Spring is coming to an end, and it's almost time to enjoy the cherry blossoms.
And the official release of the game console is only three days away.
In the last three days, Ota's arcade has also temporarily closed and stopped admitting customers.
But this doesn't stop people who want to play games. There are often people standing at the door, craning their necks to look inside the shop with longing eyes.
They all really want to play games now.
Especially in the past two days, several other game demos have suddenly appeared, making them even more eager.
"Hey, why isn't the door open today? I haven't cleared Bomberman yet!"
"Yeah, Contra is so difficult, the machine should be on all the time for us to play. Why are you closing the door? Don't you want to make money anymore?"
"I'm just a quiet handsome guy, I just want to quietly play a game of Tetris, I hope you can open the door."
At the storefront, a clerk keeps bowing to people.
"Sorry, we are currently preparing for the final release of the game console. We will be very busy next, but you only need to wait for three days. The game console will be officially released then, and all customers will be able to buy it and experience the games at home."
Adults, children, they are all standing at the door.
Originally, these games should only be for children to play.
At first, it was indeed the case.
Super Mario was fun, but it didn't particularly interest all adults.
However, within a month, there have been successive releases of other demo games, each with its own unique style. There is always one you like, regardless of whether you're an adult or a child. And this is gradually changing their views.
Adults also have entertainment needs, and games are not just for children.
At this time, children still make up the majority, but adults also have a certain foundation now, and they all seem to be hardcore gamers.
Nowadays, if they don't play games for a day, they all feel uncomfortable.
But when they heard that the game console would be officially released in three days, and they could take it home to play, their dissatisfaction indeed weakened considerably.
Just three days, let's wait.
Some people then began to prepare to go home one after another, planning to come back when the official release day arrives.
However, there are also some people whose eyes flicker. Although they leave quickly, they return in less than half a day.
This time, they come with luggage and makeshift tents, directly set up at the door of the shop, and then settled in here straightforwardly.
The clerk at the door was dumbfounded.
Wait, there are still three days before the release, are you planning to wait here for three days?
What's even more astonishing to this clerk is that more than one person is doing this.
One day and one night passed, and when the next morning came, there were already at least twenty tents set up at the door, causing passersby to look over frequently, wondering what was happening.
Some people are willing to do anything for the things they love.
The tents at the main entrance are lively, while at the back of the shop, trucks are entering the backyard one after another.
The staff are busy unloading the goods, and then carrying the game consoles into the arcade.
Most of the entertainment facilities in the arcade have already been moved to the warehouse in advance because Ota thinks they take up too much space, and having them around might affect the visual appeal when the game consoles are officially released.
Today, Takayuki also specifically came over, wanting to see how everything is prepared here.
Now, this is the only channel for the sale of game consoles.
In the future, Ota's arcade will probably become the most important sales location, with special significance.
Early in the morning, Sayuri also planned to come over, but she suddenly got inspired in the morning and seemed to think of an optimization for the game console. So she went to work again, and Takayuki had to come alone.
He stood at the unloading point, watching the workers busy carrying the game consoles.
At this time, Ota Masashi walked over and subconsciously handed Takayuki a cigarette.
"I don't smoke, thank you."
"Take a puff, it'll relieve some tension."
Takayuki glanced at Ota Masashi, seeing that his hands were shaking slightly.
Who's nervous after all?
Takayuki just smiled and shook his head again, "I'm fine, but you seem a bit nervous?"
"Me...? Well, maybe a little."
Ota Masashi has also experienced ups and downs.
But sometimes certain things make people easily nervous.
Especially when venturing into a completely new industry, the performance will be more obvious.
So to relieve tension, he has to take a few puffs.
Even though he hasn't smoked for two or three years.
This pack of cigarettes was also requested from the delivery boss.
He'll have to deal with it properly before going home tonight, or else his wife will nag again if she smells it.
Ota Masashi took a deep drag, then exhaled a thick smoke in the direction where no one was present, and his nervousness seemed to gradually dissipate along with the smoke coming out of his nose.
"Takayuki, do you think this thing will sell well?"
Takayuki said, "You've seen it too. Your place has been packed every day during this time, with a constant stream of people playing games. I think we shouldn't worry too much about this."
"I know it's indeed very popular, but, it's only a few hundred or a few thousand people after all. After all, my shop is only this big, and there's a limit to the number of people it can accommodate. But now we have a full 120,000 game consoles."
"You're worried about not being able to sell them all?"
"Yeah."
Yesterday, 120,000 game consoles were officially delivered, and then they were all transported here one after another.
Ota Masashi doesn't really doubt the quality of the games or the fun of the game consoles.
Just from the excited looks of the customers, you can feel their genuine joy.
They will definitely buy the games as soon as they are released.
But besides these enthusiastic customers, who else will buy?
There might be at most a couple of hundred enthusiastic customers.
Plus those who are interested and have spare money, it might be a few thousand.
Whether the 120,000 can be sold out is really an unknown.
In fact, even Takayuki himself is not completely sure.
So he set a goal for himself.
To sell within a month, or maybe half a year is acceptable.
If all 120,000 units can be sold out within half a year, it means his plan is successful, and he can expand the scale next.
But if it takes more than half a year to sell these 120,000 units, it means that perhaps this type of entertainment is not as popular as imagined.
He'll have to think of other ways to make this world embrace gaming.
Advertisements are the most effective way of promotion, but for a completely new product that no one understands, and its category is even the latest, whether it can attract the interest of most people is really a mystery.
Takayuki also seems to feel that he's saying something a bit heavy, so he smiles and says, "Forget it, let's not think about these things. Anyway, we've done what we should do. Tonight, let's find a place to have a drink. We haven't had a meal together for so long."
"That's fine."
Takayuki at this moment feels that he also needs to relax a bit. He's not particularly nervous.
Even if he fails, he can always start over again in another direction. After all, he has plenty of opportunities.
But the feeling of failure is still uncomfortable.
Drinking a couple of glasses before this can indeed be a good suggestion.
"After drinking, let's go sing, and then I'll take you to a place where men love to have fun, and then, let's leave it to fate."
Takayuki's expression froze.
"Uh, that's not necessary."
"Didn't expect you, Takayuki, to be so serious."
It's not about being serious or not.
With Takayuki's status in this world, he doesn't need to worry about such things at all. It's simply not worth his time, and he indeed has no interest.
Maybe the 996 exploitation in his past life has made him lose interest in many things.
Even singing, he doesn't want to participate.
Takayuki himself declares that he absolutely won't go off-key.
It's just that he doesn't like the noisy atmosphere of singing.
"Just a little wine is enough, and then accumulate energy to meet the most critical moment that follows."
"Okay." Takayuki refused, and he didn't insist anymore.
The unloading of goods didn't finish until after nine o'clock in the evening. Takayuki, Ota Masashi, and several other employees went to the nearest sake shop, a shop with a bit of a refined atmosphere.
Ordered some dishes, and several people started to toast, wishing for the success of the game console sales.
Until after eleven o'clock, Takayuki, with a slightly flushed face, was driven back home by someone.
Sayuri had been waiting at the door all this time.
Because she was curious why Takayuki hadn't come back.
Normally, Takayuki is not someone who likes to stay out late. He prefers to come home immediately after finishing his work and play games. Today is an exception.
"Sorry, Sayuri, I'll leave Takayuki to you. I didn't expect him to have such a bad alcohol tolerance. If I knew, I wouldn't have let him drink that strong liquor."
Ota Masashi awkwardly supported Takayuki.
But Takayuki is still sober, just a bit out of control physically.
"I...I'm not Sayuri, I'm his employee. Anyway, forget about that."
Ota Masashi supported Takayuki into his bedroom, and at the same time, took the opportunity to observe Takayuki's home.
This is not the kind of house an ordinary family can afford, it seems that Takayuki has quite a background.
After Ota Masashi was sent away by Sayuri, she hurriedly brought some hot towels and hot water and other things to Takayuki's bedroom.
"I'm sorry, Sayuri, you don't need to take care of me, I'm just a little dizzy, you don't need to bother."
Sayuri shook her head, "It's okay. My father often drank too much, and it was often my mother and I who took care of him. I'm used to it. But you, this is the first time I've seen you drunk."
Click, Sayuri secretly took out her phone and took a picture of Takayuki's face.
Hehe, this can be used as Takayuki's embarrassing history in the future!
Years later, when she shows it to him, he'll see his own embarrassing state.