I look over the manga intently, even though I have already read it many times, while we all wait for the boss to arrive with Mr. Yoshida. I have so many questions about his work, like what caused Akio to have that vision of Ryota running through the trees? And did Ryota truly remember in the end or was she sparing his feelings? Or maybe she was protecting her sanity by convincing herself that she remembered? Oh, I hope I get to talk to him one-on-one! Everyone in the conference room pulls their heads out of books and computers as the door opens behind me. He is here. I can't believe that he is here! His long black hair flows like silk and I can smell a flowery perfume as he walks past me. He stands at the head of the table on the far end of the room, Mr. Hashido looks like a nervous puppy standing behind the tall man.

Mr. Yoshida introduces himself formally, explains his goals and vision of the anime we will be converting his manga into. I focus as best I can. Some others and I take notes of his more detailed expectations and requirements.

"I no longer have the steady hand to present you all with detailed models of my characters. Instead, I have brought a few copies of the series to serve as your references. There will be no imperfections despite the circumstances. Furthermore, I expect Mr. Hashido has already informed you that I have yet to announce the making of an anime for Interstellar Lovers. I will make sure you lose your employment if you leak such news to anyone. This is my life's work, not some silly project for you to flaunt and get high and mighty about."

We all nod our heads in understanding, some people make eyes at others, and a few are obviously upset by the threat. Someone elbows by arm. He is one of the very few in the studio with dyed hair, a soft blue like cotton candy. I want to shrink away from his intense stare, but his strangeness is captivating.

"I bet he is all bark no bite so don't worry, 'kay?"

"I am not worried. Maybe you should be." I return my attention to Mr. Yoshida and Mr. Hashido. I see the blue-haired man through my peripheral smiling as if he had won something. What an idiot. I tuned him out for the rest of the meeting, he seemed to get the hint eventually much to my relief. I collect my books and folders in my arms and make a B-line for the door, but someone grabs my arm as I turn the corner down the hall. I spin around, eyebrows furrowed and glaring but it was not that blue haired pest.

"Oh! Hana, you startled me!"

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"You grabbed my arm." Aki followed as I turned to leave. she follows me all the way to my desk, going on and on about some rumors she heard around the studio, her old boyfriend and her new one. Just the same old Aki, some people never change.

We were best friends since our first year in high school when I spilt coffee all over her desk. She laughed but then she helped clean it up and offered that I sit at the table next to hers. She never left me alone again. I never told her but that must have been the happiest day of my life to date. The next year we met Sui and Hiyori. We all went to a local cafe after school each day, teased Aki about her miniskirts and her dozen boytoys. She was super cute when she would stick her tongue out at us and pout. I wonder what Hiyori is doing now.

"So?" Aki scowls with her hands on her hips.

"So... what?" I put my things down on my desk and swivel around in my chair. She spins the chair around, so I am facing her again, her greenish eyes bore holes into my heart.

"You haven't been listening for a long time! You got hurt and you let everything else crumble around you like you didn't even care! Do you even realize you hurt your friends?" The lump in my throat kept me immobilized. "Let him go, Hana. You have to move on sooner than later so everyone else doesn't move on without you." She just stared at me for an eternity, like she was searching for something in my face. Then she left and I was all alone. All over again.

Later in the afternoon, Mr. Hashido sent out an agenda for the "High Priority Film" with a desired timeline. We all got assigned a partner so we could look over each other's work and keep each other on track. It is a bit unorthodox, but it is not the first time the boss has gotten so obsessed with a project. He tends to be very neurotic about every minor detail when an author of great potential or status comes in asking for our services (which is not as often as he boasts). I can understand his anxiety however and I can't help but wonder how a real agency handles these situations. One day I will find out for myself.

I find my name around the middle of the list, in the column next to it is my assigned co-artist for the next six months. An adolescent part of me hopes to see Aki's name there even though that's impossible; they wouldn't assign a secretary to any project let alone one like this. I guess I will have to make up with her after work sometime instead.

Hana Ito (2D Hand-Drawn Animator) | Kenji Shimizu (Assistant Animator)

I don't think I have ever run into Mr. Shimizu before. In fact, now that I think about it, I have never taken much time to learn anyone's name here. I have always thought of this place as an intermediate stop to on my journey to begin my career as a professional artist. But now that such a big name as Ryoichi Yoshida has grown interested in the little company, this might be my big take off! Not just a pebble in the sand but a ripple in the lake. If Mr. Hashido doesn't totally destroy this opportunity with his neuroticism.