Individual Thoughts

Looking at Misawa Hiroshi's bald head.

Listening to the tragic story.

Gu Xue let out a snort of laughter.

She quickly bit down on her moist lower lip while covering her mouth with her right hand, hoping to stifle the urge to burst out laughing, but it was already beyond her control. As her cheeks puffed out, a giggle leaked through. Gu Xue gave up, lowered her right hand, and let it all out.

The laughter grew louder and louder, until eventually, only her bell-like giggles remained in the entire conference room.

Drawing an explosion and blowing up his own hair.

Hahahahahahahaha.

Gu Xue laughed until she was trembling like a flower in the wind, clutching her stomach with both hands, her head resting on the table, her shoulders shaking. The scent of a high school girl was practically leaking out of her.

Misawa Hiroshi stood there with a look of utter defeat, feeling a bit hopeless, but seeing Gu Xue like this, he inexplicably felt that being the butt of the joke to make her happy was worth it...

However, he quickly snapped out of it, realizing that this was a simp's mindset and must be avoided...

Mihara Chisa was sitting behind Gu Xue, and perhaps thinking that Gu Xue was being unladylike, she gently tugged on her arm.

Gu Xue grabbed her hand, pressed it over her own mouth with both hands crossed, and dared not look at Misawa Hiroshi. It was too rude, so she had to turn her head to look at Mihara Chisa instead.

Even though she had forced the laughter down, the mirth on Gu Xue's face couldn't be hidden. Her eyebrows were curved like crescent moons as she looked at Mihara Chisa, her shoulders shaking, and her eyes were so expressive they were practically bewitching.

Seeing her like this, the corners of Mihara Chisa's mouth curled up slightly.

After a long while, Gu Xue finally managed to stop laughing, turned around, and looked at Misawa Hiroshi: "Gomen, gomen, I don't know why my sense of humor is so low. I didn't mean to, and I'm not mocking your baldness... pfft..."

As soon as Gu Xue finished the sentence, she pursed her lips, trying to keep from laughing out loud, but the mention of baldness made it impossible to hold back.

She quickly turned her head away, resting her hands on Ms. Mihara's knees, trembling slightly as she stifled her laughter.

For the first time, Mihara Chisa showed a slightly helpless expression.

"If you want to laugh, just laugh. I don't mind." Seeing this scene, Misawa Hiroshi suddenly laughed as well.

He finally understood the mindset Abe Shinichi had been in when he wore that gay-looking smile back then.

It was simply feeling that something was beautiful.

Perhaps ten years younger—no, just five years younger—Misawa Hiroshi's first thought would have been to curry favor with Gu Xue, trying every means to pursue this beauty.

But he wasn't young anymore; he was bald. Misawa Hiroshi felt that just being able to appreciate this beauty was enough.

It was just that, what kind of monstrous man would it take to tame a girl like Gu Xue in the future?

Misawa Hiroshi sighed silently, then he saw the slightly helpless Mihara Chisa, and in an instant, he understood the mindset behind Abe Shinichi's smile even better.

Gu Xue finally stopped laughing.

"I'm sorry." With her face slightly flushed from holding back her laughter, Gu Xue turned to Misawa Hiroshi and bowed; after all, it really had been a bit rude.

"I didn't mean to mock you, it's just that what you said was too funny. Hair explosion... pfft... what even is that? Couldn't you have just said you didn't have experience with animation outside of special effects?"

"Yes, yes, my fault." Misawa Hiroshi wiped his smooth scalp. "So, have you considered it?"

"Fine, I'll take the job. But I'll be quite strict. If the progress ends up delayed, please be mentally prepared."

When it came to business, Gu Xue became much more serious. She pointed to the key animation paper featuring the main characters of Little Witch Academia and continued: "As for the character designs, please decide as soon as possible if you want to do this. It's my first time doing character design, and since the story comes from me, I'll need quite a bit of time to explain to the background and color design departments what this world is all about and how it should be presented."

After all, having seen the finished product, Gu Xue was quite knowledgeable about this. As long as Director Misawa Hiroshi didn't object, she was confident she could persuade the background and color departments to present a Little Witch Academia that wouldn't deviate too much from the original.

Of course, Misawa Hiroshi was the director, the one who decided the overall direction of the work and held the most authority. The final result would ultimately depend on him.

Misawa Hiroshi was a person too, not a tool. If he just did whatever Gu Xue said, what would he be there for? They might as well just let Gu Xue be the director.

If he listened to everything Gu Xue said, he wouldn't have suggested making a mecha show in the first place.

Gu Xue would respect his ideas, but she would also find ways to persuade and influence him.

After all, she quite liked Little Witch Academia herself, so of course, she hoped the beautiful story could be presented as authentically as possible in this world as well.

"Alright, put in a little extra effort. Write out the general story tonight, or draw it out if you prefer. Please also draw some of the characters and backgrounds, and we'll discuss it after I take a look tomorrow."

Misawa Hiroshi nodded.

"...I remember the Anime Mirai project has requirements for the theme and story, right? You're just dumping it all on me, you don't mind?" Gu Xue hesitated for a moment before asking.

"I really don't have any good ideas." Misawa Hiroshi gave a wry smile. "Actually, don't worry about it. The organizers also require that if there's any budget left over for the animation company, it must be returned. Have you ever seen an animation company return money? In truth, apart from cultivating new talent, the rest isn't that important; it's just something to be mindful of. If we really do the witch-themed animation you proposed, I'll make sure your name is written clearly in the original work section alongside the company. Please rest assured about that, though the copyright will remain with the company."

Gu Xue nodded. She didn't really care about those things; she was just puzzled by Misawa Hiroshi acting like a hands-off manager. Since he said he didn't have any good ideas and told her not to worry, Gu Xue let it go.

After Misawa Hiroshi finished giving his instructions, he left the conference room.

Being a director for the first time, there were many things he needed to make decisions on.

Gu Xue remained in the conference room, head down, continuing to draw that story that was still fresh in her memory. But the more she drew, the less she could control her right hand, and the more reaction-image-style expressions she drew for the protagonist, Akko...

Mihara Chisa, sitting next to her, stared at the key animation paper where Akko had a small ponytail, eyebrows arched upward, and cheeks slightly puffed out, and asked softly: "Do you like this type?"

Gu Xue picked up the key animation paper, held it in front of herself, and asked: "Don't you think it's cute?"

Mihara Chisa glanced at her and said: "Very cute."

It was unclear who she was referring to.

Gu Xue was in a great mood. There was nothing more joyful than having one's work praised by others, but happiness was happiness.

Gu Xue thought about the troublesome work she would have to face next and felt a headache coming on. She looked at Mihara Chisa and said in a joking tone, "You're cute, sure, but you've really found me a troublesome job, Miss Mihara."

Mihara Chisa gave a soft hum, slowly lowered her head, and apologized, "I'm sorry."

Seeing her like this, Gu Xue smiled, leaned down, tucked her head beneath Mihara's, and looked up at Miss Mihara's slightly pale, beautiful face, chuckling, "Did you really think I was angry?"

Mihara Chisa was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised both hands to cup Gu Xue's head and gently pressed it downward.

Gu Xue let out an "eh," hesitated for a moment, then turned around and sat on the stool, leaning her upper body back until her head rested on Miss Mihara's incredibly soft lap.

"I've decided to make you my friend, Miss Mihara." Feeling the soft sensation behind her head, Gu Xue gave Miss Mihara a thumbs-up.

No one can resist a lap pillow, and Gu Xue was no exception.

Mihara Chisa pursed her lips, glanced toward the conference room door, and reached out to smooth Gu Xue's skirt, tucking the excess fabric between Gu Xue's closed, rounded legs as if worried about her having a wardrobe malfunction.

Although Gu Xue felt a bit strange and awkward, she didn't think much of it, assuming she was simply being considerate for a friend, and felt quite happy.

"Tell me, Miss Mihara, you invited me to join this project—is there a goal you're trying to achieve?" Gu Xue was concerned about something else.

Gu Xue already knew the list of companies participating in this year's Anime Mirai project, and among them was Miss Mihara's former employer.

Connecting that to Miss Mihara inviting her to join this project, it was hard not to overthink it.

Although Mihara Chisa had said she didn't want revenge and just wanted to stand in front of the great director Narita Kei and say, "You have problems too," it was impossible to believe she held no grudges at all.

So, it was only natural for Gu Xue to be suspicious.

"A goal?" Miss Mihara cupped Gu Xue's face, her fingers brushing over Gu Xue's moist lips without a trace, her movements very light, and she seemed distracted while answering.

Gu Xue didn't notice Miss Mihara's small gesture; she struggled for a moment before asking in a low voice, "Are you trying to target 3.C PICTURE..."

"..." This time, Mihara Chisa didn't answer Gu Xue, her fingers brushing over Gu Xue's cherry lips once more.

It was as if she hadn't heard Gu Xue speak at all.

"Miss Mihara?" Gu Xue felt that something was off with Mihara Chisa and called out to her.

Mihara Chisa met Gu Xue's eyes for a second, then suddenly bent over, her head slowly lowering.

As their faces drew closer and closer.

"Miss Mihara?"

Gu Xue suddenly felt her heart beating much faster and called out again.

Mihara Chisa ignored her.

Just as their noses were about to touch, Miss Mihara's head suddenly pulled back slightly, and she pressed her forehead against Gu Xue's.

Mihara Chisa, whose face was blushing so hard it felt like it was burning, pretended to be nonchalant and said, "Please bring back a Gold Award."

"Oh..."

Gu Xue responded subconsciously.

As for how she felt, it was probably a sense of relief.

And, her forehead was so hot.

Asking for recommendation votes...