Game Market 1983

Two days later.

As the aftershocks settled down, and the focus shifted towards rescue efforts in the affected areas...

I voluntarily gathered around twenty staff members from Pentagon and headed to the site.

Originally, I had planned to wait at least a week or ten days for things to stabilize a bit before coming here, but due to 'personal' circumstances overlapping, our schedule got pushed forward.

"Director! Over here!"

As we arrived in the severely affected Awa region due to the recent earthquake, a familiar voice greeted us from a distance.

"Huh? Kaori?"

"Wow, Chief Morita is here too!"

As our delighted employees started stepping out of their cars, Kaori approached us with an almost tearful expression. Behind her, Hayashi, wearing a headscarf, smiled weakly as she glanced at me.

"You didn't have to rush like this..."

"Still, when a colleague's parents are injured, we've got to come as quickly as possible. How's your mother?"

"While escaping the collapsing house, she got her leg trapped, but thankfully, apart from that, she's not seriously injured."

"Really? That's a relief..."

"But the house I've lived in since childhood has completely crumbled. Haha~"

Hayashi, who had been assisting in recovery efforts, had traces of soot on her face here and there. Following her guidance, we made our way to the middle school gym where the evacuees were gathered.

The devastation was far more severe than what we had seen on TV, making everyone, including our staff, start uttering words of disbelief.

"This... this isn't a joke, right?"

Miyazaki, who had come out to support the rescue operations from Pentagon's shop, gulped audibly while observing the 119 rescue team working amidst the debris.

"Are we just getting in the way by being here?"

To that concern, Kaori, walking alongside her, responded, "It's okay, Miyazaki. Our task here isn't rescue operations."

Ever since they bonded during last year's CES event, these two had grown so close that they often seemed like siblings. Especially after work, they would rush to Pentagon's shop, where Miyazaki, despite not being an official salesperson, was quite popular among customers, thanks to her friendly nature.

Pentagon ran an exclusive premium shop and had a fairly open distribution model compared to other gaming companies. Besides, they regularly hosted unique events within the shop. In fact, had it not been for this earthquake, they had plans for a gala show themed around 'Gift from the Gods' at the end of February.

"Looks like our schedule's taken a hit. It's becoming tricky to align with the release date for Complete Laon. Releasing a new product while the whole nation is in mourning? It might backfire... "

But my concerns were relatively light compared to other companies during this time.

'Complete Laon' had garnered significant attention from gamers since last year, so even if its release was delayed a bit, it wouldn't cause much impact...

However, it was a different story for smaller companies.

Especially concerning 'Doomed City,' a survival adventure game scheduled for release next month through Laon. Unfortunately, its theme was 'earthquakes.'

As a CEO, I believed it was the right decision, but considering the company's finances, it posed a significant risk. To have a game worked on for a year end up shelved without seeing the light of day, it was truly a regrettable situation.

Later, as we distributed relief supplies alongside Hayashi and Kaori, we were approached by a middle-aged man who seemed to be a representative of the evacuees.

"Thank you for coming. Water was in dire need..."

"You seem quite worried due to the sudden disaster. We brought what we thought was immediately necessary, but if there's anything more needed, please tell us."

"Thank you for your concern. By the way, may I have a business card?"

After handing him my card, the representative looked at it and then asked, "You're a director. Your name seems rather unique... are you Korean?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"In a foreign land, to come forward for volunteer work like this, I'm truly grateful."

"I'll leave the distribution to my colleagues now."

"Yes, we'll also help."

And so, we continued our assistance in the relief efforts, trying to aid those affected by the devastating earthquake.

...

Throughout the morning, the staff from Pentagon, laden with supplies and food, hurriedly prepared lunch alongside the elderly evacuees, donning aprons to assist.

Given the constraints of providing a proper meal to so many people solely through the mobile kitchen facilities, they settled for a simple fare of cream stew and bread.

Yet even with just that, the assembled crowd in the hall showered gratitude with applause and thankful gestures.

Observing those having their meals for a moment, I left the hall to catch up with Hayashi for a conversation.

Coincidentally, some Pentagon employees, busy transporting relief items and grabbing a quick bite, stood up awkwardly upon noticing me.

"Don't mind me. Keep eating. You've all worked hard."

"Thank you for your hard work too, sir. Have you had your meal?"

"Yeah, had a quick bite with some bread earlier."

Among the Pentagon staff, many from the second development team, who had volunteered to come here, were familiar faces I had known for a while. Well, considering Hayashi's the team leader now since our boss changed, it's natural for them to follow.

But strangely, I couldn't spot Hayashi's face among them.

"Do you happen to know where Hayashi is?"

"I heard he went to see his parents at the school for a bit."

Ah... No wonder I didn't spot any injured folks in the shelter. Those affected by the disaster must be at the school. fr(e)enovelkiss.com

After advising the staff to finish their meals, I headed towards the school building across the field. However, not long after, our eyes met while Hayashi was seated on a bench smoking a cigarette near the school entrance. I smiled faintly and approached, leaning against the bench.

"How are your parents?"

"They're okay. But among the neighbors we knew, some got injured badly, and a few didn't make it back. It feels empty."

With a bitter expression, Hayashi brought the cigarette to his lips.

I patted his shoulder, offering words of comfort, then stood up. Perhaps he needed some time alone...

Three days into the massive earthquake...

The rescue teams tirelessly moved, aiming to save lives that might still be out there.

As I'd heard from the representative for the evacuees, barely a tenth of the people living here were at the shelter in the hall. The list of missing persons attached to the shelter had an alarming number of names, making me feel uneasy.

While heading back towards the hall, pondering whether to check the situation outside, I noticed a child sitting alone on a swing in the schoolyard.

Worrying about the kid who seemed drained, I approached and asked, "Why are you here alone?"

Raising their head at my voice, the child, with a bowed head, opened up, "My brother's gone..."

"Your brother?"

"When the earthquake happened, my parents were trying to get out with me and my brother. But suddenly, the room where my brother was collapsed..."

"Oh... Are your parents...?"

"They went back to our home. They want to find my brother..."

"Don't worry too much. If you wait a bit, the rescue team will surely find your brother."

Hearing this, the child's shoulders slightly perked up.

"Sob... If I knew it would be like this, when my brother wanted to play games, I would've let him... I got mad for nothing..."

"Did you argue with your brother?"

Wiping tears with their sleeve, the child nodded sadly.

"Originally... that day was when my brother was supposed to play games, but I kept insisting... sniff..."

The child shed tears, regretting the events of that day.

Comforting the kid by patting their head for a moment, I reassured them, "Don't worry too much. Your brother will be okay... Alright? If by any chance you find your brother today, ask those people in the hall over there and come to me. I'll give you both a nice gift. Deal?"

After calming down and nodding, the child took my business card and the bread I had and I continued on.

"This situation is more serious than I thought..."

On my way back to the hall, considering a glance at the situation outside, I stepped into the disaster zone.

Suddenly, the voices of rescue workers warning civilians not to leave the school echoed, making me pause.

"Please don't go outside yet, it's not safe."

"Okay. I'll just take a quick look around and come back."

Walking slowly along the long stretch of the road in front of the school, I saw rubble from collapsed houses scattered around, along with various belongings that had been flung away, including a shattered portable game console, possibly a Nintendo Game Boy.

Kneeling to pick it up, I sighed softly, pressing the power button.

Ding...

Oh... It's working? Even though I couldn't find where the game cartridge had gone, the device was functioning.

It's been a while since Kamauichi and Gunpei threw this so confidently on the floor; well, they did a good job building it back then, along with me...

As I chuckled at the old memory, trying to stand up, I noticed a Laon's cartridge case beneath my feet.

"Huh...? Isn't this Dragon Emblem 1?"

Come to think of it, all the debris around here seems to be only game cartridges. What's going on?

But my curiosity was swiftly answered by a man nearby, distressed and muttering to himself.

"Oh no... this is bad. What's happening after just a week of opening the shop...?"

>

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