Chapter 172: Gift of the Gods
A few days later, I sought out Ueno-san, in charge of sound at Pentagon Soft.
Having gained acclaim in the gaming industry for his work on the first five episodes of the Final Frontier series, he was considered a master in the realm of game sound, akin to crafting a symphonic orchestra within the game.
"Oh, Junhyuk, what brings you to the studio?" Ueno asked, puzzled, as it wasn't a place I frequented unless in the midst of game development.
"I'm planning a new game and I have something to ask you about it," I replied.
"You want to discuss a game with me?"
Typically, the sound aspects were considered after the game was complete. It was rare, even unprecedented, for a composer to be approached during the planning stages.
Seated opposite him, I inquired further, "Yes, that's correct. Ueno-san, how do you feel about New Age music?"
"Are you referring to the genre like Kuraomoto Yuuki?"
"Yes, exactly."
Kuraomoto Yuuki, mentioned by Ueno, was a prominent figure in the New Age genre, known worldwide for compositions like 'Like Louise' and 'Romance'.
Personally, while I preferred Hisaishi Joe's music at Vibri Studio, it seemed Ueno's musical inclination leaned toward Kuraomoto Yuuki.
In truth, I had considered Korea's 'Iru' to be the ideal musician for the game in planning, but...
In 1993, being born in '79, he was too young.
"Why suddenly inquire about New Age?" Ueno asked.
"Actually, the protagonist of the game I'm planning is a pianist."
"A pianist?"
At the mention of the protagonist being a pianist, Ueno's eyes sparkled with interest, being a composer himself.
If 'The Empty Streets' was a tale of parting ways leaving loved ones behind, the game in planning now held the story standing on the opposite side.
To prevent leaks about the new project within Pentagon, except for Kawaguchi-san and Ueno-san, no one else knew about it.
As the successor to 'The Empty Streets', a highly sensitive issue within both the gaming industry and society, development on the new project proceeded cautiously.
To alleviate the weight of the upcoming project, I secluded myself to focus on scriptwriting.
But there was someone sharing this burden with me...
That person was Ueno-san, overseeing all sound aspects at Pentagon Soft.
As the protagonist's profession was a musician, his role was substantial. Hence, I spent most of my time collaborating with Ueno-san.
During the hiatus in creating the new project, 'Bloody Soul' by Phantom Soft was selling rapidly, receiving praise from both users and magazines.
Contrary to the initial skepticism from President Kamauichi at its release, Laon wasn't just a console for Pentagon Soft games anymore.
If any third-party developers wanted to release games on the Laon platform, they were welcomed at the company, receiving not just development kits but also ample technical support. Consequently, every month, though not in overwhelming quantities, one or two high-quality softs were released.
Among these releases in 1993 on the Laon platform, 'Age of Pirates 2' by GoEi, the developer of the 'Three Kingdoms' series, garnered immense popularity among users.
A masterpiece title that anyone who had enjoyed PC games in their childhood would recall fondly, this game offered tremendous entertainment merely by sailing the seas, trading, or engaging in battles.
It was such a remarkable title that it led students playing the game to refer to the 'Social Studies' textbook and rumors circulated that it was immensely helpful for gameplay, even briefly raising the 'Social Studies' textbook to the bestseller rank in bookstores.
The impact extended similarly in Japan.
Released exclusively for Laon, 'Age of Pirates 2' differentiated itself by adding a data exchange feature where friends could swap treasure maps, capitalizing on the advantages of handheld devices, significantly aiding its sales.
Thanks to this, I could immerse myself in work comfortably, pushing aside my anxieties.
"So... to summarize, is this game a cute-girl dating simulation following 'The Empty Streets'?" Morita asked.
"Um... no."
"Then, is it a piano keyboard game disguised as a cute-girl dating simulation?"
"..."
Even after my explanations, Hayashi seemed puzzled, raising a peculiar expression as if 'piano keyboard game' was beyond comprehension...
Seeing this, Morita sighed and set down the synopsis data, moisture gathering in his unusually sensitive eyes.
"There's no connection to 'The Empty Streets' at all, but the story this time is unique," Hayashi added, responding to Morita's sentiment.
Gunpei's head started hurting again, even though I thought we had just finished the second episode of the Dragon Emblem...
Instead of Hayashi, Morita asked me with his head buried on the table, "Somehow, since last year, why have Director Ueno and the Sound Team's Ueno been meeting so often? Was it because of this reason? Frankly, I'm disappointed. Director, even though we were a team creating the streets together without my involvement, to keep it a secret from us like this..."
"Sorry. Until I properly outlined the scenario, I felt quite burdened to reveal it thoughtlessly..."
The new project titled 'Gift of the Gods' begins with the protagonist, once known as a prodigy pianist, getting into a traffic accident.
Amidst the dizzying sound of sirens and people's screams, the face of the female lead gripping the protagonist's hand remains unseen under the ambulance's headlights.
Only her desperate plea to save the protagonist fills the screen, pleading, "Please... Save this person. Help, please. Oh God... Please... Please..."
And in that moment, as the protagonist loses consciousness hearing her poignant voice, something strange happensa rewind back one year before the accident.
The story of 'Gift of the Gods' revolves around how one spends this year, leading to multiple endings based on different choices made during that time.
Oh? The scenario seems too simple than expected? Then how about this story?
Four heroines appear in front of the protagonist who has traveled back a year, yet the protagonist doesn't know who among them was holding their hand before their death.
What do you think? Does it make more sense this time?
However, the story of 'Gift of the Gods' isn't just about finding her.
And the next part of this story begins one evening while walking with Yuki, triggered by what she said.
Yuki, having read the synopsis of 'Gift of the Gods,' returned the script to me with a satisfied expression. But soon, she slumped over the table with a sigh.
"Ah, unfair."
"What's wrong?"
"Receiving the scenario earlier than anyone else is good, but there's a huge difference between knowing the story and enjoying the game, and not knowing it and enjoying it."
"Well, that's true. Should I just not reveal the next story then?"
"Ugh... Somehow, that doesn't appeal to me either."
"."
Then what do you want me to do...
I tidied up the synopsis on the table and put it back in my bag.
"How about trying your hand at being a drama story writer at the broadcasting station? Since I've created the streets without my involvement, and 'Gift of the Gods' seems to have a pretty decent story?"
"Even making one game properly is overwhelming for me, right? If 'Gift of the Gods' succeeds, it's better to leave the drama episodes to the TV station's writers."
"And that TV station writer could be you?"
"If Fuji TV contacts you, I'll try to have a positive opinion about your face~"
"Oh, thank you, sir."
"But is the scenario really alright?"
"It seems fine to make the game as it is, but..."
"But?"
Then, Yuki poked her tongue out and replied, "If you're curious about the later part, I'll tell you if you buy me green tea ice cream while we're out for a walk."
"What...? At this hour?"
"Winter has passed, and the cherry blossom petals fluttering in the night breeze never get old. They say it'll rain tomorrow, so tonight might be the last chance to see cherry blossoms."
It was a spring day in 1994 when the basic scenario of 'Gift of the Gods' was completed.
As Yuki and I stepped out of the mansion wearing light sweaters, the midnight's chilly air felt quite pleasant.
"Ah, feels good."
"Seeing the strong wind, it might really rain tomorrow."
So it was, as cherry blossom petals danced in the wind, seemingly in a festive mood.
With a broad smile on her face, Yuki, enjoying the scenery, turned towards me, cheeks dimpling deeply.
"See? Wasn't it good that you came out?"
"Yeah, yeah. So, tell me about the next part of the scenario?"
"Ugh... Haven't even gotten the ice cream yet, and you want me to talk on an empty stomach?"
"You came out for this reason, didn't you? That's what matters."
"No. I can't talk until I've had ice cream in my mouth."
And then, seeing her stretch her neck out towards me, I burst into laughter.
"You've been so busy, we haven't taken walks like this. How about we put aside work talk for a while? Just until we reach the convenience store..."
As I looked at Yuki with my hand on her waist, she gently linked her arm with mine and leaned on my shoulder.
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah. Let's go..."
Amidst the pleasant breeze carrying fluttering petals, we leisurely headed towards the convenience store.
After a few steps, wondering if such a situation might happen again, I subtly asked her, "Should I buy around 30 green tea ice creams you like and keep them in the fridge...?"
"Oh, really!!!"
Thump!!
Well... I never expected to get a hit on the back of my head...
>
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