The week-long countryside vacation concluded, and as Takuya's car re-entered Tokyo, he felt completely refreshed.
The Sega Managing Director, who had been burdened by creative challenges and a hint of fatigue in his brows, was gone.
In his place was a game designer brimming with confidence and creative passion.
Upon returning to Sega Headquarters, he simply acknowledged the greetings of his subordinates along the way before heading straight into his office and closing the door.
He spread out manuscript paper, and his pen glided rapidly across it, quickly transforming the brilliant, star-like inspirations that had sparked under the eaves of his old Ibaraki home, along with the casual sketches and notes, into a detailed, specific, and wonderfully ingenious initial game design draft.
The manuscript paper contained no complex system architecture or numerical models, only warm scenes and interactions.
He found Yu Suzuki and handed him the initial draft.
"Suzuki-san, take a look at this."
Yu Suzuki took the manuscript paper, his gaze sweeping over it, but his brows gradually furrowed.
What was written on this?
Wiping the Jizo Bodhisattva statue?
Helping tadpoles go home?
"Takuya, what's the objective?
Yu Suzuki was somewhat confused; this completely overturned all his understanding of game design.
"What's the player's motivation? Points? Completion? What about rewards?"
Takuya smiled; he had long anticipated Yu Suzuki's question.
With a highly infectious voice, he began to elaborate on his core philosophy.
"This is a game for 'my neighbor totoro.'"
"Its core is 'unconditional kindness and the gentle echo of the world.'"
"There are no tasks, no rewards, only the player's heartfelt choices."
"Of course, there isn't no feedback, but it's not a utilitarian reward; rather, it's a selfless gentleness given to him by the world."
"You've also seen 'my neighbor totoro,' haven't you? Don't you think this fits perfectly?"
Yu Suzuki fell silent. He looked at the manuscript paper in his hand with a sense of wonder, then looked up at Takuya, whose eyes were clear and firm.
He gradually understood.
This design had transcended the utilitarian closed loop of traditional game 'task-reward.'
What it pursued was a purer, higher form of emotional resonance.
How bold, and how far ahead of its time.
In Yu Suzuki's eyes, confusion faded, replaced by a heartfelt admiration.
This young man always managed to redefine "game" itself from an angle no one else could imagine.
Just as Takuya and Yu Suzuki were immersed in discussing the new game concept, the office phone suddenly rang.
Takuya picked up the phone.
It was President Ito Masanori of Sunrise Animation.
President Ito's voice on the other end of the line was steady, carrying a hint of seriousness.
"Executive Director Nakayama, after careful deliberation by our internal shareholders, we agree to sell 3% of Sunrise Animation's shares to Sega."
Although it was only a mere 3%, Takuya knew that this door had finally been opened by him.
This symbolic first step meant that Sega's long-sought ACGN strategic puzzle had successfully embedded its crucial first piece.
His "fan-style visit" had achieved a decisive victory.
That evening, in the dining room of the Nakayama Family family mansion.
Takuya announced the news at the family dinner.
Hayao Nakayama's face showed approval. He raised his wine glass and said to his son, "Well done."
But he did not dwell in joy.
The gaze of this business mogul always looked further and deeper.
"Takuya, this 3% is just a stepping stone."
Tatsuo Nakayama put down his wine glass, his voice instantly pulling Takuya from the joy of tactical victory back to cold reality.
"This means our relationship with Sunrise will enter a completely new phase."
He stared at his son, posing a deeper question.
"Have you considered how we should manage these 'external' IPs in the future?"
"And how should we establish a firewall between our own IPs and their IPs?"
His father's question, like a heavy hammer, instantly jolted Takuya awake.
He realized that behind a victory, often lurked greater challenges and struggles.
The next day, in the Sega Headquarters boardroom.
The news of the successful acquisition of Sunrise shares made the atmosphere in the entire meeting room very lively.
According to company custom, matters concerning external IP cooperation should ideally be taken over by an existing department.
Director Hattori proactively stepped forward.
"President, I suggest that the IP docking work for Sunrise be integrated into the business department I oversee."
"It would be safest and most efficient for us to manage it uniformly."
This proposal sounded reasonable, and entrusting such operations to Director Hattori, known for his steady approach, was also appropriate. After all, stability clearly outweighed everything else in this type of work, and almost everyone's first reaction was to approve this proposal.
However, Takuya stood up.
"I object."
Two words instantly cooled the lively atmosphere, and all eyes focused on him.
Facing everyone's gaze, he calmly analyzed, "Everyone, pokémon is a golden egg that we at Sega hatched from scratch, by hand. Sunrise's Gundam, and their other IPs, are equally their lifeblood."
"Currently, we only have a 3% stake, which is certainly not a problem."
"But what if, in the future, we were to fully acquire Sunrise, or even other animation companies?"
He looked around, his voice not loud, but every word was clear,
"According to Director Hattori's plan, all IPs would be mixed in one basket. When asset evaluation and integration occur, would the other party demand to split our pokémon rights under the guise of 'joint management'?"
"This is tantamount to letting the wolf into the house."
These words completely silenced the entire meeting room.
Everyone present was an experienced businessman and instantly understood the huge hidden risks.
Takuya struck while the iron was hot, proposing his solution, which he had pondered deeply overnight.
"I propose establishing a brand new, independent subsidiary company."
"It would be solely responsible for the operation and licensing of all Sega IP assets. We can call it 'Sega Galaxy,' symbolizing Sega's numerous excellent IPs, each shining like a star."
"We would first put pokémon, and our future core IPs, into this subsidiary, making their assets and operations completely independent."
"Future IP collaborations, and even equity integration, with external companies like Sunrise, will bypass this subsidiary and be conducted with Sega's main company as the primary entity."
"This way, we can ensure the absolute safety and independent revenue of our core assets, and also provide a clean, clear platform for future large-scale mergers and acquisitions."
Tatsuo Nakayama looked at his son, his eyes revealing undisguised admiration and relief.
His son had not only understood his guidance from last night but had also conceived a relatively reliable framework overnight.
"Let's do it this way. Everyone, let's vote."
Hayao Nakayama immediately made the decision to initiate a vote, his voice leaving no room for argument.
The directors, having heard Takuya's explanation, also approved of the idea, and thus it was unanimously passed.
So Tatsuo Nakayama announced that the plan to establish the subsidiary would be launched immediately.
To balance all parties and to appease Director Hattori, who had just been rebuffed, he looked at him.
"Hattori, since you volunteered, you will be the head of this new company."
A brand new internal structure, centered around a future IP empire, quietly began in this meeting room.