perfectly controlled.
"This is a massage technique I learned back when I was still a key animator."
"The workload for key animators was enormous in those days."
"Whenever I returned home, Murasaki would always massage my shoulders like this."
"Speaking of which, Murasaki should still have some medicine for relieving muscle fatigue."
"If you need it, I can bring some tomorrow."
Medicine for relieving muscle fatigue?
Kamiyā Yuu knew exactly what she meant.
The stuff worked remarkably well.
As for why he knew—
Several bottles of it were currently sitting in his desk drawer.
"You mean these?"
He opened the drawer and took out a small bottle without a label.
"Murasaki gave me a few of these after our kendo match."
Uehara Etsuki accepted the bottle and examined it in surprise.
Then she laughed softly.
"I never expected Murasaki to show such initiative toward other people."
"Let me help."
Pouring a little of the liquid into her palm, she rolled up the sleeve of Kamiyā Yuu's short-sleeved shirt and carefully applied it to his arm muscles.
Before long, a pleasant warmth seeped through his skin and into his muscles, driving away the deep soreness rooted in his bones.
As Kamiyā Yuu enjoyed the sensation, Uehara Etsuki suddenly asked in a gentle voice:
"Kamiyā-kun, did you defeat Murasaki in your kendo match?"
Her tone remained calm and revealed nothing unusual.
Kamiyā Yuu had no intention of hiding it.
"Yes."
"We had an official match at Yagyū Dōjō."
"I was the winner."
"No wonder Murasaki's attitude toward you has changed so much lately."
Uehara Etsuki smiled in realization.
Kamiyā Yuu casually rested his other hand on the desk.
Though he felt somewhat guilty inside, he maintained an unconcerned smile outwardly.
"Murasaki's habit of respecting strength can be pretty troublesome."
"Even if I'm not particularly skilled at kendo, I'd like to think I'm fairly capable in the field of animation."
Recalling old memories, Uehara Etsuki smiled faintly.
The pressure of her fingers on his shoulders unconsciously increased.
"Murasaki grew up in something akin to a physical training camp."
"It's only natural that she developed this sort of personality."
"For Murasaki, strength means far more than simple admiration."
"She once told me that her future partner could only be someone stronger than herself."
"Back then, I thought that meant she would remain by my side forever."
"I didn't expect Kamiyā-kun to take her away so quickly."
As the person who had been with Busujima Murasaki for over ten years, Uehara Etsuki had naturally noticed the unusual changes in her.
After all, every lunch Murasaki prepared for Kamiyā Yuu was made together with Uehara Etsuki in the mornings.
It was impossible not to notice.
"Ahaha..."
Kamiyā Yuu laughed awkwardly without offering further explanation.
After a moment, Uehara Etsuki asked softly:
"Once the production of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' is finished, would it be possible for you to visit us?"
"I'd also like to discuss Murasaki's situation with you."
Kamiyā Yuu's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
After a brief pause, he answered:
"Of course."
"I'll find some time to visit once production is finished."
If possible, Kamiyā Yuu almost wished she could discuss the matter with him immediately.
He had known Uehara Etsuki for more than three years.
Their relationship resembled that of confidants, while also carrying a subtle older-sister-and-younger-brother dynamic.
Because of that, Kamiyā Yuu always felt a certain nervousness around her, like a junior facing a respected elder.
He was certain that the possessiveness he felt toward Uehara Etsuki went beyond that relationship.
The problem was that he still did not know whether those feelings were merely one-sided.
"Sorry for troubling you, Kamiyā-kun."
After finishing the massage, Uehara Etsuki carefully adjusted his sleeve back into place.
Before leaving the office, she gave him a small bow.
Her clear, gentle voice carried an unusual seriousness.
"Then I'll leave the matter of the background image in your hands as well."