192 < EP. 44: Tsubaki's Request. (3) >

Ten days after I went to Tsubaki's hospital.

As Virtual Idol's first live battle approached in a week, strange tensions started to flow among Japanese island gamers.

Or is it because I've never come across one of these before?

Even the ordinary people who didn't like the game felt they were quite interested in their walk. Is that so?

Recently, the PC communities have often heard that they are cheering for their favorite heroes by purchasing Complete Raon.

“Honestly, when the director first told me he was making idols, I couldn't get enough of it, but it's a huge hit after the launch. ”

Hayashi, who was in charge of Virtual Idol's system, took out a cigarette from the rooftop and smiled deeply.

Recently, the Pentagon Soft prohibited smoking in its offices, which forced Hayashi and other smokers to climb onto the roof of the building.

Up until last year, I had a separate smoking room inside, but I didn't like the way the raccoon's lair looked.

While the benefits policy for smoking cessation has resulted in significant awards for smoking cessation for more than three months, Hayashi has yet to be successful at quitting smoking.

He was as sharp as Snake, the main character of the Full Metal Gear, and he was one of the most important reefs in the Pentagon.

However, he filed a smoking cessation application this morning.

Although the reason was written down as' for your health, 'it was clear that this was Kaori's pressure.

“Is that the last one? ”

“I left you another one. How would you like to hang out last? ”

Hayashi handed me the mattress on an empty backpack.

After a deep smoke, I leaned against the rooftop ledge and looked down at Shinjuku City.

“It's been six years since I left Mintendo. Time flies...”

“I see. Between those six years, the game trend had definitely changed. Japan still has a strong console, but we've recently heard that PC gaming sales have been significant in the United States. ”

Hayashi was right.

In the future, the gaming industry will have a fairly long division of PC games and console games.

Especially after the recent announcement of the Diablo series by Frost, I felt the time for quarterview nuclear & slash games to finally reveal their claws.

Hayashi also couldn't help but be amazed at the first-ever game screens of the Diablo series, because the RPG method against the never-ending enemy in a dark dungeon was taking a completely different form than the RPG he had always enjoyed.

“To be honest, I didn't think there were any countries that would follow Japan in the content of 'The Game’ until now, but I felt a lot about this. As expected, the world is wide. ”

“That's why I never get tired of this floor. Monsters with frightening porting abilities are making new ones every year. ”

“Such a director is also one of the scary monsters! The unique gamesmanship that makes users mute in every game that is released. ”

“Stop it! What's wrong with you? Not like you. ”

“Is this awkward?”

I shook my head to the left and to the right with a bitter smile on Hayashi's face, emitting white cigarette smoke.

For some reason, I'm still not used to this compliment.

Clearly, my assessment of time has gone beyond Japan in North America and Europe, but what should I say is that the emptiness is not filled as it used to be?

Sometimes I get caught up in such a strange feeling.

Do I have to tell you how much I missed myself 10 years ago when I was running around with everything on my shoulders like that?

“Hey. Hayashi.”

“Yes, Director. ”

“Why don't we put it all down and start over? ”

Then Hayashi's glabella split open and asked me for a few steps.

“Don't tell me, Director. Is that the story of Dragon Emblem 2? ”

Oh, my God. Did I say that without thinking?

Still, I can't believe that poker face turned white after just one spit, and you turned the project upside down like it was dinner, including the Psychic Force...

“No, no, no. Hayashi, that's not it...”

“So what project are you referring to? ”

“Hnng... No, thank you. Just pretend you didn't hear that. ”

It is undeniable that I have changed my mind a little since I visited Tsubaki's hospital. It's not just because she liked me, but because I definitely felt like I'd lost my passion at the time compared to 10 years ago when I first returned to 1983.

Of course, I still like games and enjoy the content I create with users every time with a unique system. But sometimes I think,

"Why me? ’

In 2015, there were definitely more outstanding planners than me.

Sensoni had almost dominated the console industry at the time, their first party was a developer called Nutikat, who drew a graphic quality and storytelling plot in game history, and Frost, who built a huge worldview that no one could follow on the PC game side.

Although Mintendo lost his glory in the past because of the successive console business failures, Kumamoto Shigeru became like the ‘god’ of the gaming industry, and various games he created were being inherited by his successors.

If a pretty good main director had dropped in here on my behalf, wouldn't this world that I'm in really be happening?

Suddenly, when I thought about it, I felt small without ever being there.

Am I leading the gaming industry in the right direction…

Will the gamers like the games I make in the future?

Recently, I feel like I've become a protagonist of the 'Gift of God’ I made. Do I feel like I'm living my past over and over again in a slightly different form?

‘At times like this, I really want to see my grandfather again who sent me here. There are so many things I'd like to ask you if I meet you… "

When I rubbed the ashtray with the cigarette that had been burned to the end of the filter, Hayashi, who had been watching me silently for a while, told me.

“Director.”

“Huh?"

“You're still doing quite well. ”

“Yes…? What does that mean all of a sudden? ”

“You don't look so energetic. It's no big deal, but I've always wanted to say that. ”

“... Yes. Thank you."

I slowly walked toward the elevator, grabbing Hayashi's smiling shoulder with one tail up.

It's been 12 years since I came here anyway.

My grandfather, who came to my wedding, told me to run all I want, so at least I'm not going the wrong way.

If we live like this, the day will come when we will see him naturally.

Like it or not, when it comes to the day of 2015.

&

Early October 1995.

Huge crowds gathered at Kobe and Osaka's live venues.

I hired my own security company to run the event smoothly, but the number of visitors who gathered at the live chairman had already exceeded my expectations.

I was in the Kobe area, Kanna's live location, where users gathered from different parts of Japan were overwhelmed by people outside of the event, despite the somewhat uncomfortable traffic conditions.

“Oooh!! I ran from Fukuoka to live today!! ”

“This must be Erica's victory. ”

I grabbed the paper I was holding in my hand with a somewhat tense expression, with a loud sound coming from outside the window.

Leaning against the window, I turn my head and talk to Kanna, who is stiff.

“You don't have to be so nervous. First, Erica, the game character, will present a new song on your behalf. All you have to do is focus on the last live stage. ”

“Yes, but...”

“Huh?"

“The length of this skirt. I think it's too short. ”

“Haha… isn't that right? I'll tell Maurita the next time I plan on making a live costume. ”

“What about the Osaka stage? Aoi is in charge of Kono Azsa. You were very nervous.”

“You must be enormous, too. Osaka's better transportation than Kobe, and you should be more nervous. ”

“I'm fine. ”

A smile was drawn on Kanna's smiling face when she applied the script.

“But what have you been writing down? ”

“Oh, this... is a song for Tsubaki tomorrow. It was only completed in the car that came in this morning. ”

“Really? Can I see it for a second? ”

Kanna hurriedly smiles at the back of her waist, hiding the sheet music with the lyrics.

“I'm sorry, but Tsubaki told me never to show it to Joon-Hyuk. ”

“Ugh? Why? ”

“Well, Joon-Hyuk really wanted to do it onstage for the first time... and now we and Ueno. And only Mr. Terrada knows this song. ”

“Hmm! I'm sure it's a good song if they admit it, but it's still a little disappointing." ”

“But you can't. I made a promise to my sister. My sister gave me the lyrics, and I wrote the songs, and both of them complimented me on how great they were. ”

“Yeah? That's exciting. ”

“It's Tsubaki's performance next week, so don't miss it. ”

At that time, a Pentagon staff member who was in charge of the event opened the door to the Staff Room looked for me.

“Director, the first LIVE is about to begin. Be prepared."

“Yes, I'll be right up. ”

After the staff retreated, I looked in the mirror and recalled it in a low voice, pulling at the collar.

“Let's go, then. ”

“Cheer up, Director. ”

With a slight nod to Kanna behind me, I set foot on the steps leading up to the stage. So Kanna's "Tsubaki" is finished...

Honestly, I could sneak a peek during Kanna's performance, but there must be a reason for you two to hide like this...

After all, Tsubaki's performance is in a week, so let's be patient.

I slightly raised my mouth and recalled Tsubaki's request that day.

‘Joon-Hyuk, if you're having trouble performing outside because of my health... why don't you do it here at the hospital. And, of course, it can be very upsetting for other patients, so with their permission, a very small performance. "