Masaya Takahashi's eyes were instantly locked onto the familiar words on the cover. His fingers unconsciously gripped his pants on his knees, and his breathing grew heavier.
Yet he still forced himself not to reach out.
"What's the use? So what if the anime gets made? Bandai will still be the one producing the figures, won't they? Why should I make a wedding dress for the people who stepped on my head and shat on me all those years ago?" Takahashi sneered, his teeth clenched.
"Because on the surface, Bandai is merging with Sega, but in terms of actual managerial power, Sega is the absolute ruler." Hattori Kiyoshi pressed his finger firmly onto the proposal, his gaze sharpening. "Mr. Takahashi, your information is outdated. Bandai's upper management has already undergone a major bloodletting. Those old bastards who slammed the table at you, stole your copyrights, and acted like tyrants—the audit team turned their world upside down last week. Now, some of them have already been invited to the Metropolitan Police Department for tea. They're being charged with embezzlement and commercial fraud. It's unlikely they'll ever get out to cause trouble again."
Masaya Takahashi's head snapped up, his eyes wide with disbelief, followed by a surge of wild joy and secret satisfaction.
"Bandai's current president, Makoto Yamashina, is cooperating fully with Sega's internal audit, behaving like an obedient subordinate. Next month, Bandai will completely lose its independent operational rights and be stripped of all planning capabilities, becoming a wholly-owned manufacturing division under Sega. Sega will have the final say on the development and sales of all model kits and toys." Kiyoshi Hattori pushed the proposal forward again, his tone carrying the calm and dominance of a superior. "Executive Director Nakayama asked me to convey a message to you: Everything Bandai took from you in the past, Sega will help you reclaim with interest. The respect Bandai denied you, Sega will grant you in full."
With trembling hands, Masaya Takahashi reached out, took the proposal, and flipped open the first page.
In the list of the Production Committee, his name was prominently listed as a core member, with "Script Director/Core Planner" written in bold next to it.
"Sega will fund the entire project and guarantee it fully," Kiyoshi Hattori continued to double down, each word striking a chord with Takahashi. "You will personally oversee the script and settings—no one will change a single word of yours. As for the specific revenue share of the merchandising rights, we will sign a new contract based on the highest industry standards once Bandai's restructuring is complete next month. Sega's rule is simple: we never let truly talented creators get the short end of the stick."
Masaya Takahashi stared intently at the words on the proposal, his eyes unexpectedly welling up.
His fingers traced the edges of the paper repeatedly.
This project, which he had treated as his own flesh and blood but had been forced to keep hidden for years due to dirty commercial infighting, finally had the chance to see the light of day!
And this time, he held absolute authority!
"Sega... can you really guarantee that during the production process, the people at Bandai won't interfere and meddle like they did before?" Masaya Takahashi looked up, his voice raspy as he confirmed again. He had been scarred by Bandai's betrayals.
Kiyoshi Hattori chuckled softly, a hint of contempt in his eyes. "Mr. Takahashi, don't you understand yet? Bandai will only be fit to act as a contract manufacturer from now on, simply producing plastic parts according to the blueprints and gluing them together. As for how the blueprints are drawn and what the mechs look like, it will all be up to you and Hajime Katoki. They won't even have the right to offer opinions."
Masaya Takahashi completely broke down.
He slammed the proposal shut, clutching it tightly in his hand. He grabbed the tea in front of him, which had already cooled slightly, tilted his head back, and drained the cup in one gulp.
"Fine! I agree to the preliminary plan! As for the specific details, we'll discuss them after you've completely swallowed Bandai and cleaned house! I'll take this project!"
Kiyoshi Hattori smiled with satisfaction. He picked up the teapot and refilled Takahashi's cup.
"A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Takahashi. Sega looks forward to your masterpiece."
Tokyo, Big West Headquarters, First Meeting Room.
Yoshimasa Onishi sat on one side of the long table, holding a cup of barley tea that was no longer steaming. His gaze darted back and forth between Matsushima and Eiji Yamaura, who sat opposite him.
Beside them, Shoji Kawamori—the core figure of Studio Nue and the man hailed as the "Father of Transforming Mecha"—was looking down, flipping through a thick mecha setting book. The mechanical pencil in his hand scratched against the paper as he made occasional sketches.
On the surface, Yoshimasa Onishi remained calm, but his mind was racing, trying to gauge the purpose of their visit.
Matsushima, the Vice President of Sotsu, and Eiji Yamaura, the President of Sunrise—two industry titans visiting together. This was an unprecedented show of force.
The previous two years' releases, Macross Plus and Macross 7, had been massive hits, and Sunrise was a long-time, trusted partner.
Judging by the lineup today, they were likely here to discuss a new Macross project or perhaps a secondary license for an existing title.
However, the real reason Yoshimasa Onishi was struggling to read the room was the gentle-looking old man seated beside Eiji Yamaura.
Kiyoshi Hattori, Managing Director of Sega Galaxy.
Why on earth would a Sega executive grace us with his presence?
Onishi set down his teacup and gave Hattori a polite, slight nod.
In recent years, Sega Galaxy's reputation in the Japanese animation industry had been nothing short of meteoric.
Who in the business didn't know that Sega was now synonymous with deep pockets?
More impressively, they weren't just wealthy—they were decisive. They paid their bills promptly, never dragging their feet. They also showed immense respect for the original creators' visions, scrupulously avoiding the nauseating practice of amateurs trying to micromanage experts or force their own agendas into a project.
The most legendary tale in the industry, however, was the scheduling crisis surrounding After War Gundam X.
At the time, the show's ratings had plummeted. The TV network and sponsors were putting on the pressure, threatening to cut the series short and leave it with a rushed, disastrous ending.
In the end, Sega's Executive Director Nakayama had stepped in with a massive injection of cash, drastically restructuring the Production Committee. He single-handedly cleaned up the mess, not only saving Gundam's reputation but also ensuring all parties involved received a stable return on their investment.
Dealing with such a generous, assertive, yet principled top-tier backer was something Yoshimasa Onishi was more than happy to do.
But he also knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. For Sega's representatives to personally visit them, their ambitions must be anything but small.
"Are you gentlemen here today for the new Macross project?" Onishi carefully chose his words, tentatively breaking the silence.
Matsushima smiled but didn't answer. Instead, he respectfully turned to Kiyoshi Hattori, who sat in the seat of honor.
Hattori inclined his head slightly toward Onishi, then slowly unzipped the high-end calfskin briefcase beside him. He pulled out a thin document and slid it across the polished tabletop toward Onishi.
"President Onishi, Director Kawamori," Hattori said, his fingers interlaced on the table. A sharp glint flashed in his cloudy, aged eyes, and though his tone was calm, it carried an undeniable pressure. "We'll discuss the new project in a moment. Sega is here today on Executive Director Nakayama's instructions to present you both with a welcome gift."
Please Support me by becoming my Patreon member and get 30+ chapters.
[email protected]/Ajal69
change @ with a
Thank You to Those who joined my Patreon