Ryuko hadn't expected anything to come from her audition at T-Bone Animation. Honestly, she'd only gone to give it a shot and her casual attitude during that chance encounter with Producer Saya had reflected that.
But three days later, she received a surprising call: she'd been selected for the role.
She stared at the message in disbelief.
Wait, what?
Large scale productions like into the Abyss were usually surrounded by fierce competition. Dozens of agencies fought behind the scenes to secure roles for their talent. Ryuko was certain that, in the days after the auditions, the producers especially Saya had been approached by plenty of these agents.
And hers? Her agent had probably done absolutely nothing.
That made the casting decision even stranger.
Ryuko's agency was just as stunned. Her agent had submitted her resume mostly as a formality, never expecting her to land the role. No calls had been made, no deals arranged. Yet here they were.
It didn't add up.
Ryuko tried to rationalize it. Maybe her performance had stood out more than she realized. Or maybe... it was something she'd said to Saya after the audition. That conversation over ramen hadn't been planned, but perhaps it left an impression.
Still, from an objective standpoint, she didn't think her audition was that exceptional.
A few days later, her agent accompanied her to T-Bone Animation to sign the contract. Ryuko couldn't hold back her curiosity.
"Can I ask... why me?" she asked one of the staff members politely.
One of the production coordinators responded with a vague smile.
"Your performance was strong and honestly, it felt like a good fit. Also… well, our studio is handling Initial D this year too."
Ryuko immediately understood the implication.
Even if Saya saw Haruki as a rival, the reality was that T-Bone Animation was working with him.
And regardless of what was happening in their personal lives, most people still assumed that she and Haruki were together.
If her voice acting met the standard, there was no reason not to cast her. It was a goodwill gesture—one that didn't cost them much but might be valuable in the future.
Haruki's rise in the industry was undeniable. At just twenty, he was already one of the most influential manga artists and animation writers in the country. Who knew how far he'd go?
For a studio like T-Bone, building that bridge however small made sense.
Ryuko understood that. But it still stung.
She wanted the role to be hers based solely on merit. She didn't want to owe it to anyone even if that person was Haruki.
Still, she wasn't the kind to mope over it. If she'd benefited from the connection, she'd work harder to earn the part properly.
But how could she "repay" Haruki for something like this?
He didn't need money. He'd turned down every indirect confession she'd sent his way. Even boosting his rank in a video game wouldn't mean anything.
Ugh. Why is he so difficult?
Ryuko sighed and buried the thought.
Meanwhile, at Haruki's apartment—
"I don't get it," Haruka said, frowning. "You want to wrap up Initial D and Natsume's Book of Friends in six months? Why?"
Haruki leaned back in his chair. "Because it's time."
"That's not an answer." She crossed her arms. "Initial D just got to Takumi's pro team arc. There's plenty of material left. And Natsume doesn't even have a strict plot it could go on forever."
"If it were about running out of ideas, I'd understand. But I've been working with you for two years. You don't feel like someone who's creatively burned out. There's no dip in quality. You're still managing multiple anime projects on the side without missing a beat."
Haruki didn't argue.
"You're the creator," she continued, "so ultimately it's your decision. But don't forget manga serialization is a team effort. Echo Shroud has invested heavily in these two series. If both end at the same time, there's going to be a massive hole in Shroud Line. Not to mention the drop in readership."
"I'm not asking to end them now," Haruki said. "I'm saying... in six months."
Haruka was silent for a moment.
"Then tell me this: why now? These two series are the kind most artists only dream of. You're sitting at the top of the magazine rankings. Why not let them run a little longer?"
Haruki's voice stayed calm. "Because I want them to stay great. Not fade out."
Haruka paused. She could see how firm he was. But she still pressed on.
"It took you two years to push Natsume's Book of Friends to number one. Initial D is only now hitting its stride. If you continue, it could become one of the most iconic series in the country. Something people talk about even ten or twenty years from now."
"And maybe it will," Haruki said. "But I want it to be remembered for the right reasons not because it overstayed its welcome."
"What about the money?" she asked. "If you end both, your income's going to drop."
He chuckled. "Then I'll just make something better."
Haruka stared at him.
"What are you trying to prove?"
"That I'm not done."
Haruki looked straight at her.
"Being number one in Shroud Line? That's just a checkpoint. Not the finish line."
Haruka sighed.
"You're serious about this."
"I am."
She didn't respond immediately. She could tell he'd already weighed the risks and consequences before bringing it up.
Trying to argue would only push him away and she didn't want that.
"Alright," she said finally. "I'll inform the company. But be prepared they're not going to like this."
Haruki nodded. "I figured."
Shout out to David, Oliver Gaskill for joining my p-atreon! your support means everything to me.
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