Female protagonists from various anime/manga crossovers? They'll all regret it for the rest of

Page 147

"So, Ms. Kasumi Shiko," Yuto turned to Shiha, "as the scriptwriter of 'Echoes,' where did your initial inspiration come from?"

"The initial inspiration came from a late-night discussion," Shiyu immediately replied.

“At the time, Itsuka was struggling with the philosophical core of the script, and he posed a question to me about ‘memory and existence’.”

“We talked on LINE, from Nietzsche to Sartre, from the emptiness of existence to the weight of memory. That night, I felt as if our souls resonated on the same dimension.”

"Ultimately, the 'turtle soup' format, and the core of the protagonists' self-loss in their pursuit of the truth, were born from that intellectual turmoil."

She casually described the idea of ​​"turtle soup" that Yuto came up with as a product of the resonance between their souls, and cleverly elevated herself to the level of a philosophical guide.

As she spoke, she would glance at Yuto from time to time, her eyes conveying a tacit understanding and self-satisfaction that "only I understand you."

Yuto's lips twitched slightly.

He had to admit that the other person's linguistic skills were truly superb, managing to transform an ordinary brainstorming session into a Platonic spiritual exchange.

Before he could reply, Eriri, who was sitting next to him, couldn't sit still any longer.

"Cough!" She coughed loudly, successfully attracting the camera's attention. "The core of the script is certainly important, but ultimately, horror movies still rely on visual presentation."

"I stayed up for several nights in a row to create the monster's appearance."

As she spoke, she pulled out a stack of sketches from her sketchbook and unceremoniously squeezed them in front of the camera. Each one was a design of a hideous monster, with dense notes of revisions next to it.

“Look, this is the first version. Yuto said it’s too Cthulhu-esque and not close enough to everyday fears.”

"This is the second version. He said it's a bit like a B-movie monster, lacking originality. We started by talking about the horror movies we watched together when we were kids, and about the shadows we were both afraid of hiding under the bed."

"Yuto said that the deepest fear stems from the distortion of the most familiar things. That sentence really woke me up!"

Eriri pointed to one of the finalized monster illustrations.

"This image is the embodiment of my childhood memories with him! When we were kids, there was a dilapidated doll in the attic of my house, and we were terrified of it."

"This fear rooted in the past is the foundation of the visual style of Echo, unlike some people who only talk the talk."

She glanced meaningfully at Shiyu, elevating her relationship with Yuto from work partners to the unshakeable status of "childhood friends who share childhood traumas".

Yuto felt a headache coming on.

These two practically turned a public relations interview into a debate about "whose relationship is closer".

He tried to steer the conversation back on track: "Yes, the contributions of both teachers are indispensable. It is precisely this perfect combination of literary merit and artistry that makes it..."

“Speaking of unions,” Shiyu interrupted him with a smile, regaining the focus, “I also have something I’d like to share with everyone.”

She took out an elegant notebook from her handbag, opened it, and found handwritten excerpts from her script. The handwriting was neat and beautiful, but various revisions were marked in red pen next to them.

"This is the first draft of 'Echoes,' and as you can see, many parts have been crossed out."

"These are the result of my and Professor Wuhe's meticulous revisions, word by word. I remember a scene where the female protagonist sees a phantom in the mirror. My initial version focused more on psychological horror."

"But Professor Itsuka suggested that perhaps a sound element could be added so that the fear would not only be visual. To this end, he personally used his ventriloquism to imitate that faint whisper, which made me instantly grasp the feeling."

Utaha closed her notebook, her eyes filled with admiration as she looked at Yuto. "To me, Itsuka-sensei is not just a director, but more like a muse who can inspire all my potential. Our creations are an inseparable whole."

Eriri's cheeks turned red with anger, and she was about to slam her hand on the table, but the camera was still on.

She could only take a deep breath and squeeze out the words through gritted teeth: "Drawing also requires inspiration! Yuto always brings me apple pies he makes himself. He says sweets can inspire an artist's creativity! It's a special ritual between us!"

"Oh? So you bribed her with food? What a simple way of creating art." Shiyu chuckled.

"It's much more practical than some people who just talk big!" Eriri retorted without backing down.

Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control, Yuto felt his temples throbbing.

He looked towards the corner for help, only to see Kato Megumi still expressionlessly taking notes, while Sakurajima Mai was watching with great interest, and even secretly gave Yuto a "good luck" gesture.

This guy is just stirring up trouble!

"Cough cough!" Yuto had no choice but to intervene again, raising his voice.

"It was this intense and uncompromising collision that gave birth to Echo! Shizuko Kasumi's script is the skeleton of the film, while Kashiwagi's paintings are its flesh and blood."

"One is cold, the other is hot; one is inward, the other outward. They are like the twin heroines in the movie, mirror images of each other, and neither can be missing. I am just the one who is fortunate enough to guide their power out."

His words affirmed both sides and cleverly defined their struggle as "the opposition and unity of creative styles," instantly elevating the overall perspective.

Utaha and Eriri exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of resentment in each other's eyes, but Yuto's words left them speechless.

After all, this statement perfectly fits the public relations theme of "a clash of geniuses".

Yuto had to deal with the barbs between the two genius girls while maintaining the professionalism and composure of a project leader in front of the camera.

Exhaustion is a given.

But for some reason, when he saw Shiho quoting scriptures to prove "soul resonance", and when he saw Eriri's twin tails shaking wildly in her eagerness to emphasize "childhood friends", a strange feeling welled up deep inside him.

Yuto smiled bitterly to himself.

He knew that this public relations battle had only just begun, and that he, as the "referee," was probably the hardest-working person on the field.

The moment the interview ended and the camera was turned off, Shiwa and Eriri immediately returned to normal.

"Hmph." Eriri turned her head away and muttered under her breath, "All you do is talk big."

"It's better than some people who only cherish old stories." Shi Yu stood up gracefully and straightened her skirt.

Yuto slumped back in his chair and let out a long sigh of relief.

At this moment, Mai Sakurajima, who had been silent all along, walked over, handed him a bottle of water, and said with an innocent smile, "Yuto, you've worked hard. The way you were handling the international dispute just now was amazing. You're so impressive."

Yuto took the water and was about to say thank you when Mai added, seemingly unintentionally, "But Kasumigaoka-san's talk about soul resonance sounds so romantic."

"Eri-kun's childhood memories are also very precious. I really envy you two for having such a deep bond."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was just loud enough for Shiyu (II) and Eriri, who were about to leave, to hear.

The two of them stopped walking at the same time.

Yuto almost dropped the mineral water bottle in his hand.

He suddenly looked at Mai Sakurajima, only to see her wink at him with an innocent yet cunning look in her eyes.

This woman definitely did it on purpose!

She wasn't just watching the show; she was fanning the flames!

Yuto understood instantly.

After the interview video was released, it received unexpected praise online.

Through Megumi Kato's skillful editing, those sharp and confrontational words were packaged as a clash of viewpoints, and those hidden witty remarks were interpreted as creative dedication.

Public opinion was successfully guided, and the original gossip enthusiasts began to talk with great interest about the sparks that flew between the talented literature major and the art genius as they worked towards a common goal.

The first step in creating the story project was a great success.

The second step is to take a set of promotional photos that can directly showcase the "collision of geniuses".

The shooting location was still the club activity room, but this time, producer Ando invited a commercial photographer who was well-known in the industry.

This photographer is known for his ability to capture the subtle emotional tension between people.

"OK, OK, let's start with the first group." The photographer, sporting a small mustache, spoke with an air of artistry.

"Teacher Itsuka, you stand in the middle. The two beautiful girls stand on either side of him, holding your scripts and drawing boards."

The set was simple: a long table with various materials for "Echoes" scattered on it.

Yuto was seated at the table, with Utaha and Eriri standing on either side of him behind him.

“Great, that’s the feeling.” The photographer observed through the lens. “But it’s too flat, it lacks a sense of story. I need conflict, tension!”

He put down his camera, stepped forward, and began to personally provide guidance.

“Mr. Kashiwagi, sharpen your eyes a little more. Look at the script in Mr. Itsuka’s hand as if you are examining a work of art that belongs to you, and now it is about to be defiled by someone else.”

Eriri paused for a moment, but still tried her best to make her eyes look possessive and wary, as required.

"Ms. Kasumi Shiko, your attitude is even more arrogant. You are not looking at the painting, you are looking down on it. Your work is the Bible, and Yuto-kun is the only interpreter. Any interpretation of the image must be approved by you."

A faint smile curved at the corners of Shi Yu's lips. She slightly raised her chin, her eyes filled with disdain and absolute confidence.

"Yes! That's it!" The photographer clapped his hands excitedly. "Now, Professor Wuhe, you're very distressed. You're torn between two extreme aesthetics."

"Place your left hand on the script, and with your right hand...go get that paintbrush."

Yuto did as instructed.

He could feel the two scorching gazes behind him almost burning through his back.

The shutter clicked incessantly.

"Great, keep it up!" The photographer got more and more excited as he took more pictures. "Next, we need a more interactive scene. Mr. Itsuka, stand up and go and instruct Mr. Kashiwagi on his painting."

Yuto stood up and walked to Eriri's side.

There was an unfinished draft on the drawing board.

"Closer, even closer," the photographer instructed. "Imagine you're arguing about a detail. Ms. Itsuki, lean down, cover her hand with your own, and personally help her correct that wrong line."

This request caused the atmosphere at the scene to freeze instantly.

Eriri's body froze, and even her golden twin tails seemed to stop swaying.

She could feel Yuto's breath approaching from behind, warm and carrying his distinctive, faint soapy scent.

Yuto hesitated for a moment, but under the photographer's urging gaze, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and bend down.

His chest was almost pressed against Eriri's back, his left hand rested on the edge of the drawing board, and his right hand carefully reached out and gently grasped Eriri's hand holding the pencil.

In that instant, Eriri felt a surge of electricity coursing through her body from the back of her hand, and her heart began to pound uncontrollably.

Her fingers, holding the pen, trembled slightly, and her cheeks instantly flushed, becoming burning hot.

She didn't even dare to turn her head, and could only stare intently at the drawing board, pretending to be listening attentively to Yuto's instructions.

"Make your brushstrokes more decisive," Yuto's voice rang in her ears.

His hand enveloped hers, guiding the pencil across the paper.

His fingertips were warm, and his palms were dry and strong.

Eriri's mind went completely blank; lines and compositions vanished into thin air.

She could only feel her ears getting hotter and hotter, and she even had to be careful when she breathed.

"Your eyes! Mr. Kashiwagi, your eyes aren't showing shyness!" the photographer exclaimed, "They're showing resentment! They're showing anger after he forcibly corrected you!"

Eriri snapped out of her daze, took a deep breath, forced herself to look up, and looked at Yuto behind her in the mirror.

However, what was reflected in the mirror was Yuto's focused profile. His slightly curly black hair hung down, obscuring his eyes, and his expression was as serious as if he were dealing with a rare treasure.

This prevented her from feeling angry; instead, a more complex emotion welled up inside her.

The text appears to be a series of random characters and symbols, possibly a corrupted or incomplete message. A direct translation isn't meaningful without further context or clarification.

The photographer keenly captured the fleeting look of confusion and stubbornness in her eyes.

"Perfect!"

Yuto released his grip and took a step back with a sigh of relief.

Eriri seemed to have all her strength drained away, and almost lost her balance.

"Next group! Ms. Xia Shizi!" The photographer's enthusiasm remained undiminished.

This time, the scene involves discussing the script.

Utaha and Yuto sat side by side on the sofa, with less than a fist's distance between them.

“You two will read the script together.” The photographer’s request was still demanding. “Not reading it separately, but together. Ms. Itsuka, lean your head a little closer, yes, like you’re sharing a secret with her.”

Yuto had no choice but to comply. He turned to the side and snuggled up to Shiyu, their faces almost touching, as they looked at the open script together.

He could smell the delicate and charming fragrance of shampoo emanating from Shi Yu's hair.

Shiyu appeared calm on the surface, but Yuto could see that the earlobes of her ears, which always wore white headbands, had been tinged with a faint pink.

Her fingers gripped the corner of the script tightly.

"Ms. Xia Shizi, put your hand on his shoulder," the photographer continued to direct. "It's not about intimacy, it's about asserting ownership, telling everyone that this man's talent is only for you."

Utaha's body stiffened slightly, but she was, after all, Utaha Kasumigaoka.

She paused briefly before raising her hand and gently placing it on Yuto's shoulder.