As the days passed, the Japanese anime awards drew closer.
Around the industry, the air had begun to shift.
Conversations in interviews, magazine columns, and studio chatter all circled back to the same topic: the awards.
And whenever the awards came up, Mizushiro's name was never far behind.
Even inside their own studio, whispers had started.
"Madoka's practically guaranteed something, right?"
"Honestly, probably everything."
As Haruki walked past them, he'd been hearing his name everywhere for the past few weeks.
This would be his first time attending an anime award show.
Back during Anohana, he'd been invited, but at the time he was busy juggling two manga serializations and already buried in production for 5 Centimeters per Second, so he had declined.
If it had just been one or two nominations this time, he might've declined again.
But now, with seven nominations and the entire industry talking about Mizushiro, he couldn't quietly avoid the awards anymore.
Over the past month, the same thought kept slipping into his mind: I'm outside my house more than inside… what happened to my quiet manga days?
As he became more deeply involved in animation, his world had begun to revolve entirely around manga and anime. He hadn't resented it. This was the life he had dreamed of as a kid, and now, somehow, he was living it.
Still, he couldn't remember the last time he'd had any real free time.
One morning, as Haruki arrived at the studio, Kazuya caught him in the hallway.
"After the awards," Kazuya said, leaning on the doorframe, "we should hold a proper party."
"…A party?" Haruki asked.
"Yeah. We skipped it after Madoka Magic finished. Right after it wrapped, we jumped straight into planning Code Geass, and I went overseas to recruit new directors. By the time I got back, you were off on a trip."
Haruki paused, then nodded. "We should. What kind of party are you thinking?"
"Now we've got new directors, new animators… we should do something more formal this time."
It made sense. Usually, they only had small lounge gatherings after finishing a project, like they had with 5 Centimeters per Second. But now, with so many new members and directors, something more formal felt right.
Haruki gave a quiet nod.
Then they both went back to work. The studio had just begun the animation process for Code Geass, and every detail had been confirmed.
The days blurred after that.
The day of the award show finally arrived. Unlike the flashier fan events, this one was a formal, industry-focused ceremony. Quiet in tone, but considered the most prestigious award in Japanese anime.
That morning, Haruki stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of a plain black suit.
He checked his phone as the car slowed in front of the venue.
Outside, a row of barricades lined the walkway. Fans stood behind them with their phones raised. A few called out when they spotted him.
"Mizushiro-sensei!"
He stepped out, gave a quick nod, and signed two notebooks held out from the front row, then followed the staff waiting by the entrance.
Inside the lobby, event crew guided guests past the registration desk. A tall man in a headset checked his name off the list and handed him a black-lanyard pass.
"Please head this way," the staffer said.
They led him down a carpeted hallway toward the main hall. Other guests were coming in from side entrances, quietly talking as they walked. Haruki kept a step behind the staffer.
As he walked near the table, Kazuya and Saya were already seated. Haruki pulled out a chair and sat.
As Saya was about to speak, a few nearby guests noticed him and paused.
"Ah, Mizushiro-sensei," one said with a small bow.
"Good evening," Haruki replied lightly.
More people joined the table next to theirs. Someone behind him whispered about 5 Centimeters per Second. Another mentioned Madoka Magic.
The lights dimmed slightly. A quiet ripple of movement passed through the room as the last guests came in and took their seats. Crew members walked the aisles, signaling to each other with hand gestures.
The host walked onstage. A low round of applause spread across the hall. The screens behind the stage lit up with this year's animation highlights while the host ran through introductions and a few short jokes. Then the opening performance began, bright spotlights swept across the stage as a short medley of anime themes played.
When it ended, the host returned and the first category was announced.
One by one, the awards moved quickly: Best Animation and Best Romance to 5 Centimeters per Second, Best OST to Initial D, Best Original Anime to Madoka Magic. Each winner stood, walked up, spoke briefly, then returned to their seats.
Haruki stayed quiet, watching each announcement without reaction.
Soon, only Anime of the Year was left.
The screen behind the host listed the nominees:
Into the Abyss, Madoka Magic, 404//Reboot, and Children of the Blue Meridian, last year's winner.
The host's tone shifted as they built up the moment. Haruki kept his eyes on the screen. Someone near their table muttered, "It's going to be Madoka."
The host opened the envelope.
"…And the Anime of the Year is—" A pause.
"Madoka Magic!"
Applause burst across the hall. Kazuya stood, buttoned his jacket, and headed to the stage.
As his name was announced, Haruki's system voice rang in his mind: "Madoka Magic has won Anime of the Year. Congratulations, host, for winning the S-tier lottery."
Hearing this, Haruki felt a spark of anticipation. The lottery reward hadn't appeared back when the series had won the Winter Season crown, so he had been waiting for it.
Beside him, Saya muttered, "It's one to one. Next time, I'll win."
Not wanting to dampen her spirit, Haruki simply smiled.
Onstage, Kazuya gave a brief thank-you speech and returned a few minutes later.
The ceremony wrapped up soon after.
[Note: I couldn't decide how much I wanted to write for the award show or what direction to take it in. I ended up rewriting this draft three times.]
Shout out to atthew Morin for joining my p-atreon! your support means everything to me.
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/Alioth23 for 60+ advanced chapters)