"Holy cow!" Luke Bennett and Jake Rivers said in unison, their eyes wide.
They'd never heard of Kenji Tanigaki, but Rurouni Kenshin? That was a name everyone knew.
The film series, adapted from the famous manga, had taken the world by storm with its top-notch production, gripping story, and jaw-dropping fight scenes. People called it the gold standard for manga adaptations, especially for its action.
And the action? That was all Kenji Tanigaki. The guy trained under Jackie Chan's stunt team in Hong Kong, working on heavy-hitters like SPL: Kill Zone and Flash Point. Hong Kong's stunt crews were in a league of their own, and Tanigaki soaked it all up.
After over a decade with Jackie's team, he returned to Japan and took on Rurouni Kenshin. He ditched the tired, old-school Japanese action style—slow-motion shots with cheesy effects—and brought in Hong Kong's fast, hard-hitting choreography. Every move looked real, every strike landed with weight.
The result? Rurouni Kenshin's lightning-fast battles and dynamic camera work became iconic.
Tanigaki was a rare breed, blending traditional Japanese martial arts with the world's best action design. After Rurouni Kenshin's success, he even went back to China, working on Hidden Man at Donnie Yen's recommendation. His team was just as sharp, a crew of pros who lived and breathed action.
If WindyPeak could get Tanigaki's team for Sekiro's motion capture, it'd be a game-changer.
"We're going big," Luke said, still reeling.
"And it's not just the quality," Jake added. "Rurouni Kenshin is huge in Japan. If we drop a line like, 'This game's action is by the Rurouni Kenshin crew,' the hype will be unreal."
Sure, MOSIA Motion Capture Studio and Tanigaki's team don't come cheap. But at WindyPeak, money's never the issue—Zoey Parker's got that covered. When she buys, she doesn't even glance at the price tag.
"So, it's a done deal?" Luke asked, leaning forward.
"Locked in," Gus Harper nodded. "MOSIA's all-in—good money, big fame, no reason to say no. And Tanigaki? He's even more interesting."
Gus leaned back, a spark in his eyes. "He told me that twenty years ago, he took Chinese action techniques to Japan, mixing them with Japanese culture. Now, here we are, making a game set in the Sengoku period. To him, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to show what he's learned."
Luke and Jake grinned, giving Gus a thumbs-up. The guy was a master at winning people over.
No question—this was huge. A world-class motion capture studio and Japan's top stunt team joining Sekiro? That's a massive boost.
But Gus wasn't the only one making moves. Luke and Jake filled him in on things back home. Several tech hurdles from Sekiro's early days were finally starting to crack, and the project was moving forward steadily.
As for Garden Warfare, it was smooth sailing. Jiang Yun's team was small but fast, churning through the work like it was nothing. As Jiang put it, "You can't screw up an FPS game even if you try."
Gus and Luke burst out laughing at that.
Jake scratched his head, confused. "Wait, Gus, if you wrapped everything up yesterday, why're you still in Tokyo? Shouldn't you be on a plane home?"
Smack. Luke slapped Jake's shoulder. "Come on, man! Gus has been grinding all day. Let him have a break."
Gus didn't come to Japan alone, after all. After business, he and Zoey deserved a little downtime.
Luke winked at Gus. "We've got things covered back home with Jiang and Sato. Take your time, man. I get it."
"Get what?" Gus rolled his eyes. "I stayed because I went to a funeral this morning."
"A funeral?" Luke blinked, caught off guard. "Who?"
"Kazu Okura's father," Gus said. "Back when we made Silent Hill P.T., Kazu was my lead programmer. Sato was lead planner, Yuki was lead artist, and Kazu ran the code."
He paused, his tone softening. "His dad's been sick for years, in and out of the ICU. Didn't pull through."
As Kazu's old boss, Gus went to pay his respects, passing along condolences from Sato and Yuki. Kazu was shocked to see him and tried to say something during the visit, but Gus cut him off. He handed over a condolence gift, following tradition, and told Kazu to focus on his family for now. They could talk later—Gus would be waiting.
After that, the three of them chatted a bit more, mostly about Jake's recent (and awkward) meeting with his girlfriend's parents. They confirmed Gus's flight for tomorrow, agreed to meet at the airport, and ended the call.
Gus, feeling a bit recharged after resting, got up to take a shower.
"Phew," Gus sighed, stepping out of the bathroom in pajamas, the hot water leaving him relaxed but a little drained.
With Sekiro's motion capture sorted, key tech issues falling into place, and Garden Warfare cruising along, the weight on his shoulders was finally easing up. But with that relief came a wave of exhaustion—sore back, aching legs, the works.
He shuffled toward the bed, ready to collapse.
Knock knock knock.
A knock at the door stopped him cold.
"Who's there?" Gus called out in English.
A soft, cheerful voice answered in Japanese. "Excuse me, sir, do you need room service?"
Gus chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, I'm good. I'm in the biz myself!"
"Ugh, Gus, you're no fun!" Zoey's voice came from the other side, dropping the act. "Open the door! I need to borrow your hairdryer!"
Gus opened the door, and there was Zoey, fresh from a shower in pink pajama shorts, a sweet peach scent lingering around her. Her damp hair was wrapped in a towel, and a few water droplets slid down her forehead, making her glow.
"Uh…" Gus cleared his throat, a bit flustered. "A four-star hotel, and the hairdryer's busted?"
"Four stars or forty, a hairdryer's still a hairdryer," Zoey said, rolling her eyes. "Not like it's a magic wand. Come on, don't be stingy—it's not your electricity."
She slipped past him into the room like a breeze. Gus shook his head, closed the door, and settled onto the couch, flipping on the TV.
A minute later, Zoey emerged from the bathroom, and Gus nearly lost it.
Either the hotel's hairdryer was junk, or Zoey's hair was just that thick. It was a frizzy mess, puffed up like a lion's mane, and her grumpy expression only made it funnier.
"This hairdryer's trash!" Zoey huffed, pouting.
As she plopped down next to him, she tossed a small packet his way—half pink, half silver, about the size of a phone.
Gus caught it, his heart skipping a beat until he saw it was just a hair mask. Relax, man.
Zoey flipped her hair over, and Gus tore open the packet, working the mask into her hair with his fingers.
"A CEO and VP ditching the company," Gus teased. "Bold move."
"Ditching?" Zoey scoffed, wagging a finger. "This is a business trip for our big project. Don't call it ditching."
"Sure," Gus said, smirking. "You're just tagging along to shop and eat. I'm the one actually working."
"Hey!" Zoey's cheeks flushed. "I'm… looking out for my team's mental health, okay? Besides, you wanted to check out Akihabara. I didn't get to go with you this afternoon."
"Thanks for the sacrifice," Gus said, his tone dry.
He groaned inwardly, remembering their Akihabara stroll. The streets were packed with cosplayers and maids, and Gus barely looked up, staring at either Komina's pachinko signs or his own shoes. Pure torture.
"You're welcome," Zoey said, grinning like she'd won.
Gus finished smoothing the hair mask, taming her wild mane. "Alright, done. Off you go. I'm wiped."
But Zoey didn't budge. Instead, she straightened her hair and pointed at the bed. "Okay, your turn. Hop in."
Gus froze. "Wait, what?"
"Get in bed," Zoey said, like it was no big deal.
"Uh…" Gus's brain short-circuited. "Hold up, that's… moving a bit fast, don't you think?"
"Fast?" Zoey frowned, standing and pulling him off the couch. "It's just a massage, you weirdo. I saw you rubbing your neck and back lately. You keep forgetting that massager, so I learned some moves from a video. Figured I'd help you out."
Thump. She pushed him onto the bed, and he sank into the mattress, still processing.
"I just… wasn't ready for that," Gus mumbled, trying to stay calm. "It's not that I don't appreciate it, but this feels like it needs… I don't know, more buildup or something."
"What are you even talking about?" Zoey laughed, giving his back a light smack.
She climbed onto the bed, sitting on his lower back, and started kneading his shoulders. Her small hands worked steadily, easing the tension.
"I've seen you wincing at home," she said. "You're stressed out. I'm just helping."
Gus opened his mouth, but a warm feeling spread through him. Luke's words echoed in his head: If you're not ready, you're not ready. But when you are, you won't hesitate.
Maybe he'd been overthinking it. Maybe "being ready" was just a coward's excuse.
Zoey's hands moved from his shoulders to his lower back, then his calves. When she reached his ankles, Gus pulled back. "Alright, that's enough."
"Hold still," Zoey said, patting his leg. "Your feet have pressure points too."
Gus almost said something but stopped. Spilling his feelings now felt cheap, like a rushed confession in a dive motel. He wanted more than that—something real, something worth shouting to the world.