Bokutachi no Remake Ver. β V3 Chapter 3 By: thai130898

Two months have passed since the development of Clodis began.

Until then, even at BCC, which had had no major accidents, a few points where things were starting to unravel had begun to appear, albeit gradually.

First, the demand for quality.

During the time at Succeed, for better or worse, the common understanding was to aim for a passing grade, and after crossing the clear line, they didn't pursue anything more. As a result, Succeed's games had many regrettable parts that could have been praised if they had been developed a little more.

However, after moving to BCC, there was no longer any interference from upper management, so many staff members began to put more effort into every corner. Of course, that was a good thing, but the problem was the extent of it.

For example, deliverables due at the end of the month would be unilaterally delayed by 2-3 days at the creator's own discretion because they were not satisfied with the quality, or illustrations from outsourcers would be tagged for internal correction and continuously repainted or have effects reapplied. While each case was small, the number of instances that could lead to major delays when accumulated began to increase.

Of course, for the parts that Kuroda and I are directly involved in, we try to pull back at the right time, but for other parts, even the group leaders were spending more time than necessary on quality improvement, and the tendency to ignore the basic principle of sticking to the schedule had become stronger.

And another thing, which is related to the previous point, is that it has become difficult to secure skilled illustrators and graphic artists.

Previously, BCC had partnered with Chinese software development companies and had relied heavily on outsourcing for a wide range of work, from single illustrations to chip graphics. In recent years, they had also been allowed to contract with trustworthy individuals on a one-on-one basis.

However, in the last 2-3 weeks, there have been an increasing number of cases where those illustrators and companies have been poached by other companies with better offers, and their contracts with BCC have been terminated. Therefore, in order to maintain the high quality of our productions, more adjustment time in in-house development has become necessary than before.

"Is some company just throwing money around? Dammit."

Kuroda looks at the investigation report and vents his frustration, looking annoyed.

"Well, it's a major industry in their country too. I guess we have no choice but to find a compromise and make it work."

"Even so, there's a limit. If we don't find out soon who's poaching them, we might run into a situation where we can't bring in talent for important parts. That would be bad."

Just as Kuroda spoke in a tone full of crisis, my phone's alarm went off. The words "Stream Prep" were written below the time.

"Oh, is it time for the popular streamer?"

"Stop it, even people from our clients have been smirking at me about that lately."

I prepare my laptop and tablet packed with materials, and a throat lozenge. I learned this after I started streaming, but my throat inevitably gets dry when I talk. For that reason, I always had throat lozenges and water ready.

"By the way, are you going to... touch on that topic today?"

At Kuroda's words, I stop my hand for a moment.

"As expected, rumors are starting to spread among the users. I think it might be a good idea to touch on it somehow soon, but what are you going to do?"

I think for a moment, take a deep breath, and...

"I think it's still too difficult. If I say it at this stage, it could cause more misunderstandings. Even if it comes up in the comments, I'll have no choice but to ignore it."

Kuroda also nodded at my words.

"You're right. Well, personally I'm not satisfied with it, but he's probably suffering too. I don't want to make waves from our side right now."

"Even if I explain, it will be after I get his confirmation. Well, I'm off."

I quickly raised my hand and headed towards the conference room space where the recording studio was.

◇

The setup was finished as planned, and we reached the stage where the stream would start in 10 minutes.

Takenaka-san, also looking completely used to it by now, is preparing the streaming screen.

"I'm sorry to have you come all the way here every week."

"Not at all~! I partly come here for my own personal hobby, and above all, it's fun to stream with you, Hashiba-san!"

Since BCC pays Jiwango for appearance fees and setup costs, Takenaka-san's presence here is established as proper work.

However, our company had told her that as long as she supported us online it was fine, so that she wouldn't have to come here in person, or so I thought...

(She really does come almost every week... I'm grateful, but...)

Most of the staff at the company often watch streams but don't do them themselves, so even if we recruited for an assistant, it was a situation where it was hard for anyone to raise their hand.

That's why I'm very grateful that Takenaka-san, a pro among pros, is supporting me like this. But I was also anxious because I didn't know how I could repay her.

"It's that, as long as I can join in on a fun stream, that's all I need!"

Hearing things like this, I can tell she really loves streaming.

"Thank you, I'll be in your hands today as well."

When I bowed my head honestly, Takenaka-san showed a slightly anxious face.

"Oh, what's wrong?"

"No, it's just, umm, I happened to see a concerning rumor online."

At her words, I held my breath for a moment.

"Could it be... about the scenario's progress?"

Takenaka-san let out a big sigh.

"For the past couple of weeks or so, when you search for 'Clodis,' the number of rumors of that kind has increased like crazy. Apparently, some rumor site picked up on something like 'the writer ran away and there's no one left to write'."

It was a headache-inducing story. To think there was already a place spreading such rumors.

"I'm sorry for prying, but what's the actual... situation?"

To her question, I gave a light nod.

"It's true that progress is a bit slow. But it's not some outrageous story like the writer being replaced or having disappeared."

With a relieved look on her face, Takenaka-san said,

"Thank goodness...! In that case, if someone brings that up in the comments, let's ignore it, and if someone takes it too far, we'll respond by making them NG."

"Yes, please do it that way."

Although we reached an agreement, of course this didn't solve everything.

The reality is that the scenario is behind schedule. I doubt any of the employees would go around blabbing about the situation, but it's possible to speculate based on the lack of new information. This rumor probably came from that.

But if that were to come out in a clear form in the future, it could lead to a decline in trust for both the brand and Tsurayuki himself.

(I have to do something...)

As I looked at the pre-stream preparation screen, I was enveloped in anxiety.

"Okay, we'll start letting people in at :55. We'll be starting right on the hour as usual!"

I'm saved by Takenaka-san's cheerful voice.

And right on time, the stream began at exactly 8 p.m.

"It's been a week, everyone! We're bringing you the regular Clodis Radio~! Today, it's me, Takenaka, and!"

"From the BCC Development Department, Hashiba, the two of us will be your hosts!"

With a completely familiar flow, we moved from the initial greetings to the latest news.

While explaining the new character illustrations, I checked the status of the comment section out of the corner of my eye.

(As I thought, comments suspecting a delay in the scenario are popping up...)

The users also seemed to be getting impatient. That said, what should I do in this situation? At this point, I was about to be forced to make a difficult decision.

◇

After the stream ended and I saw Takenaka-san off, I had a meeting with Kawasegawa and the others.

The topic was, of course, the future of the scenario.

"Tsurayuki's situation, to be honest, is not very good."

From my mouth came a report I didn't much want to give. The two in front of me also seemed to be aware of the situation, and they had grim expressions.

Tsurayuki had been planning to create a different kind of story with a time theme, using a different approach from Misukuro, but he had been trying too hard and had misjudged his own plans, and the situation had been close to a stalemate for some time. We had managed to create a bare-bones framework by strongly requesting it from our side, as it was necessary for character design and background specifications, but since the main story was not yet visible, it was only a bare minimum and could not possibly serve as a foundation for constructing the scenario.

"I'm beat. I was worried this might happen with Tsurayuki, but I never thought it would turn out to be exactly like this."

Kuroda scratches his head vigorously and crosses his arms. From the early stages of development, it had been pointed out that in proportion to the high quality of Tsurayuki's work, it was difficult to obtain the deliverables. But neither Kuroda nor I had thought it would come to this.

"It seems there was a request mainly from the graphics team, so it might be time to take drastic measures."

Although Kawasegawa said so, the feeling that she wanted to avoid it if possible was palpable. She had caused Tsurayuki a lot of trouble up until now, and she also felt that she wanted to wait for him until the very last minute if she could.

And tomorrow, there is a meeting with Tsurayuki.

Even if we don't make any major decisions there, we will probably have to go as far as to solidify our policy internally.

"I think tomorrow's meeting is the limit. Is that... okay?"

I confirm with the two of them.

"If you're deciding on that, Hashiba, I have no objection. What about you, Kawasegawa?"

Kawasegawa, for her part, seemed to have intended that from the beginning.

"Yes. I'll act in accordance with what's decided. It might be cruel to Tsurayuki, though."

She said, looking down and biting her lip.

◇

The next day, after finishing the meeting with Tsurayuki, I returned to the development department with Sakurai-san, who had also been present. Our steps were heavy, and by the time we sat down, we both let out a big sigh.

"Sakurai-san... what did you think?"

In the last meeting, Sakurai-san had concentrated on being the secretary. When I asked for her objective opinion on top of that,

"Kawagoe-sensei seemed quite tired. I wondered if maybe he wasn't able to make sound judgments regarding the schedule and progress... forgive me for being rude."

I also nodded.

"His tone and voice were firm, but... I wonder if he's just putting on a brave face."

In our meeting with Tsurayuki, he kept saying throughout that it would come together soon.

However, that phrase "a little more" itself was a phrase that had already come up several times before, and when asked "well, can you actually make that 'a little more' concrete?", it had become a set response to be told "not yet."

If this were the stage of brainstorming, revising, and fleshing things out, there were things we could have done right away. But right now, we were at the stage of seeing his first move. Unless Tsurayuki produced something, there was no way to move forward from here.

Alternatively, there was the method of starting to walk down a completely different path from the one we are currently on, but to make that leap, we would of course need Tsurayuki's reply.

"It's difficult..."

The path was so blocked that an impression couldn't help but slip out.

"Hashiba-san, what should we do...?"

Sakurai-san looked at me with pleading eyes.

Actually, I have an idea. But doing it comes with a corresponding risk. If I mess up, Tsurayuki might just withdraw from the project.

"Honestly, I don't know how it will turn out, but I'll think about it a little more."

This was about all I could say to Sakurai-san.

"Understood. Um, I'll do my best too, so please use me as your hands and feet and work me hard!"

She answered with a snort, but right now I want her to focus on Grape as much as possible. Compared to the difficult Clodis, while its scale is smaller, Grape was steadily growing into a good project.

I returned to my seat and decided to first reconfirm the situation and then consider a counterproposal. It's a very difficult proposal, so if we're going to do it, we'll naturally need to prepare.

(But in the first place, is doing it itself good or bad, I wonder.)

I cross my arms and stare at the bottom of the monitor.

Of course, I want Tsurayuki to be able to work comfortably. For that, his current free way of doing things should be right.

But, maybe that very way of doing things is what's tying him down now. If so, what needs to be reformed might be that way of doing things itself...

As I was thinking, I happened to look up, and the staff member in the seat across from me,

"Ah..."

Just like before, was frozen, looking behind me.

"Huh, what's wrong?"

I wonder if the president came again. Since the day I heard about that stream, President Ichikawa hadn't come to this seat, but it feels like it wouldn't be strange for her to come at this timing.

That in itself would probably require a difficult explanation... I thought, as

I turned around, and the person standing behind me was,

"Yoo-hoo, Hashiba-kun, how've you been?"

It was N@NA-san.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?"

A sound like a frog being stepped on came out of me.

I realized anew at that moment that when you're too surprised, you don't have the luxury of choosing the type of sound you make.

"Good work! I sent you the roughs for the BGM, but I didn't get a reply, so I just showed up... Hey, what's wrong? You're making a weird face."

"N-no, um, I'm sorry, I was just so surprised that I didn't know how to answer."

N@NA-san just went, "Hmm," without seeming to mind much, and looked around restlessly.

"Hey, I asked Kuroda earlier, but is it true that Tsurayuki's submission is late?"

"Ugh..."

Well, it's not a problem in the sense that it's shared among the staff, but I was a little resentful of Kuroda for wanting him to go through the proper channels for sharing with Platinum.

Of course, maybe he said something to break the current deadlock.

"Yes, that's right. It feels a little... behind schedule."

When I answered, N@NA-san grinned widely.

"Alright~! This is great! Tsurayuki's weakness is my strength, now I've got something to gloat about next time I see him~... Oh, sorry, Hashiba-kun, you're not in the mood for that, are you?"

I must have been making a really strange face, because she got worried about me. But well, it's like they say, "fight like you're good friends," or rather, they seem to have a fun relationship.

"N-no, I'm fine. Waiting like this is part of the job..."

"But still, even if you say that, doesn't it seem a little bad? Kuroda's expression was dark too, and as for you, Hashiba-kun, it's like you have no room to breathe."

It was a bullseye. No matter how hard I tried to control my expression, that lack of composure must have shown somewhere.

As I was struggling to answer N@NA-san's question, she...

"I see... okay, yeah!"

she suddenly said, nodding as if she had come to an understanding about something.

"Hey, are you free today, Hashiba-kun?"

"Ah, yes, I was planning on leaving at the regular time, and I thought I might do something at home."

In fact, I was just about to think about countermeasures for the Tsurayuki matter.

N@NA-san smiled brightly.

"Then, wanna go to karaoke for just a little bit?"

She suddenly made an outrageous proposal.

"K-karaoke!?"

I was so surprised that I hurriedly covered my mouth as I was about to shout.

The person in front of me is a female singer of a class that is about to reach the level of a national singer. Her recognition in the otaku community is close to 100%, and I think she has a level of fame where probably half of the general public knows her.

Going to karaoke with such a person, normally, it shouldn't happen unless it's for a TV show project or a project of that level. So she shouldn't be saying things like "Wanna go?" to a regular person like me. Probably.

"Th-th-that's, I mean it's too much of a waste, isn't that crazy!"

"Huh, it's fine. I actually invite people and go quite often."

No, that must mean the other person is also an amazing singer or voice actor, or something like that.

"Alright, well there seems to be no particular reason to refuse, so let's go!"

"Y-y-y-yes..."

In the end, since there was no reason to refuse other than feeling apologetic or overawed, I ended up going to karaoke with the person I had long worshipped like a god.

◇

Q: I went to karaoke with my favorite singer. What happens?

A: It becomes the most luxurious live venue in the world.

An all-too-unreal scene is unfolding before my eyes. Last year, when I was living at rock bottom, the N@NA songs I listened to on my home PC, and songs by other artists that N@NA shouldn't be singing in front of people, are flowing at close range.

"Phew... that felt good!"

I send a powerful round of applause to her after she finishes singing.

"Thanks~! Hey, aren't you going to sing, Hashiba-kun?"

"N-no, no, absolutely not!"

It's not like I'm auditioning, but there's no way I could sing in front of someone like a goddess. I mean, since this is such a precious opportunity,

(I'd rather just listen forever, if possible.)

At the shop counter, N@NA-san had specified two hours. That means this is a two-hour live show. If possible, I'd like to even buy some glow sticks.

"I, um... there was a time before when I was really down, and around then, I listened to your songs a lot, N@NA-san."

"Is that so, thank you! So, how was it? Did it cheer you up a little?"

"Of course! That's why, well, I was listening to them a bit at home yesterday too."

It was precisely because I had been feeling down about Tsurayuki's situation.

"I see, so it's about Tsurayuki, after all."

"...Yes, it is."

Since there was no one else in the booth, I nodded honestly. In the crowded development room, I didn't want the other staff to hear about Tsurayuki.

"He seems to be worried about various things with the scenario, so I want to make suggestions, but I'm worried he might get really down about it. So, while I was thinking about how to say it, I started to worry about what I should do."

If I go about it the wrong way, everything we've done so far could fall apart. That's why I wanted to be cautious about it, but...

N@NA-san listened to my story and then laughed, "Ahahaha."

"Amazing! Tsurayuki's being treated with such care, like some great master! He's really moved up in the world, amazing, hahaha!"

Leaving me stunned, she laughed for a while.

And then,

"You know, Hashiba-kun,"

She suddenly put on a slightly serious face.

"That kind of consideration, I think it's better not to do it so much."

"Huh, what do you mean by that...?"

Both Kawasegawa and Kuroda agreed that Tsurayuki was the sensitive type who had a creator's pride. For that reason, even after we became friends, I had been careful about that sort of thing.

"As a creator, there are inevitably things I have to be considerate about..."

"Yeah, yeah, of course that's true, but you know, there's a difference. Between being considerate and responding properly, and treating someone like a sore spot."

At the mention of a "sore spot," I was taken aback.

"There are times when that happens to me too. I want more opinions, but they just OK what comes in based on my name without even checking it properly, or when I clearly want some stimulation, everyone just clams up. That kind of thing is painful."

She says, lightly brushing her hair back, looking sad.

"He's a pain too, you know. We finally got to a point where we can talk informally, Hashiba-kun, but if you keep your distance like that, I'm worried he'll just put up a wall again."

As N@NA-san laughed, "ahaha," I remained silent.

So, that's how it was.

It's true, I had felt his trust since that transfer incident. But I had thought that was mainly on a personal level, and that when it came to work, things hadn't changed that much from before.

Being "friends" included that deep level of connection.

"It's true, I may have been... treating him like a sore spot."

At my words, N@NA-san nodded.

"Then, I think it's best to be direct from there. 'This is what I think, what about you?' like that. I think he'd be happy to answer. He may look cool, but on the inside, Tsurayuki is a hot-blooded, youthful old man."

I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

But it's true, my impression of Tsurayuki has changed quite a bit from the beginning. He's so honest about creating things that he's almost unrefined, and he's full of the spirit of trying to do something even if it means clinging to a rock.

I hadn't noticed that about Tsurayuki. N@NA-san's words made me realize it.

(I'll tell him. Tsurayuki. What I'm thinking, properly.)

This by no means solves everything, but I think it's better to move forward than to just keep waiting without taking any measures.

Again, I'm truly grateful to her.

"Thank you. This has somehow turned into a counseling session."

"It's fine~, the three of us, we somehow tend to have an image of being hard to approach, but we actually want to interact more properly, you know."

It's true, the bigger your name gets, the fewer people you have that kind of relationship with, I suppose. Since I'm not in that position myself, I can only imagine.

"...Also, I'm kind of envious, you know."

N@NA-san said, with a slightly sad look on her face.

"That guy, Tsurayuki, he's always had people he could work with, like his editors from way back, and now you, Hashiba-kun. But I was always alone. Back when I was a student, when I was super tone-deaf, I'd practice at karaoke by myself."

"What... you had a time like that?"

That was quite a shocking fact.

"I did, I did! It was amazing, my pitch was all over the place, but I couldn't bring myself to invite anyone, so I'd record myself alone and compare. Back then, if I had someone to listen, I wonder if I could have done so many more things."

Of course, we only know her after she became good. But naturally, there is a past that led to that point.

I can only imagine, but to correct one's own tone-deafness by oneself must have required an incredible amount of effort.

"I wish I could have been of help at that time."

"Hahahaha, probably, if you had heard my singing back then, Hashiba-kun, I think you would have stopped being a fan~! I was that intensely tone-deaf!"

N@NA-san laughed cheerfully.

But to get to this point, I'm sure she must have cried a lot.

(I... still haven't cried at all.)

I decided to face the struggling Tsurayuki and move forward. Without doing so, I probably can't go on from here.

◇

Two days later. Instead of my usual Yamanote Line, I took the Keio Line from Shinjuku and headed west. After a few stops, I got off the train and started walking.

It's a popular bedroom community for young couples. There's a moderately large park in the center of town, and the cafes and shops around it have become popular in recent years. But this town has another charm; on the other side of the station, an old-fashioned Tokyo townscape spreads out. A drinking district with a Showa-era feel and a sports park where elementary school students run around. I thought that if I were living alone, I might be able to live more peacefully in this part of town.

I met Rokuonji Tsurayuki at a small coffee shop in the older part of this town. He uses this shop, which is close to his home, as a place for writing and meetings, with the master's approval, and in return, he displays items related to his works.

"Sorry for having you come all the way out here."

His designated seat was in the back of the quiet coffee shop. He looks a little embarrassed, perhaps feeling as if his home is being peeked into.

"Not at all. I'm sorry, even though we just had a meeting the other day."

We ordered two coffees from the waiter and sat facing each other.

After we both took a breath, the conversation began.

"I have a general idea what this is about. It's about what to do with the scenario from now on, right?"

Tsurayuki spoke first.

"I know myself that I have to do something. I saw the stream the other day, and the users are quite worried. The fact that you came all this way, Kyouya, I figured it must be about that."

As I thought, Tsurayuki had watched that stream. I'm really glad I didn't say anything to beat around the bush on the spot. If I had, he would surely have been worried about that too.

"But, having come this far, I just can't bring myself to change my methods on top of that. So if possible, I want to find a way to proceed without drastically changing the current form. But with my current mindset, I can't put it together."

He himself knew that things couldn't go on like this. But that didn't mean he thought that making a big change was the right answer yet.

I took a deep breath. I thought the time to speak had come.

"That's right, I came to talk about that today. But before that, there's something I want you to listen to."

"Something you want me to listen to... what is it?"

At Tsurayuki's words, I took out over a dozen paperbacks from my bag. All of them were a little stiff from being thumbed through too much, and when stacked, they would naturally lean and slide off.

"They were neatly stacked when I first bought them. But when you read them too much, this is what happens."

Tsurayuki seemed to be much more focused on the titles than on the condition of the books.

"Kyouya, this..."

I nodded.

"That's right. 'Bloody Sword of Sorrow and Oppression,' a work by Kawagoe Kyouichi, and my favorite light novel."

I encountered this work around the same time as the works of Akishima Shino and N@NA. It was a work that showed a new angle on the so-called isekai reincarnation genre, and I remember it becoming a huge boom when it came out.

Commonly known as "Ai-Bura," unlike recent reincarnation stories, it was a rather hard-mode work. The protagonist is only a life-sized high school student and does not have any cheat-like abilities. However, it is a story where he worries, thinks, trains with a sword, and then utilizes his inherent good intuition and high insight to gradually rise up.

"What I really love about this work is that the protagonist can make 'judgments'."

In this work, there are many scenes where the protagonist is forced to make harsh judgments. Whether to save a friend or the people, whether to value duty or follow orders—after such scenes full of anguish, he makes a judgment that feels like it's the only one possible. And even for the choices he didn't make, which made you think he had abandoned them, he provides a satisfying answer.

That's why the protagonist of this work was very popular. He's a character that makes you want to be like him, to be this way.

"On my way here today, I was rereading it the whole time. I was wondering why he could write such a story, how the judgment scenes could feel so real."

At that time, Tsurayuki must have still been very young. Having been born and raised ordinarily, and with only the knowledge gained from books and creative works, could he write this? I wondered, and eventually came to one conclusion.

"Kawagoe Kyouichi--Tsurayuki must be a person who has continued to make judgments. That's why he was able to write this kind of story, I thought."

It was a simple story. People who can write about severe judgments probably have that experience. They must have repeated judgments throughout their lives. That's why they were able to fight in the very unstable and harsh world of being a light novel author.

"For this scenario, I feel rather sorry for having entrusted you with such a cruel part. That was something I should have decided on together with you, after steeling my resolve."

Yes, I said I wanted to let him do as he pleased, and I left the judgment to him. At first glance, it seemed like I was giving the creator freedom, but in reality, I wondered if I hadn't just burdened him with a heavy load from the start. That's what I thought.

"That's why I'd like to propose it again. The setting and plot we made for Misukuro, instead of throwing them away, couldn't we remake them in a way that utilizes them? I want you to consider it."

I stood up and quietly bowed my head.

How long did the silence last? Tsurayuki stood up, placed a hand quietly on my shoulder, and

"For now, sit down. It's hard to talk like this."

He said with a wry smile, making me sit down.

"...Judgment, huh? Yeah, I've done a lot of it."

And he looked out the window. Tsurayuki was looking back on the past.

"There were very painful times, and times when I couldn't see my family. But I wanted to see through what I absolutely wanted to do. Even though I had decided, there were countless times I thought I wanted to go back again. But somehow, I gritted my teeth and continued. That's what led to now."

He sighed, "Phew,"

"But when you're by yourself, sometimes you lose your way. You think you're moving forward, but from the outside, it looks like you're just spinning in place. That's why having someone who can look at you calmly at times like that is so appreciated."

Tsurayuki turned his face towards me.

"Kyouya, I'm glad I trusted you. If I were alone, I might have gone in a completely wrong direction."

"So, the proposal..."

"Yeah, let's use the old setting and start over. That way, the framework is already there, so we should be able to save a lot of time."

I was relieved, and felt the strength drain from my entire body.

To be honest, I thought I might have gone a bit too far using his book to talk to him. But if I didn't use something to put it into words, I couldn't have backed up my judgment on my own.

I'm glad my thoughts got through somehow. Now we can move the conversation forward.

"But that setting and plot are Succeed's copyrighted works, right? Even if we change the names, isn't it a problem to use them?"

Naturally, Tsurayuki seemed worried about that.

"I had that confirmed, just in case."

From the file I had brought, I took out a document titled "Memorandum on Setting and Plot" and placed it in front of him.

Tsurayuki looked it over once.

"Kyouya, when did you prepare something like this?"

He said, unable to hide his surprise.

"I asked during the meeting with Succeed, just in case something like this happened."

It would have been fine if we didn't have to use it, but just in case. What I had said back then and put into a document is what's right here in front of me now.

The story returns to the conference room from that time.

In front of that seemingly persistent legal representative from Succeed named Hachiya, there was just one thing I absolutely had to confirm.

(If Tsurayuki decides to partially use the original setting and plot, to what extent will that be permitted?)

Using the names as they are is out of the question, but there are elements that can be arranged and used, such as story devices, the composition of appearing organizations and teams, and the grouping of items. However, if we were to use them and then receive a complaint from the other party, it would result in a disadvantage for both of us.

That's why I wanted to somehow decide on that line. I knew it would be difficult, but I was determined to make a proposal, believing that bringing these negotiations to a successful conclusion was my most important job.

I had expected to be refuted as a matter of course... but here, Hachiya returned with a somewhat surprising proposal.

In exchange for allowing partial use of the setting and plot, we would credit Succeed Soft with the "Original Concept." As long as we agreed to that condition, it would be free of charge, he said.

"What do you think? I believe these are not bad terms for your company either."

For a moment, I thought it might be a trap, but to me it seemed like nothing but favorable terms. It's true that putting the name of an opponent who put us through such a terrible ordeal in the credits is not emotionally pleasant, but as a condition, it's very good. Moreover, the bad image of developing after a dispute can be softened by the presence of Succeed's name, creating an atmosphere of reconciliation.

After consulting with Kuroda and Kawasegawa, I judged that we should accept this, so I accepted the credit condition and proceeded with creating the guidelines.

And so, we were able to prepare detailed materials, with every fine point confirmed.

"This is a real help. The way work progresses will be different with this versus without it."

Tsurayuki seemed genuinely pleased.

"Since we're not the ones actually writing, I thought we should prepare as much as possible in advance. It's the only thing we can do."

When I said that, Tsurayuki replied with a small "thank you," and

"Actually, having you say it, Kyouya, was a big help. Hearing it from someone I trust made me feel a little more at ease."

"I'm glad to hear that. It must have been difficult to say from your position, Tsurayuki."

As I had expected, it was a relief that I was able to properly follow up on this point.

Tsurayuki wore a relaxed expression, as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. His gaze was fixed on the ceiling, and he seemed to be thinking about something.

"Hey, Kyouya. I have something I'd like to ask you again."

"Huh? Yeah."

Tsurayuki's gaze turned directly towards me.

"When it comes to creating things, what is it that you hold most important?"

It was a sudden, difficult question.

"Uh..."

"No, it's not such a difficult question. It's just that I thought you seem to have seen and thought about a lot of things to be here, Kyouya, so I'm simply curious about what someone like that places highest."

I see, it was an interesting question, but it was also a question that I didn't know if I should answer honestly.

It was probably meant as a casual question from Tsurayuki, but depending on the answer, it could affect future production work.

But thinking it would be strange to lie, I said,

"What I value is... no matter how small, to complete it and release it to the world, I guess."

I answered what I honestly thought.

"Even if I'm not satisfied with what I'm making, I can't move on to the next thing without first bringing it to a conclusion, so once I start something, I make sure to see it through to completion... I guess I value that."

Even at that extremely exploitative bishoujo game maker, I somehow managed to stick it out to the very end and see it through to completion. Even if it was met with nothing but harsh criticism, if you give up midway, it becomes nothing. I believe there is a huge gap between having something and having nothing.

"I see. I'm the type to immediately think it's better not to release something if the quality is bad, but there's certainly a point to your way of thinking, Kyouya."

"I don't think I'm like you, Tsurayuki, who has properly produced results. See, I don't have anything I can be proud of yet."

I honestly thought so, but Tsurayuki shook his head.

"No, I'm still completely green, yet I was getting conceited, acting like a great master. Even though I'm still at the stage of just recklessly creating things. Thanks for making me realize that."

"Not at all, don't be ridiculous."

It's because of this humility that he has grown so much. I was once again impressed by his attitude of listening even to what someone like me had to say.

"Alright, now that that's decided, let's go to the company now and talk it over with Kuroda."

"What, right now? Not tomorrow or something?"

"It's better to strike while the iron is hot with these things, right? Could you ask him if he's available?"

Of course, I had no reason to object, and I knew without even asking that Kuroda would be happy to join the meeting.

(Thank goodness, with this... we can finally move forward.)

We had been dragging our feet for quite a while, but I felt it was well worth it.

◇

The meeting, which started in the early afternoon, lasted well into the night. Seeing that Tsurayuki was motivated, Kuroda even cancelled his evening plans to stay with us, and thanks to that, we were able to solidify the settings to a very deep level.

"Sorry for having this take until so late."

"It's fine. Kuroda was really into it, and it got me fired up again too."

Tsurayuki was in a very good mood, as if a weight had been lifted from his chest.

As we went out into the hallway to see him off to the elevator, we almost bumped into three men coming out of another room.

"Ah, I'm sorry."

I apologized reflexively and was about to head towards the elevator hall again when,

"Ah. Um, by any chance,"

"Are you... Kawagoe Kyouichi-san?"

The three of them said Tsurayuki's pen name, looking timid.

"Yes, I am...?"

When Tsurayuki answered,

"I knew it! Um, the three of us here are huge fans, we even went to your autograph session!"

"Oh, thank you for that!"

From there, they exchanged words like "we're looking forward to your new work," and "that scene in Ai-Bura was...," but I was constantly thinking about who they were.

(Come to think of it, did Sakurai-san have a meeting with guests scheduled for today?)

And with that, it finally clicked.

"You guys are from Project Grape...?"

"Yes, that's right! Sakurai-san told us we should have a meeting. And so,"

I see, I thought, satisfied.

They were indie game developers, and they had come to give a presentation in order to receive funding from Project Grape.

"We've been making games ever since we were students."

"We were saying we wanted to turn this into a company, and then they reached out to us."

"We're super happy, because we still have a ton of games we want to make."

After chatting cheerfully, the three of them said, "Well then, excuse us!" with a lively greeting and left.

For some reason, both Tsurayuki and I watched them leave, looking so happy.

"That's nice, something like that."

"Yeah."

"When I was a student, all I did was either my assignments or writing novels, so I'd like to try making a game with good friends like that."

"You didn't do it... when you were a student?"

I had just assumed that you had made something with a group that included Kawasegawa and the others.

"No, we only talked about wanting to do it. Kuroda was launching all sorts of projects back then, and Kawasegawa wanted to be a producer. But when it came down to it, there was no one to lead the charge."

"Huh..."

That's surprising, I thought.

I thought both Kawasegawa and Kuroda were the types to take the initiative and lead everyone, but that seems to have just been my assumption.

"If I had met you when we were students, Kyouya, maybe we would have done it."

"...Me?"

Tsurayuki answered "yeah" with a laugh, then got on the elevator and left.

"A future like that... I see."

The past of an "if" world that I once dreamed of for just a moment.

Getting into the major art university I had been accepted to back then, and creating something together with them.

It was only a distant dream world, but now, I am making it come true right before my eyes.

"I see, so now I'm... in that kind of place."

As long as you keep walking, you will eventually reach your destination.

Those words, which seemed to needlessly stir up only hope, felt to me now like the most precious of sayings.

◇

At the Department 13 regular meeting held that night, I briefly talked about what happened today.

"I see. No, I think you made a good decision. I think this decision will really pay off later on."

Miyamoto-san also agreed with the decision that Tsurayuki and I made.

"Yes, it took a little time, but I think we managed."

Whether this was a success or not will depend on the deliverables from here on. Of course, Tsurayuki himself knows that, so we have no choice but to have high hopes for the future.

When I told everyone that was all from me,

"From our side, well, it's good news. Regarding the matter of probing Succeed that I mentioned before, I've grasped one thing they were doing."

There was a surprising report from Miyamoto-san.

"What, really!?"

"Well, listen up. It's a very them-like way of crushing someone."

The story was much simpler than I thought.

In short, they had been trying to fill up the schedules of graphic-related creators who might work on Clodis in the future by luring them with large sums of money.

"If it were something like 'we'll add 10 or 20 percent,' I could understand, but apparently, for some people, they tried to pull them in with three times the price."

"Three times!?"

This was probably what Kuroda had been talking about. But even so, three times the market rate is extraordinary. What kind of money did they move?

"Well, since it was clearly interference against us, I explained Succeed's corporate policies and such to the outsourcers who had received offers."

Paying a large sum of money to have a talented creator work for you is not a bad thing in itself. Rather, even if BCC couldn't place an order because of this, it's just a matter of us losing out to market principles.

However, in the long run, Succeed will be gradually reducing its game-related work. Unlike other companies that will continue to operate, there is a possibility that contracts could be suddenly terminated.

For that reason, it's probably necessary to properly explain things to the creators who are cutting their contracts with BCC based on the face value alone.

"Well, now that we know their methods, we can take countermeasures. I'll leave a list of the creators they contacted here, so you handle the rest."

I put away the list Miyamoto-san gave me and thanked him.

"This was a real help. With this, we can take measures against what Succeed was trying to do."

"No, I feel like I've finally been able to repay my previous debt with this. Anyway, I'm glad."

Next to a relieved me and Miyamoto-san, Kojima-san had been looking glum for a while now.

"What's wrong, Kojima-san?"

Kojima-san turned her face towards me as if she had just noticed.

"Ah, no, it's just, for that Managing Director, the attack seems a bit plain."

"Plain? The way they're throwing money around is anything but ordinary."

Kojima-san nodded at Miyamoto-san's words, but...

"It's not about the amount of money. I just thought that the Managing Director seems to prefer inflicting a fatal blow out of the blue, rather than these subtle, effective attacks. So I just thought it didn't fit his character."

"Now that you mention it..."

Considering what that man has done up to now, it seemed plausible that he would do something with a theatrical flair, including surprising his opponent.

"But hey, couldn't it also be that he's making us think that, while slowly poisoning us...?"

"If you start talking about double-crossing, there's no end to it. Well, it just means we should be careful."

That's true.

This time we just happened to detect it in advance; it's probably safer to assume the next bullet is already loaded.

"Then there's that, they're acquiring small, failing makers, including their developers. This is likely a countermeasure for that education business project."

"The business itself must be going smoothly. I hope he's concentrating on that."

The Managing Director is a hindrance to us, but in reality, his management skills and his perspective outside of games often seemed excellent even to a layman's eye.

"Yeah. If he were just featured in some magazine like 'President,' we could just watch and think, 'He's... working hard...'"

Seriously, how much easier would such a future have been. For God to go out of his way to set up such a hard mode is being too much of a sadist.

"I really hope nothing strange happens anymore..."

In the words Sakurai-san spoke quietly, everyone's feelings were contained. We just wanted it to end somehow, around here. That was all.

◇

Two months passed after that.

The change in direction for the setting and plot was a success, bringing about a remarkable improvement in progress.

Tsurayuki's expression also brightened, and it had a positive effect on other ongoing work.

"40% progress overall. As expected, he's different when he gets into the groove."

Kuroda, too, finally seemed a little relieved at this point.

Our regular reporting meeting, which also included Kawasegawa. Until now, we hadn't heard much good news on the scenario front, but from here on out, there should be no problem.

"The results of in-house development have improved, and we've been able to become more efficient while still leaving in the parts that need to be thoroughly developed. Well, if we can keep this up until the end, there's nothing more to say."

"That's right. And the outsourced people seem to be doing okay?"

At my question, Kuroda grinned.

"Yeah, since that report, we've been in close contact, so don't worry."

The information from Miyamoto-san was immediately relayed to Kuroda and Kawasegawa, and countermeasures were implemented.

"No, that was a big help. In fact, there were some creators who had received offers, so it was a close call."

Kuroda seemed to have immediately confirmed with the outsourcers, and it seems that turned out for the better.

"That's good. Well, it's a good opportunity, so with this, we can revise the treatment of our outsourcers for the better... Kawasegawa?"

While we were relieved, Kawasegawa seemed to be thinking about something the whole time.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm sorry. I just had something on my mind."

"Something on your mind?"

Kawasegawa, with a glum expression, nodded.

"I have no basis for it, and I'd be happy if it ends up being a groundless fear, but I can't shake the feeling that there's another side to this story."

I was remembering Kojima-san's words.

With things like this, it's often the case that they turn out to be true later on, regardless of any evidence beforehand. The fact that they both think so must mean there's some lingering sense of unease.

"You're probably just imagining things, aren't you? If you worry too much, you won't be able to move forward with things you could otherwise."

Kuroda said with a laugh.

"That's true. The outsourcing issue is resolved, so let's be positive."

At our words, Kawasegawa also smiled.

"You're right. I think what happened before might have made me a worrywart."

It was understandable, but that didn't mean we could just stand still and do nothing. If we don't create things, we have no future.

◇

While all this was happening, production progressed, and the development reports on Nico Nama were also going smoothly, and the regular Friday 8 p.m. stream was gradually becoming more polished.

"Okay, stream's cut~ good work, everyone!"

The usual call from Takenaka-san came in, and this week's stream ended safely.

"Next week, I'd like to talk a little more in-depth about the scenario, is that okay?"

"Right. Let's talk about the protagonist's past, based on the parts that are already done."

I was finally able to respond to Takenaka-san's proposals. The user response has also calmed down, considering the increasing number of viewers, and I could see that expectations were high.

"It's finally starting to feel like it's happening!"

Takenaka-san says happily.

"Not yet, for development, the real show is just beginning. We're just now seeing the halfway point of the six months."

In fact, at the four-month mark, we were still mostly preparing assets, and the parts we could show in motion were still close to zero.

It seems it will still be a while before we can show moving assets on Nico Nama or other platforms.

"But listening to the staff, I can feel that things are going smoothly. When things go bad, the atmosphere is clearly terrible..."

Seeing Takenaka-san's reaction, there must have been makers like that. Or rather, Succeed was probably exactly that kind of maker.

"By the way, my company also asked me, 'How about we make a slot for you to stream from the venue at the next big real-life event?'"

An event hosted by Jiwango probably means the Choukaigi (Super Conference). At the moment, we have no plans to exhibit, but there was plenty of room for consideration.

"That's great, I'll try talking to the president about the budget."

"Thank you~! I hope it helps build hype for Clodis!"

Come to think of it, I haven't seen the president recently. It seems she's coming to work as usual, but she seems to be meeting with people outside more often.

(Well, she's in that kind of position to begin with.)

Showing up at development out of the blue is, in itself, an abnormal thing.

"Well, then next week's... oh, I'm sorry, I got a call."

"No, no, go ahead~"

Noticing an incoming RINE call, I excuse myself to Takenaka-san. And then I looked at the screen and was surprised.

"Huh... Miyamoto-san?"

◇

The sudden message from Miyamoto-san, whom I hadn't heard from in a while, was,

"Can we meet soon?"

It was. Honestly, it was a situation that fit the word "ominous."

When I went to the designated restaurant, it was a drinking place divided into private rooms, and when I went inside, Miyamoto-san and another, unfamiliar man were sitting and waiting.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, um, what on earth is going on?"

As I started to speak, my gaze turned to the unfamiliar man.

"Ah, I should introduce you. You know him too, don't you, Hashiba? This is Ryuu-san, a former member of the development department at Ensect, one of China's largest media companies."

Ensect is a Chinese company that has rapidly gained recognition in the last 2-3 years. By overturning its previous image and releasing high-quality software, it is also a company that has earned the deep trust of Japanese users.

"I'm Hashiba. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Ryuu. I've heard about you from Miyamoto-san. Nice to meet you, Hashiba-san."

Ryuu-san was surprisingly fluent in Japanese. For someone like me, who gets intimidated just by the thought of language learning, he was a dazzling presence.

"Originally, Ryuu-san and I had been in contact about the comic adaptation of an Ensect work. We got to be good friends through that, but I heard a strange story. So I thought I'd have you listen too, Hashiba, and connected us."

In that context, this completely partitioned private-room izakaya gives me nothing but a bad feeling.

"I know this is sudden, but could you please tell me the story...?"

At my words, Ryuu-san looked at Miyamoto-san and nodded.

"Please keep what I'm about to say strictly confidential. Please also conceal the fact that you heard it from me."

He began to speak with a preamble that confirmed it was completely ominous.

"Ensect, in addition to its own development, also undertakes outsourcing for other companies' works."

"Yes, I'm aware."

It was a common story that Japanese media companies, unable to cover all their operations with their own employees, are tending to increase outsourcing and contract employees, and as part of that, they are also outsourcing to overseas manufacturers.

Though, recently, overseas manufacturers have higher development capabilities, and there are apparently cases where Japanese manufacturers are doing subcontracting... but that's another story.

Ryuu-san's story continues.

"I was in a position to check almost all development projects, but recently, there was just one project that was sealed off, said to be a presidential matter."

A presidential matter, a sealed project. Far too ominous.

"Could that possibly be a project for Succeed Soft...?"

At my words, Ryuu-san shook his head.

"I have no proof. I wasn't able to secure any evidence myself. However..."

Ryuu-san glanced at Miyamoto-san. As if taking over, Miyamoto-san then began to speak.

"This is also unofficial, but there was a rumor circulating that the president of Ensect and a certain executive at Succeed were about to agree to a business partnership soon."

"An executive..."

"At that company right now, the only one who would make such an active move would be the Managing Director."

I see, so that's how the dots connected.

"But for Succeed right now, there's no benefit to getting close to a completely entertainment-focused company like Ensect, so why...?"

"That's the thing. I thought so too, so I thought maybe you would know something, Hashiba."

All three of us were lost in thought.

"By the way, why did you tell us that story, Ryuu-san? Just having interacted with Miyamoto-san doesn't seem like much of a benefit to tell us."

When I asked, Ryuu-san smiled.

"I was originally a fan of Succeed's games. That's what led me to join Ensect. I was looking forward to Misukuro."

"Is that so... in that case... I'm sorry."

I felt very apologetic somehow. I'm sure it's not just Ryuu-san, but many users who feel that way, and thinking about that, I couldn't help but feel that changing the title for our own convenience was arrogant.

"But hey, in that same vein, Ryuu-san is looking forward to Clodis. He continued developing freelance after quitting Ensect, so he told us, hoping it would be of some help."

"That's... very kind."

However, with the current information, I didn't know if this would be useful or not.

"Well, to be honest, I don't know what this story means. But by telling you, something might become clear. So it's just in case."

I nodded.

"For now, regarding this matter, if we find out anything new or can deduce what's going on, shall we share it?"

"Yes, understood."

Ryuu-san also nodded, and Miyamoto-san also said, "That's about all we can do for now," and hastily decided to create a RINE group.

(However... what does that move mean?)

Succeed still has a development department that continues to make games, for now. It seems that new projects are no longer approved, but they seem to be continuing with sequels to existing titles that are already in motion.

Therefore, my deduction for this story was that they would transfer those existing titles along with the entire development department.

But if that's the case, the company would lose its human resource assets. Succeed is a maker that is highly regarded for its programming and systems, so from the Managing Director's perspective, he should want to have them quit games and assign those personnel to the businesses he will be doing from now on.

However, if that were the case, there should have been a flood of people quitting that company already. The people who were just barely holding on by making things at Succeed would not be able to withstand an event like the sale of the development department.

Then, why? The mystery only deepened.

◇

Another two weeks passed after meeting Ryuu-san. Although we went to the trouble of creating a RINE group, there had been no sign of movement since then.

(In the end, maybe it was nothing.)

But since he had kindly given me the information out of goodwill, I was thinking of calling out to Miyamoto-san and going for a drink sometime.

Production was going very smoothly. Tsurayuki was consistently delivering scenarios, and both Shinoaki and N@NA-san, despite being incredibly busy, were setting aside time for Clodis. Come to think of it, I heard that Shinoaki's art book has been postponed because she wants to put even more effort into it.

"And yet, she's still properly submitting illustrations for us... I have nothing but gratitude."

While organizing the files, I suddenly remembered what Ryuu-san had told me.

A partnership between Succeed Soft and a Chinese media company. It has not yet been made public, but the purpose is likely to be the transfer of IP, joint development, and so on.

But it seemed that what we were thinking was unlikely.

"Well, if it's something they can work on with an existing title, the staff would immediately make a fus—"

Suddenly.

Right in front of me was the material for "that work."

"No... it can't be."

For just a moment, a single moment, I felt my body temperature drop.

"That work" is, of course, owned by Succeed, including its copyright and materials. As long as the Managing Director is around, the possibility of it being worked on at Succeed should have been zero.

"No way, it can't be."

Let's consider a hypothetical. Ensect buys the game rights from Succeed. Then, they finish the game at a rapid pace and release it.

Naturally, the quality would drop by as much as it was rushed. The reputation would also, naturally, be bad.

"...No, that's not it."

Ensect has now become a company that can demonstrate its brand power to the outside world. For them to buy a controversial title from another company and release it in a clearly terrible state felt like nothing but a disadvantage.

I'm being too suspicious.

"I can't laugh at Kawasegawa. I'm becoming a worrywart too."

Suspicions don't clear up right away. For a while, I may have to be oversensitive to what that company and that Managing Director do.

When I happened to look around, I saw Kuroda. Unusually, he was sitting up straight, his back straight, and staring intently at his PC monitor.

(That's unusual, he's normally like that.)

"That" meant his posture was bad. He didn't put his feet on the desk, but his daily routine of sitting cross-legged or in seiza on his chair, or leaning back so far he almost fell over, could hardly be called good posture. Kawasegawa had repeatedly complained to him about it.

When such a Kuroda is looking at the monitor with proper posture. It's usually when he's encountered something interesting, something fun.

"I wonder what he's looking at."

My interest piqued, I walked over to him. Even though he must have known I was approaching, Kuroda just kept staring straight ahead, motionless.

"Kuroda, what are you looki—"

As soon as I said it, I noticed something was wrong.

"Hashiba, look at this..."

Kuroda was staring intently at the monitor in front of him. But the color had drained from his face. I immediately looked at his monitor too.

Something unbelievable, something I didn't want to see, was there.

Mystic Clockwork, from Succeed Soft x Ensect

Service begins today!

Gradually, I could tell that the development department was starting to stir. Everyone was hurriedly turning on their smartphones or trying to check someone else's monitor.

In the midst of that, we just stared at the screen from a moment ago.

"Hashiba! Kuroda! Hey, what is...!"

Kawasegawa came over to us, smartphone in hand.

But none of us could react.

We couldn't immediately process in our brains what was happening in front of our eyes.

Before long, an app alert informed us that Succeed Soft's Nico Nama, which had been dormant for a long time, had started.

With trembling fingers, I launched the Nico Nama app.

A face I never wanted to see again was on the screen, beaming, alongside the president of Ensect.

And he said, in a terrifyingly refreshing voice,

"Sorry to keep you waiting. This is the real Mystic Clockwork!"