Watching her panicked, fleeing figure, Seiji didn't force the issue.
There was plenty of time.
From now on, this girl belonged to him.
Seiji was in no hurry.
He leisurely walked into his master bedroom's bathroom, rinsing his body while beginning to absorb all the information about Legal High flooding his mind.
Kensuke Komikado's worldview-shattering sharp tongue, Machiko Mayuzumi's idealism-filled naivety, one classic courtroom debate after another, one jaw-dropping plot twist after another...
The corners of Seiji's mouth slowly curved upward.
He could already see it... a storm that would sweep across the entire Japanese entertainment industry, about to be unleashed by his own hands.
...
...
Genesis Company, located in the core district of Kyoto, top floor conference room of the headquarters building.
At the head of the long conference table, Seiji leaned lazily against the chair back, his fingers lightly tapping the table surface.
Across from him sat several executives of Genesis Company... some had worked at Genesis even before he took over, others were people Seiji had poached from elsewhere.
After the success of Madoka Magica, the executives unanimously believed the company could develop further.
"Director Fujiwara,"
A middle-aged man with a concerning hairline spoke up excitedly: "Regarding the company's next development phase, after discussion, we unanimously believe we should deepen our cultivation of the television animation field. Riding the momentum of Madoka Magica, we can launch several shows of similar type or novel themes, rapidly seize market share, and aim to secure a solid top-three position in the industry within three years."
As soon as he finished speaking, the other executives immediately chimed in.
"That's right, Director. We now have abundant funding and sufficient talent reserves. It's the perfect time to pursue victory."
"Animation is the field we're most familiar with... controlled risk, stable returns."
"Plus our company has always been in the animation industry, we know the market well."
Seiji listened quietly, his face showing no particular expression.
Only after everyone had finished speaking did he slowly open his mouth:
"Of course we'll do animation."
Upon hearing this, the executives' faces lit up with joy, thinking Seiji had adopted their suggestion.
However, Seiji's next sentence left them stunned.
"But, we also need to develop new territory. For instance... advancing into the television drama field."
The conference room fell into dead silence.
Advancing into television dramas?
All the executives looked at each other, their faces filled with astonishment.
That was a completely different track!
A field monopolized by several major veteran TV stations and film production companies for decades... an incredibly exclusive and closed domain!
While Genesis Company had made a name for itself in the animation world, when it came to the television drama industry, they were complete outsiders.
"Director, this... isn't this too risky?" the animation division director ventured cautiously. "Television drama production costs, publicity channels, industry connections... they're all vastly different from animation. We have no foundation whatsoever. Barging in like this, we could easily take a nasty fall!"
"Yes, Director, please reconsider!"
"Let's first consolidate our animation foundation!"
Persuasive voices rose one after another. In their view, Seiji's decision was far too risky.
Seiji looked at their anxious expressions and smiled dismissively.
He pushed a prepared folder from beside him to the center of the table: "I don't fight unprepared battles. Take a look at this first."
The executives, filled with doubt, began passing the folder around.
It was a script.
On the cover, printed in a simple yet highly design-oriented font, was its name...
[Legal High] (Supreme Law)
A script?
Written by the director himself?
With that thought in mind, the animation division director was the first to open the script.
After reading just a few pages, the expression on his face began changing dramatically.
Initial confusion quickly transformed into surprise, then disbelief, and finally, complete and utter shock.
The other executives reacted the same way.
In the conference room, everyone's breathing became rapid, the page-turning speed accelerating, as if drawn in by an invisible magic, completely immersed in that world constructed by words.
Kensuke Komikado's worldview-shattering, caustic yet razor-sharp commentary; Machiko Mayuzumi's idealism-filled naivety and her repeated embarrassments from reality's blows; one seemingly absurd yet incredibly realistic case after another, one spectacular courtroom debate and godlike plot twist after another...
This... what kind of genius could write such a script?!
When he turned to the final page, the division director sat there dazed, as if his soul had been extracted.
And the other executives, after reading the script in turn, reacted identically.
The entire conference room fell into dead silence... not heavy, but the kind of speechlessness that comes from being stunned by enormous surprise.
After a long while, the animation division director finally recovered his voice, looking at Seiji in shock:
"Director... this... you wrote this?"
Seiji nodded calmly, as if it were merely a trivial matter.
"Genius... a true genius..." the director murmured.
Then he suddenly stood up, bowing deeply to Seiji, his tone filled with fervor and excitement, "I retract all my foolish words from earlier! With this script in hand, if we still don't dare advance into the television drama field, then we're nothing but complete wastes!!"
"Exactly! Director! You're absolutely right!"
"This series will definitely become a phenomenal masterpiece!"
"I can already see it sweeping every television drama award!"
The executives who had just been desperately dissuading him now made a complete 180-degree turn, one by one rubbing their hands together in excitement, faces flushed.
Their gazes toward Seiji were filled with fanaticism.
For geniuses, the so-called industry barriers, the so-called separation between different tracks... they simply don't exist, do they?
A casually created script was already a peak others could never reach in a lifetime.
Watching their excited expressions, Seiji smiled.
He calmly announced: "Then it's settled. The company will establish a film and television department."
He pointed at the animation division director. "The film and television division director will oversee the Legal High project. Personnel will be transferred from other departments... just submit a report on the specific personnel adjustments."
"Yes! Director! I guarantee we'll complete the mission!" The director straightened his chest excitedly.
Seiji nodded.
As the boss, he only needed to point out the direction.
As for subsequent execution, naturally those below him would handle it. He couldn't possibly micromanage everything like in the early stages.
...
After the meeting ended, all of Genesis Company's executives were fired up, beginning to prepare for the Legal High project with maximum efficiency.
The next day, Genesis Company officially announced to the public that it would establish a film and television production department, with Seiji personally serving as chief director, responsible for filming a television drama with Seiji also serving as screenwriter.
As soon as the news broke, it immediately triggered an enormous shockwave in the industry.
...
Tokyo, inside a high-end traditional restaurant in Akasaka, several industry bigwigs were gathered together.
Leading them was the managing director of Toho Co., Ltd., a pot-bellied fat man.
"Seiji? Genesis?" He snorted contemptuously. "Some brat who made his fortune drawing cartoons dares to come steal food from our territory? He really doesn't know his place!"
"Exactly," echoed a producer from Shochiku beside him. "Animation and television dramas are two completely different things. He thinks writing a script means he can film something good? Naive! From casting to filming, post-production to distribution... the intricacies here could take him a lifetime to learn!"
"We can't let him succeed so easily," another person said sinisterly. "Our territory... we can't let outsiders step in so easily. It's time to teach him the rules of this industry."
Everyone exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with ill intent.
...
Online, countless netizens and television viewers displayed completely different attitudes.
"Holy crap! Seiji is going to write a TV drama himself? That monster who wrote Madoka Magica?!"
"Anticipation maxed out! Whatever he films, I'm definitely watching!"
"Genesis production... guaranteed quality! I can't wait!"
For them, complex business competition was irrelevant.
They only knew that the genius writer who always created miracles was making another major work.
...
Tokyo, in the high-end apartment shared by Utaha and Eriri.
Eriri looked at the news on her phone and said with some surprise: "What kind of big move is that guy Seiji planning? He's actually going to film a TV drama."
Utaha heard this and laughed lightly: "Isn't that only natural? With his talent and vigorous energy, as long as he's not screwing women, he'll definitely make something big happen."
"You're absolutely right." Eriri nodded in complete agreement.
...
...
Genesis Company's decision was like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up industry waves.
Within the company, the newly established film and television department displayed astonishing efficiency.
Under the director's energized leadership, the project team launched into full swing.
The production crew was rapidly assembled, actor audition announcements were posted, everything seemed so smooth, as if the birth of a phenomenal masterpiece was just around the corner.
However, they ultimately underestimated this industry's exclusivity and suppression.
A net woven jointly by several veteran TV stations and film production companies was silently descending upon them.
The first to strike were the talent agencies.
The film and television department's project manager, an experienced producer, angrily slammed down his phone.
"Damn it! Another one! This is the fifth one already!" His face was livid with rage. "Yesterday during auditions everything was fine, today they all collectively call saying 'schedule conflicts!' Do they take us for fools?"
An assistant approached with a grave expression: "Just now the biggest investor called, announcing they're withdrawing all funding."
"What?!" The producer was shocked and dismayed.
"I made inquiries," the assistant's voice was hoarse, "and got the same response everywhere. Toho and Fuji TV joined forces, notifying all agencies and investors that whoever dares cooperate with us is declaring themselves enemies of their entire circle."
The office fell into dead silence.
Funding, actors... the two most important elements of the project had been cut off at the source.
This was no longer business competition... it was naked strangulation.
"I... I'll report to the director immediately!" The producer broke out in cold sweat, his voice trembling.
At the same time, this information was deliberately leaked to the media by the masterminds behind it, and the internet instantly exploded.
**[Shocking! Industry newcomer Genesis Company suffers Waterloo, new drama project Legal High may die in the womb!]
**[Insider leak: Veteran film companies join forces to completely strangle Genesis!]
On internet forums and social media, countless netizens discussed it.
"Such a shame, I was really looking forward to Genesis's new work. Madoka Magica's quality was really solid."
"Sigh, can't help it. The TV drama circle runs too deep, exclusivity is a traditional specialty."
"This is too much bullying! Just because they're a new company they have to be treated like this? I support Genesis!"
"What's the use of support? You can't fight city hall. They've monopolized the channels and actors... what can you do?"
For a time, the internet was filled with sympathy and regret for Genesis, as well as anger at the industry status quo.
...
A late-night talk show on a certain TV station seized on this hot topic.
A senior commentator on the program spoke at length to the camera: "...Genesis's plight is actually inevitable. This isn't simple business competition, but a defensive battle over existing pie. After decades of development, the television drama industry has long formed a stable community of interests."
"Any newcomer wanting to break in and get a piece will be viewed as an invader, thus facing collective resistance. These are the rules... very cruel, but also very realistic."
His words implicitly explained the reasons, causing the program's ratings to skyrocket.
But he and the production team carefully avoided deeper details, lest they offend those veteran companies and TV stations.
...
In the offices of Kuroiwa Law Firm, the chief secretary watched the news with an expectant smile on his face.
He held his coffee and said to a colleague beside him: "Looks like we'll soon have another big case to handle."
"Indeed," the colleague smiled. "Even an organization as massive as the Tohto Medical Group was like paper in front of Fujiwara-san. This minor trouble probably isn't even worth his attention."
This level of trouble was barely worth mentioning... they only looked forward to cooperating with Seiji.
...
...
Shimokitazawa, STARRY Livehouse.
The members of Kessoku Band, having finished a day of practice, were gathered together watching the TV news.
"Ah... Seiji's company is in trouble..." Nijika watched the news, her face full of worry.
"Hmph, who told him to constantly neglect his proper duties. Now he's in trouble." Her older sister Seika Ijichi folded her arms, speaking sarcastically.
"That's right, that's right," Ikuyo Kita chimed in from the side. "Serves him right!"
Ryo Yamada expressionlessly plucked her bass strings, saying flatly: "Minor issue."
PA and Kikuri Hiroi wore expressions of watching a good show.
"Should we... give him a call to check the situation?" After hesitating for a long time, Nijika finally pulled out her phone.
The others didn't object.
So, under everyone's watchful eyes, Nijika took a deep breath and dialed that familiar number.
...
At that very moment, in the top-floor luxury apartment in Kyoto.
Seiji was leisurely enjoying his "spoils of war."
Inside the master bedroom, on the large bed.
The silky black sheets formed an extreme color contrast with a patch of snow-white skin.
Megumi wore an oversized white shirt, lying quietly. The shirt's hem barely covered her thighs, her snow-white skin appearing and disappearing against the black silk. Those eyes that were always calm now held unspeakable shame and resistance.
Her cheeks showed an unnatural flush, her breathing more rapid than usual, her flat stomach rising and falling slightly with her breaths, revealing her inner turbulence.
Seiji sat on the bedside, admiring the girl's body lines tensed from nervousness and her expression of forced composure.
"Your adaptability is even stronger than I imagined, Megumi." Seiji leaned down, whispering in her ear with a playful tone. "You're already starting to feel comfortable?"
He praised with a smile: "Others need at least ten days or half a month to get used to that. On your first day, you're already adapting... your body is perfect for this."
Megumi buried her face in the pillow in shame.
She hadn't expected her body would be so extremely well-suited to lewd activities.
"Alright, appetizer's over." Seiji smiled, waving the low-temperature candle in his hand. "Now, let's play something more interesting. I want to try training your body to react on command."
"Wh... what do you mean?" Megumi asked somewhat fearfully.
"Right here." Seiji's gaze fell on those full peaks, smilingly explaining his development plan.