The Fair and Square Competition (2)

Inside the president's office at Sega, Nakayama was, for once, displaying his full capabilities. "Thank you so much for making the time." The head of the Programming Planning Bureau at JTV, one of Japan's major television channels, bowed his head toward Nakayama. Under normal circumstances, there would be no reason for them to meet, and if anything, Nakayama would be the one bowing. But this time, it was different. The weapon Sega held was simply too formidable.

"Thank you for coming all this way. You didn't have any trouble with traffic, did you?" Nakayama accepted the other man's gratitude naturally, and Yoshiki, the bureau chief, nodded. "Yes, there were no problems at all. Perhaps it’s a sign that things will go well today; the roads were completely clear."

"That’s a relief. Would you like some ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠coffee? Or perhaps juice?" Nakayama had no need to rush into the main topic, so the conversation continued to drift around the edges. However, Yoshiki, who was clearly in the position of the 'subordinate' at this moment, couldn't complain. Thus, he kept a smile plastered across his face. "Ah, anything is fine for me."

"Hmm... now I’m worried about what I should offer you..." At Nakayama’s subtle jab, Yoshiki was startled and waved his hands frantically. "A-ah, then please, juice. Juice is perfect."

"Understood." Nakayama used the intercom to order juice from his secretary, and a moment later, it was placed on the table. "Thank you, I’ll enjoy it."

"Don't mention it, it’s just juice. By the way..." As Nakayama broached the subject, Yoshiki lifted his head abruptly, thinking the moment had finally arrived. But the conversation that followed was entirely different from his expectations. "The weather is truly lovely today. On a day like this, I’d love to pack a lunch and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠go to the park with my family."

Yoshiki felt a surge of irritation at the completely unexpected remark, but as expected, he couldn't show his anger. After all, he had come today under the special orders of a superior even higher than himself.

Normally, Yoshiki would be the one receiving heavy lobbying from corporations. But today, he had to act like a fawning new recruit in front of Nakayama. "That’s a wonderful idea. If you don't mind, how about an outing to a golf course? There’s a course I frequent often; you could enjoy a picnic there with your family."

"Ho-ho, that’s a great idea. Come to think of it, I went golfing with the directors the other day and..." Nakayama kept the small talk going to the point where one could only describe it as 'extraordinary,' and Yoshiki, for his part, endured the delay in getting to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the point in a way that truly earned the word 'tenacious.'

However, it was ultimately Yoshiki’s position that required him to bring up the main topic first. After two whole hours of catering to Nakayama's whims, Yoshiki laboriously brought up his purpose. "While I was riding in the car coming here today, I noticed the lines at every game store were incredibly long."

"Is that so?" Contrary to Yoshiki's intent, Nakayama showed a disinterested reaction.

"Yes, surely that’s all for people trying to buy the Super Genesis, isn't it? The momentum of the Super Genesis these days is truly immense." Yet, Nakayama remained indifferent. "I doubt that. It must be lines to buy Nintendo or Atari products."

At Nakayama’s shrug, Yoshiki felt like cursing out loud. But what could he do? He was the one who needed something. So, Yoshiki maintained his smile, pouring all his professional experience into it. "Oh, come now, it’s obviously all for the Super Genesis. Thanks to the raffle tickets, people trying to buy the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Genesis have spread across the entire country."

"That’s all because of the protagonist's bracelet raffle tickets, isn't it?" Yoshiki shook his head vigorously. "That can't be it. While it’s true that the Super Genesis sold out at stores with raffle tickets, I understand that the Genesis is also being distributed quite well in stores without them."

"Is that so?"

'What do you want me to do when you keep answering me like that!' Yoshiki felt like he was going to explode from frustration, but since the conversation was indeed heading toward the 'main topic' he wanted, he desperately suppressed the throbbing in his temples and kept smiling. "Yes, that is correct. That is why I am here right now. I would very much like for you to grant us the exclusive broadcasting rights for the upcoming Sega Sonic Festival."

"Granting the broadcasting rights isn't difficult, but..." For a moment, Yoshiki’s face brightened. "I’m quite taken aback, as I didn't expect you to show this much interest." Feeling that the conversation was finally going well, Yoshiki began to speak without the irritation he felt earlier. "Isn't that obvious? It is estimated that the number of Super Genesis units currently in Japan exceeds 3 million. This is a record-breaking figure!"

Although the category was different, the record for the Galaxy series of mobile phones in Korea was 3 million units sold in two months. While mobile phones are essential for modern people, the Super Genesis was a luxury item. In that sense, the speed at which the Super Genesis was selling was a pace that wouldn't be surprising even if it were listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

"It certainly is selling well." Seeing Nakayama nod, Yoshiki began to approach him with a more subtle attitude. "Furthermore, isn't the prize money $100,000, the largest in Japanese history? It is certain to be the largest 'game festival' in Japan that has ever existed. And our JTV has the capability to successfully broadcast such a festival nationwide." Pride was written clearly across Yoshiki’s face as he puffed out his chest.

"JTV’s broadcasting capability is certainly reliable."

"That is correct. Our broadcasting capability and Sega’s festival. If the two combine, there will be a tremendous synergistic effect."

"Hmm..." As Nakayama appeared to be deep in thought, Yoshiki took a document out of his briefcase and handed it to him. "These are the conditions we have brought. I can confidently say they are the best in the industry, so please review them and sign."

At Yoshiki’s words, Nakayama extended his arm. "Ah! Thank..." Yoshiki, thinking Nakayama was about to sign, tried to hand over the document, but Nakayama’s hand was shaped for a 'handshake.' "I will review the documents and hope to bring you good news."

Seeing Nakayama’s bright smile, Yoshiki felt a bit disappointed, but he immediately reached out to reciprocate the handshake. "I look forward to it."

"Of course. As I said just now, I am very well aware of JTV’s capabilities." The start had been difficult, but it seemed the finish was decent enough. Thus, Yoshiki left Sega’s office with a relieved and joyful heart. However.

"Whew, exhausting." Nakayama also let out a deep sigh, as he hadn't spent two hours talking because he enjoyed it. Delaying the time was one of his strategies to make the other parties anxious. Since there were several broadcasting stations that had come to secure the exclusive rights, Nakayama was using this method to deduce the situation of his opponents.

Click-! The sound of a drawer echoed softly. Nakayama took out the documents brought by other stations and spread them out on his desk. 'As of now, JTV has the best conditions.' However, Nakayama had no intention of contacting them first. Because the desperate parties would eventually reach out again with even better terms.

'Their broadcasting capabilities aren't that different anyway. If so, the best move is to sign with the one that offers the best conditions and sets the highest penalties in case of broadcasting issues, right?' If Korea had Ma Seok-il, Japan had Nakayama.

Advertisements were playing endlessly on the TVs in the electronics district. It was none other than the commercial for the Sega Sonic Festival. The flashy ad with the JTV logo stamped on the top right of the screen was enough to catch the eyes of passersby, and the $100,000 figure captured the hearts of even those who hadn't been interested. The evidence that their hearts were captured was the number of people visiting game stores countless times.

"Boss, about that ad on the display TV over there. Is the prize money for that Sega Sonic Festival thing really $100,000?" The store owner, asked by a man in his 20s, nodded. "That's right. First place is $70,000, second is $20,000, and third is $5,000, I think? And there are small prizes for the winners of each region, too." The owner’s attitude wasn't very kind. Because the person asking was a young man in his 20s.

"Ah, I should have been born just one year later!" The sight of the young man stomping his feet in regret was happening all over the country. Because $70,000 was by no means a small amount of money, and they thought winning a game tournament would be easy. However, there were also people who were happy despite being adults. They were the married people with children.

"Give me a Super Genesis and Sonic!" The sight of people shouting for the Super Genesis and Sonic the moment they entered the store also became a common sight nationwide. It was a massive trend. Many customers could only buy them if they had a raffle ticket, but perhaps because of the news of the Sega Sonic Festival, customers who bought them even without raffle tickets began to appear.

However, there were definitely those who despaired in this situation. "Welcome. What can I get for you?" The store owner showed extreme kindness with a bright smile at the sight of a woman in her 30s who had brought her 9-year-old child.

"Su, su, su..., what was it again?"

"Ah, the Super Genesis?" The woman smiled broadly and nodded. "Yes, that, and So..., So..., So..."

"Sonic?"

"Yes! Give me those!" However, the child next to her began to whine. "Mom, I want a Famicom and Super Mario..."

"Shh! Where did you learn to ask for such a game console? Do as Mom says and buy the Super Genesis and Sonic. The Tanaka family next door and the Nakata family behind us both bought a Super Genesis, you want to be the only one playing with a Famicom?" In fact, her goal was to have her son participate in the Sega Sonic Festival, but any excuse would do.

"Hing..., I want Super Mario..."

"Don't be like that, play Sonic. Mom will buy you other games too."

"Really?" No matter how much he wanted to play Super Mario, if she promised to buy him two games, there was room for negotiation. Thus, the child left the store with a happy expression, holding Sonic and another game. Under normal circumstances, a Super Mario boom should have occurred. But the frenzy brought on by the protagonist's bracelet and the Sega Sonic Festival was something Super Mario could not overcome.

"Ah, should I return about half of these?" The store owner sighed, looking at the inventory of Super Mario games that weren't selling well, even though he had stocked them because they were fun.

Sega Sonic Festival. The application forms for the Sonic tournament, the main event of this festival, were being accepted by some game stores in each region. When boys living nearby registered, they would hand the receipts to the Sega delivery driver when the store received its supplies. That was the same for the store where Yoon-gi was currently playing games. It was for promotional purposes, but it was also a game he played because he enjoyed it, and then there was the interest of the people watching nearby. Yoon-gi had become an offline streamer of the 80s. Because every time Yoon-gi appeared here, the number of people watching gradually increased.

Yoon-gi, who had been smiling while listening to the people around him, suddenly stood up and walked into the store. "Ah, do you need a drink?" At the store owner's words, his mouth stretched from ear to ear, Yoon-gi shook his head. "No. I’m here to register for the game tournament, too."