[Tsukihime Idle Talk] Extra - The Six Hour Long Chat
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During the interview, we planned to ask OKSG many different questions.
However...
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Editor |
Now then, we'd like to move the conversation over to OKSG.
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Nasu |
If you say anything weird, I'll kill you.
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Takeuchi |
Yeah, we've rounded off this interview pretty well.
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Nasu |
Although, we do have to make sure the readers enjoy it. So... do as you like.
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Because of this, he didn't really say much. So in order to fill that gap, we did the following chat on June 18, 2001.
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Welcome, editor!~
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Editor |
Alright then!
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Welcome, OKSG!~
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OKSG |
Good evening.
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Editor |
Good evening!
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OKSG |
Is it just you today?
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Editor |
Yes, just me.
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OKSG |
OK, let's have some fun, then.
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Editor |
Yes, let's enjoy this.
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Editor |
How are the festival preparations going?
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OKSG |
People are really getting crazy now!
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Editor |
So, business as usual? (Laughs)
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OKSG |
Yes, plus more. (Laughs)
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Editor |
OK, let's just begin at a leisurely pace, working in small talk as we go.
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OKSG |
Sounds good.
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Editor |
First, when did you first come in contact with the two of them? Was Bamboo Broom the first you knew of them?
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OKSG |
It all started when I visited Takeuchi's homepage Bamboo Broom. I had just started using the Internet then, around October of 1998.
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OKSG |
The first episode of 「Kara no Kyoukai」 had just been serialized, so there was a big banner up at the top.
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OKSG |
I think it was love at first sight. (Laughs)
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Editor |
Love at first sight, eh? What kind of site was Bamboo Broom at first?
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OKSG |
Pretty normal. Takeuchi was putting up his CG illustrations, and Nasu would put up his stories once in a while.
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OKSG |
Takeuchi's friends and guests would visit the BBS. It was pretty normal, I think.
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OKSG |
There was a "Mekyrie" festival we had once. Do you know about it?
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Editor |
No, I don't. What is that?
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OKSG |
A bunch of different people did their own Valkyrie art while Takeuchi's manga 「Valkyria」 was being serialized.
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OKSG |
"Show me your Valkyrie!" was shortened to Mekyrie. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
A lot of people joined in, it was a lot of fun.
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Editor |
Just out of curiosity, how did you find out about Bamboo Broom?
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OKSG |
From "TINAMI." (*1) I happened to see that Bamboo Broom had just been registered there.
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Editor |
What a coincidence.
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OKSG |
I'm not sure why my eyes stopped on it... I think I just liked the art style.
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OKSG |
And that's what happened when I went to the site. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
This was the banner at the time. Can you see it?
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Editor |
Oooh.
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OKSG |
Oh, wait, have not many 「Kara no Kyoukai」 images made it out to the public?
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Editor |
Yes, they haven't.
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OKSG |
I don't think Takeuchi likes people seeing his old work, so I'll take it away.
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Editor |
He gave us a picture of Aoko, but then said "Don't use it!"
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OKSG |
Aoko... (Laughs)
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OKSG |
I do have some more images... but I guess we'll have to get permission before you use them.
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Editor |
OK, sure. (*2)
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Editor |
Now then, I heard that you became friends from talking passionately with them about 「Kara no Kyoukai」. When did you get the chance to first meet them?
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OKSG |
That year at the winter Comiket. I went all the way out there from Oita. (Laughs)
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Editor |
So you were still in Oita then?
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OKSG |
Yes, in my hometown. I just moved up here last year.
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OKSG |
My first impression of Takeuchi was that he was cool and passionate. Nasu was like Kokutou from 「Kara no Kyoukai」.
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Editor |
Ahh, I see what you mean.
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OKSG |
But lately the two of them look like Akiha and Shiki. (Laughs)
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Editor |
(ROFL) Akiha and Shiki?!
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OKSG |
Power balance-wise, I think I'm kind of like Akira-chan (from 「Kagetsu Tohya」)... the fans might get mad at me for saying this though.
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Editor |
What did you do at Comiket?
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OKSG |
Just stood and waited in line with them. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
It just happened all of a sudden...
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Editor |
So your first contact with them was a joint shopping spree? (Laughs)
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OKSG |
We had lunch together on the first day, then by the evening we were planning out where to go and what to buy. (Laughs)
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Editor |
So they weren't involved in a circle that year?
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OKSG |
No. Earlier, Takeuchi did something with 「Valkyria」 at Comitia... I think.
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Editor |
Is there any circle you all like?
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OKSG |
Hmm... my favorite one is a secret. But I do like "Kamo House" (*3)...
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Editor |
Tsurimonoji's circle. Me too.
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OKSG |
When their version of Arcueid appeared on their site, it really caused an uproar. (Laughs)
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Editor |
Those sorts of things hit you harder than actual sales numbers, right?
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OKSG |
Yes. I never thought there'd be this much of a reaction...
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Editor |
I heard that you've done a lot of other fun things before 「Tsukihime」.
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OKSG |
Before 「Tsukihime」... you know, actually, the second time I met them was after I had moved here. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
So I only know about doujinshi and 「Kara no Kyoukai」. Sorry.
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Editor |
So your interaction was mostly on the Internet.
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OKSG |
Surprising, huh?! Long live the Internet!
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Editor |
Did you read 「Mahoyo」 or 「Koori no Hana」?
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OKSG |
Yes, both. I said I really wanted to read 「Mahoyo」 after finishing 「Kara no Kyoukai」, and then one year later, it was sent to me. (Laughs)
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Editor |
That thick manuscript? As a fan, I'm so jealous. How was it? You can just gloss over the details.
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OKSG |
Hmm... the main character, a boy from the country, ends up living with two girls... sounds like a love comedy, doesn't it?!
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OKSG |
That story is sort of like a secret weapon to Nasu Kinoko, so...
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OKSG |
I think I'll keep it secret for when he decides to make it public.
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Editor |
Understood. Let's change topics then. Was there ever an explanation about Aoko's "Human Rocket Launcher?" I still don't understand it.
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OKSG |
The "Human Rocket Launcher" is just what it sounds like... it can only destroy... ahhhh!
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OKSG |
Or rather, since Aoko find it to be entertaining, so she never thinks about what happens afterwards. (Laughs)
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Editor |
I imagine it's hard for people who have only read 「Tsukihime」 to imagine.
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OKSG |
Yes. (Laughs) It's something very different, but not a total 180-degree turn.
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OKSG |
So the way I see it, anything can happen between the time of a "high school student" and a "teacher."
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Editor |
How did the sales of 「Kara no Kyoukai」 in the summer go?
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OKSG |
Um... it was separated into three books, and I think we sold 10 of part one. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
We had a special complete version for people who read the last part, and I think we sold 5 or 6 of those.
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Editor |
So it's super rare. Makes me want to go assess its value. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
What's today's treasure?! (A phrase commonly heard in price gouging TV programs)
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Editor |
I think 「Kara no Kyoukai」 is very different from 「Tsukihime」.
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OKSG |
Yes. He says that novels and scripts are completely different.
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Editor |
That's what's great about the two of them. They can switch between both very well. I'd never thought they came from... (censored)
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OKSG |
Yeah. They've always been experimenting with genres. Of course, they still have their troubles now and then.
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Editor |
Was the beta version the first contact you had with 「Tsukihime」?
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OKSG |
I think it was with a floppy or something. Then I read the script before they made the game.
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Editor |
What did you think at first?
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OKSG |
I wasn't surprised or thrown off by any of it. The Kinoko-isms were all present in there.
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OKSG |
I think I was just most excited to read something new. But really, I just wanted to play the game... (Laughs)
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Editor |
Oh, so you read through the entire script first. Poor thing...(^^;
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OKSG |
I was making up my own event images in my mind as I read. (Laughs) My Akiha would never do such things!
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Editor |
I heard you interfered with the plot, especially Akiha's erotic dream scene. (*4)
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OKSG |
I didn't really interfere... I was just sort of whispering in their ears. (Laughs) It's too bad about the dream scene.
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OKSG |
There were some other stories about that too...
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Editor |
Woah!
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OKSG |
Nasu ended up liking one of the plots I offered up as a joke, so things started going that way.
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OKSG |
But then the king of TYPE-MOON came down and said "It'll be more erotic this way! Let's do this!"
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OKSG |
And I can't stand up against his erotic power. So I was defeated.
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Editor |
What?! But your way is more romantic!
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OKSG |
Thank you. (Moved) Romantic, huh...
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Editor |
Down with tyranny! No more violence! Cielindia!
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OKSG |
Bullying isn't what gentlemen do!
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OKSG |
When I looked at the dream scene when it was finished, though, I really wanted him to make a Shiki slave bad ending.
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OKSG |
Either way, it seems like all erotic thoughts are connected somehow to things like that.
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OKSG |
Out of respect and awe, we call Nasu the "Vassal of Eroticism"... he'd probably get mad if he heard.
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Editor |
The Demon of Maids, the Vassal of Eroticism... he has a lot of names.
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Editor |
By the way, about Takeuchi.
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OKSG |
...ahh, I was trying to avoid saying his name! (Laughs)
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Editor |
(Laughs) About him...he rarely ever shows any weak points in front of us media people. (Laughs) I think he's a really interesting guy.
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OKSG |
It's the same in his personal life. Aside from his personal tastes. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
That's the only fun topic about him we can talk about! I'm not saying it's a bad thing, it's just...
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Editor |
He's a perfectionist in his personal life too?
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OKSG |
He's passionate about what he likes, and doesn't care about anything else. He knows what he wants.
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OKSG |
Over 80% of the moe in this world is worthless to that man. (Laughs)
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Editor |
How extreme. So what about that remaining 20%?
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OKSG |
Maids, girls with black, short, Cleopatra haircuts who don't show their emotions, witches...that's about it...I shouldn't spout so much conjecture here. (Laughs)
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Editor |
Witches? I understand the bit about the emotionless, short-haired maids, but...
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OKSG |
He may not talk about it much these days. But he used to really like them.
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OKSG |
I remember always being surprised when he'd show interest in a new manga, anime, or game, then figure out that there was some sort of character like that involved.
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Editor |
So he changes when he sees something like that?
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OKSG |
I'm not sure I'd use the word "change." (Laughs) There have been lots of characters like that in recent anime, so he'd rent it, then end up disappointed.
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OKSG |
This is...sort of getting into dangerous territory...I don't know what he'll say to me after this! (Shiver)
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Editor |
I can't get the line "Say anything weird and I'll kill you" out of my head. (Laughs) That was Nasu who said that, though.
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OKSG |
He also said "You're the one who knows the most about the darkness within TYPE-MOON. Be careful what you say."
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Editor |
In the last interview, the two of them said "We don't really understand moe." What's your take on this?
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OKSG |
Moe...hmm...if I had to say, Nasu is the more open-minded one when it comes to moe. It may just be an act, though, who knows.
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Editor |
I think there's no way he couldn't understand anything with all that he did with 「Tsukihime」. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
The maids? (Laughs) You may have a point. If he doesn't understand it with his mind, then maybe with his soul?
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OKSG |
But I think the strongest characters are the ones that have that charm (Moe?) Their power's completely different.
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Editor |
That was certainly one "Dark" maid. (*5)
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OKSG |
Dark?! (Laughs)
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Editor |
Let's change up the pace a bit. How about Takeuchi's likes/dislikes?
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OKSG |
He's been into the 「Fist of the Blue ____」 lately.
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OKSG |
Other than that...ummm...he seems weak to newspaper solicitations.
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Editor |
He can't say no?
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OKSG |
He saves up the beer coupons he gets from the solicitations. (Laughs) I got a yogurt coupon myself recently.
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OKSG |
Oh yeah, and he's been into figures and stuff too.
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OKSG |
One day he even ordered me: "I'm busy now, so go to Akihabara and buy a ___ trading figure for me."
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Editor |
That's... (Laughs) If we published that, he'd kill us.
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OKSG |
Lately, he's really been into Monev the Gale from 「Trigun」. (*Translator's Note: This was sort of censored, but I figured out what it was from the letters that were there.) I hope he lets me touch it someday!
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OKSG |
...We can leave this part in? Really?
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Editor |
No way.
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OKSG |
...Aww.
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Editor |
Unless you want to end up floating in Tokyo Bay.
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Editor |
Let's continue. How is daily life at TYPE-MOON?
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Editor |
There is so much material that you actually speed through meetings, right?
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OKSG |
They're always talking with each other, trying to fit the sentences with the images.
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OKSG |
They mostly talk on the phone.
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OKSG |
Then they talk to the other staff members, including me.
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Editor |
So there isn't much reason to get everyone together.
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OKSG |
Nasu just goes to Takeuchi's when he has time. That's about it. We rarely get together.
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Editor |
Nasu doesn't have the Internet, right? He usually uses the phone. That reminds me, what does Nasu do for group chats?
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OKSG |
He has a friend he lives by who lets him borrow his computer.
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OKSG |
And when he goes to Takada's (fake name) house, this guy always tells Nasu about his love escapades.
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Editor |
Like what!
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OKSG |
Like...!
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OKSG |
Well, he always tells them to us, but they're so hard to believe... (Laughs)
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OKSG |
"You put that one in, didn't you?" "Really?" etc.
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OKSG |
Oh yeah, and some of his lines made it into the "Festival Disk" (「Kagetsu Tohya」).
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OKSG |
...just one, though.
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OKSG |
I think that's enough about Takada.
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Editor |
What?
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OKSG |
Arcueid?
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OKSG |
The festival disk mostly centers around the school, so a lot of Shiki's classmates are there. It's fun.
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OKSG |
It's so crazy that we're worried that fans might get mad.
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Editor |
It's a school story? (No) This is exciting!
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OKSG |
There's a school, a mansion, it's full of stuff!
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Editor |
That reminds me about the other ideas that didn't make it in.
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OKSG |
Oh yeah... well, because of the schedule, we had to cut out a lot of erotic scenes...
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Editor |
The images are the biggest problem, huh?
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OKSG |
Hmm... not just the images, everything is a problem in its own way. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
But I'm sure everything will work out fine! Ahahahaha!
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Editor |
Speaking of which, how's the sound supervisor KATE doing?
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OKSG |
Making new songs and adding others, I hope things are going fine. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
Nasu said "The schedule is tight, but we'll make it." That really gave me a lot of hope! I believe in him, yes I do!
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Editor |
All we can do is believe. Now then...
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Editor |
About Takada-san.
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OKSG |
Takada-san again?!
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Editor |
Just kidding. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
Geez.
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Editor |
Wait, you have something to tell?
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OKSG |
Well, I've never met him, so...
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Editor |
Too bad. Oh well. It seems like you rarely meet with the others, so does that mean the merchandise vault is at your house?
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OKSG |
The other day around 1,000 「Tsukihime PLUS-DISC」s arrived at my house and scared the crap out of me. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
That reminds me, the "thousands" we spoke of in the previous interview turned into "hundreds."
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Editor |
The King of TYPE-MOON did something?
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OKSG |
Ahaha.
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OKSG |
How was the response?
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Editor |
I wonder? There were lots of comments of excitement, but the other comments were all just about personal taste.
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Editor |
The "men who created 「Tsukihime」" topic that came up in our staff meeting really sounded like a lot of fun, so that's really where this started from.
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Editor |
Now, getting back on topic, I'd like to ask about how the merchandise end goes.
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OKSG |
My room is total chaos. (Laughs) I have friends help me a few times a week.
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OKSG |
Now that I can sort of manage things, I'd like to try it once more.
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Editor |
So sales will begin on the first day of summer Comiket!
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OKSG |
No way. (Laughs)
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Editor |
What?!
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Editor |
Alright, we're running out of time, so let's hurry on.
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Editor |
We haven't talked much about Nasu today. Is he really a big liar?
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OKSG |
Apparently he used to be (according to him) but...
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OKSG |
I think for now the "lies" refer to errors and typos that occur in his brain. He's actually a very serious person.
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Editor |
Errors in his brain? (Laughs)
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Editor |
It seemed from the interview that there are a lot of stories we have yet to hear.
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OKSG |
Hmm, true. Sometimes I hear about stories that have nothing to do with production.
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OKSG |
I'm sure Takeuchi knows more than I do.
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OKSG |
Most of it's all in his head though. When he dies the entire world will go to the grave with him. (Laughs)
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Editor |
And there are some false rumors mixed in with that, right?
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OKSG |
Well, it all depends on him, how he decides to give them shape. It's frightening!
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Editor |
How fast does he write?
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OKSG |
I don't know how fast other people are, but I think Nasu is really fast. Imagining the structure is what takes the longest for him.
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Editor |
So he can't stop once he puts his pen to the paper.
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OKSG |
I think I remember him telling me that he just brings out the things in his mind when he writes.
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Editor |
So he's like Unkei from Natsume Soseki's 「Ten Nights of Dreams」. (*6) Amazing.
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OKSG |
Yes, but instead of carving the statue out of the wood, it's like he carves out the shape that's inside the wood (referencing 「Glass Mask」).
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Editor |
Indeed.
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OKSG |
I'd hate it if some huge mushroom came out or something.
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Editor |
Do you two often do comedy acts like in the last interview? (*7)
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OKSG |
Takeuchi and Kinoko?
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Editor |
No, you and Kinoko.
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Editor |
This is starting to sound like a completely different conversation.
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OKSG |
Haha! Yeah, I guess. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
Nasu once said "You and I are both the 'idiot' halves, so we can just go on and on without being yelled at."
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OKSG |
By the way, in the beginning, there was a period when I thought Nasu was female...
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Editor |
Wow. A Nasu Kinoko female theory!
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OKSG |
But I had actually just misread the gender on his profile!
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OKSG |
People still get it wrong sometimes, though. We got an email the other day that said "Are you two married?"
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Editor |
Wow. (Laughs) So, really, is Nasu male or female?
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OKSG |
Female, of course. (Laughs) Nasu Kinoko can be spelled like a girl's name.
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Editor |
It's too bad that we couldn't see his face during the interview because it was hidden behind that masque.
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OKSG |
He had a cold that day. (Laughs)
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Editor |
Alright then. (Laughs) (*8) What about Kinoko's hobbies?
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OKSG |
He hates eggplant, you know.
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Editor |
What? (Laughs)
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OKSG |
"Because it'd be cannibalism," he said. (Laughs) But he likes mushrooms.
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Editor |
I see. You must have needed to be careful when planning meals.
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OKSG |
He mostly plays games... during work hours, he hungers for action games he can play in short bursts.
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OKSG |
But of course he also loves to write. I guess.
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OKSG |
And play mahjong. Another small source of income for him is winning money from Takada-san.
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Editor |
On Bambroo Broom, it says his favorite things are locked rooms, boys, bandages, and knives.
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OKSG |
Yes... that was because he went crazy over that Eva opening.
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Editor |
Those things all appear in 「Tsukihime」, though.
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OKSG |
He likes beautiful boys. And girls. I heard he has one 'like', though, that he can never tell anyone...! I wonder what it is??
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Editor |
...I really want to know. (^^;
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Editor |
Moving on, were any more of Nasu's personal fantasies applied to the game besides the Akiha erotic dream scene?
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Editor |
If you could just tell us your opinion that'd be great.
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OKSG |
Hmm... well, it wasn't MY fault that there was so much changed about Akiha's True End.
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Editor |
Akiha's True End... so it's different from the test play version?
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OKSG |
The test play version ends only with a conversation between Akiha and someone... now that I think about it, that ending would have made things so much more peaceful!
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Editor |
Uwahhh! I wanna see it!!
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OKSG |
The current True End is good too, though! You get a conversation from a few days later!
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OKSG |
Also... I remember him changing Ciel's "Shiki-kun" to "Tohno-kun."
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OKSG |
Other than that, he would just go on and on about stuff he knew we couldn't do. (Laughs) Like "after the shower, Akiha goes back for more!"
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Editor |
Wouldn't it be better as "goes back for more DURING the shower?!"
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OKSG |
I agree!!!
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OKSG |
But I think that even if Akiha made some really unreasonable requests, in the end, she'd get what she wants! Like "Wear this maid outfit today!"
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Editor |
(Laughs)
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OKSG |
He also thought of a Valentine's Day story, and there was an idea to upload it on the site on February 14, but it never happened.
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OKSG |
The Valentine idea showed up in one of Takeuchi's mangas, though, so it's OK. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
We had an idea for Ciel to bring curry rue instead of chocolate. I wish someone would draw that...
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Editor |
Sounds like something for 「Yoimachi Tsukihime」. (*9) Maybe you should make an appeal after Comiket.
|
Editor |
How about we wrap things up now?
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OKSG |
Cough. OK.
|
Editor |
Any recommended 「Tsukihime」 fan pages?
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OKSG |
All of them. (Laughs) Can't say that? ...hmm, okay...umm...
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OKSG |
I have to go with all of them. (Laughs) They're all filled with love, I couldn't be happier.
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Editor |
OK.
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OKSG |
No, really, and they're all so famous now! Some people make skins, other draw their own manga, CG, SS... I can't pick just one!
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Editor |
...I'll ask about the 12 sisters? (*10)
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OKSG |
Uwaaahhh!!
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Editor |
I saw the anime for the first time last week. What a surprise!
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OKSG |
The anime is...uhhh...well, there were a few good episodes, but...
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Editor |
So as long as the character is a little sister, you'll go for it?
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OKSG |
That statement could lead to some misunderstandings. (Laughs)
|
Editor |
Sorry, I'm getting kind of sloppy. (*11)
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OKSG |
I think I just want a little sister. I was the youngest myself. I had one niece, but I'd gladly exchange her with __ho.
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OKSG |
...she's cute, though.
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OKSG |
But if I could pick someone I wasn't related to by blood, it'd be ___!!!
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Editor |
Your screams have reached my heart. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
I have one older sister. She's not strict, though, and we get along.
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OKSG |
I always looked up to her, so I may be weak towards older sister characters... that's what I've noticed recently.
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Editor |
Then why would you go over to the dark side?
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OKSG |
I just can't resist a little sister character. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
Does that mean I'll like any character if it's a little sister?
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Editor |
I'm not sure I'm the one you should be asking. (Laughs)
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OKSG |
Is the same age off limits?
|
Editor |
I don't mind as long as the material is good. Age is just an ornament!
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OKSG |
What a guy!
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OKSG |
Really, though, I'm not picky. I think I like couples who are far apart in age. I like that unbalance.
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Editor |
So the same age is bad?
|
OKSG |
Maybe. (Laughs)
|
Editor |
These people... (Laughs)
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OKSG |
What was this chat about again...?
|
Editor |
To show the amazing aspects of the staff member who supported TYPE-MOON from the shadows. A wonderful project, really.
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OKSG |
R...really...?
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OKSG |
I just got Nasu Kinoko on the phone now. (Really) Any questions?
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Editor |
Eh? Eh?? Ummm, why did Ciel get angry when Neco-Arc called her "Cielindia?"
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Editor |
That was a question on the BBS. People didn't seem to understand why she was angry.
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(Nasu) |
The Burial Agency kept making fun of her with the India stuff, so she got really sensitive to that word. Now then, back to work. Bye!
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OKSG |
That's it. Did that solve your problem?
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Editor |
Yes it did. Thank you, Kinoko!!
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OKSG |
What a great way to end.
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Editor |
Indeed. It's perfect timing. Let's finish here.
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OKSG |
OK. Now then, this ends the 6-hour chat! (Laughs) Good work!
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Editor |
Yes, thank you.
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OKSG |
Goodbye then.
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Editor |
Thank you for everything.
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See you next time, OKSG!~
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See you next time, Editor!~
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Part 10
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To be continued a little bit more
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