Anime Crossover: Becoming Mangaka in Anime World

"You, can you help!?"

Ijichi Seika froze for a moment, then couldn't hold back a chuckle.

"Is what I said really that funny?" Akifumi sighed, feeling a bit like he was being underestimated.

"Sorry, sorry."

Ijichi Seika covered her stomach, waving her hand.

"It's not that I'm laughing at you."

"It's just... you might not fully understand how good that person is."

"Oh?"

Does this mean... Hiratsuka-sensei's arrangements are really that impressive!?

Akifumi's mind wandered back to the day school started—the image of Hiratsuka-sensei in the corner of the school yard.

Her beautiful figure leaned against the wall, smoking, the nicotine filling her emptiness, but it couldn't cure her inner void.

In frustration, she punched a defenseless tree, trying to distract herself from her pain.

The victim, the tree, bent with the force of her blow, and for a moment, a faint sigh, a soft cry, and pure frustration filled the air. It... probably died.

Then his mind shifted to a much younger, livelier version of Hiratsuka-sensei, sitting quietly on a bench under falling cherry blossoms.

Her black hair gently brushed her ear, exposing a beautiful profile as she gazed focusedly at a piece of white paper.

The autumn breeze, soft and yellow, made notes dance across the paper—melodies as beautiful as the falling leaves.

"Hard to believe they're the same person..."

Maybe it's been too long since she was single, so she didn't notice how much she's changed.

Akifumi sighed, muttering, "Seems like it's been a while since you last saw Hiratsuka-sensei, huh?"

Otherwise, there's no way you'd say something like that!

I even wonder if my memories of her have been a bit off!

Ijichi Seika paused, then nodded.

"Well, we haven't seen each other since the band disbanded."

"We only talk through Line now."

It's not how I imagined it at all.

She hasn't even explained things to me over all these years... Was she trying to be considerate?

'Am I that stupid!'

'I'll have to make time to meet with her soon.'

Feeling a little melancholic, Seika continued from the previous topic.

"Back then, Shizuka's arrangements were still quite rough, but if she'd kept at it, I bet she'd be on par with some of those second-tier arrangers by now."

Second-tier?

So she really had some talent!

No wonder she'd want to ask Hiratsuka-sensei for help.

But considering Hiratsuka-sensei's background, she probably isn't concerned about it.

Clearly, it's not the arrangements, but the teaching job that Hiratsuka-sensei prefers.

Shaking his head, Akifumi responded, "Well, I'm just offering you a backup plan."

"If you've got other ideas, I won't insist."

"Sorry" Ijichi Seika apologized somewhat sheepishly.

Akifumi didn't mind.

After all, collaboration is all about mutual willingness.

At his young age, it's completely normal for her to think he can't come up with good arrangements.

And even if she knew he had connections, she probably wouldn't trust them either.

Besides, his suggestion was made with the thought of helping out someone close to Hiratsuka-sensei.

If Seika wasn't interested, that's perfectly fine.

Now that the matter with Hiratsuka-sensei seemed to settled, it was time for Akifumi to focus on his own business.

"Ijichi-san, actually, aside from helping Hiratsuka-sensei, there's something I need your help with."

Seika raised an eyebrow, surprised, but still smiled and nodded. "Go ahead."

"You've probably worked with a lot of bands, right?"

Seika chuckled.

"Well, this is a Live House, after all. It's all part of the job."

"I was hoping you could help me find a band to record a song."

Seika raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Is it the one you mentioned earlier?"

She wasn't new to this business and had dealt with these kinds of requests before.

If it was something simple, a band could make some extra cash, so she didn't mind doing a favor.

"Well..."

Akifumi shrugged, "Although I think it sounds good, I'd like to have professionals give it a try and see how it turns out."

"Do you have a demo I can listen to?"

Akifumi scratched his nose. "I've got the melody and lyrics. Is that okay?"

Since he'd already registered the copyright, he wasn't concerned about others seeing it.

[TL Note – What the fu-ck? Is registering copyright is that easy?]

Seika was surprised, but nodded.

"No demo? That's fine."

Akifumi handed over a USB.

"The lyrics and arrangement are on here."

Seika nodded, plugging the USB into her laptop.

There were two files: one with lyrics and one with the music.

She opened the lyrics and started playing the track.

A gentle melody filled the air, evoking a summer-like atmosphere while a subtle sadness lingered in the background.

"Meeting you at the end of summer, dreaming of the future

With grand hopes, don't forget...

In August, ten years later, I believe we will meet again

Creating the most beautiful memories…"

Even without a singer, Akifumi could almost hear a soft, feminine voice in his mind.

Her gentle tone unfolded a beautiful summer scene before his eyes.

Seika, who had been relaxed, now looked more serious as she listened carefully.

She continued,

"Our first meeting was so casual, at the intersection on my way home

I heard your voice—let's go home together

Ah, fireworks shining bright in the night sky, a little bittersweet

Ah, the wind and time float by together, fading…"

Despite the simplicity of the tune and lyrics, the music touched something deep inside.

It painted a picture of a bittersweet summer—two children, forced to part ways, but promising to meet again in ten years.

"Thank you, I know you always said it…

It's so hard, holding back tears as we say goodbye

That most beautiful memory…"

Seika couldn't help but rub her eyes, feeling a sudden rush of emotion.

She hadn't expected the song to affect her so much.

Tears she hadn't expected to fall started to well up.

After a few minutes, as the song finished, the room fell into silence.

Akifumi waited quietly, letting the moment pass.

After a brief pause, Seika took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions.

Despite almost forgetting what she was like as a child, why could she still vividly remember those childhood friends?

She gave a soft, almost rueful smile. "I'm sorry."

"Huh? Why are you apologizing?" Akifumi asked, puzzled.

"Because... I was being dumb," Seika sighed.

"Because of your age, I underestimated you, thinking it was just some playful, casual thing."

"But this song... it really good!"

.........

[TL Note]

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