Hiromaki Miyano

Anyone who wasn’t too busy working made sure to sneer at them when they entered the lobby. The outside of the building was intimidating enough- for a place of art, the true “Studio” inside Studio Rogue was a towering obelisk that made Frankie start to wonder if meeting Hiromaki Miyano was really worth it.

The masked heroes lead them into an elevator. The numbers were almost all marked the same- Animation Hall 1, 2, etc. They went to number 34.

When the doors opened, the scent of computers hit them. The assembly line of media was a perfected grid of workers, each one more diligent than the last. Something about it made Katie sick to her stomach- not that Frankie was fond of it either. She just felt grateful for these people’s work, and the joy it had brought her. Still, she reminded herself who she was really thankful for- the one in all the video essays.

Like a vending machine the Die Rangers sent them down the x-axis of the cubicles and eventually deep, deep into the y. After a few minutes of walking down the cramped corridors, witnessing the laborers along the way, some working, some sleeping in the studio just to get up and work again, most looking like they hadn't slept at all. It was such a sight that Frankie didn’t notice she was starting at Miyano already until the rest of the group had long since stopped walking.

<How much longer can he be here for? Leave him alone.> The woman was seemingly already in a heated argument with one of her park staff, a young, arrogant man bald man with a Celestial Orchestra pin on his pink polo.

<We can’t go offering park passes for free! Not to mention he’s a foreigner- and a minor- he doesn’t even possess a rider’s license from his home country! It’s not business-like.>

<I never claimed to be a businesswoman. Let him stay.>

The employee growled, bumbling off in agitation. With his leave, the director turned to her next annoyance.

<I didn’t ask to be interrupted.>

Sure enough, there was something different about her. She looked very young for her age, but the emotionless face she wore petrified Frankie. Suddenly, she began to wonder if she was really as depressed as the rumors said she was. Just like that, the fangirl started to feel sorry for her.

<Sorry, but it’s this one again.> Bolt pushed Tala to the front.

<How many times do I have to look at you?> The great Miyano sat unblinkingly as she beheld the park’s biggest pain. <Soon enough you’ll start showing up in my art. To who else do I give this treatment? Who but you is so tenacious as to require a direct judgement from me as to what happens to you? What was it last time… community service? Why, I should have you put to death at this point.>

<Miyano-San has told a joke.> Leon clarified for legal purposes.

<I’m here because you won’t listen to me.> Tala stood their ground. <It’s madness out there! Sure. It was fine when you started this. I remember! All my classmates were begging their parents to fill them with metal, and you made a killing off it. But now? There are punks in the streets- kids beating people up for fun! Is that any way for a park, a city- to be run?>

<Punks? Like you?> Miyano raised an eyebrow.

<It’s not my fault this place is littered with deadly trickery.>

<I have said this before… and I will say it again.> The director scrolled through the frames on her screen. <Even if they are awful… my audience must be allowed to do as they please inside this contained paradise. If not… that negativity would only spill over into real threats elsewhere.>

<Still could’ve done that without giving everyone cybernetic superweapons.>

<Like yours.> She again reflected onto the young adult.

<I wouldn’t have needed them if->

<If this city was just the way you wanted it, would you really get rid of all that power?>

The prideful Tara was silent.

<I’m done with this. Take them away. Just kick the bastard out at this point.> Miyano got ready to go back to focusing on her work.

<W-wait!> Tala suddenly cried out.

<Change of heart?> The woman eyed suspiciously.

“I-I didn’t come here alone…” Switching to English, the lost sisters suddenly picked up on the conversation again. “See this? My influence is spreading. I’ve corrupted these tourists to be just as annoying as me.”

She pushed Frankie right up to her idol, scaring the living daylights out of the shy girl.

“H-Hi..?” She meekly waved.