Yamaura set down his teacup and looked at the young man before him, his eyes full of respect.
"Executive Nakayama, if you hadn't made the call back then, this show would have ended in a complete mess." Yamaura's tone carried heartfelt gratitude. "Those sponsors only care about the numbers right in front of them. They couldn't care less whether a production lives or dies. For Sunrise's animators, having an executive like you above us—someone who understands creativity, has the guts, and is willing to put up real money—is a blessing."
Nakayama Takuya smiled and waved a hand, teasing, "President Yamaura, flattering me won't work. It's not like I'm giving you a raise." His tone was calm, carrying the rationality of capital. "Sega is a commercial company. Turning losses into profits is our duty. I was willing to throw money at Gundam X to keep it alive because Takamatsu Shinji and the others delivered solid drafts. The project had good bones; saving it meant it could make money. If it had been some hopeless piece of mud that couldn't be plastered onto a wall, do you think I'd spend even one yen? I'm very stingy."
Yamaura froze for a moment, then burst out laughing with him.
"That's exactly right! A rational capitalist!"
"All right, that's enough for today." Nakayama Takuya rose and refastened his suit jacket. "As soon as Director Tomino's twentieth-anniversary project starts taking shape, notify me immediately. Gundam's twentieth birthday needs to be celebrated in grand style with Sega's help. Then we can discuss how to make the project bigger and rake in money by the bowlful."
"Of course, of course." Yamaura rose as well and escorted Nakayama Takuya to the door, his face glowing.
Bandai Headquarters, main building, top-floor conference room.
The air-conditioning vents let out a monotonous,