Morning sunlight streamed through the windows of KIDZ Studio, casting an optimistic glow over the bustling workspace.
Ryu, his nerves buzzing with anticipation, stood outside Manager Kudo's office.
Ryu straightened his tie and took a deep breath before entering the office. Kudo, the ever-stern manager, sat behind his desk, his gaze fixed on Ryu.
"I assume you have good news," Kudo declared, his voice devoid of warmth.
Ryu forced a smile. "Yes, sir! Yes, yes, sir," he stammered. "The author has accepted our offer. She'll send her details today and will be arriving tomorrow morning."
Kudo's expression remained impassive, but a flicker of approval might have crossed his features. "Hmm, good," he grunted. "Now, prepare for her arrival. Don't disappoint me."
"Yes, sir!" Ryu replied, bowing nervously. He turned to leave but was stopped by another question.
"And who will manage them?" Kudo inquired.
"Sir, we've asked Mr. Hondou to do that," Ryu explained.
Kudo contemplated the suggestion for a moment. "Hondou, hmm... Fine. You can leave and do your best," he finally conceded.
With a sigh of relief, Ryu exited the office. The pressure was immense, but at least it wasn't a complete disaster.
Ryu adjusted his tie, feeling a mix of anticipation and dread. He headed towards the office canteen, seeking solace in the company of his colleagues.
Yuma and Uma were already seated, and Yuma waved enthusiastically upon seeing him.
"Hey, here," Yuma called out, gesturing to the empty seat beside her. Ryu heaved a sigh and sat down.
"Three coffees, please," Uma ordered to the canteen worker.
Yuma nudged Ryu playfully. "Spill the beans, Ryu. It might lessen your burden," she said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Uma nodded in agreement. "Yeah, sharing is caring, you know."
Ryu ran a hand through his hair. "The author is coming tomorrow," he revealed, his voice heavy with worry.
"The manager told me to manage everything, her welcome and all. How will I manage it all?" he lamented, shaking his head.
Yuma and Uma exchanged amused glances. "Don't worry, leave the welcome to us," Yuma assured him.
Uma chimed in, "Yeah, girls are better at this than boys, you know."
Relief washed over Ryu. "Thank you, girls. You're the best," he said gratefully.
"The one coming, is it a her or a him?" Uma asked.
Ryu scratched his head. "The author is a girl, as far as I know," he replied.
"How old is she?" Yuma inquired.
Ryu shrugged. "I don't know. She said she would send details today."
The canteen worker placed three steaming cups of coffee on the table and left.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar shook the building, and the lights flickered off. A moment of darkness ensued before the emergency generator kicked in, restoring the lights.
Yuma took a sip of her coffee. "The news said the weather wouldn't be so sunny today," she remarked.