The 26th floor of the Succeed Soft head office building.
Here lie the offices of the company
executives holding director-level positions and above, and it is known as a
floor that general employees do not approach lightly.
Normally, one would only go there when
something joyous had occurred. Like when you've achieved outstanding results
for the company, or done something worthy of commendation; that's when you were
supposed to come to this place.
And I was, at this very moment, receiving a
letter of promotion from the Managing Director, the master of this office.
"It feels good to deliver celebratory
news! You must be happy too, right?"
But to me, it was news from hell.
The project plan that the members of
Department 13 and I had poured our blood, sweat, and tears into was scrapped;
under the pretext of 'putting it on hold,' it was nullified right before my
eyes just moments ago.
On top of that, I alone was given a letter
of promotion with what could be called exceptional treatment. No matter how
ignorant one might be, the intention was perfectly clear.
(He intends to...divide us.)
To single me out for promotion—a junior
employee who only recently joined the company—from among everyone who should
have been working together. If that happened, the other members who had worked
alongside me would surely harbor some sort of suspicion.
Furthermore, if my department changes, it
will become difficult to maintain close contact as before. Even if it's the
same company, a different department creates a sense of distance and a
difference in atmosphere.
The Managing Director must have done this
fully aware of everything. Probably even anticipating how I would react to this
appointment.
"Are you telling me not to do anything
unnecessary anymore?"
I confirmed, suppressing my anger.
"I don't know what you're talking
about."
However, the Managing Director evaded the
question.
That made sense. On the surface, it was a
promotion anyone would be grateful for. If he said it was a recommendation in
consideration of the recent project proposal, no one would know that this was
meant to inflict damage on me and Department 13.
A cleverly conceived personnel change as a
warning. Yet, it would be foolish to go out of his way to say, "This is a
warning." As long as the meaning gets across, there's no need for
reinforcement.
The Managing Director had a look on his
face that seemed to say, "You understand, don't you?"
"No, that's quite alright then."
If he had no intention of answering, then I
had no choice but to act based on my own assumptions.
As long as I belong to the company, I am
not allowed to refuse an official order. Well, putting aside a clear demotion
or a transfer for an unknown reason, it's hard to imagine complaining about a
promotion.
It wasn't that I couldn't consider a last
resort, but her face immediately crossed my mind.
(Kawasegawa──)
A resigned expression on her face. I wanted
to keep my promise to her. If, by doing so, she could hold on to even a little
bit of hope.
"I humbly accept."
And so, I did. Knowing that a thorny path
awaited me, I accepted this "promotion" with a bitter feeling.
The Managing Director remained smiling
right up to the moment I left the room.
◇
Inside the dark room, only the low hum of
the air conditioner continued to sound quietly.
Succeed Soft, Basement Floor 1, the 13th
Development Department. A development department in name only, this division,
which used to handle miscellaneous chores and general affairs from various
departments, had resumed its original activities as a development department
after a business improvement plan that I initiated came to fruition.
Then, the project planning meetings, which
had long been a mere formality, were revived. We reworked an idea from a
second-year employee, Sakurai-san, whose proposals were always getting
rejected, brought it to a board of directors meeting, and came to the very
brink of getting it approved.
However, due to the machinations of the
Managing Director from whom we sought the final decision, it was turned into a
tool for internal politics and was sent back without ever seeing the light of
day.
Naturally, the members of Department 13,
who had thought the project would move forward, are now at rock bottom.
"We've been had."
With a sigh, the 13th Development
Department's chief, Miyamoto Kanji, also known as "Charaji," groaned.
"The project's nullified, and one
person gets promoted just to cause a rift among the department members, huh.
Seriously, to think up such a malicious method."
"Yes..."
I nodded and couldn't bring myself to look
up.
I, Hashiba Kyouya, had been ordered to
transfer to the 2nd Development Department by a notice issued today.
My position was to be Deputy Manager. For a
mid-career hire who hadn't even been here a year, this appointment would
normally be an exceptionally huge promotion.
"Well, perhaps it was our mistake not
to get a firm commitment at that meeting. Of course, it's unreasonable to say
that at that timing."
Kojima Miyuu, also known as the
"Queen," said in her usual cool tone. Like us, she's a staff member
of Development Department 13.
For her and Miyamoto-san, in the end, there
were no orders at all. A blatant, showy difference. There could be no more
obvious plot to divide us.
"And this was the clincher, too."
"Yes──"
At Miyamoto-san's words, I glanced to the
side.
There was a woman looking just as perplexed
as I was. It was Sakurai Ritsuko, also known as "Risuko."
"Really, why am I being transferred
too...?"
A deep sigh and a downcast gaze. She, too,
had been assigned to transfer to Development Department 2 at the same time as
me.
It wasn't that there was an extreme
difference in game development ability between the two pairs, Miyamoto-san and
Kojima-san, and myself and Sakurai-san. In fact, considering their track
records and skills, it would have made more sense to promote the former two.
However, the result was the opposite.
To create discord under the guise of a
promotion and weaken the organization. The objective was clear. But only a few
people understood it.
"Is there nothing... we can do?"
There was no strength in Miyamoto-san's
words either. Even though he had been so full of life during the final stages
of the project.
Silence dominated the room. Until a short
while ago, this room had been filled with hope.
That hope, the Managing Director had
smashed into despair in an instant. It was not something I could tolerate.
"I..."
And so, the moment I opened my mouth to
draw a line in my own way.
"Hashiba-kun."
Kojima-san spoke to me, as if to cut me
off.
"You're not thinking of quitting the
company, are you?"
"Eh?"
She hit the nail on the head.
Now that things had come to this, I had
even started to wonder what was the point of me being at this company. Although
I had my promise with Kawasegawa, I couldn't face everyone in Department 13
like this. After thinking it over, I had even considered the possibility of
rejecting the transfer order.
"I was."
When I answered honestly,
"What a waste, especially when it's a
promotion."
Kojima-san said it so surprisingly
matter-of-factly.
"Huh? Kojima, wait a minute, are you
serious?"
Miyamoto-san shot up from his chair as if
he'd been launched.
"You heard the explanation, didn't
you? Hashiba's project was nullified, and on top of that, he's being sent to
the 2nd Development Department without any clear reason. How is that not a
waste?"
But Kojima-san, without changing her tone,
"Hashiba-kun is getting a promotion,
right? In one of our main development departments, and with an official post at
that, it'll be easier to get information. Besides, the manager, Kawasegawa-san,
is sympathetic to Department 13."
Miyamoto-san just said "Ugh..."
and fell silent. Kojima-san immediately turned back to me and said,
"So you can't quit. If you do that
voluntarily, you'll be playing right into the Managing Director's hands, won't
you? Honestly, he wants to kick you out but can't, so if you say you're
quitting on your own, he'll give you a round of applause."
"Indeed, that might be true."
From the Managing Director's perspective,
if I were to leave Succeed Soft, everything would be settled amicably. For him,
suppressing the noisy old guard, and then having that industrial waste dispose
of itself, would be an ideal outcome.
When I look at it that way, if I quit, it's
all over.
Seeing me nod, Kojima-san gave a small
smile and said,
"I know it's tough. But you're better
off thinking of this as an opportunity."
She said, encouraging me.
"...Thank you."
Normally, she shouldn't be feeling calm
inside either.
A mysterious mid-career hire who came in
later stirred things up, and now he's even been surpassed in promotion. She had
every right to vent more anger and confusion.
"But, we need to think about what to
do specifically from now on."
Miyamoto-san groaned. Indeed, this wasn't
something that would change by just coasting along. We needed to form a
strategy and act on it.
"Even if Hashiba goes to the Dept 2 ,
he probably won't be given any real authority at first. The manager,
Kawasegawa, is likely caught in the middle and can't make a move, so we'll have
to create links with the outside."
Kojima-san also nodded deeply and,
"Well, I guess that's where we come
in."
She gave a defiant smile, and then looked
at me with concern.
"Hashiba-kun, it looks like you'll
have a really hard time at first, though."
"Yes, I'm prepared for that."
This is such an extreme personnel change.
Just because I've moved to the Dept 2, I can't imagine I'll be able to
immediately take the lead at the heart of development.
The people originally in the department,
the various related parties, and the upper management. The factors involved in
a star department are on a different level compared to here. How to handle all
that while creating a foothold to revive Department 13's project? It was clear
just from seeing Kawasegawa's anguish, as Kojima-san pointed out, that it
wouldn't be so easy.
"I-I'll do my best to support you!
Though I'm just a bonus to Hashiba-san and may not be reliable..."
At Sakurai-san's words, Miyamoto-san let
out a laugh.
"What are you talking about? The fact
that you're going with him, Sakurai, is actually the Managing Director's
mistake."
"Eh?"
"Even in Department 13, you became
capable of planning projects on your own while properly supporting Hashiba,
right? For Hashiba, who'll be working in Development Department 2 from now on,
you're the best partner he could have."
"I-Is that so?"
I smiled back at Sakurai-san, who glanced
my way.
"Honestly, I think you could have
gotten into the Dept 2 on your own merit, Sakurai-san."
Miyamoto-san chimed in,
"That's right. Be confident about
that. Okay?"
"Y-Yes! I'll be confident!"
Sakurai-san nodded over and over, looking
happy.
It's not just the relationship between
these two, but the Development Department 13 has developed a sense of unity
that's unrecognizable from before. It's something that should never be broken
by the likes of the Managing Director's schemes.
(Just watch, I'll definitely get my
revenge.)
I couldn't lose the fight from here on out,
if only to wipe that smirk off his face.
"Well, now is probably the time to
gather information, so don't rush. We'll also proceed with the investigation,
the chief and I, mainly from the outside."
"Understood."
Miyamoto-san and Kojima-san decided to use
their existing connections to get information from other companies. As a major
company, Succeed is often on the radar of others. Plus, there must be those who
disapprove of its heavy-handed methods. Finding them and getting them on our
side should be a plus in some way.
It's hard to believe the Managing Director
would expose an obvious weakness, but we might at least be able to find a
starting point. First, we have to try.
As the conversation progressed, there was
someone with their arms crossed, looking down, deep in thought.
"Manager, are you okay? Your
complexion..."
Normally, true to his nickname
"Takoyaki," he always has a healthy complexion, but today his face
had been pale the entire time.
The manager is always calm and like a
tranquilizer for Department 13, but it wouldn't be strange if some abnormality
occurred due to the successive major upheavals.
"Hm? Ah, I'm fine. I passed my health
checkup, I'm the mascot of health."
However, from the smiling expression on his
face, no particular abnormality could be seen.
"I see. Well, that's fine then."
Seeing the manager stroking his shiny
forehead as usual, I started to feel bad for getting him involved. He should
have been able to spend his days relaxing in this uneventful department, but
instead he was suddenly dragged into the middle of this mess.
I want to quickly create a situation where
everyone can work normally without all this mental stress.
For that reason, it was essential to start
moving quickly.
"Alright, well then, shall we
begin?"
Seeing everyone's nodding faces, my resolve
was renewed.
On the desk was the project proposal we all
put together. On its cover, the name "Project Grape," newly
christened by its proposer, Sakurai-san, was written proudly.
It was a project name that aptly described
the concept of taking numerous plans, likening them to grapes, and combining
them into one large project.
Project Grape, which we all created
together. I will absolutely crush the scheme of the person trying to discard
it. I took the first step toward that goal.
◇
The Department 13 meeting ended up
continuing late into the night.
Drunken passengers and salarymen finished
with overtime crowded the Odakyuu line train near the last run. Even if not
packed like sardines, the population density was clearly high, increasing the
discomfort.
However, my consciousness was somewhere
other than on the situation inside the train.
(I'm sorry. I feel like I'm always
apologizing, but I truly have nothing else to say.)
A message sent via RINE.
It was from Kawasegawa Eiko, who was to
become my direct supervisor.
(Don't worry about it. Having come this
far, I can't run away either.)
I replied for the time being, but I was
worried that she remained so down.
The 2nd Development Department is a
top-tier star department within Succeed. Many people evaluate it as the de
facto ace, even more so than the 1st Development Department, the original ace
department that specializes in consumer games but hasn't been blessed with any
hits recently.
However, that department is now caught up
in an internal power struggle and has been put in an extremely difficult
position.
Kawasegawa's position was particularly
tough. Originally, she was a member of the reformist faction, but
ideologically, her software development philosophy often aligned with the old
guard.
"It must be really tough for
her."
While looking at the still-apologetic RINE
messages, I pondered her and the powerful authority figure above her.
Her appointment as the manager of
Development Department 2 at a young age was, of course, due to her high
capabilities, but there was another major reason. The existence of a person who
had strongly backed her. And that very fact was also the cause of the current
situation surrounding Department 13.
Matsuhira Kou. The son of Succeed Soft's
founder, and currently the Managing Director. A man whose future as president
is all but guaranteed.
The key person chosen to elevate the 13th
Development Department from its backwater status was this very Managing
Director Matsuhira. From the beginning, Kawasegawa, who knew him well, had
warned me to be "very cautious" of him.
After a board meeting that was a close
call, we somehow "won." However, that victory was merely an extension
of the tightrope we were walking on, and it was not a situation where we could
feel relieved.
"If it tilts even a little, you
fall... whoa!"
The train slammed on its emergency brakes,
lurching forward violently. While holding the strap, my body also tilted
significantly. An announcement apologizing for the sudden stop flowed through
the car, informing us that the train would be stopped for a while. An air of
"good grief" filled the surroundings.
"It's a question of how long the hand
strap will hold, huh?"
Staring at the creaking hand strap, I
thought about the time limit. I don't know what the Managing Director is
thinking, but there should still be a little time.
In that case, I'll just have to make use of
that time to make my own move.
"──I have to fulfill... my promise."
She had said it. There's something I want
you to do.
I owe her a debt of gratitude for pulling
me up that day, a mysterious man of unknown background whom she met by chance.
I can't possibly refuse such a wish from her. For that, too, I first need to
gain power.
(I know things are tough, but I'm counting
on you.)
A message from her arrived. She must be
referring to the work at Development Department 2.
(Yeah, I'll do my best. You take care of
yourself too, Kawasegawa.)
Just as I sent the message back, the train
started moving with a clatter. Three more stops to my nearest station. Then
I'll be freed from this packed train.
"I have to find a way to free
Kawasegawa, too."
Back when I was working at a sweatshop
company with barely any pay, I couldn't help but be envious of working at
Succeed Soft. But even in the place I yearned for, there were certainly
hardships. I suppose there are troubles no matter where you go.
But if I'm going to struggle, I want to be
facing a more righteous direction. As of now, I'm not even standing at that
starting line yet.
"I'll do it... No matter what."
Starting next week, my work in Development
Department 2 would finally begin. Before the battle with that Managing
Director, there was a mountain of challenges: how to face the new environment
and how to find the weapons I'd need to fight.
Beyond the train window, countless lights
could be seen. The dazzling light of the city had a precariousness about it, as
if it would swallow you whole if you let your guard down.
I will survive no matter what, and I will
make the project I created with everyone in Department 13 a reality. I stared
back once more at that cluster of lights.
