In some anime, the ending credits of a particular episode would include the words "production cooperation." So-called "production cooperation" was essentially outsourcing. However, it was only called production cooperation when an entire episode was outsourced to another company. If it was not a full-episode outsource, the term would not appear.
What Aoi was really saying was this: I recognize your talent, Yuta Shido, but your studio Starfall is garbage. Starfall can have a sip of the broth, but as for the meat, Starfall is not qualified to sit at that table.
Yuta had been wondering why Aoi still showed interest in investing even after learning about Starfall's track record.
After all, a good proposal did not guarantee a good anime.
Now it made sense. She had never been counting on Starfall in the first place.
Under Aoi's suggestion, handing Clannad to a more capable studio while Starfall served only as a support company would certainly reduce the risk of the anime turning out poorly.
But could Yuta agree to that?
Absolutely not. Under no circumstances could he agree. He was counting on Clannad to become Starfall's landmark title. If he handed it over to another studio and walked away with nothing but a producer and screenwriter credit, he would rather turn down the investment entirely.
He took a deep breath and spoke. "Miss Fuji, I will not deny that Starfall is not among the strongest studios in the industry."
"But no matter what it takes, we will produce this anime ourselves, and I guarantee the result will be no worse than what any other studio could deliver."
"And how exactly do you plan to guarantee that?" Aoi Fuji asked calmly.
"I..."
"President Shido, it is not that I refuse to believe in Starfall. It is simply that the risk of entrusting this to Starfall is too great. In our line of work, we have to minimize risk as much as possible. I hope you can understand that." Aoi explained.
"I understand, but I cannot accept it." Yuta's tone was utterly resolute.
"If you do not accept, you will not receive Arcane's investment. Is that truly acceptable to you?" Aoi looked at him steadily.
"If that is how it has to be, then I will have to decline the investment."
Yuta rose from his seat, ready to follow Kaito's example and snatch his proposal back.
"Wait."
Aoi spoke up suddenly. "I can see your resolve."
"What do you mean by that, Miss Fuji?" Yuta asked quickly.
Aoi tapped her fingers lightly against the tabletop for a long moment before speaking. "How about this? Let me think it over, and you can go back and wait for my answer."
Yuta looked at Aoi. She raised her head and met his gaze.
After a brief silence, Yuta withdrew his hand and nodded. "Very well. I trust you, Miss Fuji, and I hope you can trust me and trust Starfall."
With that, he excused himself and left.
Only Aoi remained in the meeting room.
She sat motionless for a moment, then opened Yuta's proposal again.
"The proposal really is exceptional. But can I really trust Starfall?"
If Yuta had accepted her suggestion, that would have been the ideal outcome. But his resolve had been absolute.
He would rather walk away from Arcane's investment than agree, and that complicated everything.
She was left with only two options: either trust Starfall, or abandon the investment altogether.
There was no middle ground.
Abandoning the investment might seem like no loss at first glance, but if Starfall truly managed to produce Clannad and produce it well, she would regret that decision for a very long time.
On the other hand, if she trusted Starfall and the studio botched the anime, the fallout would be even worse.
The core issue was that Starfall simply did not have the capability to execute a proposal of this caliber.
At least, not yet.
She took a deep breath and weighed the decision for a long while, then picked up a pen and began making notes and revisions on the proposal.
Once she was satisfied with her edits, she reorganized the document, printed several copies, and called her assistant over.
"Gather the Investment Division for a meeting in the conference room."
The Investment Division was the department that oversaw all investment operations.
Its previous head had been a man named Renji Ogami, a close confidant of the former president. When Aoi became the new president of Arcane, Renji was removed from the company.
The current division head was Issei Kagetsu, who had entered Arcane alongside Aoi.
Despite that, Issei was not one of her allies. In fact, he harbored intense hostility toward her.
Aoi Fuji was indeed the president of Arcane, but any external investment had to go through the Investment Division. There was no way around it, at least not at this stage.
Before long, the Investment Division staff trickled into the conference room and found their seats.
The man sitting in the first chair to Aoi's left was Division Head Issei Kagetsu.
Aoi wasted no time.
She had her assistant distribute copies of the printed proposal to everyone, then said, "Please review this proposal."
Issei barely spared it a glance. He did not even bother to open it.
Seeing this, the rest of the Investment Division naturally did not dare move either.
The atmosphere in the conference room turned awkward in an instant.
Aoi's expression darkened visibly. Her voice went cold. "What is the meaning of this? Did none of you hear what I just said?"
"There is no need for that." Issei replied without a shred of courtesy.
"Kagetsu!"
Aoi's face grew even darker. "My father sent you to Arcane to assist me, not to obstruct me."
"This is my way of assisting. If you have a problem with it, you are welcome to go complain to the chairman." Issei showed not the slightest hint of fear.
Aoi glared at him.
Issei seemed mildly uncomfortable under her stare. He let out a short laugh. "Miss, forgive my bluntness, but you are simply not suited to be the president of Arcane. You would be better off stepping down and going home to accept the arranged marriage. That is what the chairman wishes to see as well."
At that, Aoi's anger cooled into something sharper.
She looked away from him and said evenly, "How I choose to conduct myself is not for you to dictate."
"Of course, of course. It is not my place to dictate. But I do hope you will act wisely." Issei fired back without yielding an inch.
Aoi did not respond.
Her gaze swept over everyone in the room, and then she spoke. "Are all of you certain you will not look at the proposal?"
"I already said there is no need."
Issei maintained the same stance. "Miss, if you truly want to make this investment, then go ahead and do it on your own."
"But if anything goes wrong, I will not help you shoulder the responsibility. When that happens, I trust you will step down as president and leave Arcane."
Aoi was silent for a moment, offering no reply.
"What is the matter? You do not dare?" Issei goaded.
"There is nothing I do not dare to do. If those are your terms, then so be it." This time, Aoi's response was swift and decisive.
In truth, the Investment Division's reaction had been entirely within her expectations. She had never counted on these people to engage in any meaningful discussion with her. This meeting was simply a formality, a way to get the Investment Division to relinquish their authority over this particular decision.
Of course, if the investment failed, she would bear the consequences. But if it succeeded...
She might just get the chance to remove this asshole from his position. Besides, given her current situation, doing nothing was already a mistake.
A failed investment was also a mistake.
The only path to securing her footing was to personally oversee a successful investment.
'It has to succeed!' she thought to herself.
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