Chapter 143. Senren＊Banka, Launch!
The sweltering heat of midsummer arrived, and amid the chorus of cicadas, Senren＊Banka went on sale.
As for "Teacher Rain," who had already become a myth in the galgame world, the moment this news was released it stirred up waves across the industry.
Without even realizing it himself, Xander had already become a legend in the industry.
No company was attached to him.
No one knew who he was.
Every time a game came out, aside from his name and Eromanga-sensei's, basically everything else was unknown.
Rivals who wanted to target him didn't even have a target.
Even first-hand information about Rain had to be obtained from his official blog.
By the time the game was finished, what was there left to "target"?
There was nothing to be done.
After once or twice, everyone just let it be.
It was only him anyway, so he wouldn't take that much market share.
But for players, thanks to the excellent story of White Album, he'd already been enshrined as a god.
White Album was also hailed by many as the most outstanding romance game of the past ten years.
With a new game now out, those fans naturally lined up overnight at the stores.
"Hey, bro, you here for Murasame's bonus too?"
"Of course.
The art style in Teacher Rain's new work is just too good.
Little Murasame is so cute I can't hold it together!"
"I actually like Yoshino more.
White hair really hits my XP.
Mako is great too.
I really like Lena's voice actress."
"Then why are you in the line for Murasame's bonus?"
"Heh heh, I've got people queued at the other spots as well."
"Dude, big-spender!"
Before dawn, the people in line were already getting lively.
"By the way, what does 'moege' mean?
I saw Teacher Rain say this time it's a moege-leaning game."
"No idea, but the characters all look super moe to me."
"Could it be something about the story?"
"If he could write something like White Album, then I feel like there's no need to worry about the story, right?"
"What about Kaleidoscope then?"
"...Okay, pretend I didn't say that.
By the way, are you Team Setsuna or Team Touma?
Touma feels so pitiful.
Setsuna's character is just not it."
"I'm Team Setsuna..."
"..."
Setting aside the near brawl in the queue, those who bought the game early had already rushed home to start playing.
Marin Kitagawa was one of them.
Back then, White Album left her emotionally crushed for two or three months.
Only by relying on various lewd nukige and her friends' comfort did she make it out.
There was no helping it.
The hit was just too heavy.
The wildest part was that when she finally recovered a bit and went to karaoke with friends, the first song they picked was the then-viral "Todokanai Koi."
She almost got sent back into shutdown.
Of course, crushed is crushed.
She'd become a diehard fan of Teacher Rain through and through.
After getting home, she first petted the little Eevee she'd just caught not long ago, then took off her AR glasses and eagerly unwrapped the Senren＊Banka packaging.
As always, she carefully admired the Murasame bonus.
After putting it away, she excitedly slid the disc into the console.
She thought for a moment, then washed her hands again, trimmed her nails, and set tissues on the desk, deciding to trust Teacher Rain one more time.
With a burst of bright music, the game began.
...
This galgame—nicknamed "Senren＊Bankami" in a previous life—has a story you could call passable.
It has nothing especially brilliant, but also none of that "art-film sickness" that deliberately grosses people out.
So, with the aura of a previous masterpiece, online reviews were naturally mixed.
Those who expected story because of White Album saw sections as plain as water and got really angry, shouting that Teacher Rain had gotten cocky and was phoning in the plot.
But for most people, work and life were already exhausting.
This kind of light, cheerful, pure-sugar romance with cute girls actually suited them very well and made for a very comfortable play.
As a result, a split appeared.
It didn't escalate into a Team Touma vs. Team Setsuna-style flame war, but the forums were still noisy.
No grand principles.
No attempts to lecture people.
Emotional ups and downs not that intense.
Its best part lay in each heroine's characterization.
Often it's exactly this kind of "moderate" work that manages to break out.
Thus, amid rivals waiting to watch a joke and players voicing doubts, Senren＊Banka's sales exploded.
In just a single week, sales were already more than double this year's second-place new release, and were about to catch up with last year's annual number one.
This result naturally left the manufacturers dumbfounded, unable to figure out whether it was the players who had a problem or they themselves did.
"Your sales really are ridiculous."
Looking at Senren＊Banka shooting to first place in just a few days, Bronya clicked her tongue in amazement.
She slapped away the hand misbehaving inside her loose pajamas, flipped over to lie on Xander's lap, and kept tapping on her tablet, browsing game news.
"As expected," he said.
"I'm fairly confident in this game."
"Tut, putting on airs, are we!"
Muttering that, Bronya glanced at the flame wars on the forums and curiously asked, "The reviews aren't great, so how are sales this good?"
"That."
Resting his hand back on her butt, Xander thought for a moment and said, "Maybe because this game suits most players."
"Most?"
"Mm.
No shocking plot.
Just sweet but not cloying romance with cute girls.
Doesn't that sound relaxing?"
"That's true."
She nodded, provisionally accepting Xander's explanation.
The hand behind her getting more and more excessive brought a flush to Bronya's cheeks.
Gritting her teeth, she tossed the tablet aside, turned her head, and asked, "So, now that this is done, you finally have time to write the new game plan, right?"
"Tut, the mood's already here and you're bringing that up?"
Letting go helplessly, Xander simply lay down, hugged Bronya, and bit into her fair neck.
"Huu—"
Her body trembled.
Bronya reached out and hugged his head.
"I've rested long enough.
I want to do it~"
"...You and the game can pass each other by.
I'm going to find Seele."
Seeing Bronya still like this, Xander had just sat up when Bronya wrapped both arms around his thigh, cheeks puffed, and said in a spoiled tone, "No.
You have to promise me today.
If you don't give it, I won't let you go!"
Who knows where Bronya learned this shameless act.
Xander's head started to ache.
In the end he could only concede helplessly, "Fine, fine, fine.
I'll write it tomorrow, okay?
Let me go.
If I don't head over, Seele's going to be done with her shower."
"Really?!"
"Really!
I've never lied to you!"
Finally pulling his leg free from Bronya's arms, he was about to leave when his hand was caught.
A ring-shaped leather item was pushed into his palm.
He froze and looked down.
In his hand was a collar attached to a rope.
Bronya knelt there, head tilted up toward him, biting her lip, eyes hazy and alluring.
Suddenly, he felt like taking a shower with Seele wouldn't be much fun after all.
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