Chapter 11. President! Are You Looking Down on Me?
---
This proposal was something else. At least up to this point, Shirakawa had never seen a game that reached such heights in storytelling. The character settings, the story progression, and especially the touching, grand finale interwoven with a tragic love between human and monster—it was something rarely seen, even in the animation industry.
Shirakawa even had a vague feeling that, if this game could be made, there was a huge chance it could be adapted into an anime. If that happened, it might rewrite the history of gaming and establish a whole new genre as a global mainstream.
He had to admit, the script deeply moved him, so much so that Shirakawa Atsushi felt an overwhelming urge to sing praises for it.
Now he finally understood why Kiyoshi Yuuma had been so confident earlier and insistent on staying until he had read the proposal.
Shirakawa was utterly captivated by the proposal. And it resonated with his very soul as if it was the truth he had been chasing all these years. But—
He wasn't sure if he had the ability to handle such a theme.
Shirakawa Atsushi turned around. After a long hesitation, he finally made up his mind and said: "I'm sorry, President. I've already accepted another offer. I'm truly grateful for your appreciation, but I can't accept your company's invitation. I'm really, truly sorry."
Huh?
The light in Kiyoshi Yuuma's eyes went out.
Seriously? After all that, you're going to reject me? And just a moment ago, you looked completely enchanted, giving me so much hope?
Damn it!
Even though Shirakawa didn't say it outright, Kiyoshi Yuuma could more or less guess which company he was going to—
Falcom.
It was the same in his previous life, and just now, Kiyoshi Yuuma had accidentally glimpsed the contract on Shirakawa's desk.
What's so great about Falcom anyway? Kiyoshi Yuuma thought bitterly. So what if they made Ys and The Legend of Heroes? It's not like they have anything else worth bragging about.
But well…
Compared to them, Pokeni was completely insignificant. Not only was it less well-known, but it didn't have any noteworthy works to its name either.
At least for now.
If it were him, he'd probably make the same choice as Shirakawa Atsushi.
He could only blame himself—"Being weak is the original sin!"
…
"Since Shirakawa-san has made up his mind, there's nothing more we can say."
Kiyoshi Yuuma stood up and pulled Ayase Akane to follow him.
"But if one day Shirakawa-san changes his mind, the doors of Pokeni will always be open to you."
…
After leaving Shirakawa's apartment, Ayase Akane looked at Kiyoshi Yuuma with a troubled expression.
"President, I don't quite understand."
"Hm?"
Ayase Akane stepped forward, gazing into Kiyoshi Yuuma's eyes with a touch of indignation. "Why are you so fixated on a newcomer who's never even done game music before?"
She was genuinely upset.
Shirakawa was clearly a total newbie, yet he acted all high and mighty. Sure, Pokeni was a small company, but even the President came personally—what more did he want?
And the President too! He has not even a shred of backbone.
Maybe it would've made sense during the bubble era when companies begged people to join them. But after the bubble burst, people were desperately fighting for even the smallest job.
These days, talent was cheap.
Someone like Shirakawa, a blank slate, others wouldn't even look at him. Wouldn't it make more sense to hire someone experienced?
"Ah…" Kiyoshi Yuuma sighed. "You just don't understand."
Some people's value has already been proven by history. And some people's value will be proven by history.
"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore. When we get back, just pick one of the samples." Kiyoshi Yuuma relented.
If he couldn't have the best, then second-best would have to do.
Even though he was a bit stubborn and had perfectionist tendencies, he wasn't the kind of idiot who would charge into a brick wall and not turn back. After all, the company still had to run, and Pokeni still had to make money.
They walked together to the intersection.
"Ayase-san, do you want to go for a drink?" Kiyoshi Yuuma loosened his tie.
He just couldn't shake this frustration without having something to drink tonight.
Besides, drinking in the evening was pretty normal in Japan.
"Huh?" Ayase Akane hesitated.
She took a half-step back, somewhat warily scanning Kiyoshi Yuuma from head to toe in under a second.
"Don't worry. You're not my type." Kiyoshi Yuuma glanced at her chest.
It wasn't nonexistent, but… let's just say it was nailed down.
"Ah! President!" Ayase Akane quickly covered herself with both hands, puffing up her cheeks in anger.
Is it my fault I'm small?!
This silly President!
"Actually... the President's kind of handsome. If you'd invited me properly, maybe I would've said yes," she mumbled in a low voice.
Just then, the pedestrian light turned green.
People began flowing past them and the area suddenly became noisy with chatter.
"What did you say?" Kiyoshi Yuuma turned back and asked.
"N-nothing!" Ayase Akane blushed as she spoke.
…
"Cheers!"
"President, I heard that in our company's new game, all the girls are super busty," Ayase Akane said with a red face.
"That's not true," Kiyoshi Yuuma waved his hand. "They just have normal figures. Whether it's Yuuki Rei or Kurai Tsuki, they're both pretty average. In fact, the third female protagonist, Fuune Rin, is even a bit flat."
Fuune Rin was based on A'nu from The Legend of Sword and Fairy, though in Pokeni's game, her age had been changed to 18, and her design leaned more toward the l*li type.
When she heard the word "flat," Ayase Akane glanced at her own chest with a touch of self-consciousness.
Around 11 p.m., Kiyoshi Yuuma paid the bill and helped the tipsy Ayase Akane out of the izakaya.
How did it end up like this?
Kiyoshi Yuuma thought to himself. The female employees at the company really had a very poor alcohol tolerance. It didn't even seem like she drank that much, and she was already done for.
"Ayase, where is your home?"
Ayase slowly lifted her head, her eyes dazed, mouth open as she breathed heavily, reeking of alcohol.
It took a while before she responded, still in a daze: "Huh?"
"I asked, where is your home."
"I… My home is in Hokkaido."
What the hell? This is Tokyo!
"Where are you living now?" Kiyoshi Yuuma asked, clearly exasperated.
But Ayase Akane didn't seem to care what he was saying. She staggered forward a couple of steps on her own.
Kiyoshi Yuuma was worried that she would fall, so he quickly stepped up to support her.
"President!" Ayase suddenly shoved him away and narrowed her eyes.
"Huh?"
"Are you looking down on me?!"
"When did I look down on you?"
"Then why did you say I'm not your type?"
"I'm not the kind of President who hits on employees," Kiyoshi Yuuma explained.
"No!" Ayase Akane pointed a finger at him, wobbling in circles as she walked, though her finger never wavered from pointing directly at Kiyoshi Yuuma's handsome face. "You just look down on me!"
"You look down on girls with small breasts!"
"…"
Kiyoshi Yuuma was extremely frustrated. Why are all the female employees in his company like this?
If I ever drink with a female employee again, I swear I'm a damn dog!
"So you like girls like Ishino, with big boobs, huh?!" Ayase Akane shouted.
The people around them turned to look, and Kiyoshi Yuuma felt deeply embarrassed.
He closed his eyes, then let out a laugh full of anger.
"Ayase-san, if you keep this up, I'm seriously going to leave you here."