"Waaah… "
After returning from Pokeni's recording studio, Ms. Kawakami Tomoko cried alone in the lounge.
At first, not many people noticed, or perhaps no one heard her at all.
After a while, Noriko Ohara, returning from outside, entered the lounge and saw Kawakami's swollen eyes, realizing that the child had been crying.
Noriko Ohara was considered a super senior in the voice acting industry, the original voice actress for Nobita in doraemon, and also the cornerstone and treasure of the voice acting agency named Production Baobab.
Seeing her junior crying, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
Rather than feeling that she had come at the wrong time and seen something she shouldn't have, her concern for her junior took precedence.
So Ohara tried to hand Kawakami a tissue and asked, "Did something upset you?"
Her senior was very caring.
This was Kawakami's consistent impression of her.
Because in such situations, many colleagues, though concerned, would mostly ask, "Are you okay?"
Often, at such times, as a junior, one could only reluctantly reply, "I'm fine."
But Ohara didn't ask that; instead, she directly asked, "Did something upset you?"
This way, as a junior, she could open up.
Kawakami's mouth drooped, and she almost started crying again.
It was as if sadness permeated the very air she breathed.
"Mmm-hmm~"
Kawakami Tomoko shook her head, "It's not really being upset; it's just the content of today's performance… In the very end, the plot was so heartbreaking and touching that I broke down and cried on the spot.
I haven't recovered yet.
How should I put it?"
Kawakami Tomoko's nose was red, and she dabbed it with a tissue, her brows etched with sadness.
"Just thinking about it gives me a strong urge to cry."
Originally, he had wanted to continue collaborating with Kotono Mitsuishi, but Mitsuishi had no availability, reportedly working on voice acting for an animated film that was about to be released.
Compared to games, the main business of animation was, of course, a bit more important.
Especially since the Director of this animated film was quite famous.
In fact, Aoki Haruhi knew without being told that the name of this animation was "neon genesis evangelion."
There was no other way; he had to find someone else.
After trying many people, Aoki Haruhi finally settled on Kawakami Tomoko.
Because in to the moon, the female protagonist River needed such a voice—
That delicate blend of strength within fragility, and the subtle, fiery emotions hidden beneath an introverted and solitary exterior, was interpreted quite accurately by Tomoko.
"Ah~ I see."
Hearing her words, Noriko Ohara felt relieved instead.
"Being able to empathize with the character and immerse yourself in it further shows that you, Tomoko, are a very good, emotionally rich, and delicate voice actress."
At the same time, Ohara thought—
So the industry rumors are true.
Pokeni's galgames are particularly tear-jerking, especially for female voice actresses; after taking on work for Pokeni, they often can't move past the sadness for a long time.
How terrifying… In late August, Maeda Jun submitted his answer sheet.
Aoki Haruhi took a look and couldn't help but gasp.
On the first page of the new script proposal submitted by Ma-ko, the title "AIR" was written in large letters.
Aoki Haruhi couldn't help but fall into a brief contemplation.
Should he call it a coincidence, or the convergence of timelines?
This guy actually still created "AIR," and, coincidentally, Kawakami Tomoko, the voice actress for the female protagonist in "to the moon," which the company had just finished developing, was also the voice actress for the female protagonist Kamio Misuzu in AIR in his previous life.
It was truly astonishing.
Aoki Haruhi had not actually played the game AIR, but he had watched the AIR anime.
The theme of the story was "hope and inheritance," telling a legend of winged people spanning a thousand years.
A young man, Kunisaki Yukito, who knew "magic" and made a living performing puppets, one day arrived at a seaside town and met Kamio Misuzu.
Kunisaki Yukito and his ancestors had always been searching for a girl with wings in the sky, and after spending time with Misuzu, he discovered that Misuzu might be the girl he was looking for... However, Misuzu carried a curse from a thousand years ago, a curse that brought misfortune to anyone who came close to her, and also brought misfortune to Misuzu herself.
In short, the anime was very touching, and together with Kanon and CL, it was known as Key's tear-jerking trilogy, and also one of Maeda Jun's breakthrough works that year. The great success of this anime propelled Maeda Jun to the throne of the Tear-jerking Demon King.
Aoki Haruhi had actually been quite looking forward to Maeda Jun writing such a work.
When it actually arrived, Aoki Haruhi was truly caught off guard.
His little heart pounded wildly.
Hmm, this way, Maeda Jun's tear-jerking arsenal would have two very important pieces of the puzzle.
However, when Aoki Haruhi opened and read a section of the content, he realized that it was not like that at all.
In the story Maeda Jun submitted now, the setting was that a girl from the future suddenly appeared in the male protagonist's life.
And a series of stories unfolded around the conflict between the two of them.
Aoki Haruhi was utterly exasperated, wishing he could beat Maeda Jun up.
Are you crazy?
"Why would a story like this be named AIR?"
Maeda Jun was scolded severely and felt very wronged. He was like a kitten whose head had been patted, continuously retracting his neck backward.
"President, you have to read to the end," Maeda Jun said pitifully.
Aoki Haruhi patiently flipped through the pages.
"So?"
I'm truly seeing a ghost; there's nothing in here related to the sky, wings, or anything like that, okay?
"The sky has the symbolic meaning of infinite extension and carrying all dreams. I actually wanted to apply the artistic conception of Tagore's poem: The sky has no shadow of wings, but I have flown," Maeda Jun said.
"Hmm… that seems to make sense too."
Aoki Haruhi folded his arms, and after listening to Maeda Jun's explanation, his anger had subsided by more than half.
After calming down and thinking for a moment, Maeda Jun's proposal was actually quite good. Although some of the settings might seem a bit old-fashioned to a seasoned connoisseur like Aoki Haruhi.
However, the current year is 1995, and there is still a lot of room for development. Many players have not yet seen such settings.
Coupled with Maeda Jun's delicate brushwork and dramatic plot, it might actually achieve good results.
If CL and LL expressed more about family and love, then Maeda Jun's new work would be to return everything to the original intention of galgame, which is love.
It's just that these loves seem a bit convoluted and full of legendary color.
"Alright."
Aoki Haruhi nodded slightly, indicating his agreement to the game's proposal.
"But, I have only one request: please do not use the name 'AIR.'"
"Eh? Why not?"
Maeda Jun, who had been unusually happy, had the light in his eyes dim upon hearing this sentence.
"Hmm… let's be more direct. Let's call it 'Future Girl.'"
I can't exactly say that I'm saving this name for another work, can I?
"But wouldn't that be too direct? The targeting is too strong, which would make the other several [female protagonists] seem very dull instead."
"Hmm… that's true to some extent."
Aoki Haruhi folded his arms and pondered for two seconds.
"How about this: don't just have one female protagonist from the future; add a few more."
"Eh?" Maeda Jun was greatly surprised… The two discussed for an afternoon, and the general plan was mostly settled. The remaining work was left to Maeda Jun to continue refining, and after some time, he would bring out a new plan… September 27th.
The Tokyo Game Show officially began.
As it was the first world-class large-scale game exhibition held in Japan, this exhibition appeared grand and impressive.
Just looking at the list of participating game manufacturers showed its significance:
Sony, as the organizer, would certainly participate.
Then there were Konami, Capcom, Koei, Square… Pokeni.
This game exhibition attracted players from all over the country, and even the world.
For players within Japan, this was truly an unprecedented opportunity to see an independent exhibition specifically for games held domestically.
More precisely, electronic entertainment products.
Because the exhibited content included not only new games brought by various manufacturers but also Sony's own consoles and corresponding hardware devices, peripherals, headphones, external memory, and so on… The Electronic Entertainment Association organized the Tokyo Game Show with the aim of revitalizing the game industry.
In principle, all game works and game companies could participate.
As long as they passed the review of the rating committee.
Manufacturers of home games, or console games, are the main members of our association, but it is not limited to that.
In addition to games, game consoles, and game-related hardware devices, merchandise is also an important component of the exhibition, so merchandise manufacturers can also participate… The first Tokyo Game Show was truly lively.
And it also had a very grand theme: [Feel it: The ninth art!]
Thanks to Famitsu's reports, the term "ninth art" has now become popular, even becoming synonymous with games.
This time, the organizers took the opportunity to further promote the concept of the ninth art.
The participating companies almost brought out all their hidden treasures, partly to support the Tokyo Game Show, and partly to gain more exposure at this large-scale electronic exhibition.
Previously, they used to go to the United States to participate in their game shows or consumer electronics shows; this time, it was right on their doorstep, in Tokyo.
So, for game manufacturers, besides profits, there was also a tiny bit of honor and pride involved.
At this exhibition, Konami brought "Suikoden" and "Metal Gear Solid" (Metal Gear, also known as Metal Gear Solid)… Capcom brought "street fighter ZERO2" and the latest developed "3D Mega Man" demo… In short, major companies almost brought out all their prized possessions.
Many novel and highly anticipated, yet familiar, games truly offered a feast for the eyes.
The demo areas for these popular games were always packed with people.
However, one company left its fans quite disappointed. The name of this company was—
Pokeni.
Because this time, Pokeni only had one game participating in the exhibition.
"Nani?!"
"Pokeni only brought one game?!"
"It feels like they're not being very sincere, doesn't it?"
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