.
[-Continuation-]
.
[-Hachiman's POV-]
"Okay, I will catch you guys tomorrow."
I bid my goodbye as we reached the point of parting ways.
"Good luck with whatever you got!" Yuigahama cheered, pumping her fists.
Yukino simply nodded.
And Isshiki waved her hand in an exaggerated manner, a small grin tugging at the corner of her lips.
…
After a brief walk, I made my way to the train station.
As I boarded the train, it started moving, and soon it stopped at my destination.
Once I arrived at my station, I stepped off and navigated my way through the throngs of commuters.
A short taxi ride later, I found myself standing in front of the sleek glass facade of the office building.
…despite my constant complaints, the sight of it always filled me with a sense of purpose.
…
I entered the building, greeted by the cool air conditioning and the faint scent of coffee wafting from the nearby cafe.
As I walked towards the meeting room, I passed several employers immersed in their tasks.
The office was alive with the sounds of keyboards clicking and the low murmur of discussions, a stark contrast to the lighthearted teasing I had just left behind.
Once inside the meeting room, I was greeted by a few members of the team, all huddled over laptops and project documents.
Alright, let's get this started.
I opened a door to a room and entered inside, and Ryota and Jim were already there discussing something with other members.
…
Over the next few hours, we went through the project details and its progression.
I laid out some of the key points, outlining our goals for the Alpha version of the game and the upcoming testing phase.
We reviewed the alpha test plan, which includes a 2-week testing period with a pool of 100 selected players.
The primary objectives are to identify and resolve any major bugs or stability issues before the wider beta launch.
The team was engaged, tossing around ideas and addressing any issues that had arisen during development.
Based on the current development progress, the group agreed the project is ahead of schedule.
However, I made sure to emphasize the importance of not rushing the alpha in order to ensure a high-quality, bug-free experience for testers.
"Sounds good." The manager of the developer team said. "We will work with the team to get everything ready for a smooth alpha launch."
After a thorough discussion, we broke down our tasks for the next phase.
…
With that, the meeting wrapped up.
Once everyone had dispersed, I took a moment to review the notes from the meeting.
Just as I was about to head out, Jim popped his head back into the room.
"Hey, Ryota and Hachiman! You guys coming to grab some dinner later?"
"No Jim. Hachiman and I have got a brief meeting." Ryota interjected.
I glanced up. "Right… Next time."
"Don't work too hard!" Jim stepped with his final words.
"Sigh… as if."
"Sigh… as if."
Ryota and I both let out a simultaneous sigh, knowing full well what meeting Jim was talking about.
…
The meeting I am talking about is regarding my 'pay' for the [Minecraft].
This time, I had two key advantages on my side.
First off - the original idea and concept for the Minecraft project are mine, giving me - the direct ownership and leverage.
And second - I am also working as a Project Director now, unlike for [Candy Crush], when I was just a team member observing the production process.
Of course, I am not the only director.
Ryota is also a director.
Co-Director, to be exact in official titles.
So I say we share the same level of authority over the project.
Though I have to admit, he seems to have a bit more sync with the team members than I do - meaning he also has more loyal members listening to him than to me.
Not that it's shocking, though.
…after all, I haven't exactly been present at most of the meetings unless they were critical.
So I have no complaints about how things are now.
His people, my people, what's the difference?
It doesn't matter - we are all working to make the project better.
Still, maybe I should pay a bit more attention around here - to this part of my life. You know, for the long haul.
After all, I have got my endgame in mind, the motto that's supposed to guide it all.
- 'Work Hard Today to Not Work Tomorrow'
Got to make enough money, live comfortably, and retire as soon as possible to become the ultimate house husband.
The Zenith of Human achievement.
Aha… I can practically picture it - sinking into a sofa with two lazy cats napping over me.
One by my side and the other curled on my lap, while I bask in the pure bliss of an early retirement.
And somewhere nearby, there's a Mama Bear, or maybe, a Mama Cat.
Anyway, Ryota and I, the project directors, are currently sitting across the table from the director and chairman of our company, Satoshi Arigoro.
"So, you are planning to negotiate a business deal with something from the future, whose true value is still unknown, in exchange for something we can actually measure now?"
WHy…
Does he have to put it that way…
He seems nearly impossible to sway, doesn't he?
And, unsurprisingly, he is proving to be exactly what I expected, the epitome of a seasoned businessman.
I lay out my arguments, emphasizing my ownership of the concept and my role as a director. Each point should count and should give me the leverage I need.
But instead, he boiled everything down to a dismissive summary that managed to make my carefully crafted arguments sound…
Well, kind of worthless and stupid, to be frank.
It was as if each advantage I presented suddenly felt flimsy, like I was grasping at straws in a windstorm.
But there was no way I was going to fall for that so easily.
"Yes." I pressed on with a deadpan expression.
"...tsk." Satoshi's mouth twitched, betraying his irritation.
He looked at me as if I were pushing the limits of shamelessness.
Like that's going to work on me?
Hmm… He is using every trick in his book to snatch even the tiniest piece of the pie, is he?
"...and what exactly do you mean by 'value yet to be discovered'?" I said with the same neutral tone.
I leaned back slightly, meeting his gaze. "Only a fool wouldn't recognize its worth after witnessing the progress we have made."
"But there's always a chance of failure…" Satoshi countered, ignoring the fact that I indirectly called him a fool.
Agh…. Really old boss?
Can't you just be a little more straightforward?
Because I know that after me and Ryota, he is the only one who truly believes in this project and can accurately gauge its potential.
Sure, the other team members are invested, and they share a sense of optimism, but they still can't grasp the full scope of what we are capable of achieving.
"Boss, that's precisely why we didn't give him the percentage he should have received on the first project." Ryota finally spoke up, crossing his arms. "
He added, crossing his arms defensively. "The risk of failure…"
Hmm… was that really bad?
Well, let me explain.
Here comes a deal.
I have proposed an idea, one that I believe is truly brilliant.
And I want you to invest your money in it, with the shares of the project tilted in my favor, or something along those lines.
Why?
Because in five or ten years we are going to make a significant impact, and by then, it will all be worth it.
Of course, the immediate reply would likely be a big fat 'No'.
There's a chance this project could slip through to other hands, and the person who rejects it will probably regret that decision for the rest of their life.
But from a strictly business standpoint, betting on the future isn't the traditional approach.
Yet, that was before I proved myself with the first project.
One project may seem small, but it's still a number…
Now is the time to maximize this opportunity.
If I get a 'no' this time, things will change.
There are also future projects and concepts lined up.
So Ryota's father, Satoshi, has no choice but to tread carefully.
.
….
[To be continued…]
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