In the morning, Kamiyā Yuu was unsurprisingly late. Even so, the various departments that served as the company's gears did not stop turning.
*Clap, clap!*
The crisp sound of clapping rang out, and the production coordinators in Yosuganosora Animation Studio's production department instinctively looked toward the source.
Standing at the doorway, Production Department Chief Yano Erika looked at everyone and announced,
"Yes, yes, everyone, quiet down. Put down your work for now and head to the meeting room. Director Morishita has something important to announce."
A male production coordinator shook his head and sighed.
"So it's finally here..."
"I already heard something from the key animation department. Looks like this week's going to be busy again."
"Chief Yano, can you give us a hint?"
A female production coordinator raised her hand and asked loudly.
Yano Erika folded her arms and shook her head.
"You'll know after the meeting. I don't know the exact details either, but it should be what you're all expecting. Don't complain. The company will be giving out a pretty good bonus this time, too."
"A bonus, huh? Now that's a word that really gets people motivated."
"Right, I'm going now! By the way, how much is the bonus this time?"
With a dark expression, Yano Erika pointed toward the corridor leading to the meeting room.
"Please ask Director Morishita yourself. In any case, hurry up. Director Morishita is already waiting in the meeting room."
Thinking of Morishita Aoi's stern, cool demeanor at work—and how mercilessly she had fired production coordinators who dragged their feet—the members of the production department all shivered.
The official employees of Yosuganosora Animation Studio's production department received treatment that could look down on the entire industry. Their conditions were even better than those of ordinary white-collar workers at major corporations. On top of that, there were bonuses during the company's special overtime periods.
An ordinary employee here was treated better than a production chief at other animation studios.
Naturally, very few official employees were willing to give up such a job.
One after another, the production department members arrived at their meeting room. Facing Morishita Aoi's serious expression, they all sat down in orderly silence.
Morishita Aoi nodded to Yano Erika as she entered.
She had long since grown used to the restrained reactions of the production department members. After confirming that everyone had arrived, she picked up the copies of the storyboards Kamiyā Yuu had completed and said gravely,
"Recently, Yosuganosora Animation Studio will be facing a rather difficult situation. To overcome it, we'll need the efforts of everyone in the production department."
"These are the animation storyboards completed by Director Kamiyā. Some of you have already handled portions of them before, but this time the order comes directly from Director Kamiyā himself."
"The key animation and animation departments are currently under extreme pressure and can no longer spare any additional capacity. Therefore, we'll need everyone here to contact every freelance key animator you can and help relieve the burden on those departments by outsourcing this portion of the key animation."
Yano Erika frowned and asked,
"Director Morishita, if these are the cuts I handled a few days ago, then quite a few freelance key animators were unwilling to take them because the animation was too complicated."
Morishita Aoi nodded.
"I know. That's why Director Kamiyā plans to raise the commission fee for these cuts to five times the original rate. That should convince quite a few key animators to accept."
Five times!?
Many production coordinators opened their mouths in shock.
What did a commission fee five times higher mean?
It meant a freelance key animator would earn as much from one drawing as they normally would from five.
And this was on top of the fact that Yosuganosora Animation Studio's standard rates were already much higher than the industry average.
It was practically as though Yosuganosora Animation Studio were declaring to every freelance key animator in Japan:
"We have nothing but money. Please come rob us!"
Seeing the production department members exchange startled looks, Morishita Aoi's lips curved slightly before she continued.
"Likewise, if everyone here completes the corresponding amount of work, you will receive a bonus equal to five times one week's wages."
A bombshell exploded in the meeting room.
"Awooo!"
A male production staff member shot to his feet and pumped his fist in excitement.
A bonus worth more than a month's salary—anyone would be thrilled.
Beside him, Yano Erika helplessly held her forehead.
"..."
Aside from him, no one else in the room had reacted so wildly.
Everyone looked at him in a strangely quiet manner.
Embarrassed, he lowered his arm and bowed to the others.
"Sorry, I got a little too loud. Sorry, sorry."
...
"Erika, I'll leave these storyboards to you."
Morishita Aoi picked up a divided stack of key animation storyboards and handed them to Production Chief Yano Erika.
Yano Erika pondered for a moment.
"With commission rates this high, we probably won't have to worry about being rejected again. But judging from the required quantity and quality, outsourcing all of these storyboards in a short time will still be quite difficult."
Morishita Aoi smiled faintly as she looked at her.
"Everyone will likely be very busy during this period."
"Aoi, you should really stop worrying so much."
Holding the storyboards, Yano Erika spoke helplessly.
"I'm still confident in my connections. Even if something unexpected happens, I'll clean it up properly."
Yano Erika had been with Yosuganosora Animation Studio for about half a year.
Before that, she had already accumulated extensive experience as a production coordinator. Thanks to her outstanding ability, she had quickly earned Morishita Aoi's recognition and taken on the position of production chief.
At the same time, she had also become one of the few friends Morishita Aoi acknowledged.
Yano Erika understood the real personality hidden beneath Morishita Aoi's stern mask, so she did not feel especially intimidated by her serious expression.
After the instructions were given, Yosuganosora Animation Studio's production department began moving.
The production coordinators hurriedly contacted every freelance key animator in the industry they could reach.
...
*Ding-dong.*
Yano Erika rang the doorbell of an old apartment.
After several attempts with no response, she frowned and muttered,
"Not home?"
*Ding-dong!*
*Ding-dong!*
*Ding-dong!*
*Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!*
The ringing grew more and more frequent.
*Bang!*
The apartment's wooden door was suddenly flung open.
A disheveled middle-aged man stood there, glaring resentfully.
"Miss Yano!"
"Can't you take a hint? I should've refused your commission last time, too!"
Yano Erika raised the small stack of storyboards in her hand and smiled confidently.
"This time is different. I think you'll be interested in hearing me out. Yosuganosora Animation Studio plans to raise the commission fee for these cuts to five times the original quote. Even so, Mr. Hirano, are you still unwilling to accept the commission?"
"Five times?"
The middle-aged freelance key animator named Hirano widened his eyes, then looked at Yano Erika suspiciously.
"Are you messing with me?"
"Are we close enough for me to joke with you like that? Don't worry, this is an order from President Kamiyā himself."
Standing in the corridor, Yano Erika planted her hands on her hips and smiled like a little devil.
"So, Mr. Hirano, will you accept the commission or not? If you refuse, I'll go find another key animator."
It was a satisfying bit of revenge for being shut out a few days earlier.
"Wait! Fine, I'll accept!"
"Oh."
Seeing Yano Erika's casual expression and how she still made no move to hand over the storyboards, the middle-aged freelancer gritted his teeth internally but forced a smile.
"Miss Yano, please forgive my rudeness the day before yesterday. I shouldn't have refused your commission. Could you be magnanimous and entrust this work to me?"
To be honest, he had originally intended to accept the commission.
Yosuganosora Animation Studio's rates had simply been too tempting.
However, after calculating the workload, he realized these cuts were too complex and would clash with the other commissions he had already accepted, making it difficult to finish everything on schedule.
Thus, out of contractual integrity, he had reluctantly refused.
Now that the already generous commission had been multiplied by five...
Contractual integrity?
To hell with that.
Even if he had to stay up all night and work himself half to death, he would complete this commission.
Yano Erika nodded in satisfaction and handed him the storyboards with a smile.
"Since you put it that way, Mr. Hirano, I'll leave these storyboards to you. The commission fee is unusually high this time, so the quality requirements will also be strict. Please don't forget that."
"I already knew that a few days ago. Or rather, who in the industry doesn't know how strict Yosuganosora Animation Studio is about animation quality?"
The middle-aged freelance key animator answered as though it were only natural.