Bokutachi no Remake Ver. β V3 Short Story By: thai130898

When I woke up, I was in front of a microphone. Behind it was a monitor, where windows for streaming apps and video sites were crowded together.

"Kyouya, are you ready? We're starting with the overlay on in three minutes, so keep yourself muted at first. After I call out to you, give a simple self-introduction."

Kawasegawa was right beside me. But she seemed different from usual. Not the dignified woman from the office... but in casual clothes with a somewhat sleepy face, and though she was supposed to be bad with machines, she was adjusting various apps with a practiced hand.

"Huh? Um, what are you talking about? Kawasegawa, have you been streaming or something?"

Kawasegawa sighed, her expression looking weary.

"Are we going with that kind of roleplay? I get it. Okay, then you'll start by acting like you don't know anything and ask me various things. I'll respond politely at first, but then I'll snap mid-way and get into the game, so from there we'll interact as usual. Got it?"

"Got it?" I don't understand a single thing.

Guessing from the situation in front of me, I was a streamer, Kawasegawa was also a streamer, and it seemed we were doing some kind of collaboration. Seeing as we weren't doing it online, we might be fairly close.

There were no avatars on the screen, and seeing the green screen behind us, I figured we must be live-action game streamers. Knowing her, who hated not just streaming but appearing at events in general, it was a bizarre sight.

(Alright, this is a dream.)

The situation was so incomprehensible that I decided to think of it that way.

"Still, for someone who said they hated streaming so much, you're about to hit 50,000 subscribers. You've done well, really."

I almost laughed at how hard I was apparently trying in my own quiet way.

"It's nothing compared to you, Kawasegawa."

"You think so? Well, regarding the numbers, I was lucky too. I'm hoping to somehow hit the one million mark this year, but I wonder."

She's trying insanely hard, and that also almost made me laugh.

But well, I think Kawasegawa is suited for streaming. She's not very good at games, but with her serious side, big reactions, and jumpy nature, I bet she'd be popular. I even thought that when I wake up from this dream, maybe I'll suggest it to her as a joke.

The time came. The overlay image was hidden, and our cutout faces appeared on the screen.

"Good evening, everyone! Eiko's Game Channel is starting now! Today, I'm here with Kyou-kun from Kyou-channel, and we're going to be playing Fall Gaze!"

The Kawasegawa of this world was, surprisingly, an extreme extrovert. And "Kyou-channel," really? I felt like getting angry at my dream-self for being so uncreative.

Bokutachi no Remake Ver. β V3 Afterword By: thai130898

The "Bokutachi no Remake" spin-off, the β series, has now concluded.

For all of you who have read it, I believe you understand. While this series was billed as a spin-off, it was clearly created with a strong link to the main story in mind. The clearly different situations and developments for the characters compared to the main story, and the facts brought to light at the very end. As you decipher these points and consider why this series was version β, I think you will be able to feel the link to the main story even more. This β series can be said to be both an "IF" story and a prequel. If you have the time, I think you might enjoy it even more if you reread it from β volume 1.

In this series, I relentlessly depicted how "games" are made and what kind of conflicts arise, set within a corporate organization. Of course, while fiction is woven in, I believe many people may have linked the underlying clash of consciousness and opinions to real-life ones.

From now on, the stage will return to the main story, and the theme of "games" will change to the larger theme of "creativity." What they will see there, and how they will judge it. Please be sure to see it through.

Acknowledgements. To Eretto-san, thank you for wonderfully drawing such dramatic illustrations right to the very end of the β world. I would love to see the future of these grown-up characters again somewhere. To Editor T-sama, the β series was a continuous struggle, but thank you for letting it land in a good way. The airplane that would have made an emergency landing at Centrair or Kansai Airport without your help somehow managed to reach its destination of Haneda thanks to you.

To all the readers. I thought the β series might be a very difficult read, but thank you for sticking with it until the end. However, having read this series will allow you to enjoy the main story several times more, so please, please look forward to the developments to come.

With the TV anime also coming in July, next up is volume 9 of the main story. What will Kyouya see when he goes to Shinoaki's family home? And what will the Matsuhira of the main story's world think from now on?

I too will look forward to thinking about the future developments. Well then, please take care until the next volume.

Sincerely, Kio Nachi

Bokutachi no Remake Ver. β V3 Epilogue By: thai130898

The manuscript that had been stalled for so long was finally finished. I attached it and pressed the send button.

The phone rang immediately. I wonder how many times I've repeated this exchange.

"Yes, hello."

"This is Fujiwara. Thank you for the first draft. I'll check it over here."

"Please do."

It's been 10 years since I started writing light novels.

Luckily, I won an award when I was a student, and since then, I've been writing continuously without any time to think. Of course, there were many times I hesitated, but I tried not to think too much and just kept my pen moving.

"Just create. Put it out into the world. If you're an amateur, it's fine to just play around with it in your own hands, but if you're a professional, you must complete it properly and present it to the world." Those are the words of my editor, Fujiwara-san, who has been looking after me for a long time. I have continued to abide by them ever since.

"Thank you for your hard work on the recent matter."

I received words of appreciation from Fujiwara-san. There was no explanation as to what, but it was probably about my withdrawal from Clodis.

"No, I'm the one who... caused you trouble."

In the end, it wasn't my decision alone. It was a decision that involved Fujiwara-san as well. Because at that time, I no longer had the ability to judge things calmly.

"I've done something presumptuous. But I believe that project had reached its limit."

"...You're right."

I thought about many things. I agonized over whether this decision was really the right one. Was it okay to throw away something I had started, saying I would do it myself?

Above all, Hashiba had said it. That completing it is what's important. Ironically, he held the same opinion as Fujiwara-san, who had turned down this offer.

I wanted to do something, but I had reached my limit with that project.

"I wanted to do something for Hashiba's sake, but it's unfortunate."

Just as I said that.

A wry laugh leaked from the other end of the phone.

"What's the matter?"

When I asked without thinking,

"No, it's just, I was thoroughly reminded that you're someone who can't keep a secret, Sensei."

"............Huh?"

"You were watching the stream, weren't you?"

With that one sentence, I understood everything.

It's already been found out to that extent?

"Um, I, I'm sorry. I'll make sure it doesn't affect this manuscript, so..."

"I know. As long as you promise, it's fine. Besides..."

"Besides?"

On the other end of the phone, this time a normal smile broke out.

"I was listening to the stream too, and I found myself feeling envious. People who are trying to create something have a certain charm... don't they?"

This time, it was my turn to laugh.

◆

When I tweeted, I wondered for a long time if I should include a name, what I should do. In the end, I decided it would be less trouble if I didn't include it, and I'm glad it got through properly.

"I'm really glad he showed some motivation."

Kyouya-kun had helped me with the game and with the illustrations for my art book, so I was thinking it would be sad if he was disappointed by this cancellation.

But he still seems to be trying to make something, which made me happy.

"...Though I have some apologizing to do."

Three emails, two phone calls.

From the places that had asked me, "Please let us know when you have work available!", I immediately got replies saying, "The illustration that was decided on the stream, was that you, Akishima-san!?", so I have to tell them, "That's not it, that was decided a long time ago."

"Well, in reality, I decided at that moment."

Kyouya-kun was an interesting person.

"Making things is fun, I'll keep doing it forever," is hard to say for sure, but the fact that he said it so clearly in front of so many people was fresh to me.

After an announcement like that, you'd think he'd say he's taking a break for a while, or leaving the industry, and it would be understandable if he did, but I never thought he'd say "I'm going to make something new again" right then and there.

I was watching, thinking, "This is so interesting!" and before I knew it, I had sent a RINE message.

I have no idea how busy it's going to get from now on, or from when to when, but this much I can probably say for sure.

"Kyouya-kun will do something."

When deciding something important, I think it's better to base it on such a simple reason. I think it will work out better that way.

◆

"Um~! I'm really begging you, please stop deciding on new jobs on your own like that~. I'm the one who gets a ton of sarcastic remarks from the department head later~!"

"Why not? I mean, one job got cancelled, so if I fill that spot with something else, there's no problem, right?"

"It is a problem~! Because that job, it doesn't even look like it'll turn into a real job!"

"True~. It might be an indie project. Ah, in that case, maybe it would have been better to do it without going through the agency!"

"Nana-san! I'm getting angry!"

"Just kidding, just kidding, sorry! Well, I'll consult you if it looks like we can pull something from the previous work, so Kyouka-chan, you explain it to the higher-ups~ thanks!"

"...Fiiine."

The call ended while she was still muttering complaints. She complains a lot, but Kyouka-chan is a capable manager one way or another, so I'm sure she'll handle it well. Yep.

However, I went and decided on a job on impulse again. Kyouka-chan often tells me, but I'm just weak to momentum. When someone tells me "I like you, I want to work with you!!", I feel like I just say "I like you too!!" and take the job. I'm a pushover.

But there's a reason for that. People who come to me saying, "I want to create something, and when I do, I want your music!" seem to see the job through to the end. If it's the type of job where they write a long proposal about marketing or what to do based on hit works, the end part tends to get pretty sloppy, and it's easy to just say, "Isn't that fine?"

Hashiba-san, or rather, it's unfair that everyone calls him Kyouya or Kyouya-kun, but he's the type of person whose passion to create just suddenly appears, and yet when the work actually progresses, he becomes a capable progress manager, so it's reassuring.

Even so.

"That guy... he's nice, yeah."

I had the image of a kind big brother with a nice voice, but after watching that stream, my heart skipped a beat. I mean, I started to like him quite a bit. We're the same age, too. I'm interested.

"If he's not with Eiko yet, maybe I'll try talking to him!"

◆

That day, work ended early, so I was out drinking with a senior colleague from my old company. Then, as it happened, a junior colleague from that same old company was going to be on Nico Nama, so we ended up drinking sake while watching it on my senior's phone.

As a result,

"That guy, for a supposedly solemn stream about cancelling production, he suddenly starts talking about himself, and then he's like 'I'm gonna make a game now,' he's seriously nuts, for real."

The senior I was drinking with got drunk and nasty, just like this.

"But those words really resonated with me. I'm not from a creative field, so I thought maybe I couldn't understand it at its core, but it made me feel like 'I have to do it'."

Humans, they talk about logic and theory, but when it comes to what speaks volumes in a public setting, it's how much you can show you're serious. In that respect, I think it was a very effective speech.

"Kojima, did you always have such a romantic side?"

"If you're going to say that, haven't you also suddenly turned into a hot-blooded old man, Miyamoto-san?"

My senior chokes on his words, "Ngggh."

"...Well, that's his influence."

Yes, I really think so.

I was locked up in a grateful basement where I could get money without working, and I was thinking of playing around for about three years and then changing jobs, when suddenly a hot-blooded guy like a drama protagonist came in, and he was surprisingly excellent, and I, and Miyamoto-senpai in front of me, and my junior, and the department head, we all got into it.

Well, that company itself was a mess, so in the end, we couldn't achieve a major reform, but I believe that if that hot-blooded kid had awakened earlier, the whole world might have been more interesting.

"You were praising him too, weren't you?"

Yes, that's right. Otherwise, I wouldn't be moving around doing this and that.

"For now, it looks like our star player is going to do something again, so as a behind-the-scenes person, let's look forward to what he'll do next."

Miyamoto-senpai, his face quite flushed with alcohol, nodded with a "ngh."

"Do your best, and this time, don't get possessed by some crazy person..."

Mustering his last bit of strength, he raised his nearly empty beer mug.

"Take care, Hashiba-kun."

We both raised our medium mugs and toasted to our passionate junior's future.

◆

Hokkaido, Cape Nosappu. 4 a.m.

Of all places, I got a notification where the internet connection is quite bad.

"That was an unexpected turn of events. Hashiba, that was some brute courage."

I took a unilateral leave from the company and took off without telling anyone. A classic move for this kind of trip is to head either north or south, and since I was familiar with Kyushu, I decided on Hokkaido.

So, I was driving, thinking of going to see the Northern Territories or thereabouts, when the Wi-Fi at a diner near Kushiro luckily caught the Nico Nama info.

So, I watched it.

After it was over, I didn't know what to do, so I just went outside. Hokkaido is, of course, damn huge, and I couldn't go back even if I wanted to, so I headed east as planned.

And now, I'm at Cape Nosappu. It was pitch black and I couldn't see anything, so I decided to stick it out until morning, see the ocean, and then head back.

"My pace has been thrown off somehow."

I was thinking I could take a break from game development for a while, and planned to rest for about half a year.

But that guy, who should have been having a harder time than me, came at me with sparkling eyes like a student fresh out of a vocational school's game production course, saying, "I'll do it again!"

There was no way I wouldn't be inspired.

"Hashiba Kyouya, huh?"

He was a strange guy from the moment he first arrived. I thought some shady guy with connections to Kawasegawa or the Managing Director had shown up, but he turned out to be a hardcore, wonderful idiot.

We made a game together while struggling, cried and laughed, and became friends who bickered like we had been pals since we were students.

He's a good guy, but there's something mysterious about him, and I became earnestly, or rather constantly, possessed by the same kind of fantasy.

That I wanted to spend my student days with this guy.

This might sound creepy, but when I was a student, I was invincible.

There were amazing people around me, but I was confident I could easily surpass them, and I even had a vision that if we created something together, it would be insane.

"Art university... he got in, didn't he?"

But if Hashiba had been there back then, I might not have had such firm confidence. He was that full of a mysterious power.

"Project Grape, huh? Nice."

Many people had already pointed out that after the initial peak of doujin games, the next wave would come.

The project they were leading, a corporate-sponsored project, will surely become interesting in the next two or three years.

"If nothing else had come up, I might have done it too."

But.

To my dismay, that became a story that would not come true.

"Damn it, to think she'd ask for something like this..."

I reread the message from my former boss that arrived on RINE.

"This is gonna cost you, Kawasegawa."

Finally, the edge of the sea began to brighten.

After seeing this, it's back to Tokyo again. Gotta think about what to make next.

◆

On the monitor in front of me, a news site is displayed.

The cancellation of Clockwork Destiny's development. All at once, the malicious gossip sites are reporting BCC's defeat, and there are many idiots who are jumping on the bandwagon and making a fuss.

Unable to bear watching any longer, I turned off the monitor's power.

The room became pitch black, and only the emergency light by the window faintly illuminated it.

"He really is good at empty agitation."

Surprisingly, if he aimed to be a politician, he might get somewhere good.

"But didn't you feel a little envious of that agitation?"

My former boss opened his mouth in the darkened room.

"Though, you had theory to back up that passion, so it's completely different."

"That's creepy. If you're going to praise me, make it about something else, Horii-san."

He had visited just before that infamous livestream was about to begin.

Originally, I had no intention of watching. I'd rather be working on something else than waste my time on that.

But since Horii-san insisted on watching, I did.

"How was it?"

"A waste of time. I wish I hadn't watched it."

I answered honestly, but Horii-san gave a wry smile.

"I've been thinking for a long time about why it turned out this way, Managing Director."

Horii-san stood up from his seat and approached my desk.

"I won't rehash what happened back then now, but I think that if the gears had meshed even a little differently, there might have been a different future."

I knew what he wanted to say. But I didn't say it myself.

"My pace was thrown off. It's a problem. Listening to him talk like a student, I get the feeling that everything I've built up is disappearing."

"That's just how much unfathomable power he had."

Isn't that an overestimation, Horii-san?

I walk to the window and gaze at the night cityscape.

The parts that humans lack. Loving something because it's unnecessary.

Such nauseatingly sentimental words. Not my cup of tea.

"To say things like 'I can't stop loving it,' how he could say that without any shame."

I said it seriously, but Horii-san laughed again.

"Be that as it may, is this okay? I should have said that I alone am enough to take responsibility."

In tomorrow's weekly magazine, a financial scandal concerning me will be reported.

The money I spread around to lay the groundwork for the education business, and the money I strained to procure for Misukuro—it seems the entire route was exposed.

Therefore, tomorrow morning I will hold a press conference to announce my resignation. Horii-san has also said he will resign his position in connection with this.

It was probably Ichikawa from BCC who initiated the investigation. If she was waiting for me to move the money, then I fell right into her trap.

"Because I, too, was involved in the misappropriation of funds."

"You just knew about it. It's not like you planned it."

When I said that, Horii-san gave a slightly sad smile, just like he used to.

"Knowing and overlooking it is the same crime, Kou-kun."

It was clear that he was implying something else.

"...That's unfair, using my old name only at times like this."

There are no do-overs in life.

My life, spent hating everything and repeating despair and revenge, has come to a close for now.

◆

The publisher sent over sample images of tomorrow's weekly magazine and hanging ads. I had already checked the contents, so I told them to handle the rest.

With this, all of today's plans are finished. I haven't finished cleaning my apartment, so maybe I'll cut things short, rest, and wake up early tomorrow.

On the monitor, the screen from the Nico Nama stream that Hashiba-kun and the others were doing is displayed. Only the words "This stream has ended" stand out strangely.

I thought he was going to talk about the development cancellation, but then he suddenly started talking about himself, and while I was wondering what to do, he said he was quitting the company.

"I wish he'd consulted me beforehand... is what I think."

After the stream ended, he came to me right away and bowed his head so deeply, which was cute, so I decided to forgive him.

"After all, a kid chasing their dreams is cute."

He was a capable kid, and I was even thinking I'd like to transfer him to the head office as is, but if he says so himself, well, I guess it can't be helped.

More than that, it's a shame that at this rate, he might even move out.

If the president of the company you quit is the property manager, it's bound to feel awkward to live there.

"What should I do? Maybe I'll get ahead of him and buy the next apartment Kyouya-san moves into...?"

No, no, that's definitely stalking.

But I want to avoid a situation where we have no relationship at all, so for now, maybe I'll take direct charge of Project Grape and make sure we can stay in touch there.

"I'll just suddenly show up and say, 'I'm the other person in charge~'. Fufu."

A kid that interesting, I have no intention of letting him go just yet.

◆

The day after finishing the Nico Nama stream, I had packed a paper bag full of my belongings and was about to leave the BCC building.

"Um, really, I can mail them to you later, Hashiba-san."

Perhaps worried that it had gotten quite heavy, Sakurai-san called out to me.

"It's fine. More importantly, thank you so much for the Grape matter."

Sakurai-san put on her most determined face.

"No! I'm newly motivated as well. I'll show you I can make Project Grape properly!"

After I left, Sakurai-san would be supporting Project Grape on her own. It's a heavy responsibility, but for her, who is growing stronger by the day, I'm sure she'll be fine.

"But, even though you have the support funds, you won't have a salary for a while. Are you really okay with that?"

"It's fine. After all, I was at a company where I didn't get paid for half a year. I'm used to that kind of thing."

"I think it's better not to get used to that..."

I thought he was absolutely right.

"Well, I'll contact you again once the project is properly underway."

"Y-yes, I look forward to working with you!"

Receiving Sakurai-san's deepest bow, I walk through the morning city. I had been packing my things since the night, but before I knew it, it had become morning.

"I wish I could have at least said goodbye at the end... but I guess it can't be helped."

While I was bustling around packing, Kawasegawa had left the company before I knew it, and I couldn't talk to her.

Well, we'll probably get the old Succeed group together again sometime. It seems Miyamoto-san immediately created a RINE group chat.

"Heave-ho," I say as I readjust the bag, and I can't help but stumble to the left.

"It's pretty heavy."

I grabbed the handle firmly and managed to start walking, albeit unsteadily.

My figure, staggering left and right as I walked among the passing salarymen, was quite comical. Still, I finally managed to reach the station and jumped onto the train that had just arrived.

Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, I realized I had made a simple mistake.

"Ah, I made a mistake!"

I was supposed to get on the one for Shinjuku, but I had mistakenly gotten on a train heading towards Tokyo.

Well, I probably won't be commuting to the company for the time being, and anyway, the Yamanote Line will get you to your destination station no matter which direction you take.

With that thought, I sank deep into my seat. It was Friday. Being before noon, the train was a bit crowded, but not as much as rush hour.

(It feels like a lie somehow.)

When I think back on everything that's happened up to this point, it feels like a single story. From a misunderstanding in Shinjuku, things have been in constant motion, and at the center of it all was, unbelievably, me.

But now, being alone like this, I was on the verge of being crushed by an indescribable anxiety. For all the cool talk I had given, it was clear that there was nothing inside of me.

"Next is Akihabara, Akihabara."

The train announcement echoed. I naturally stood up from my seat.

◇

I didn't even know why I got off myself. I thought that if I came to this town, which I had frequented since long ago, something might happen.

In the past, I used to come to this town often. When a new game came out, I would check the shop's pre-order bonuses and agonize over which one to choose. The same goes for new light novels and CDs. Even in an age where digital media has become the norm, coming to a shop somehow allowed you to experience something sparkling.

Behind the arcade, there was a shop I always went to. My heart leaped, just a little. The posters and flyers plastered all over the place bring back feelings.

But when I entered the store, my heart shrank even more. There was no place for me in that glamorous world. The feelings I had when I was a user were gone.

In truth, this is where the pre-order announcements for Clodis should have been lined up. A poster made with Shinoaki's art, adorned with text thought up by Tsurayuki, and N@NA-san's song should have been playing in the store.

When I thought that, a feeling as if my heart was being crushed suddenly came over me.

What had been a dream world until I came here came back as reality.

"...I can't go back anymore."

The past never returns. Reality moves forward.

What have I left behind? I just continued a meaningless fight, and in the end, nothing was left, was it? I managed to find my next place, trying to look cool, but am I just going to repeat something pointless again? Such thoughts were running through my mind.

As I stood there dejectedly, a group of three men passed by.

"This month, what are you pre-ordering?"

I immediately knew they were talking about bishoujo games. As a user, I used to look forward to the monthly pre-orders, and when I was at the maker, I would be elated or dejected by the numbers.

But now, I didn't want to hear the word "pre-order" anymore. Because I had been shown nothing but reality for so long, it was painful.

"You're gonna get a dud again, aren't you?"

"Shut up, I actually enjoyed it, so it wasn't a dud."

Apparently, the other two were teasing someone who had once pre-ordered a shitty game. Well, it's a common sight.

"The title was pretty 'that,' after all."

"And the maker, they should have realized when they decided on that."

"What was it, that one... you remember, right?"

A and B, who were teasing, asked C, the one who had pre-ordered it.

C reluctantly answered.

"It's 'Priketsu!', right? Don't make me say it, the title is embarrassing."

Involuntarily.

(Huh...?)

I was about to let out a sound, and hurriedly covered my mouth with my hand.

(What did you say...?)

There was no way I misheard. The one who made that embarrassing title was...

"But hey, the programming on that was terrible, but the scenario and direction, they really tried hard."

That was, the one who did that was.

"But didn't the maker go under? The president ran off or something."

"Yeah, I wish the staff were making a new game somewhere again."

The group of three walked off towards the pre-order corner.

From the permanently installed monitor, the opening movies of bishoujo games were playing on an endless loop.

I watched that footage, superimposing the footage I once made. A movie that no one helped with, that no one would do, that I had no choice but to make, and that no one reacted to.

The footage I was watching gradually distorted and became a mess.

"It wasn't... for nothing...!"

Without caring about who was watching, I cried.

I thought it had no value. In an industry where everyone was shining so brightly, I thought no one would even glance at what I had made. After joining Succeed, I had pushed it into the depths of my heart as a grey history, thinking I never wanted to see it or remember it again.

But, it reached someone. Only a very small number, but it definitely did.

"Somewhere... a new work, huh?"

I felt as if the world in front of me had instantly become so colorful it was unrecognizable.

"I can do it, a new work."

Why was I being so weak-willed? I myself certainly have nothing, but if I have friends who will answer my call, and even one user who is waiting for me.

The game can live on.

"Alright...!"

The paper bag that had been so heavy just a moment ago felt very light. Not exactly dashingly... but along with the raised paper bag, I puffed out my chest.

I spun around and was about to head back to the station, at that moment.

"Huh?"

A very unexpected person had their hands on their hips and was glaring at me with reproachful eyes.

"Kawase...gawa?"

To me, who was staring blankly, she handed over a sturdy-looking cloth tote bag.

"Here, this. I brought it because a paper bag might rip. You'll use it, right?"

"Ah, um, thanks."

For now, I transferred all the contents of the paper bag into the tote bag. The handle of the paper bag was indeed already about to tear. If I had continued to carry it like that, it might have suddenly ripped and everything would have scattered.

"Wait, Kawasegawa, how did you know I was here?"

If it were in front of Tamachi station, maybe, but this is faraway Akihabara, and what's more, a so-called otaku shop.

"I followed you from the company all the way here."

"What? You could have just said something."

"Because you looked more dejected than I've ever seen you... so I couldn't say anything, and just followed you for the time being."

It's true that I was quite down until just a moment ago. But the fact that she couldn't bring herself to call out to me because of that, and that she just followed me for the time being, is very... Kawasegawa-like.

"...By any chance, did you see me just now, too?"

Kawasegawa turned her face away as if it were hard to say.

"I don't know what happened, but you should stop crying suddenly in public."

So she did see me!

While suppressing my embarrassment, I tried holding the repacked tote bag for now. It was better than before, but it was still quite heavy.

"You know, sorry to have you bring this all the way, but maybe it's better to have this sent by courier or something..."

Kawasegawa, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, took one of the bag's handles.

"See, now it's half the weight. We're heading in the same direction, so let's go."

"Ah, y-yes."

True, this makes it easier to carry, but.

"Uh, but Kawasegawa, you're not exactly the type with a lot of stami—"

The moment I said it, Kawasegawa grimaced as she held the bag.

"How could you even think of trying to carry something this heavy home!"

"That's what I was just telling you!!"

For now, we decided to walk to the station. Since Kawasegawa can't walk fast, it's at a leisurely pace.

"...Hey."

"What is it?"

Since not talking at all is unnatural, I decide to strike up a conversation.

But right now, there were many things that were a bit difficult to talk about.

"Um... I'm sorry for suddenly saying I'm quitting the company."

I hadn't told Kawasegawa beforehand what I was going to say on the livestream. I had barely told Sakurai-san about the Grape matter, that was about it.

So I was sure I would be scolded, but.

"You've got to be kidding me!!"

As expected, or rather naturally, her anger exploded.

"Things like the handover and the next job, at a time when it's already tough with Kuroda gone, you say you're quitting because you want to make games, and what's more, you announce it on the company's official Nico Nama stream, there's a limit to how selfish you can be!!"

"Eek, I'm sorry!!"

Well, her point was extremely valid.

The livestream itself was very well-received, but around the time the excitement cooled down, I started getting picked on with comments like "Don't privatize the official stream" or "I didn't get it."

In the end, there was someone who reasoned that it must have been for the purpose of promoting Project Grape, and I decided to go along with that. In reality, I hadn't calculated that far ahead; it was just the result of acting as I pleased.

"Well, fine. I imagine you'll be called to the company for a while, so make sure you go."

"Yes, I'll properly handle things until the post-processing is done..."

In the strong afternoon sun, the sight of the two of us walking with a tote bag hanging between us must look quite strange.

(It's like we're carrying a child in the middle... no, what am I saying?)

I was about to step on a landmine I didn't need to.

"Hey, that project, how far along is it?"

Suddenly, Kawasegawa asked.

"Not at all yet. Even with the three Platinum members, it's not decided where or how they'll work, and for that matter, my position isn't even decided."

But it needed to be decided quickly.

In the first place, that project is still treated as a "reservation slot" within Grape, and the budget hasn't been approved yet. I have to create a proposal and then formally submit an application.

"But well, I'll work on it bit by bit. I'll probably have more time, too."

"I-I see..."

I just answered normally, but Kawasegawa's words were strangely hesitant.

"Um, just in case, I want to ask."

"Hm? What is it?"

Kawasegawa, in a voice so small you'd miss it if you weren't paying attention, said,

"Um... there's an experienced person here who's been a producer and all for a long time, but would you... consider hiring them?"

"........................Pardon??"

For a moment, I had no idea what she was saying.

"So! A person named Kawasegawa Eiko is going freelance! I'm asking if you'll try using me!"

"I-I get that, but... why?"

Kawasegawa stopped for a moment.

"I also, um, quit the company. I've asked Kuroda to be my successor."

"Wh-whaaaaaaaaaaat!?"

To my utter surprise, Kawasegawa's face turned red.

"So, I'm looking for a job. Just consider it. I'll be useful."

"No, no, that's... um."

It was so much that my brain couldn't keep up. In the first place, Kawasegawa was someone who earned a reasonably high salary. However, with this project, I can only guarantee the bare minimum.

"So, it'll be tough, probably... I think we'll barely be able to cover rent and food. I don't think you can maintain your current lifestyle."

When I told her the honest truth, for some reason, she stared intently at my face.

"If it's one person, yes. But if it's two, we should be able to live."

"Uh, what do you mean by—"

As I was about to ask, and Kawasegawa's face turned redder than I'd ever seen it, I finally realized what she was saying.

"Hashiba. Do you......... hate me?"

In a way, it was a very her-like way of asking, I thought. Given her personality, just saying those words must have been a huge decision.

I, too, with all the sincerity I could muster, opened my mouth.

"No, I love you. Ever since we first met in Shinjuku, always."

I still don't know what kind of fate it was.

Someone who gives her all to everything, who pushes herself to the very limit. Someone who's actually a crybaby but always holds back her tears. Someone who sometimes acts aloof, but actually loves people very much.

I had loved that side of her for a very long time.

"...I see."

Kawasegawa listened to my words and, with a gentle face...

"Then you should have confessed sooner!! Why did you keep me waiting this long!!"

"Wah, I'm sorry!!"

I got scolded big time.

"So, with that, I'm going straight to your house today."

"What? Today, just like that?"

"That's right. We need to check if two people can live there, and if not, we'll have to think about moving. Looking at the rent prices, we might even go as far as Sagamiono or Machida."

Seeing Kawasegawa muttering about utility bills and moving out of her old place, I figured there wouldn't be any of that fresh, new-couple-like feeling.

(Or rather, that just now was a confession, right?)

It feels like a share house founded on mutual affection.

Time passed while we were doing that. If we don't get on the train soon, it'll be noon and the train will get crowded.

"Kawasegawa, if we don't hurry soon, the trai—"

It was at that moment.

A sudden gust of wind blew, hitting the open part of the tote bag directly.

"Whoa!"

Perhaps because I was holding it slightly open, several of the rough sketches packed inside were caught by the wind and flew out.

"K-Kawasegawa, it's your first task, but help me gather the roughs!"

"Honestly! You're so strangely careless about things like that!"

With the wind making it hard to hear each other, she and I gathered the roughs that had flown away. By chance, it was that rough sketch that Shinoaki had drawn and loved.

(I see, so this child... never made it out into the world either.)

I caught it in mid-air and, this time, put it properly into the tote bag.

"Next time, I definitely won't let it go to waste."

To the magical girl who was never born into this world.

Dreaming of a future that might have been.

Once more, I found myself venturing into a new realm of creativity.

Bokutachi no Remake Ver. β V3 Chapter 4 By: thai130898

Along with the announcement of Misukuro, Kawasegawa immediately set up a verification team and began to scrutinize the app's content.

At the emergency development department meeting that was held, both Kawasegawa and Kuroda looked lifeless, their eyes vacant as if they hadn't slept.

"I'll explain the results of the verification."

Among them, she, who had to explain as the producer, had a role that was far too cruel, duty or not.

"First, regarding the overall quality, the report says that the system, graphics, and scenario are all stable at a high level of quality."

Although Misukuro was released as a social game, the free-to-play portion was extremely... no, abnormally large. The gacha was also so generous that it was said to be at a level where it couldn't be profitable; it was a style that catered to users to an excessive degree.

Therefore, the initial reviews were highly praised, with nothing to complain about.

"If it's almost free, the rating will be high on that point alone. Is that what they were aiming for?"

And as for the graphics, they lavishly appointed as many famous illustrators as one could possibly think of in Japan, and placed them not in a gacha, but as initial selectable characters. Because of this, it was easy to introduce on social media, and with the information released, timelines were instantly flooded with Misukuro.

"So they were poaching illustrators and graphic artists for high fees to do this."

The information from Miyamoto-san was correct. But we couldn't see through to its purpose. Thinking back now, the top-secret project Ryuu-san mentioned must have also been about Misukuro.

The new Misukuro's system was also robust. They approached the servers with a powerful setup from the start, providing an easy-to-play experience without any downtime.

However, more shocking than the system or the visuals was the high quality of the scenario.

The setting and plot that Tsurayuki had originally left behind were used almost as they were. Moreover, the scenario written by an external writer based on them was not at a "well done" level, but was firmly expressed at a level that could be called clearly interesting.

"I'm beat... there are few boring points even when playing, and it looks like they had a pretty skilled writer write this."

In the credits published on the site later, the writer's name was not disclosed, but the names of famous and popular writers were being mentioned in the form of "it's probably this person."

And it was on this very point that there was an element that would deal a fatal blow to Clodis, which we are currently working on.

"I have to tell Tsurayuki... something quite cruel."

Kuroda said, as if squeezing the words out.

The scenario he is currently writing was a setting and plot arranged based on the original Misukuro. Of course, he has added some terminology and minor arrangements, but compared to the currently released Misukuro scenario, it will undoubtedly be similar.

In fact, the team verifying the scenario had reported finding more than ten event scenarios delivered by Tsurayuki that had almost the same structure. The conclusion was that if you played both, a considerable number of users would say they were similar.

"The past history is included too. They will definitely be compared."

Kuroda nods at Kawasegawa's words.

"Probably. Even the parts we made thinking they were different will be nitpicked and they'll make a fuss, saying 'It matches!'"

Since they originally stem from a single project, the one released later is at an overwhelming disadvantage.

"To think they would release it first for the purpose of revenge... and in secret, no less."

Considering the overall high quality and speed of development, they must have allocated a considerable budget. Moreover, the robustness of their information management, which did not allow any external acquisition by Miyamoto-san or Kojima-san. In every respect, we were completely outmaneuvered.

(Was this Hachiya's aim, to offer such favorable conditions...!)

I can't help but clench my fists. Just being okay with posting the credits was too good to be true. Now, no matter how high-quality a product we create, we can't escape the slander of plagiarism, and the "original concept" credit will drag us down.

My intuition at that time, that there was some kind of trap, was correct after all.

"I'm sorry, it's my mistake... If only I hadn't said we should use the Misukuro setting back then."

At my words, which I squeezed out, they both shook their heads.

"It can't be helped, that was unpredictable. In fact, we agreed to it too."

"Yes, and if we had insisted on an original setting there, we would surely have been stuck due to the deadline. It's not nice to say, but we had no escape."

Although they supported me, that doesn't mean anything will improve. From now on, I have to rack my brains and think of a solution.

(What am I supposed to do about this?)

The more I sorted out the situation, the more hopeless the reality was.

"Does the president know about this?"

When I asked, Kawasegawa gave a small nod.

"When I went to report, she calmly said, 'I'm aware of everything.' She told me to put together countermeasures, so for now the project itself is still ongoing, but..."

Everyone let out a deep sigh.

This announcement, coming after we had already used half a year, half of our scheduled time, was so shocking and had such a great impact that it was not easy to imagine a countermeasure, even if you just said the word.

"For now, I'm going to go talk to the staff."

Kuroda stood up and lightly brushed the dust off his clothes.

"If we're this beaten up, everyone else will just be anxious. Whatever the result, let's at least put up a proper front."

With those words, he left the conference room.

"...He's amazing."

Kawasegawa murmured, as if it were someone else's problem.

"There are still things we can do. As Kuroda says, if we don't move, no one else can do anything, so let's talk—"

Kawasegawa gently stopped my words with her hand.

"Kawasegawa?"

"I'm sorry. I know. I know that if I don't do something, everyone will be in trouble, and I know that it's not all over yet."

In a quiet, dispassionate voice, she murmured that much, and then,

"I know, but, I just can't..."

Her voice was trembling. Since she had promised not to cry anymore, I could see that she was desperately holding back tears. But she probably wasn't even at the point of wanting to cry anymore. The despair was too heavy, and her mind and body couldn't keep up.

A sense of responsibility alone is no longer enough to face it.

"I'll report to Tsurayuki and the others. You should rest for a bit."

"...I'm sorry."

Her voice was so faint it was as if it might disappear. It was almost unbelievable that it came from her.

I left the conference room, closed the door, and in the middle of the empty hallway, I almost screamed for a moment, but I held it back.

I put my hand on the wall and clenched it.

Crushing the Grape project and freezing Misukuro were cruel acts, but I could still accept them as company policy.

However, what that company, what the Managing Director did now, was a complete retaliatory measure that disregarded all of that. It had completely surpassed the scope of what my mind could comprehend.

How am I supposed to tell them about this extraordinary event? Feeling a distance many times greater than usual, I staggered my way to my desk.

If possible, I wish a big hole would open up somewhere and I could fall into a bottomless darkness. This was the first time I had ever felt this way, even among the many hardships I have faced.

◇

I immediately called the three of them: Shinoaki, N@NA-san, and Tsurayuki. And from my own mouth, I explained what had happened and talked about the future.

Everyone was shocked, but Shinoaki and N@NA-san were in agreement that if we could do it without giving up, we should try again. The fact that their own parts were not so damaged may have had a positive influence.

However, as for Tsurayuki--of course, things did not proceed so easily.

"Can we meet and talk for a bit?"

Tsurayuki said so, and I had no reason to refuse, so I agreed immediately.

Despite the deadline for his new work looming, he came to BCC's conference room on the same day I contacted him.

He appeared before me, who was already waiting, a full 15 minutes before our promised time.

"...You've been working hard."

There was nothing else I could say.

His brow was furrowed, his mouth tightly shut. From that expression alone, it was clear that he was not his usual self.

When I stood up to guide him, he quietly put down his belongings across from me.

And the first thing he did was put both hands on the desk.

"I'm sorry, it's because I dragged things out with the new setting...!"

He said, bowing his head deeply.

"It's not for you to apologize, Tsurayuki. If I hadn't suggested using the old setting and pushed for it, this wouldn't have happened."

"No, the reason you had to make that proposal, Kyouya, was because my work was slow to begin with. It's not your fault, it's all my fault..."

It was painful. I'd rather he had cursed at me. But I knew all too well that that would be running away. I thought that maybe he himself wanted that too.

"Hey, Kyouya... creators can't do anything in the end, can they?"

Tsurayuki muttered under his breath.

"When you're creating something, you feel like the creator of the world. You feel the power when what you've made takes form and has various effects. But when it comes to times like these, there's really not a single thing we can do. I wonder if from now on, we'll just be beings who are called 'Sensei' and brought out only when it's convenient..."

There was the sound of him grinding his back teeth.

"The company snatches what you've made, messes it all up, and just when you think Kyouya has found a way out, they pull a fast one and release it to the world saying 'this is the real one.' They do some nasty stuff. Compared to that, even demon kings and devils would probably fight more fairly."

He let out a big sigh, as if to shake something off.

"My bad. That was a terrible complaint. It's not like telling you will change anything."

"No, not at all..."

I wanted to tell him not to worry, that everything would be okay. What I really wanted to be was someone who could give that kind of reassurance to creators. But now, after giving him extreme anxiety and distrust, I'm trying to force a realistic judgment on him.

It's not that anyone is to blame. It was the result of an accumulation of small things, all of which were crushed by the Managing Director's malice, who sought to overturn them all for the worse.

"Tsurayuki."

It was cruel to say it to him while he was still crushed, but as long as the project was still ongoing, there were still things that needed to be said.

"Can you think with me about how we can start over? If it's too difficult, just considering what we come up with is enough."

Although the winds have turned against us, game production as a business is still ongoing.

However, the fact that we have no time left has not changed. We have to decide what the main writer, Tsurayuki, will do.

For a while, a silence continued between us. It was clear that an answer would not come immediately.

"--Can you let me think for a little while? I don't think I can give you an answer yet."

Tsurayuki said so, in a tone as if confirming each and every word.

"I understand. But I can't give you much time. I think I'll have to set a deadline. I'll send it by email, so just look at that. The reply can be in any form."

I wanted to avoid putting a burden on him as much as possible. Tsurayuki said "I understand" in a quiet voice, bowed his head to me again, and then left.

"Tsurayuki..."

We had become so close with the writer I admired that we could talk to each other naturally. Just when we were about to start creating things, why did it turn out like this?

"What does it mean to create something?"

I had returned to that very beginning.

◇

I sent an email to Tsurayuki that night. I tried to be careful in the email, to be as gentle as possible and not overly considerate, so as not to cause him unnecessary stress.

I set a one-week deadline and decided to wait for some kind of reply.

"It's a matter of whether we get a positive reply or not..."

Kuroda was somewhat pessimistic. It was a very painful situation for Tsurayuki, and even if he were to look forward, it was clear that he would be at a disadvantage as a creator.

"Remaking the setting and plot, rewriting the scenario. Even if the work fee for what's already been done is guaranteed, we'd be doing what should take a year in less than half the time, huh?"

Reading it aloud again, I realize how difficult it is.

In the first place, it was Tsurayuki who had struggled and agonized so much over the initial setting creation. We can't just casually say, "Let's give it a try," and if even more suffering awaits him, we can't step into that.

"That's not all. The new scenario will have an even higher hurdle. Given the good reputation of the comparison target, Misukuro, they will naturally be expected to surpass it. For Tsurayuki, who has always created things with the user in mind, that will be tough."

Kuroda was right.

If I were in the same position and asked if I would take on this challenge, I honestly don't think I could.

To feel motivated to do your best, a suitable reward and environment are important, but in the current production of Clodis, I don't think we can guarantee that for the scenario writer.

"I'll wait and see. I'll listen to what Tsurayuki says then, and then—"

The phone rang. It seems they connected me via the internal line. When I picked up the receiver,

"Hashiba-san, you have a call on line 3. It's from someone named Fujiwara-san from Gakuoukan Shobou."

"Gakuoukan..."

For a moment, I wondered who it was, but then it immediately clicked in my head.

It was the editor who had been looking after Tsurayuki since his debut.

◇

"This is our first time speaking. I'm Fujiwara from Gakuoukan."

A calm-toned voice came from the other end of the phone.

He is the person who has worked hand-in-hand with the light novel author, Kawagoe Kyouichi, to build his career. While having an eye to calmly assess the market, he was also a person who had earned immense trust for being able to think of the author's best interests above all else.

I had previously heard from Tsurayuki himself that he trusted him as much as, or even more than, his university classmates.

"This is Hashiba from BCC. I've heard about you from Kawagoe-sensei."

To get a direct call from such a person. I didn't think it was going to be good news.

"I apologize for getting right to the point. Regarding your company's title, 'Clockwork Destiny,' I have heard from Kawagoe-sensei that you are currently in discussion about whether he, as the main scenario writer, will continue to participate in the project."

"Yes, that is correct."

It was about that matter, as I thought. I held my breath and waited for his next words.

However, since he had gone to the trouble of contacting me like this, it could be surmised that he had some kind of prospect or plan in mind. It was also conceivable that he wanted to have a concrete discussion about what to do and when he could start writing.

But.

Such an optimistic prediction was never going to come true.

"Regarding that matter, Sensei has explained his intention that continuing is difficult. I am reporting this to you on his behalf."

"What...!"

"As I thought," I thought, but at the same time, the feeling of "why?" also welled up.

"Wh-why? And for that matter, why isn't this contact coming from him directly?"

That's what bothered me. The Tsurayuki I knew up to now would have definitely reported this kind of thing himself. Even if he trusts you, this isn't something you have someone else say for you.

Fujiwara-san hesitated, seeming to find it difficult to speak.

"He said it would be difficult to say it directly himself. That is why this message is from me. If it is absolutely necessary, I can prepare a written document as well."

"That's..."

I was shocked. Words failed me.

It's true that the last time I saw Tsurayuki, he seemed to be in a very mentally unstable state. His strong anger and grief towards various things in the world. After hearing that, I did think it would be difficult for him to have a positive reaction...

"From your position as well, Fujiwara-san, is it your judgment that continuing is difficult?"

To my question, asked just in case,

"Yes. It has been affecting our publications from a much earlier stage. As for me, rather than saying this incident is the sole reason, I see it as having crossed the final line."

...So it had come to that. I was at a loss for words.

Still, Fujiwara-san's words continued.

"From your company's perspective, I certainly understand that losing the participation of a key writer is a blow. However, as part of the original contract, there was a condition that he prioritize writing our publications and that the work not affect that."

It's true, there was such wording. I remember that when we were at Succeed, it was precisely that which brought us to the point of ending our contract with Tsurayuki.

That wording was also included in the contract with BCC this time. Of course, it was included with the reassurance that something like that would never happen again.

But now, due to that very clause, our contract with Tsurayuki was about to end.

"As his editor, seeing Sensei's current situation, I have judged that I can no longer overlook it. I would like to follow Sensei's wishes."

The words of the editor, Fujiwara-san, were spoken in a calm tone, but I could feel indignation in every part of them.

That's probably right. A precious author with whom he had created novels together had been put through a terrible ordeal many times in a single project and was currently being exhausted. In fact, it wouldn't be strange to be verbally abused with even stronger words and have ties severed.

"That is all. Is there anything else?"

With those words, I realized it was all over.

"--There is not. I will contact you again regarding the follow-up. I apologize for the trouble."

I didn't argue, I just said that and hung up the phone.

"Tsurayuki was no good, huh?"

Kuroda said, perhaps guessing the situation from my words.

"Yeah, he said he couldn't say it himself, so he asked him to do it instead. I couldn't believe he was lying."

"I see."

Kuroda said nothing more.

After the call, I formally decided on Tsurayuki's withdrawal.

After that, I also spoke with Fujiwara-san about the matter of the staff credits and the timing of the withdrawal announcement, but we decided to erase all mention of his name, to announce the withdrawal only from the manufacturer, and to make the decision not immediately, but in three months, when the heat will have died down.

Finally, the major premise of the original plan, to use the three members of the Platinum Generation, had collapsed. I have to tell Shinoaki and N@NA-san about this. Considering the premise that the three of them would be participating together, I now have to consider the possibility that the two of them will withdraw from the project in the future.

It was around that time that I received a summons from President Ichikawa.

◇

BCC's president's office was a very small room, only large enough that raising one's voice slightly would be enough to make it echo.

The three of us—myself, Kawasegawa, and Kuroda—were sitting on the sofa in front of the president, who looked as she always did.

The president quickly looked us over and then spoke.

"We will be discontinuing the production of the currently in-development 'Clockwork Destiny'."

A jolt of electricity seemed to run between the three of us.

"That can't be... we in development are still trying to think of something we can do. Could you possibly wait a little longer on that decision?"

"It's true that Kawagoe-sensei's departure was a blow, but we are considering ways to market with the remaining two as the main focus, or to create a new axis. It's still too soon!"

Kawasegawa, and then Kuroda, pressed on as if it were their last hope.

However, the president shook her head firmly.

"Then let me ask you a question in return: at this stage, can you present a way for this project to recover? Can you turn everything around and lead us to a solution that is not a compromise?"

The two who had stood up so vigorously eventually lost their words and sank powerlessly back into the sofa.

"...No, we can't."

"Yes. It's just, the thought of it ending like this is so frustrating."

The words of the two were trembling.

After coming this far, even changing companies for this challenge, to have it crushed by that man's hands again must have been truly frustrating.

After informing them of Tsurayuki's withdrawal, it was something I had been prepared for. The brand and marketing strategy that relied on the three of them together was no longer viable, and with the upcoming official announcement of Tsurayuki's withdrawal, the image of the game itself was expected to worsen further.

From President Ichikawa, there was an extremely logical and coherent explanation, including those reasons.

"I know you all went through a lot to come here, but I've judged that if things continue as they are, it will affect the image of Beecraft itself. I hope you can understand."

Being told that much, we had no words to reply with.

"From now on, the development department... what will happen to it?"

When Kawasegawa asked,

"Don't worry. Just because Clodis is over, I won't be firing any of you. For a while, your main work will be assisting with the development of software being made at the main company, but once things settle down, we are prepared to have you launch a new project."

"Understood. Thank you."

For a moment, Kawasegawa's expression seemed to relax. That makes sense. She also has the responsibility of having brought over many of the members who were developing Misukuro. As the head of the department, she would be concerned about whether the staff's employment would continue.

But that was nothing more than post-defeat cleanup. It was not about connecting a place to fight, but a passive measure to think of ways to keep everyone from starving.

"Of course, from the company's perspective, we must return the favor to Succeed. But it will not be by making a game."

With that one phrase, I felt like something inside me had ended.

We get paid by the company to make games. So, the moment the company tells us we can't make games, everything ends.

So, I should have been able to predict this would happen. But I never thought it would, so I didn't consider it.

We had nothing more to say. Seeing Ichikawa-san stand up, we all left together. Even on the way from the room to the development department, we didn't exchange a single word.

◇

That same day, an announcement was made in the development department regarding the cancellation of Clodis's production.

Since it was explained that employment would continue, there was no major confusion, but some staff members demanded an explanation from Kawasegawa and Kuroda in a strong tone, making me realize anew that this was not a matter that would be easily settled.

In front of my desk, I was recalling everything that had happened up to now.

So many things had happened. The story up until I joined Succeed, the story after being assigned to Department 13, the launch of Project Grape, and my involvement with Misukuro and the Platinum Generation.

There were many painful things that made me think it was all over. But I thought that if it had a happy ending, it would all be rewarded and become a good memory.

But this was the result. The project I was trying to create with everyone from the Platinum Generation had truly ended at this very moment.

"Hashiba-san, I..."

When I turned around, Sakurai-san was standing there.

"Good work today. I'm sorry it came to this."

Sakurai-san nodded repeatedly in silence. Her eyes were bright red; she must have cried a lot.

Even though she only got involved partway through, she also had strong feelings for Misukuro. And yet, after being interfered with so many times, this was the reality that awaited her.

"Today is the day of our regular meeting... what should we do?"

"Right, it was today."

The meeting where the former members of Department 13 gather to exchange information.

A meeting to check if everyone is doing well and to discuss if there are any problems in development. But more than half of the meaning of holding it has been lost.

(Miyamoto-san must be so frustrated...)

The information he obtained had accurately grasped the Managing Director's scheme in every case. If only we had a little more material to go on, and the wisdom to infer from it.

But it's no use saying that now. It's not like a game where you can go back to the past and do it over. All you can do is optimize what's happening right in front of you for yourself.

Eventually, we'll have to talk about the future, but for now--.

"Maybe I'll talk to the two of them after a little more time has passed. I'm sure they can't talk calmly right now, you know?"

Sakurai-san also nodded.

"Understood. Then I'll contact everyone and let them know today's meeting is cancelled."

She bowed her head with a "peko" and returned to her desk.

"Ah, Sakurai-san, and one more thing."

I stop her as she's about to leave.

"There's something I'd like to ask of you. Could you make some preparations for me?"

"Y-yes..."

"What could it be?" Sakurai-san looked puzzled.

◇

After finishing my calls to various places, I left the company alone.

It was a little later than closing time, but compared to when we were in the middle of development, it was still an incredibly early time to be heading home.

I probably wouldn't have been going home this early for a while. I was about to be struck down by loneliness in an unexpected place.

I left the building, and my feet stopped as I was about to head to the station. It's not like I had anything in particular to do at home. I could go for a drink or something to kill time... As I thought that, I casually looked around.

"Hey."

I was addressed with a friendly, unclouded freshness.

It was a voice I recognized. And a voice I could not forget.

"--It's been a while, Matsuhira-san."

When I turned around, Managing Director Matsuhira was standing there.

"Oh, you're not surprised. I was hoping for something more, like you'd stare wide-eyed, or grab me out of hatred."

"What business do you have with me?"

I had no intention of making small talk. The person in front of me was someone I couldn't hate enough, someone I wanted to punch just as he himself had suggested.

However, I was interested in him. So, I had no intention of leaving quickly on my own, and I also wanted to know what he had come for.

"It's not really 'business.' Is it not enough of an explanation to say that I just came to see what kind of face you were making, as a rival?"

I see, well, for him, that seems like a sufficient reason.

"Why don't we sit there?"

Where I pointed, there was a small rest area.

A glass roof shaped like an umbrella. Underneath it, there was a wooden bench and a large stone that served as a table.

It was a place I didn't usually use, but I just couldn't imagine taking the Managing Director to an izakaya or a bar.

"What a dreary place. Well, I don't really care where it is."

Matsuhira chuckled and sat down on the bench.

I followed his lead and sat down directly across from him.

As always, his eyes were lifeless and clouded. He probably intended to smile, but his eyes were always wandering in a gloomy darkness.

"The fact that you went to the trouble of sitting down means you want to talk to me?"

"Yes, that's right."

When I answered, Matsuhira chuckled again.

"You're a curious one. After being hurt so much, you still want to talk."

"I think I'm quite the masochist myself."

"So? What do you want to ask? To the question of 'When did you start developing Misukuro?', will the answer 'From the day after you all left' suffice?"

He had been thinking and acting on this for that long?

"That was one of the things I wanted to ask. Just to confirm, you yourself took command of the Misukuro production, didn't you, Matsuhira-san?"

Matsuhira's expression twitched slightly.

"Oh, how did you know? I didn't put it in the credits, and I put a gag order on the people making it. I wonder if it leaked from China."

"I don't have any particular information. It's my intuition."

"Intuition...?"

Ignoring Matsuhira's suspicious gaze, I continued my questions.

"One more thing. Did you once work together with Horii-san?"

Matsuhira showed a faint expression of anger.

"Did that person blab about such things to you?"

"No, this is also intuition. No matter what I asked, Horii-san never spoke a word about you, Matsuhira-san."

Up until today, I had tried to ask Horii-san questions about Matsuhira many times.

However, he wouldn't say a thing. "If you really want to know, ask him yourself," he'd say, "but he probably won't answer."

But with this reaction, I was certain.

"What are you trying to ask me?"

Whether he was irritated, or simply trying to rush to a conclusion. I couldn't tell, but I knew he had some kind of interest in this.

Having seen that, I opened my mouth.

"I've been thinking for a long time. Why you attack us so much."

At first, I thought it was a difference in company policy.

As a managing director, he would want to dye the company in his own colors, and he was indeed said to be the next president. So, he thought of tearing us apart, who had proposed a project that went against his will, and making us work in different departments.

And, regarding the freezing of Misukuro's development, I thought it was also due to a difference in policy.

So, although it was a rough method, I thought that if we changed companies altogether, this time he would lose interest. That if we just went to a rival company, a place out of his reach, he would naturally drift away.

However, as a result, he showed an abnormal obsession, going so far as to do things that were clearly disadvantageous to the company, just to interfere with our production and stand in our way.

"And that's when I understood. You probably don't hate us. It's what we're involved in that you have a strong hatred for."

Matsuhira's expression twitched. It seems I was right.

"That's why I confirmed it earlier. Why you, who said game creation was pointless, took command of a game production yourself. Normally, you'd leave it to your subordinates, right? The reason you didn't is because there was a reason."

Matsuhira's face stiffened. As I thought, there must be something here he doesn't want dug up.

"To crush Clodis, it was necessary to make Misukuro a good game. But to do that, you couldn't leave it to the development team after all the competent staff had gone. That's why you, who knew everything about games and hated them to the core, had to take command."

I was certain. This was the answer Matsuhira had.

"Matsuhira-san, you... once loved games. But."

"Yes, yes, that's enough talk."

Matsuhira clapped his hands and interrupted me.

"You seem to be good at observing and analyzing various things, but I'm truly impressed that you also have the makings of a detective."

I didn't respond to the sarcasm, I just nodded.

"So that was it, after all."

I had been thinking for a long time.

It's often said, but the opposite of hate is not love. If anything, love and hate are quite close to each other.

There must be a reason for that level of obsession and action. After the project was completely over, I have been chasing that mystery.

"Matsuhira-san, won't you tell me? The reason you changed so much."

Matsuhira remains silent. Only his eyes are watching me.

"I may not be strong enough, but I can listen. Won't you tell me the reason you couldn't tell anyone?"

I stood up from my chair. I looked him straight in the eye.

"Matsuhira-sa—"

"--Sorry, but no."

He quietly crossed his arms and looked straight at me.

Very ironically, his eyes, which had seemed so gloomy and clouded until then, seemed to hold a light just for this moment.

However, the words spoken with those eyes were ones that rejected understanding.

"As if I would tell you. Did you really think I would blabber on to someone like you, who I just happened to get acquainted with at the company, about what I've been through to get here, what I've been thinking all alone? I'd rather die. I would never reveal my heart to someone like you, who clings to games that I hate enough to spit on. Don't get carried away."

It was a break delivered in a quiet tone, dispassionately and without inflection.

"I live to crush everything related to games, and for that purpose, I'll even dabble in the games I despise. I don't care about the means. If I can disparage games by making a good one, then that is the optimal solution."

In his quiet words, I still felt his deep, helpless anger.

"Get out of my sight and disappear. I never wanted to meet someone like you."

Matsuhira said, and quietly closed his mouth.

If I, too, despaired of games to the very end, would I become like him? I can't even imagine.

But, the person in front of me is me, who took a different path.

That much, I understand.

"I was saved by the thing you hate."

I wore down my life at an exploitative company, wore down my spirit in days of part-time jobs, and wore down my dreams at the bishoujo game company I had finally managed to cling to.

In those helpless days, my salvation was the works created by the Platinum Generation.

I received life from the girl and the sky drawn by Akishima Shino.

I received a heart from the cheerful songs sung by N@NA.

I received a dream from the sincere stories written by Kawagoe Kyouichi.

And then, with that power, I came to make games. I was given a life.

I glared at him. For a moment, he seemed to flinch.

"So, no matter what you do, no matter how much you hate and interfere,"

I absolutely had to throw these words at him.

To this person who tries to take everything away.

"I will not give up on making games."

Silence. Matsuhira didn't try to say anything, just stared at me intently.

"You won't give up, you say? Even now?"

Chuckling deep in his throat, Matsuhira continued.

"So, what are you going to do? Even though you've already lost? Unable to predict what I would do, unable to make any move, you helplessly ruined your project and your friends. On top of that, what can you possibly do now?"

From his perspective, he probably thinks he's taken everything from me.

He succeeded in making me lose the backing of a large company, exhausting and forcing out the creators I admired, manipulating even public opinion, and crushing the project I had somehow managed to hold together.

But I still say it.

"Isn't it obvious?"

I no longer need to face him.

I turned my back and, as I started walking, I said,

"I'll make another one. Over and over again. I love it more than you hate it. Everything related to games, to creation."

I thought I heard a faint click of his tongue. I ignored it and kept walking.

"To not give up even after all that, I'll praise that guts of yours, at least."

"Well thank you very much for that."

"But you are a hopeless fool. If only you hadn't been so engrossed in things like games, I could have given you much better treatment."

I laughed at his parting shot.

◇

With nowhere to go, I walked.

It was a time when I could have gone back to the office if I wanted to, but I didn't feel like it.

I finally spoke with Managing Director Matsuhira. It wasn't one-sided like before; I was finally able to talk to his true self.

But, as he said, it was all too late.

The project I cherished was canceled. The company continues, but neither Kawasegawa nor Kuroda likely have the will to go on.

I'm the same. It was all well and good to talk tough to Matsuhira, but when it came to the question of what I would do, I couldn't give a concrete answer. My feeling of not giving up was genuine, but I had no means of realizing it.

Like routine work, I got on the usual train and got off at Shinjuku. Just as I was about to transfer to the Odakyu line, my attention suddenly turned elsewhere.

"Maybe I'll take a little detour."

The city of Shinjuku is both a business district and an entertainment district. In such a city, you can find almost all kinds of entertainment, and the otaku-related shops are also quite substantial.

I went out the west exit and headed to a branch of a shop whose main store is in Akihabara. Amidst the glittering rows of merchandise, I walked around aimlessly.

(I thought there might be something, but... I guess not.)

When creating becomes painful, it's good to engage with wonderful works. I always used that as my own personal prescription. So on this day, too, I stopped by, thinking there might be something if I went to the shop.

However, so far, there was nothing that fit that purpose. The surroundings seemed to be a dull color. Even though I had finally come to the bright, admired industry. I wandered around the store like a monk on a journey searching for sutras.

When I went to the area where the bookshelves were lined up, I noticed a familiar art style arranged there.

"Ah, right... it's been released."

A single book was displayed prominently, as if occupying all the corners of the bookshelf.

Akishima Shino's new art book.

I had heard that the release was slightly delayed, but it seemed it had finally been released.

The book had a clear file, a shop bonus, attached so that it covered the cover. It's a common practice, but I was somehow curious about the cover and was looking for one without the bonus.

On the way, I realized.

(Come to think of it, that cover...)

The illustration she asked for my opinion on while she was making the roughs. The memory of not being able to give a good answer and regretting that I shouldn't have said anything unnecessary.

Those things suddenly came back to me.

"Maybe I should just... not look."

Just as I was about to gently put back the art book I had taken out,

"Ah!"

My hand slipped, and I placed it down with the cover facing up.

I couldn't help but see it, and I witnessed it firsthand.

For a moment, I thought a wind had blown and the sunlight had shone there.

Vivid colors. That touch, those lines that had encouraged and inspired me so many times, entered my eyes, gently unraveling yet powerful.

I couldn't help but pick it up again. I held it firmly with both hands and burned the cover into my eyes.

"--This is..."

It was a spring scene.

A beautiful sky was drawn. A girl was smiling there.

But that picture was not the familiar rough sketch.

"The background is... gone."

The sky that was drawn was faded to white with a gradient from the middle, and it was composed so that the illustration of the girl would stand out.

That advice I gave. I don't know if it was utilized or not.

But certainly, what I said back then was clearly reflected in this cover. I thought it was meaningless advice, but it was properly alive here.

"You... listened to me."

In that short time, and with someone like me. I was deeply grateful to her for taking those words and incorporating them into her own expression.

As I stared at the cover in a daze, moved, a notification sound suddenly went off.

When I hurriedly took out my smartphone, it was from the social media app.

(Huh, I wonder who it is.)

So that I could react easily when something happened, I had set it up to receive notifications whenever there was a tweet from the accounts of the three Platinum members.

However, they rarely tweeted, and especially recently, with the Clodis matter, no one had tweeted anything.

I looked, and Shinoaki had tweeted. It seemed to be an image.

(I wonder if it was an announcement for the art book.)

If that were the case, it would make sense for her to tweet after a long time.

After a moment, the image opened. At the same time, the attached hashtag was also displayed.

"Huh..."

It was an original illustration, unrelated to the art book.

The background was a clear blue sky. In it was the back of a man.

Where is he looking, at the sky or at his destination? From that pose alone, it's impossible to tell.

But the message was clear.

#DoYourBest

That word, and the man's hairstyle.

I crouched down on the spot and stared at the illustration again.

This is me.

These words are for me.

It was simple and didn't have a name written on it, so it wasn't confirmed. But I understood that it was a cheer from Shinoaki.

"It wasn't... for nothing."

In this world, perhaps there is no such thing as waste.

Everything has meaning and is connected.

Words, actions, everything.

I picked up the art book, and also several other manga, light novels, and games. I gathered whatever caught my eye and paid for them.

Right now, I just wanted to immerse myself in the wonder of creation.

◇

"...Ah."

When I woke up, it was already noon. Around my bed, the books I bought yesterday were piled up like a mountain, all with marks of being opened.

"That was interesting... everyone is amazing."

In each and every one of these books, there is the drama of the creator, and there is drama in what was created. Just thinking about it made me incredibly excited.

"Oops, my phone."

When I fumbled around my pillow and checked, as expected, there were several messages. After all, it was the first time I had been late without permission, and the first time I had woken up at noon.

"Kawasegawa, and Kawasegawa, and Sakurai-san, and also, Takenaka-san... right."

Today was the usual streaming day.

But we only had one thing left to stream about.

"............"

I thought for a moment. About what I could do precisely because it's today.

After nothing was left, what is it that I will do?

"I see, that's what it is."

For now, I called Takenaka-san.

"Ah, Hashiba-san!! I wanted to contact you, but, where are you now?"

"At home. I was sleeping."

"Home!? No way, were you always such a wild person, Hashiba-san! It's the middle of a weekday right now, isn't it working hours! You're coming in like a top executive!"

I couldn't help but feel happy at her reply, which gave back ten for every one I said.

(If the world-line were different, maybe I could have done more interesting things with this person.)

Putting aside my fantasies, after clearing my throat, I said what I had decided to say.

"Takenaka-san."

"Y-yes!"

"Today is the stream, right?"

"Ah, yes! I heard about what happened with development. You're going to announce that, right...?"

As expected, she sounded disheartened.

"Yeah, but there's something even more important to talk about. So, please set aside about 1.5 times the usual amount of time."

"What? W-what's happening?"

"It's a secret. See you then."

I hung up and watched. As expected, messages and stickers were spammed one after another, and her log instantly became lively.

"Alright then, one more call to make."

I pressed the group for just Department 13, looked for the squirrel illustration, and called it.

"Ah, Hashiba-san! Where are you? Everyone's been worried and calling you."

"Sakurai-san, the preparations I asked you to make the other day, are they ready yet?"

On the other side of the phone, I could almost see her confusion.

"Ah, y-yes, they're ready, but..."

"Okay, please have them ready. I'm coming to the office now."

"Uh, um, wait, Hashiba-saan!!"

I hung up the phone and started to get changed.

"Everyone, thank you so much."

I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart that everyone worried about someone like me.

"Well then, shall I go to my final duty?"

◇

As soon as I arrived at the office, I went to report to Kawasegawa.

She looked at me with worried eyes.

"Thank goodness... you came. I was thinking you might not come to the office anymore."

"You said 'you'... surely not."

Kawasegawa nodded.

"Kuroda... wants to take a leave of absence for a while. When I came to the office today, only his application papers were there."

"...I see."

Even when the president called us in to talk, Kuroda seemed quite distressed. He himself may have many things he just can't swallow.

If you say that, the same goes for Kawasegawa. She went so far as to change companies to make games, only to be hit with another unbelievable mess.

"Kawasegawa, are you... okay?"

When I asked, she smiled sadly.

"When I quit my previous company, I think I got too used to despair and things like that. Even after going through such a terrible ordeal, I can't even cry. Instead, my mind is more focused on whether everyone will be able to keep working from now on."

I stood up from my chair and looked out over the entire floor.

Today, too, many people are working in the development department. The game's development itself has been cancelled, but everyone has to make a living.

"I might be starting to not understand what it means to create things. Since university, that's all I've thought about and lived for, but the harder I worked, the more I had to think about things outside of the actual production site."

Kawasegawa swore not to cry. That's why, on the day of the Misukuro announcement, she didn't cry anymore. But that might not be because she became stronger, but because her perspective on things had changed.

(It's completely different from before.)

When Misukuro's development was frozen, I was just thinking straight ahead about ways to create.

But now it's different. I, Kawasegawa, Kuroda, and everyone else had started thinking from the stage of what to do from now on.

We are at a crossroads again. In the end, after a battle with no victors, we have to drag our battered bodies and decide where to go.

"Today's the stream day, isn't it? What will you do? You can take the day off, but..."

I shook my head.

"No, I'll do it. There's something I have to say."

I paused there for a moment.

"The cancellation announcement. I'm thinking of saying it on today's stream."

When I said that, Kawasegawa closed her mouth as if startled.

"Are you planning to say it alone?"

"Yeah, it'll be easier to understand if I say it. And also..."

"And also?"

Kawasegawa had a look on her face that said, "What more could there be?"

"Because there's a need for me to say it alone, too."

◇

Before starting preparations for the Nico Nama, I headed to social media for the first time in a while.

It was to make an announcement about today's stream from the official account, which hadn't been touched since the commotion of that day.

As soon as I tweeted, it was flooded with reactions. Many of them were teasing or inflammatory remarks related to the release of Misukuro, as well as expressions of anxiety.

"When you work in the internet business, you sometimes feel like despairing."

While preparing for the stream, Takenaka-san began to speak quietly.

"News that's interesting, fun, or celebratory spreads in a flash, but it doesn't really grow beyond that. The news that grows is about people's or companies' misfortunes or bad luck, things you can watch from a safe distance."

She sighed and gave a wry smile.

"But we're just as guilty, since we do it thinking that's what gets views. The comments section will probably be rough today, too. Honestly... I don't want you to have to go out into a place like that, Hashiba-san."

"Takenaka-san."

"Are you really planning to go out there by yourself? If you need me, please call me anytime. I'll come out right away."

Takenaka-san looked like she was about to cry. For someone so lively, it made me very sad.

"Thank you. But it's okay. Please don't worry."

From the start, I knew that today's stream would not be a peaceful one. But it was precisely because it was that kind of place that I wanted to properly convey it by myself.

"We're ready on our end. We can start anytime."

"...Understood! We're okay over here too, we'll start at 8 p.m. as scheduled!"

Along with Takenaka-san's energetic voice, the "preparing to stream" image was displayed. Comments flowed, and the waiting viewers began to stir. The viewer count started to spin up rapidly.

And then, it was time.

"It is 8 p.m. It's time for the regular BCC Channel stream. Today is different from our usual streams, as I, Hashiba, will be hosting by myself."

Immediately, a storm of comments erupted.

Takenaka-san was, of course, popular on this stream. So most of the voices were lamenting her absence, but some had sensed the ominous atmosphere and were beginning to suspect that there would be some kind of announcement.

"I have something important to talk about today."

Instantly, even more comments than before flooded the screen.

Most of them were saying "Development cancelled after all," or "The team is disbanding."

As if weaving through those comments, I waited for the peak to subside a little.

"Regarding 'Clockwork Destiny,' we have decided to cancel its development at this time. To everyone who was looking forward to it, I offer my deepest apologies."

I took a deep breath, said it. And then, I bowed my head.

The screen was a scene of pandemonium. I imagine the social media timelines are probably in a terrible state as well.

The comments I occasionally see from users who must be truly disappointed bring tears to my eyes. No, even among those who write inflammatory comments on the surface, there are countless cases where they are actually disappointed.

The reality of development cancellation is incredibly heavy. Because all the time related to the game comes to a stop right there.

The scenario, the graphics, the music, everything that was prepared will, with few exceptions, never see the light of day again.

As I chewed on that fact once more, I relayed the official information.

"...That is all. We will also be posting an explanation of this matter on our official website shortly, so please refer to that as well."

The official part of the talk was over. I took a breath and looked around the studio.

Since today was a special day, several members of the development department, starting with Kawasegawa, were in a place off-camera. Perhaps even those who weren't here were watching on their own PCs or smartphones.

After being silent for a while, I slowly opened my mouth.

"What I'm about to say from here on is no longer the company's official story. It's my--personal story. Only those who are willing to listen, please listen."

I was recalling various things.

There is nothing sadder than to say that one's own life is boring. But looking back, my life up to now has been more boring than not.

"This is going to sound like I'm talking about myself, but since I was a child, I was a person with no distinguishing features."

School grades, sports, and even play were all average. If I had to say something, it was that I was often made the organizer, taking advantage of my flat personality.

In the life of Hashiba Kyouya, there were no waves.

But I didn't think that was strange. Because it was average. I thought that if I was average, I could live on as average.

"Around the time I graduated from high school, I felt a doubt for the first time in my life. I wondered if it was okay to stay this way. If it was okay to live a life where nothing moves."

I tried to think about what I wanted to do. There was only one special thing.

Games, anime, light novels, manga. My admiration and goodwill towards the entertainment industry. A world I could say I loved from the front, never looking at it from an angle.

Only when I was in contact with them was I special. It was the only way to escape from the uneventful everyday. It was the very door that invited me to another world.

I longed for it. But when I was small, I never thought that I might be on the side that creates it.

But maybe. Maybe I could go there too. The small doubt that welled up deep in my heart gradually made that blurry dream clearer.

How could I get there? A mere high school student couldn't possibly work there. If only I could acquire some skills before that.

"And so, I finally started to think seriously about choosing a university."

It was a school in the countryside, but luckily, they had university materials. In addition to general universities, I decided to consider a university that I had never considered before.

Art university.

A university where you can professionally study the world I had only touched upon a little in art and music classes. Reading the pamphlet, my longing for it grew even stronger.

And so I took the entrance exams. For a general university, and also for an art university.

"The result. I passed. The art university that I thought was a distant existence."

I could see Kawasegawa, at the edge of my vision, show a slightly surprised expression. I hadn't told anyone this story, so it was no wonder she was surprised.

"I was surprised. To think that I, who am nothing but ordinary, was accepted into a place I thought only chosen people could go. At that time, for the first time, I thought. Maybe I, too, have some potential. But--"

The average way of life I had been used to up until then. I felt an indescribable fear in taking a step forward from there.

"I didn't go, in the end. I chose a normal university."

I had a chance to break out, but in the end, I returned to the ordinary path.

"My university life there was fun, and I made friends. But, it's precisely because it's now that I think this. A life spent half-heartedly dragging along a dream... is incredibly painful."

The company I joined just because it was easy to get into didn't last long, the shop I joined wanting to get a feel for the industry, and the bishoujo game maker I joined through connections there, all ended in a half-hearted way.

I thought it was over.

"At such a time, I was lucky enough to join Succeed."

I joined the company I admired, and this time I could create to my heart's content. A cruel reality awaited me, who thought so.

"But it didn't go so well. Here, too, I was frustrated and on the verge of despairing of game creation itself."

I saw a lot of the dark side that I didn't want to see. I also experienced things like backroom dealings. This world, which I had thought of more purely, was, after all, no different from any other world.

"There were a mountain of things that made me sick of it. There were times I threw everything away, took time off from work, and went out to play. But..."

Even so, in the end, I couldn't throw away games.

Even if the company changed, even if what I was making changed, I still couldn't give up.

Because I believed in the power they held.

"Even an ordinary person like me, by creating something and putting it out into the world, can fill an empty space inside someone, or become a support for something that is about to collapse. Once I realized that, I no longer thought of quitting, not even for a moment."

I felt my voice grow a little louder.

"I love making things. No matter what terrible things happen, I can't stop."

The works that helped me when I was struggling.

It circulates, connecting one to the next. If you deny that, what do human beings live on?

If you have food, clothing, and shelter, you can survive. But you can't live. To live today and tomorrow with vitality, you have to read, listen to, and confirm the existence of what people have left behind.

"There is the idea that entertainment is something that comes in demand last, after everything else has been fulfilled. I think so too. Things like this are originally unnecessary."

But, in those unnecessary things,

"It is precisely because they are unnecessary... that I can't stop loving them."

People become engrossed.

"These helpless, unnecessary things heal and supplement us, who are incomplete. Because I realized that, I fell in love with making games."

In the distance of my gaze, there is Kawasegawa. It seemed she wiped the corner of her eye. Right next to me, Takenaka-san is nodding with a smile.

Joy and sorrow, hatred and anger, ego, and prayers for world peace—creating things embraces them all.

"But now, I have lost the work I was creating. However..."

I cut my words there for a moment and pulled the PC in front of me closer.

When I gave a signal with my eyes to Takenaka-san, she nodded, put a wipe on the stream screen, and displayed a small panel right next to me.

"Right now, at our company, we are moving forward with a plan called Project Grape. Compared to Clodis, the money involved is less than one-tenth, a small-scale project. But I believe that this is packed with creative potential."

I display the materials that Sakurai-san prepared for me on the stream screen.

Backup for creators, effective use of materials, interaction between creators.

I explained what I had envisioned in Department 13 back then, as if unraveling it.

"See? It's good, right? We won't be cancelling this one, so please participate with peace of mind."

The comments section calmed down a little. Seeing that, I said.

"And... I, too, will be leaving the company after this stream today."

I could see Kawasegawa open her mouth, as if to say something. Takenaka-san also looked surprised. Surprised comments also flowed by.

"Because I've found something I want to do."

I held up the tattered project proposal. It was the project that Sakurai-san had shown me.

If I were to do this, I would quit the company. I decided to get on board with the project she had talked about. That's why I decided to quit too.

"I'm going to make a game. Nothing is decided yet, I don't know where or how to make it, and I'm the only staff member. But."

With a wry smile, I said,

"But it's... incredibly fun. I don't know when it will be finished, but when it is, I want to be the first to let you all know. So, please wait. However,"

I put the telop I had prepared on the stream screen.

"Release date undecided, price undecided, title undecided, and staff also undecided."

The comments section was filled with laughter.

That's right, with no plans at all, just the will to create, I faced today's announcement. Without deciding what to make, or who the members would be.

It's like that old internet copypasta flyer for a band: "I'm the Producer, recruiting for all other positions." There is nothing there but runaway passion.

But that's fine.

I can't stop creating. No matter how much power tries to pressure me, no matter how much they criticize me with their ego, whatever they do is useless.

I will never give up on games again.

"That is all I have to say. Thank you ve—"

As I was about to bow my head, I noticed a notification on my smartphone. It was a RINE message. I quickly operated it in my hand so it wouldn't be on screen and checked the content.

Three messages had arrived.

Once again, I felt like crying. But I held it in.

Instead, I made a final announcement to everyone.

"Um... regarding the undecided staff, it seems we've decided on the illustration, scenario, and also the music. Details will be announced at a later date--"