Game Developer in the World of Anime

Unlocking the door to the studio with a key, Ichin and Hazuki walked inside.

Inside the studio, everyone—including Utaha, who often wrote her drafts here—was wearing headphones and working diligently. Just like before, no one noticed the new arrivals.

It wasn't until the two approached the workspace that Aoba and Momiji, who were seated near the outer area, noticed them.

Aoba removed her headphones and greeted them cheerfully, "Welcome back, Ichin-kun, Hazuki-chan! How did it go?"

One after another, the others also noticed their return and stopped what they were doing to look over.

Ichin pulled a folder from his bag, waved it slightly, and smiled. "Great news! Slay the Spire will release a Nintendo Switch-exclusive digital version alongside the official PC launch. Also, Hollow Knight has been selected for the Nintendo Indie Showcase during Gamescom, and it will be a featured highlight! So, we've got a new task ahead—creating a promotional PV and a 15-minute playable demo for on-site experiences."

The room fell silent after Ichin finished speaking.

The Nintendo Switch version of Slay the Spire was something everyone had expected. After Umiko optimized the porting process, touch controls, and frame rates, they had been confident it would land on the platform—it was practically guaranteed.

However, the announcement about Gamescom left everyone in stunned disbelief.

Aoba swallowed nervously and glanced at her teammate, Sakura Nene.

"Nene, Gamescom… That's the Gamescom, right?"

"There's only one Gamescom, isn't there?" Nene replied, equally astonished. She tugged on Umiko's sleeve. "Umiko, is this for real?"

Umiko, though a bit calmer, couldn't hide the surprise in her eyes. She turned to Ichin and asked, "Didn't you mention the Tokyo Game Show before?"

"That's still happening too," Ichin said with a grin. "But when the opportunity for Gamescom came up, they asked if we'd like to participate. While it's not finalized, the quality of our work has already caught Nintendo's attention."

Although Hollow Knight is a 2D Metroidvania game, its visuals, combat mechanics, and fluid animations have been crafted with exceptional care. Even in its current early demo stage, the gameplay feels highly polished.

While action games like Hollow Knight don't have the same accessibility barriers as a card-based game like Slay the Spire, they still cater to a broad audience. Coupled with the exposure at both Gamescom and the Tokyo Game Show, the game has the potential to achieve excellent sales.

Clapping his hands to refocus the team, Ichin said with a smile, "It's all confirmed, so there's no need to doubt. You're all outstanding developers, and this result is something you've earned. But this is no time to relax—our real challenge begins now. Everyone, continue with your current tasks. Regarding Gamescom, I'll adjust our development priorities shortly. Some of the later-stage art assets can wait; let's focus on polishing the demo content first. Umiko, Rin, let's have a meeting."

With that, Ichin called Umiko and Rin to the adjacent lounge area to begin a small meeting.

Hazuki returned to her seat, stretched lazily, and glanced at Utaha, who was still typing away at her keyboard. With a smile, she asked, "Utaha-chan, Ichin-kun didn't even say a word to you when he got back. Aren't you upset?"

"Not at all," Utaha replied, her hands never leaving the keyboard, her smile calm. "Hazuki-chan, you've known Ichin for a long time. Once he sets his mind on something, he gets completely absorbed in it. Besides, he's right—our studio's workload is going to be intense for a while. There's no point in acting like some bitter housewife and complaining. I just need to help him when he needs it, right?

"Our work styles are the same. We both immerse ourselves completely in what we do. I understand Ichin, and he understands me. That's how we both are."

Hazuki couldn't help but show a look of admiration.

"The relationship you two have… it's really enviable. Listening to you makes me feel like I want to fall in love too."

"Then go find someone," Utaha said with a chuckle. "With your looks and skills, there's no way you wouldn't find an amazing boyfriend."

"That's easy to say." Resting her chin on her hands, Hazuki sighed. "But I don't want to be tied down. Living freely like this is so nice. I'm not ready to give that up just yet."

"Everyone has different priorities. Who knows? You might change your mind later," Utaha replied, saving her draft after reviewing a few paragraphs. "I used to think the same way, that I wouldn't meet someone I liked anytime soon. But sometimes, things just happen suddenly. It hasn't even been that long, and here I am, already dating Ichin."

"Which is why I'm so envious," Hazuki said wistfully. "Meeting someone you like at the right time—it's amazing."

After a moment of reflection, Hazuki straightened up and said, "Alright, let's not dwell on this. I'm still young, so there's no need to rush. I'll just focus on work for now."

---

Half an hour later, Ichin finished his meeting with Umiko and Rin and returned to the workspace.

Settling back at his desk, he handed out the updated task assignments to his team. Then, moving his chair, he rolled over to sit beside Utaha.

On her screen, the third volume of her novel already had a considerable amount of new content, proof that her creativity was flowing effortlessly today.

Utaha noticed Ichin's presence and turned her head slightly, speaking softly, "What is it, Ichin?"

"Nothing much. I just haven't seen you all day," Ichin replied quietly. "How about we go out for dinner tonight? Afterward, we can take a walk."

"Sure, but why the sudden suggestion?"

"Well, between school and work here, I've been busy nonstop these past few days," Ichin said, gazing into her eyes as he gently took her hand. "Now that the discussions with Nintendo have reached a preliminary conclusion, I can finally spend some quality time with you."

Utaha's smile grew even brighter at his words.

Compared to when they had first started dating, Ichin had become much more proactive, which made her incredibly happy.

What Ichin didn't anticipate, however, was that Ko Yagami, seated nearby, wasn't wearing her headphones and overheard everything. She immediately leaned over and teased, "I thought with all the success today—getting Slay the Spire on the Nintendo Switch and securing a spot at Gamescom—you'd treat us all to a celebratory dinner, Ichin-kun."

Ichin shot her an exasperated look. "You guys can sort out dinner yourselves. Whether it's takeout or a nice restaurant, go ahead and eat well. I'll reimburse you. Is that good enough, Ko-chan?"

"Perfect! Thanks, boss!" Ko grinned, giving him a thumbs-up before dragging Rin into a lively discussion about what to eat for dinner.

...

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