NOVEL NEXT Chapter 693: Back to Sakura City
Chapter 693: Back to Sakura City
Kizuna Hall, Sakura City, Sakura Abode Country.
Sunday, March 14th.
The sun had just begun to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the sprawling Kizuna Hall complex in Sakura City. Tomorrow, this place would be buzzing with life as the doors of Primrose Animation Convention, or PrimCon as it was affectionately known, would swing open to welcome the world. But for now, the hall was a hive of activity as final preparations were made for the biggest anime and manga convention of the spring season.
PrimCon had grown into a colossal event over the past 30 years, with nearly a million visitors attending last year's convention over its five-day run. This year, with the dates set from March 15 to March 19, the anticipation was even higher. Fans from all over the globe had already begun to descend upon Sakura City, eager to experience the latest from the anime and manga industries.
Inside Kizuna Hall, the atmosphere was charged with a mix of excitement and urgency. Numerous animation studios, publishing houses, and merchandise vendors were busy putting the final touches on their displays. The air was filled with the sounds of hammers, drills, and the occasional shout as workers hurried to meet their deadlines. Overseeing it all, ensuring that everything ran smoothly, were the employees of the Ink Tribune Magazine, the proud organizers of PrimCon.
The Ink Tribune had been a cornerstone of the anime and manga community for over a century. Founded in the wake of Hitarashi Itsuki's first animated movie release, the magazine had grown alongside the industry, becoming a trusted source of news, reviews, and in-depth analysis. It was only fitting that the Ink Tribune was the driving force behind PrimCon, the event that set the tone for the rest of the year in the anime and manga world.
On the day before the convention, the Ink Tribune's headquarters at Kizuna Hall was a flurry of activity. Staff members, clad in the magazine's iconic blue and white uniforms, moved briskly through the corridors, clipboards in hand, as they conducted last-minute checks and coordinated with the various exhibitors.
In the central operations room, the nerve center of PrimCon, a large digital display showed a detailed map of the convention floor. Every booth, stage, and attraction was marked out, with different colors representing the various industries-animation studios in blue, publishing houses in red, merchandise vendors in green, and so on. The room hummed with the soft sounds of radio chatter, as team leaders relayed updates and requests to their respective teams.
Mizuki Tanaka, one of the senior event coordinators, stood in front of the display, her eyes scanning the map for any signs of trouble. With years of experience under her belt, Mizuki had seen it all-booths that weren't ready, shipments that arrived late, and even last-minute cancellations. But she had also witnessed the magic that unfolded when everything came together, when the lights dimmed, and the first fans streamed through the doors, their faces lighting up with excitement.
"How's Hall Clooking?" Mizuki asked into her headset, referring to the section reserved for some of the biggest names in the industry.
"Just got word that Studio Phoenix is almost done setting up their interactive VR experience," came the response from one of her team members. "They're just running final tests. Should be good to go in an hour."
"Perfect. Make sure they stick to the timeline. We can't afford any delays tomorrow," Mizuki replied, making a note on her tablet.
As she continued to monitor the preparations, Mizuki couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. This year's PrimCon was shaping up to be the biggest yet. The list of confirmed exhibitors was a who's who of the anime and manga world-Elvish Studios, Studio Phoenix, Arashi Productions, Lotus Publishing, and many more. Even international companies had flown in to be part of the action, recognizing the immense influence of PrimCon.
In another part of Kizuna Hall, Shiori Yamada, a junior reporter for the Ink Tribune, was making her rounds, gathering material for the special edition coverage that would be released during the convention. Shiori had only joined the magazine a year ago, but she had quickly established herself as a diligent and enthusiastic journalist. She carried her camera and notepad as she weaved through the bustling aisles, capturing candid shots of the setup process and jotting down notes for her articles.
She paused in front of a particularly eye-catching booth, where a team of workers was assembling a massive, life-sized model of a mecha from one of the season's most anticipated anime. The detail was stunning, from the sleek, metallic armor to the glowing eyes that seemed to peer into the soul of anyone who dared to approach.
"That's going to be a showstopper," Shiori murmured to herself, snapping a few photos. She approached one of the workers, a young man adjusting the model's arm.
"Excuse me, can I ask you a few questions?" Shiori asked, flashing her press badge.
The man glanced at her, then smiled. "Sure, what do you want to know?"
"Is this the first time this model is being showcased?" Shiori began, her pen poised to capture his response.
"Yeah, it is. This mecha is from the new anime Starlight Warriors, which is premiering this spring. We wanted to give the fans something special, so we collaborated with the studio to create this model. It's been months in the making."
Shiori's eyes sparkled with excitement as she took down his words. "That's amazing! Do you think it'll be one of the highlights of the convention?"
"Definitely. We've already had a lot of people from other booths stopping by to check it out. I can't wait to see the fans' reactions tomorrow."
As Shiori wrapped up the interview and moved on to the next booth, she couldn't help but feel a rush of anticipation. The stories she was collecting today would be read by millions over the next few days, helping to shape the narrative of this year's PrimCon.
Back in the operations room, Mizuki was wrapping up her final checks. The map showed that all the major booths were either complete or nearing completion. The tech team had finished setting up the Wi-Fi network, ensuring that the thousands of attendees would be able to stay connected and share their experiences in real-time. The security team was conducting their final walkthroughs, checking every entrance and exit to ensure that tomorrow's crowds could be managed safely.
"Alright, everyone," Mizuki called out to the room, "we're in the final stretch. Let's make sure we're ready for tomorrow. Double-check everything-floor plans, schedules, equipment. I want us to be prepared for anything."
As the team members dispersed to carry out her instructions, Mizuki took a moment to glance out of the large windows that lined one side of the room. The city of Sakura was bathed in the soft glow of twilight, and beyond the city limits, she could just make out the silhouette of the mountains that framed the horizon.
This moment of calm, this brief lull before the storm, was one of her favorite parts of the job. It was the anticipation, the knowledge that in just a few hours, this quiet hall would be
transformed into a bustling, vibrant hub of creativity and passion.
And when the doors of PrimCon finally opened, when the first fans flooded the convention floor, all of their hard work would be worth it. The Ink Tribune had a legacy to uphold, and if Mizuki had anything to say about it, this year's PrimCon would be one for the history books.
But in one particular stand among the medium attractions, one low-key company did not attract much attention, but this promotion would start the beginning of an empire.