Tokyo, Heroic Spirit Media.
Time flew by, and Heroic Spirit Media had been established for nearly ten years.
During this period, Heroic Spirit Media produced many anime, games, music, and films related to Type-Moon and Heroic Spirits.
This time, Eichi intended to venture into a new direction.
Live-action films.
Not animated movies, but major productions starring real actors.
After discussing with Director Yamaguchi, Eichi chose Fate/Zero as the storyline.
This work better conveyed the grand scale and brutality of the Holy Grail War.
In Fate/Zero, aside from Artoria's less-than-ideal performance at the Banquet of Kings, which displeased Kinoko Nasu, everything else was excellent.
Thus, Eichi and Director Yamaguchi finally decided to shoot a Fate/Zero live-action film as their attempt to enter the live-action market.
The most crucial issue was the actors.
That's right, the most important thing was not the budget, but the actors.
After all, the combat performance required for Servants could not be handled by just anyone.
Even actors with professional martial arts backgrounds might not be capable of it.
Therefore, Eichi spent a great deal of effort searching for suitable actors.
Fortunately, the film did not need big-name stars or traffic idols to draw attention.
After all, this was a hardcore production driven by substance and explosive special effects.
Compared to actors, special effects were much easier to manage.
The actors' movements would be demonstrated by Heroic Spirits and arranged by martial arts choreographers.
The special effects would be handled jointly by Eichi, Medea, and Suguru.
After the battle in Sendai, Eichi obtained a large number of Cursed Tools and Cursed Objects.
These could now be put to good use.
Medea would enhance the actors and ensure they would not suffer fatal injuries during combat scenes.
Eichi would connect to their shadows, channeling Cursed Energy through them to activate the Cursed Tools held by the actors, coordinating seamlessly with their performances.
For example, the magecraft battle between Kirei Kotomine and Matou Kariya.
Or Kenneth's Volumen Hydrargyrum. Eichi could simply color a shadow with a Cursed Tool to substitute for it.
Finally, there was Suguru.
Gilles de Rais' Great Sea Demon was kindly sponsored by Suguru.
Including the Great Sea Demon during the Fuyuki City massacre, Suguru also possessed a massive Cursed Spirit born from humanity's fear of giant squids and Krakens, which could serve as a perfect replacement.
Thus, what was most expensive and time-consuming for other film companies, special effects, was the easiest problem for Eichi to solve.
Just as Eichi was still troubled over the actor issue, a figure with golden hair and red eyes suddenly leaped in through the window.
I remember this office is on the twelfth floor, right? And why does this blond guy look so familiar?
Eichi carefully observed the tall figure wearing a gold chain and a white shirt.
"Satoru?"
Eichi asked tentatively.
"You recognized me so quickly, how boring."
The figure instantly slumped onto the desk like a deflated balloon.
"It really is you. Wait, why are you dressed like that?"
Eichi seemed to realize something and looked at Satoru seriously.
"I heard you needed actors for your movie, so as your best friend, I came immediately to participate for free. Well? Surprised? Touched?"
Satoru pointed at his suddenly chibi-styled cute face with both hands, his expression clearly saying, praise me.
However, Eichi did not dare move at all. A deep sense of shock rose within him.
What was he planning to film?
The brutal Fourth Holy Grail War.
If Satoru joined, would it not definitely turn into some ridiculous comedy with a happy ending?
Eichi's mind automatically began to imagine scenes.
Satoru Gil standing domineeringly on a lamppost, shouting, "Throughout Heaven and Earth, I alone am the honored one."
Then the lamppost would be cut down, and Satoru Gil would stand midair, repeatedly taunting everyone with "mongrel" after "mongrel," drawing all the aggro.
In the end, the scene would turn into a joyful four-on-one brawl against Satoru Gil.
Then Satoru Gil would happily shout, "You weaklings, didn't you eat? Hit me harder…" before being sent off for a rematch in the afterlife by an exasperated Artoria wielding Caliburn.
"No. The cast has already been decided. Let's forget it this time."
Eichi firmly refused.
"Eh? How can that be? The strongest Gil should be played by the strongest and most handsome me, right? Eichi, you must have a way, right?"
Satoru instantly teleported in front of him, looking at him with teary eyes.
"Even if you say that, the roles are already assigned."
Eichi turned his head away, avoiding Satoru's cute assault and the guilt rising in his heart from lying.
"Please. Please, please, please."
Satoru teleported from the front of the desk to the side.
Seeing Eichi bowing his head, Satoru directly squatted in front of him, clenched his fists near his chest, and swayed side to side.
"Help me out."
This is bad.
Eichi had a premonition that if he did not agree now, Satoru would definitely show up uninvited during filming and steal all the highlight scenes.
"You and Suguru are playing together and you didn't bring me. You heartless man."
Seeing that Eichi still did not respond, Satoru fell to the ground, covered his face, and pretended to cry as if Eichi were some irresponsible scoundrel.
Watching him like this, Eichi inexplicably felt a surge of guilt.
However, the next second, he caught the key point in Satoru's words.
"Suguru? Playing?"
He felt like he had grasped the tail of the truth.
"Yeah. Suguru told me on the phone that you invited him back to make a movie and have fun."
Satoru placed both hands on the desk and leaned down, staring at Eichi with dissatisfaction.
"That's not playing."
Eichi rubbed his forehead and finally understood why Satoru suddenly wanted to act in a movie.
It turned out he felt lonely after learning that Eichi and Suguru were together without him.
Lonely Gojo Cat.jpg.
"Alright. But you must follow directions and act according to requirements. Understood?"
Eichi could only agree reluctantly.
"Yay."
Satoru immediately began celebrating.
"Oh right, I need to share this with Suguru."
After speaking, Satoru quickly opened his phone, took a beautiful selfie in full makeup, and sent it to Suguru.
At that moment, Suguru had just arrived downstairs and was about to take the elevator up. Hearing the notification, he glanced at his phone.
Then he saw Satoru's message.
Ding.
Since no one entered, the elevator doors automatically closed and moved upward to pick up the person who had pressed the button on an upper floor.
Suguru narrowed his eyes at the photo of golden-haired, red-eyed Satoru cheerfully making a V sign.
Isn't Eichi filming Fate/Zero? Did they change the script?
Soon, Suguru noticed Eichi's head partially visible in the bottom right corner of the photo, yet clearly radiating despair.
What kind of movie is this going to turn into?
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)