Rin Ito: [How is it? Did he not come looking for you two?]
The next day after Rin Ito advised Tomoya Aki, Rin Ito messaged Eiri to ask for the result.
Eiri: [He really didn't come to find us today. How did you do it?]
Rin Ito: [He runs a website, right? I told him to recruit like-minded people online and form a club. It seems his recruitment is going smoothly.]
Eiri on the other end of the phone screen quickly opened her mobile browser. The website he ran was initially a fan site for Utaha Kasumigaoka. Back when Utaha Kasumigaoka's book sales were poor, Tomoya Aki had created a website and enthusiastically promoted it. After Utaha Kasumigaoka gained more fans, he also posted reviews of GALGAMEs, as well as reviews of other people's novels and manga. The website had evolved from a fan site into a comprehensive ACGN information site.
Given the help he'd provided Utaha Kasumigaoka, she shouldn't have refused to write a GALGAME script for him. As for Utaha Kasumigaoka's attitude the past few days... besides her own sharp tongue, it was because they were currently in an argument over her novel.
Eiri opened the webpage and saw that there was indeed a recruitment announcement. Clicking on the announcement, Eiri saw his project. Although it was still terrible, there were quite a few supportive comments below, and some people even expressed interest in participating in the production.
Eiri: [I see it.]
Rin Ito: [He shouldn't bother you anymore, so you can relax now, right?]
A faint smile unconsciously crossed Rin Ito's face on the other end of the phone. Based on his understanding of Eiri, both Eiri and Utaha Kasumigaoka must have been feeling quite complicated. He had been giving them new proposals every day, but now he had suddenly stopped. If you compared it to buying breakfast, it was like a regular customer suddenly going to the breakfast shop next door. While there was nothing wrong with it, it always made them uncomfortable... that was human nature.
If Eiri felt this way, Utaha Kasumigaoka definitely did too. Just as some streamers frequently search for themselves online, Utaha Kasumigaoka surely checked her fan site often. She must have noticed his announcement long ago. Coupled with their slightly tsundere and proud personalities... while it might seem a bit petty, there was only one thing they would do.
Eiri: [Mhm, I'm relieved.]
After replying to Rin Ito, Eiri put down her phone and looked around. After several searches, Eiri finally found Megumi Kato playing with her phone in the classroom.
"Kato-san, can you step outside for a moment?"
"Eh... that's a hassle." Although she grumbled about it being a hassle, Megumi Kato still walked out of the classroom with Eiri.
"Is something the matter, Sawamura-san?"
"Nothing much... Has that Tomoya Aki bothered you again the past couple of days to be his heroine?"
"No." Megumi Kato shook her head and waved her hand casually. "He doesn't want me as his heroine. He didn't even know we were classmates. The heroine he wants is the one in his imagination."
"But... doesn't it bother you that he's using you as a substitute for his idealized heroine?"
"Huh? No, not at all. It actually makes things easier for me." Megumi Kato blinked. "Does it bother you, Sawamura-san?"
"Mhm..."
"Eh... that's a hassle."
"Did you say something, Kato-san?"
"N-No..." Megumi Kato looked away, feeling a little guilty, and quickly changed the subject. "If Sawamura-san is bothered, what are you going to do? Teach him a lesson? Or tell him you want to join?"
"I already refused; how can I shamelessly join now! Besides, I don't think much of his childish project. So..."
"So?" Megumi Kato tilted her head.
"So let's make a GALGAME together too! You'll be the heroine! We'll design a heroine based on your personality, and the story will be about an everyday background character becoming a shining heroine!"
"..." Megumi Kato hesitated. Oh, great, so that's how we're going to play? Sawamura-san... what a bothersome personality.
But... a heroine, huh? That was somewhat exciting. Megumi Kato had always had a low presence since childhood, and it was common for people not to remember her name. The reason the normally hassle-averse Megumi Kato went to the multimedia room the other day, even though she didn't know what a GALGAME was, was largely because she wanted to see what it felt like to be a heroine. After seeing Eiri and Utaha argue, Megumi Kato regretted it a little... it would definitely be a hassle with them around.
But now... it seemed she had gotten herself into an even bigger hassle.
...
Time quickly came to the afternoon. As soon as class ended, Eiri took Megumi Kato to the Art Club. After greeting her Art Club friends, Eiri hurried to the door of her exclusive studio. The door was ajar, clearly indicating someone had arrived early.
Bang! Eiri abruptly pushed the door open. The black-haired, long-legged, large-chested light novel author was in the studio, examining Eiri's drawings.
"Utaha Kasumigaoka! You gloomy woman came so early just to peek at my drawings, didn't you?"
"Please don't use my full name, Eiri Spencer Sawamura." Utaha Kasumigaoka paused. "Besides... didn't you personally beg me to come?"
"Beg you? When did I beg you? Don't make things up." Eiri closed the studio door and leaned her hips against the table. "I want to make a game that sells more than his. Do you want in?"
Hearing the suggestion, Utaha's heart raced. She admitted she was tempted. However... in front of Eiri, even if she was tempted, she couldn't agree immediately.
"A game where you, the pervert, are in charge of the original art? No, thank you. I don't want to be associated with Kashiwagi Eri, the synonym for pervert. I'm a legitimate light novel author, not an erotic novel author."
"Utaha Kasumigaoka, you..." Eiri gritted her teeth. "If you don't want to be credited, we can just release the game under the club name. Hmph... Fine if you won't join. I'll just write the script myself."
"If you, the pervert, write the script, the game will truly be doomed. But... if you kneel and beg me, I'll help you write the script."
"Hehehe... then you just wait and see my game, Eiri Sawamura's game, crush his sales."
"Eiri Sawamura alone is definitely going to lose. Just to ensure victory, I'll reluctantly help you."
In the industry, sales were everything. The more sales, the better. Although Tomoya Aki had never mentioned any kind of competition, Eiri and Utaha Kasumigaoka had unilaterally decided on one.
Megumi Kato sighed deeply next to them... You refused to join before, and now that he has found other people, you decide to make your own game. What complicated and stubborn personalities... Wait!!! Why are they both looking at me!
"Kato-san, you should join us too."
"That's right! You join too."
"Eh? Eh? Eh? Eh? Eh? Eh!????"
...
Amidst Megumi Kato's despairing cry, Eiri and Utaha Kasumigaoka unilaterally decided that Megumi Kato would join. After making the decision, Eiri messaged Tomoya Aki, who readily accepted the challenge. The limit was the Winter Comiket. Both sides would create a GALGAME with a heroine based on Megumi Kato's personality to see whose sales were higher. There was no prize for winning and no penalty for losing... it was simply a matter of pride for both sides. Even Megumi Kato was doing it out of stubborn pride.
He treats me as his destined heroine, yet he didn't remember my face even though we've been classmates for two years, and it's not just that... When Tomoya Aki was trapped on the rooftop during the entrance exam, Megumi Kato was the one who found him and reported it to the teacher to rescue him, yet he forgot her after they were placed in the same class.
Although the three were motivated by pride, making a GALGAME was not something that could be solved with sheer willpower. While one was an artist and the other a novelist, both, having worked in the industry, understood the difficulties of GALGAME production far better than Tomoya Aki. Average enthusiasts might think, A GALGAME... they take it for granted that all they need is a good script and exquisite illustrations.
But in reality, it was much more than that. Original art and script were for the players, but there was a lot of work that players didn't see.
The most basic was programming. Although there were ready-made production tools and tutorials, mastering them required a considerable amount of programming knowledge.
For example, music. Inserting the right BGM at the right time would amplify emotions. Should they use public domain music? Or hire someone to compose it? Who would decide when to play which song?
For example, voice acting. If they were to hire voice actors, who should they hire? Good voice acting could make a character more vivid and outstanding. Voice acting would also require a voice director.
These were things players could hear and see. There was much more that players wouldn't see, such as scheduling deadlines... Without deadlines, let alone the Winter Comiket, they might drag it out until the next year's Winter Comiket. There was also the coordination and communication between various processes and departments, all of which required dedicated personnel. Otherwise, the game wouldn't be finished before the original artist and scriptwriter started fighting to the death.
These were not things the three of them could handle alone. Just as they were contemplating this, Rin Ito's phone rang on Eiri's mobile.
"I heard you are making a GALGAME too?"
"How do you know... Did he tell you?"
"What else?"
"Tsk, tch..." Eiri clicked her tongue slightly. "Did you call to laugh at us?"
"You're a member of [Baumkuchen], and I'm the president. Isn't it normal for me to show concern when you're making a game?" Rin Ito smiled. "Do you need any help?"
Currently, [Baumkuchen] didn't have many members, and its main focus was manga. Besides Rin Ito as the president, the members included Mashiro, who could leave at any moment, Eiri, who drew degradation doujinshi, Sagiri, who would probably never draw doujinshi again, and Saho, the manga artist's assistant.
Unlike the girls pursuing their dreams, Rin Ito's current goal was to expand [Baumkuchen] and make it famous so he could earn more money. Although there were quite a few rich girls around Rin Ito who would be willing to give him money if he asked... at least Mashiro and Karen definitely would. However... he was a man. Rin Ito hadn't reached the point where he no longer wanted to strive for success.
Ever since he met Akane Kosaka, Rin Ito had been itching to succeed... Rin Ito also wanted to grow [Baumkuchen] into a large ACGN-encompassing, even multimedia, organization like Akane Kosaka's [rouge en rouge]. If he specialized in manga, becoming a publisher similar to Crab Editorial was also a good option.
However, this was just Rin Ito's goal. [Baumkuchen] was currently in its initial, exploratory phase and was a very loose organization. To grow and gain influence, the first step was to expand the organization. But this couldn't be rushed; blind expansion wouldn't lead to a good outcome.
He would start with the people around him. For example, Eliza, for example... Utaha Kasumigaoka.
...
"Good afternoon, I am Rin Ito, the president of [Baumkuchen]."
After hanging up the phone, Rin Ito arranged to meet the three girls at a dessert shop near the school. When they saw Rin Ito, Megumi Kato and Utaha both looked surprised.
"I thought club presidents were usually older, but Ito-san looks so young," Megumi Kato said with a hint of quiet surprise.
"I'm just the president of a newly formed manga club, not the president of some large company." Rin Ito smiled, then became serious. "I don't have experience with GALGAMEs either. Just tell me what help you need, and I'll do my best to assist, as I'll also be gaining experience."
Oh, great... Utaha had thought Rin Ito was experienced in making GALGAMEs, but he was a beginner too. Rin Ito was also here to gain project experience. However... it was better than just the three of them.
"First, what kind of game do you want to make? All-ages or 18+?"
Utaha: "All-ages."
Eiri: "18+"
Utaha and Eiri spoke almost simultaneously, but their answers were nearly opposite. The two exchanged glances, sparks instantly flying.
"Utaha Kasumigaoka, we're competing on sales. Who is going to buy an all-ages game?! Naturally, 18+ sells more!"
"Eiri Sawamura, unlike those who sell illustrations and include toilet paper as a bonus, 18+ will only contaminate my script. Besides, a well-made all-ages game will still have an audience. I have confidence in my script. As for you, Eiri Sawamura... are your drawings only worth looking at if they include lewd content?"
"Hah? How can you say that! How can such a cute girl not be looked at? As for you... 18+ contaminating your script? Don't underestimate 18+! Hmph... You just can't write it, can you?"
"Eiri Sawamura..."
"Utaha Kasumigaoka!!!!"
Hiss... Rin Ito sucked in a cold breath. Wow, these two are something else. Rin Ito had expected their personalities to clash, but not this exaggerated... How in the heck are they going to make a game?
Rin Ito had planned to break even for the sake of publicity. Whether it was manga or GALGAME, releasing more content to get the name [Baumkuchen] out there and at least get noticed was the goal. And while he was at it, he wanted to see if he could kill two birds with one stone and recruit Utaha Kasumigaoka into the club.
The result now... Rin Ito was on the verge of tears.
"Calm down... calm down a little."
"Hmph..."
"Hmph!"
Rin Ito spoke, and the arguing pair finally quieted down slightly.
"Many clubs now sell their games online. We can sell the main game as an all-ages version, and then offer the 18+ part as DLC."
Hearing Rin Ito's suggestion, the two finally nodded and didn't continue arguing. If they had kept arguing, Rin Ito would have considered asking Eliza to write the script instead.
Sighing inwardly, Rin Ito continued to ask about related matters.
"You're the original artist, you're the scriptwriter, and you're the mascot."
"I'm the heroine," Megumi Kato added calmly.
"Mhm, fine, the heroine, Kato-san." Rin Ito sighed again and continued his confirmation. "Do you have any friends who can handle voice acting or music?"
Before the two could answer, Megumi Kato quietly said, "Mr. Ito, do they look like people who have friends?"
"Good point, then we skip that."
"Don't skip it! Of course we have friends! Hey! Utaha Kasumigaoka, you refute him!"
Seeing Utaha look away guiltily, Eiri immediately deflated. Although Eiri had the money to hire professional voice actors, the opposing team was working for love of the craft. Wouldn't hiring professionals be considered cheating?
"I'll ask Nanami if she's interested." If it were the working girl Nanami before, she wouldn't have been interested, being focused solely on working and saving for training classes, but Rin Ito was sure she'd be interested now.
"BGM... Forget it, I won't ask. You definitely don't have friends."
The two flushed but couldn't refute Rin Ito's words at all. However, Rin Ito didn't really have any friends who played music... Wait. Speaking of music, Rin Ito remembered seeing a girl with a guitar case who looked like Hitori Gotoh (Bocchi-chan) when he went to pick up Marin and Misaki after school. Maybe he could lure her over... Ahem, not lure, but help her make friends.
Rin Ito sighed. "In short, Eiri, you handle the original art. Utaha, you handle the script. I'll take care of the rest." Rin Ito's purpose this time was to recruit Utaha Kasumigaoka into the club and gain project experience. It was fine if it was tiring; he would gain more experience that way.
"Um... what about me?" It wasn't until Megumi Kato spoke that Rin Ito realized he had unconsciously ignored her again. However, Rin Ito truly didn't know what Megumi Kato could do.
"Hmm... Kato-san, you haven't played many GALGAMEs, have you?"
"Mhm... I've only heard him talk about some." Tomoya Aki had recommended some to her before, but he often talked about himself and sometimes used jargon, completely ignoring whether she could understand.
"In that case, Kato-san, your current job is to play several GALGAMEs, familiarize yourself with the various aspects of GALGAMEs, and then find a part that interests you."
"Okay."
"Then Eiri, send Kato-san some games to play tonight."
After distributing the work, Rin Ito was temporarily relieved. Even just being responsible for project management was this exhausting. Rin Ito could now understand how an editor felt when dealing with procrastinating writers. Deadlines were constantly broken, and the project schedule was repeatedly thrown off and rearranged, where one action affected everything.
If they procrastinated... then Rin Ito would have to turn into a demon like Editor Satou.