Chapter 199: Idol Project
If "The Streets Without Me" captivated players with the romance of Tokyo's streets and daily life, "The Gift of the Gods" drew attention through the use of classical music as one of the game's elements.
Perhaps that's why the upcoming Chopin Piano Concerto in mid-February has already recorded a sold-out status, a phenomenon not seen in years.
Thanks to "The Gift of the Gods," not only did the game gain popularity, but sales of the Laon console also skyrocketed.
Riding on the reputation of "The Streets Without Me," it felt like a wave of light users flooded into the creation of another graphic novel.
"'The Gift of the Gods' is more like a fantasy literature piece than a game."
This final game review comes from a reviewer in the newly launched "Blitz Laon" magazine this month. I found myself agreeing with his evaluation.
Working on the scenario with Yuki, I felt more like I was crafting a novel than making a game...
While reviewing the final scenario, Yuki, who had harbored Seolhyun's character, asked me with a puzzled expression about the completely different ending from the original intention.
"Why did you change the final ending like this?"
"Well, when I first planned 'The Gift of the Gods,' I wanted to create a story like a fairy tale. But as I incorporated the scenario you mentioned, it felt like the story was gradually evolving into a thriller..."
"Hmm... Well, I guess that makes sense. Did I talk too much?"
"No, on the contrary, this fake scenario will serve as a bigger twist in the final ending. Don't worry too much about it."
Yuki, who until then had Seolhyun in her belly, nodded slowly in understanding at my words.
"Listening to it like that, the ending you just mentioned doesn't seem bad."
"But certainly, user preferences will differ. Users who bought the game thinking it's just a cute dating game might feel disappointed after the ending. On the other hand, users solely focused on the story will find it a perfect and touching resolution."
Yuki blinked her eyes slightly, not quite grasping my words.
I smiled and gently patted her head.
"You'll naturally find out about my words once the game is released."
And now...
Most of the predictions I made before the release have come true.
With the distribution of the demo, there was a significant increase in new users, and opinions about the game varied sharply in various communities and magazines.
Nevertheless, thankfully, there was a considerable influx of light users, surpassing my expectations.
For users like them, they simply embraced the scenario of "The Gift of the Gods." For them, the protagonist's performance part became a kind of mini-game during the enjoyment of the story, and in some cases, the story progressed even faster than with the existing hardcore users.
Among these light users, Kanna was particularly active.
[Info] Today, I heard a rare song in Harajuku.
I am a Laon user living in Tokyo Harajuku.
I've been enjoying the recently purchased "The Gift of the Gods" by Pentagon Soft, and today, during my commute home, I saw something interesting. A girl in her late teens who looked like a college student was singing in front of a record store near the station.
Her voice was so good that after listening to a few songs, didn't it sound like a familiar melody?
Suddenly, without realizing it, I found myself humming along, and the moment I realized what song it was, it felt like I was hit in the back of the head with a hammer.
The song was none other than the BGM from the ending credits of "The Gift of the Gods."
Originally an instrumental, she must have added her own lyrics, and it sounded really good.
Honestly, I was so moved that I wanted to buy a recording tape or something, but it seems she's not selling any separate albums.
Anyway, apart from that, it was a separate pleasure as a user who has been enjoying "The Gift of the Gods" lately.
[Impression] After hearing the story below, I went to Harajuku today.
Oooooh!!!
I just heard it and came back. But not only her musical skill, her beauty!!! Her beauty is exceptional.
She has a very innocent image.
Before starting the performance, she lit a candle in a small glass bottle, and I found myself opening my mouth and staring at it without realizing it.
I don't know how long her performance will continue, but sincerely cheering for her, I'm thinking of going to Harajuku tomorrow too!!
...
The tale I heard from Uchimura led me to dive into the PC communication community, where I pondered upon thoughts of whether the girl in Harajuku was Kanna or not.
"I've been out of touch already; maybe it's time to pay her a visit again. This might just be the perfect moment."
Going through the community posts a few more times, I roughly sketched out the days she was performing. I decided it was time to find her. And here I am...
The moment I first laid eyes on her...
In that instant, I knew of my sorrowful love...
That which might be fulfilled, or forever unattainable...
A heartache I bear alone...
As her warm voice resonated, a subtle smile crept onto the faces of those gathered at the record store. And witnessing their reaction, I too became certain of one thing about her.
"Her voice undoubtedly holds a captivating power."
The owner of the record store, watching Kanna's performance with a delighted smile akin to that of a fond grandfather, turned to me and asked,
"What do you think?"
"Her interpretation of the song is amazing, and her lyrical delivery is fantastic. I bet even the composer of the ending song, if they heard Kanna sing, would be pleasantly surprised."
"It's not just that. That girl has a talent to pick up and play any song on the guitar right after listening to it once. When she first came with her mother to buy a guitar, I taught her the basic chord structure, and from then on, she's self-taught herself to this level."
Being able to play a song on the guitar after just listening to it once?
She's... a genius!!
Does fortune always follow talent in life? If Uki inadvertently introduced me to Uchimura, a master of figures, then Kanna possessed a different type of genius that could lead Pentagon forward, thanks to Yuki.
Come to think of it, since Yuki encountered Kanna first, am I just basking in Yuki's fortune...?
Until Kanna finished her song, I quietly listened alongside the store owner.
With this level of skill in her singing, even the specialized idol producer from 'Hello Project' might acknowledge her, wouldn't they?
How much time had passed...
Around the end of her fifth song, the store owner by my side softly spoke.
"It's nearing the end. I'll go prepare some warm cocoa inside."
And as soon as the store owner finished speaking, Kanna, after thanking the audience for listening to her songs, closed the lid of the glass jar and extinguished the candles inside.
It felt like her own ritual signifying the start and end of a live performance.
Leaving behind the applause, as I stepped back into the record store, the store owner, who was pouring water into the coffee pot, asked me,
"By the way, what's your relationship with Kanna? Although you mentioned being from Pentagon, a game software company, right? Do you have connections in the music industry or broadcasting?"
Hmm... connections.
If needed, I could easily arrange some connections. But my idea for this project was slightly different from a usual debut. While I pondered how to explain that, the store owner's expression turned serious, and he shook his head.
"However, even if she were to debut, Kanna's father would oppose it."
"What? Why? Wouldn't it be great if his daughter succeeded?"
"Well... there's a bit of a connection with Kanna's mother."
"Kanna's mother?"
As I listened to the sound of boiling water in the coffee pot, the store owner, with a bitter smile, began to speak.
"In fact, Kanna's mother was a very famous enka singer."
Enka? Ah~ In Korea, it's a genre somewhat akin to trot, right?
In the mid-90s, Japan, like Korea, was experiencing significant changes in the music industry.
Well, to be precise, slightly faster than Korea, perhaps?
With the emergence of boy idol-centered agencies like Johnny's in the mid-80s and the recent rise of metal groups like X-JAPAN, the Japanese music scene was going through a flourishing phase.
Among these, enka received dedicated support from the middle-aged and older generations, reigning over the senior ranks of the music industry. And Kanna's mother being a famous enka singer...
The saying "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree" might fit here perfectly.
"Did something happen to Kanna's mother?"
At my question, the store owner, still wearing a bitter smile, transferred the boiling water into a cup.
"Kanna's mother passed away when Kanna was 10 years old."
"What...?"
"Not exactly the epitome of health from the start, the strain from attending events took its toll on my body. And marrying Kanna's father only added to the household and media opposition. Imagine, a renowned ENKA singer marrying a ramen shop owner's son... It must've been an avalanche of stress for her too."
Amidst the subtle waft of cocoa inside the store, I couldn't muster a word after hearing the owner's tale.
"Especially in the entertainment circle, spreading unfavorable rumors about Kanna's father caused a lot of wounds..."
"Ah..."
"If he decides Kanna debuts as a singer, it's dubious if they'll readily accept it."
The concern for Kanna from the record shop owner was genuine.
Having understood the owner's worries, I spoke calmly to ease them, "There won't be any such concerns, I assure you."
"How can you be so sure? Do you have any plans in mind?"
"Even if Kanna accepts my proposal to debut as a singer, there probably won't be much on TV."
"Really...?"
Just then, Kanna, done with her errands, entered the shop.
As the doorbell chimed, the owner, hiding his fluster, handed her a warm cocoa.
"Have this and relax a bit."
"Thank you, sir."
Catching my glance behind the owner, Kanna sipped the warm cocoa.
"You sang really well."
"How was... it?"
To reassure the visibly tense Kanna, I smiled and praised her song.
Amid our brief conversation, I heard an amusing story about the day Yuki gave birth. Kanna had also visited a premium shop to buy a gift from the gods.
She was looking for me? This might resolve easily, perhaps?
I suggested giving her the ending theme song for the gift from the gods to Pentagon, and with a surprised look, she responded, "I just added lyrics to an already completed track."
---
Days after meeting Kanna at the Harajuku record store...
Arriving at the office after completing the Gift from the Gods project, I grabbed profiles of idol aspirants selected through regional auditions and headed out.
"Oh? Where are you going, Director?"
Morita, sighing after wrapping up the Gift from the Gods project, greeted me warmly as our eyes met.
"I'm meeting someone for a bit. Wanna come?"
"Huh? Can I come too? Who are you meeting...?"
"Terada from the group HaranQ."
"Really!? Terada from HaranQ!?"
>
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