Chapter 207: D-125
[Debut in 125 days.]
For those quick on the uptake, they might have realized it immediately...
The day she debuted was the exact release date of 'Complete Laon.'
&
Among the Pentagon staff, only a few higher-ups were aware of Kanna's existence. Her song began in disaster-stricken areas and slowly spread.
Initially, those who didn't recognize the song as a game simply thought it was a 'cheering song' composed by a singer for disaster victims.
But the emotions conveyed through the lyrics made it feel like more than just a cheer for refugeesit felt like comforting those enduring tough days at work.
Did Kanna create the song thinking of people coming home after a hard day's work?
I remember the day we received Kanna's first recorded tape. Back home, Yuki and I listened to the song captured on the tape, both of us staring blankly at each other's faces.
Kishimori Kanna.
Just like she proved in the ending song for "Gift from the Gods," she had a genius sense as a singer-songwriter.
When we played her recording tape for HaranQ's vocalist, Terada-san, he couldn't help but praise her.
"This is amazing. Truly a genius! There are few singers I know who have such a powerful way of delivering lyrics. And coupled with that compelling voice... with a song like this, something miraculous could happen the moment it's released to the streets."
"Something miraculous?"
At that time, I didn't quite understand what Terada-san meant by his words.
Maybe because Terada-san had a tendency for exaggerated reactions, I shrugged it off thinking it was just him being himself...
"Is this what Terada-san meant by something miraculous?"
Having just delivered promotional CDs to a rather large game shop in Osaka's Den-Den Town, Morita and I sat at an outdoor table in a nearby caf, sipping coffee and observing people's reactions.
When the shop assistant, grinning, started playing the music through the CD player set up in front of the store, soft guitar sounds filled the air.
And moments later, as Kanna's voice echoed through the streets, passersby began to halt one by one.
"Huh? What's this song...?"
"Who's the singer? The song's great!"
Enchanted by Kanna's gentle voice coming from the speaker, people gathered in front of the game shop, almost involuntarily.
"Hey, isn't Pentagon a game company?"
"Yeah. Aren't they famous for their recent volunteer work in quake-stricken Kobe? But why promote this kind of music? Are they starting an entertainment division?"
"Ah... maybe it's just for a new game promotion. Remember, they based 'Gift from the Gods' on music before."
"Huh? If it's a new game at this time...? Could it be...?"
"'Complete Laon'!?"
Two men conversing in front of the shop asked the assistant urgently.
"Could that CD be for a new game on the handheld console by Pentagon?"
The flustered shop assistant scratching his head in confusion continued to feign ignorance in response to the customer's question.
Of course, we hadn't provided any explanation about the CD...
Certainly, the impact of promoting it alongside 'Complete Laon' would be substantial, but more than that, I hoped people would listen to Kanna's song without any bias.
The shop assistant, who had been answering all questions with an "I don't know," suddenly lifted his head and tentatively asked the customers.
"Um... if you want the CD, I have about 50 copies from Pentagon. Do you need them?"
"Please, give me one!!"
"Me too!!"
"Me three~!!"
A little later, staring blankly at the rapidly disappearing box, the shop assistant muttered to himself.
"Oh... I should have kept some for myself..."
Sipping my coffee under the lazy spring sun, observing people eagerly carrying Kanna's upbeat voice on the promotional mini-CD, I smirked at the people heading back.
&
The first signal of the 'Virtual Idol' project themed as 'cheering song' for you successfully launched into orbit.
Kanna's song quickly spread from Kobe to Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, and finally Tokyo. People were lining up at local game shops every 3 to 4 days for the limited CDs distributed there.
These promo CDs, about a third the size of a regular one, typically contained 1 to 2 songs and were often used by ordinary singers as well. The vertically designed CD cover featured a silhouette illustration of Kanna.
Even though about 500 CDs were distributed across Akihabara's Pentagon shop and its branch, all were gone in less than an hour.
Of course, considering the users visiting Pentagon, a much larger quantity should have been prepared, but...
This was merely a 'promotional CD' after all...
It seemed that distributing fewer quantities than needed would enhance its effects, rather than a surplus.
In a bustling haven known as Pentagon Shop, hopes soared high among visitors, expecting a plentiful CD distribution. However, many lamented silently, unable to contest the absence of free CDs.
Amidst the quest-like wanderings of people resembling zombies scouring Akihabara's gaming outlets, my attention turned to a couple entering Pentagon Shop.
"Ah! Gone again! Nowhere to be found!"
"Calm down, Nakamura. Okay?"
"I told you to come early! I knew this would happen..."
"I admitted I messed up! I had reasons!"
The young man, seemingly fresh out of college, wore an expression as if the world collapsed upon hearing the news of the 'Vulture Idol' promotional CD being out of stock.
From the snippets of conversation, it seemed the man intended to arrive early, but the woman faced some issue, causing the delay.
Perhaps an ardent fan of Pentagon Soft on the man's side, he draped a Dragon Emblem backpack, an item redeemable with bonus points obtained when purchasing Laon Soft merchandise.
"Whoa... someone other than Uchimura carries that around...?"
He seemed utterly dejected as he attempted to reason with the shop owner, Miyazaki. However, as such instances were not rare, even she couldn't find a way to help.
Eventually, the defeated man, after a few moments of struggle, left the shop with a face that depicted losing everything.
"Nakamura... I'm sorry. Relax."
"No, it's fine. Can't help it. I'll try checking a game shop near Saitama tomorrow or the day after... If not, I'll go all the way to Hokkaido to find it, no matter what."
...Isn't Hokkaido a bit too far considering the round trip expenses?
"Oh, really. Will he be this persistent...? What kind of song is it that he's so desperate for? If he's that desperate, there's a relative living near Fukushima. I can ask them. They probably can help quickly since it's rural."
"R-Really?"
Finally easing his tense expression at his girlfriend's words, the man smiled.
Just then, a speaker inside Pentagon Shop started playing Kanna's voice.
Oh dear, it's been such a challenging day,
A day where nothing seems to go the right way,
I understand your sorrow, oh so true...
The man's expression shifted as he turned his gaze towards the speaker. Then, with a light flick of his finger, he spoke to his girlfriend.
"Oh! This song!!"
"This song...? How can it be that good?"
His girlfriend momentarily closed her eyes, seemingly engrossed in the song coming from the speaker.
As I was already bored, I observed her quietly, resting my chin on one hand while listening to the music.
"How is it, Miyuki? Do you like the song?"
Blushing slightly at her boyfriend's bright smile, Miyuki nodded in agreement.
Hmm... come to think of it, that guy is quite handsome. His eyes are big, and his nose has a cool shape. He seems like a typical heartthrob, but from what I see, the girl seems to like him much more than he likes her?
However, he seems a bit oblivious. A classic indecisive type...
"Well... it's... it's not bad. Yeah. Honestly, it's not bad. But..."
"But...? What is it?"
"The voice sounds familiar, doesn't it, Nakamura?"
"Well... now that you mention it..."
"Now that you mention it? Look here, do you think so too?"
"It's like... the voice of the person who sang 'Gift from the Gods' ending theme, right?"
Oh, that's not a good answer. If that's Yuki, he's in trouble soon.
Oh dear... it feels like he's about to get a smack any minute. Watching them, I chuckled, feeling like I was witnessing a scene from a sitcom.
"Hey, clueless! Is your head only filled with games!? Not that, I mean Kanna! Our friend, Kishimori Kanna!"
Huh? Did you just say that kid's Kanna?
Receiving a perfectly executed smack on the back of his head from a place he couldn't even reach, the man grimaced and asked, "Kanna? Why would Kanna sing here...? Huh? Wait a sec, did you say that? It does seem quite similar?"
"Really? Right!? Isn't this Kanna's voice?"
Oh my... Could they be friends with Kanna?
>
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