Bokutachi no Remake Ver. β V2 Chapter 4 By: thai130898

A basement room is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The air conditioner works, I suppose, but compared to the comfort of the ground floors, the difference is like night and day.

Today, more than the difference in effectiveness, the air was just too unpleasant. Needless to say, the decision that had just been handed down was the reason.

"So, everything that was reported is true. Misukuro's development is frozen, and I think Development Department 2 will probably be reorganized as well..."

Both Kojima-san and Sakurai-san had somber expressions. And Miyamoto-san had kept his head down the whole time.

"I'm sorry, Miyamoto-san... for this to happen before you could even propose your plan."

I rejected Miyamoto-san's plan, and as a result of delaying, this happened. Normally, he should have blamed me more.

But,

"I... I..."

Miyamoto-san just kept muttering that and wouldn't say anything else.

It was truly painful to see him so heartbroken.

"Hashiba-san, this... was it the Managing Director's doing?"

Sakurai-san muttered in a small voice.

"Considering the current situation, I can't think of it any other way."

"It's too cruel... This is just too much."

Perhaps it was too painful, as Sakurai-san looked down and shed tears.

What Hayakawa had said, the Managing Director's plan: to eliminate game development from Succeed Soft and replace it with another business. From that ultimate goal, this latest event makes sense.

(But why did he use such a method?)

Leaking to the media is a different kind of tactic from what the Managing Director has done before. There was a strong sense of incongruity there.

Is something connected somewhere that I don't know about?

"There's no point in saying this and that about what's already happened. More importantly, we need to think about what to do from now on."

At this point, Kojima-san's calm opinion was a real help.

"That's right. Right now, only Hashiba-kun and I can make a move here, so we need to gather as much information as possible and devise a countermeasure."

With that, Kojima-san looked around at the members of Department 13.

Miyamoto-san remained deeply depressed, and Sakurai-san was also in a dejected state.

This decision, coming just as she was getting used to the new department and the work she was engaged in, may have been too great a shock for her.

"Well then, I'll try to get in touch──"

As if timing it with me taking out my smartphone, a call tone rang. It was a number I didn't recognize.

"Hello...?"

I pressed the call button and had just started to speak when, from the other end of the line,

"This is Hashiba-san, correct? I am the secretary to Managing Director Matsuhira."

The name I wanted to hear least right now came from the other end.

◇

This was the first time I'd come here since that bitter promotion. Though, I wouldn't have wanted to come to a place like this without a reason.

"Oh, you're here. Sit down, sit down."

When the Managing Director saw my face, he greeted me with an expression as if an old friend had arrived.

"I'm fine standing. What is it you wanted to talk about?"

"What is there to talk about? There's only one thing. The matter where you tried to act like a strategist and manipulate the media, only to have it backfire on you. Seems you were moving sneakily in the shadows, huh."

...Manipulate the media? What is he talking about?

The plan to leak Grape should have been stopped in the initial stages. Besides, that has nothing to do with Misukuro. At least, from an outside perspective, it's a completely unrelated story.

"I don't understand what you are saying."

"Oh, so you're going to play dumb at this stage?"

"I'm saying so because I truly don't know what you're talking about."

The Managing Director let out a muffled chuckle.

"Then I'll tell you. In your old department, there was a Miyamoto-kun, wasn't there?"

"What about him?"

"He, of all things, was trying to leak your project to the media. Using Entame-Plat."

"What...!?"

The moment I heard the Managing Director's words, my vision went dark for a second, and sparks flew. It was a shock, as if I had been hit hard on the head.

"'Top Secret New Project, Closing in on Project Grape!' it seems. The plan was apparently to leak it secretly from the company, make a fuss, and then make it easier to get the project approved. Did you know about this?"

I grit my teeth.

"...I was aware of it."

"Oh, really. It was sloppy, wasn't it? As if I wouldn't be checking major media outlets. The night Miyamoto-kun leaked the information, a report came in from the person in charge. 'There is such an insolent fellow, what shall we do?' they asked."

It was hard to breathe. I could feel my heart beating harder than usual.

As I thought, that was a potent poison. I shouldn't have touched it.

(Why, Miyamoto-san...!!)

I clenched my fist tightly. But it wasn't out of anger.

It was my own fault for not being able to control him, for not being able to fully persuade him. If I had been able to come up with some alternative plan at that time, maybe this wouldn't have happened.

"B-But that's about Grape, right? How does that lead to the freezing of Misukuro's development?"

That's right, these two projects are not directly related. They were only connected by human relationships, so there should be very few linking parts.

"That's obvious, isn't it?"

"Huh?"

The Managing Director went out of his way to come close to my side, patted my shoulder, and said.

"It's an example, to make an example of you."

"That's..."

I felt as if all the strength was draining from my body.

To crush a project that some people are dedicating their heart and soul to, with such a cruel method for such a reason. It's something that is completely beyond my comprehension.

From the beginning, I was never a match for him.

I thought I knew the Managing Director's power, his methods. But that was only on the surface; I didn't understand the essential part. His cruelty, to push through anything for his objective.

"Well, I was planning to crush the project from the beginning, but while I was wondering how to bring it out, someone was doing something sneaky behind my back, so I thought it would be really annoying if I just used that. And it turned out that way, right? See? You're angry, right?"

It wasn't anger. Rather, it was past that, a sense of hopeless despair and emptiness was spreading within me.

"Even if it's to make an example, I don't understand how it leads to the freezing of a project so important to the company. To say you were planning to crush it from the beginning, there must be another reason, right? I just can't understand it."

It was the last remaining question. Why does he act this way? I wanted to know that.

Without breaking his usual smirk, the Managing Director listened to my story without saying anything.

"It's a business, so I agree with bringing in stable work to balance revenue. But why is it so extreme? If you cut things off like this, all the creators' hearts will be bro..."

The Managing Director's expression changed.

From the smirking and grinning face it had been, to a face as cold as ice.

For a moment, it became something emotionless, enough to make even me tremble.

"Hearts will be..."

As I struggled to connect my words, the Managing Director suddenly opened his mouth.

"Hey, games... what purpose do they have in this world?"

"What purpose... They can be entertainment, they can move people's hearts as works of art, and I think they're something that can't be explained in a single word."

The Managing Director's face twisted greatly.

"How exaggerated! It's not such a grand thing. It's ridiculous that this world makes a major industry out of something so distorted, inefficient to create, and hopeless!"

It was a spitting, genuinely hateful tone from the bottom of his heart.

"That's why I wanted to change this company's game production. To cut costs, not produce things like creators, and to make things like a factory."

He chugged it all down and thrust the empty plastic bottle at me like a sword.

"And yet, Kawasegawa, she could never break free from the creator-led mindset. We talked so much about making something new, but she misunderstood and suffered on her own. As for Misukuro, I made her change course many times, but she kept opposing it, so I took this opportunity to show her the door."

"To her, with whom you've worked together... you say such things?"

"Yeah, because she didn't move as I wanted. It's only natural."

I had always assumed that those who make games fundamentally love games. But the person in front of me now held the complete opposite ideology towards games. It was more surprising than terrifying or threatening.

This person doesn't just see games as the enemy.

He sees everyone who loves games, likes them, and wants to make them as the enemy. And he intends to completely crush what he sees as the enemy.

(This is hopeless... this kind of thing.)

There was no way we could communicate. Because between him and me, there was no common language itself. To a person who doesn't know love, speaking of love won't move their heart even a millimeter.

Even though he said whatever he wanted, I couldn't say anything back. I should have been frustrated, I should have been angry, but being so completely crushed, and in front of an opponent beyond my comprehension, I no longer even had the will to resist.

My spirit was broken, to be honest.

"Oh, right, there's something I wanted to ask you."

To me, who remained silent, the Managing Director opened his mouth as if he just remembered something.

"You, that project... you haven't given up on it yet?"

He must be talking about Project Grape.

"I..."

I tried to answer.

How cool would it have been if I could have said with confidence, "I haven't given up yet."

But I couldn't continue the words after that.

Without an answer, I just looked at him. Not looking away was the best I could do.

"Well, good luck. I hope it comes to fruition."

In that moment, the tiny fragment of hope that remained, not even a millimeter, crumbled away so easily.

The Managing Director would surely come to crush that project with every means at his disposal, no matter what form it took to be revived. In a way that I, that we, could never overturn.

He was smiling. A challenging, and confident smile.

◇

I don't remember well how I ended the conversation. When I came to, I had left the Managing Director's office, was on the elevator going down, and was staring at my feet.

I was tired. I was really tired.

For a while now, the email notification sound hasn't stopped ringing. It's probably confirmations from various related parties and contacts from unsettled staff. But I no longer had the strength to respond.

It was a complete defeat. I had never been beaten down by something so much in the past. At this rate, I feel like I had more options when I was suffering at a sweatshop company.

"Haha... This is impossible."

On the way home, I even started to laugh. The difference in power was so great, it was so hopeless, that I was completely defeated from the bottom of my heart.

In a battered state, I transferred trains and headed home. The white light of the streetlights burned my eyes intensely. I feel like everything is directing hostility towards me.

I wonder if Kawasegawa had been experiencing this kind of hell all along. If so, she must have been feeling a pressure so heavy that it wouldn't have been strange if she had broken at any time.

"Kawasegawa..."

I think about contacting her, but stop myself from making the call. She probably doesn't want to talk to anyone right now. Because that's exactly how I was.

I somehow made it home and fell face down on the bed without even changing. I wonder if tomorrow will be a different world. My spirit was exhausted to the limit, to the point of even having such fantasies.

When I woke up, I was on the verge of being late. I hurriedly got ready and left the house to head to the company. I vaguely looked around, searching for Ichikawa-san's figure.

(She's... not here today.)

The person I wanted to see smiling and showing me the everyday, especially on a day like this, was not there that day. I get on the train and enter the building I'm now so familiar with.

Development Department 2 was in an uproar. Everyone was bustling about, busy with the aftermath, and I alone continued to dispassionately reply to emails and answer phone calls.

Kawasegawa was not there. The schedule just said "Going directly." She was probably out explaining the situation. Sakurai-san was on sick leave, and Kuroda was out on visits and hadn't come to the company.

Feeling lonely, I too was first swamped with dealing with it. I was worried about her and everyone else, but for now, it was all I could do to handle what was in front of me.

A mountain of inquiry emails had come to me as well. All of them were contacts after seeing that leak article. This amount was just for business-related matters, so the number of inquiries from users must have been even more enormous. My body trembled anew at the Managing Director's method of being able to create such a major incident through his own assertions.

In the end, I am a person with no power. In front of someone with real power, I understood just how powerless and hopeless I am.

He seems like he'll do something. The words Kawasegawa went to the trouble of saying were now just painful.

The work continued until evening. Everyone, with exhausted faces, left the company one by one.

The office grew strangely quiet. Since it was endless, I switched the phone to an automated message midway and decided to send out a form email as well.

There must be a big uproar on the internet. I don't even feel like looking at social media. It's probably that speculation is spreading based on crude and dubious sources. Right now, I couldn't be interested in anything in the world.

Eventually, the sun set and night came.

"Mm..."

Exhausted from responding, I had fallen asleep at my desk. I stretched big and looked around. There was no one left in the department, and it seemed I was the only one remaining.

I look at the scenery outside through the monitor. The moon is floating in the large window, and the streets of Tokyo are colored with light. The view from the high floor is somewhat inorganic and has a desolate feeling like a pasted image, but I thought it suited my current mood very well.

"Huh?"

A human figure was there, as if floating in that light.

Without turning on the monitor or anything, just sitting at the desk, they were there without moving a muscle.

I immediately knew who was sitting there.

"Kawasegawa... you were back?"

I approached and spoke to her.

"Just a little while ago. Sorry, for being late. Were you okay over there?"

"Yeah, well... about what you'd expect happened."

When I briefly contacted her, she let out a soft sigh.

"Thank you. Somehow, I didn't feel like coming back early. I had dinner outside and then just rested for a bit."

She slowly raised her face and gave a tired smile.

I noticed a faint redness on her face. It seemed she had been drinking. She was supposed to never touch alcohol when returning to the company, yet she had broken even that rule.

She must have been at her limit. I understand that painfully well.

"Um, Kawasegawa. There's something I need to apologize for."

"The leak? The one that Miyamoto-san tried to do and was used by the Managing Director..."

Did she already know everything?

"From whom?"

"From the Managing Director. He was kind enough to call me. 'You're lucky to have such good friends,' he said."

A groan almost escaped my throat. Does that person go that far to corner someone? Does he want to see them suffer and struggle so much?

"I'm truly sorry. In the first place, it was a commotion we caused."

When I apologized honestly, Kawasegawa slowly shook her head.

"No, the freezing of Misukuro isn't because of that. I don't know what the Managing Director said, but I think that was just the trigger."

Words that were quiet and emotionless, as if she had given up on something.

"Misukuro was doomed from a long time ago. I told you before, didn't I? Because of the difference in direction, the upper management meddled with it terribly, and each time I struggled to make adjustments."

Morale dropped, the specifications I had envisioned changed, and Misukuro gradually turned into a different work.

"I had such sweet expectations, thinking that if you came in and the wind changed, things might flow differently. But that didn't change things."

Kawasegawa stood up without a sound.

Her usual dignified appearance was gone, and she appeared somewhat frail, a faint presence that seemed like it could be swayed by the wind.

"For a long time, it was my dream."

With a small sigh, a self-deprecating smile appeared on her face.

"To create a work together with everyone. With such a large company, I was sure we could make something good. To that end, I built a track record, was entrusted with a department, and I was happy that the environment to finally do it was in place."

Kawasegawa took another step closer to me.

"But... I couldn't do anything. Even though I gathered everyone, all I could do were stopgap measures, and I couldn't make any moves to change the situation significantly... nothing..."

The moonlight illuminates her face.

"Kawasegawa..."

Foolishly, it was only then that I noticed. That something shining was trickling down her cheek.

"I thought I was trying my best. But... I hadn't done anything. I got carried away being told I was good at my job, and the only thing I was able to do was survive internal politics. Protecting the people involved, fighting for them, I couldn't do any of that...!"

Unconsciously, I had pulled her into an embrace.

"Ugh... hic... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

Kawasegawa's body was thin and delicate, and it radiated a strong heat. She must have been fighting with that heat all this time. But it was powerless before authority, and gradually the heat was taken away.

In front of the crushed her, I was surprisingly calm. No, perhaps it was more accurate to say that everything had been taken from me, and I had become completely blank.

We lost the battle. The difference in our strength was too great. Fighting any more would only increase our wounds in vain.

Right now, I want to let her exhausted heart rest, even just a little. As things are, it's a problem that comes before even talking about work.

(In order to reset, it might be good to make time to get away from work...)

It wasn't exactly a positive suggestion. In any case, we both wished to get away from this heavy reality.

"Hey, Kawasegawa."

Her tear-stained eyes stared at my face.

"Let's skip work."

"Huh?"

At the sudden suggestion, Kawasegawa's eyes changed to surprise. Ignoring it, I said,

"A lot has happened and I'm tired, so even if we work in this state... you know."

I smiled at her as if to say, "It's okay now."

"That's..."

Kawasegawa gave a momentarily bewildered look.

It was rare for her to have a proper break like the previous weekend. Even though the department had come to this, it was natural that she didn't feel like taking a break right away.

However, the shocking incident of Misukuro's development freeze was probably on a level that could shake even her feelings.

"...No, yeah. I understand."

She agreed to my proposal relatively easily.

"Yeah, then it's decided."

On one hand, I was relieved that she agreed to take a break, but on the other, I was sad that that Kawasegawa had her spirit broken to this extent.

But right now, there's nowhere to direct those feelings.

◇

Kawasegawa and I took a vacation. It was a complete weekday, a time when it would normally be difficult to take paid leave, but not a single voice of opposition or concern was raised.

That's because around the time we took our vacation, most of the members of the Development Department 2 also applied for leave. Having finished contacting all parties, they probably thought it was better to have a cooling-off period than to be exposed to noise.

"Everyone was tired, huh. It's natural, but..."

Kawasegawa sighed as she said that.

"Yeah, but I'm glad they took a break. Maybe as a result of our actions, it became easier for everyone else to take a break too."

At my words, Kawasegawa also nodded silently. As usual, her expression remained downcast.

She and I were out that day. I had invited her out to play, thinking it would be stressful to just spend the day cooped up at home.

"So that's how it is. Let's really forget about work today. Let's have a good time and then think about what to do next."

"Right..."

She nodded, but Kawasegawa's tone was still heavy. Well, it's unreasonable to expect someone to be cheerful after that situation.

But right now, it's better to force ourselves to do something else. That way, our minds will still be distracted, and we won't be holding our heads in regret.

──It's all over.

◇

Right after getting off at Suidobashi Station, there is a large amusement park. Along with the dome stadium next to it, it is a famous facility in the city center.

Not to mention the rides like roller coasters, the reason I wanted to come here was because there was an attraction that used the latest VR equipment.

The haunted house the other day was elaborately designed as a real event, but this time it's the type that captivates with technology.

"Look, this seems to be using Via's system. It looks like the kind that hasn't been released for personal use yet."

Under the familiar VR equipment logo, a code name indicating a special specification was written. It seems that being able to experience a world-class cutting-edge system in this way at an attraction has made it so popular that numbered tickets are required on holidays.

But on weekdays, it was, as expected, easier to use. Today too, we were able to use it easily without lining up, but...

"Hmm... I see."

Kawasegawa's reaction was, as expected, lackluster.

"Well, let's just try it. It's a rare opportunity, after all."

I bought a ticket and moved inside the facility as guided by the staff.

Inside was a room about the size of a small classroom. It was so empty you could call it a cavern, with nothing there but a device that looked like a control unit in the corner.

Looking around the room, Kawasegawa muttered.

"It looks like a motion capture room."

Indeed, it was very similar to the equipment I had touched at work.

I was a little worried that I had made her think about work, but it seemed to be just a simple comment.

As the two of us were looking around the room, the guide came up to us, and with a greeting, handed us tracking body parts.

"From now on, the two of you will put these on and wear goggles. The room is large, so you can move around as much as you like, but we will measure the general sense of distance first, so please get a feel for it there."

As told, I attach supporters and belts to my arms and legs.

When we had finished putting on the equipment, the guide began to explain the precautions.

"Okay, now please put on your goggles. After the count, a world will spread out before your eyes~"

We nodded and put on the goggles. In front of us, there were white characters indicating that it was starting up, and a real space, which seemed to be a camera view of the outside space, spread out.

"Here we go~ 3, 2, 1... Go!"

With the guide's signal, the real space projected in front of my eyes distorted with a "gunyari" and was sucked into the depths.

"W-Whoa!"

Kawasegawa couldn't help but cry out. It was a sensation so real that I could understand her reaction, as if the real world had truly become like that.

And then, a light slowly spread out before my eyes. The light separated into the sky and the ground, and the trees and rocks, which had been drawn in wireframe, were textured and gradually turned into realistic objects.

"Wow, amazing..."

I also let out my voice. I had already played home VR games several times, but this sense of immersion and production was something to be marveled at.

And furthermore,

"Kawasegawa, that outfit..."

In front of me was Kawasegawa, clad in a sage's robe.

"Huh... Ah, amazing, I look like this..."

The face part is properly scanned, and it's as if she's cosplaying.

She had seemed somewhat listless until a moment ago, but now, as if her interest had been piqued, she was captivated by her own outfit and the surrounding scenery.

"That's nice, it looks good on you."

It was a sincere compliment. Perhaps because it was tailored to her already good figure, she looked truly stunning as a sage.

I've never heard of Kawasegawa cosplaying, but if she had, I thought she might have gotten into it herself.

"Hashiba, you too."

I thought she would say it looks good on me, but instead,

"No, you... you look like you're being made to wear it."

"...Yeah, I think so too."

Me in my warrior outfit looked somehow weak and didn't look cool. I should start by going to the gym and building up my body someday....

However, it was a surprisingly realistic creation. The rod and sword in my hand, the wind blowing from somewhere, the chirping of small birds, even the fine details were those of a fantasy world, and it was a creation that showed the maker's dedication.

"You both look great! Now, I'll explain the rules~!"

The guide began to explain the game's rules.

The game was stage-based, and if you defeated a certain number of monsters on each stage, you would clear it and move on to the next stage.

The final stage was 5. If you cleared it successfully, you would be presented with original merchandise.

"Okay, now monsters will be attacking one after another from the front, so please work together to repel them~"

Immediately after the guide's announcement, an alert rang out, and from there, a horde of monsters rushed in.

"Whoa! W-Wait a minute, Hashiba! A lot of them are coming!"

Kawasegawa was quickly surrounded by the surging slimes.

"I'll cut them down from the edge, so you keep casting healing magic, Kawasegawa!"

"What! I don't know how to do that, eek! Take this!!"

In a cute voice unlike her usual self, Kawasegawa brandished her staff.

"Alright, good, my HP is back to normal with this!"

I swung with all my might and exterminated the slimes. After swinging 5 or 6 times, the mountain of slimes finally disappeared, and Kawasegawa breathed a sigh of relief.

A "Stage 2" display appeared in front, and immediately the next monster attacked.

"A mountain of goblins this time!"

Unlike the slimes, this time I couldn't defeat them in one go. It was designed so that you couldn't clear it unless you applied buffs at the right time and attacked.

"Hashiba! Back up a little! I'm going to cast an attack power up spell!"

"Got it!"

When I backed up a little, Kawasegawa swung the rod twice over her head and thrust it forward with a "hyaa."

"Alright, it worked!"

The sword I was holding shone brightly, clearly indicating an increase in attack power.

"Hyaah!!"

I waited for the goblins to surge forward, and then swung my sword in a wide arc. With a white light indicating a critical hit, the goblins fell one after another.

"We did it!"

Kawasegawa cheered upon seeing that. Before I knew it, her voice had completely regained its energy.

From her side, a new group of enemies was approaching.

"Kawasegawa, look right, right!"

"Huh? Kya, kyaaah!!"

She, who had been careless due to her sense of accomplishment, swung her rod with all her might. However, it was counted as a normal attack instead of a magic attack, and it didn't become the attack she had intended.

A red light blinked on and off, and Sage Kawasegawa's HP decreased.

"Damn it, aim for me, for me!"

I swung my sword to intimidate them and lured the horde of goblins.

I somehow managed to pull the goblins away from her, but in front of the horde of monsters that came surging like a wave, we were forced to be on the defensive, and it was game over before we knew it.

"Too bad! This time it ended in the middle of Stage 2! Please try again next time~!"

The guide's narration played, the scene changed in an instant, and the original inorganic room spread out before our eyes. Other than the sound of the air conditioning, all that could be heard were the panting breaths of the two of us who had been moving around.

"Damn it, that's frustrating... Is it this tough from the beginning?"

I thought for sure that the difficulty would gradually increase from stages 2 and 3, but it seemed to be a specification where it gets difficult all at once from stage 2, perhaps to shorten the play time. If I had known that, I could have prepared myself a little more, which is a shame.

(I want to do it again, but...)

When I quietly look at her,

"...Hashiba."

out of breath, Kawasegawa looks at me and says,

"One more time... shall we?"

I, of course, nod deeply and say,

"Of course!"

I immediately went to get the tickets reissued. The face of Kawasegawa that I glanced at was excited, just like a child's.

◇

"Good work!"

Kawasegawa and I toasted with our sports drink bottles.

"Hah, we made it to the end after all..."

After downing several mouthfuls at once, Kawasegawa looked back on the play with a face full of satisfaction. In the end, we continued until we cleared it all and managed to receive the prize.

"Yeah, but it was fun. It was well-made."

In fact, that sense of immersion was amazing. It was a creation that made you feel the future of VR games, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that a revolution had occurred in how they are presented.

...Or so I thought.

"I'm dissatisfied."

She, who should have been overflowing with the joy of clearing it, suddenly started to pout.

"Huh? You looked like you were having fun earlier."

"That's true, but that was only because of the worldview and interface. I understand that since it's in an amusement facility, it has to be based on short play times, but it's not worth the 2,000 yen per person. If that's the case, they need to make it a more profound play experience."

Finally, Kawasegawa began to explain, using gestures.

"Since they can make the attack and magic effects so well, instead of just standing still and waiting for the enemy to come, I wanted them to add exploration elements, and also foot movements. And as for the battles, just applying a buff to the sword and recovering HP is boring. If you don't create a barrier-like magic that makes you invincible for a certain period of time, or devise a hit-and-run strategy, it doesn't feel like you're conquering the stages even when they level up. Don't you think so?"

"U-Uh, yeah, that's right."

"Probably, at the stage where they put in the production that shows the world at the beginning, they must have thought, 'This is a winner.' But that's not good enough. If you don't bring in more common sense from regular games, it won't reach experienced users, and people who see a future in VR won't think, 'This is amazing.' In fact, even I wasn't satisfied, so this way..."

Having said that much, Kawasegawa finally realized something with a start and closed her mouth. I stared at her, dumbfounded.

Kawasegawa, looking embarrassed, averted her eyes for a moment and said in a small voice,

"I'm sorry, I kind of got carried away."

"It's fine, I was just thinking, 'That's Kawasegawa for you.'"

Even though she was so down, her eye for games was certain. I was happy to get a glimpse of that passion, or rather, pride.

"Amazing... that's not true, someone like me."

Kawasegawa muttered so and suddenly gazed into the distance.

Near the exit of the VR game booth, there was a game corner with a rest area and a line of old-fashioned arcade machines. The lineup was clearly old, and men much older than us, and enthusiasts who seemed to be retro game lovers, were playing sparsely.

"Hey, can I take a look?"

Kawasegawa said, pointing to that corner.

"Yeah, of course."

Thinking she was going to an unexpected place, I stood up.

The corner she headed for was lined with table-style arcade machines. Even among the old-fashioned lineup, the games placed there were even older, and it had become a space that no one approached.

"Nostalgic... it's still here."

Kawasegawa lovingly stroked one of the arcade machines.

The title "Poitto Baburun" is displayed. It's a minor falling-block puzzle game, supported by some enthusiastic fans, but a work of such a degree that there were no calls for its revival even during the revival boom.

She sat down in front of the arcade machine, quietly inserted a 100-yen coin, and gripped the lever. With a practiced hand, she selected the game mode and pressed the button.

"You know..."

Kawasegawa, looking a little embarrassed, moved the lever left and right with a "gacha."

"A long time ago, I had never touched games at all."

She slowly began to talk about her past.

Until she was a college student, she had always been bad with machines. Originally, she wanted to make movies and went to the Osaka University of Arts, where she continued to study mainly about film.

"Even when someone occasionally brought up games, I somehow looked down on them, thinking there was no way they could beat cinematic expression."

She entered the film industry after graduating from college, still having never given games a try. However, the film industry had long since become a declining industry, and there were no vibrant workplaces anywhere. What awaited her at the subcontracting production company was work far removed from creation.

"Every day, I was always tired. The people above me were always just bickering, and the only thing that came down to me were miscellaneous chores, and a lot of them. I'd go home on the last train, exhausted."

The nearest station to where she lived at the time. On the way home, there was a small bar. Since she could drink quietly alone without being spoken to by the regulars, it gradually became a habit to stop by on her way home from work.

"While drinking there every day, I started to observe the inside of the shop. And then, there was a game machine that was being used instead of a table."

That was "Poitto Baburun."

"I got curious about it while I was drinking. I asked the staff, and they said I could play it normally. So, I started playing on a whim, and that was the beginning."

At first, of course, the play ended in an instant. Watching the 100-yen coins being swallowed one after another, Kawasegawa's competitive spirit flared up.

"I made a chart of the tendencies of the falling bubbles, optimized the controls, and made it so I could clear the bubbles with as few movements as possible... and then, before I knew it, it had become like this."

Kawasegawa's hands moved quickly, like a skilled gamer's.

As if to mock the opponent character who was gradually speeding up, she cleared one stage after another.

"Amazing..."

"It's only this game. The others are so bad I can't show them to you."

Finally reaching the last level, she cleared it with ease, displayed the end credits, and took a breath.

"When I first saw the clear screen, I was so moved. Of course there was a sense of accomplishment, but I was so moved by the obvious fact that so many people are involved in making a game."

Planning, programming, character design. In the end credits, the names of many people scroll by one after another. Kawasegawa gazed at each one lovingly.

"I was made to realize what a truly foolish thing it is to criticize or distance oneself from a world one doesn't know. I learned that there are people working hard in this world too, and that they have an amazing amount of passion. I wanted to work hard there too, so I studied planning and applied for a mid-career position."

And so, she joined Succeed Soft.

"My passion for games grew stronger and stronger. But the company's circumstances didn't allow for it. I was taken in by the Managing Director and started to care only about internal politics. How can I survive? I started to think only about that balance, and the crucial matter of game creation was gradually left behind."

Kawasegawa drank up the entire contents of the plastic bottle and stared at the empty bottle.

"──When I realized it, there was nothing inside."

To make what I want to make. To create the environment. It's just a matter of endurance until then. As I told myself that and repeated things I didn't want to do, I forgot my original intentions.

It wasn't just her. It was a story I'd heard in various industries. And the warrior who forgot their original intention had only one of two paths left: to become a cripple or a berserker.

To succeed in creating a utopia and rank up to a hero. That was a fantasy.

"But I remembered."

With a faint glint accumulating in the corner of her eye.

Kawasegawa showed me a sparkling, fresh smile as if she had just been born, and said,

"I loved games."

With that, she hugged the empty plastic bottle with both hands.

When I joined Succeed, I remembered again the words she had said to me.

I joined this company saying that I love games. She told me not to forget that feeling.

Let's work together someday──. Those words made my heart skip a beat.

Starting with chores, I kneaded the Grape project. I helped with Misukuro, and now, my heart is once again swayed by her feelings.

"I still want to make something. I want to make... a game. To have them do whatever they want with it like that, and then to do nothing, it's frustrating, so frustrating...!"

Kawasegawa said, in a voice as if squeezing it out.

And then, she crushed the plastic bottle with great force and held it up high like a rod. The light from the window reflected off it, and it sparkled.

And then she slowly turned towards me.

"Hashiba, will you... help me?"

I thought that finally, the opportunity had come.

The opportunity to work with Kawasegawa.

I had nothing. The position I was lucky enough to obtain was a gift from this dutiful girl in front of me.

Seeing such passion from that same Kawasegawa, there was no way I wouldn't feel anything. In my heart, which had been burned completely white, a fire was suddenly lit.

Even I must have thought so in the past. I want to make games. I want to be as engrossed in making them as I was in playing them.

"Of course. I won't let it end like this."

I muttered once more, with determination.

"...Thank you."

The light had returned to Kawasegawa's eyes as well.

"Just you wait, Managing Director! I'll definitely get you back!!"

It was a cry from the heart. The people in the game corner were looking this way in surprise. Paying no mind to that, I also stood up with great force.

"Just watch! I'll definitely do something about it!"

As evening approached, with the setting sun at our backs, we slowly began to walk. Unlike when we came here, we walked with confidence, as if turning that light into an aura.

It's not that I have some kind of power. That hasn't changed, but I'm sure that passion will become a great power.

For Kawasegawa's sake, and for the sake of games, I will fight with all my might.

◇

The fever didn't break the entire way home.

Neither of us said anything. We didn't make future plans or discuss anything specific. What was born was only passion, and an indomitable spirit.

But that was fine. For now, that was enough. More than anything, it was because something I thought had been lost was revived.

I got off at Yurigaoka Station and walked down the road illuminated by the setting sun. Even the path I should have been used to walking felt somehow proud now. It felt like I was treading firmly on the final path where the last boss awaits, confirming my steps.

About a few dozen meters from my house, I stopped. If this were an RPG, this is where a big event would be set up. And just as expected, standing there waiting for me at the very end was someone.

"Miyamoto-san."

Illuminated by the streetlight, his figure was clearly visible even from a distance. But if we're talking about just his appearance, he was so different from how he usually looked. His beard was unshaven, his hair was a wild mess, and only his eyes were gleaming, watching me.

"Hashiba."

It was a raspy, yet clear voice. As I approached, when I was just a few steps away, he dropped to his knees with great force.

"There is something I must apologize for."

I also knelt and placed a hand on Miyamoto-san's shoulder.

"I heard from the Managing Director. I'm sorry, it's all because I didn't act."

For a moment, Miyamoto-san showed a surprised face, then forcefully pressed his head to the ground.

"W-What are you doing!?"

"I'm so sorry! I... I was a fool!"

No matter how much I tried to make him get up, Miyamoto-san wouldn't move for a while.

"Please raise your head. That's enough now."

When he finally raised his head, he then opened his mouth forcefully.

"What do you mean 'that's enough'? Misukuro ended up like that, and Department 2 is practically disbanded. The only thing I can do is prostrate myself."

"Is there nothing? Really?"

When I asked, Miyamoto-san bitterly struck his own knee with his fist.

"There is! I want to make that damn director suffer, and if I can, I want to help the guys he screwed over! But now, there are no methods left..."

As he spoke, Miyamoto-san looked up at me.

"Don't tell me, Hashiba, do you have something? A way to put a dent in him?"

I smiled brightly and declared.

"There's nothing."

"There isn't!?"

Miyamoto-san hung his head in disappointment again.

"...There isn't, but I'll think about it from now. I will come up with something."

"What are you talking about, you couldn't come up with anything before."

"I will come up with something, this time for sure."

It was strange.

There was no basis for it, just like before. It wasn't that I had suddenly become brilliant, nor were ideas popping up one after another. And yet, within me, a strong heart with a sense of conviction was now confidently present.

Passion is important. Just having it can make a person endlessly positive, and even in a pessimistic situation, one can move on to the next thing. No matter how hard a mind works, if that passion is lost, it's over.

I had obtained that now. So there was nothing to fear.

"Haha, how strange."

Miyamoto-san laughed.

"It's not like you said anything convincing, but looking at your face, Hashiba, I feel like maybe we can still do it. Even though we have nothing left."

"That's why there is something. We just haven't found it yet."

I said, helping Miyamoto-san's body up.

"Miyamoto-san, I have a favor to ask."

"Of me... what is it?"

I grinned and said,

"About that prostration earlier, if you feel even a little bit sorry towards me, could you work with me for a while?"

Miyamoto-san's eyes widened in surprise.

However, without almost any pause,

"Alright, command me as you like. I'll move however you want."

He laughed back with those challenging eyes.

◇

The following week. Our daily lives returned. Of course, what we had to do was clean up after the development freeze. But we intentionally wrapped up that work early.

The reason, of course, was the strategy meeting for what's to come. Miyamoto-san handled the arrangements, like choosing the location and making contacts.

At a Chinese restaurant in Shinjuku, the key members of the 2nd and 13th Development Departments were gathered around a large round table.

Miyamoto-san, Kojima-san, Sakurai-san, Kuroda, Kawasegawa, and me.

Once everyone was gathered, Miyamoto-san first bowed his head to everyone.

"In this recent turmoil, my rash actions have led to an irreversible situation. I deeply apologize for that."

He had shaved his beard and returned to his usual neat face. However, his expression was still stiff.

"It can't be helped. All of this is that damn director's fault. And besides, Miyamoto-san, there's one mistake in what you said."

At Kuroda's words, Miyamoto-san tilted his head.

"A mistake...?"

"Yeah. The part about it being 'irreversible.' After all, from now on, we're all going to work to get it back."

Everyone there grinned and nodded. Miyamoto-san also gave a wry smile.

There were members meeting for the first time, but strangely, there was no sense of distance.

"A bond connected by the Managing Director, I guess. I'm grateful for that alone."

Kojima-san laughed at Kuroda's words.

"That's not it. Even without someone like him, with a group as interesting as this, we would have met somewhere, I'm sure."

I thought so too.

All the people from Succeed Soft here are people who love games, and that's why they gathered to make games.

The fact that we are all gathered here like this now, I think there was some kind of connection. Even if that was triggered by that accident.

"But even a bastard like him has a sharp mind. We all need to think of a strategy to take him down."

"Yeah, I don't think it'll be that easy. If it were something we could think of right away, he would have seen it coming."

Kojima-san and Kawasegawa sighed in unison. That's right, it's precisely because it won't be easy that I gathered everyone like this.

Miyamoto-san opened his mouth.

"This time, with the outrageous scheme the Managing Director's side has set up, I think everyone here has suffered terribly."

"That's right, to think they would freeze the Misukuro project itself..."

Sakurai-san shows a face on the verge of tears. Miyamoto-san nods and says,

"He's an opponent who doesn't hesitate to do things that are that far out of the ordinary. In that case, unless we also pull off a considerable feat, I don't think we can get to a point where we can outsmart him. Of course, I won't do what I did again."

Everyone seemed to agree with this as well.

"Even so. Even if we spread fake news to shake up the Managing Director from the outside, he probably has countermeasures for that kind of media."

When Kuroda said this resentfully,

"Using the media will be fundamentally difficult. He had influence in high places."

Miyamoto-san answered. He probably investigated after that incident.

I too, from around the time I joined Development Department 2, had been asking Hayakawa and others to investigate the Managing Director. It's not that we found a weakness, but we had grasped to some extent that attacking here would be a waste of effort.

"What about relationships with women, or dealings with anti-social forces... nothing like that?"

"Seems not, it's clean. So clean it's almost creepy."

We had already investigated Kojima-san's question as well. The fact that he had engaged in so much scheming yet left no trace of having joined hands with that kind of pressure group was proof of his skill.

We talked it over for a while after that, but as expected, it wasn't easy to find a solution. But if we don't find some clue here, things will just keep going the way the Managing Director wants.

"But to hate games that much, is there some reason for it...?"

"Who knows, maybe he had a rebellious feeling towards the company his old man ran? I honestly didn't like my old man's job either."

Kuroda answers Sakurai-san's simple question. Surprisingly, it was plausible that such a personal experience was the cause.

"But if he hates games that much, he should just change the company name already. How long does he plan on keeping the Succeed Soft name?"

Kuroda was indignant.

Well, he's probably in the process of doing that right now. If what Hayakawa said before is true, it seemed he wants to shift to a company focused on software development other than games.

"Just as the Managing Director wants, huh..."

Since he has an ideology of eliminating games at his core, it's nearly impossible to bend that. That said, it seems difficult to win over the group of presidents who oppose him.

The game board continues to move as the Managing Director wishes. No matter how we move, he always makes the first move. That's because he controls the rules and always knows what's on the board.

(I want to somehow create a place that the Managing Director can't see, but...)

A point that would be a blind spot from his perspective. If we could devise a strategy there, we could avoid interference. However, even the leak to the media, which seemed like it could be that blind spot, was as good as naked before him.

Is there something, isn't there something?

"Damn it, this is infuriating. If this were a card game, I'd flip the board."

Miyamoto-san muttered with anger.

Flip over...?

At Miyamoto-san's words, there was a click as if something had fallen into place.

We have always operated within one big rule. It is precisely because that rule is absolute that the Managing Director has acted as a tyrant and continued to win.

But that was under the condition that we were on the same board.

For example, if there were a method like picking up the board and flipping it completely over.

Dizzily, the events up to now began to spin in my head. Projects, meetings, ideas, media, events, passion—I turned them over one by one and reviewed them.

And then.

Within me, they finally... came together.

"Miyamoto-san, that might be it."

"Huh, what is?"

"The strategy to defeat the final boss. Until now, we've only been thinking about walking into the demon king's castle to attack. But that was no good."

"Wh-What are you talking about?"

"You fight a castle with a castle. I see, that was it!"

I took Miyamoto-san's hands and gripped them tightly. Then, looking around at everyone,

"I've come up with an idea that might let us win."

"R-Really!?"

Kuroda shot to his feet.

"What on earth is it...?"

Kawasegawa looked somewhat anxious.

"Honestly, I won't know if it will work until we try it. But I think the effect if it does work will be greater than any method we've considered so far."

I looked at everyone again, as if for confirmation,

"I'm going to explain now, so could you please listen for a bit?"

Everyone nodded with a solemn expression.

This is probably the first and last chance. Finding a timing where everything clicks together so strangely, my heart was secretly pounding.

But that was including the damage if we failed. If luck were to turn its back on us, everything would be over at that point.

──Calm down, think it through carefully.

While telling myself this, I began to explain the plan to everyone.

◆

The season changed, and it became May. The people who were making a fuss about Misukuro had all quieted down, and I was living my daily life in an anticlimax.

(It's going so smoothly it's boring.)

It's a pain to be fussed over, but having no news is also boring.

"Managing Director, I will now give my report..."

"Ah, go ahead. Begin."

When I nodded, the staff member who came to report started flipping through documents and speaking.

There is a newly launched project. It would be troublesome if people in the company found out, so I rented a separate tenant, created a department there, and had them work, but finally, a report has come in.

The 14th Development Department. It's the number after the execution room, but I've assembled an elite team that is incomparable to them. They are, without a doubt, a group that can get the job done. I wonder if I should call it a world reborn after the execution.

"This time, Development Department 14 is working on the development of educational software, promoting cooperation with the Ministry of Education, and hopes to expand into new business. While keeping costs to a minimum, by firmly establishing a workflow, in-house development has also become possible. Next, regarding the delivery date──"

The manager is reporting dispassionately. He has always been a man who can look at numbers calmly. Even if he leaves the game development job, this man will surely become my hands and feet.

"As expected of Horii-san. He's different from someone who gets carried away by emotion."

When I clapped my hands in praise, he stared at me and said,

"Managing Director, what you promised, please."

"Promised... ah, about securing employment?"

"Yes," Horii replied briefly.

"This time, I agreed to transfer to Development Department 14 because of the promise that the kids who were left out of Departments 13 and 2 would ultimately have their employment guaranteed in our department. Please, I beg you."

"It's fine, I remember that much, at least."

Well, remembering and doing are two different things.

"We have another appointment soon, so is that all for the report?"

"Yes, well then, excuse me."

Horii bowed politely and left the room.

"As always, Horii-san is ridiculously polite."

That's probably why he's so popular, but he's a little too nice, or rather, too trusting.

"Someone like me would betray you in a heartbeat, you know."

I press the intercom button and contact the secretarial division.

"Good work. Managing Director, it's about time to head to the venue."

"Ah, that's right. Shall we go?"

I grab my jacket and head to the floor below. It looks like it's going to be a long day.

◇

On the way to Makuhari, I asked my secretary in the car.

"Is the booth ready in time?"

"Yes, we have canceled the planned exhibition for Misukuro and are now shifting to promoting our new business. However, as it is possible that users will flock to us following the development freeze, we plan to distribute free apology gifts."

"Well, as long as you give them something, the complaints will lessen a bit. That's fine. So, what about the introduction of other works?"

"Yes, considering the position of the old development team, we have included some introductions in that area, but..."

"Is the old man yelling about something again?"

"No, there are no noticeable movements. However, he did say that he would like to talk about the Misukuro incident again at a later date."

"Got it, I'll talk to him."

He barely even looks at the actual workplace anymore, yet he loves to meddle in company affairs. He's no longer involved in the actual management, so I wish he'd just stay quiet.

"That old fool... I'll definitely kick him out."

It's still too early now. I'll prepare carefully, lay the groundwork, and kick him out of the company at the perfect time.

Outside the window, the Wangan Expressway was under a slightly cloudy sky. Fools say they like clear weather, but cloudy days are more comfortable with less bothersome sunlight. I think this kind of sky is the most comfortable to live in.

"By the way, in the end, did the guys from Department 2 do anything?"

"Yes, the 2nd Development Department? We had an investigation just in case, but absolutely nothing."

"Oh, I see. How boring, surprisingly."

I opened the window and let in the outside air.

For all the brave talk, in the end, they did nothing. For all their talk of love and passion, were they in the end just parasites on the company, spouting insolence?

"Hashiba Kyouya, huh."

When Kawasegawa brought him in, I thought he might be a little interesting. Unlike a born creator like Kuroda, Hashiba could look at numbers calmly. I had hoped that with this intelligence, he could be useful in this project of ours.

And yet, he repeatedly did unnecessary things we didn't want, like needlessly raising the motivation of Department 13, where we had isolated troublesome employees, and raising the morale of Department 2, which we should have emasculated. So, I called him in directly and put him in his place.

Well, as a result, he became quiet, so he was probably a spineless fellow after all.

"How boring."

"Yes, um, shall I put on some music or something?"

"I don't need it. Just leave me alone."

My direct subordinates are obedient and don't think, so their reactions are less than hitting a tennis ball against a wall, which is extremely boring. Isn't there anyone who will respond if I hit them?

Eventually, Kawasegawa will probably scream that she has nothing to do, so then I'll just play around by giving her and taking away tasks as I please. Toying with talented human resources is the best entertainment for someone on the management side.

My old man foolishly says that human resources are treasure, but that's wrong. Treasure is the best kind of existence that doesn't say useless things and only increases in value, but human resources rot quickly and go wherever they please. It's best to play with such things while they still have value.

"Managing Director, we will be arriving soon."

I gave a light nod, looking annoyed.

◇

The Game Expo is the largest game announcement event in the country. It uses the entire Makuhari exhibition hall, where domestic and international manufacturers gather all at once to introduce upcoming software and hardware.

This, too, is an event that seems to be a concentration of waste. They spend over ten million yen to build a booth to promote a single piece of software, and naturally, they tear it down when the event is over. If you make it simple, people complain that you're not spending money and that it's a piece of junk, and if you do spend money, people complain that you should spend it on the main game. What am I supposed to do?

To escape from such troublesome types, I want this to be the last time I participate in an event like this. The scale of our exhibition will probably be reduced from next year onwards, anyway.

"Managing Director, this way."

The car arrived, and I entered the booth's waiting area. I was told there was still time before I had to go on stage to give my speech, so I sat down on a chair and decided to wait for my turn.

Partly because it was early in the morning, I felt very sleepy. I closed my eyes, thinking it would be okay to sleep a little.

I thought it would be fine to do so for about an hour, when...

"President Oomichi of Georide is here to see you."

"How troublesome. Alright, I'll go out."

Apparently, that wasn't going to be the case.

Georide was an emerging app maker, with a mid-sized real estate management company as its parent company; a straightforward company that would do anything as long as it made money.

"Matsuhira-san! It's been a long time!"

"Hello. It's been two weeks, hasn't it? We met at the manufacturers' social gathering."

"Oh! Was that so? It was surprisingly recent! But no, if it's the Managing Director, I'd like to see your face every week, haha!"

In short, this was the kind of company where this kind of person was the president. An ultra-black company with seniority-based systems only in convenient parts, strict adherence to 8 AM start times, no flex time, drinking parties, sports days, morning assemblies, quotas, and where sales were valued above all else—something you don't see much these days.

The president is apparently from the karate club, but this year's New Year's card had a photo of the president himself breaking 20 roof tiles at that very moment. Is the entire company putting on a Showa-era comedy sketch?

"A wonderful booth again this year! It's big and splendid. We hope to be this big someday!"

"Your company is also splendid, isn't it? You have 10 booth companions."

"Well, we do want to have some beauties in that area! If we choose randomly, no one will take our flyers! Haha!"

I wish this old man would go home soon.

I can't stand this sexually harassing old man one bit, but he has a track record of being super excellent in dispatching integrators, so as a company, we have to treat him well. It's all so troublesome.

"By the way, have you seen Be-Craft's booth?"

"No, not yet. Did something happen?"

Be-Craft is a fellow game maker, a company much more established than ours. They handle not only games but also the production of anime and toys, a huge corporation about twice our size.

But from my perspective, it had the impression of an old-fashioned company. I've heard rumors of a capable director who is said to be the next president, but the stubborn president, who is called a demon, won't abandon their stance on valuing tradition, making it appear as though they're behind in shifting their business operations.

Being that kind of maker, I can't imagine them planning anything new...

"Oh, you didn't know? My goodness, with an announcement like that, I thought a deal had already been struck behind the scenes."

"...Huh? An announcement?"

There's no connection between us and Be-Craft. We shouldn't have any business partnership deals either. If it's an announcement big enough to make the news, it's abnormal for me not to know.

Something is clearly wrong. Something is happening that I am not aware of.

"President."

"Yeees! What is it?"

"Excuse me for a moment, I just remembered an urgent matter, so I must be going."

"Ah, um, Managing Director...?"

Leaving President Oomichi stunned as his conversation partner suddenly disappeared, I went around to the front of the booth.

It's certainly noisy. It should be a time when the venue has just opened, yet a large number of visitors were pointing at a booth right next to Succeed's and making a commotion. Unless there's a really big announcement, something like this shouldn't happen.

"What are they looking at?"

I poked my head out from among the users and looked in the direction they were looking.

And then,

"...Hah."

I finally grasped what was happening.

Be-Craft's booth was right across the aisle from ours. A giant monitor was in the center of the stage, and on it, along with loud sound, the words "Super Epic RPG, Launching" and the names of its creators were displayed.

Scenario, Kawagoe Kyouichi.

Character Design, Akishima Shino.

Theme Song, N@NA.

As the familiar lineup was revealed, the murmur of the crowd grew louder and louder. Smartphone flashes went off repeatedly, and some people were even taking pictures alternating between our booth and Succeed's.

I watched the scene in silence. I couldn't help but see this frenzied event as a fantasy or something.

"M-Managing Director! S-Something terrible has happened."

The secretary came running in from somewhere, flustered.

"U-Um, at Be-Craft's booth, um...!"

"I know. You can tell just by looking at it."

He must have been in a great hurry, as the secretary was looking back and forth between the two booths, seemingly confused. What a pathetic guy.

"Hurry up and make arrangements so that this doesn't spread as an article."

"Th-That's, Managing Director..."

The secretary showed me an article on a portal site displayed on his smartphone.

"At the same time this booth was unveiled, these articles were all uploaded at once... and, it's difficult to say, but it is thought that there was some kind of setup."

"Hmm, I see. Well then, it's fine."

I checked the topic on my smartphone.

The portal sites of major media, summary blogs, social media, everything is filled with this topic. It's a scandalous topic, and yet one that raises expectations.

Still, a grandiose teaser movie continued to play in front of me. At the final scene, where various sales pitches came out one after another, I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Kawase... gawa?"

That Kawasegawa had appeared at the end of the teaser movie, in charge of direction. Naturally, the name Succeed Soft was not mentioned there at all.

The only one who could pull something like this off is probably him.

"Not bad... Hashiba Kyouya."

A smile escaped my lips without thinking.

An opponent I could crush thoroughly, without hesitation or reservation. It was a smile of joy at having found one. For me, who had only been given toys that broke as soon as I hit them, this was a pet that would bite back, a stag beetle that would fight back with its pincers even when caught.

I was getting thrilled. I wonder what kind of voice he would make if I hit him with all my might. I want to see him cry and scream and beg for forgiveness. It had been a long time, no, it was the first time I had an opponent I felt that way about.

"That's right, if you don't do at least this much, it's not interesting, is it?"

◆

Time goes back two months to March, to a conversation at that Chinese restaurant.

At the beginning of my explanation of the plan I had devised, I first declared.

"We will continue the development of Misukuro."

Immediately, question marks appeared on everyone's faces.

"No, you, what are you talking about?"

As if it were natural, Kuroda threw out a question.

"The project freeze was decided by the board of directors, the budget has already been cut, and we're in the middle of wrapping things up. How are you going to restart it now?"

"That's right, restarting it would be difficult, or rather, impossible."

At my frank answer, everyone tilted their heads.

"As you all know, it's impossible to continue development at Succeed. But we want to continue development. Therefore, my proposed strategy is to prepare a different stage."

Kuroda reacted with a surprised face.

"...Don't tell me, you, at another company..."

"That's right, I'm thinking of continuing development at a company other than Succeed Soft."

A murmur arose among everyone.

"But is that even possible? Even if it's frozen, it's not like they've abandoned the IP. I don't think the Managing Director would allow that..."

At Kawasegawa's words, I also nodded and said,

"Of course, transferring the project would be difficult. So I haven't considered that from the beginning."

"Then, what do you intend to do...?"

I looked around at everyone again and said,

"I want you to think about it. Misukuro originally had something that preceded the title. I noticed that."

When I had said that much, Miyamoto-san stood up from his chair.

"I see, you... you intend to launch a completely new work with the members of that Platinum Generation."

I nodded deeply.

"Yes. To plan a game with the exact same lineup and pitch it to other companies. That is the strategy I devised."

A bigger murmur arose than before.

The world of TV games is known not only for its manufacturers and titles, but also for the significant influence of the names of the creators involved.

The same was true for Misukuro; it was more often referred to as "the one with character designs by Akishima Shino" or "the one with a scenario by Kawagoe Kyouichi" than by its title, Mystic Clockwork.

Of course, we will never use the name Misukuro in our promotions, nor will we hint at it. The idea is to leave no room for Succeed to attack us, and to compete solely on user speculation.

"Interesting. If we can announce it at a good time, we'll probably be able to generate a lot of buzz. If the people around us automatically turn it into big news, that's also convenient."

Kuroda seemed to be on board.

However, Kawasegawa still seemed to be troubled.

"But I wonder if anyone will raise their hand... Considering the relationship with Succeed Soft, I think any manufacturer would hesitate."

Her concern was understandable. The freezing of that project was already a hot topic among users and manufacturers.

Would any place readily accept a work by staff with such a history, just because it would be a topic of conversation? They would definitely be glared at by Succeed, and if they messed up the PR, there could even be a risk of a lawsuit.

"Of course, I think it will be a tough fight. But by approaching the manufacturers who seemed willing to cooperate on production, as we had asked Kojima-san and the others to do beforehand, I think we can save some time."

Kojima-san nodded and said,

"That's right, I don't think we'll be turned away at the door, at least. But."

"Yes, it's different from production cooperation. I don't expect it to work out on the first try."

Unless you have very strong connections, it would be difficult to get a story through in a short time.

"Let me handle that part."

Smoothly, Miyamoto-san raised his hand.

"It's not a sure thing, but I have some old acquaintances who are now in important positions. I can at least get the conversation started with them."

"Really? That's a huge help!"

It should be much more advantageous than starting a conversation from scratch.

"But Miyamoto-san, to do that means..."

For a moment, I closed my mouth.

To bring up such stories with multiple manufacturers would naturally carry the risk of the Managing Director finding out. As it is, Miyamoto-san is already in a precarious position within the company because of the leak.

"Don't worry about me. Or rather, since I've done something that would be fine to get fired for, my life is as good as thrown away. I'll entrust it to you, Hashiba."

"...I understand."

From the day we talked in front of my house, Miyamoto-san's mind must have been made up.

In order not to waste his resolve, it is necessary to get this project approved and at the same time, to sell Miyamoto-san and other key staff to that manufacturer.

And one more major confirmation item for proceeding with this operation.

"So that's the situation, Kawasegawa... Do you approve?"

Kawasegawa, who had always had stronger feelings for Misukuro than anyone else.

If we use this method, even if we succeed, the name Misukuro will disappear. Even if the substance is inherited, it will still be a new work. Whether she can proceed with that understanding.

As everyone's eyes gathered on her, Kawasegawa, with her usual dignified expression, said,

"Of course. I want to bet on that hand."

Almost at the same time, we nodded at each other.

I knew that the time had come to direct the passion we had accumulated together on that vacation.

"If everyone else is okay with it, I'm planning to start moving from today... is that alright?"

Everyone nodded strongly in unison. The expressions that had been covered in sadness and despair were already nowhere to be seen.

"Alright, let's get moving."

I declared forcefully, and we moved on to the next stage.

We proceeded at full speed towards the contract conclusion. I don't know how Miyamoto-san got the story across, but the other party was enthusiastic from the beginning, and things were moving along swiftly.

But I still felt the speed was slow. Faster, I had to hurry more, or I wouldn't make it in time for that.

◇

A week after the meeting, while everyone was running around, I was finally able to get in touch with a certain person and talk to them at a certain place.

"To think he'd come using a fake name, Miyamoto's lost his mind."

"I'm sorry. I really wanted to ask for your cooperation."

"Me...? I thought you wouldn't even want to see my face anymore."

Funabashi-san let out a deep sigh. No matter how many times I called, she was out, and when I went to her company directly, they wouldn't put me through. It was clear that some kind of pressure was being applied.

"First, I'd like to ask, the fact that I couldn't get in touch with you for so long, could it be..."

"Just as you imagine. Managing Director Matsuhira, his orders."

So that was it, after all.

"I was a fool for only realizing it after I started moving, but Matsuhira has a lot of influence with major media. He's not bad-looking and he's a good talker, so he's popular. Naturally, he had strong links with the upper management of our company."

One day, while working with Miyamoto-san to leak Grape, Funabashi-san was suddenly called by her boss.

"It was so straightforward it was laughable. 'Don't publish this article. Instead, I've got a huge scoop, so use this,' he said."

"And that was the freezing of Misukuro's development."

"Yes," Funabashi-san said, tapping the ash from her cigarette with her finger.

"For the company, even if it's a Succeed project, a scandal involving a blockbuster that everyone knows is better than a project made by a development team they don't know well."

"And you followed that, Funabashi-san."

When I asked that, Funabashi-san's expression hardened, and she said,

"Followed? You've got to be kidding me. I kicked my desk and we had a huge fight, saying I'd publish this one too."

"I-I apologize for my rudeness."

"Well, in the end, I lost. Suspension from work, don't get involved in any new articles for a while, and ignore all inquiries, personal ones of course shut out. That's the whole story of that leak incident."

Funabashi-san had been fighting in her own way. But, as expected, the Managing Director's power was strong, and the Grape leak plan was crushed, and Misukuro was sentenced to crucifixion.

"I'm sorry for putting you through such a terrible experience."

"It's fine, I was prepared for it the moment I took that on."

She cut off the conversation casually and said,

"So? You didn't just come to hear the truth about the incident today, did you?"

I nodded deeply at her question.

"We want you to cooperate with us. I think it has value as a scoop as well. Now, the details..."

The next moment, as I opened the document to explain.

"It's fine, you don't have to explain."

She pressed down on the document with her hand and said,

"I'll take that story. I'll cooperate, so just give me the necessary information."

She accepted it so readily.

"Wh-What, um, are you sure? This is content that could make an enemy of the Managing Director, or rather, Succeed Soft. Even more than the previous article, leaking this carries risks..."

"You're trying to say I might get fired, right? That's fine, bring it on. I'll slam down my resignation letter along with the article."

Funabashi-san said with a chuckle.

"Don't underestimate a reporter. I'll get this story through no matter what. Leave it to me."

I was genuinely grateful. This operation, of course, would have an impact just by being brought out into the open, but to spread the topic, in other words, to make it go viral, we needed the power of the media.

But without a plan, the Managing Director would surely move to control the information. So, getting the cooperation of someone in the media here was really a big deal.

"I know what you're aiming for. You want to make it in time for the Game Expo, right?"

"You are absolutely right. Matching it to that will decide the success or failure of this plan."

Yes, that was precisely the reason why we were proceeding with everything so quickly. Having experience supporting public relations work, I also knew by what time we needed the information.

"That's why I also made the fastest decision. I'm expecting an interesting release."

If they can move forward with that understanding, it's even better.

"So, there's only one condition for accepting."

Funabashi-san grinned, her mouth stretching as if it would tear, and said,

"Beat the crap out of that bastard Matsuhira with this incident. That's the condition."

"U-Understood!"

◇

We created materials like the movie and title logo at a rapid pace, and while stretching the submission deadline, we somehow managed to make it just in time, with about a week to spare.

While Kuroda and the others were getting the art assets in order, I was visiting a certain person to give a report.

"This is the first time we've talked like this."

"Yeah, well, I'd like this to be the last time for something like this."

The other person was Kawagoe Kyouichi.

Since the announcement of the production freeze, contact with him had been completely cut off for a time. It wasn't his fault, but because of the successive turmoil within the manufacturer, the publisher had issued an NG and requested that we not make contact.

It was a reasonable story, so I also refrained from contacting him for a while.

"But I'm glad I can finally report to you like this."

Be-Craft was amused by Kawagoe's initial project proposal and even said, "Let's give this a solid form."

So I wanted to be the first to tell him in person. That the reason this was rejected was simply because the upper management at the time had no eye for it, and because they were having a troublesome off-field battle, but that finally, I was able to prove it.

"Specifically, I'll talk about the future plans."

What we did this time was not a project transfer after coming to an agreement with Succeed Soft, but a complete rebuilding of the project after replacing all the externals.

Therefore, there were many things, such as character names and setting names, that we could no longer use. I sincerely apologized for that point.

However, as for the things that were already rejected and could be freely moved, like the initial project proposal from earlier, the contract stated that Kawagoe was free to do as he pleased. Therefore, in this new work, we were able to use them abundantly.

"I'm glad it worked out somehow. If the project had disappeared as it was, honestly, I wouldn't have been able to face you, Sensei."

Kawagoe Kyouichi listened to my story in silence, but eventually,

"Hey."

he suddenly spoke to me.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Why can you go that far?"

The meaning was different, but they were almost the same words I had said to the Managing Director.

"This project's re-submission, there was a good chance you, Hashiba-kun, might not have been involved, right? And yet, you and the other staff worked so hard to make it happen. Was there some reason for that?"

As he said, just because the production company changed didn't mean there was any guarantee that we would slide over and be in charge of production. But when I came up with this idea and it seemed like it could be realized, I chose it without hesitation.

Because,

"Because it would be a waste not to release something this interesting to the world."

That's right, what Kawagoe Kyouichi creates is overwhelmingly interesting.

That's precisely why the upper management, including the Managing Director, who were trying to interfere and make things boring, and lower motivation, were so infuriating.

"I don't think you can create things based on interests alone."

If I had been pursuing only that, I would have quit this job a long time ago.

But I didn't quit. No matter how many terrible things happened to me, I had the will to think, "next time."

I think that was the fun of creating things.

"...I see."

Kawagoe Kyouichi nodded and stood up. I also picked up the bill and headed for the register. As I was paying, he suddenly said something.

"...Tsurayuki."

"Huh? Did you say something?"

"Rokuonji Tsurayuki. That's my real name. Kawasegawa and Kuroda, my old friends, all call me by my real name, and of course, we talk informally."

Come to think of it, I vaguely remember Kuroda calling him that.

The depth of the connection from their student days, or rather, a relationship I couldn't step into, a relationship that I felt I could never obtain no matter what, I was honestly envious.

"Hashiba, you do the same, please."

"Huh?"

"Rokuonji or Tsurayuki, ah, but I don't really like my last name, so if you could, please use my first name. I'll also call you informally, so you too... please."

As I received the receipt and change, I stood there dumbfounded for a while.

Kawagoe Kyouichi... no, Tsurayuki, said, a little shyly.

"Let's keep making things together from now on, Hashiba... no, maybe Kyouya is better."

A lot has happened since that accident, and most of it has been painful, but if there's one thing I'm happy about, I thought, it's definitely this.

◇

With two days left until the announcement, we somehow managed to get everything set up. We finished all our preparations and reported to Kawasegawa.

The negotiations with the other party had been concluded in a very ideal form.

There were no problems at all with accepting the former Misukuro staff, and as for the concept and content, after the very initial coordination, everything would be left to the creators.

Considering the production of Misukuro, where severe interventions were made repeatedly, affecting its progress, the latter condition could be said to be quite advanced.

However, Kawasegawa still had a gloomy look on her face.

"Is there something you're worried about?"

"No, it's more ideal than I could have hoped for. But if there's one thing, it's that this time, regarding this plan, I feel like I haven't been able to do anything."

Kawasegawa smiled and said.

"I want to get back at him too."

And now, she is in an interview video that was hastily inserted. She was talking about her thoughts on the project, her future prospects, and so on, with a refreshed expression.

That video, being shown for the first time, that announcement, is now being watched with surprise by most of the people at the Game Expo venue.

The dream project, which was supposed to have been frozen a little while ago, has been announced for production in almost the same form by the rival manufacturer, Be-Craft. There can't be more exciting news than this.

In the video projected on the giant screen, the fact is being conveyed repeatedly in large captions. And Miyamoto-san and I were watching a video where Kawasegawa was giving a comment in a close-up.

"Hashiba, this was effective in the end."

I nodded deeply.

"Yes, I'm glad I pushed to have it inserted. It has an impact, and it's a good comment that conveys the passion for this project."

Naturally, as she was appearing in another company's work, she had resigned from Succeed Soft as of today. It was a last-minute move to prevent information about her resignation from leaking.

"When you said you wanted to pitch to Be-Craft, honestly, I was at my wits' end. It's a good company, sure, but it's also a place that values pure-bloodedness and tradition."

Be-Craft was originally a toy manufacturer, and its reluctance to accept outside blood was due to its long history. However, in recent years, it has been diversifying, and interesting attempts such as building a development center in Berlin have been attracting attention.

However, it was undoubtedly a gamble with a low probability of success.

"But I thought this was the only place. If it had been any other company, they probably would have deferred to the Managing Director, and the deal might have fallen through."

A company larger than Succeed Soft and capable of competing as a rival. This company was the one that best matched those conditions.

"...Yeah. This was the only place that could fight the Managing Director, Succeed, head-on. Well, whether it would work out was a gamble, though."

"Yes, I was truly surprised they accepted. I can't thank Miyamoto-san enough."

From their perspective, it was a story with a lot of buzz but also a lot of risk. It was undoubtedly Miyamoto-san's skill that connected it to the point of discussion and led to a contract.

"Well, I just made the connection. I still don't know why it went so well, but... that's a case of all's well that ends well."

I also nodded and shifted my gaze back to the stage.

"I wonder if the Managing Director is watching this too."

"I think so. It seems he was originally scheduled to be a panelist today, so unless he has a work conflict, I think he's watching from his own company's booth."

"So this means even the unstoppable Managing Director has a black mark on his record now."

Miyamoto-san said with a distant look in his eyes. Then, turning to me, he said,

"Hashiba, I'm truly... sorry."

With that, he bowed his head again.

"Not at all, it's me. I just burdened you with everything, Miyamoto-san, and couldn't do anything."

In the end, it was none other than Miyamoto-san who ran around handling everything. He felt an extraordinary sense of responsibility, under the resolve that he would absolutely do it himself.

"Hashiba, I... I've decided to quit the company."

"What are you being so formal for? I am too."

As a result of this turmoil, it was decided that all the main members would transfer to Be-Craft. I, and of course Miyamoto-san, had planned for that.

"No, that's not it."

But Miyamoto-san, with a slightly lonely face, said,

"I'm... not going to Be-Craft."

"What?"

I couldn't help but ask again. Because I hadn't been told anything of the sort.

"Was there some kind of problem? I've properly submitted the list to them."

"That's not it. It's not about you, or about the other company. It's... something I decided on my own selfishness."

Miyamoto-san said with a wry smile,

"Originally, I didn't come to Succeed to make games. I joined because I wanted to do manga, and as a result, I was exiled to Department 13. I had lost my motivation when I met everyone, and you, Hashiba, and tried to give shape to Grape."

"That's... right. So from now on too."

"From here on, it's your turn to create. It's not my stage anymore. That incident the other day was part of it, but I was made to realize it anew."

In the venue before them, the cheers of the users continued to rise. Miyamoto-san watched the scene, his eyes narrowed.

"I'm going to the manga scene. Funabashi just invited me, saying she's going to another publisher. I'll launch a new project there and support the new Misukuro from the outside."

Be-Craft is purely a game development company and does not have a publishing division. Therefore, it was clear that Miyamoto-san, while belonging to the development department, would be in an awkward work situation where his position was that of an editor. So, changing jobs to a publisher seemed like a very natural flow.

But I think that was just the official reason. Miyamoto-san had felt responsible for this whole incident. I think that once things settled down, the desire to take responsibility for it was stronger than anything else.

So, clenching my fist, I said.

"...You've taken great care of me. Thank you very much."

If I said any more, I felt like something would well up inside me.

"Thanks. It was good working with you here, Hashiba."

He patted my shoulder, and I nodded deeply. The cheers were still ringing out.