As '5 Centimeters per Second' stirred up buzz across the web, with fans promoting it wildly online, a question began to surface among many viewers:
Why didn't the trailer feature the two most popular stars—Yu Youqing and Jing Yu?
At Bluestar Media & Film Company—
"I still think… It's unnecessary," Cheng Lie said hesitantly.
"No, it's necessary," Jing Yu replied firmly.
They were currently discussing the decision to split '5 Centimeters per Second' into three separate releases on Qingyun's streaming platform.
"Sure, Qingyun agreed to your proposal," Cheng Lie continued, "but breaking a movie into three parts… doesn't that make it feel more like a drama series?"
He still had his reservations.
"Not to mention, you're planning to release all three segments within just fifteen days. What if fans don't have the patience and just drop off halfway?"
This was the third time Cheng Lie had brought up the issue.
Jing Yu put down his pen, pausing his sketches for the Fate/Zero character designs.
"If this were a theatrical release, I'd agree—it wouldn't be appropriate. But this is a web-exclusive release, so the strategy is different," he explained again.
"You already know this: '5 Centimeters per Second' spans three distinct stages of the characters' lives—middle school, high school, and adulthood. Their mindsets shift dramatically between these periods. Watching it all in one sitting makes it hard for viewers to fully absorb or empathize with those transitions."
In fact, Jing Yu had added a lot of novel content into his adaptation of the film. With frequent scene changes and narrative jumps, the experience could be disorienting if watched continuously.
But streaming had its strengths: replayability. Audiences could rewatch scenes to pick up on details they missed. By splitting the film into three segments based on the original story structure, Jing Yu was intentionally creating space for viewers to reflect.
With time between viewings, the audience could better internalize the passage of time for the characters themselves. After all, Jing Yu himself had needed a week or two to emotionally process the full story—and only then had he truly been able to feel it.
A continuous binge session would weaken that impact.
That's also why the trailer featured only the childhood versions of Akari and Takaki—a deliberate move.
"…Sigh. Well, since you've made up your mind," Cheng Lie said with a long exhale, "then that's that. Once the marketing campaign kicks off in mid-January and we've informed audiences about the release format, there's no turning back."
"I know," Jing Yu replied with a smile.
After Cheng Lie left, he picked up his pen again and continued refining the 'Fate/Zero' character sheets.
This calm wouldn't last—within a week or two, he'd be back to juggling productions.
Both 'Clannad' and 'Kaiji' were scheduled to begin filming in late January.
But this time, things were a little different.
In 'Kaiji', neither Jing Yu, Xia Yining, nor Yu Youqing would be appearing on screen.
They simply didn't fit.
The show was built around fear, deception, betrayal, and despair. If actors as polished and attractive as the three of them appeared, it would completely break the tone of the show.
Jing Yu planned to minimize the presence of traditionally good-looking characters altogether. Most roles would be filled by actors who could realistically portray thugs, crooks, and societal outcasts. Just one pretty face could ruin the gritty atmosphere and kill immersion.
On the other hand, in 'Clannad', Jing Yu would be back to his usual on-screen role.
Exhausting as it was, there was something deeply satisfying about the process.
For him, it felt like a live-action cosplay of his favorite works.
Watching the stories he loved come to life in this world, and being the one to bring them to life—it was addictive.
Sure, there were likely more "ideal" actors in Great Zhou who could play the roles, but what did that matter?
If someone else played the part, what did it have to do with Jing Yu?
Yes, he wanted these works to become classics in Great Zhou—but he wasn't willing to give up his own small selfish joys in the process.
That said, he was always careful to only cast himself if he fit the character.
For example, Jing Yu could still convincingly play a seventeen-year-old like Shouta in 'Kimi ni Todoke', even at 27.
But a 13-year-old Takaki from '5 Centimeters per Second'? Absolutely not.
The audience wouldn't buy it.
Similarly, in the Fate series, Jing Yu knew his looks were too sharp and charismatic to portray Kiritsugu Emiya—a man who was supposed to be serious, brooding, and rather ordinary-looking.
So instead, Jing Yu had already chosen the role he would play:
The King of Heroes—Gilgamesh!
That arrogant, above-it-all attitude, combined with strong visual effects and props, would suit him perfectly. He was confident it would work.
Still, one thing disappointed him—
When he exchanged for the Fate series, the exchange panel didn't include any special skills.
It had only granted him drawing skills and basic VFX production knowledge, allowing him to sketch his own character sheets and communicate effectively with VFX teams—ensuring they couldn't take advantage of him and could deliver quality work as requested.
The skill set was useful, no doubt. But Jing Yu had secretly hoped…
That maybe he could summon a Servant.
Maybe even talk to Artoria.
That fantasy had been crushed.
"So the exchange panel isn't omnipotent after all," Jing Yu muttered with a sigh.
If only he could get a Command Seal and summon a Heroic Spirit…
How amazing would that be?
By mid-January, the full promotional campaign for '5 Centimeters per Second' kicked off.
Of course, Qiezi and Jixun, the other two streaming platforms, also ramped up promotions for their self-produced dramas.
Unlike traditional TV stations, streaming platforms had no fixed air dates for shows. At a glance, it looked like the competition was less intense.
But in truth, it was more brutal.
TV networks could at least rely on habit—if someone had a TV at home, they might stumble upon your channel out of boredom. That meant you always had a shot to grab their attention.
But online platforms didn't work that way.
Once viewers were bored with your content and left—if you didn't have a hit series for one or two quarters in a row, the result could be catastrophic: a sharp drop in user base, and once gone, they might not return for years.
So, this year's spring drama lineup led to a rather ironic situation:
Qingyun, Qiezi, and Jixun were locked in fierce competition for advertising slots—jacking up the prices of ad placements even on traditional TV networks.
But hey, money talks.
Though Qingyun was still a newcomer in the drama scene, they'd invested heavily in marketing. Their promotional push for '5 Centimeters per Second' was massive.
At least in Modo, Jing Yu's home base, the signs were everywhere.
Posters were plastered across bookstores, streets, subway stations, underground walkways, and even bus exteriors.
A single image had become iconic within days:
A girl named Akari, sunlight in her smile, holding an umbrella in her right hand, catching cherry blossoms with her left.
The poster had become a familiar sight for residents of Modo and other major cities across Great Zhou.