The night of the same day. Only three days were left until the self-made deadline to finish Kokuryuuinkugetsu. No, the date has changed, so actually only two.
Inside the Kanaria Residence’s living room, we all had gathered in front of the 80inch 4K TV. Besides me, Iroha, Sumire, Ozu…as well as Kanaria holed up at one side of the sofa. Only Mashiro was not found, but she was probably holed up in her room, working on her manuscript like always. Though I don’t want to call him a replacement, but in her stead, we had Makigai Namako on the LIME phone call.
It felt like a classic horror novel scenario, where some murder incident would happen.
“Now then, let’s watch some anime. Is this connected to Netflimax?
“Netfli…? Yeah, it should be, chirp.” Kanaria answered in a daze.
Apparently, she was pretty dejected that the illustrator and scenario writer she was responsible for had ended up in a slump. The fact that she still isn’t forgetting the [chirp] at the end shows that she’s always conscious of being a pro, I guess?
“Can you also put on the TV on your side, Makigai-sensei?”
「Ahh…I’m on a trip, so there’s no TV around」
“Eh? You’re writing the new scenario from your trip?”
「…! N-No. Um…well…I-I know! I was going to relax a bit after making it past the deadline, but you had to ask for my services again!」
“Ahhh…yeah, that makes sense. So it was just bad timing, I’m sorry.”
「But, I’m still wondering why my editor is participating on your work now」
…Can’t say anything back to that. From Makigai-sensei’s point of view, the reason for all of this must be confusing.
「Well, I have another smartphone with me, so I can just watch Netfli on there. I don’t know what you’re planning on doing, but I’ll keep you company」
“Glad to hear that. Then, let’s start right away. Can you start playing the first episode of My Honey?”
「My Honey…the one that aired this spring?」
Exactly. Right around the time when Mashiro started attending our school, the title that everyone from the [5th Floor Alliance] was looking forward to.
“Aki, I still can’t see the reason for this. We’re going to escape reality by watching anime?”
“Seriously?! I can just ignore the deadline of the character to stare at Mio-chan’s belly?! Yahoooo!!”
“Shikibu.”
“I’m sorry…But, then why! Aki talked about watching anime, right?! Why am I getting scolded!”
“Now now, Sumire-chansensei. Senpai might have a secret plan to this~”
“Secret plan?”
“Don’t give me those doubtful eyes. Shouldn’t be a bad story for you.”
“Fufu, sounds interesting.”
「I’ll hear you out for now」
Since Ozu and Makigai Namako-sensei seemed like they were listening earnestly, I was relieved.
“Then, let’s get this party started…”
““““Gulp…!””””
Everyone swallowed their breaths, just staring at me in expectation. With just this action alone, I was ascertained that I indeed held a certain level of presence in this group. That being said, I equally felt a bit disgusted at myself that I got this happy from it. But, this is the kind of person I was.
“No sleeping allowed until we watched the entire broadcast of My Honey!!”
My announcement echoed through the silent house.
…………
………
……
「Are you an idiot?」
“Ugh…M-Makigai-sensei. I appreciate criticism, but could you maybe soften the impact a bit?”
「I mean, the deadline is the day after tomorrow」
“Hehe. Really not the time to be watching anime, alright. Thinking rationally, that is.”
Makigai Namako-sensei showed clear bewilderment. On the other hand, Ozu seemed to have seen through my aim, and just snickered.
“Woah, Senpai, that sounds crazy, even for you.”
“I told you before. If you’re stuck anyway, being forced to sit at your desk won’t do you any good either. You might as well watch some anime to use your time more efficiently.”
“Aha~ Logically, that might work out, but not when you’re this close to a deadline. Senpai sure is funny.”
“It’s a good chance, so how about you enjoy yourself with everyone.”
“Ah…” Iroha looked like she realized something, as her grin broke into a kind smile. “Then I’ll take you up on that offer~”
Seeing her gleeful face made me happy as well. This was the first time everyone from the [5th Floor Alliance] could enjoy anime together.
“Ahhh, that takes me back! During the spring season, the godly [Machikado Dumbbell Hanayome Saga1] also aired, but Mio-chan’s cuteness together with the glory of BL shota was only found in [My Honey]!”
“Shikibu.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Sumire was already prepared to prostrate herself on the ground in front of me, but I just told her off with a smile. She doesn’t need to hold back. Normally, indulging herself in any sort of pleasure right before a deadline was an absolute no-go, which would be punished heavily, but this time is different. As her producer, I gave the okay.
“I will allow it. Enjoy yourself to your heart’s content!”
“Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!”
And thus, the [5th Floor Alliance] + Kanaria embarked on their 6-hour long [My Honey] marathon.
*
「My Honey really satisfies your desires in episode 3. Even though I knew Tomomi-nee was going to die, it still made me get teary-eyed a bit. The flow is just perfect」
“I know right…I wanted Tomomi-nee to be happy no matter what, so I drew her in an IF world for so long after that”
“It’s crazy that there was no CG problem with the enemy there. It perfectly showed Tomomi-nee’s death.”
「Ozu, you really are dry sometimes…」
“Right, right!”
“No, it’s just as Ozu said. Dealing with the probably high production cost, as well as having proper acting for the scene, you can see that they’re pros at their work.”
「Aki, you as well…」
“Really, this is why men are just…! The only ones understanding a maiden’s heart are fellow girls like us~”
「Ah…Hey, Shikibu!」
“Eh? —Ah! Ahhhhh!”
“Don’t just get sexist out of the blue, Murasaki Shikibu-sensei. Also, Makigai-sensei is a man, so it’s not related to that either, right.”
“R-R-Right! Oh bad Shikibu, tehe~”
The exchanges we often had in LIME are now actually happening in reality, in real-time. Watching anime with everyone, all of them enjoying it in their own way, exchanging impressions, and sometimes fighting to argue who is right or wrong. Even though none of us agreed on the same point of view.
However, all these fragments come together, stack up on the other, ending up as an art piece comparable to Kowloon Walled City2, creating something new. And, yet another difference from LIME—
“One of the big charming points of Mio-chan is that she constantly stays assertive towards the protagonist. Not like he gets it because he’s so dense though. Then again, her attacking even more fiercely is what makes her so cute~”
“I know right! Iroha totally gets it!”
「Agreed. Good sense」
“Ehehe~ You’re overexaggerating…Wait, I smell alcohol! Sumire-chansensei, when did you open up the tab?!”
“Not drinking something while watching anime is a sin! Also, this is me going all out!”
Unlike LIME, Iroha was with us. Almost as if she had been part of the LIME group for a long time, she had no problem talking with any member of the [5th Floor Alliance]. Of course, she was always a part of every gathering barely as a member of the fifth floor of the flat. During our drinking parties, she would not be missing. Until now, I don’t think any of them had not seen Iroha as a part of them. But, as of this instant, it was different.
This time, it was an operation, an activity of the [5th Floor Alliance], an anime screening to help the members out of their personal slumps. The only place something comparable to this has happened was during a LIME real-time chat as we watched anime. Iroha would only take peeks at the conversation through my smartphone.
Right now, another important piece was added to the distorted sand castle—that’s what it looked like to me—
And, while we were in the middle of exchanging opinions about story and characters. Everyone just went ‘Huh?’ with both face and voice together, as they started to have doubts about something. We arrived at the five-hour mark, the anime in it’s later half. At midnight, both Sumire and Makigai Namako-sensei had gotten into a high tension, but they suddenly stopped, showing a puzzled reaction.
—There it is.
Having picked up that the time had come, I gave Iroha a glance. Our eyes met, and Iroha apparently understood my signal, as she returned a wink.
“Seems like everyone has realized.” I quickly stopped the recording.
Stepping in front of the screen, acting like a detective talking to the various suspects.
“My Honey, episode 10. There lies the key.”
“…What do you mean, Aki?”
“Until now, with the story and heroine, especially with Mio’s character, our impressions were all over the place—But in this 10th episode, there was a part where our impressions overlapped.”
In My Honey, the early episodes depict Mio as a thoroughly [strong girl]. Being the ally and advisor of the protagonist, she would sometimes give criticism, later torn between her duty and romantic feelings to open her heart. However, in the later part of the series, when she finally manages to become lovers with the protagonist, she starts clinging to said protagonist in an almost annoying manner—
“At that moment, with this depiction of Mio, Murasaki Shikibu-sensei, Makigai-sensei, and even Ozu—You praised her to be the cutest ever.”
This was the crossing intersection for us, who hadn’t been on the same level at all until then. The parallel lines connected at one certain point. If there was one job that only I had resting on my shoulders, only I would be able to achieve, then it was to find a gem hidden inside a desert, with the size of a grain, and guide them there.
“Our new character…Kokuryuuinkugetsu, if we were to make her our most ideal character—”
Before I could finish my words, Iroha already stepped to the front. Ozu, Sumire, even Makigai Namako-sensei across the call, they all went silent. As Kanaria was standing guard in the corner of the room, Iroha put one hand on her chest, and took a deep, deep breath.
“—Wouldn’t it be fine to just do it like this?”
The color of her iris changed. From her expression, [Iroha] had disappeared, and another face had taken her place. It was the signal that her switch had flipped. Normally, she would only show this act inside Otoi-san’s studio, Kohinata Iroha’s face as a voice actress.
“At the end of time, I want to be together with thou during the night the moon falls. Paint our bonds into eternity, embrace thine body, Master. Wishing for this, would that be a selfish desire?”
Iroha—Kokuryuuinkugetsu spoke, feeling like she was about to disappear as a bubble of foam popping. Having anticipated the cruel ending, her eyes narrowed in sadness. Everyone looked ready to reach out with their hands, fearing they might regret not doing so, already half-risen on their feet. That showed how much we were entranced by her eyes. However—the girl suddenly loosened her cheeks, as her mouth formed a grin.
“Just kidding~ Fufu, what kind of face is that? Was thou imagining the secret night rendezvous with thine wife, by any chance? Really, what a splendid fellow thoust are. Come greet mine body~”
The atmosphere crumbled. Laughing like we had been friends for years, Kokuryuuinkugetsu used her devilish fingertips to poke at my cheek.
Tone of voice, behaviour, attitude. All of it added to the arrogance you would think from a vampire who had lived since eternity, yet having come to life in a certain sense right this instance. They were the actions I was very much familiar with, from a certain annoying girl around me. At first, during the initial planning, Kokuryuuinkugetsu felt like a character hard to grasp, an unfamiliar character attribute. However, rather than actually hurting the character’s charm, it acted as an effective tonic for stimulation.
“O…Ohhhhh…!”
Sumire’s eyes were sparkling.
「This…is great…」
A soft sigh leaked from Makigai Namako-sensei across the phone.
“Ahhh, I see how it is.”
Ozu just put one hand on his chin, giving me a gaze of comprehension, as if he had seen through it all. With this, they must have all understood just what I was getting at. Hence, I could let out a relieved sigh, as I slightly tapped Iroha on the shoulder.
“Good acting. Thanks, Iroha.”
“…Hehehe~ Well, it’s an interesting role to play, but thinking of her phrases was pretty difficult~”
The commanding atmosphere of the vampire had vanished, and back was the usual Kouhai JK Iroha. Though Ozu and the others were slightly perplexed at this quick switch, they didn’t deliver any deeper retort. After all, ever since the incident of the theatre club, everyone had sort-of become aware that Iroha possessed a talent for acting. Though they don’t know that she is actually the mysterious voice actor X, who delivers every voice line for [The Night The Black Goat Screamed].
In that regard, I guess it’s fair to say that Iroha’s acting talent is too great that they haven’t caught on yet, and since I always speak about requesting various voice actors, they surely wouldn’t come to the conclusion that one person is doing all the voices on their own. Hence, we could be relatively safe with this performance, since it didn’t go too far.
There was only one reason to carry this, albeit small, risk.
“What do you think? Wasn’t this the Kokuryuuinkugetsu that you—No, we all wanted to see?”
It was all to show Sumire and Makigai Namako-sensei, the critical step. The character called Kokuryuuinkugetsu only had a vague image inside of them, and for the completion, they needed the final touch.
“Yeah…yeah! That’s it! This is the Kugetsu-tan I had always wanted!!”
「Hidden behind the arrogance and boastfulness is a maiden…With just that, I was lacking something. But, what if one added the expression of love, yet from an elevated point of view? So deep. So deep and profound, this character!」
“Now that you say it. A girl with chuunibyou would have been too one-sided. With a bit of annoying behaviour, it turned out just perfect.”
“Aaaalright, then time to work on the best possible Kugetsu-tan the world has ever seen!”
「Same here. It’s time to move the pen」
“—Or so I thought, but I’ll finish the rest of My Honey!”
「That didn’t last long, did it. Well, I’ll join you」
“But, Aki?”
Next to the fired-up illustrator and author, Ozu showed me a teasing grin.
“This cuteness wasn’t the collective will of the [5th Floor Alliance], was it?”
“…I figured that you would be the only one not so easily swept along.”
“My Honey episode 10. You were the only one who said you didn’t like it. It reminded you of a certain someone, and that you couldn’t like them at all.”
“…Yeah.”
“Can I take this as a fortunate change happening inside of you?”
There were tons of things I wanted to say, especially because I felt like Ozu’s assumptions were going past the level of what actually went down, but just adding more words would have probably sounded like an excuse.
“This is the collective will of the [5th Floor Alliance]. Nothing more, nothing less.” That was the only phrase I gave him.
And then, when I had ascertained that our plan had worked out to heighten the motivation of our members, I let out a relieved sigh, and gave Iroha a thumbs-up.
“Eheheh~ V!”
Iroha flashed a smile straight out of some shounen manga, giving me a V-sign with her fingers.
*
“You. What is this about?”
“What do you mean?”
“Right before the deadline, you managed to have them relax like that. That’s not normal, chirp.”
“…Probably.”
A bit further away from the others, who were busy watching the final episode of My Honey, I was relaxing as I enjoyed a cup of coffee, when Kanaria arrived. To her words, I gave a wry smile.
“Aren’t they just weird? Logic doesn’t work with them.”
“I can’t tell if you’re on good terms or not.”
“I guess.”
Having the team management operate under one specific idea, work and strive towards a single goal is the most efficient. Put in people who don’t share the same point of view and values, and introduce an idea that contradicts with them, the organization will break immediately.
Though I feel bad for people who get punished in this way, they need to be removed from the organization. Until they find an organization they fit in, they have to go on a search.
However, the [5th Floor Alliance] is different.
“They’re all people with different values. And yet, we stick together for some reason, almost like a black box. That is—us.”
“The structure in the center is ambiguous?”
“Exactly. I don’t know how we managed to form like this, but it worked out. It’s probably because we watch anime like this every day, play the same games, and constantly hit each other with our own personal tastes…with all these experiences, we arrived at where we are right now.”
“Be it Murasaki Shikibu-sensei’s skipping, or the incorporation with Makigai Namako-sensei via LIME. All of that has a mutual effect, which showed in the game itself…?”
“Probably, I guess.”
Anime, manga, games, after having gone through various sorts of pleasure and amusement, Murasaki Shikibu-sensei could focus on her illustrations.
Through the information from his editor, and uncovering the desires sleeping inside Makigai Namako-sensei, he came up with the best possible scenario.
However, what was left to [complete] it? What was missing to make this update for [The Night The Black Goat Screamed] the best it could be? We needed to come together as the community we are, finding a similar attribute that we all deemed interesting, without even putting it into words.
“The merit I can give everyone is still rather slim…But, the atmosphere of the [5th Floor Alliance], and the invisible lingua franca. That is the culture born from everyone, including me.”
“Is that so, is that so~ So you found your answer.”
Resting her back against the sink as she took a sip of wine, Kanaria showed a benevolent smile. As she gazed at the red liquid—I directly faced her, and bowed my head.
“Thank you very much.”
“Kanaria-chan doesn’t remember doing anything that deserved a thanks. Rather, she is the loser in this situation.”
“But, you were never that intent on winning, right? You started this competition to have me realize something important.”
“……” No response came.
But, even without that reaction, I had known from the very start. If she had really planned on stealing my staff, there should have been a more efficient way of achieving this. There was no need to put up a ridiculous condition of showing results after just one week. The second she kindly regarded the time schedule of high school students on their summer break, it was obvious that she had no ill intent.
“Think of the value I can add to the [5th Floor Alliance]—Thanks to these words, I managed to see the way things in our team worked.”
“No relaxing just yet, okay?”
“Of course. I didn’t give that reply for nothing.”
Unlike maths, it’s not just one, simple answer. This is something that I, the leader of the [5th Floor Alliance], have to constantly keep in mind, and try to improve upon.
“Ahaha, not bad, not bad. If you get all that, then Kanaria-chan doesn’t have any other words.” Kanaria smiled with a tired expression.
Just from that, I could tell through how much stress she had to go through to keep up with this ridiculous schedule.
“But, why go this far? What benefit is there to help me grow?”
“Well, it’s not for your sake, by all means. Kanaria-chan is not that kind,” she started. “The only reason I went out of my way to help you is because of Makigai-sensei—As well as Kanaria-chan herself.”
“Why…?”
“Makigai-sensei puts his own books as secondary, offering half of his life to the [5th Floor Alliance]. With a better and more skilled group, his name would get even more famous, chirp~”
“As of right now, he earns the most with UZA Publishing…Someday, I definitely have to repay him.”
“It would have been better if you hadn’t stolen any of his resources from the very beginning though?”
“…I don’t have any words for that.”
Receiving words that stung right in my chest, I lost any meaning to retaliate. But, instead of further blaming me, she just returned light laughter.
“Well, that’s just fine, chirp. Makigai-sensei himself decided to help you, so it’s not Kanaria-chan’s place to talk.”
“I’m thankful for that, I really am.”
“If you’re that thankful, would you listen to a request of your dear and precious Kanaria-chan?”
“A request…? Well, if it’s something I can do…”
“So you’ll do anything, chirp?”
“I didn’t go that far.”
Just to make sure, I gave a clear retort. Of course, I was fairly certain she was just joking around, but I did have to be careful not to get my footing taken, especially by an editor like her.
Kanaria took out a single, thin card from her pocket. With the size to fit perfectly inside the palm of her hand, she grabbed it with her fingers, and showed it towards me.
“Won’t you become Kanaria-chan’s manservant?”
“……Excuse me?”
“Kanaria-chan always had one eye on how you put together the [5th Floor Alliance], chirp. If you were to enter UZA Publishing, if you were to work together with Kanaria-chan—In ten years or so, we could defeat Daiteikoku Bookstore…she thought.”
The card she showed to me was actually a business card of UZA Publishing. The name on it said Hoshino Kana.
“Kiraboshi Kanaria, 17 years old. My family name is Hoshino, and my given name Kana. I’ve only shown that business card to people I’ve acknowledged …How about it?” Kanaria said with a serious expression.
Thinking about this rationally, this was an immeasurably big chance. Though it wasn’t Daiteikoku, it was still a label with a lot of popular works and authors, such as Makigai Namako-sensei. Being invited by it’s ace, who has produced more than half of it’s best-selling novels, someone who was aspiring to get into this business would kill to get an offer like this.
—What a weird situation. She should know very well how I was going to respond.
“I’m thankful for the offer, but—”
I had already decided. Hence, I wanted to give a simple response, but…
“Non non. Kanaria-chan is very much aware that you would prioritize the [5th Floor Alliance]~”
“Then, why would you ask me…?”
“If there ever comes a time when the circumstances force the [5th Floor Alliance] to disband, would you do Kanaria-chan a favor and contact her?”
“Basically, this is insurance?”
“Well, something like that, chirp~ You never know what might happen in the future.”
“…If it’s fine for me to think of this as insurance, then I’ll gladly take it.”
If I fail, there’s no future. Rather than living in fear of this, having something to support me in the back is much more comforting. Having allies to rely upon in times of need is unbelievably reassuring.
“Well, being used as a backup does feel a bit off, but that’s the weakness of the one who fell in love first, isn’t it~”
“…What are you talking about? You’re not even thinking that.”
“Ahaha! Well, Kanaria-chan is an idol, so she can’t become yours anyway~”
“Don’t go teasing me now, for crying out loud…”
As the adult female (looking like a small child) took a sip of her whine with roaring laughter, I directed my gaze at my comrades in the living room. The person I have with me right now is one of the biggest people in the entertainment business, and even arriving at a stage where she would give me a small glance like this is something that rarely happens in life. Since this is something that I would have never arrived at on my own, I yet again felt indebted to them.
That being said.
“I’ll go back now.”
Taking out some tomato juice from the fridge, I turned my back towards Kanaria, and set foot towards the living room.
“Yeah, go get them. Aki-kun from the [5th Floor Alliance].”
“Yes. Really, thank you very much, Hoshino-senpai.”
The place where I stand isn’t the same as the adult Kanaria’s, who always keeps a certain level of distance from the creators. The [5th Floor Alliance], who is still inexperienced, vague, and always on unsure footing—I am just as much of an important piece.
1 References to Machikado Mazoku, Dumbbell Nan Kilo Moteru?, 5-toubun no Hanayome, and Saga has too many possible references.
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowloon_Walled_City
The night of the same day. Only three days were left until the self-made deadline to finish Kokuryuuinkugetsu. No, the date has changed, so actually only two.
Inside the Kanaria Residence’s living room, we all had gathered in front of the 80inch 4K TV. Besides me, Iroha, Sumire, Ozu…as well as Kanaria holed up at one side of the sofa. Only Mashiro was not found, but she was probably holed up in her room, working on her manuscript like always. Though I don’t want to call him a replacement, but in her stead, we had Makigai Namako on the LIME phone call.
It felt like a classic horror novel scenario, where some murder incident would happen.
“Now then, let’s watch some anime. Is this connected to Netflimax?
“Netfli…? Yeah, it should be, chirp.” Kanaria answered in a daze.
Apparently, she was pretty dejected that the illustrator and scenario writer she was responsible for had ended up in a slump. The fact that she still isn’t forgetting the [chirp] at the end shows that she’s always conscious of being a pro, I guess?
“Can you also put on the TV on your side, Makigai-sensei?”
「Ahh…I’m on a trip, so there’s no TV around」
“Eh? You’re writing the new scenario from your trip?”
「…! N-No. Um…well…I-I know! I was going to relax a bit after making it past the deadline, but you had to ask for my services again!」
“Ahhh…yeah, that makes sense. So it was just bad timing, I’m sorry.”
「But, I’m still wondering why my editor is participating on your work now」
…Can’t say anything back to that. From Makigai-sensei’s point of view, the reason for all of this must be confusing.
「Well, I have another smartphone with me, so I can just watch Netfli on there. I don’t know what you’re planning on doing, but I’ll keep you company」
“Glad to hear that. Then, let’s start right away. Can you start playing the first episode of My Honey?”
「My Honey…the one that aired this spring?」
Exactly. Right around the time when Mashiro started attending our school, the title that everyone from the [5th Floor Alliance] was looking forward to.
“Aki, I still can’t see the reason for this. We’re going to escape reality by watching anime?”
“Seriously?! I can just ignore the deadline of the character to stare at Mio-chan’s belly?! Yahoooo!!”
“Shikibu.”
“I’m sorry…But, then why! Aki talked about watching anime, right?! Why am I getting scolded!”
“Now now, Sumire-chansensei. Senpai might have a secret plan to this~”
“Secret plan?”
“Don’t give me those doubtful eyes. Shouldn’t be a bad story for you.”
“Fufu, sounds interesting.”
「I’ll hear you out for now」
Since Ozu and Makigai Namako-sensei seemed like they were listening earnestly, I was relieved.
“Then, let’s get this party started…”
““““Gulp…!””””
Everyone swallowed their breaths, just staring at me in expectation. With just this action alone, I was ascertained that I indeed held a certain level of presence in this group. That being said, I equally felt a bit disgusted at myself that I got this happy from it. But, this is the kind of person I was.
“No sleeping allowed until we watched the entire broadcast of My Honey!!”
My announcement echoed through the silent house.
…………
………
……
「Are you an idiot?」
“Ugh…M-Makigai-sensei. I appreciate criticism, but could you maybe soften the impact a bit?”
「I mean, the deadline is the day after tomorrow」
“Hehe. Really not the time to be watching anime, alright. Thinking rationally, that is.”
Makigai Namako-sensei showed clear bewilderment. On the other hand, Ozu seemed to have seen through my aim, and just snickered.
“Woah, Senpai, that sounds crazy, even for you.”
“I told you before. If you’re stuck anyway, being forced to sit at your desk won’t do you any good either. You might as well watch some anime to use your time more efficiently.”
“Aha~ Logically, that might work out, but not when you’re this close to a deadline. Senpai sure is funny.”
“It’s a good chance, so how about you enjoy yourself with everyone.”
“Ah…” Iroha looked like she realized something, as her grin broke into a kind smile. “Then I’ll take you up on that offer~”
Seeing her gleeful face made me happy as well. This was the first time everyone from the [5th Floor Alliance] could enjoy anime together.
“Ahhh, that takes me back! During the spring season, the godly [Machikado Dumbbell Hanayome Saga1] also aired, but Mio-chan’s cuteness together with the glory of BL shota was only found in [My Honey]!”
“Shikibu.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Sumire was already prepared to prostrate herself on the ground in front of me, but I just told her off with a smile. She doesn’t need to hold back. Normally, indulging herself in any sort of pleasure right before a deadline was an absolute no-go, which would be punished heavily, but this time is different. As her producer, I gave the okay.
“I will allow it. Enjoy yourself to your heart’s content!”
“Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!”
And thus, the [5th Floor Alliance] + Kanaria embarked on their 6-hour long [My Honey] marathon.
*
「My Honey really satisfies your desires in episode 3. Even though I knew Tomomi-nee was going to die, it still made me get teary-eyed a bit. The flow is just perfect」
“I know right…I wanted Tomomi-nee to be happy no matter what, so I drew her in an IF world for so long after that”
“It’s crazy that there was no CG problem with the enemy there. It perfectly showed Tomomi-nee’s death.”
「Ozu, you really are dry sometimes…」
“Right, right!”
“No, it’s just as Ozu said. Dealing with the probably high production cost, as well as having proper acting for the scene, you can see that they’re pros at their work.”
「Aki, you as well…」
“Really, this is why men are just…! The only ones understanding a maiden’s heart are fellow girls like us~”
「Ah…Hey, Shikibu!」
“Eh? —Ah! Ahhhhh!”
“Don’t just get sexist out of the blue, Murasaki Shikibu-sensei. Also, Makigai-sensei is a man, so it’s not related to that either, right.”
“R-R-Right! Oh bad Shikibu, tehe~”
The exchanges we often had in LIME are now actually happening in reality, in real-time. Watching anime with everyone, all of them enjoying it in their own way, exchanging impressions, and sometimes fighting to argue who is right or wrong. Even though none of us agreed on the same point of view.
However, all these fragments come together, stack up on the other, ending up as an art piece comparable to Kowloon Walled City2, creating something new. And, yet another difference from LIME—
“One of the big charming points of Mio-chan is that she constantly stays assertive towards the protagonist. Not like he gets it because he’s so dense though. Then again, her attacking even more fiercely is what makes her so cute~”
“I know right! Iroha totally gets it!”
「Agreed. Good sense」
“Ehehe~ You’re overexaggerating…Wait, I smell alcohol! Sumire-chansensei, when did you open up the tab?!”
“Not drinking something while watching anime is a sin! Also, this is me going all out!”
Unlike LIME, Iroha was with us. Almost as if she had been part of the LIME group for a long time, she had no problem talking with any member of the [5th Floor Alliance]. Of course, she was always a part of every gathering barely as a member of the fifth floor of the flat. During our drinking parties, she would not be missing. Until now, I don’t think any of them had not seen Iroha as a part of them. But, as of this instant, it was different.
This time, it was an operation, an activity of the [5th Floor Alliance], an anime screening to help the members out of their personal slumps. The only place something comparable to this has happened was during a LIME real-time chat as we watched anime. Iroha would only take peeks at the conversation through my smartphone.
Right now, another important piece was added to the distorted sand castle—that’s what it looked like to me—
And, while we were in the middle of exchanging opinions about story and characters. Everyone just went ‘Huh?’ with both face and voice together, as they started to have doubts about something. We arrived at the five-hour mark, the anime in it’s later half. At midnight, both Sumire and Makigai Namako-sensei had gotten into a high tension, but they suddenly stopped, showing a puzzled reaction.
—There it is.
Having picked up that the time had come, I gave Iroha a glance. Our eyes met, and Iroha apparently understood my signal, as she returned a wink.
“Seems like everyone has realized.” I quickly stopped the recording.
Stepping in front of the screen, acting like a detective talking to the various suspects.
“My Honey, episode 10. There lies the key.”
“…What do you mean, Aki?”
“Until now, with the story and heroine, especially with Mio’s character, our impressions were all over the place—But in this 10th episode, there was a part where our impressions overlapped.”
In My Honey, the early episodes depict Mio as a thoroughly [strong girl]. Being the ally and advisor of the protagonist, she would sometimes give criticism, later torn between her duty and romantic feelings to open her heart. However, in the later part of the series, when she finally manages to become lovers with the protagonist, she starts clinging to said protagonist in an almost annoying manner—
“At that moment, with this depiction of Mio, Murasaki Shikibu-sensei, Makigai-sensei, and even Ozu—You praised her to be the cutest ever.”
This was the crossing intersection for us, who hadn’t been on the same level at all until then. The parallel lines connected at one certain point. If there was one job that only I had resting on my shoulders, only I would be able to achieve, then it was to find a gem hidden inside a desert, with the size of a grain, and guide them there.
“Our new character…Kokuryuuinkugetsu, if we were to make her our most ideal character—”
Before I could finish my words, Iroha already stepped to the front. Ozu, Sumire, even Makigai Namako-sensei across the call, they all went silent. As Kanaria was standing guard in the corner of the room, Iroha put one hand on her chest, and took a deep, deep breath.
“—Wouldn’t it be fine to just do it like this?”
The color of her iris changed. From her expression, [Iroha] had disappeared, and another face had taken her place. It was the signal that her switch had flipped. Normally, she would only show this act inside Otoi-san’s studio, Kohinata Iroha’s face as a voice actress.
“At the end of time, I want to be together with thou during the night the moon falls. Paint our bonds into eternity, embrace thine body, Master. Wishing for this, would that be a selfish desire?”
Iroha—Kokuryuuinkugetsu spoke, feeling like she was about to disappear as a bubble of foam popping. Having anticipated the cruel ending, her eyes narrowed in sadness. Everyone looked ready to reach out with their hands, fearing they might regret not doing so, already half-risen on their feet. That showed how much we were entranced by her eyes. However—the girl suddenly loosened her cheeks, as her mouth formed a grin.
“Just kidding~ Fufu, what kind of face is that? Was thou imagining the secret night rendezvous with thine wife, by any chance? Really, what a splendid fellow thoust are. Come greet mine body~”
The atmosphere crumbled. Laughing like we had been friends for years, Kokuryuuinkugetsu used her devilish fingertips to poke at my cheek.
Tone of voice, behaviour, attitude. All of it added to the arrogance you would think from a vampire who had lived since eternity, yet having come to life in a certain sense right this instance. They were the actions I was very much familiar with, from a certain annoying girl around me. At first, during the initial planning, Kokuryuuinkugetsu felt like a character hard to grasp, an unfamiliar character attribute. However, rather than actually hurting the character’s charm, it acted as an effective tonic for stimulation.
“O…Ohhhhh…!”
Sumire’s eyes were sparkling.
「This…is great…」
A soft sigh leaked from Makigai Namako-sensei across the phone.
“Ahhh, I see how it is.”
Ozu just put one hand on his chin, giving me a gaze of comprehension, as if he had seen through it all. With this, they must have all understood just what I was getting at. Hence, I could let out a relieved sigh, as I slightly tapped Iroha on the shoulder.
“Good acting. Thanks, Iroha.”
“…Hehehe~ Well, it’s an interesting role to play, but thinking of her phrases was pretty difficult~”
The commanding atmosphere of the vampire had vanished, and back was the usual Kouhai JK Iroha. Though Ozu and the others were slightly perplexed at this quick switch, they didn’t deliver any deeper retort. After all, ever since the incident of the theatre club, everyone had sort-of become aware that Iroha possessed a talent for acting. Though they don’t know that she is actually the mysterious voice actor X, who delivers every voice line for [The Night The Black Goat Screamed].
In that regard, I guess it’s fair to say that Iroha’s acting talent is too great that they haven’t caught on yet, and since I always speak about requesting various voice actors, they surely wouldn’t come to the conclusion that one person is doing all the voices on their own. Hence, we could be relatively safe with this performance, since it didn’t go too far.
There was only one reason to carry this, albeit small, risk.
“What do you think? Wasn’t this the Kokuryuuinkugetsu that you—No, we all wanted to see?”
It was all to show Sumire and Makigai Namako-sensei, the critical step. The character called Kokuryuuinkugetsu only had a vague image inside of them, and for the completion, they needed the final touch.
“Yeah…yeah! That’s it! This is the Kugetsu-tan I had always wanted!!”
「Hidden behind the arrogance and boastfulness is a maiden…With just that, I was lacking something. But, what if one added the expression of love, yet from an elevated point of view? So deep. So deep and profound, this character!」
“Now that you say it. A girl with chuunibyou would have been too one-sided. With a bit of annoying behaviour, it turned out just perfect.”
“Aaaalright, then time to work on the best possible Kugetsu-tan the world has ever seen!”
「Same here. It’s time to move the pen」
“—Or so I thought, but I’ll finish the rest of My Honey!”
「That didn’t last long, did it. Well, I’ll join you」
“But, Aki?”
Next to the fired-up illustrator and author, Ozu showed me a teasing grin.
“This cuteness wasn’t the collective will of the [5th Floor Alliance], was it?”
“…I figured that you would be the only one not so easily swept along.”
“My Honey episode 10. You were the only one who said you didn’t like it. It reminded you of a certain someone, and that you couldn’t like them at all.”
“…Yeah.”
“Can I take this as a fortunate change happening inside of you?”
There were tons of things I wanted to say, especially because I felt like Ozu’s assumptions were going past the level of what actually went down, but just adding more words would have probably sounded like an excuse.
“This is the collective will of the [5th Floor Alliance]. Nothing more, nothing less.” That was the only phrase I gave him.
And then, when I had ascertained that our plan had worked out to heighten the motivation of our members, I let out a relieved sigh, and gave Iroha a thumbs-up.
“Eheheh~ V!”
Iroha flashed a smile straight out of some shounen manga, giving me a V-sign with her fingers.
*
“You. What is this about?”
“What do you mean?”
“Right before the deadline, you managed to have them relax like that. That’s not normal, chirp.”
“…Probably.”
A bit further away from the others, who were busy watching the final episode of My Honey, I was relaxing as I enjoyed a cup of coffee, when Kanaria arrived. To her words, I gave a wry smile.
“Aren’t they just weird? Logic doesn’t work with them.”
“I can’t tell if you’re on good terms or not.”
“I guess.”
Having the team management operate under one specific idea, work and strive towards a single goal is the most efficient. Put in people who don’t share the same point of view and values, and introduce an idea that contradicts with them, the organization will break immediately.
Though I feel bad for people who get punished in this way, they need to be removed from the organization. Until they find an organization they fit in, they have to go on a search.
However, the [5th Floor Alliance] is different.
“They’re all people with different values. And yet, we stick together for some reason, almost like a black box. That is—us.”
“The structure in the center is ambiguous?”
“Exactly. I don’t know how we managed to form like this, but it worked out. It’s probably because we watch anime like this every day, play the same games, and constantly hit each other with our own personal tastes…with all these experiences, we arrived at where we are right now.”
“Be it Murasaki Shikibu-sensei’s skipping, or the incorporation with Makigai Namako-sensei via LIME. All of that has a mutual effect, which showed in the game itself…?”
“Probably, I guess.”
Anime, manga, games, after having gone through various sorts of pleasure and amusement, Murasaki Shikibu-sensei could focus on her illustrations.
Through the information from his editor, and uncovering the desires sleeping inside Makigai Namako-sensei, he came up with the best possible scenario.
However, what was left to [complete] it? What was missing to make this update for [The Night The Black Goat Screamed] the best it could be? We needed to come together as the community we are, finding a similar attribute that we all deemed interesting, without even putting it into words.
“The merit I can give everyone is still rather slim…But, the atmosphere of the [5th Floor Alliance], and the invisible lingua franca. That is the culture born from everyone, including me.”
“Is that so, is that so~ So you found your answer.”
Resting her back against the sink as she took a sip of wine, Kanaria showed a benevolent smile. As she gazed at the red liquid—I directly faced her, and bowed my head.
“Thank you very much.”
“Kanaria-chan doesn’t remember doing anything that deserved a thanks. Rather, she is the loser in this situation.”
“But, you were never that intent on winning, right? You started this competition to have me realize something important.”
“……” No response came.
But, even without that reaction, I had known from the very start. If she had really planned on stealing my staff, there should have been a more efficient way of achieving this. There was no need to put up a ridiculous condition of showing results after just one week. The second she kindly regarded the time schedule of high school students on their summer break, it was obvious that she had no ill intent.
“Think of the value I can add to the [5th Floor Alliance]—Thanks to these words, I managed to see the way things in our team worked.”
“No relaxing just yet, okay?”
“Of course. I didn’t give that reply for nothing.”
Unlike maths, it’s not just one, simple answer. This is something that I, the leader of the [5th Floor Alliance], have to constantly keep in mind, and try to improve upon.
“Ahaha, not bad, not bad. If you get all that, then Kanaria-chan doesn’t have any other words.” Kanaria smiled with a tired expression.
Just from that, I could tell through how much stress she had to go through to keep up with this ridiculous schedule.
“But, why go this far? What benefit is there to help me grow?”
“Well, it’s not for your sake, by all means. Kanaria-chan is not that kind,” she started. “The only reason I went out of my way to help you is because of Makigai-sensei—As well as Kanaria-chan herself.”
“Why…?”
“Makigai-sensei puts his own books as secondary, offering half of his life to the [5th Floor Alliance]. With a better and more skilled group, his name would get even more famous, chirp~”
“As of right now, he earns the most with UZA Publishing…Someday, I definitely have to repay him.”
“It would have been better if you hadn’t stolen any of his resources from the very beginning though?”
“…I don’t have any words for that.”
Receiving words that stung right in my chest, I lost any meaning to retaliate. But, instead of further blaming me, she just returned light laughter.
“Well, that’s just fine, chirp. Makigai-sensei himself decided to help you, so it’s not Kanaria-chan’s place to talk.”
“I’m thankful for that, I really am.”
“If you’re that thankful, would you listen to a request of your dear and precious Kanaria-chan?”
“A request…? Well, if it’s something I can do…”
“So you’ll do anything, chirp?”
“I didn’t go that far.”
Just to make sure, I gave a clear retort. Of course, I was fairly certain she was just joking around, but I did have to be careful not to get my footing taken, especially by an editor like her.
Kanaria took out a single, thin card from her pocket. With the size to fit perfectly inside the palm of her hand, she grabbed it with her fingers, and showed it towards me.
“Won’t you become Kanaria-chan’s manservant?”
“……Excuse me?”
“Kanaria-chan always had one eye on how you put together the [5th Floor Alliance], chirp. If you were to enter UZA Publishing, if you were to work together with Kanaria-chan—In ten years or so, we could defeat Daiteikoku Bookstore…she thought.”
The card she showed to me was actually a business card of UZA Publishing. The name on it said Hoshino Kana.
“Kiraboshi Kanaria, 17 years old. My family name is Hoshino, and my given name Kana. I’ve only shown that business card to people I’ve acknowledged …How about it?” Kanaria said with a serious expression.
Thinking about this rationally, this was an immeasurably big chance. Though it wasn’t Daiteikoku, it was still a label with a lot of popular works and authors, such as Makigai Namako-sensei. Being invited by it’s ace, who has produced more than half of it’s best-selling novels, someone who was aspiring to get into this business would kill to get an offer like this.
—What a weird situation. She should know very well how I was going to respond.
“I’m thankful for the offer, but—”
I had already decided. Hence, I wanted to give a simple response, but…
“Non non. Kanaria-chan is very much aware that you would prioritize the [5th Floor Alliance]~”
“Then, why would you ask me…?”
“If there ever comes a time when the circumstances force the [5th Floor Alliance] to disband, would you do Kanaria-chan a favor and contact her?”
“Basically, this is insurance?”
“Well, something like that, chirp~ You never know what might happen in the future.”
“…If it’s fine for me to think of this as insurance, then I’ll gladly take it.”
If I fail, there’s no future. Rather than living in fear of this, having something to support me in the back is much more comforting. Having allies to rely upon in times of need is unbelievably reassuring.
“Well, being used as a backup does feel a bit off, but that’s the weakness of the one who fell in love first, isn’t it~”
“…What are you talking about? You’re not even thinking that.”
“Ahaha! Well, Kanaria-chan is an idol, so she can’t become yours anyway~”
“Don’t go teasing me now, for crying out loud…”
As the adult female (looking like a small child) took a sip of her whine with roaring laughter, I directed my gaze at my comrades in the living room. The person I have with me right now is one of the biggest people in the entertainment business, and even arriving at a stage where she would give me a small glance like this is something that rarely happens in life. Since this is something that I would have never arrived at on my own, I yet again felt indebted to them.
That being said.
“I’ll go back now.”
Taking out some tomato juice from the fridge, I turned my back towards Kanaria, and set foot towards the living room.
“Yeah, go get them. Aki-kun from the [5th Floor Alliance].”
“Yes. Really, thank you very much, Hoshino-senpai.”
The place where I stand isn’t the same as the adult Kanaria’s, who always keeps a certain level of distance from the creators. The [5th Floor Alliance], who is still inexperienced, vague, and always on unsure footing—I am just as much of an important piece.
1 References to Machikado Mazoku, Dumbbell Nan Kilo Moteru?, 5-toubun no Hanayome, and Saga has too many possible references.
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowloon_Walled_City
