King of Games C62 Right path

Back in his office, Shinro stood before a large display that showed a complex timeline of KiShin's expansion plans.

His eyes scanned the data, a small smile playing on his lips as he considered the progress they'd made.

The manufacturing timeline caught his attention first. Thanks to the highly efficient workforce from the Tiny World, their production capabilities far exceeded what would be expected of a company KiShin's size. The display showed that they could have a significant inventory ready for U.S. distribution in a matter of months, rather than the year or more it might typically take.

Moving on to the distribution partners' readiness, MegaMart was set to begin their initial rollout in four months, covering all major cities nationwide.

TechHub Stores wasn't far behind, preparing to launch in the top 20 U.S. metropolitan areas within five months.

GameXchange rounded out the trio, projecting nationwide distribution across all 50 states, including smaller markets, in six months.

KiShin was on track to establish itself in major U.S. markets within 6-8 months, with full nationwide availability expected in 9-12 months. Most importantly, these timelines put them well ahead of Sony and Microsoft's estimated response time of 12-18 months.

Shinro's smile widened as he noted the projected market share after one year - a bold 15-20%. It was ambitious, but with their superior technology and strategic partnerships, it was achievable.

As he absorbed the information, Shinro's mind was already racing ahead, planning the next steps. Finalizing contracts, launching targeted marketing campaigns, ramping up production, and establishing a U.S.-based customer support infrastructure - the tasks were numerous, but exciting.

Shinro leaned back in his chair, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. The business was indeed running on the right path.

He reflected on the fears that often plagued him in the early mornings - the dread of waking up to face another day of corporate struggles. But those fears were always overshadowed by his burning desire to deliver the best console and truly worthy games to players around the world.

Shinro's mind wandered to the future he was trying to prevent - a world where gaming was dominated by corporate greed, where larger companies swallowed up creative studios, stifling innovation.

He could still see it: a bleak landscape where fewer and fewer interesting games were released each year, replaced by soulless, profit-driven products.

This vision had always been his driving force, the reason he pushed himself and his company so hard.

As Shinro tapped away at his computer, planning for the future, the door to his office opened. Mira stepped in, her usual professional demeanor tinged with a hint of curiosity.

"Excuse me, sir," she said, "Someone is here to see you. He says he was sent by your uncle, Jirokichi."

Shinro's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Did he give a name?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.

Mira shook her head. "No, sir. He just insisted it was important and that your uncle had sent him."

Intrigued, Shinro nodded. "Alright, bring him in. I'm curious to see what this is about."

As Mira turned to leave, she paused at the door. "Sir," she said, her voice filled with concern, "if there's any trouble, remember you can alert security with the button."

Shinro smiled wryly. "Don't worry, Mira. I'll be fine."

As Mira left the office, her mind wandered back to the incident with the young girl she had let into Shinro's office. The memory of the broken desk and the mess left behind still bothered her. When she had asked about it, Shinro had casually mentioned being attacked, as if it were a minor inconvenience.

A pang of guilt shot through her. If anything were to happen to Shinro... She couldn't bear the thought. Especially over the months of working closely with him, Mira had found herself developing feelings for her boss.

Catching herself, Mira shook her head, trying to dispel these thoughts. She had a job to do.

***

Shinro sat patiently in his office, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. After a few minutes, Mira returned, ushering in a young man with a lean, athletic build and a confident demeanor.

Cosmo bowed slightly. "Pleased to meet you, Suzuki-san. I'm Cosmo Imai from the Nishihonji Security Service. Your uncle, Jirokichi-san, hired me to ensure your safety."

Shinro's eyebrows raised slightly. He leaned back in his chair, studying Cosmo for a moment before speaking. "I appreciate the gesture, Imai-san, but I don't need any protection."

Cosmo's expression remained neutral, but his voice carried a note of firm determination. "With all due respect, Suzuki-san, whether you think you need protection or not doesn't change the fact that I'm here to do my job."

Shinro opened his mouth to argue, then closed it, considering the situation. He wasn't angry at Cosmo; after all, the man was just following orders. Instead, Shinro found himself troubled by his uncle's actions. Jirokichi, whom Shinro had always perceived as somewhat distant and uncaring, had taken steps to ensure his safety.

Shinro let out a sigh, massaging his forehead as he contemplated the situation. Mira, who had been quietly observing the exchange, stepped forward, her face etched with concern.

"Excuse me, Imai-san," she said, her voice tinged with worry, "but why does Suzuki-san need protection? Is he in some kind of trouble?"

Cosmo's expression remained neutral as he replied, "I'm afraid I can't disclose that information, miss. It's confidential."

Shinro, noticing the growing concern on Mira's face, quickly interjected. "It's alright, Mira. There's nothing wrong. My uncle is just being overly cautious."

Mira's brow furrowed, unconvinced. The memory of the young, innocent-looking girl who had somehow managed to attack Shinro in his own office flashed through her mind. She knew there was more to this situation than Shinro was letting on.

Shinro turned his attention back to Cosmo, his expression resolute. "Look, Imai-san, I appreciate the concern, but I don't need constant protection. If you want to hang around, that's fine, but you must not invade my privacy."

Cosmo opened his mouth to argue, but Shinro cut him off. "If you can't agree to those terms, we can always settle this another way. How about a fight? If I can prove I don't need protection, you'll back off."

Cosmo's eyes widened in surprise before he burst into laughter. "With all due respect, Suzuki-san, I've trained for years in martial arts. You wouldn't stand a chance against me."

Mira, who had been quietly observing, couldn't hide her astonishment at Shinro's proposal. Her eyes darted between Shinro and Cosmo, worry etched across her face. She knew Shinro was capable, but to challenge a professional fighter seemed reckless.

"Sir," she began, her voice tinged with concern, "I don't think that's a good—"

But Shinro raised a hand, silencing her. His eyes never left Cosmo's face, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. There was a confidence in his demeanor that Mira had never seen before, a glint in his eye that suggested he knew something they didn't.

The atmosphere in the office crackled with tension as Cosmo and Shinro faced off, neither willing to back down.