[105] The Wasted Yomozuki Runa and the Savor-Worthy Momobami Kirari

Chapter 105: The Wasted Yomozuki Runa and the Savor-Worthy Momobami Kirari

In his previous life, in the other countries, capitalists represented by a certain video streaming site attempted to collaborate with Japanese industry to produce animations.

The result?

They were repeatedly scammed.

This is the inevitable tuition fee one pays when a wealthy but inexperienced outsider steps into an unfamiliar world.

Even for Japanese themselves, if they don't establish a proper animation production committee and instead approach the industry directly, they're likely to be taken advantage of.

It's not necessarily because companies deliberately want to exploit them, but because they've crossed a line.

If you're wealthy but don't set up a production committee to share the profits fairly, the industry will naturally push back and make sure you learn the rules of the game.

But even if one overcomes all these obstacles, there's still one final, and arguably the most difficult, hurdle: creating an excellent animation requires love from the production team.

Love—a word that may sound intangible and vague—but in animation production, or indeed in all forms of art—whether animation, novels, movies, or theater—love is essential for crafting top-tier works.

Take Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World and Kaguya-sama: Love is War as examples.

The production teams' love for the source material practically overflows from the animation itself.

They didn't just aim to showcase 100% of the original's charm; they strove for 120%, ensuring that every moment conveyed the essence of the source material.

The result?

Widespread critical acclaim.

On the flip side, consider the infamous example of Date A Live.

As one of the most prominent IPs in light novel industry, its production team clearly lacked any real love for the material.

They approached it with a gamble: "It's such a big IP—maybe it'll succeed on its own?"

The result?

A new production company for every season, with such disastrous outcomes that even its most loyal fans were left speechless.

And if there's no "love," but you still want the animation studio to produce quality work, the solution—aside from throwing money at it—is to have someone breathing down their necks, making sure they work diligently instead of just outsourcing everything.

This is precisely why, even though Shunsuke can produce everything for an animation—from scripts and storyboards to music and more, thanks to Star Platinum—he still has to approach Momobami Kirari.

"So, Momobami A... uh, Momobami-senpai, I'll need your help again this time."

In the Hyakkaou Academy student council room, Shunsuke clasped his hands together and swayed side to side, his actions completely lacking any sincerity of a proper request.

"By the way, is Runa-senpai not here again? Seriously, I'm not a demon. Am I really that scary? Every time I come by, she vanishes. Being avoided like this is breaking my heart."

"Shunsuke Fujii, is this how you show gratitude to the president?"

Even though the treasurer feared being roped into gambling by Shunsuke, he couldn't take it anymore.

How could he treat the president like this?

Did he see her as some pitiful woman who would endlessly compromise for a man she fancied?

Kaede Manyuda adjusted his glasses, a strange glint flashing across the lenses. "President, I fail to understand why someone like him was allowed to join the student council. He only ever takes and never contributes. Wouldn't it be better to revoke his position in the council?"

"Ah, little glasses, it seems you truly don't understand."

"...What?"

It was the first time someone had called him such an insulting nickname, and as the proud son of the Deputy Minister of Finance, his brain momentarily froze.

"Momobami-senpai doesn't need someone like you," Shunsuke said casually. "Dividing the student council into rigid factions—this is your territory, that's mine, and everyone keeps to themselves—that would make things incredibly boring for Senpai."

Kirari didn't say a word. She simply crossed her legs and watched quietly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"As her adorable junior, to repay Senpai's kindness, I'll just have to be the villain here. First, I'll cut off your wings and disrupt the current balance."

Shunsuke stood up and began strolling leisurely around the table.

He eventually stopped behind Yumemi Yumemite and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yumemi-chan, I think you have great potential. Surely, you wouldn't let some childish notion like 'we're all second-years, so I need to step in and help Little Glasses' cloud your judgment, right?"

"Um, Fujii-san, my name is Yumemite, not Yumemi," Yumemite said with a forced smile.

"That's not the point, Yumemi-chan."

— At least get my name right!

Yumemite screamed internally.

As mentioned before, people from Japan take this matter very seriously. Just look at anime—who's ever treated lightly when their name isn't properly addressed?

The answer is the opening's Great Teacher Onizuka.

Does everyone understand now?

Shunsuke intentionally pressured Yumemi Yumemite by deliberately getting her name wrong. He'd noticed she seemed to have developed the illusion that they were equals after his previous visit to her. That wouldn't do—she needed to understand her place.

"Little Glasses may be a second-year and a strong candidate to succeed Momobami-senpai as president, even fantasizing about overthrowing her early, but I'm also a second-year. As for supporters, he has Little Itsuki, and I have Little Runa."

"Are you plotting treason, Shunsuke Fujii?!" Manyu roared furiously.

"A stray dog from another school has no right to spew nonsense here," Manyu quietly rebuked, a cold sweat running down his back despite his outward composure. "If you're going to accuse me, at least prepare some evidence first."

"Relax, Little Treasurer. I wouldn't challenge Momobami-senpai so easily," Shunsuke said with a smile, though his words did nothing to reassure Manyu.

"I'm still regretting how I devoured Runa-senpai so quickly last time. She was such a delectable dish, yet I gobbled her up without savoring her properly. Such a waste! You know, aside from the president and vice president, Runa-senpai is the most delicious in this student council."

"But Momobami-senpai—she's ten, no, a hundred times more exquisite than Runa-chan, an unparalleled delicacy in the world. I wouldn't dare waste such a treasure. I'll savor her slowly, bite by bite."

"Also, I still need Momobami-senpai's help right now. For someone her age to reach the pinnacle of the Momobami Clan as its leader is extraordinary, but her position isn't entirely secure, even with her skills. If I openly defeated her, I'd just be creating trouble for myself. What if, by some chance, she's overthrown? What would I do then? So don't worry, Manyu—I won't make a move lightly."

Manyu was utterly stunned, momentarily frozen before remembering to shout a reprimand. However, his words were interrupted by Kirari's laughter.

"Heh... hehehe... hahahaha! Shunsuke, you really are amusing."

Starting with a smile, then a chuckle, and finally an outright laugh, Kirari was clearly delighted.

To think she had randomly stumbled upon someone so interesting while casually inspecting a family business—this had to be the work of fate.

"But Shunsuke, you mustn't keep me waiting too long," Kirari said, her words making Manyu squirm in his seat. "Manyu's lack of action has already disappointed me—you wouldn't want to disappoint me in the same way, would you?"

"Otherwise, today's Manyu might just be tomorrow's you."

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