[Game] Chapter 356-360

### Chapter 356: Game Testing, Camera Angle Issues?

At noon, after grabbing lunch outside, the four of them went straight to Yukino’s apartment.

The moment they stepped in, Ichin saw Peppa running toward him.

Even though Peppa was now living at Yukino’s place, the cat still recognized his true owner.

Scooping Peppa up into his arms, Ichin laughed.

“I thought you’d forgotten your parents now that you’ve got yourself a wife. Looks like you still have some conscience.”

Utaha stroked Peppa’s head, then followed Yukino into the living room, where she spotted Sesame curled up in the cat bed.

Sesame’s belly had already grown noticeably round—clearly carrying kittens.

When Yukino approached, Sesame immediately got up and rubbed affectionately against her leg.

Yukino smiled, carefully picked Sesame up, and turned to Ichin.

“Senpai, shouldn’t we find a time to take Sesame to the vet for a check-up?”

Ichin nodded.

“Yeah, we should. The day after tomorrow works. Tomorrow I’ve got a lot of classes, but the day after I’m free. I’ll come with Utaha to pick you up, and we’ll all go together.”

“I’m coming too! I’m coming too!” Eriri raised her hand instantly.

Ever since Sesame got pregnant, Eriri had been showing up at Yukino’s more and more often—dropping by almost every other day. She even brought snacks full of nutrients for Sesame.

Of course, feeding Sesame also meant Peppa managed to mooch plenty, so his weight had inevitably gone up a little.

A cat’s pregnancy lasts two months, so with about one month left before delivery, there wasn’t much worry about Peppa putting on too much weight in the meantime.

After sitting around Yukino’s for a while, Ichin left Utaha to continue chatting as a guest, while he headed over to the company.

Persona’s development had reached the testing and bug-fixing stage—a phase with no small workload. Ichin had to personally oversee things, since fixing any major hidden bugs could be extremely time-consuming.

At the office, the temporary playtesters were already hard at work, playing while hunting for in-game issues.

Among them was someone Ruri had mentioned before—her game-loving friend, Kirino Kousaka.

This tall, striking girl was in her senior year of university, majoring in economics with excellent grades.

When she first came for the tester recruitment, Kirino had already expressed her desire to join the company after graduation. After considering her background, Hazuki had been more than happy to invite her—but not to the programming or writing departments. Instead, she was eyed for the finance department.

Kirino had no objections. After all, that was her actual field of study, and she’d even earned her accounting certification.

Checking in on the art department, Ichin saw a few members still fine-tuning models, while most others were also joining in the test play, trying to spot issues themselves.

“How’s the experience so far, Kō?” Ichin asked.

Yagami Kō had been playing for several days, but since her focus was on testing, her progress had been slow. Still, by now the main character’s party was nearly complete, with the story just entering the arc for the last member, the elegant heiress Haru Okumura.

Clutching the controller, Yagami Kō beamed.

“It’s amazing! When we were working on it, I only got bits and pieces of the story, but now that I’m playing through it, the full experience feels incredible! Cool, stylish, and totally chuuni! I did find some minor bugs here and there, but nothing major. Umiko fixes them quickly and rolls them into patches. Honestly, the game feels so good already.”

After finishing, Yagami Kō waved Ichin toward the programmers, clearly wanting to keep playing.

Even though she’d helped create the game, her total immersion showed she was enjoying it just as much as any fan would.

As she herself often said, the art team didn’t need to know the entire plot. They could get early glimpses if they wanted, but to preserve the genuine player experience, most—including Kō—avoided spoilers. That way, they could fully immerse themselves when the game was done.

After all, aside from being developers, they were also gamers at heart.

Heading to the programmers’ section, Ichin found the testers hard at work.

Right then, Kirino was leaning beside Ruri, pointing out an issue.

“I mean, look—if players can freely move the camera, then why can’t we look under the skirts? That’s such a wasted opportunity! The characters are so beautifully designed, and the outfits too. Wouldn’t adding a few more camera angles make things way more fun?”

“...”

Ruri twitched at the corner of her mouth, clearly exasperated.

“You didn’t have to say that out loud, you know. And so what if it doesn’t let you peek under skirts? I think it’s better this way. You’re not a little kid anymore—try acting less like a pervy fangirl!”

“Urusee! You’re the perv here!” Kirino shot back instantly.

Their banter made the programmers around them chuckle helplessly.

Umiko, spotting Ichin, gestured in their direction.

Ichin walked over and said with a smile,

“Actually, about the whole ‘no looking under skirts’ thing—someone did bring that up before, same as you just did.”

“Huh?” Kirino’s eyes lit up, surprised.

“Really? Who was it?”

“Hazuki.” Ichin chuckled.

“But I shut it down right away. Sure, we can make the characters attractive in design, but keeping them dignified is important too. Of course, that’s just how we see it. Once the game’s out on PC, well… it won’t be up to me anymore, right?”

Ichin’s thoughts were blunt. He had no plans to officially open a creative workshop, but he certainly wasn’t against players making mods. If the community wanted to go wild with their own designs, he didn’t mind in the slightest.

And if someone made an interesting mod, Ichin would be more than happy to try it himself.

Hearing that, Kirino suddenly clapped her hands in realization.

“Ohhh, right! Mods! That works too!”

Having been into games since childhood, she was very familiar with the modding scene in PC titles. Skyrim—better known in her circle as “Skimpyrim”—had once eaten up nearly 100GB on her computer thanks to her mod collection.

Satisfied with Ichin’s answer, Kirino returned to her work, while Ichin moved on toward Umiko.

***

### Chapter 357: Official Classes Begin

Umiko wasn’t gaming—she was fixing in-game errors.

Ichin pulled up a chair beside her.

“Umiko, is the patch work going smoothly?”

“Relax,” Umiko smiled. “No major issues so far, just minor fixes here and there. The game’s underlying framework is solid, and we were careful during development, so nasty bugs are unlikely. Plus, we’ve been optimizing all along, so the day-one patch won’t even need much performance work. Workload isn’t heavy.”

“That’s good.”

Feeling reassured, Ichin looked at her screen.

“The game’s already been sent to the review media these past two days. Once the day-one patch is ready, don’t forget to update their copies too.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

After finishing with the programmers, Ichin returned to the art department and stood beside Yagami Kō, watching her play.

As the producer, Ichin didn’t really feel like playing a long RPG like Persona from start to finish. He was content just being an audience. Watching others enjoy the game felt pretty nice too.

Yagami Kō noticed him. While continuing to play, she struck up a conversation.

“Ichin, how’s Yukino’s cat doing?”

“Don’t worry, great. Yukino takes such careful care of them—they’re chubby and healthy. We’ll take Sesame to the vet the day after tomorrow. Should know by then how many kittens there are.”

“Ohhh! A vet visit the day after tomorrow!”

That instantly caught Kō’s interest. After all, she had already said she wanted a kitten from Yukino’s litter.

“Ichin, count me in! I’ve never been to a pet clinic before. I want to see for myself—someday I’ll raise a pet too, so this is a good chance to learn.”

“Sure, let’s go together.”

Even though the day after was a workday, the game’s development was done. Only bug fixing and patches remained. Kō could easily step out for a while.

“What, what, you’re going to a vet?”

Hearing them, Shinoda Hajime quickly ran over, eyes sparkling.

“I want to go too! I’ve never seen a pet check-up!”

“You haven’t?” Ichin asked in surprise. “Didn’t you go with Hazuki when she took Mozuku

for check-ups?”

Shinoda shook her head.

“Nope. She said it was just a normal exam—boring—so she never took us. But this is different! Sesame’s pregnant! It won’t be like a normal check-up. We want to know how many kittens there’ll be!”

As they chatted, Aoba and Hifumi wandered over too, curiosity written all over their faces.

Ichin sighed.

“Hey hey hey, don’t tell me all of you want to tag along. We’re just taking a cat for a check-up, not a school trip. You all stay here and work. I’ll ask Kō to film a bit for you—deal?”

“That works.”

His proposal finally cooled their excitement, and they returned to their testing.

After watching Kō play a while longer, Ichin returned to his office. He called Hazuki in, and the two of them started refining the project plan for Battle Block Theater, which Hazuki would take over.

Compared to Dark Souls and Titanfall, which Ichin had already drafted, Battle Block Theater was a smaller project. With a solid plan, Hazuki could quickly gather staff to start pre-production.

Unlike the two big titles, Ichin estimated Battle Block Theater’s dev cycle at about six months—wrapping up by year’s end. For a team now experienced and backed by a detailed proposal, that timeline was realistic.

He kept busy until quitting time, then left with the others and headed to Yukino’s. Dinner that night was Yukino’s treat—home-cooked, so Ichin didn’t have to cook himself.

---

The next day, Ichin and Utaha began their official university classes.

Though it was “college,” the start of classes didn’t feel much different. It just meant paying closer attention in lectures and taking more notes. The content itself wasn’t difficult for them.

After one class ended, Ichin packed up and headed to a different room for the next.

The boys in class were all friendly. After class, they grouped up in twos and threes, leaving together.

Ichin stuck with Takahashi and Oosawa, two guys he’d met yesterday—but the two clearly had other motives.

“Ichin, are you free at lunch? We’ll treat you!”

“Yeah, our treat! We’ll be classmates for four years, so we should build good ties, right?”

Their odd eagerness amused Ichin.

“If you’re thinking of getting the game early, forget it. Apart from review media, no early copies.”

“No, no, not that!”

Oosawa shook his head quickly and leaned closer, whispering.

“We want your advice… on how to chase girls.”

“Huh? Ahhh, so that’s it.”

Ichin suddenly understood. Looked like Utaha showing up yesterday had left quite an impression.

But then again, he himself wasn’t exactly an expert in pursuing girls. His relationship with Utaha happened naturally—neighbors, later classmates, and then everything just fell into place.

Still, seeing their hopeful faces, Ichin nodded.

“Alright then. At lunch, I’ll give you some analysis.”

He couldn’t teach them how to pursue girls, but sharing thoughts and giving advice—sure, that he could do.

Heading into the next classroom, Ichin used the waiting time before class to message Utaha, telling her about it.

On her side, waiting for class as well, Utaha read his message and couldn’t help but cover her mouth in a laugh.

Utaha: “Ichin, them asking you for dating advice—that’s really putting you in a tough spot.”

Ichin: “Don’t tease me. I didn’t see this coming either.”

***

### Chapter 358: The Cat’s Pregnancy Check-Up

Lunch that day was in the school cafeteria.

During the meal, Ichin didn’t teach his two classmates any “methods” for chasing girls. Their problem wasn’t strategy at all—it was that they didn’t even know how to hold a proper conversation with one.

So instead of lofty techniques, Ichin gave them some advice on communication basics first.

After eating, the three chatted a bit more before heading off to their afternoon classes. Their schedule was still packed today. Although the lectures were mostly theoretical knowledge, students with no prior exposure still needed time to adjust.

For Ichin, however, it wasn’t difficult. He already understood most of the material. Listening once in class was enough.

So during breaks, besides chatting with Utaha, he also used his phone to stay in touch with the company—checking on Persona’s ongoing bug fixes and Hazuki’s progress with the new project plan.

Among the class, Ichin had become the most eye-catching student in just two days.

Though he tried to stay low-key, his looks drew attention. Yesterday, Utaha’s appearance had only intensified it. Now, whenever he walked into the classroom, many classmates couldn’t help but take notice.

Luckily, the class was mostly male. With fewer girls around, he didn’t have to worry about being swarmed by admirers—something Ichin truly didn’t want to face.

After finishing the two afternoon lectures, Ichin said goodbye to his classmates and went alone to the school library.

The library was always busy—some came for reference materials, others simply for the quiet atmosphere.

On the second floor, following Utaha’s text message directions, he found her sitting in a corner seat, quietly reading.

And there he witnessed an amusing sight.

At her table, Utaha sat alone. But every other chair at the surrounding tables was filled—with male students.

Ichin didn’t need to look closely to know why. They were clearly there for Utaha.

He sighed helplessly. Having such an outstanding girlfriend… truly came with complications.

Noticing some of the guys watching him, Ichin walked steadily toward her.

As he suspected, the boys weren’t here for studying. They had gathered because Utaha’s presence had spread by word of mouth.

The university wasn’t lacking in pretty girls, but among this year’s freshmen, Utaha easily stood out as one of the most striking.

One came, then another, and soon a small crowd had gathered. Some even tried to approach her, but Utaha firmly shut them down—stating she didn’t want anyone, especially boys, sitting nearby. She also made it clear she had a boyfriend. The ring on her finger proved she wasn’t bluffing.

Most who got into Tokyo U weren’t foolish enough to cause a scene. And in the library, anyone making trouble would only bring ruin upon themselves.

So now the boys simply lingered around, occupying seats but keeping their distance.

When they saw yet another boy heading toward her, many smirked knowingly, expecting him to be rejected like the rest.

But what they hadn’t anticipated—Utaha, sensing Ichin’s approach, lifted her head and broke into a bright, beautiful smile.

Ichin returned it, sitting down beside her.

“Studying all afternoon… tired?”

“Not really, it hasn’t been that long.” Utaha smiled, closing her book and slipping it into her bag.

“Let’s go. Time to head home.”

“Yeah, let’s. We still need to buy groceries—nothing left at home.”

Utaha nodded, tidied her things, and stood with him.

Ignoring the stares of the boys, they chatted as they left.

“Oh, are we still going to Yukino’s today?”

“Not today. Yukino and Eriri had their own classes and club meetings. Let’s stick to the plan—tomorrow.”

As the two walked out hand in hand, the surrounding boys finally realized the truth.

So he’s the boyfriend…

Regret and disappointment filled their faces. Before they could even dream of romance, their hopes had already been shattered. Sometimes heartbreak really does come out of nowhere.

---

The next day, after their usual classes, Ichin and Utaha went to meet Yukino and Eriri right after they got out. Then, after calling Yagami Kō, everyone arranged to meet at the pet clinic.

Driving to Yukino’s apartment first, they picked up the two cats, then headed to the hospital.

Their timing was perfect—just as they parked, Yagami Kō’s car also pulled into the lot.

Kō got out, spotting the cat carrier in Yukino’s hands. She hurried over with excitement, peeking inside at Sesame.

“Sesame! Long time no see! I brought you something yummy—I’ll feed it to you later!”

As for Peppa… no such luck. He sat sulking in another carrier, held by Eriri, with no snacks waiting for him.

But that was understandable. At Yukino’s house he was already well-fed. The real priority now was the soon-to-be mother, Sesame.

Inside, the vet—already reserved in advance—welcomed them into the exam room.

After the usual basic checks, it was time for an ultrasound.

Through it all, Sesame behaved very calmly, unmoving under Yukino’s gentle strokes.

When the images appeared, the vet studied them carefully before speaking.

“Hmm… I can’t give a 100% exact number yet. But based on my experience, the pregnancy stage, and the size of her belly, she’ll probably have three to four kittens. We can see fetal heartbeats already. She’s very healthy, thanks to your good care. As long as preparations are made before delivery, there shouldn’t be problems. If you want to be extra sure, you can bring her back five days to a week before the due date for another check.”

It was a fair and thorough assessment. After all, it had only been about a month—today’s visit was mainly for a general health check. Finding out the litter size was more of a hopeful bonus.

Fortunately, with the vet’s years of experience, his judgment was likely close. Hearing it eased Yukino’s mind.

After expressing their thanks, the examination was done.

Ichin then drove Yukino and Utaha back to Yukino’s apartment, before heading off with Yagami Kō and Eriri to the company.

***

### Chapter 359: Approaching Release, Media Scores

Back at the company, Eriri and Yagami Kō were already excitedly chatting with the others about the visit to the pet clinic.

Eriri said with enthusiasm,

“The doctor said there might be three or four kittens! I wonder if, after another month, we’ll be able to confirm the exact number before the birth.”

Aoba was just as curious.

“Ohh! A month will fly by. So when the kittens are born, will it be at Yukino’s place, or at Ichin’s?”

“At Yukino’s,” Eriri answered.

“She’s got cameras at home, so even while she’s at school, she can keep an eye on them. Plus, she told me that when Sesame gives birth, Utaha and Ichin will be staying with her for a few nights to help with the care. And if it’s a school day afterward, Ichin and Utaha can drop by at noon to help out.”

Toyama Rin, who had been listening, nodded in agreement.

“That’s a good plan. Now that Ichin and Utaha are in college, they’ve got more free time. But Yukino’s still in her senior year of high school—her time is much tighter. At Toyogasaki, students aren’t even allowed to leave campus at lunch.”

As a third-year, even though Yukino’s grades were always excellent, distractions still weren’t ideal.

“One more month… I can’t wait. I’ll finally have a cat of my own!”

Yagami Kō clasped her cheeks with both hands, glowing with anticipation.

Eriri looked just the same. Both of them were full of excitement for the pet-raising days ahead.

But Aoba poured some cold water on them.

“Don’t forget, when the kittens are born, they’ll still need to stay with their mother. You won’t be able to take them home right away. If Sesame gives birth in May, you’ll have to wait about three months until they’re weaned—so not until August.”

“Oh… right. Totally forgot that part.”

Yagami Kō and Eriri exchanged looks, then sighed together.

Still, it wasn’t too bad. They could always visit Yukino’s house in the meantime, playing with the kittens and getting familiar with the ones they’d eventually take home.

Grabbing her pressure-sensitive pen, Yagami Kō cheered herself up.

“Then I’ll just have to work harder—so I can buy them the best food and toys later!”

Just then, Ichin pushed open the office door, overhearing her declaration. He couldn’t help but smile.

---

April slipped by quickly.

Ichin and Utaha had fully settled into university life, handling their respective coursework easily and getting along well with classmates.

Utaha in particular, while not close to everyone, had made a few good friends. They had gone out shopping and eaten together. Ichin had met the three once himself—they had pleasant personalities, and all three were fans of Kasumi Utako’s novels. Of course, they didn’t know Utaha’s true identity.

If they ever found out, they’d definitely become her biggest fangirls.

---

By late April, with Persona’s release imminent, Ichin arranged for several popular streamers and video creators to visit the Shanghai studio. They spent two full days hands-on with the game.

Although bound by NDA agreements, meaning they couldn’t upload raw gameplay with spoilers, they were allowed to show non-story segments and publish their impressions. As part of the arrangement, each also received a Steam key and a physical Switch copy afterward.

At the same time, review outlets worldwide dropped their scores the day before release.

The results immediately lit up the community.

On a 100-point scale, every outlet rated the game above 85, with several giving 95 or even a perfect 100.

On a 10-point scale, all scores were above 8—one even gave a full 10.

The flood of high marks sent anticipation soaring. Ever since the first PV, players had debated whether the game’s quality would match its hype. Some skeptics doubted.

Even now, a few grumbled that Ichin must have “paid off” the media.

But in truth, Ichin never bribed anyone, nor did he care to. The media scores were just something to glance at.

More important were the streamer and creator impressions—and those, too, quickly silenced doubts.

If critics could be accused of bias, the streamers’ footage spoke for itself. Real gameplay clips smashed holes in the skeptics’ claims.

Nearly every influencer praised the game to the skies, lauding its visuals, systems, and sheer polish.

The only mild criticism concerned length.

“I played for two whole days,” one streamer wrote, “and I didn’t even finish one-third of the story. The amount of content is staggering. Honestly, I can’t imagine it. After launch, my channel’s basically going to be streaming Persona for half a month straight.”

The turn-based combat, often a sticking point for some audiences, drew no complaints. Instead, reviewers praised its seamless integration with the game’s style, the slick UI, and above all, the music—which made every battle feel exhilarating.

---

In the final two days before release, every forum buzzed with Persona discussions.

In Japan, thanks to Haruno’s connections, offline ads had greatly boosted visibility. Preorders at physical stores were nearing full capacity.

On release eve, the whole team gathered in Yagami Kō’s dorm with her roommates.

Hazuki, just off a call with a major retailer, smiled.

“It’s 10 p.m. now, and customers are already lining up outside the store to wait overnight. Other stores are fully booked too. Tomorrow morning’s launch is going to explode.”

Cheers erupted in the room.

Sakura Nene took a sip of cola, grinning.

“This is amazing! Our sales are going to break records! We’ve already hit three million preorders just for the PC and Switch digital versions!”

Ichin snapped his fingers.

“Exactly. Once the physical release hits, boosted by streams and word of mouth, sales will skyrocket again. Based on projections, total sales should break five million within a month.”

Everyone froze at the number, breath caught in their throats.

If they actually pulled it off—two million more units in a single month—the studio’s reputation in the industry would soar to an entirely new level.

***

### Chapter 360: Official Release, Unprecedented Hype

Midnight release time was drawing closer, but no one felt the slightest bit sleepy. On Yagami Kō’s insistence, Toyama Rin had even brewed coffee for everyone—so drowsiness was impossible anyway.

After a round of fighting games with Umiko, Ichin sat down beside Utaha. Glancing at her phone, he asked,

“Chatting with classmates?”

“Mhm. Found some pretty interesting things.”

Utaha smiled, then suddenly looked at him.

“Ichin, I just realized… we’ve never actually had a fight, have we?”

“Huh?”

Ichin blinked. Thinking back over the past two years with Utaha… yeah, they really hadn’t fought once.

The others overheard and crowded over curiously.

Eriri stared in surprise.

“Unbelievable. With your personality, I’d have thought you’d argue all the time.”

Utaha gave her an exasperated glare.

“What do you take me for? Someone who picks fights over nothing? I’m not like you, flaring up at every little thing.”

“Urusee! You’re the one who flares up!”

“See? Case in point.”

“Ughhh!!”

Taking a sip of coffee, Hazuki chuckled.

“Sorry, Eriri, but she’s right. You’re honestly a lot like a little puppy—quick to bark, but cute.”

“Not you too, Hazuki-san!”

Eriri collapsed on the table in defeat, refusing to engage further.

Umiko tilted her head, still curious.

“But really? Not even once? I know couples who are super close, and even they argue sometimes.”

Arms crossed, Ichin nodded.

“Yeah, we’ve had debates over things. But nothing that ever escalated into a fight.”

“What kind of things?” Yagami Kō asked.

Ichin snapped his fingers.

“Stuff like plot points in Utaha’s novels, or character and system design in my games. Even daily stuff—like whether to have beef or chicken for dinner. Things like that.”

“That’s not fighting, that’s just talking,” Sakura Nene chimed in, putting down her controller to join the circle.

“No emotional fights at all?”

“None,” Utaha answered plainly.

“You know my novels are all romance. Whether it’s the first or this current one, the characters always argue at some point. To write it properly, I’ve read a lot of books, watched dramas, even lurked on relationship forums. Couples quarrel for all sorts of reasons, but real blow-ups usually boil down to money, outside interference, incompatible personalities, or conflicting values. Now tell me—do any of those apply to me and Ichin?”

Aoba began ticking off on her fingers.

“Not really. Both of you earn plenty, so money’s no issue. Outside interference? You’ve met each other’s parents, and you literally live next door to Utaha’s family. Personality and values? Maybe not 100% clear to us, but after two years, it’s obvious you’re fine.”

“Geez…” Sakura Nene whistled.

“Talk about enviable.”

Utaha smiled serenely, showing not the slightest embarrassment.

“Thank you. I really am happy.”

Yagami Kō folded her arms, sighing in admiration.

“It’s rare these days. So many couples rush into marriage, then split the next day. I even read a story where the bride got caught cheating the night before the wedding. The world’s full of demons and clowns.”

“Ohhh, that’s insane!”

From there, the girls slipped into gossip mode.

Ichin left them to it, instead pulling out his laptop and browsing idly.

Time ticked by, until finally the clock struck midnight.

“It’s time! The game’s officially out!”

Though brick-and-mortar stores wouldn’t open until morning, photos were already popping up online of fans camping in line overnight.

Meanwhile, on streaming platforms, countless streamers launched Persona streams the instant the game unlocked.

Ichin hopped through a few familiar channels, dropping gifts here and there, before checking the Steam backend.

Sales hadn’t spiked massively yet—naturally, it was only just unlocked—but they were climbing. What mattered most now was the concurrent player count.

Normally, Steam’s top three were untouchable: CS:GO, Dota 2, and PUBG. No single-player game could hope to compete.

But Persona, fresh out of the gate, was already shocking everyone—30,000 concurrent players at launch, climbing higher every refresh.

“Forty thousand… forty-five… fifty!”

Barely ten minutes after release, the number had shot past fifty thousand, and it kept climbing.

By 12:30, Ichin checked again—the count had broken 80,000, surpassing the highest concurrent record of all their previous games.

Letting out a long breath, Ichin broke into a grin.

“Looks like we don’t need to worry anymore. Sales are locked in.”

Opening Bilibili, he saw the front-page stream event. Every featured channel was broadcasting Persona, each with over a million viewers. Bullet comments flooded the screens. Both the platform and the streamers were raking in benefits.

Closing his laptop, Ichin stood from the sofa.

“Alright, it’s the middle of the night, but no one’s tired, right? How about a late-night snack? My treat.”

“Midnight snack!”

“Let’s go!!!”

“GOGOGO!!”

With Ichin, Yagami Kō, Umiko, and Hazuki all having cars, seating wasn’t an issue. They piled out and headed to an izakaya still open at this late hour, celebrating the launch with a proper feast.

Of course, this was just for the core team. The real company-wide celebration would come tomorrow—no, later today—after work.

***