"Animate it on ones."
Kamiyā Yuu spoke after a brief pause, decisively rejecting every proposal.
*Bang!*
Not only had her suggestion been rejected, but his answer was completely outside Yūki Chinatsu's expectations. She couldn't help slamming the table as she stood up.
"Huh? Yuu, have you lost your mind? That's obviously impossible! The whole reason we're sitting here discussing this is that it's impossible! If you weren't planning to discuss it in the first place, then get out."
"Chinatsu, calm down."
Kamiyā Sora, seated beside Kamiyā Yuu, spoke indifferently.
Hearing Sora's voice, Yūki Chinatsu snorted unwillingly, sat back down obediently, and turned her head away.
Morishita Aoi wasn't surprised by the answer. Instead, she sighed seriously.
"Yuu... how about thinking it over a little more carefully?"
Dressed in her black Gothic dress, Gogyo Ruri looked at Kamiyā Yuu and said softly,
"Director, no matter how you look at it, animating such a complicated sequence entirely on one's own is simply too difficult. It's much harder than the final episode of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'. The key animation department, animation department, compositing department... practically every department except sound would be involved. If even one link in the chain falls behind, it could lead to disastrous consequences."
"I know."
"Fully animated ones. Only a few specific scenes may be done in twos. That's the furthest I'm willing to compromise."
Kamiyā Yuu reiterated his stance before turning toward Yūki Chinatsu.
"Chinatsu actually made a good point just now. Action scenes have always been one of the defining strengths of every production from Yosuganosora Animation Studio, and I want that to remain true for all our future works. Even if circumstances are restrictive, I don't want to lose that advantage."
"'Fate/Zero' is already very popular, but its growth still isn't anywhere near that of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'. All the buildup over the previous episodes exists for the sake of this one major set piece. If we can't give the audience something truly surprising here, this series won't be able to reach even greater heights."
The gloomy look on Yūki Chinatsu's face brightened for an instant after hearing her opinion acknowledged, but under Kamiyā Yuu's gaze, she immediately put on a stern expression again and snorted.
"And who do you think you are? We're the ones actually making the animation."
Kamiyā Yuu lowered his folded arms and looked around the room.
"I'm not joking. I believe this is the only way to fully bring these scenes to life."
"Of course, I won't just sit back and leave it to everyone else. During this period, I'll fulfill my responsibilities as the animation director."
Morishita Aoi hesitated.
"But with the number of artists our company currently has, finishing such an enormous amount of animation work in such a short time is basically impossible."
Kamiyā Yuu nodded.
"Aoi, you mentioned earlier that quite a few key animators turned down our commissions."
"That's right. Most freelance key animators have already accepted work from other studios. Adding our requests would push them well beyond what they could realistically finish."
Kamiyā Yuu answered without hesitation.
"Then raise our rates."
"Reduce the amount assigned to each freelancer and spread the work across more artists until it falls within what they're willing to accept."
"The same applies internally."
"During this period, every key animator and animator will have their workload doubled. Every completed cut will be paid at twice the normal rate. Any cuts completed beyond the assigned quota will earn bonuses worth at least five times their regular pay."
"Aoi, Sora... I'll be relying on you two."
Morishita Aoi exchanged a glance with Kamiyā Sora.
Sora nodded earnestly.
"I understand. We won't disappoint you."
Yūki Chinatsu snorted, finally giving up her objections.
"So... you're just going to overwhelm the problem with money. Yuu, you really don't hold back."
Kamiyā Yuu shrugged with a smile.
"I've already made more money than I'll ever need. Compared to money, I'm much more interested in making good anime."
Yūki Chinatsu pouted unwillingly.
"Damn rich people... Well, if you're really prepared to lose money just to make anime, then I won't object anymore."
"Right, right. Thanks for the support, Chinatsu."
Kamiyā Yuu smiled helplessly.
Hearing the tone in his voice, Yūki Chinatsu's expression softened slightly. She opened her mouth as though wanting to say something, hesitated, then turned her face away and muttered unhappily,
"If you were that determined from the beginning, you should've said so earlier..."
Kamiyā Yuu took a deep breath.
"Does anyone still have any objections?"
"Since the director has gone this far, there's no point in opposing it anymore."
Gogyo Ruri nodded seriously.
"I'll do my best not to hold you back, Director."
Throughout the meeting, the head of the key animation department, Uehara Etsuki, had simply sat quietly to one side, sipping tea while waiting for the conclusion.
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say she had already known what the conclusion would be.
...
With the overall direction for Episode 12 of 'Fate/Zero' decided, the meeting moved on to discussions about finer production details.
It lasted for most of the morning.
By the time it ended, noon was already approaching.
Uehara Etsuki and the others returned to their respective departments.
Kamiyā Yuu had only just sat down in his office when he heard a knock.
*Knock. Knock.*
"Come in."
Seeing who entered, he looked slightly surprised.
"Chinatsu? Is there something else?"
Walking into the office, Yūki Chinatsu glared at him with her large, round eyes.
"Can't I come by if there's nothing?"
Kamiyā Yuu rubbed his forehead with a helpless smile.
"Chinatsu... when did you become such a tsundere?"
"Who's a tsundere? It's just that looking at your face makes me angry."
She walked up to his desk with a huff before taking a bottle of green tea from behind her back and placing it in front of him.
"Here. We talked for so long just now, and you barely drank any water."
"Thanks."
"And another thing..."
Planting one hand on her waist, she glared at him fiercely.
"If you were that determined earlier, you should've told me sooner! Then I wouldn't have embarrassed myself in front of everyone."
No matter how fierce she tried to look, it only made her seem even cuter.
Kamiyā Yuu took a sip of the green tea, set it down, walked over, and gently ruffled her golden hair.
"Sorry. I know you've been working hard."
"Exactly."
She turned her face away without brushing his hand aside.
"It wouldn't be good if Sora kept thinking I was always picking on you."
The two fell silent for a while.
"Actually..."
Kamiyā Yuu spoke softly.
"There were still a few things I didn't get to say during the meeting. Want to hear them?"
Yūki Chinatsu's petite body trembled slightly.
Turning around, she stuck out her tongue at him.
She herself hadn't even noticed that her eyes had become slightly red and moist.
"Who wants to hear your boring speech? As long as you understand what I meant, that's enough. I'm heading back. This place isn't any fun."
"Chinatsu... do your best."
Standing at the office door, she grinned.
"Of course I will."
Watching her leave, Kamiyā Yuu took another large gulp of green tea and muttered with a mischievous smile,
"She really is the textbook definition of a tsundere. Who was it that said a real-life tsundere would just be annoying? Cute is justice. Long live cuteness."
Seeing Yūki Chinatsu looking so pitiful just now, he had nearly lost control and pulled her into his arms to comfort her properly.
As he idly played with the cap of the green tea bottle, he fell into serious thought.
Come to think of it... with a legal loli, there isn't any "three years minimum, maximum death penalty"...