After discussing Blake's character design issues with Uehara Etsuki, Kamiyā Yuu returned to his apartment and used the last of his annual leave to finalize the overall framework for 'Black—Leaping Shadow'.
In the original character trailer, Blake herself was basically a minor background figure. Although it was nominally called the Black trailer, the spotlight that should have belonged to Blake was completely stolen by another male character.
Adam Taurus, Blake's mentor, wielded a beautiful red iaitō. From beginning to end, his performance in the trailer surpassed Blake's, and even the final blow against the boss was delivered by him.
In Kamiyā Yuu's view, this counted as a flaw that wasn't quite a flaw. 'RWBY' itself was an ensemble cast story, so spending more focus on a supporting character wasn't necessarily bad. However, when the supporting character overshadowed the protagonist instead, things became rather awkward.
The ending of the original trailer showed Blake leaving the White Fang organization. In the final scene, Adam respected Blake's choice; otherwise, he could have simply leapt over the train and captured her. Yet when this character officially appeared in Season 3 of the animation, he displayed an extremely violent attitude. According to the official explanation, his relationship with Blake also apparently included an abusive aspect.
"So what should I do first... the weapon problem?"
"Blake's weapon has already been decided as a chain sword with three forms. The first is the dormant state—the energy-absorbing iaitō originally used by the male lead, Adam, in the trailer. The scabbard can also independently fire bullets to generate Aura effects."
"The second form is the semi-activated state, where the blade and scabbard combine and split apart into a sharp chain sword."
"The third form is the fully released state. The blade and scabbard separate from the chain sword configuration, while the tightly compressed and curved scabbard acts like a launcher, turning the blade into an arrow—a nuclear bomb sword immortal!
"And the final blow against the boss can also be changed from Adam to Blake. I can set up a scene where Blake gets knocked off the train, then launches the chain sword from across several mountain ranges away! With such a cool weapon and scene design, Little Blackie (Blake) can't possibly remain an unnoticed background character anymore!"
"As for Adam's weapon..." Kamiyā Yuu smirked. "I remember people online mentioning that he was the one who cut off Yang's arm in Season 3! Heh... then he can use a spear."
Kamiyā Yuu was extremely satisfied with his idea. Although the plot itself was entirely his own creation, since Adam was the culprit behind Yang losing her arm, giving him a spear was equivalent to placing a lifelong curse upon him.
Ever since ancient times, archers were always overpowered protagonists, while spearmen all had E-rank luck.
"I've already gotten pretty familiar with the Aura setting in 'RWBY', so weapons and action choreography aren't a problem anymore. But unlike 'Yellow—Ashen Paradise', the core element of 'Black—Leaping Shadow' isn't action anymore, but the enemy design."
"Automated guardian machines... in a sense, they belong to the science fiction genre. The original work's execution of this concept wasn't especially stunning. Maybe it was because masterpieces like 'Transformers' already existed beforehand, making these kinds of machines less impressive. Fortunately, this world doesn't seem to have any similar works, so it should still count as a major highlight."
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After finishing a week of annual leave, Kamiyā Yuu felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity when he returned to the 'Yosuganosora' Animation Studio.
"The main door's open. Did someone come back early?"
Thinking that to himself, Kamiyā Yuu walked inside. After failing to find anyone around, he eventually discovered an unidentified object curled up beneath a blanket in one of the unused offices.
Knock knock.
Kamiyā Yuu bent his fingers and tapped on the wooden door beside him with a smile.
"Chinatsu, did you come to the company just to go back to sleep?"
The bulging blanket wriggled around for a moment before Yūki Chinatsu poked her messy-haired head out from inside. She looked at Kamiyā Yuu, then glanced around the room in confusion. Rubbing her eyes sleepily, she let out a yawn and weakly said:
"Mornin', Yuu."
Kamiyā Yuu froze for a second upon hearing the greeting, then asked with a strange expression:
"Chinatsu... are you from Osaka?"
"Yeah. How'd ya know?" Yūki Chinatsu looked at him curiously.
Kamiyā Yuu grinned.
"Weren't you just speaking to me in Osaka dialect?"
Realizing something, Yūki Chinatsu's face instantly turned red. She fiercely glared at Kamiyā Yuu, then suddenly stood up from the blanket despite the freezing weather outside. Wearing conservative pink pajamas, she shoved Kamiyā Yuu out the door. Before slamming it shut, she stuck out her tongue and huffed:
"Hmph, get outta here!"
"Okay, okay~ Why are you getting angry? I didn't even say anything. I just thought the way you spoke earlier was pretty cute." Kamiyā Yuu chuckled as he let himself be pushed outside.
Silence came from inside the room.
Then the door cracked open slightly, and Yūki Chinatsu peeked out suspiciously.
"Really?"
"Look into my sincere eyes." Kamiyā Yuu wore an innocent expression.
"Hmph, I'll believe ya this once." Yūki Chinatsu stared at him for a long while before pouting.
Regional discrimination also existed in Japan, and Osaka people were among the most well-known targets of it.
If most Japanese people considered modesty and politeness to be the cultural traits they were proud of, then Osaka culture was completely different. In some ways, Osaka people were comparable to Northeastern Chinese people—enthusiastic, generous, straightforward, and bold.
But in the eyes of many Japanese people, those same traits became vulgarity, rudeness, lack of manners, and not knowing proper etiquette.
Because of this, there was even a saying in Japan that Osaka and Tokyo were practically two different countries. Most Japanese people didn't openly say it, but deep down, many looked down on Osaka people to some extent.
Kamiyā Yuu, having lived two lifetimes, naturally didn't hold such boring prejudices. He genuinely thought the Osaka dialect sounded extremely cute. Back in his previous world, he had always loved anime characters who spoke in the Kansai dialect.
After changing clothes, Yūki Chinatsu emerged carrying two large bags with an unwilling expression and handed them to Kamiyā Yuu.
"Here, ~ A return gift for taking care of me before."
"Thanks." Kamiyā Yuu accepted them without hesitation. "Can I open them?"
"Whatever. It's not like they're anything special." Yūki Chinatsu shrugged casually.
After opening them, Kamiyā Yuu discovered they were all specialty foods from Osaka. He looked at her with an expression that clearly said, "So they really aren't anything special."
Black lines immediately appeared across Yūki Chinatsu's face. Her petite body stepped forward, and she viciously stomped on his foot with her leather boot.
Despite obviously being angry, she wore a smiling expression as she said:
"Yuu, don't say it out loud, okay? Absolutely don't say it out loud!"
Kamiyā Yuu winced in pain and quickly withdrew his foot. He stopped teasing her and laughed helplessly.
"But I didn't even say anything yet. I'm already really happy that you brought me gifts from your hometown. I'll take these back and enjoy them together with Sora."
"That's more like it."
Then Yūki Chinatsu's round eyes darted around before she suddenly extended her right hand toward Kamiyā Yuu.
"?"
"Happy New Year. Good health. Success in your career. May everything go your way."
Kamiyā Yuu's face darkened.
"Chinatsu, judging by age, I should probably be calling you Big Sister Chinatsu."
"In outsiders' eyes, which sounds less weird—ya calling me Big Sister Chinatsu, or me calling ya Onii-chan? Besides, I gave ya four New Year blessings all at once. Can't ya feel my sincere goodwill!?" Yūki Chinatsu declared shamelessly with one hand on her hip.
—Who could feel sincerity from that way of talking!?
Kamiyā Yuu found himself utterly speechless.