"That's just because they've never seen a man who truly cares for his family," Takuya Nakayama said, pushing the fruit platter toward her. "Eat more. Replenish your energy. Besides, as for gossip, let them write whatever they want. When I went to ring the bell at Nasdaq at the beginning of the year, didn't those Wall Street papers write that I was young, impulsive, and lacked maturity? Yet, when Silicon Valley Online's stock price tripled, they immediately changed their tune and praised my unique foresight."
Eri was amused by his words.
"You have the nerve to bring up Nasdaq. Frank complained to me later, saying you wouldn't even go on stage, leaving everything to him and Tom. As soon as you were done, you flew straight back to Japan."
"That was only because I missed you," Takuya Nakayama replied righteously. "You had just found out you were forty days pregnant. My mind was entirely on how you were handling morning sickness alone in Tokyo. I was terrified you wouldn't be eating or sleeping well. I was in no mood to get on stage and deal with those media people."
Eri picked up a second slice of apple.
"Kazuki hasn't been causing any trouble at home these past few days, has he?"
"With Mom and Dad watching, would he dare to cause any trouble?" Takuya Nakayama shifted into a more comfortable position, leaning back against the sofa. "Dad is completely wrapped around Kazuki's finger now; he even lets Kazuki use his prized golf clubs as bamboo swords."
At the mention of her father-in-law, Hayao Nakayama, Eri couldn't help but chuckle.
That man, who was so formidable in the business world that even Nintendo treaded carefully around him, became a completely different person in front of his grandson.
A series of small, rapid footsteps echoed in the hallway, accompanied by a child's clear, bright voice.
The hospital room door was pushed open.
"Mom!"
Almost five-year-old Kazuki Nakayama charged in like a little cannonball, but he slammed on the brakes just half a meter away from the hospital bed.
Takuya Nakayama was quick enough to grab the back of his son's collar.
"Slow down. Don't bump into Mommy."
Kazuki stood obediently, gripping the edge of the bed with both hands and peering down at Eri's rounded belly.
"Mommy, did the little brother kick you today?"
"We don't know yet if it's a little brother or a little sister," Eri said, reaching out to stroke her son's fluffy hair. "The baby has been very good today and hasn't been moving around much."
Outside the door, Hayao Nakayama and Miyuki Nakayama walked in.
Hayao Nakayama was wearing a dark gray cashmere overcoat, carrying a thermos in his hand.
This business tycoon, now in his sixties, had eyes filled with gentleness.
Miyuki Nakayama was in an elegant, plain-colored kimono, carrying several beautifully wrapped gift boxes.
Takuya Nakayama stood up and took the thermos from his father.
"Dad, Mom. Why did you bring soup again? The hospital's nutritious meals are quite good."
"How can hospital meals compare to what we stew at home?" Miyuki Nakayama placed the gift boxes on a nearby table. "These are supplements your mother had sent over yesterday. I picked out a few that are suitable for women in postpartum recovery. Eri, how are you feeling today?"
"I'm doing well, Mom. Thank you for your care." Eri responded with a smile.
Hayao Nakayama took off his overcoat, hung it on the coat rack, and walked over to sit on the sofa.
He glanced at his son.
"Regarding the company, Koguchi called me yesterday. The year-end clearance sale had great results; we expect to clear the inventory of several third-party manufacturers before the New Year holiday ends."
Even in the hospital ward, the president couldn't break his habit of talking about work.
Takuya Nakayama poured chicken soup from the thermos into a small bowl and handed it to Eri.
"This was all within expectations. By giving up release slots and reducing royalties, they've gained cash flow and will naturally be dead set on sticking with Sega next year. Have there been any moves from Sony recently?"
"Ken Kutaragi is poaching people everywhere," Hayao Nakayama said, picking up his teacup. "I heard he's been secretly contacting people from Square. Not only that, there's movement from Nintendo as well. The N64 game development schedule has been delayed again; Hiroshi Yamauchi flew into a rage in Kyoto and gave several development managers a thorough dressing-down."
"Let him be," Takuya Nakayama said in a flat tone. "RPG development cycles are long; even if Sony reaches a partnership with Square now, it will take two or three years for any results to emerge. As for Nintendo, their insistence on using cartridges as the medium for the N64 means that losing a large number of third-party developers who need high-capacity storage is only a matter of time. We have enough time to set up our defenses."
The conversation between father and son was brief and efficient.
In just a few sentences, they had combed through recent industry developments.
Kazuki had absolutely no interest in the adults' business talk.
He lay at the edge of the bed, staring at Eri's belly for a long time, before looking up.
"Mommy, how did the baby get put inside?"
The air in the hospital room went quiet for a second.
Nakayama Hayao, who was drinking tea, choked and began coughing repeatedly.
Nakayama Miyuki quickly handed him a tissue and shot a chiding glare at her grandson, though she couldn't help but smile.
Eri's cheeks flushed slightly as she looked to Nakayama Takuya for help.
Nakayama Takuya set down the fruit knife, walked over to his son, and crouched down.
"Kazuki, you've played Sonic the Hedgehog, right?"
Kazuki nodded vigorously.
"When Sonic eats enough gold rings, he gets an extra life. It's the same for Mommy; she ate lots and lots of nutritious food, and a baby grew inside her belly."
Kazuki tilted his head, seriously contemplating this logic.
"Then why doesn't Mommy eat the green mushroom? Mario gets an extra life when he eats a green mushroom."
Hayao Nakayama's coughing grew louder.
Takuya Nakayama put on a serious face and corrected him solemnly.
"In a Sega hospital, you are not allowed to mention Nintendo mushrooms."
Kazuki gave an "oh" that suggested he only half-understood. He reached out his short, chubby hand and gently touched Eri's belly through the quilt.
"So when is the baby coming out? Will he press the Start button inside?"
Eri couldn't hold it in any longer and laughed until she slumped against her pillow.
Miyuki Nakayama walked over and took Kazuki into her arms.
"The baby is still sleeping. When he wakes up, he'll come out on his own to play with his big brother."
Kazuki squirmed in his grandmother's arms and struggled to get down.
He ran over to the foot of the hospital bed, where he became intensely interested in the button that controlled the bed's height.
Takuya Nakayama snatched him back and sat him down on the sofa.
"Behave yourself. That's medical equipment, not an arcade joystick."
Kazuki turned his head and shot Takuya a resentful look.
"Then I'll lend my Game Pocket to the baby to play with. But he has to wash his hands first."
"Wasn't that Game Pocket of yours confiscated by your dad?" Hayao Nakayama chimed in, undermining him.
Kazuki pouted.
"Dad said I played for longer than the rules allowed. But I was just about to beat the boss on that level."
"Rules are rules," Takuya insisted, not giving an inch. "Half an hour a day. Not a minute more. If you can memorize your multiplication tables, I might consider extending your time to forty minutes."
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