Chapter 195: Defective Product
As I made my way from the record store towards the hospital, I couldn't help but chuckle inadvertently upon overhearing a conversation in the headphone section.
"Figuring out that much from just a single normal ending and predicting up to the second playthrough... Truly, there's no detective quite like you..."
When I shared my thoughts with Mr. Ueno about why we needed to use high-frequency beats for the first time, his face, with a puzzled expression, flashed in my mind, making it impossible to suppress a smile.
"When all is said and done, and they've seen the conclusion, what kind of judgment will the users pass on my creation, 'Gift from the Gods'?"
But it seems it will take a bit more time to find that out.
I halted the car at the red traffic light and glanced at the record store shopping bag resting on the passenger seat.
Inside were numerous CDs belonging to a certain producer responsible for 'Complete Laon,' the major launch project of the game. Who is this person, you ask? Well, for now, it's a secret, shall we say?
---
Is it due to natural delivery?
Thanks to Yuki's quicker recovery than expected, I arrived at the hospital and got to see Seolhyun, who was just born, in the nursery.
"Seolhyun~ Daddy's here~ Daddy's here~"
"What's this? Is it alright to hold her like that already?"
At that moment, my mother-in-law spoke with a somewhat weary expression.
"Stop talking. Ever since last night, she kept insisting on seeing Seolhyun. You went to the nursery twelve times after you went home last night, and you've been there five times already this morning. Even the doctor might not approve."
"Seolhyun~ Mommy~ Peekaboo~"
Maybe because she practiced a lot since last night, the pronunciation of 'Seolhyun' sounded quite natural now. I glanced at Yuki, who had been by her side since yesterday, and thanked my father-in-law and mother-in-law for their support.
"I'm sorry, Mother. I was too late, wasn't I?"
"Oh, not at all. Thanks to you, we had some precious time with our daughter alone. Yuki has been bragging about you so much. Really, in other households, daughters at this time would be complaining to their mothers about their husbands, but it seems Junhyuk has been taught well by his wife?"
Behind my mother, seeing Yuki drawing a 'V' with Seolhyun in her arms, I couldn't help but smile at how cute she was.
"Yuki takes after her mother and is so kind and beautiful. It's all thanks to her mother."
"Oh my, my son-in-law. You speak so nicely. Even though she's my daughter, I envy her luck in marriage."
As if hinting to her husband beside her to learn from what I said, my mother-in-law lightly jabbed my side.
"Oh dear... could you not tease me a bit less? Do you know how much I get compared to when we get home?"
"Haha... I'm sorry."
"Even our elder daughter should find a reliable son-in-law soon. Junhyuk, do you know anyone suitable for Yoko?"
"Huh? Oh, that's..."
Thinking about some of the Pentagon employees, I couldn't recall anyone except for the two wild animals waiting for the 'Lori Boom' among the well-off singles I knew.
"They both don't seem to fit Yoko's taste..."
Then, I pondered if there were people outside the Pentagon staff. Just as I thought of one person,
The door to the ward swung open, and the person I had in mind walked in.
"My friend Junhyuk~!! Is it a boy or a girl~!! Why haven't you contacted me~!!"
Upon Junpei's sudden arrival, Seolhyun in Yuki's arms widened her eyes and began to cry.
"Oh my? Junpei~"
While Yuki welcomed Junpei with enthusiasm, my mother-in-law's expression remained stiff.
Seems like she wasn't pleased with Junpei's noisy entrance, causing her granddaughter to cry.
'That's an elimination without a doubt. It's a relief before he speaks.'
A while later, my father-in-law and mother-in-law bid us farewell, leaving for home.
Once Seolhyun, startled, calmed down in Yuki's arms, she soon began to lightly touch Yuki's cheeks with her tiny fingers.
"Yuki's parents look quite young?"
"They indeed are. They married early..."
"Ah, so the reason Yuki is beautiful is because she takes after her mother. I hope Seolhyun also grows up to resemble Yuki."
"Thank you for your kind words~"
While I was conversing with Junpei, I handed him a drink and asked,
"Sorry, I was so preoccupied yesterday that I forgot to call you. But what's up? Aren't you folks super busy lately?"
"Extremely. This period since the company's founding seems to be the busiest. From NEGA Saturn's release to Sensony's Gear Station, and then your 'Gift from the Gods' from your Pentagon. It's been a prosperous end of the year. Right now, our employees are working like ten cats. They even want to borrow cat's paws."
"Can you come here during such a time?"
"Hey, I've been a game journalist for years. I delegate the unpleasant tasks to the subordinates and come for the high-profile ones."
"High-profile?"
"Yeah, like the interview with you."
"."
"Also, to congratulate my friend's wife on giving birth..."
"Isn't the order a bit mixed up?"
"Maybe it's my mood?"
Laughing off Junpei's mischievous expression, I pulled a nearby chair and sat down.
"It's alright if you can't articulate it perfectly..."
"Wow~ This will be fun. Seolhyun~ Daddy got interviewed here~"
Yuki glanced at us with a surprised laugh due to the unexpected turn of events.
...
Title: "The Legend of Karin: Return to the Game World"
Junhyuk sighed as he settled into the driver's seat, the formal shoes feeling strangely stiff after a month away from the office.
"Ah, what a day to return to work. Time to get back into the grind," he muttered to himself, thinking back to the day Seolhyun was born. He hadn't seen Kanna since then. Had she declined his offer to reconnect, uninterested in an 'idol debut'?
Pushing aside the somber mood, he accelerated out of the parking lot, noticing Yuki waving him off with a smile. He reciprocated the wave before merging onto the main road.
&
"Bossno, Director!"
As Junhyuk approached the company building, Kaori's voice rang out from behind.
Kaori, part of the monster design team, often teased for sharing her name with a character in "Gift from the Gods," took pride in the connection. Her recent morning commutes with Hayashi hinted at a change in their dynamic.
"Happy New Year!"
"Thanks. You should marry Hayashi this year," she joked.
Hayashi, attempting to greet Junhyuk, was taken aback by Kaori's sharp heels meeting his foot, letting out a yelp in the lobby.
"Seems like he's undergone quite the transformation," Junhyuk thought. He'd been quite stoic at Mintendo, but since joining Pentagon and meeting Kaori, he'd turned into a typical tsundere.
"Like Vegeta," Junhyuk chuckled, patting Hayashi on the shoulder.
"Give up and accept it. You like Kaori anyway."
"Not rea... Agh! What is this, you're really starting to... Wait! You're really seeing me as the boss?!"
Junhyuk smirked at Hayashi's reaction, amused by the ongoing Kaori-Hayashi drama.
"So, anything exciting happened at the company while I was away?"
"Not much. Well, except for the buzz about 'Gift from the Gods.' The press kept pestering for interviews," Hayashi explained.
Junhyuk recalled the recent interview he'd given for a gaming magazine.
&
Entering his newly appointed office adjacent to the CEO's, Junhyuk booted up his computer after hanging his coat.
As he glanced through the reports summarizing the events during his absence, Morita and Uchimura knocked and entered.
"Boss, long time no see. Did you enjoy your vacation?" Morita asked.
"Someone might think it's been a year since I've been here. Everyone's so noisy, especially you, Hayashi."
Uchimura chimed in, "It's just because we're so glad to see you. Can you believe it's already 1995?"
Uchimura, previously making figures at home, had joined forces with Morita after CES, working on character designs for the 2nd development team.
Junhyuk chuckled, seeing a mentor-apprentice bond forming between Morita and Uchimura.
"Anyhow, what brings you here?" Junhyuk asked.
"We've compiled audition updates from various regions, just as you requested," Morita explained, handing over a thick envelope of documents.
Junhyuk thanked them and started reviewing the audition profiles and footage.
"Oh, one more thing," Uchimura added. "There's been talk about a girl in Harajuku singing the ending theme of 'Gift from the Gods.' Apparently, she's quite skilled, causing a stir in the community..."
Junhyuk's mind raced at the mention of a girl singing in Harajuku. Could it be...?
>
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