New Year's Eve – Studio Gathering
As December drew to a close, the city lit up for the New Year. Even though most people celebrated the Spring Festival more seriously, the Western New Year gave everyone an excuse to relax, et friends, and have fun.
Haruki decided to take the chance to gather his team. They'd been working non-stop for months, and with both 5 Centiters per Second and Voices of a Distant Star airing soon, this felt like the right ti to take a breather.
The group wasn't small. Haruka, his editor, ca along, as did Naoya and Kenta, his two manga assistants. Kazuya and several staff mbers from the animation team were also there. And of course, Ryuko was present.
Airi hadn't been invited directly Haruki had only called those involved in work but since she was friends with both Haruka and Ryuko, she tagged along anyway.
They returned to the sa Japanese BBQ restaurant Kazuya had recomnded before. It had a large private room with good acoustics and a pleasant view perfect for this kind of gathering.
Naoya and Kenta had heard Haruki was involved in ani production, but he rarely talked about it. Seeing the entire animation team together now, they looked a little overwheld.
Haruka, anwhile, was curious about the two films Kazuya and Haruki had co-produced. She chatted with Kazuya throughout the evening, asking about the upcoming broadcast—which was just two days away.
Even though Haruki had organized the gathering, it still felt surreal. Just two years ago, he'd been an ordinary high school student, teaching himself how to draw manga in his spare ti. Ever since the system changed his life, everything had moved so fast. The weight of it all hit him in that mont.
"Hey, Haruki, did you ever retake that driving exam?" Airi asked suddenly, her voice loud and playful from the drinks she'd had.
Haruki stiffened. Why would she bring that up?
Everyone turned to look at him. Confused murmurs followed "Wait, driving test? Didn't he draw Initial D?"
"You didn't, did you?" Airi grinned.
"I didn't either," she added. "And Ryuko didn't pass either. So to celebrate our collective failure, let's drink!"
"I'm not drinking to that," Haruki muttered, embarrassed.
He tried to play it off, but the look on his face gave him away. So people at the table were trying not to laugh.
Haruki had taken his work seriously all year. He hadn't wasted ti or slacked off. But now, thanks to Airi's casual outburst, his failed driving exam might beco fan trivia. If that got out, his dignity would be in trouble.
Ryuko smiled quietly. She didn't join in the teasing. Instead, she poured Haruki a glass of warm water and slid over a plate of fruit, keeping things calm.
So of the animation staff exchanged glances. They'd noticed Ryuko spending more ti with Haruki lately discussing character psychology, reviewing scenes, helping with voice direction. Haruki didn't seem to pick up on any of it, though.
Airi, anwhile, was clearly comfortable around Haruki. Her relaxed attitude and the way she drank suggested she trusted him enough not to worry about appearances. It said a lot.
So people whispered, joking to themselves—Are stoic guys the trend now?
They gave the trio space, sensing sothing unspoken between them.
Later, fireworks filled the sky outside. Soone opened the window, and everyone fell quiet, watching the bursts of color.
Even though it wasn't Lunar New Year, the mont still felt aningful.
Eventually, the night wound down. This had been Haruki's way of thanking the team before the ani launch, a quiet gesture of appreciation. One by one, people said their goodbyes.
Haruka, who hadn't been drinking, offered to drive so of them ho. She called Haruki and Airi to her car and when she learned Ryuko lived nearby too, she offered to drop her off as well.
Haruki and Airi both dozed off quickly in the back seat.
Half-asleep, Haruki heard Haruka and Ryuko talking in low voices up front, but he couldn't make out the words. Soon, he was out completely.
When he woke up, they were parked outside his apartnt. Airi had already been dropped off. Ryuko had helped him ho, and Haruka would be taking her to the university dorms next.
"Thanks for the ride," Ryuko said to Haruka with a smile.
"It's nothing," Haruka replied in her usual flat tone.
"I get what you're trying to do... but if you keep dancing around it, he'll never catch on. He's... not exactly intuitive."
"I know," Ryuko replied softly. "But I'm okay with that. For now, I just want to stay close. As a friend."
Haruka hesitated, then added, "If he stays in Tokyo, maybe you'll have ti. But... I'm not sure he will."
Ryuko blinked. "What do you an?"
"Just a feeling," Haruka said. "He doesn't seem like the type to stay rooted forever."
Ryuko tilted her head. "But where would he go? He's not giving up manga, and Tokyo's the heart of the industry."
"There are still places he might disappear to," Haruka said vaguely, starting the car. "He's always been the kind to move on when sothing feels finished."
Ryuko stood outside for a while, lost in thought.
His old editor and forr assistant were still here in Tokyo. She'd looked them up before just out of curiosity. She'd even co across those strange rumors online: about a falling-out with a publisher, about him walking away from a major series, even whispers of an old high school romance with his manga assistant.
Most of it sounded like gossip. Puppy love? That didn't quite seem like him. Still, so of the stories weren't completely baseless. Haruka had quietly confird a few.
And now, hearing that he might leave Tokyo...
Ryuko's chest tightened just a little.
If he leaves, and I never say anything... then it really might be too late.
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon/Alioth23 for 60 advanced chapters)
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