Collaboration
A Re:CREATORS Fan Fiction
By Kraven Ergeist
Chapter 1
Mizushino Sota stared across the table of the small diner at a girl with pale blue eyes and off-white hair. He said nothing, thinking back on his history with this particular girl as she spoke to him through a mouthful of food. Although she, like their erstwhile companions, had once stood out like a sore thumb amongst the crowded streets of Japan, she had seemingly adapted to her new world with grace and poise.
But Sota knew all too well what the girl was. The casual green and blue outfit she wore and the croissant sandwich stuffed halfway into her face belied the creature that Meteora Österreich had once been in years prior.
In this world consisting of seven billion people, each and every one of them was capable of envisioning and encapsulating their experience into creations - stories potent enough that their characters seemed to come to life before their audience's very eyes. Little did anyone know, however, that such an occurrence had quite literally come to pass not three years prior, the works of various Creators giving rise to living beings known as Creations, individuals whose lives, personalities and abilities were determined not by birth, but through the craft of storytelling. It was also a little-known fact that the anger and despair of one such Creation had very nearly destroyed the fabric of reality, waging war on the Creators in an attempt to unmake them all. It was thanks to the efforts of many more of these Creations and their Creators that this battle had finally been won, their world once again brought back into balance.
Meteora had been one of these Creations.
She still was, in truth - though any magical ability she had possessed from her world had long since run dry. The rest of the Creations – the ones who had survived the battle - had returned to their worlds, but Meteora had stayed behind. The fabric of reality had come once again into balance, and now, apart from her somewhat peculiar personality and appearance, Meteora Österreich was functionally indistinguishable from other Creators.
Though her appetite had clearly not suffered in the years since.
"I'm sorry…" Sota furrowed his brow, trying not to let his agitation show. "I can't understand you when your mouth is full."
If Meteora intended to appear apologetic as she calmly wolfed down her sandwich, she was not putting a great deal of effort into the expression.
"Collaboration," she clarified. "A collaboration - a joint project between multiple creators."
"I know what the word means…" Sota sighed, trying not to let his impatience show.
The young man massaged his brow as he looked around the diner. They were both seated at a table by the window, looking out at the city beyond. The diner was a small local chain, not terribly full at this late afternoon hour. The food was decent, and it wasn't far from his dorm where he was currently taking classes at an art institute in town. The two of them had gathered here once before, back when this had all started.
Back when Selesia had still been with them.
All that Meteora had put in her email to Sota, however, was that she had a proposition for him that was best discussed in person. On his way over, he found himself trying to guess at just why she had invited him to this particular restaurant. The two of them had quite a few memories of this place from back then. Perhaps Meteora was feeling nostalgic? For someone with very little story to call her own, being able to look back on her past must have been a peculiar experience, he reflected. This place must have held some meaning for her, just as it had for him. Still, this did little to explain why she had called him here.
Meteora tilted her head slightly in a way that Sota surmised to mean that she was disappointed.
"So you are saying that you are not interested in working together?" she asked obtusely, reaching for the other half of the sandwich on her plate.
That caught Sota off guard slightly, and he raised his hands in objection.
"It's…not that I'm not interested…" he insisted, hesitantly.
Sota wasn't sure why he felt so intimidated by Meteora in this particular moment, especially after all these years. The two of them had kept in regular contact, even after she'd moved out on her own. They had even gotten together for coffee every few months or so, but those had always been for the sake of discussing their current projects. And when her career had begun to pick up steam, the two of them had gotten together less and less often as a result. It had been months since he'd even heard from her when he had received her email out of the blue, asking him to meet.
He remained silent for a moment more as she chewed her sandwich, seemingly indifferent to his response as she waited for him, determined to enjoy her late lunch to its fullest extent.
"Aren't you…" he finally said, hesitantly. "Aren't you busy though? I mean…"
As he spoke, he leaned down and opened the backpack he had brought with him, reaching inside for an anime news magazine he had brought him. Flipping it open, he turned to an article titled "Upcoming Releases." And right at the top of the list was a familiar title: Re:CREATORS.
"Your light novel's about to be made into an anime, isn't it?" he asked, setting the magazine on the table between them.
Meteora spared the magazine only the briefest of glances, in spite of his apparent concern. She had seen its contents already.
"Yes," she confirmed, after polishing off her sandwich. "But a more experienced screenwriter has been hired to adapt the project for televised streaming. I am merely on call for consultation; hardly full-time employment."
Sota opened his mouth to offer some kind of protest, but he fell silent as his eyes scanned through the article once again. While it was true Meteora's name was listed in the staff credits, there was also mention of another name the two of them recognized: one Matsubara Takashi, author of Vogelchevalier.
The animated adventures of Selesia Upitiria had come to an end that previous year. There had been a few minor differences between the anime and the light novels, but ultimately, it had been a satisfactory conclusion. The end of Selesia's story had been a momentous occasion for fans of the show, and Sota and Meteora had been no exception. It was one of the few occasions that Sota and Meteora had convened to watch something together. It had been an evening of reflection that they both looked back on with fond memories. But now it seemed that Matsubara had been tasked with the role of lead writer in the upcoming Re:CREATORS anime adaptation, despite it being Meteora's work originally.
Sota had followed the industry long enough to know that sometimes the original writer of a light novel got to play a more involved role in the anime adaptation, and sometimes they didn't. Usually if the author didn't have a lot of experience or contacts within the industry, a more recognized name was tapped for the role. And the success of Vogelchevalier had evidently qualified Matsubara for the job. A lot of fans were looking forward to seeing Matsubara's next project, but it also meant that Meteora's role in the adaptation had been shoved to the sidelines.
Some fans even speculated that the reason for this relegation of the original author was due to her foreign origins. The identification papers that Kikuchihara's agency had provided for Meteora indicated that she hailed from somewhere in Germany, an effort to explain away her western appearance, as well as to let her keep the Germanic-sounding name of Österreich. Given all that, it was no wonder the studio in charge of the adaption had not asked her to participate as more than a consultant.
If anyone could be trusted to adapt their story into visual form, Sota supposed Matsubara was the right choice. And his name would certainly draw in a greater crowd. But still…
"That…doesn't seem right," Sota furrowed his brow in consternation. "It's your story."
Meteora sipped her iced tea from a clear plastic cup through a straw.
"I have no qualms with this arrangement," she said dismissively. "It is only partially my story, after all. I may have written the words, but the story itself is based on my experience with the other Creations. I have also changed most of the names in the story due to copyright laws."
She raised a finger as though lecturing at the head of a classroom.
"On that matter, the restrictions placed on anime are even more stringent," she continued, unperturbed. "There are also a number of other concerns and considerations involved in the adaptation process from book to screen, many of which with I am unacquainted. I lack the necessary experience to properly adapt this work into a visual medium. The project requires someone who is more familiar with the industry, and Matsubara is more than qualified to handle this. Moreover, his involvement in the Border World Coliseum will provide invaluable insight during the adaptation process."
Sota grimaced as he closed the magazine. It sounded like Meteora had already had this particular discussion with the studio beforehand. While he understood their need for an experienced screenwriter, it still didn't sit right with him that Meteora wouldn't get a proper chance to oversee the adaptation of her own creation.
Meteora dabbed at her lips with a paper napkin before continuing.
"That is not to say that I am disinterested in exploring the realm of animation in the future," she went on, her voice quiet yet undeterred. "To this end, I have my sights set on a new goal: I want to create something new, something entirely my own. Something inspired by my experiences, but consisting of characters and events drawn solely from my own imagination."
Sot nodded slowly, trying to figure out where she was going with this diatribe.
"So…are you planning to write another light novel?" he asked.
Meteora shook her head slowly.
"I have found that people in this world respond more ardently to visual representations," she said. "Graphics, animation, images, et cetera. So in order to gain experience in a visual medium, I've decided that for my next endeavor, I shall refocus my attention on sequential art."
Sota raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised at her resolve.
"You mean manga?" he asked, bluntly.
Meteora nodded. "That is the colloquial term for it, yes. Now that I have completed my light novel, I believe creating a manga is the next logical step. It would be a valuable experience, one that would allow me to penetrate the industry of visual media with greater confidence and rapport."
Sota felt his shoulders droop.
"Do you have any drawing or artistic experience whatsoever?" he asked, dreading her answer.
"None," Meteora responded simply.
Sota's eyes closed as the full implication of Meteora's proposition finally became clear to him.
"So, in other words…" he said slowly in dawning realization. "...You need an illustrator."
"I need an illustrator," Meteora nodded in affirmation. "That is why I am calling this a collaboration. I am confident in my writing ability, but I need someone with artistic talent to handle the illustrations."
Her eyes fell on the remaining half of Sota's sandwich, which lay in front of him, uneaten. Letting out a resigned sigh, he pushed his plate towards her gently, and her eyes lit up as she descended upon it like a ravenous wolf.
"You should know...I've never made a manga before," he said warily, watching her eat.
"Uh knur," Meteora said in a muffled voice as she chewed. "Thursh wurl beh uh lurnung urpurtunuty-"
"Swallow first, please," Sota urged, glancing around the diner uncomfortably.
She did so hurriedly, and Sota wondered how Meteora had made it three years in the real world without picking up on the basic decorum of table manners. Perhaps the life of a novelist allowed her to get by without much human interaction.
"Sorry," she said when her mouth was no longer full. "I am aware that you have not attempted creating a manga before. This will be a learning opportunity for the both of us."
Sota pursed his lips, glancing out the window as the people outside strolled by. It felt like a long time had passed since their adventure with the Creations had ended. It was hard not to think about Selesia and the others without getting emotional, and every time he had thought back to them, he felt like he had progressed so little since then. He was still on his way to becoming a graphic designer, but he still had so much more to learn. And Meteora had already published her own light novel in the time since then. It made the road ahead of him feel that much longer.
And being a manga artist was no easy job, especially if he was signing on to be the sole artistic talent. Even assuming Meteora could pick up the basics of inking and linework, it would still involve long, grueling hours of work for very little guaranteed payoff. Of course, he realized that if he wanted to get into any sort of animation career, it would be a lot of work regardless. But getting into a project at this stage of his life just felt like jumping into the deep end of the pool. He just didn't feel ready yet.
"I'm going to be so busy with classes these days," he said weakly. "I doubt I'll have any time to focus on anything else."
"You are studying at an art school, are you not?" she pointed out. "Do art students not normally have projects to work on? Our collaboration could easily fulfill a number of your required class projects. I am not committed to any one particular creation, and can afford to be flexible. Moreover, it stands to reason that the purpose of taking these classes in the first place is to develop skills that you may employ on your future career path. What better way to exercise those skills than through work experience and on-the-job training?"
Sota ran his fingers through his hair as he took off his glasses, staring at them as he twisted them idly in his hands. The same glasses he had worn since the day Shimazaki had died. The frames were getting crooked, and there were scratches, smudges and indentations that had accumulated since that time, but he hadn't had the heart to replace them.
"I don't know, Meteora," he said uneasily, not meeting her gaze. "I've only just started taking these classes, and I'm still such a novice when it comes to illustration. Wouldn't someone like Marine be more helpful?"
"Marine has never created a manga before either," Meteora pointed out. "I may reach out to her for assistance if we manage to create something that becomes more popular, but at this initial phase, I believe that you are the correct choice for this role."
Sota nearly collapsed onto the tabletop.
"You don't even have a working concept yet?" he asked in despair.
"I have a few ideas," she amended. "But that is why you are my first choice for a collaboration partner. You are one of the few Creators I am able to truly talk to. You are someone with whom I am able to share my ideas, someone who understands the importance of Creations. We have worked well together in the past during the Border World Coliseum. And I trust you, Sota."
The young man looked back at her, fixing his eyes one the peculiar girl. He was surprised by her forwardness, and he had no doubt in her resolve. His doubt, he knew, was directed entirely inward. After everything he had done, how he had hidden the truth about Shimazaki for so long, how could Meteora possibly consider him to be worthy of her trust? And if his past with Shimazaki was indication of anything at all, it was that Sota was clearly not the best creator to collaborate with.
"Collaborations are supposed to be extremely challenging, even for the best creators," he said, lowering his eyes. "I've read all sorts of blogs, tweets, and articles about collaborators not getting along, getting into fights and breaking apart from one another. The stress of working long hours together becomes so great that they can no longer collaborate on the project any longer, and it leaves both the creation and the creators in a state of ruin."
Meteora kept her gaze fixed on Sota as he spoke. His fears were perfectly clear to her – if the two of them tried working together, the difficulties of the project would likely drive a wedge between them. The creation, as well as their friendship, would suffer as a result, possibly irreversibly so. She could not say with any certainty whether this would likely be the outcome of such an endeavor. She had little experience in the ways of human interaction, after all, and had never collaborated with anyone before. But if her time here in the world of Creators had taught her anything, it was that there were few limits that could not be exceeded through perseverance.
"It won't be that way with us," she assured him, a stouthearted look on her face. "If any conflicts come out of our collaboration, I have confidence that the two of us will be able to overcome them."
Sota scratched his head. Meteora's determination, as ever, seemed unshakeable. Her patience and understanding were extraordinary, he knew. And of all the Creations to come out of a fictional world, Meteora was the one who had most readily reached out to him when his need had been greatest. In spite of his reservations, he had to admit - if there was anyone in the world he was capable of working with, it would probably be her.
He was running out of excuses.
"You're already a published author, Meteora," he said, his eyes glued to the table between them. "You've already accomplished so much, I don't know if I could ever catch up to you. You're ten times the Creator I could ever be."
It was the same excuse he'd used to put a wall between himself and Shimazaki, he knew. And he knew that Meteora must have realized this as well. He tried not to imagine the guilt-inducing look she was giving him in that moment, the way her lips subtly drooped into a disappointed pout. He braced himself, preparing to hear words of resignation as she gave up on him, leaving him behind as she went on in pursuit of her goal in spite of him.
What she said next, however, made his chest tighten for an altogether different reason.
"That is not true, Sota," she said somberly. "I was only able to create a simple novel based on my own experiences. You were able to draw from your experiences to recreate a fully fleshed out version of Setsuna Shimazaki in person. If anything, it is I who am in need of catching up."
Sota's eyes flew open, but he still couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze. A lump began to form in his throat as his agitation grew. He wasn't sure why he was being so resistant. In truth, he had always dreamed about the possibility of working on a manga himself one of these days, but he just didn't feel ready, even with Meteora's help.
Meteora didn't wait for him to look at her.
"If you are truly opposed to the idea of a collaboration, then I will not force the issue," she said simply. "But I do believe that this is an opportunity for both of us. You are a great Creator, Sota. I believe in you."
Sota finally looked back at her just in time to see her raising a fist up in the air.
"Fight-o," she called out in a tiny voice with about as little emphasis as anything she ever said.
Sota stared at her for a moment longer, before suddenly letting out a burst of laughter at the meekly recreated gesture. As she gazed back at him, a perplexed look on her face at his reaction, he found himself laughing even harder.
He just couldn't help it! She just looked so silly trying to cheer him on like that! He wondered which pop idol group or anime character she had seen spouting off that line in such a manner. He could tell she was trying to sound enthusiastic, and the sentiment was there at least. It was a rather pitiful attempt at cheerleading, and yet somehow, it had stirred him.
She was being as encouraging as she was capable of being. And that was all that mattered.
"You're really difficult to argue with, Meteora," Sota sighed in a defeated tone.
"So I've been told," the girl smiled a self-satisfied smile. "Does that mean that you will collaborate with me after all?"
Sota exhaled through his nose, closing his eyes as he shook his head in disbelief at his own acquiescence.
"Why not?" he sighed in submission. "I've always wanted to try my hand at a manga."
Meteora's eyes widened with what could only be excitement.
"I am so glad to hear it!" she said in a hurried, breathy voice, before tossing her head forward in a bow, her white bangs covering her face. "I look forward to working with you!"
"Yeah..." Sota nodded. "Me too."
He shook his head, defeated. His resolve to procrastinate seemed to have withered under the duress of Meteora's insistent hounding. He supposed that there was no point in dilly-dallying anymore. He wanted to be a creator after all. He could doubt himself all he wanted, but he would never improve if he never tried to create something. Victory favored the bold, as the saying went. And at least this way, he would have a competent guide in the form of a girl with near-encyclopedic knowledge at his side. Meteora clearly had much to offer him, and if Sota was being completely honest, he had grown to miss her company these past few months. It would be nice to spend more time with her.
Fear and excitement began to mingle together in his stomach at the prospect of what he had just signed up for. This would be it - his first real foray into the world of creation. Anxiety and self-doubt began to creep across his skin as he was inadvertently thrown back to those early days with Shimazaki. How being so close to someone so talented had made him feel so trapped by his ineptitude. How disheartening and isolating it had felt. How crushing.
He managed to quell his apprehension before it had a chance to bubble to the surface. Shimazaki's death had not been his fault, he reminded himself. And despite his reservations, he had grown at least somewhat since then. And Meteora was not Shimazaki. She had no reservations when it came to reaching out to extend a helping hand. As often as he chastised her occasional lack of decorum, it was this very flaw that allowed her to push past all the usual social hangups and get right to the core of the problem, whatever it may be.
Above all, Meteora was honest, and it was her honesty that had allowed her to get through the shell that Sota had erected around himself so that he could finally open up about his troubled past. For this reason above all others, Sota realized, he trusted her too.
Meteora was still smiling as she lifted her head. The gentleness of her smile was positively infectious, and Sota couldn't help but smile in return as a waitress came to clear their plates. When he nodded at their server in acknowledgement and asked for the check, Meteora's expression changed to one of alarm as she abruptly raised a finger.
"But...we have not yet had dessert," she pointed out, a mild note of urgency in her voice.
Sota let out a sigh as Meteora flipped opened her menu and gestured to an image of a parfait.
"Of course," he chuckled as the waitress took her order. "What was I thinking?"
It looked as though working together with Meteora was going to be an interesting experience indeed.
A/N: Going to have to do some research for this fic. And by "research," I mean "re-read most of Bakuman."
I made some best-guesses when it came to some of the ins and outs of the anime, manga and light novel business, but I'm going to have to get a lot more in depth if I plan on making any headway with this fic. In all honesty, I don't know the first thing about what these two characters are about to go through. Hopefully, that will be well reflected through the characters themselves, as they are in a similar boat as I am, but I will also need to portray the other side of things when they begin to discover what challenges await them, not to mention the tools, processes and technology behind illustration in general. If any readers have any experience with illustration, I would welcome your insights.
I loved the ending of Re:CREATORS, especially Meteora's decision to stay behind (I'm calling it a decision, because I don't think she really wanted to go back to her world anyway). The only way it could be improved, I thought, was if she and Sota ended up working on a project together. It would have been nice if the two of them could have both participated in the in-universe anime adaptation of Re:CREATORS, but that just wasn't realistic on Sota's part, given his lack of experience in the industry. And even if they did, the two of them would have ended up working in two entirely separate departments within the studio that handled the project, with little interaction with one another, which would broaden the story much more than I was comfortable with.
I liked the idea of the two of them working on something smaller in scale, something they could both handle, that would require them working closely together, bouncing ideas off of one another, without a great deal of outside interference. A manga seemed like the perfect choice to explore just how compatible these two characters are.
And knowing me, there will be some romance in later chapters.
Stay tuned.