"President Yamashina, don't you find it regrettable?" Takuya Nakayama's voice carried a carefully measured hint of sympathy. "These games are only mediocre at best, barely enough to satisfy the original fans. They're not enough to break out of the fan circle—unable to attract players who haven't seen the anime and spark their interest in the original work. It's a waste of the original's untapped potential."
He looked at Makoto Yamashina with genuine sincerity, as if genuinely pained by the president's loss.
"Continuously releasing these re-skin games might look good in the short term, but in the long run, it will quickly exhaust the fans' enthusiasm. Once that passion is gone, so is the value of these works. Please forgive me for saying this, but Sega acquired Sunrise precisely to consider the long-term value of its creations."
Each word struck Makoto Yamashina like a tiny hammer, precisely targeting his heart.
He understood Bandai's current predicament better than anyone.
"So, I have an idea," Takuya said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, as if afraid of startling Makoto Yamashina. "Has Bandai ever considered merging its entire game development department into Sega?"
Makoto Yamashina's pupils contracted sharply.
"With this approach, Sega's latest technologies, most refined engines, and most innovative gameplay concepts could be immediately applied to Bandai's licensed properties. A dream team like this could create truly groundbreaking hits that would set the market ablaze."
Before Makoto Yamashina could process this bombshell, Takuya leaned forward.
"Ultimately, Japan's economy has been in a downturn these past two years. Bandai must be feeling the pressure, right?"
These words struck Makoto Yamashina like lightning, instantly transporting him back over a year to the afternoon when Chuta Mitsui had come knocking with a desperate plea for help.
Takuya's face still wore that gentle smile, but his words sent a chill down Makoto Yamashina's spine.
"So, why don't we take our collaboration a step further? Sega and Bandai should merge outright."
"Merge?" Makoto Yamashina's voice cracked.
"Yes, a merger," Takuya declared with conviction. "Bandai's strongest competitive advantage is its industry-leading expertise in developing and producing top-tier toys and merchandise. After merging, you can completely shed the businesses you're not good at and focus solely on what you do best."
He raised his glass, gesturing toward the other side of the hall where President Nobutada Ito of Sunrise was engaged in animated conversation.
"Look at Sunrise, President Yamashina. After being acquired by Sega, aren't they thriving more comfortably? They no longer have to worry about a single project's long return cycle jeopardizing their cash flow. They can now devote themselves entirely to refining scripts and creating hit shows like Mobile Fighter G Gundam and Future GPX Cyber Formula—critically acclaimed and commercially successful. The longer a work's lifespan, the more stable its reputation, and ultimately, the greater the rewards."
"Now consider Tamiya." Takuya's gaze swept across the room again. "Last year, nearly all their best-selling Mini 4WD models were licensed from Future GPX Cyber Formula. This is the perfect example of experts focusing on their specialties and growing the pie together."
He paused, giving Makoto Yamashina a moment to catch his breath, before dropping another irresistible temptation.
"After the merger, Bandai's copyright operations can be integrated with Sega's 'Sega Galaxy' plan. I guarantee that all future licensing rights for Sega's works, including Sonic and Pokémon, will be exclusively handled by Bandai's department. You know better than anyone how vast this market is, President Yamashina."
Makoto Yamashina's breath hitched.
This wasn't just a partnership; it was like handing over Sega's entire treasure trove to Bandai.
"Moreover, Sega has one of the most professional investment departments, ensuring healthy cash flow and strong risk resistance for the entire group." Takuya's tone turned meaningful. "The impact of your company's hardware experiments a few years ago... must still be significant, right?"
He was reopening Bandai's old wounds.
Each of Bandai's hardware failures was like an open wound, constantly draining the company's vitality. These misguided decisions were clearly blind and lacked deep consideration.
Makoto Yamashina fell completely silent.
He found himself powerless to refute anything.
Takuya Nakayama's proposed blueprint precisely targeted Bandai's pain points while offering a solution that was almost impossible to refuse.
This was an open scheme.
A scheme that used massive profits and a promising future as bait, making you willingly jump right in.
Seeing Makoto Yamashina's conflicted expression, Takuya Nakayama knew the moment had come.
He stopped pressing and instead took a step back, returning to a relaxed tone.
"Of course, this is just my personal idea. Given the significance of this decision for both companies' futures, President Yamashina can take his time to consider it. There's no need to rush."
With that, he smiled, raised his glass, and drained the remaining champagne in one gulp. He then turned and melted into the crowd, leaving Makoto Yamashina alone, standing frozen in thought, speechless for a long time.
When the premiere reception concluded, Takuya Nakayama followed the crowd into the theater to watch a film that, compared to its original version in his previous life, had become unrecognizable.
The theater was brightly lit. President Ito of Sunrise and Chuta Mitsui of Bandai stood beside him, their excitement palpable.
"Executive Director Nakayama, the OVA tapes and LaserDiscs have already sold out! The theatrical release will generate even more fervent reactions!" President Ito rubbed his hands together, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.
Chuta Mitsui grinned widely. "Thanks to you, the GP Series HG models have been restocked three times! Our warehouse is practically empty!"
Takuya Nakayama simply smiled. "It's the result of everyone's hard work." His gaze swept across the room before he feigned curiosity. "Where's Director Imanishi? Such an important occasion, and he's nowhere to be seen."
President Ito cleared his throat, nodding toward an inconspicuous shadow in the corner. "Over there," he whispered.
Soon, the lights dimmed. The dragon logo flashed across the screen, followed by the familiar opening theme. Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Last Days of the Titans officially began.
Thanks to the foundational direction set by Takuya Nakayama at the planning meeting, the fleshed-out backstory provided by the "Universal Completion Plan" through manga and novels, and the "correction" of the script's hollow and laughable "righteous cause," the entire story had become remarkably coherent.
On the screen, Kou Uraki made his debut. No longer was he the helpless tester who froze in the face of the enemy. After witnessing his comrades being vaporized by the GP02's nuclear bomb with his own eyes, his gaze held no confusion, only burning rage and hatred.
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