"I… I'm not dreaming, right?" Eriri pinched her own cheek and whispered to Utaha.
Utaha didn't answer. She simply lifted her coffee cup, took a slow sip, and gazed through the wide floor-to-ceiling windows at the bustling city beyond. Her expression was complicated, her eyes unreadable.
Meanwhile, in the conference room—
After the two girls were politely asked to step outside, Seiji's entire presence changed in an instant.
The faint air of youthful laziness and playfulness faded away completely, replaced by a sharp, commanding aura—the kind that could only belong to someone in control.
He tapped his fingers rhythmically against the polished conference table.
Tap, tap.
The sound wasn't loud, yet each note struck like a hammer against the hearts of everyone present.
These were seasoned professionals, people who had weathered years in the entertainment industry—but now, every single one of them sat upright, barely daring to breathe.
They had expected their new "young master" to be a clueless heir—a boy who'd inherited a company and needed their guidance.
But what they saw instead was a predator wrapped in the skin of a teenager.
"President Tanaka," Seiji began, his calm gaze landing on Tanaka Kenji. "I plan to restructure the company from the ground up."
The room stirred slightly.
Of course, everyone had anticipated change. No one expected things to continue running the old, inefficient way under a new boss. But how he planned to restructure was another matter entirely.
One of the gray-haired technical directors spoke up cautiously. "Boss, what exactly do you have in mind?"
Seiji stood, walked to the electronic whiteboard, picked up a marker, and began drawing a new organizational chart with confident, swift strokes.
"First, we'll establish four core divisions."
He turned around, meeting each gaze with eyes far too deep for an eighteen-year-old.
"Number one: the Original IP and Licensing Division. This will be the engine driving the company's future. We won't just take on outsourcing contracts anymore. We'll create our own intellectual property—light novels, manga, original scripts—anything with potential. And we'll secure them with the best terms possible."
"Number two: the Animation Production Division. We'll absorb and consolidate the existing outsourcing teams and give them full-time employment status. At the same time, we'll recruit top directors, storyboard artists, and key animators to build an elite production unit."
"Number three: the Music and Voice Acting Division. A great anime needs both sound and soul. We'll establish our own music studio and voice actor agency, cultivating in-house talent and forming a full production-to-idolization pipeline."
"Number four: the Merchandising and Overseas Distribution Division. The lifeblood of any successful IP lies in its derivatives. We'll monetize our franchises through high-quality merchandise and open distribution channels abroad—so our works reach the global market."
Four divisions, perfectly interlinked—forming a complete commercial loop from IP creation to animation, then music, and finally global expansion.
The room fell silent.
Everyone was stunned by the sheer scope of his vision.
"Boss…" The finance director swallowed hard. "With our current scale and cash flow… isn't that a bit unrealistic?"
It was a fair concern.
Most entertainment companies specialized in just one or two of those areas. But Genesis planned to handle all of them?
All eyes turned to Seiji.
He only smiled, clearly expecting the question.
"Funding will come gradually. For now, this is our blueprint. We'll lay the foundation first, and build the tower later."
Relief spread across the room. Their new boss wasn't just a dreamer—he was pragmatic too.
Seiji continued, "As for finances, I'll be transferring the IP rights of my personal works to Genesis for management."
A collective gasp filled the room.
Everyone knew that Seiji Fujiwara wasn't just any writer—he was the award-winning prodigy who had won both the Naoki Prize and the Edogawa Ranpo Prize.
Genesis might not be in the film or TV industry, but in the ACGN world, that meant gold.
And let's not forget—Seiji Fujiwara was also the reigning light novel king!
A Certain Magical Index had exploded in popularity, outshining every other title that year. It was a cultural phenomenon.
If Genesis took charge of adapting it, the company's reputation would skyrocket overnight.
"Now," Seiji said with a relaxed smile, "what I need from all of you is your expertise. Let's discuss specifics. President Tanaka, who do you think would be the ideal candidate to head the Animation Division?"
Tanaka straightened immediately, brain spinning at full speed. "Boss, if we're talking about directors capable of handling large-scale productions, I'd say Director Tatsuyuki Nagai from Xboxx, Director Ryuichi Sakamoto from Mikoi, or Director Toyama Kudo from SSUI would all be solid choices."
Seiji nodded. "I'll reach out to headhunters. Next—our IP division. Where should we focus our initial acquisitions?"
The market research head answered promptly, "Boss, the hottest genres right now are still isekai reincarnation light novels and romantic comedy manga."
"No."
Seiji's response was immediate and firm. "That's someone else's game. Following trends only gets you leftovers. We're going to create our own path."
"Our own… path?" they echoed in confusion.
"That's right." His gaze swept across the table, eyes gleaming with conviction. "Our first project will be an original anime. A 'magical girl' series."
"Magical… girl?" The executives exchanged baffled looks.
That genre was considered outdated—and notoriously difficult to pull off.
But Seiji's lips curled into a confident, almost mischievous smile.
"It'll be called Puella Magi Madoka Magica. I'll be writing the script myself."
At that, the room's hesitation vanished instantly.
If it was written by Seiji, even a magical girl show would be nothing short of revolutionary.
The meeting continued for another hour—though "meeting" wasn't quite the right word. It was a masterclass.
Seiji dominated every topic: technical workflow, finances, marketing strategy, human resources.
His insight into the industry and his surgical precision in problem-solving were beyond anything they'd ever seen.
By the time it ended, every executive's eyes burned with respect—and even a touch of fanaticism.
They knew now, without a doubt, that they'd chosen the right man to follow.
"President Tanaka," Seiji said after everyone began filing out, "summarize today's meeting into a formal proposal. Also, start preparing a grand reopening ceremony for the company. Invite the media and the biggest names in the industry. I want everyone to relearn the name 'Genesis'."
"Yes, boss!" Tanaka replied, practically glowing with excitement.
By the time Seiji left the company with Utaha and Eriri, it was already afternoon.
Inside the car, both girls sat quietly, lost in thought.
They hadn't heard what was said in the meeting—but seeing the expressions of awe and respect on those executives' faces was enough.
For the first time, Seiji felt distant—like a figure they could no longer reach.
The air in the car grew heavy.
"What's wrong? Traumatized?" Seiji joked, breaking the silence as he started the engine. He reached over to pinch Utaha's cheek, then caught Eriri's reflection in the rearview mirror and winked.
"Who's traumatized!" Eriri shot back, though her voice wavered a little.
Utaha brushed his hand away, rolling her eyes. "I just didn't expect the famous 'Fujiwara-sensei' to act so professional outside the house."
"Oh? And what's my image at home, then?" Seiji teased, grinning. "A tireless machine, maybe?"
"…At least you're self-aware." Utaha's cheeks flushed pink.
Despite themselves, both girls couldn't help but laugh—and just like that, the tension between them melted away.
Without realizing it, they both understood something new: just how much their place in Seiji's world mattered to them.
That night, the villa was brightly lit.
After dinner, Seiji sat on the couch, scrolling through his contacts.
"Hello, Yamada-sensei? Good evening, it's Seiji."
On the other end, Yamada-sensei from Tokyo University sounded mildly surprised. "Ah, Fujiwara-kun. Calling at this hour—what's the matter?"
"There's something I'd like to trouble you with," Seiji said cheerfully. "My company is hosting an opening ceremony next Saturday. I'd be honored if you could attend as a special guest and cut the ribbon."
There was a pause. "Company? You're… starting a business now?"
He chuckled. "I already have IPs under my name. I thought I'd set up a company to manage them properly."
"Hah. Ambitious. All right—I'll be there," the professor replied, amused.
After hanging up, Yamada leaned back in his chair and muttered to himself, "Are young people these days all this capable…?"
Next, Seiji made another call.
"Chief Editor Aida, good evening. Is Machida-san there?"
At the Fushikawa Bunko office, both Ryuji Aida and Sonoko Machida were still working overtime.
"Ah, Fujiwara-sensei!" Aida brightened immediately and put the call on speaker. "Machida's here too. What can we do for you?"
"Nothing serious," Seiji said casually. "I just wanted to invite you both to my company's opening ceremony next Saturday."
"Company?" They both froze in shock.
"Yes, a creative media company. I'd be honored if you could attend."
After he hung up, the two editors stared at each other.
"Fujiwara-sensei… started a company?" Machida said in disbelief.
Aida sighed with admiration. "His ambition is boundless. Most writers wait until their forties before doing something like this. And he's only eighteen."
Back at the villa, Seiji paused, then scrolled to another name.
He looked at it for a long moment and smiled faintly. "Shizuka-sensei… it's been a while."
He hit call.
The line rang for quite some time before it was answered.
"Hello?" came a lazy, cautious voice—accompanied by the faint sound of water.
Shizuka Hiratsuka was in the bath.
The moment she saw Seiji's name on her screen, her heart skipped a beat. Memories of that wild, unforgettable night in Hokkaido flashed through her mind like a film reel, bringing a deep blush to her cheeks.
That damn kid—what does he want now?
She had half a mind to ignore the call. But the ringing didn't stop. Persistent, just like him.
With a sigh, she finally answered.
"Good evening, Hiratsuka-sensei. I hope I'm not disturbing you?" Seiji's warm, teasing voice came through.
"N-not at all. What is it?" she asked, trying to sound calm.
"It's nothing major. I just opened a company, and we're holding an opening ceremony next Saturday. I wanted to invite you to come take a look."
"…An opening ceremony?" she repeated blankly.
She had imagined countless possibilities for why he might call—but this? This wasn't one of them.
A faint disappointment bloomed in her chest.
So that was it. Not a personal call, just a polite invitation to a business event.
"I see," she said, forcing a light tone. "Well, congratulations then, Fujiwara-kun. You're quite the young businessman now. Don't worry—I'll be there."
"Thank you, sensei. I'll look forward to it."
After a few polite words, Seiji hung up.
Shizuka leaned back against the edge of the tub, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Then she laughed softly, bitterly.
"Honestly, Hiratsuka Shizuka… you're pathetic. He's already forgotten that night, and you're the only one still hung up on it."
Meanwhile, in the living room, Seiji set his phone down with a sly grin.
He had caught the subtle disappointment in her voice.
Of course he had.
But with someone like Shizuka, being too forward would only make her retreat further—just like after that night in Hokkaido, when she had fled straight back to Chiba without a word.
So this time, he'd use the perfect excuse: strictly business.
He turned toward Utaha, who was reading nearby. "Hey, Utaha, should we invite your mom too?"
Utaha thought for a moment, then smiled softly. "Better not. She doesn't like crowds, and she's still recovering. Let her rest."
"Fair enough," Seiji nodded.
Saturday.
A bright red carpet stretched across the entrance of the Genesis building.
Both sides were lined with flower stands from major publishers, animation studios, and TV stations. The atmosphere was grand and celebratory.
Dozens of reporters had already set up cameras at the entrance, murmuring to each other about this mysterious company's sudden "rebirth"—and its eighteen-year-old prodigy CEO.
At 9:30 a.m., Seiji appeared at the doors.
He wore no tie, the top two buttons of his dress shirt left open, exuding both business polish and effortless youth.
Beside him stood Utaha Kasumigaoka and Eriri Spencer Sawamura—each stunning in her own right.
The cameras immediately erupted in flashes.
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You can read up to chapter 115 on patreon.com/NiaXD.