King of Games C46 Wouldn't be stopped

Numbers and graphs flickered on the holographic screen, painting a grim picture as the "Nerve Gear Zero" sales plummeted. Seated at the head of the table, Shinro's fingers steepled under his chin, digesting the information. Executives around the table tossed out ideas, desperately clinging to their jobs.

One of the executives from "Tiny World" spoke up.

"Although we've lost sales after the hype died down, our console is only available in retail stores in Tokyo. If we expand to the rest of Japan, we could see a resurgence in sales."

Shinro's gaze flickered to the man, his dark eyes narrowing in consideration. Another executive chimed in, "Boss, we already have contacts with retail companies outside of Tokyo. We could have our products on their shelves in no time."

Shinro's eyes narrowed. "I thought Sony and Microsoft were hindering our expansion?"

An executive couldn't help but chuckle. "As powerful as they are, they can't control everyone. Many retailers still believe in our product."

Shinro's expression didn't change, but his voice betrayed his interest. "Is that so?" He then shifted gears. "Moving on, what about the progress on our virtual console technology?"

Mira, Shinro's secretary and key R&D member of KiShin, straightened in her seat. "The progress on our VR technologies is going very well, sir. We estimate that within two years, we'll have our first immersive VR console ready for the market."

Shinro was pleasantly surprised, despite being the one to hand over the VR technologies to the R&D department. He hadn't expected the first VR console to complete in just two years.

"Really? That soon?"

Mira nodded, her fingers dancing over a holographic remote. Holographic projections appeared in the air, showcasing the VR research's progress. "Thanks to the information you provided us, we've made impressive strides. By then, we should have a basic VR headset console ready for consumers."

Shinro's expression softened, a rare flicker of approval in his eyes. "Excellent. Keep up the good work."

Mira exhaled, unable to fully conceal her disappointment. "It's just... well, I'm a bit disappointed we can only manage the basic VR headset with the tech you gave us, sir." She gestured at the holographic projections.

Shinro waved it off, his expression softening. "No, this is already an impressive feat. It's only natural we can't replicate the more advanced tech so soon."

"In fact," he continued, genuine wonder in his voice, "I'm genuinely impressed we can even produce a working VR headset in just two years."

Nods of agreement filled the room as the magnitude of their accomplishment sank in.

The basic VR headset may have been "basic" by those standards, but it was still leagues ahead of anything in this world. It would transport users' minds into the games, creating lifelike, immersive environments. While they wouldn't feel pain or taste, they'd experience air pressure and other nuanced sensations, enough to make the illusion convincing.

In his previous life, the closest comparison was the first VR headset from the series "Sword Art Online." Although it was just a starting point, Shinro knew the potential it held.

---

As the hype around the "Nerve Gear Zero" waned in the face of Microsoft and Sony's new console announcements, KiShin pushed forward, expanding their distribution to cities like Osaka and Kyoto. In the latter, Momiji Ooka, clad in her high school uniform, entered a retail store with her butler Muga in tow. Their eyes landed on the "Nerve Gear Zero" display.

Muga's eyebrows rose as he eyed the console. "So this is the product from your fiance's company?" he said, unable to hide the hint of disbelief in his voice.

Momiji's brows furrowed. Although she hadn't fully accepted Shinro as her fiance yet, she had to admit he had surprised her.

"I can't believe Shinro was able to develop his company and release a console and games in just a few months. The last time I saw him, his company didn't even exist yet." Momiji muttered, her tone tinged with incredulity. "To think he'd achieve so much in such a short time..."

Muga remained silent, but his expression spoke of the same disbelief Momiji felt. It was as if Shinro had performed a miracle, but there the console was, available for anyone to buy.

Muga managed to think of a plausible explanation. "It's not surprising, Miss," he said, flashing a smile. "After all, behind Shinro-sama stands the influential Suzuki Group."

Momiji nodded but hesitated. "I know, but according to my parents, Shinro-kun built his company from scratch with minimal help from the family."

Muga didn't say anything more. He knew Momiji's parents, his masters, were likely trying to paint a good image of Shinso for their daughter.

They left the store with the console and games in hand. Once home, Momiji had Muga set up the console in the living room. She couldn't wait to try it out.

As the console powered up, Momiji placed a game disc on top of the console, and the graphics on the screen left her in awe. Even Muga, who had seen his fair share of technology, was shocked by the console's impressive performance.

Momiji wasted no time and started playing, immersed in the game's vivid world. Muga, for his part, observed from the sidelines, his thoughts a whirlwind of questions. Shinro's rapid ascent in the tech world and the console's impressive capabilities were extraordinary, even with the Suzuki Group's backing.

Meanwhile, Conan, Ran, and the Detective Boys were gifted a KiShin console and games by Sonoko. The moment they powered it on, the crisp graphics and immersive gameplay left them speechless. Even their tech-savvy Dr. Agasa couldn't hide his fascination.

Days passed, and the Detective Boys (excluding Conan and Ai Haibara) found themselves increasingly addicted to the KiShin games. Dr. Agasa, too, spent hours exploring the console's features, losing track of time.

One day, Conan and Ai Haibara were discussing a temporary cure to become adult again. Dr. Agasa, dressed in a neat suit, was in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie. The two noticed he was taking unusual care in his appearance.

"Where are you going, Dr. Agasa?" Conan asked, his small form tilted in curiosity.

"I have an interview!" Dr. Agasa's eyes sparkled with excitement. "KiShin is hiring scientists, so I applied online, and today's my big day!"

Ai Haibara raised an eyebrow. "You're really going to work for that upstart company?"

Dr. Agasa chuckled, waving his finger. "Ai, they may be new now, but I see a bright future for KiShin. I can't miss the opportunity to be part of a company on the verge of greatness!" His eyes shone with enthusiasm. "I'll be able to introduce groundbreaking technologies to the world with their support."

""The company values innovation and creativity, and I know they will appreciate my research on AI and robotics," Dr. Agasa continued, a twinkle in his eye. "Who knows, this could be the breakthrough I've been waiting for!"

Conan and Ai Haibara exchanged glances, knowing the doctor's passion for his work. Ai sighed, a begrudging acceptance in her eyes.

"Well, good luck, Dr. Agasa," Conan said, trying to sound upbeat.

"Thank you, Shinichi!" Dr. Agasa beamed, and with that, he was out the door, leaving Conan and Ai alone in the room.

---

Shinro couldn't helped but be a bit surprise when he saw Dr. Agasa's application. Dr. Agasa may have invented some failed inventions in the anime, but Shinro knew he was both intelligent and talented. He recognized the creativity Dr. Agasa possessed, so he instructed HR to accept him without a second thought.

Once Dr. Agasa joined KiShin, Shinro personally introduced him to the research team, which consisted of bright minds from both their world and "Tiny World." Their mission was to develop technologies that would revolutionize the lives of their civilization. Dr. Agasa was thrilled to be part of such a talented group, and he couldn't wait to see what they could achieve together.

Two weeks after Dr. Agasa's acceptance into KiShin, the much-awaited Sony PS4 was released in Tokyo. Gamers flocked to the stores in droves, eager to get their hands on the new console. Excitement filled the air as they rushed home to test it out. However, for those who had experienced the Nerve Gear Zero, there was an inescapable feeling of letdown.

"The graphics are okay, I guess," one gamer said, fiddling with the PS4 controller. "But it's nothing compared to the Nerve Gear Zero."

"Yeah, and the immersion factor is just not there," another gamer agreed, browsing through the game selection. "These games are fun, but they're not even close to what I played on the Nerve Gear."

As the disappointment spread among the gaming community, gamers took to the internet to voice their opinions.

"PS4 is a bust. Nerve Gear Zero still on top!" one user wrote on an online forum.

"I miss the Nerve Gear Zero experience. This is just...meh," another user lamented.

The buzz surrounding the PS4's release quickly died down, overshadowed by the overwhelming praise for the Nerve Gear Zero.