Taking advantage of the New Year break, Heishi brought Kai to Studio Pierrot.
They were accompanied by the department manager of TV Tokyo's animation and copyright division.
He was a senior executive, and it was clear he placed enormous importance on Death Note. He treated Kai warmly, asked after his wellbeing, and kept a smile on his face, showing none of the severity you'd expect from someone at his level.
In the car, Heishi leaned over and whispered to Kai.
"This April, Fuji TV has Initial D, Cardcaptor Sakura, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and a bunch of other anime airing. They all have massive audiences. You can see how aggressive Fuji TV is being."
If they lost in the anime department too, TV Tokyo really would have nothing left to show for itself.
"And in April, TV Tokyo only has Cowboy Bebop and a children's show called Takoyaki Mantoman. So..." Heishi shrugged. "The pressure on Death Note is heavy."
"Everything's riding on you."
Kai nodded. So that was how it was.
He hadn't felt much pressure before. He had confidence in Death Note.
But hearing heavyweights like Initial D, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Cardcaptor Sakura lined up on the other side, he felt a flicker of unease.
None of those were soft targets. Every one of them had their own strengths.
Then again, Cowboy Bebop was a heavyweight too. That made him feel slightly better.
...
Death Note was led by Shueisha and co-developed by Studio Pierrot and TV Tokyo.
Normally, anime broadcast on TV stations required the production side to pay the station for the time slot.
But Death Note?
With its guaranteed viewership numbers, it could carry the banner on its own. Disc sales, animation rights, music rights — those were all major revenue streams.
Instead of paying for airtime, the TV station had to pay the production team for broadcasting rights.
So TV Tokyo had simply joined the production committee and become part of the team.
That was why two cars carrying seven or eight people had pulled into Studio Pierrot's lot. Heishi representing Shueisha. The animation manager representing TV Tokyo. And Kai representing himself.
The ride had been smooth, and before they knew it, they'd arrived. The driver opened the door, and Kai wrapped his scarf around himself and stepped out.
"That scarf of yours is nice. Where'd you buy it?" Heishi asked, noticing how carefully Kai was handling it.
"You can't buy it." Kai shook his head, chin tilted up, and walked forward to meet Watanabe.
Heishi stopped, bewildered. 'What is there to be proud of about a scarf?'
Grumbling, he hurried to catch up.
"Kanzaki-sensei, thank you for making the trip."
Someone else would receive the TV Tokyo executive. Watanabe's focus was Kai.
He extended his hand, and Kai shook it, feeling how cold his palm was.
Kai was touched. Studio Pierrot was really going out of their way. They'd been standing outside waiting long enough for their hands to go numb.
"I can't wait to see how the animation is coming along."
"We won't disappoint you."
...
The group made their way into the studio.
Along the corridor, exhibition walls showcased Studio Pierrot's past work.
Urusei Yatsura. Kimagure Orange Road. Ninja Senshi Tobikage. Osomatsu-kun. Yu Yu Hakusho.
All proven titles with guaranteed audiences.
In the future, there would be Hikaru no Go, Naruto, and Bleach.
At the end of the hallway, Kai stopped before a colored illustration. It was Light Yagami, split between two expressions. Light and shadow.
Compared to the accomplished titles that lined the corridor, this one was lonely.
No achievements yet. Just a reserved spot.
"We're confident Death Note is going to be a hit, so we planned ahead." Watanabe smiled. "Had to stake the claim early."
"Mm." Kai stared at Light Yagami, lost in thought.
The professional animators' rendering was on another level. They'd captured the contrast between Light's two faces perfectly.
He thought of Honten's drawing again. He didn't agree with the old man's views, but the gap in raw skill was so obvious it stung.
His own drawing wasn't improving fast enough.
'Should I try drawing something that brings children happiness?'
"Kanzaki-sensei." Watanabe's voice was low, surprised. "The others have gone ahead."
"Ah, thank you." Kai snapped out of it, nodded, and followed.
...
"I've heard that working on Death Note brings bad luck. The rumors are getting pretty convincing, so everyone watch yourselves, haha."
Chatting and laughing, they entered the work area.
Seeing the employees still grinding away on a holiday, the TV Tokyo manager and Heishi brought out gifts.
"Thank you all for your hard work. Please accept these."
Nothing extravagant. Just milk and nuts. But the animators lit up all the same.
Kai quietly walked over to someone.
Yuta had told him about it. His old friend Hasegawa worked at Studio Pierrot. Kai had thought about it for a while before the memory clicked.
This was the guy who'd made the original Kai Fujin feel something between envy and admiration.
"Hasegawa. Long time no see. It's really good to see you. I'm sorry I missed the reunion last time."
"Kai... you made it." Hasegawa's expression was complicated. "Congratulations."
He'd rehearsed this moment a hundred different ways. Some with apologies. Some with joy. Some in total silence. But now, standing here with everything he was feeling, all he could manage was that one simple line.
Kai smiled. "You're on the same path. You're not far from everything you dreamed about in high school."
After a brief exchange, Kai said goodbye and followed the group into the screening room.
Motohashi, the animation director, watched Kai leave and walked over to Hasegawa, curious.
"You know Kanzaki-sensei?"
"Yeah. We were high school classmates. Friends."
"You." Motohashi punched him lightly on the shoulder, grinning. "You never brought up a connection like that? If you had, you'd be working as a key animator by now."
Hasegawa's skills were solid. He just needed an opportunity.
If he'd mentioned being close friends with the industry's hottest rising star, he wouldn't have had to wait this long.
"I get it. You wanted to prove yourself. Didn't want to ride on a friend's name."
Motohashi understood. People who became animators all had a streak of idealism and stubbornness in them.
Hasegawa shook his head inwardly. That wasn't really his character.
He looked toward the screening room, as if looking at Kai.
'He still treats me as a friend. That's really something.'
...
The screening room was packed. Director Abe Noriyuki, key animators, character designers. All of them brimming with confidence, like a team about to produce a classic.
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