"Um..." Aoki Haruhi broke out in a cold sweat.
"Urobuchi Gen, right? Come report to Pokeni tomorrow."
"Really? Thank you so much!" Urobuchi Gen bowed deeply to Aoki Haruhi, his face beaming with joy.
Maeda Jun watched Aoki Haruhi with eager anticipation.
"You're too young," Aoki Haruhi told him. "Please focus on your studies for now."
"Okay—y—" Maeda Jun replied, but his face had lost its radiance.
Don't always treat others like children, he thought to himself.
"But remember, when you graduate from high school—when you graduate—come report to Pokeni."
"Yes!" Maeda Jun's spirits lifted again.
Can't hire child labor. Need to let this kid get more education. Besides, in my past life, Maeda Jun was a full-fledged university graduate.
I want both the Sleeping Dragon and the Phoenix Cub.
This was Aoki Haruhi's current thought.
The next morning, Urobuchi Gen reported to Pokeni on time.
Aoki Haruhi introduced him to the staff.
Everyone couldn't help but think:
Huh?
Is the President out of his mind? He actually hired someone from a player focus group?
Urobuchi Gen has never worked on a game before. He doesn't seem very reliable.
Why didn't he just hire someone with experience?
Honestly, there are tons of talented people out there. Wouldn't it be better to pick someone more suitable?
Though no one voiced these thoughts aloud, their expressions said it all.
But Aoki Haruhi didn't care about that.
You don't understand what a rare talent means.
Actually, Aoki Haruhi didn't understand it either. It was mainly because he could see the future.
His creative attribute is 99. What's there to hesitate about?
Aoki Haruhi called Urobuchi Gen to his office.
Urobuchi Gen sat in the chair, looking both excited and nervous.
"For the next few weeks, familiarize yourself with the work environment and get to know your colleagues, okay?"
"Yes, President," Urobuchi Gen replied, his smile stiff.
Japan's corporate culture differed from other countries. Most companies offered lifetime employment contracts, and once employees became permanent, they were considered part of the family. It was rare for staff to switch jobs; most stayed with one company until retirement.
This system fostered a strong sense of belonging and loyalty, and companies were more inclined to train their own new hires. A blank slate was easier to mold and remained more loyal, whereas outsiders or job-hoppers often faced exclusion in a new environment.
Now that he had discovered Urobuchi Gen, Aoki Haruhi eagerly anticipated his future contributions.
"Oh, right."
Aoki Haruhi slid a project proposal across the desk to Urobuchi Gen.
"This is the preliminary proposal for Onmyoji 2, which we're developing. Take a look; the details aren't finalized yet."
"Mhm, okay, President," Urobuchi Gen said, his eyes lighting up as he took the proposal as if it were a priceless treasure.
"I want you to be the lead writer for Onmyoji 2," Aoki Haruhi said casually.
"Huh?" Urobuchi Gen froze, his fingers trembling slightly.
"Really, President?!"
Normally, new hires at a company would spend some time doing menial tasks. This was partly to gain experience and learn more about game development, and partly to let them settle in and prove their worth. Only those who demonstrated sufficient talent would be promoted.
But now, the President had immediately handed him the scriptwriting task, making Urobuchi Gen feel a wave of dizziness.
It was a dizzying sensation of happiness.
At the same time, he felt immense pressure.
"It's true," Aoki Haruhi nodded. "You're a loyal Onmyoji player, aren't you? I was really impressed by your comments at the forum. I hope Onmyoji 2 can build on the success of the first game under your pen. Ganbatte!"
To be honest, the plot of Chinese Paladin 2 in his previous life had been widely criticized among the series' installments. It wasn't that it was truly terrible, just that it lacked any standout qualities.
When compared to the brilliance of Chinese Paladin 1, Chinese Paladin 2 seemed utterly mediocre and dim.
If Urobuchi Gen were to write it, he might just create something truly astonishing.
Aoki Haruhi was genuinely excited about this possibility.
Moreover, there was another crucial reason—
The company had two projects, but with only Ishino Mika as the sole writer, it wasn't enough. Aoki Haruhi had originally planned to hire another writer.
With Urobuchi Gen on board, Ishino Mika could become his personal, dedicated writer, responsible for the narrative content of Elite Academy.
Thinking of this, Aoki Haruhi couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Are there any specific requirements for Onmyoji 2, President?" Urobuchi Gen asked, holding the proposal and unable to contain his excitement.
"The world view just needs to fit the Onmyōji setting. If you can continue the story from the first game, that would be ideal, but it's not essential. I have no other requirements." Aoki Haruhi replied.
After a moment's thought, he added, "Not only are there no requirements, but you have complete creative freedom. I want you to unleash all your talent without any restrictions."
"Huh?!"
Urobuchi Gen was stunned.
The President actually trusts me this much?
Waaah, I'm so touched.
But... can I really do this?
Amidst his excitement, Urobuchi Gen couldn't help but fall into a state of melancholy.
Aoki Haruhi, however, was perfectly clear in his reasoning.
For a genius like Urobuchi Gen, you shouldn't restrict him—you should give him ample creative space.
Ishino Mika, on the other hand, was obedient and a skilled writer, making her the perfect person to execute his vision.
This was Aoki Haruhi's method of managing his staff.
Urobuchi Gen happily flipped through the planning documents for Onmyoji 2. After reading the brief introduction, he looked up in shock.
"Eh?! Onmyoji 2 isn't going to be a galgame?!"
"Uh..."
Aoki Haruhi realized he had forgotten to mention this earlier.
"That's right," Aoki Haruhi nodded. "Precisely because it's not a galgame, the script requirements are extremely high. We hope you can write a work that satisfies our players."
"I see..."
A visible wave of disappointment crossed Urobuchi Gen's face.
"Pokeni's goal isn't just to make galgames. We want to create more outstanding works, offering a gaming feast for all ages."
Aoki Haruhi frowned, speaking earnestly. "This is the perfect time to test you. Galgames are inherently so captivating that they can overshadow or dilute the quality of the plot. I want you to be able to write compelling narratives even without the support of galgame elements."
Moreover, galgames were still a niche market with limited appeal.
And this was 1990—the term "galgame" didn't exactly evoke positive associations for most people.
Huh?
So that's how it is?
Urobuchi Gen was initially taken aback, but he quickly understood the President's well-intentioned motive.
It was like playing a game: if your equipment was too good, your skills would be obscured.
Only after removing the aids could you see the true gold.
"Understood!"
Urobuchi Gen stood up and bowed deeply to Aoki Haruhi. "I will definitely live up to your expectations, President."
"Good. I'm eagerly anticipating your work," Aoki Haruhi said with a smile, patting his shoulder.
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