The moment they stepped out of Matsuoka Satoshi's house, Kobayashi Tetsu handed the list from his wallet to Iwata Satoru.
"We must recruit these people. They shouldn't refuse."
Iwata Satoru nodded, then cautiously observed Kobayashi Tetsu's expression.
"President, Matsuoka-kun..."
"It's fine, I understand." Kobayashi Tetsu clenched his fist, feeling a rare surge of determination.
I have to get this man today!
Despite his inner resolve, Kobayashi Tetsu said, "Since he refuses to come, even kowtowing three times and knocking nine times wouldn't help. I can't exactly drag him away and force him to work at Atlas."
A forced melon isn't sweet, after all! You can only drag away a beautiful girl, not a science and engineering guy.
Kobayashi Tetsu added, "Let's drop this for now. We'll start the job fair first."
Iwata Satoru lowered his gaze slightly, still feeling uneasy.
The longer he worked with Kobayashi Tetsu, the more he realized that Kobayashi always had a purpose. Now, Iwata Satoru could clearly see the strong intent behind Kobayashi Tetsu's repeated approaches to him and the dismissal of Tanimura Masahito.
The reason he felt no resentment was precisely because he was the one being valued.
And as it turned out, Tanimura Masahito's abilities were indeed quite mediocre. This proved that Kobayashi Tetsu had a keen eye for talent, and he was, of course, very proud of it.
But now, Kobayashi Tetsu had clearly expressed his intention to recruit Matsuoka Satoshi, yet he was saying that the matter ended here. Iwata Satoru simply couldn't be at ease.
He's not going to secretly hire the Yakuza to kidnap him and bring him here, is he?
Iwata Satoru sighed inwardly, thinking that Matsuoka Satoshi was likely doomed.
Moreover, Iwata Satoru believed that he would probably become an accomplice in kidnapping Matsuoka Satoshi.
Sakurai Masahiro was a high school student.
To be precise, he was a high school graduate who wore a traditional center-parted hairstyle, making him look both old and young at the same time.
Though his face looked young, his aura was that of an old man.
This was probably because Sakurai Masahiro was a self-taught programmer.
Born in 1970, Sakurai Masahiro was already twenty years old this year. Because he had transferred schools, he had been held back two years, which was why he had only just graduated from high school.
It was graduation season, but Sakurai Masahiro had no plans to attend university. Instead, he decided to go straight into the workforce.
He flipped through the newspaper's classifieds, where two headlines immediately caught his eye.
First: Namco had announced that the game they were developing would be renamed Legend of the Iga Ninja. It was set to be a story about the modern-day legacy of Iga ninjas, featuring ultra-high-speed action. The gameplay would involve relentless slashing and fighting, battling various foes while performing ninjutsu amidst towering skyscrapers.
"Tch. What a third-rate title for a third-rate game. You can tell just by looking at it—it's a blatant Ninja Gaiden ripoff!"
Sakurai sneered.
Ninja Gaiden was the best! Long live Atlus! May President Tetsu Kobayashi be healthy forever!
He turned to the next ad, and his eyes instantly glued themselves to the page.
Atlus Studio was recruiting for its Game Development Department. There were no academic requirements—only a demand for talent. The event was scheduled for a week away, perfectly timed with graduation season. The location: a specially rented venue on the 50th floor of the Shinjuku Mitsui Building.
Sakurai Masahiro shot to his feet.
It's like this was made just for me!
He ran a hand through his hair, studying his reflection in the mirror.
My skills aren't half bad!
Heh heh! I'm definitely getting into Atlas!
So, Sakurai Masahiro submitted his resume.
He'd only applied on a whim, but to his surprise, he received an interview invitation for a week later.
And today was the day. Sakurai Masahiro had actually donned a crisp, sharp suit for the occasion. But on his frame, it looked like a kid playing dress-up in his older cousin's clothes.
To keep his suit and hair pristine, he'd even taken a taxi to the Mitsui Building.
The fare was 10,000 yen! Insanely expensive!
Hearing his destination, the taxi driver, who spoke with a thick Osaka accent, chuckled. "What's up, young man? You heading there for the job fair too?"
"Eh?!"
A wave of dread washed over Sakurai Masahiro. "Just how many people are there?"
"Not many," the driver replied. "I've already made three trips from your neighborhood today."
Sakurai Masahiro nearly fainted on the spot.
Just how many people were there?!
He found out the answer soon enough.
There were so many people.
It felt like the place was absolutely swarming with applicants just like him.
Although Japan was currently in a "job-seeker's market" where many people prioritized banks, major corporations, and trading companies with strong advantages, the gaming industry itself was known for high benefits and high salaries. Besides, Atlas was already famous for its financial stability and outstanding titles.
In comparison, many people chose to ignore the fact that Atlas wasn't even a publicly traded company.
Sakurai Masahiro loosened his tie, feeling a wave of nervousness.
With so many people here, he was afraid he wouldn't even get his turn today!
Still, it's surprising, he thought. A company as big as Atlas still hasn't built its own headquarters and is still operating out of the Mitsui Building. What a humble company!
For an ordinary company, not having its own building would be considered shabby. But for Atlas, it was simply "humble."
Sakurai Masahiro walked into the lobby of the Mitsui Building, his heart pounding with anxiety. He spotted someone stationed by the turnstiles, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the Atlas logo—clearly an Atlas employee.
Sakurai approached and greeted the man, who returned the gesture.
"Are you here for an interview?" the employee asked. "Unfortunately, we don't have any spare room inside right now. But Atlas has covered the bills for all the food and drink vendors on the first floor. You're welcome to take a seat in any of them and enjoy some complimentary refreshments."
Sakurai was stunned. "W-w-what if I'm not here for an interview?"
The employee smiled. "You can still sit down, rest for a bit, and eat something."
"No, but I—" Sakurai stammered, his words tangling. "What if I'm just here to scrounge a free meal?"
This time, the employee couldn't help but laugh—a laugh that was a little mocking, a little reckless.
Scrounge a free meal?
Eat and drink all you want! As long as you don't take anything to go, how much could one person possibly eat? Atlas isn't short on money!
Sakurai Masahiro's heart hammered against his ribs as he took a seat at a restaurant called "Old Dixie." He couldn't shake the feeling of unease.
He knew Atlas was doing well, but this was too good! Could a company this prestigious really be hiring someone like him?
A waitress with flaxen hair and a beauty mark at the corner of her eye brought him a glass of ice water. Sakurai Masahiro quickly thanked her.
Looking around, he saw many other people who were likely here for the same reason—job interviews.
"Hey there, young man," someone called out casually, their tone bordering on arrogant. "Are you here to apply at Atlas too?"
"Uh, yes, that's right." Sakurai Masahiro's anxiety mounted. The man's formal suit made him feel like he'd stolen his own.
"I graduated from Nagoya University, you know! How about you?"
"I—"
Sakurai Masahiro tilted his head.
Nagoya University was a top-tier institution! While it might not compare to a place like Todai, it was still one of Japan's elite universities.
He, on the other hand, had graduated from the "Tokyo Electric Industry Vocational School."
In the neighboring country, there was another name for such a place.
A vocational secondary school.
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