Pursuit by Two Companies
As the airplane door swung open, the humid, sweltering air of Seoul burrowed deep into their lungs. Kimpo Airport in 1978 was ruled not by modern elegance but by a chaotic, vibrant bustle.
Shunsuke straightened his tie and offered the first greeting.
"Well then, take care, Miss Tokita. Good luck."
"You too, Mr. Kimura. I hope you get good results."
Mari gave a brief nod and strode confidently toward immigration. A Korean high schooler, and a part-timer at an outsourcing studio, signing an exclusive contract? Miss Tokita, this isn't just a simple issue—it's a matter of Toei's dignity. The cold glint in the executive's eyes behind his glasses. Her father had remained silent, but that silence weighed even heavier. A whopping 504 cuts packed with dynamic poses. Even three veteran key animators would need at least a month, yet this girl claimed she'd finish it solo in five weeks. To the head office executives—and even her father—it must have looked like nothing but a reckless gamble by a foolish young lady.
One week left. If I fail, my position is gone. Mari's hands grew clammy just thinking about failure.
After claiming her luggage, Mari headed to the pickup area lined with yellow Pony taxis, adjusting her bag. Then, a familiar silhouette pulled up in the next lane.
"...We meet again."
Shunsuke lowered his sunglasses slightly and smiled. Mari's eyebrow twitched faintly. She'd barely crossed paths with this man even in Japan, and now this was their second encounter already.
"Yeah. We were on the same flight, so maybe it's not that surprising."
"Could be. Well, see you."
Mari's taxi arrived first, and she climbed in. Shunsuke followed suit into the one behind.
The taxi carrying Mari pulled up in front of a rundown five-story building in Jongno: Shinwon Production.
Thud.
As Mari stepped out, her white dress fluttering as she shut the door, Shunsuke emerged from the taxi right behind, wearing a Hawaiian shirt. Their gazes clashed sharply in the air.
"......" "......"
Shunsuke broke the silence first. His voice carried unmistakable bewilderment.
"No way... You're here for Shinwon Production too, Miss Tokita?"
Mari feigned nonchalance, adjusting her handbag as she headed for the stairs.
"Of course. This is where we're outsourcing to. What brings you here, Mr. Kimura?"
"...Same as you."
Shunsuke scratched the back of his head. Did Toei scout Kyungho too? The suspicion flashed through his mind, but he kept up his businesslike smile.
"Ah... Shinwon's been doing well lately."
An awkward silence filled the space between them. The two power players from Japan's animation industry began climbing the steep stairs of the creaky, elevator-less building side by side. Their shoe heels echoed irregularly in the narrow stairwell.
As the door to Shinwon Production opened, a cloud of cigarette smoke and the sharp scent of ink assaulted them. Kim Sang-taek, the boss, who had been perched on the young female clerk's desk flipping through ledgers, looked up.
"Ah, Shunsuke! Perfect tim—"
Kim's cheerful rise cut off abruptly. His eyes bulged as he spotted the figure entering behind Shunsuke.
"Huh? W-What's this? Miss Tokita too... together...?"
Kim's gaze darted rapidly between Shunsuke and Mari. Kimura from Tatsumino and Tokita Mari from Toei.
"Ah, are you two da—"
"I'm a married man!"
"Are you insane?"
"If it's not, why yell like that?"
Shunsuke responded to Kim's fussing.
"We ran into each other on the plane by chance. Didn't know we'd end up at the same place."
Mari was already locking eyes with Kim, jumping straight to business.
"Greetings later, President Kim. Can I see Kyung-ho's work?"
"Tricky, Miss Tokita. I'm here to pick up the key animation, so I'm a bit busy."
"......" "......"
Their gazes tangled sharply in the air. The seasoned operator from Tatsumino, Kimura Shunsuke, and Toei Animation's proud heiress, Tokita Mari. Kim, caught in the middle, sweated bullets, thinking he'd rather take a scolding first. He stepped forward.
"Aigoo, not in the hallway... Actually, this works out. Follow me."
Leading the puzzled pair not to the studio but to the president's office at the end of the hall.
"I told this kid to work at Jung-ho's spot, but Seung-hyuk kept staring all awkward-like, so he complained it was annoying. Ended up taking over my office."
Kim chuckled sheepishly and opened the door. "This guy's the real boss around here."
Creeeak.
A thick scent of pencil shavings and cool paper wafted out. On the wide desk, stacks of key animation sheets towered like fortress walls. Amid the paper bastion, a shadow wielded a pen furiously.
Then it hit Shunsuke like lightning.
"Miss Tokita, no way... 'Kyung-ho' is Kyungho?"
Mari lifted her chin arrogantly, as if it were obvious.
"Does Shinwon have two Kyung-hos?"
As the staring contest reignited, a calm, familiar voice cut through from behind the papers.
"Ah, Mr. Shunsuke. Miss Mari."
Kyung-ho looked up. Amid September's heat, only his eyes gleamed clear and serene like ice water. He wheeled forward, grabbing a thick bundle of key sheets sorted aside on the desk, and handed it first to Shunsuke.
"This is this month's work. I don't think there are any fixes needed, but don't fly back to Japan and return like last time—check it here properly."
Shunsuke's face flushed red.
"Th-that time, the flight was too tight..."
As he stammered excuses and stuffed the sheets into the key animation envelope, Mari, watching from the side, narrowed her eyes. She could tell at a glance.
"Science Ninja Squad Eagleman, right?"
"......!"
Shunsuke's expression was priceless. Tatsumino's confidential subcontract work had been exposed straight to a rival executive.
He scratched his head awkwardly. "Ah, this isn't good..."
Instead of mocking him, Mari crossed her arms.
"Don't worry. I won't blab. You saw ours too, so I was just paying you back."
Arms still crossed toward Shunsuke, she turned her head to Kyung-ho. "Now, I'd like to see ours. You know there's one week left, right?"
A faint tremor edged her voice. Her anxiety transmitted straight to Kyung-ho. Without a word, he wheeled around and pulled out thick bundles from deep under the desk.
A heavy thud echoed through the office as the stack hit the desk.
"504 sheets. Take a look."
"Check it? Now?"
Mari's pupils quivered. Entranced, she snatched the top sheet. As she flipped roughly, Captain Balrog's cape fluttered in afterimages. One sheet, two, ten...
It was definitely Captain Balrog. The notoriously tough job crammed with tricky poses and demanding specs that no one wanted to touch.
"Are you saying... it's done?"
"Obviously."
Shunsuke, watching beside her, lost his relaxed smile. Forgetting decorum, he leaned in close.
"This is Captain Balrog! No wonder the key animation quality spiked—I was impressed, but of course..."
His eyes traced every line. Perfect key animation, calculated from start to finish—impossible from anyone but Kyungho. Shunsuke marveled again at the boy's bottomless talent.
A monster. I have to bring Kyungho to Tatsumino, no matter what.
Feeling Shunsuke's blatant stare, Mari irritably clutched the sheets to her chest.
"Enough gawking. Get out. I didn't scrutinize Tatsumino's that closely either."
"Ah, right. Sorry. Take care."
Shunsuke shot Kyung-ho a lingering, reluctant look before finally leaving. As the door shut and footsteps faded down the hall, Mari exhaled sharply and approached Kyung-ho.
"You did this properly, right? Not half-assed?"
"Obviously."
Kyung-ho's reply was short and firm. Mari stared disbelievingly at the scattered sheets.
"How did you finish a week early? This speed is physically impossible."
"A friend helped a bit. Oh, is that a contract violation? Was there a 'solo only' clause?"
"No, as long as the results are solid, don't worry. I don't get why the guy who said he'd do it alone changed his mind, though."
Mari shook her head, pinching her forehead. Then, with trembling hands, she began flipping through sheet by sheet.
Flip, swish.
Each turn furrowed her brow deeper. Far from low quality, the line density was even tighter than before. The multiple highlights in the characters' eyes and the hair flow were spine-tingling. Holding her breath, she turned the next.
"Was your helper a famous mangaka?"
"Nah, an aspiring fine arts student at Seoul National University."
"A high schooler?"
Mari pondered, then probed deeper.
"What parts did they help with?"
She held a sheet to the light. Kyung-ho leaned back in his wheelchair, answering flatly.
"Line cleanup. I handled the poses and structure; my friend cleaned up the lines."
"Lines...?"
Mari's eyes narrowed. She peered at the paper—at the outlines. Soon, she clicked her tongue in admiration.
"Even for an art major, no hesitation in the lines. And perfectly capturing the key animator's intended line weight. Makes sense it sped up by a week... No, it's still impossibly fast..."
Captain Balrog's outlines were razor-sharp yet retained fluid curves.
"Ah, that was me."
Kyung-ho had wheeled back to the desk and started sketching idly.
"Huh? But you said your friend did cleanup..."
"Yeah. About thirty sheets."
"Pardon?"
Mari couldn't process it.
"You... only got help on thirty sheets?"
"Yeah. Saved maybe two days thanks to him. Lucky I could hand it over right when you arrived."
The girl in the white dress slammed both hands on the desk by Kyung-ho's sketch, leaning in angrily.
"That's not the point! You're saying you did nearly 500 sheets solo in four weeks?"
"About 470."
"Same difference!"
Frustrated, Mari pounded the desk repeatedly.
"You're bothering me, so stop?"
"Kyung-ho! What are you?"
"A high schooler who loves animation?"
"That's not—!!!"
Mari trailed off, then flopped onto the sofa by the tea table in resignation.
"Haa... Didn't Tatsumino try to recruit you?"
"Yeah, Shunsuke seemed keen, but the president and animation director are against it."
Mari bit her nail.
"Their president's like that. Procedures are a hassle, and they'd have to pay more to bring you to Japan."
"You know your stuff."
"I'm Toei Animation's heiress! I'd be disqualified if I didn't."
Mari elegantly touched her chest, declaring boldly.
"So, what's your point?"
Unfazed by "heiress," Kyung-ho prompted. Mari pouted furiously, shot up, pointed at him.
"Kyung-ho! Come to Toei!"
"Nah."
Kyung-ho handed over his sketch with his refusal.
"Why refuse... Wait, what's this?"
Mari snatched the sheet.
Slightly arched eyebrow, half-open mouth—like spitting a retort. Absurdly bold yet delicately rendered hair. Realistic fabric folds. She knew instantly.
"Why me again...!"
"I like the lady."
"Wha—yes, ye-yes... Huh?"
Mari's eyes widened. L-like me? But he's 18. Staring with mouth agape, she stammered.
"B-but... you're still in high school..."
Realizing the misunderstanding, Kyung-ho startled and corrected.
"Ah, no—I mean I like the lady character."
Realizing her error, Mari's ears turned beet red.
"I'm going back!"