The next day.
Zzzzzz... The vibration of his phone woke Rin Ito.
The girls, whose blood had blended last night, were still sprawled out asleep in the living room. Although the system had increased their bodies' endurance, it was their first time, and the shoulder-pressing play... Rin Ito estimated they wouldn't want to leave bed today. Eliza hadn't genuinely participated last night, but she had tried pressing shoulders and rubbing stomachs under the encouragement of Sagiri and the others. All five of them went to sleep late. Rin Ito estimated they wouldn't wake up until the afternoon.
They were still sleeping, but Rin Ito still had work to do. Yesterday at the convention, Akane Kousaka, a well-known producer in the industry, had asked Rin Ito to meet. She wanted to know Mashiro's identity and recruit Mashiro for her project.
After quickly tidying himself up, Rin Ito sent a message in their group chat and then left Eliza's mansion, heading to a very business-like izakaya (Japanese pub) as arranged with Akane Kousaka. When he said business-like, he meant he wasn't looking for the best, just the most expensive.
Led by a beautiful waitress, Rin Ito arrived at the private room door. After gently knocking and receiving a response, the waitress slid open the wooden door and gestured for Rin Ito to enter.
Inside the tatami room, an elegant, mature woman with wine-red long hair was sitting by an antique wooden low table, sipping seishu (sake) alone. A flush of intoxication was visible on her cheeks, and her form-fitting black stockings revealed a hint of skin. An empty bottle lay on the tatami beside her, indicating she had been drinking alone for some time.
Glancing at Rin Ito, Akane Kousaka didn't waste any words, grabbing a bulging file from under the table and slapping it down. "You are also a creator. You should be able to make a decision after reading this."
"Oh?" Rin Ito sat down at the table and opened the file. "Universal Chronicle..." Rin Ito raised an eyebrow. This was a long-established IP that existed even before Rin Ito came to this world, similar to Pokémon or Yu-Gi-Oh! in his previous life. The project handed to Akane Kousaka this time was an adaptation of the IP into an RPG game. Akane Kousaka's projects were famous for being under her sole authority, refusing interference from investors. Although this resulted in less investment, every resulting work was a masterpiece. Writers and artists who had participated in her projects had also advanced their careers because of her work.
However... anyone she chose was undoubtedly an outstanding creator. It would be an irresistible offer for Rin Ito and Eiri, but for Mashiro... it was insignificant.
"I apologize, she is a member of our club..." Rin Ito put down the proposal, giving a formalized rejection, but Akane Kousaka interrupted him before he could finish.
"You cannot manage her talent." Akane Kousaka poured Rin Ito a cup of sake. "You are a creator yourself; you should understand her talent. It is a talent you cannot manage. Under your care, she will only live a mediocre life, unable to climb onto a grander stage."
Rin Ito took the sake, took a small sip, and smiled. "Ms. Kousaka is right, but... it's not that I'm selfishly refusing to let her go. I have read your past works; I am also a fan of yours." Rin Ito paused, then smiled. "However... after that disastrous animation adaptation, I rarely saw your name."
"..." At the mention of that disastrous animation adaptation, Akane Kousaka's cheek twitched, and the knuckles clutching the sake cup turned slightly white from the force.
"Since then, your name only recently began to reappear in recent years."
"That's right... Since those bastards butchered the anime adaptation, I have never given the rights away again." Akane Kousaka tilted her head back and drank the sake in her cup in one gulp. "I have experienced what it's like to have talent wasted, so I will not waste anyone else's talent either."
Rin Ito also drank the sake in his cup in one gulp, then picked up the bottle and filled both his and Akane Kousaka's cups. "I also feel that her remaining here is a waste of talent..."
"Then hand her over to me!" Akane Kousaka slapped the table, looking at Rin Ito with fervor. "I will never waste it. I will absolutely make her stand on the stage! I will make everyone know her!"
Rin Ito remained calm in the face of Akane Kousaka's fanatic expression. "I feel that her remaining here is a waste of talent, and you also feel that her remaining here is a waste of talent, but... she doesn't think so."
"..." Akane Kousaka's wine-red lips mumbled, momentarily speechless.
"Ms. Kousaka, how long has it been since you genuinely read a novel or a manga?"
"I read every day..." Rin Ito didn't interrupt her; Akane Kousaka stopped herself. Unlike producers who only look at data and don't listen to the readers' true voices, Akane Kousaka made time every day to read novels and manga. She would even contact suitable creators.
But... genuinely read a manga? How long has it been since she, who started as a doujin author, genuinely read a manga? Faced with this question, Akane Kousaka herself was momentarily stunned.
"Not looking at the painting technique, not the writing technique, but... genuinely looking at a manga from the perspective of an ordinary reader?" Rin Ito drank the sake in his cup, then poured another, drinking it while subtly observing Akane Kousaka. If she employed methods like tracking, it would be easy to find Mashiro's identity. Although Mashiro herself might not care, to prevent any negative impact on Mashiro, he had to discourage her here and now.
Seeing Akane Kousaka remain silent, Rin Ito continued. "Ms. Kousaka, why did you start creating manga in the first place?" Akane Kousaka knew the answer to Rin Ito's question very well. She had also lived through those years... The one who had changed was no one but herself.
"Because... of passion."
"Exactly. Ms. Kousaka has written and drawn both novels and manga. I don't need to elaborate on how brutal this industry is. Even a struggling mangaka who can support themselves has already surpassed 99% of their peers, yet countless people still flock to it every year because of that passion."
"This proposal is indeed brilliant and tempting. If you invited her to draw a manga for the Universal Chronicle, she might agree, but for an RPG game... I'm sorry, I can't help you. Even the best project cannot convince her." I don't know if her motivation is still for manga, or now for manga and naughty things.
"Furthermore..." Draining the sake in his cup, Rin Ito stood up. "She doesn't need to stand on a grander stage. She is already the star on her own stage."