Anime rating game

"I'll discuss it with Mashiro again tonight. After all, what I just said was just my personal opinion."

Masamune smiled and then asked:

"Aren't you two planning to go back to your hometown for the holidays?"

Seeing the blank expressions on their faces, followed by silence, Masamune hesitated.

Did I say something wrong?

"Most companies offer five days of annual leave, but our company gives a week off because many employees live far away and it's not easy for them to go home."

Miyamori Aoi looked hesitant and wavered, opening her mouth as if to speak but then stopping herself.

Seeing this, Masamune smiled and comforted him:

"Well... it really depends on the individual. Some people are very attached to their families and keep in touch with them often, while others leave without a word for many years."

"But no matter which one it is, your family must really want to know about your current situation, and they must have some concerns about your life."

"It's not easy to make a living in a big city. Many people like to keep their joys and sorrows to themselves and bear them silently."

"It felt like I was admitting defeat when I contacted my family. But in reality, it was just a very ordinary family phone call."

“You guys aren’t doing too badly right now, and you’re not the kind of people who are ashamed to show your faces, so there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

"Mm." Miyamori Aoi nodded gently, feeling a strange pang of sadness.

She had never thought about this before, but at this moment, she suddenly felt a pang of longing for her hometown.

Even without turning her head, she knew perfectly well that Ema was wearing the same expression as her.

"Ema, today is the 29th. The company will give us a holiday after the celebration party tonight."

Masamune shifted his gaze to Yasuhara Ema to the side and said with a smile:

"Just in case I accidentally forget tonight, I'll let you know in advance: Thank you so much for taking care of Mashiro all this time. You've worked so hard, Ema."

"It wasn't hard work. Thanks to Miss Mashiro, I've learned a lot and made great progress."

Seeing Masamune suddenly bow, Yasuhara Ema was momentarily flustered and hurriedly returned the bow.

After leaving the third floor, Masamune went straight to the 16th floor.

Although it was past closing time, he was well aware that the vast majority of employees had not yet left.

Because today is the last day before the holiday, there is a lot of stuff to pack, and some people are waiting for the celebration party to start tonight.

I plan to go directly from the company to the hotel, without transferring at home.

Stepping out of the elevator, on the 16th floor, Karasuma Chitose's smug voice gradually reached my ears.

Upon entering office number three on the right side of the 16th floor, Masamune found a group of young women gathered around a computer screen, including Mashiro, Ogasawara Rinko, and others.

On the screen was the live interview program with Karasuma Chitose that he had just been watching.

[...Yes, I want to say something to all my fans: thank you for your attention. I hope you can focus more on me as a person, rather than on the works I voice.]

[Although being a voice actor is a special profession, as a public figure...]

Chitose is getting more and more arrogant.

Masamune walked over speechlessly, called Mashiro's name, and when she turned around, he smiled and said:

"Let's go, Shiro. I've already finished get off work. I'll go home first, and then we'll go to the hotel together for the celebration party tonight."

"I haven't finished watching the live stream yet."

"Is Chitose's interview really that interesting?"

"It's very interesting; this is the first time I've seen an interview like this."

"That's because no one else has her thick skin. In that case, how about we use our phones to watch while we walk?"

"Okay," Mashiro replied softly.

"Miss Ogasawara, Mashiro and I will be leaving now. See you tonight." Masamune turned his gaze to Ogasawara Rinko and greeted her with a smile.

"See you tonight, President."

Chapter Ninety-Three: The Fourth Assessment, A Night of Revelry

It was 7:30 p.m. at a hotel frequented by the Musashino group.

Masamune stood on the stage, microphone in hand, giving a loud speech:

"Although today is not the last day of 2014, it is the last day before our Musashino holiday."

"For the vast majority of people here, today is the last chance to meet in 2014."

"In the past year, Musashino has produced five excellent anime, three of which have already finished airing and received positive feedback."

"Among these, K-On! was named the best anime of the year, winning numerous awards and achieving outstanding sales."

"The other four works are equally outstanding...and this is inseparable from the joint efforts of everyone present."

"Here, I'd like to raise a glass to everyone!"

The next moment, everyone raised their glasses and drank together.

"This year is the beginning of everything for Musashino, and the first year of soaring like an eagle."

"Everyone who enters the animation industry has different goals, or rather, ambitions and dreams. Some want to create excellent animation, some want to receive extraordinary rewards, and some want to be admired by thousands."

"Whatever your goals, it's a blessing that we can all gather here. I wish you all the best in realizing your dreams!"

After raising their glasses in a toast once more, Masamune returned to the banquet hall. Vice President Marukawa, Director Kinoshita Seiichi, and others went up on stage one after another, each saying a few words, and the banquet began.

"Zong-kun is amazing! He's completely grown up."

Watching his young daughter's mother excitedly hugging his arm and shaking it from side to side, Masamune felt a little embarrassed and chuckled awkwardly.

"I'm also gradually growing and improving."

"Mom is so happy to see Zongjun, who is different from how he is at home."

"Really? I don't feel like I've changed much since I was at home."

Masamune made a sarcastic remark, and before she could respond, he turned to look at Adagaki Aki:

"Aren't you going up and say a few words, Adagaki?"

“This is your Musashino territory. We at AL have too few employees, so there’s no need for this.” Adagaki Aki paused for a moment. “Besides, I think what you said is very good, and there’s nothing to add.”

As they were talking, they noticed that Masamune was casually serving food to Mashiro, and they fell silent in response.

So why did I come here to get angry? Am I just missing my childhood?

"President Hayase, let me toast you." Nakamura, the director of "A Lie in April," said with a smile while offering a toast. "Musashino has a great work atmosphere and is very efficient. If I didn't have some affection for AlphaGo, I would have switched jobs."

"If that's the case, should we bring the entire company and jump ship here together?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Masamune noticed that Adagaki Aki was glaring at him with a malicious look, and he couldn't help but laugh:

"Well... just kidding. But our two companies are located on opposite sides of the same street, so we can collaborate on any good animation projects in the future."

As they chatted, the banquet came to an end.

At 8:30 p.m., just as the Musashino group was about to leave, a golden light suddenly rose in the sky, and a emotionless system voice rang in everyone's ears.

[A turbulent business world, 2-star rating. As punishment, all main creators will lose sensation in their legs for two days.]

[The Young Warriors, rated 2 stars, are punishing all main creators by making them blind for one day.]

[Superpower Academy (details omitted), 1-star rating, punished by causing all main creators to suffer from gastrointestinal disorders for ten days.]

...

...

[K-On!, rating 4 stars, reward: heroine Yui Hirasawa—(skill)...]

...

Reward: Voice actress Yui Hirasawa - (Skill) Canine Language Proficiency: Can communicate with all canines.

Reward voice actress Akiyama Mio - (Skill) Birdsong: When singing, it will automatically attract birds to gather around.

Reward voice actress Azusa Nakano - (Skill) Proficient in feline languages: Can communicate with all felines.

...

Reward Producer Hayase Masamune – (Skill) Harmony Brings Prosperity: Those with close relationships always have above-average luck.

Reward Supervisor Kinoshita Seiichi - (Skill) Human Air Conditioner: Within a one-meter radius of himself, the temperature remains constant.

Awarded to Chief Animation Director Shiina Mashiro – (Skill) Slender: The body shape is always kept at its optimal level and will not be affected by other factors.

[…]

My Youthful Romance (details omitted), rating 4 stars.

Reward the heroine Yukino Yukinoshita - (Skill) Memory Enhancement lv.3: The knowledge learned will not be forgotten and will remain in the heart forever.

Reward the male protagonist, Hachiman Hikigaya – (Skill) Loneliness lv.3: When alone, he can achieve twice the result with half the effort in whatever he does.

...

Reward producer Hayase Masamune - (Skill) Telepathy: You can find the person you like immediately.

Reward Supervisor Yasuyuki Takeuchi - (Skill) Dying of old age: You will not get sick before your body reaches its limit.

Reward for drawing instruction: Shiina Mashiro - (Skill) Flawless. A similar skill was detected. The skills Slender and Flawless are now merged into a new skill - Flawless Jade: The body will not experience any negative effects due to factors such as staying up late, unbalanced diet, accidental ingestion, or lack of exercise.

[…]

Although the assessment in the heavens continued, no one was listening, because the assessments of the two anime series that had just ended this season of Musashino had already concluded.

Since both animations have ratings of 4 stars or higher, even those who participated in very little had already obtained level 1 skills, rather than items.

"What an amazing skill! Does that mean I can wear summer short sleeves even in winter without feeling cold?"

Kinoshita Seiichi couldn't help but sigh, then turned to Masamune and said with a smile:

"President, your two awards are amazing! I suddenly feel like having a drink, wanna join me?"

“Me too.” Masamune raised his glass and clinked it with his. “I really didn’t expect that just when I was planning to go home, the fourth evaluation came out, and with such a great reward.”