While programmers were working hard to develop tools for the new handheld console, Takuya's office phone rang.
It was Chuta Mitsui of Bandai, calling to arrange a meeting that evening.
"Of course, Mitsui-san," Takuya readily agreed, though he knew this dinner would be anything but relaxing.
The location was a high-end sushi restaurant in Ginza.
Pushing open the simple wooden door revealed a small space with only a counter, seating less than ten guests. The air was filled with a mix of high-quality wood and vinegared rice aroma, quiet enough to hear faint, subtle sounds.
When Takuya arrived, Chuta Mitsui was already seated at the counter, chatting softly with the white-clad sushi chef about the day's fish, looking as relaxed as if he owned the place.
"My apologies, Mitsui-san, for being late."
"Not at all, I merely arrived early," Chuta Mitsui said with a smile, gesturing for Takuya to take the empty seat beside him.
They didn't immediately jump into business. The sushi chef, like the referee of the meeting, controlled the pace. He first warmed sake for them, then began preparing the first nigiri.
The chef's movements were precise and focused. With a single press and shape, a piece of clear, translucent flounder sushi was placed on the black lacquer plate before them.
"Please enjoy."
The fish was mildly sweet with a slight chewiness, and the rice was served at a temperature perfectly matching the mouth.
"SEGA's momentum recently is truly enviable."
Chuta Mitsui sipped his sake, his gaze resting on Takuya. "I hear your European division has also broken ground."
"It's all thanks to the market," Takuya replied, raising his cup. "SEGA just got lucky, caught a trend, and partnered with EA to become an official Olympic sponsor. Bandai's model kit business, especially the Gundam series, is the true backbone of the industry—it's become a cultural phenomenon. SEGA would like to learn from it, but sadly, we can't."
"Haha, Nakayama-san is too modest," Chuta Mitsui's laugh was quiet but hearty.
The polite commercial compliments came to a natural pause.
Next was a silent tasting period. Horse mackerel, ark shell, gizzard shad... the sushi chef placed the prepared sushi pieces one by one before them in sequence.
The topic of conversation transitioned with the flavors of the sushi, moving from light to rich. They discussed industry anecdotes and recent game reviews. The atmosphere seemed harmonious, yet Takuya could still sense the tight string in the air.
When the rich, fatty tuna belly (otoro) was presented, the dense fat melted on the tongue, delivering unparalleled satisfaction. This felt like the calm before the storm, pushing the atmosphere to a peak.
Finally, the sushi chef solemnly presented two portions of gunkanmaki—sea urchin piled high like a small orange-yellow mountain, distinct and fragrant with the sweetness of the ocean. This was the most exquisite dish of the day.
Chuta Mitsui finally set down his sake cup. He didn't immediately touch the sushi but gave a brief, sharp look.
"Speaking of which, I've heard some rumors recently."
His tone was as casual as if discussing the weather. "Regarding the shares of Sunrise Animation, SEGA seems quite interested."
Here it comes.
Takuya picked up the warm washcloth to wipe his hands. Instead of answering immediately, he placed the entire sea urchin gunkanmaki into his mouth. The intense sweetness instantly exploded in his mouth; the urchin melted, blending perfectly with the slightly vinegared sushi rice.
He closed his eyes, thoroughly savoring the extreme delicacy before picking up his teacup and taking a sip to cleanse his palate. The whole process was unhurried. Chuta Mitsui watched him, a smile still on his face, but his eyes were bottomless.
"That's not exactly a secret," Takuya said, setting down the teacup, his voice as calm as if nothing had happened.
"We are moving toward deeper cooperation with Sunrise Animation, and having to contact them through Bandai every time makes the process cumbersome. Furthermore," he looked directly into Mitsui's eyes, "for SEGA, an independent major corporation, having to contact its own partner through another company doesn't look great for our image."
He didn't make excuses but laid out the reason directly. It was less an explanation and more a notification.
The sushi restaurant was quiet, with only the faint sounds of the chef working behind the counter.
The smile on Chuta Mitsui's face didn't change. He observed Takuya for a few seconds, then picked up his own sea urchin sushi and leisurely put it in his mouth as well.
"I see," he murmured, chewing and nodding, as if savoring the sushi, or perhaps Takuya's words. "For convenience of cooperation, that reason is perfectly valid. Especially since 3% isn't really that much."
He seemed to completely accept the statement, not pressing for another word, as if the sharp question from moments ago had genuinely been a casual remark.
For the rest of the time, they discussed various unrelated industry trivia, and the atmosphere returned to its previous harmony.
The dinner concluded, and the two politely said their goodbyes at the door.
"Thank you for the meal tonight."
"Not at all. Let's meet again sometime."
Watching Chuta Mitsui get into his car and disappear into the Ginza night, the polite smile slowly faded from Takuya's face. He exhaled a puff of white air, the cold Tokyo night air finally relaxing his taut nerves.
He knew that tonight's skirmish was just the beginning.
The day after parting with Chuta Mitsui, Nakayama Takuya arrived at his most familiar workspace, Development Team Three.
"Put the MD development of My Neighbor Totoro on hold for now." Takuya pushed a brand-new proposal onto the Team Three leader's desk. "The handheld's toolset isn't finished yet, but we can start running some of the game development. This is the handheld's launch title."
The leader picked up the document. The cover bore several striking large characters: Pokémon Red/Green.
"The basic framework will follow the proposal, distinguishing between Red and Green versions as outlined," Takuya tapped his finger on the desk. "The content must be richer than any RPG on the market—collection, trading, and battling must all be included. The world map also needs to be large enough, filled with all sorts of hidden elements."
The leader nodded, flipping through quickly, his eyes lighting up with excitement, but he soon noticed an issue: "Takuya-san, our anime has been airing for almost two years now. The images of the protagonist, Ash, and Pikachu are well-established. Shouldn't we release a version featuring them as the protagonists?"
"We will, but not in the standard way," Takuya leaned back in his chair, a slight curve on his lips.
He recalled how Nintendo, in his past life, released a Yellow version based on Red/Green after the anime launched. However, here, SEGA's anime has been airing first, and for almost two years.
He picked up his coffee. "That's too unoriginal, and too shameless."
The leader paused, not following his logic.
"Make it a hidden feature," Takuya explained. "A massive Easter egg. Only when players simultaneously own both the Red and Green cartridges, link them via our handheld console, and advance the game content in a way that most closely aligns with the anime's plot, can they unlock a whole new, anime-consistent storyline in the game. The protagonist will change to Ash, and the starting Pokémon will be forcibly set to that yellow electric mouse. Check page three of the proposal; I've written the implementation plan there."
The leader quickly turned to page three. Seeing Takuya's special version plan, he was suddenly enlightened, and his eyes immediately sparkled with excitement.
This was an incredibly clever move. It would both stimulate sales of both versions and give a massive surprise to the most dedicated fans, grasping both public reputation and commercial success.
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