One Round of A.S. with the Team
"First...?"
Lumine tilted her head down, mulling over my words like she was savoring them.
"Yeah, the first time."
My first art director—and graphic slave—in this world.
Lumine muttered with her head still bowed.
"...Together, the first time."
For some reason, her face flushed beet red. She stole a glance at me, then clenched her fist with grim determination and shouted.
"I'll do it! It's my... first time, after all!"
"Uh, yeah... sure."
But why was she staring at me so intensely, like it was some huge deal? I glanced sideways, and Melody was giving Lumine the same 'What's up with this girl?' look.
I cleared the awkward air and got to the point.
"Alright, first things first—you got an email?"
"Huh? Oh, email? Yeah, yeah!"
Lumine looked up at me with sparkling eyes, her lips curving into a grin.
'She's got real enthusiasm.'
This world had electronic mail just like back on Earth in my past life.
"Give me your address then. I'll send over the simple assets you need to work on."
"Yes! ...Huh?"
She answered energetically at first, then blinked in confusion. For a second, I wondered why.
'Oh, right.'
I hadn't told her the deadline was less than a month away.
I cleared my throat and explained the situation to Lumine.
"Truth is, our group project deadline is less than a month out."
"...Project?"
Lumine blinked at me like she couldn't process it.
"Yeah, the group project. Even if we grind on the framework starting now, time's super tight to make a submission-ready prototype. That's why I desperately need your art."
"......"
Lumine's face crumbled in real time. She stared at me with eyes full of betrayal, like she'd lost her country.
Her lips trembled, and then tears burst out as she yelled.
"Y-You demon, toying with this pure girl's heart! Give me back my resolve!"
...We were both totally thrown by her bawling and throwing a tantrum like a kid.
""Wait, why?!""
"Just give it back!!!"
...It took forever of her crying before we finally managed to drop her off at the women's dorm.
"Sniff!"
"Anyway, draw up some sketches quick and send 'em over. We gotta start working ASAP."
"You casanova!"
Lumine wailed right up until she disappeared into the dorm. We sighed and looked at each other.
"Wanna head out?"
"...Yeah."
Melody nodded. Just before we split at the fork, she stopped and muttered casually.
"Senior Lewis... Thanks."
"For what?"
I turned back, but Melody had already half-turned away, hurriedly averting her gaze. Her hair partially hid her cheek.
"Nothing. Just... thanks for finding an art director."
"Kinda anticlimactic. Get home and rest up. Tomorrow we all grind hard."
"...Yeah. See you tomorrow."
"Cool."
With that final goodbye, we each headed to our apartments.
* * *
As soon as day broke, we met at a small cafe.
"Poo... "
I spotted Lumine already there, slurping a sweet frappuccino, and asked right away.
"Sketches done?"
"All done, you casanova!"
"Lemme see..."
I carefully flipped through the bundle of sketches she handed over.
"Pretty. High quality."
"...Praise won't get you anywhere!"
Lumine snapped back sharply, dark circles heavy under her eyes, sucking on her straw. She'd said "just one round" last night, but clearly she'd pulled an all-nighter gaming.
'Gotta poly these down into models.'
"What're you staring at?"
"Nothing."
I didn't say more to her curt reply.
'Poly work's on her anyway.'
Graphic arts major—she should handle basics easy. But there was one issue.
Just as I was about to point it out, someone approached the cafe.
"Oh, Senior Lewis. You're earlier than I thought."
"Better knock out work quick."
Melody walked in, her hair frizzy from tinkering with the engine all night.
"So, how's our new member's draft?"
"Wanna see?"
I casually passed her Lumine's sketches. Melody scanned them calmly, nodding.
"Thought she only drew hentai well, but her normal stuff's pro level too. Good eye, Senior Lewis."
"Right? She's legit good."
Ahem! Lumine puffed up at Melody's praise. Underground illustrator or not, real face-to-face compliments hit different.
Melody set the sketches back on the table, furrowing her brow slightly.
"But there's one problem, right?"
"Yeah. One fatal flaw."
Lumine finally couldn't take the cryptic exchange and asked.
"What the heck's the issue?"
"They're too good."
I said shortly.
"Too good's the problem? What kinda nonsense is that?"
Lumine tilted her head, baffled. No coloring yet, but the skeletons and details were top-notch.
"We got less than a month."
"I heard that yesterday."
Lumine grumbled. Melody pushed the sketches toward her.
"No time for fancy pretty characters."
"No way!"
Lumine grabbed her drawings, yelling like it was an injustice.
"I drew these last night between queue times for real... "
"I get it. Artists wanna draw cool, pretty stuff—natural."
"Poo."
Lumine pouted in complaint, but no helping it.
Melody called her firmly.
"Lumine."
"What."
Her lip half-stuck out, face sour.
"Rough out the basic character models."
"...Huh? No thanks?"
"Not about your tastes. Resources. No time to rig and test skeletons if we pretty up base skin polys—what's the point?"
"Ugh, seriously? Done talking?"
Lumine bristled, raising her voice.
"Isn't this just Melody-senpai blaming my coding skills 'cause it'll lag?!"
"...Hah. You got zero sense of reality?"
Sizzle! Sparks flew in their glares.
'Oh crap!'
Before a full blowup, I jumped between them.
"Chill. This is a cafe."
"......"
They finally eased their angry faces. But Lumine looked at me expectantly.
"Senior Lewis wants pretty, cool skins, right?"
"Yeah. But Melody's right for now."
"Huh?"
Lumine teared up, betrayed by my siding with Melody.
"We were gonna make the best first time together, and now you betray me..."
"Whoa, calm down. Time crunch aside, base skins are supposed to be ugly by default."
"Huh?"
Lumine blinked blankly. I patted her aggrieved shoulder, preaching capitalism.
"Resources too, but key point: this is a game."
"Right."
"But we eat via games. Pretty characters boost polish, sure—but how do we make money? Can't give users everything perfect for free."
"...Ah!"
Lumine finally got it, nodding a bit.
"Base skins rough 'em up. Your original sketches—we remake later."
"How...?"
"As paid skins."
I grinned.
"Pretty, skimpy ones as 'limited skins' later. That's how you raid wallets. Pretty skins are prime monetization."
"......"
Lumine eyed me devilishly but still teary over it. Melody just shrugged.
"But my babies..."
I slyly coaxed the still-watery-eyed Lumine.
"Plus, if you want users to love your characters more, this is better."
"Huh?"
She blinked, but as lead director—and hardcore gamer—I knew.
"Real user love comes when they pay. Dump it all free upfront? They won't value it."
I spotted the small accessory on her wrist—clearly subculture anime merch.
"That merch on your wrist. Freebie or your blood money?"
"Obviously my money... Gasp!"
"You love it more 'cause you paid. Users same. Make 'em open wallets, and they treat characters like their own kids."
"...S-Such profound wisdom?!"
Her eyes changed. She fully bought in.
"Senior Lewis, you're amazing... Love comes from money—perfect philosophy!"
"No biggie."
Anyway, issue settled. But post-fight vibe still awkward. Lumine and Melody's glances weren't friendly.
'Can't dive into work like this. One round of A.S. to break the ice.'
I spotted a Crystal Orb facility—like a PC bang from my past life.
"Alright, before we grind..."
I pointed casually.
"How about one round of A.S. to kick things off?"