Following Director Yoshikawa's instructions, Takuya Nakayama condensed the previous report, refining it into a streamlined "performance showcase" better suited for circulation within the bureaucratic system. He then handed it off to the PR department.
The rest was no longer his concern.
Old foxes like Director Yoshikawa knew exactly how to use this "knocking brick" to open one heavy door after another in Kasumigaseki's maze of ministries.
As for himself, Takuya wandered over to the Software Development Division.
Compared to the race-against-time atmosphere during the email client project, the team now looked more like a lively university club room.
The whiteboards were covered with messy flowcharts and network topology diagrams, marked with terms like "BBS Board Structure Plan" and "Message Friend List Implementation."
Takuya's gaze landed on another whiteboard with the BBS framework sketched across it.
"How's the BBS coming along?"
"Very smoothly!" said Section Chief Nohara, handing him a folder. His face radiated confidence. "Core functions like posting, replying, and board partitions are already done. We're about to set up the first test board on the Tokyo intranet."
"Good." Takuya nodded.
After confirming the BBS progress, Takuya stepped aside and dialed Professor Yonezawa's office.
The phone rang several times before a strong, energetic voice answered.
"Hello?"
"Professor, it's me, Takuya."
"You brat, you finally remember this old man?" Professor Yonezawa snorted, half teasing. "What now? Hit a technical wall again? Need to borrow my people?"
"Where would I dare?" Takuya laughed. "This time, I'm calling with good news. On behalf of Sega, I want to donate a system to the university."
"A donation?" Yonezawa snorted again. "If it's one of those game consoles, keep them for the elementary schoolers. Tokyo Tech has no use for that."
"It's not a game console." Takuya cleared his throat. "It's a full electronic bulletin board system—a BBS."
Silence.
Several seconds passed before the professor's voice returned, this time with a rare solemnity.
"You mean… what I think you mean? A virtual space where all faculty and students can publish information, conduct project discussions, even chat?"
"As expected of you, Professor." Takuya grinned. "We've built it. And I thought, instead of letting it circulate first in commercial markets, why not let our alma mater be the first university in Japan to have its own BBS? That's the prestige Tokyo Tech deserves."
Yonezawa's breathing grew audibly heavier through the receiver.
No one understood better than he what such a system meant.
It wasn't just a tool—it was a platform capable of breaking down departmental walls, igniting intellectual collisions, and binding the entire university together.
"You rascal…" Yonezawa's voice trembled with excitement, pride, and disbelief. "You really did it."
"You flatter me, Professor," Takuya said earnestly. "This is industry-academia collaboration. My humble way of giving back."
"Oh, enough with the sweet talk!" Yonezawa barked with a laugh. "I'll bring it up with the president. And you—get ready to be added to the 'Distinguished Alumni' list."
"Thank you for your guidance all these years." Takuya bowed instinctively, even though it was over the phone.
"When can you install it?" Yonezawa asked, suddenly impatient.
"Rest assured, Professor," Takuya replied. "Give us about a month. I promise the first Tokyo Tech online post will be viewable right from your office."
"Good! I'll be waiting!" The professor's voice was bursting with anticipation.
Takuya hung up, exhaled deeply, and couldn't suppress his grin.
It was done.
Bureaucracy's Eikura Section Chief.
Academia's Jun Murai.
And now, his own mentor, Professor Yonezawa—the pillar of Japan's electronic engineering field.
A three-layered network spanning policy, academia, and technology had quietly fallen into place.
Sega's path toward the Internet now had its three key pillars secured.
He headed back to the development room, his mood buoyant.
The bustling scene inside only elevated his spirits further.
Nohara and several core programmers were clustered around a whiteboard, deep in discussion. The two bright Tokyo Tech students were there as well.
Takuya clapped his hands. The room quieted instantly.
"Everyone—great work." His gaze swept across the young, eager faces. "I have good news. We've found the BBS's first 'customer.'"
"Customer?" Nohara blinked. The others looked up curiously. "But the system isn't ready for commercial deployment yet…"
"Exactly," Takuya grinned, exposing perfect white teeth. "This customer won't pay us a yen—yet its name is worth more than any money."
He let the anticipation build for a beat.
"Tokyo Institute of Technology."
The room froze for one second—
then erupted into the loudest cheers the team had ever produced.
"Whoa! It's our school!"
"We're building the BBS for our own university!"
The two Tokyo Tech students were flushed with excitement, looking at Takuya with unconcealed admiration.
This wasn't just a job anymore—it was contributing to a new era of communication for their alma mater.
"Section Chief Nohara," Takuya said, turning back to him, "within two months, I want a stable, smooth, addictive BBS system running officially on Tokyo Tech's campus. Is there a problem?"
"No problem!" Nohara stood straighter, voice booming. "We'll deliver!"
Satisfied with their morale, Takuya finally left the development area and returned to his office.
He hardly had time to sit down before someone knocked.
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing a travel-worn figure—someone he hadn't seen in nearly a year.
Hideo Kojima.
He was thinner, tanned, dark circles under his eyes from the long flight—but his gaze burned with undying fire.
"Welcome back, Director Kojima!" Takuya immediately stood, smiling as he approached.
"Executive Nakayama." Kojima nodded, skipping all small talk. He set a carefully protected black cartridge case onto Takuya's desk.
"Urgent Crisis. The master copy is complete."
His voice was hoarse, but each word struck like iron.
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