Tokyo: Oreimo

.....

The moment Ryosuke stepped into the banquet hall, he was enveloped by the lively atmosphere.

The banquet hall was more spacious than I had imagined, with more than a hundred folds of floor space, and the whimsical style of the decoration was just right.

The hall was already filled with Aniplex members, sitting in twos and threes around low tables. The tables were laden with kaiseki dishes, sashimi in lacquerware arranged in the shape of flower petals, and tofu soup bubbling away in small pots.

"The president is here!"

Someone shouted, and all the scattered gazes suddenly turned to this.

Before Ryosuke could react, Hououin Saori gave him a gentle push, "Go on, it's time for the protagonist to make his appearance."

"I'm not..."

"Don't be modest," she whispered with a laugh behind him. "Without you, these people would be nowhere to be found right now."

Ryosuke smiled helplessly and walked to the front seat under everyone's gaze.

As she passed by Inoue Rina, the young employee was holding a glass of sweet beer, her cheeks already flushed.

"President! We must toast you properly today!"

"Inoue, you've only just begun, haven't you?"

"Hehe, I'm happy..." She chuckled and shook her cup, only to have her colleague grab her shoulder.

Ryosuke sat down at the head table and looked around.

Almost all of the seventy-odd people had arrived. Even the key animators, who usually stayed in the corner drawing storyboards, had changed into neat yukatas and showed relaxed expressions, which was rare for them.

Saito Ritsu sat to his left, whispering something to the hotel's female manager.

Seeing Ryosuke sit down, he nodded. "The satellite TV has been arranged. It will start broadcasting at 8:58 PM on NHK General TV."

"Thank you for your help, Director Saito."

“Of course,” Saito Ritsu smiled. “After all, today is a day worth celebrating.”

Ryosuke noticed that the former Kadokawa editor was wearing a brand new dark gray yukata today, and his hair was also neatly combed.

Since leaving Kadokawa to join Aniplex, he seems to have been relieved of a heavy burden, and the wrinkles on his face have smoothed out considerably.

"President Takashiro," the woman said, walking over with a wine cup and kneeling beside him. "Would you like me to pour you some wine?"

"Thank you, I can do it myself."

Although they are not yet officially adults, they are not far off, so it's okay to have a little drink in private.

Ryosuke took the glass and poured himself half a glass of beer.

"Is everyone here?" he asked Saito Ritsu, turning his head to the side.

"A few more are needed, they should be here soon." Saito Ritsu glanced at his watch. "If it officially starts at eight o'clock sharp..."

Before he could finish speaking, the lattice doors to the banquet hall were pulled open again.

Takashiro Ryouno leaned half her body in, a camellia she'd gotten from who-knows-where pinned to her blonde hair.

The yukata was a light pink one provided by the hotel, embroidered with small plum blossom patterns.

"You've already arrived?"

She spotted Ryosuke immediately, covered her clothes, and ran over, her wooden clogs making a clattering sound on the tatami mat.

"Where did you go?" Ryosuke asked.

"We went to see the hot springs!" Ling Nai sat down next to him, her eyes sparkling. "They're huge! And there's an outdoor one! You can see the stars!"

"So? You've already taken a bath?"

"How could that be?" she pouted. "Let's go after we finish eating."

Phoenix Inu Saori came over from behind and sat down on the other side of Ryosuke. "Little sister, would you like me to come with you? I can help you get a check-up later~"

"No way..."

Ling Nai glanced at the other person's chest subconsciously and muttered something under her breath.

Seeing such a behemoth would definitely make you feel inferior.

Ryosuke didn't hear what she said, but Hououin Saori clearly did, and her eyes crinkled with laughter.

.....

At 8:00 AM sharp, the banquet officially began.

As the director, Ritsu Saito was the first to stand up and give a speech.

He stood at the front, holding a wine glass, and cleared his throat. The originally noisy banquet hall gradually quieted down.

"Um... I won't say any of those polite words."

His voice was a little hoarse.

“It’s been a whole year since I joined Aniplex. To be honest, when I left Kadokawa, I never thought I would get to this point.”

"The entire process of bringing 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' from its initial proposal to its complete realization wouldn't have been possible without everyone's hard work..."

"This is also my first time doing supervision. I owe this opportunity and the success to one person, and I think everyone here feels the same way."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"It was the president who brought everyone together. Without him, there would be no Aniplex today, nor would there be 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'."

"cheers!"

No one knows who started it, but everyone raised their glasses in unison.

"cheers--!"

The sounds of glass clattering echoed, and beer and sake foam splashed out, landing on the lacquer tabletop, shimmering in the warm yellow light.

Ryosuke also raised his glass and took a small sip.

Ling Nai had already downed most of a glass of sweet beer next to him.

"I'm so happy! Today!"

"Drink less," Ryosuke reminded her.

"Mind your own business!" She glared at her brother beside her.

This was her first time drinking alcohol, although it had a very low alcohol content; it was more like a beverage than alcohol.

But Ling Nai's face quickly flushed red.

Tsk, this guy doesn't seem to be a big drinker?

Chapter 172 A Perfect Ending

A sudden commotion arose from the other end of the banquet hall.

"It's starting! It's starting!"

Someone is shouting.

Ryosuke looked up and saw that the television screen hanging at the front of the banquet hall had lit up, and the NHK General TV logo appeared in the corner.

The scene depicts the opening of the final episode of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica".

The day of the celebration banquet was actually the day the final episode of Madoka Magica aired. The creators of the anime watched the works they had drawn together at the banquet.

There could be no better event.

The banquet hall gradually quieted down.

Everyone put down their glasses and focused their attention on the screen.

This is the culmination of their hard work over the past six months.

More than seventy people worked day and night, meticulously crafting every frame from storyboards to original drawings.

On the screen, a gigantic witch floats in the air, and Madoka Kaname faces her final choice.

"Xiaoyan, I'm sorry."

"I want to... become a magical girl."

Her voice was soft but unusually firm, and she wore a smile.

The banquet hall was so quiet that you could hear the sound of the Ureshino River flowing through it.

Ryosuke noticed that several animators sitting in the corner had tears in their eyes.

They are the ones who know best how many times this episode was drawn; every frame of movement, every strand of hair that flutters, has been revised countless times.

"It's coming, the scene from the final episode."

"Gen Urobuchi's script is so amazing that I couldn't help but cry when I saw the ending of the story while I was drawing it."

Many members around were discussing it privately, waiting for the climax to arrive.

Ling Nai stared intently at the screen; this was the first time she had seen the final product.

Even though she had read Ryosuke's script and knew the ending in advance, the girl still couldn't help but get goosebumps when the background music called "Sis puella magica!" played.

"I finally understand, I've finally found the wish I want to fulfill, so I will dedicate my life to it."

"Trust me, I will never let Xiaoyan's efforts up to this point be in vain!"

On television, Kyubey and Madoka Kaname stood clearly on opposite sides of the screen.

"If you, who contain the destinies of countless worlds and have become a singularity of cause and effect, then even the greatest wish can be fulfilled."

"So, Madoka Kaname, what is your wish, in exchange for your soul?"

Those scarlet eyes stared straight at him, making Ling Nai grit her teeth in hatred.

The girl couldn't help but turn and glare at Ryosuke.

"You always like to do such cruel things."

"But doesn't it look better this way?"

Ryosuke smiled at her.