A cooperation proposal?
Lin Ye's expression turned serious as he nodded.
Sitting in the main seat of the conference room, Kamiyā Yuu smiled with interest and introduced one of the distinctive features of video websites from his previous world.
"Mr. Lin Ye, do you know what danmaku[Bullet Commentary] is?"
Anyone who had used video websites in Kamiyā Yuu's previous world knew the meaning of the term.
Danmaku was first created by Japan's NicoNico video platform, spread through China by Anime·Comic·Fun (ACF), and ultimately popularized by BILIBILI, becoming the most famous ACG danmaku website in China.
So-called danmaku referred to real-time comments posted directly onto a video. These comments would instantly scroll across the screen for all viewers watching the video to see.
Someone unfamiliar with the concept might initially feel that such a feature was completely pointless.
Aside from blocking the video itself, what use did danmaku have?
However, anyone who had experienced danmaku videos could easily become addicted to them.
The joy from humorous commentary.
The resonance of agreeing with other viewers' opinions.
The feeling of seeing many people love the same character you loved.
High-quality danmaku could itself improve the viewing experience of a work. Furthermore, danmaku also carried hidden functions such as educational explanations, unofficial translations, and more.
After witnessing danmaku's effectiveness, many large video websites in Kamiyā Yuu's previous world had imitated and adopted the feature, receiving excellent responses.
In this world, Japan has never produced a NicoNico-style platform.
Although similar functions had occasionally appeared, they had never become widespread.
Because Kamiyā Yuu's main focus in Japan was animation production, he had not managed to seize the "first crab" opportunity.
So after seeing Lin Ye's video website, he suddenly had an idea.
Why not establish a danmaku website in China first?
He had the technology.
He had the capital.
What he needed was someone like Lin Ye—a capable and ambitious young man—to help operate it.
"Danmaku?" Lin Ye repeated the strange term thoughtfully.
He had no idea how it related to Kamiyā Yuu's proposed cooperation.
Judging purely by the literal meaning, it sounded like "a curtain of bullets"—something describing overwhelming firepower.
Kamiyā Yuu lightly tapped the table with his fingers and smiled as he explained:
"Danmaku means users can leave comments, and those comments will automatically float across the video while it plays, visible to everyone watching."
Lin Ye shook his head in confusion.
"But wouldn't that block the video itself? If too many danmaku comments appear, how are viewers supposed to watch the video? Especially users with obsessive tendencies—they might go insane."
"That's true if you only think about the negatives. But what about the positives? Can you think of any?"
Lin Ye thought for a while, then still shook his head blankly.
For someone who had never experienced danmaku before, it was difficult to describe the feeling of watching videos with it.
Knock knock.
A knock came from the conference room's glass door.
Morishita Aoi entered carrying a tray and served Japanese tea to both Kamiyā Yuu and Lin Ye.
Kamiyā Yuu smiled and waved her over.
"Aoi, perfect timing. Please bring two laptops for me."
Morishita Aoi glanced subtly at Lin Ye before nodding.
The last time she had seen Kamiyā Yuu this excited was when he planned to revise the script of 'Magical Girl Nanoha.'
What exactly did this young man from China possess that interested Kamiyā Yuu so much?
Soon, the laptops were brought over.
Kamiyā Yuu logged into a small Japanese website that possessed danmaku functionality. He opened the same video on both laptops, enabling danmaku on one and disabling it on the other before placing them before Lin Ye.
"Mr. Lin Ye understands Japanese, correct?"
"Only enough for daily life." Lin Ye answered modestly.
In truth, he had always been proud of understanding both English and Japanese. During university, he had even arrogantly called himself a language master.
But in front of Kamiyā Yuu, who was fluent in both Chinese and Japanese, he felt too embarrassed to claim expertise.
If he knew Kamiyā Yuu was also fluent in English, French, Russian, and German, who knew what he would think?
Language studies had always been one of Kamiyā Yuu's primary learning subjects within the consciousness space.
The video being played happened to directly relate to the purpose of Lin Ye's trip to Japan.
It was a MAD edited together from 'RWBY' character trailers and movie scenes.
The creator's editing skills were excellent, refining the most exciting moments and pairing them with suitable music. Everyone who had watched 'RWBY' praised it enthusiastically.
"Then please experience it personally, Mr. Lin Ye."
Kamiyā Yuu pushed the two laptops in front of him and clicked play.
["Awesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesome~!"]
["Awesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesomeawesome..."]
["Snow White is my wife!"]
["Bastard, I challenge you to a duel!"]
["This is amazing! The heavy gunfire sounds during the battle scenes got my blood pumping! I heard they specifically hired a foreign firearms company to record real weapons!"]
[Forget everything else, let me worship Ruby first!"]
["Thanks to the uploader for bringing us such an incredible work!"]
["'RWBY' forever!"]
After finishing the video, Lin Ye realized in astonishment that he had focused far more attention on the version with danmaku.
The flood of comments made the experience feel more entertaining and emotionally resonant.
Kamiyā Yuu confidently closed one of the laptops and continued:
"Now try them one after another."
First watching the MAD without danmaku.
Then watching it again with danmaku.
This made the difference feel much clearer to Lin Ye.
After the 'RWBY' MAD finished playing, Lin Ye froze.
The confusion and frustration that had built up inside him for half a year suddenly vanished completely.
The excitement in his heart became so intense that he could clearly hear his heartbeat and feel the warmth of blood flowing through his veins.
Were these feelings brought by the MAD itself?
No!
Kamiyā Yuu had opened the door to an entirely new world for him.
In that world, something screamed wildly inside him.
This was it!
This was the thing that allowed him to see the future—see the future potential of his website!
Danmaku would become the critical feature capable of reviving his video platform!
Lin Ye clenched his fists and abruptly stood up, bowing deeply toward Kamiyā Yuu.
Excitement and gratitude were impossible to hide from his face.
"Mr. Kamiyā, thank you so much! The danmaku feature you described could very likely solve our website's current difficulties."
"Then you're interested in cooperation?"
Lin Ye's expression became serious and earnest.
"Mr. Kamiyā has shown me a clear path forward, and I'm deeply grateful for that. But before confirming cooperation, I want to know whether this partnership is truly worthwhile."
Lin Ye was not a fool.
Danmaku had shown him a bright future.
He had the ability.
He had capital.
He had ambition.
Even without Kamiyā Yuu's cooperation proposal, he believed he could carve out a path for himself among China's video websites.
Was that really true?
One must remember that danmaku culture's most loyal supporters were mainly ACG users. Without Kamiyā Yuu's help, if Lin Ye wanted to create a platform comparable to BILIBILI from Kamiyā Yuu's previous world, he would have to take countless detours.
Besides, Kamiyā Yuu was quite petty.
He would never let Lin Ye profit freely without gaining something himself.
—Young man, you understand nothing about power.
Kamiyā Yuu merely smiled silently.
He possessed the advanced experience and technology of danmaku websites from his previous world.
Even if Lin Ye followed his advice and refused cooperation, what then if he became the first person to create a danmaku website in China?
At best, he would simply become the second ACF.
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MAD refers to a fan-edited video, especially popular in Japanese and Chinese anime communities.