However, there was one thing that Aoki Haruhi did to slightly satisfy Maeda Jun.
He had Takashi Kazuma contact Ayumi Hamasaki's management company, hoping she would sing the theme song for 86 - eighty-six.
"Is that true?" Even the agency couldn't believe it when they heard President Aoki's request.
"Are you sure it's Ayumi Hamasaki?" The voice of the person in charge came from the other end of the phone.
And he sounded quite surprised.
It wasn't for any other reason than the fact that Ayumi Hamasaki had no fame at all right now.
And Pokeni was already a very powerful company in the game industry.
Many voice actors were lining up, wanting to voice Pokeni's games, but the person in charge couldn't figure out why they would approach them.
In 1994, after Ayumi Hamasaki arrived in Tokyo, she began working part-time and studying part-time, attending Horikoshi High School while participating in some low-budget dramas and B-movies, using "Ayumi Kurumi" as her stage name, but in September, she changed it back to her real name, "Ayumi Hamasaki".
In 1995, Ayumi Hamasaki signed with Nippon Columbia Records and released her first mini-album of the same name, "NOTHING FROM NOTHING," under the name "AYUMI." Due to a complete lack of promotion, album sales were not ideal, and she was quickly dropped by the record company.
Ayumi Hamasaki returned to the ranks of B-list stars, continuing to appear in dramas;
In the same year, she starred in the movie "Fluctuating Love."
Didn't expect that, did you?
When Ayumi Hamasaki is mentioned, people usually think of her as a singer, and Ayumi Hamasaki also influenced a large number of later singers.
However, Sister Bu also had a time when she relied on her beauty to be an actress.
In 1996, while singing at a nightclub, Ayumi Hamasaki was scouted by Avex Trax and joined SUN MUSIC, officially becoming an artist.
In other words, the current Ayumi Hamasaki is still far from becoming the future Queen of Asia, a superstar; she is just a small, unknown artist.
Aoki Haruhi didn't even know how Maeda Jun discovered this artist.
One can only say that Maeda Jun sometimes has good taste.
Back then, Ayumi Hamasaki was the reigning Queen of Asia, and her singing, appearance, and stage performance were all overwhelmingly dominant.
Now is the perfect time for Pokeni to get involved.
On one hand, she has already been scouted by a new record company, and soon she will release her first solo album, thus embarking on her professional singing career.
It was the prime of her youth.
As for later, Ayumi Hamasaki's string of relationship failures, coupled with vocal cord damage, making her voice hoarse and unable to hit high notes, and then her double ear deafness... her life could be described as ill-fated.
...
If a person is almost completely deaf in both ears, has knee problems, and gains weight from medication during rehabilitation, it's unavoidable, right?
Even in such a situation, Ayumi Hamasaki never gave up on the stage, never gave up singing, changed her style, and after retraining, still insisted on staying on stage.
This kind of self-abusive effort led to serious physical problems. If it were someone else, Aoki Haruhi would definitely think it's best to rest and not push so hard.
But for Ayumi Hamasaki, he had nothing to say.
Ayumi Hamasaki in Aoki Haruhi's past life memories had a stubborn streak and was self-willed. She maintained her popularity for so many years by relying on this stubbornness and spirit of never yielding.
She refused to yield to the company forcing out a compilation album before she was ready.
She refused to be treated as a commodity by the company.
Nor did she yield to her ill-fated destiny.
And even more so, she did not yield to the pity and sympathy from the outside world after they learned the truth.
As early as 21, when interviewed, she stated that the stage was her refuge.
Later, when she was 40, full of ailments, she still hadn't forgotten her original intention.
Others might not understand why she was still so hardworking despite her success, but perhaps only she understood this feeling of perpetual "unease"; her heart always held another self, secretly scrutinizing herself in the crowd.
At the end of "Helter Skelter," Kozue expressed that she didn't understand what Lilico was so obsessed with, but who doesn't want to always stand at the peak?
What constitutes a person's destiny? Is it talent, effort, or luck? In Lilico's arrogance, was there truly no trace of inferiority or the fear of being driven by fate?
For a singer like Ayumi Hamasaki, who views her career as life, making her stop and retire would truly be worse than letting her die on stage.
...
In short, Ayumi Hamasaki is far from being destroyed; she is still young, just at the starting point, and her voice, ears, and legs are all still good.
It's the prime of her life.
And she is still a star buried in the dirt, yet to rise.
At this point, if Aoki Haruhi didn't promote her, it would truly be inexcusable.
At the same time, thanks to Maeda Jun, it reminded him—
Oh, so there's also this person.
...
After setting the meeting time and place, Aoki Haruhi took Takashi Kazuma and musician Yoko Shimomura to meet Ayumi Hamasaki and her agency.
The contract was signed very quickly, because for Ayumi Hamasaki's record company, it would be even better if they could launch her earlier to make money.
At this moment, having Pokeni as their sugar daddy, and also providing a stage and songs, was even more than they could ask for.
After signing the contract, both parties negotiated a schedule.
In reality, Ayumi Hamasaki currently had no other work besides daily training; she was practically on call.
So, since Pokeni's 86 was also about to be released, the recording of the game's theme song could be completed in a short amount of time.
...
Three days later.
In the recording studio, when Ayumi Hamasaki first heard the theme song for the 86 - eighty-six game, she was completely stunned.
Only the moving melody came through the headphones:
[
The faint light pointing ahead
Silent haze, a vague shadow caught in the mist
In the silent mist, seeking a blurry figure
The 86-beat rhythm is abruptly interrupted
Awkward, innocent calm
To protect this flawless tranquility
Close my eyes and figure out the vacancy
Close my eyes and try to understand the emptiness within
I don't know what I wanted or you made me do
I don't know what I seek or what you expect of me
Scattered, engraved
To engrave a mark on scattered lives
...
Although it was just a sample, recorded once by someone else beforehand.
But for some reason, as soon as Ayumi Hamasaki heard it, tears started to fall.
What kind of divine composition is this?
It was so touching, the kind that completely strikes the heart.
Isn't it?
Aoki Haruhi observed from the side.
Indeed, choosing Ayumi Hamasaki this time must have been the right decision.
Even Teacher Yoko Shimomura expressed her admiration and praise for President Aoki. Although President Aoki's voice wasn't particularly pleasant, he inexplicably had musical talent.
It can't really be called talent, but more like a wild card; when inspiration strikes, he can produce truly excellent pieces.
However, usually when you discuss something with him, he can't even offer a critique.
Whether it's good or bad, he'll only say you did well.
So, up to now, Yoko Shimomura still isn't quite sure whether the President has talent or not.
However, for the 86 theme song "Avid," Yoko Shimomura truly loved the melody Aoki Haruhi hummed.
The melody was hummed by Aoki Haruhi, and the lyrics were also written by Aoki Haruhi himself; Yoko Shimomura merely concretized them into an arrangement.
Now, it was Ayumi Hamasaki's turn to sing.
As soon as she opened her mouth, Yoko Shimomura knew that they had found the right person this time.
Because Ayumi Hamasaki's voice was so steady, and that moving feeling of calling out, shouting in despair at the end of the world, was truly too touching.
So moving it brought tears to her eyes.
Just hearing Ayumi Hamasaki's voice made Yoko Shimomura's eyes well up.
"President, you are truly amazing. Not only can you create such a piece, but the singer you chose is also so perfectly suited."
"No, no."
Aoki Haruhi waved his hand.
How am I amazing? It's Sawano Hiroyuki who's amazing.
Just to name a few of Sawano Hiroyuki's arrangements, they are divine works: for example, the soundtrack for the "Mobile Suit Gundam UC" series.
"Team Medical Dragon," "Mobile Suit Gundam UC," "Guilty Crown," "Attack on Titan," "Blue Exorcist," "Seraph of the End," "Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress," "Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash"
...
Let's put it this way, Sawano Hiroyuki is almost one of the best post-80s genius composers in Japan.
An absolute god-tier figure.
Especially the songs he wrote for 86, Aoki Haruhi truly never tires of listening to them. Combined with the scenes in the game, there's a kind of heart-stirring beauty.
It's just a pity that Sawano Hiroyuki is probably still in school right now, otherwise, Aoki Haruhi would really want to invite him over.
"And Yoko Shimomura, you are truly amazing! I just hummed a little, and you were able to write the complete song to such an extent. It perfectly matches my taste."
It's simply a divine song.
...
With Ayumi Hamasaki's theme song recorded, the project team members were once again dissatisfied.
Ishino Mika was on the verge of a breakdown.
"President! Is it really not a good idea to add a theme song to the game at this point? The music production work has actually already been completed!"
Currently, although 86 doesn't have vocal parts, the overall music and sound effects have already been configured, and it hasn't delayed the game's release at all.
However, if such a section is inserted midway, what about the work done before?
"It's not too late to add it now, is it?" Aoki Haruhi said, "The game hasn't reached the burning stage yet, and we've only just finalized the release date with the distributors."
...
Ishino Mika puffed out her cheeks, annoyed, "That's true, but... is there really no risk in doing this now? What if a new bug causes the program to crash?
What if it delays the schedule?
What if it can't be released on time?
Are we going to delay it, President?"
"Delaying it…" Aoki Haruhi hesitated, not expecting this guy to be so fiercely adorable.
Ishino actually has such a tough side too? She must have developed it during her time as Producer, right?
Isn't it so? It wasn't the first time Aoki Haruhi had changed requirements at the last minute.
Everyone expressed dissatisfaction with the idea of inserting a new song sung by Ayumi Hamasaki.
The only one who was especially happy was Maeda Jun.
This guy was grinning foolishly on the side, always feeling it was a great pity he couldn't supervise in the recording studio. It was quite amazing, he had noticed this girl through the movie "Fluctuating Love."
At that time, he thought she was very beautiful and even considered having her play the female protagonist in "my robot girlfriend."
But what he didn't expect was that Ayumi Hamasaki's singing was also so powerful.
Isn't she just too talented?
Maeda Jun himself was a bit stunned.
...
"No problem, President."
Just as Aoki Haruhi was feeling awkward, wondering whether to shut this guy down and let him know the President's power, Akanishi Ken's voice came from the side.
"We fully support in-game audio modification and insertion functions, and as long as we have the resources, it's quite fast, just a few seconds to get it done."
Akanishi Ken smiled like the sun.
Even Ishino Mika was stunned by him.
Good heavens, before, when we were pushing program work, you always told everyone to make fewer changes, try not to change, and think it through before changing.
How come now, when it comes to the President, you're so flexible?
Seniors, you guys are too spineless, aren't you?
Akanishi Ken saw Ishino Mika staring at him with wide, astonished eyes, and he turned his head awkwardly, avoiding her questioning gaze.
"As programmers, it is our duty to cooperate with the planner's demands and be ready for game changes at any time. Therefore, we already thought of a flexible way to insert and modify audio effects during the initial architecture."
Ishino Mika on the side was completely amused.
Good heavens, Akanishi-san, you didn't say that before!
This time, Akanishi Ken, the director of the programming department, acted extremely calmly and cooperatively.
Because he had already anticipated such a situation, all the music and main content in Pokeni's games are separate. Generally, they are directly imported into the game after recording is completed in the later stages.
The game contains corresponding playback times and trigger methods for various audio tracks, and they are all stored in the same directory, neatly categorized.
A request like Aoki Haruhi's is particularly easy; it only requires replacing the audio resources.
Fortunately, the game has not yet entered the disc burning stage, so there is still time to make changes.
How to put it?
This is probably the instinct trained by Aoki Haruhi. For Akanishi Ken, having stumbled into many pits, he naturally learned to prepare the paving planks in advance.
"Well done, Akanishi-san. Then I'll leave the next task to you. After this, Takashi Kazuma will need to import the music into the PV, so please keep an eye on that as well."
Aoki Haruhi gave him a thumbs up and walked back into his President's office.
Akanishi Ken's approach is that of a mature, experienced programmer: breaking the game into configurable module parts, and making frequently changeable parts configurable.
This guy has finally honed his skills.
Aoki Haruhi was very pleased with the growth of his employees.
...
After Aoki Haruhi left, Akanishi Ken's subordinates immediately cheered and gathered around Akanishi Ken.
"Akanishi-san, you are too amazing, wise and mighty! You already foresaw today, didn't you?"
"You're so amazing, Akanishi-san! I want to learn from you in the future."
"Akanishi-san, you are truly our role model! You are simply divine! Everything that happened today!
It was all within Akanishi-san's grasp!"
"Of course, otherwise how could I be a programmer for Pokeni?"
Ishino Mika was so annoyed she laughed. Good heavens, you're showing off now, aren't you?
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