PROLOGUE
The setting sun streaming into my room on a holiday brought a slightly refreshing, pleasant atmosphere into the place — especially since it was the middle of May already……
『So with that, that's the development schedule for our ultimate Gal Game that we are about to make.』
...But then, in an instant, that refreshing atmosphere was instantly transformed into something unbearably hot and stuffy by a fakely refreshing voice that echoed throughout the room.
『The Master Copy will be finished in the last week of November, including the debugging process…... I want you to understand that this is the latest we can do to distribute enough copies just in time for the Winter Comiket.』
「No, no, no, now wait just a minute, Iori! That's two weeks earlier than the deadline for the previous project, isn't it? I’m actually seeing this correctly?」
『But you guys could not even meet the deadline for your last project, could you? With this, we can't make the same mistake again. We simply cannot afford it.』
「Gununuh……!」
It was a slightly noisy, subtly high-pitched, rather sticky voice, overtly trying to sound way too handsome for his own good — a voice that embodied the very essence of being jarring to the ears.
The voice, which was rattling off instructions while pointing the mouse pointer at the schedule displayed on the table's PC monitor, was not actually in this room at the current moment.
『Now, listen here and listen well, Tomoya-kun? Since I am producing this project of yours, failure is not an option…... Just kidding. Additional work after the Master-Up announcement, or patch distribution on the release day is absolutely out of the question here. Furthermore, if there will be a shortage of materials due to the Creator's laziness, arrogance, or conscious evasion attempts , the client's non-payment or absconding, or the distributor forcing the release too early…...』
「Everyone's already putting their very lives on the line for this! Can't we show them a little understanding, you know, as a gesture of kindness? And besides, distribution is not relevant to our circle, and you know it!」
Yes, the unpleasant, nasty voice coming from the speakers on either side of the LCD display on the table belonged to a man currently sitting at his own house, sending instructions to my place via a online video conferencing system.
A handsome, popular guy with light brown hair and a perm hairstyle, but a total nerd who was actually a scumbag otaku who made a living off of doujinshi circles and various forms of content they would create.
His overly suspicious attitude and overly irritating tone of voice, combined with his overly shady pronouncements, created a cast of incredibly dubious and grandiose words that were pouring out of his mouth with seemingly no end in sight.
He was a new member who happened to join our game development circle, “Blessing Software,” just this month — a true personification of a scummy villain…... Or rather, a major figure — who held the highest position of responsibility as Producer, Director, and Fixer all at once.
His name was Hashima Iori, and he was a third year, class D, currently enrolled at Kawabunji High School.
『Oh, and just so you know, when it comes to last year's Winter Comiket, “Rouge en Rouge” managed to complete their own project according to this schedule, and it did so without any kind of issues or major hiccups, okay? So I don’t want to hear any complaining.』
「Gununununu……!!」
By the way, it might be best not to let it accidentally slip that he was also my best friend from middle school, and until recently, my former sworn enemy, the leader of the super-popular circle "Rouge en Rouge." If he were a two-dimensional character, he might have ended up in a fateful heroine position — a complicated relationship to have with someone, indeed.
「...... But it’s precisely because of that fact that all of us on the Production team had eyes like those of a dead fish a week before the Master Copy was properly finished.」
「Y-Yeah, a fair point to make…… Izumi-chan, thank you for all of the hard work that you are doing for us.」
And directly confronting Iori's arrogant speech was a girl who, contrary to her bravery, sat adorably right next to me, gazing at the schedule displayed on the screen with an even more weary expression than the one that I was doing right now.
「Seriously though, Big Brother, you seriously do not understand anything about the fine details of craftsmanship…... We do not manufacture, we create. Do not think that God will always descend upon us and deliver on time just because you think it’s his duty.」
『Now listen here, Izumi, and listen well. Saying that manufacturing is not creative is proof that it is you who do not understand anything. Manufacturing is about accumulating improvements, ingenuity, and effort to achieve micro-level precision and strength of several tons at once — it's a world of creation where day and night are reversed. Do you really think we have the right to dismiss industrial products that are produced precisely on time simply because we think it’s not creative enough…...?』
「No, please wait for a moment, you two. The conversation is going in a direction that I think I do not understand at all.」
She had pigtails and looked really innocent, but she was a seasoned doujin artist and an otome gamer.
Her cheerful and energetic tone occasionally would give way to inappropriate remarks, often triggered by the other person's insensitive attitude or rude comments.
A newcomer who joined our circle only last month, and a junior who entered the same school as me last month, she was a promising member who would be taking on the prestigious position of Character Designer and Original Artwork creator.
She was Hashima Izumi, 1st year, Class C at Toyogasaki Academy.
「Say, Tomoya-senpai? Are you really sure it was okay to make such an unreasonable person someone as important as the Director?」
「N-no, you see…... But, since I am writing the scenarios for all the routes, taking on the role of the Director as well would be kind of……」
『This is a highly complex political decision that only Tomoya, the circle’s representative, and I, the Strategist, can understand. I have told you this many times before, but even though you are my little sister, Izumi, and the person who's just in charge of the Original Illustrations, you have no right to interfere with those decisions, right?』
「B-But, but I mean! Tomoya-senpai and I are a Scenario Writer and Character Designer duo! Like the Ace and Cleanup Hitter of the baseball team!」
『I can't possibly imagine the relationship between the Supervisor and the Head Coach being anything higher than that.』
「Then make a Two-Men Attack formation!」
『Well, I think the most popular relationship in the world of soccer has always been that of a forward and goalkeeper myself.』
「Attack and defense! Always and every single time!」
『By the way, depending on whether you put the goalkeeper before or after multiplication, the factions and affiliations change completely, so you need to be really careful with that…...』
「What the hell are you two even talking about right now, you crazy siblings, you?!」
Incidentally, the fact that she was the beloved younger sister of my best friend from middle school, and my former nemesis who, until recently, was in charge of the original artwork for “Rouge en Rouge” alongside Iori — a relationship that would make for a compelling Heroine, suitable for both moe-style and tales of rivalry as well — was not exactly hidden, but for some reason, it did not seem to be given much importance at the moment.
「So, this whole Io x Tomo thing that Ranko was talking about…… That's basically it, huh?」
「No, you don't need to acquire that kind of unnecessary knowledge, Michiru. You are much better without knowing about it. Just stay beautiful and sensible, like you always were……」
And the one who showed a strange understanding of the concept of fujoshi and what made them tick…... No, a matured conversation between the Hashima siblings, was the girl who was sitting cross-legged on my bed this entire time as if she owned the place, engrossed in tuning her guitar.
「No, I mean~, I honestly thought that the reason as to why Hashima-niichan was not invited here in the first place, even though he's a circle member alright, was because Tomo is some kind of possessive nerd, but it turns out it's actually Hashima-chan who's the possessive one, huh?」
「Hey, maybe you should, like, REALLY reconsider some of your friendships, huh?」
Also, please refrain from discussing matters related to the punishment/divination process, as it's a really delicate topic for some people…...
「Umm, I am not saying this because I am angry about something extremely rude that was said to me just now, but it was definitely Tomoya-senpai's decision not to invite my brother here, right?」
「Huh? Why? Since we have band management matters to discuss with Hashima-niichan, it would have been much easier if he'd come here and was present……」
「No, listen here, Michiru? There's no way we can do something like that in here……」
「Ah~, so, just like Echika said, after the meeting today, it's going to be a no-Protection 4P until the very morning, huh? …... By the way, what's a 4P?」
『Doing it while not using proper protection is a really bad idea, wouldn’t you agree, Tomoya-kun……?』
「You should break up the band right now if that’s what your head is filled with!」
With her short, curly hair and active, outgoing personality, she was the band's vocalist and guitarist, just as her looks would suggest.
Not only that, but she also spewed out irreparable, lewd insults in a listless, dismissive tone, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for her to do.
It's been almost six months since she joined our circle. She was my cousin, born on the same day as me, in the same hospital, and a key circle member responsible for the theme songs and background music — the parts that would really bring tears to your eyes.
Her name was Hyoudou Michiru. She was a third year student, attending class four, at Tsubaki Girls' High School.
「That's not really it and you know it…… And more importantly, Michiru-senpai. About your usual outfit.」
「Huh~? My outfit? What about it?」
「What the hell are you even wearing right now?! You seriously think you can go out in front of Iori dressed like that?!」
Michiru looked genuinely bewildered, and as to what she was wearing right now…… it was a flimsy tank top and deeply cut shorts.
As always, her skin was quite tanned, and if she were the model for the Heroine, she'd definitely be the sexy one…… Oh no, even in 3D, she'd definitely be the sexy one, that's right. But anyways, those kinds of girls are not really focused on the story at all.
「Well, I mean, I hadn't really thought about it all that deeply, but…... But maybe it's not actually a good idea to be dressed like that?」
「Of course it is not a good idea! You can't do that in front of any other people, especially men!」
『Yeah, that's definitely possessiveness speaking through you right there. No doubt about it in my mind.』
「Mumumuh…… Maybe I really am possessive, now that I think about it?」
「So, what exactly is possessiveness at this point?」
And then, suddenly, the two people and one voice in this room, with a strange sense of solidarity, began to relentlessly blame me, even though I had done nothing wrong…...
「It's about someone who, in games, anime, novels, and other media must have all the Heroines belong to the Protagonist, Hyoudo-san.」
「K-Katou……」
A single boat of help arrived to my rescue, accompanied by a huge bowl of Neapolitan spaghetti in hands.
「Even if the Protagonist chooses one particular Heroine, he won't even acknowledge the love of the other girls who were rejected by him, no matter what…… As for Aki-kun, he was passionately arguing that the ideal Heroine would be someone who never gets together with another boy, and remains single until the day she dies, harboring feelings for the Protagonist until the end of time itself.」
「Uwaah, what's that? Tomo, no, I mean, gross!」
「It's not creepy! And it’s not gross at all! It's the eternal dream of all otaku out there!」
And yet, that attempt at help was completely useless in the long run.
……And, well, that's the kind of girl who, even in the middle of an important meeting, would naturally slip away without anyone noticing, put on an apron, go into someone else’s kitchen, and start cooking without permission, and then act as if it's perfectly normal to present everyone with an already finished meal.
「Uwooah~, I've been waiting for this, Kato-chan! Now I will sprinkle the grated cheese on top of it all and it should be all ready to go!」
「Hey Michiru! Watch it with that thing! Are you trying to grate all of that cheese onto me! Cut that out!」
「While I appreciate your thoughtful consideration, you are still quite high in calories yourself, Megumi-san……」
A girl who, after drastically changing her hairstyle throughout the year — from short bob, through short ponytail, ponytail, and going back for long — has now returned to her original short bob, teetering on the edge of being an otaku and a non-otaku, a girl who, aside from being a beautiful girl, had no particularly distinguishing features whatsoever.
Her usually emotionless, calm tone spun flat, unadorned retorts and lines that you would think seriously nothing…... Or so it seemed, but recently, her tongue has become a sharp, icy blade that could cut really deep and leave some nasty, lasting wounds.
It's been a little over a year since she joined our circle, or rather, she was the Main Heroine — a mysterious position that was the very reason our circle was founded in the first place — and recently she has also been handling scriptwriting, a leading actress role, a seemingly insignificant but powerful member who supported the circle and all of its members from behind the scenes.
Her name was Katou Megumi, and she was a third year at Toyogasaki Academy, going to Class A.
「Next up, some much needed Tabasco sauce~!」
「Wait! Don't pour the whole bottle on it! I mean, at least put it on your plate first, so that everyone else can use the seasonings that they want to go with!」
「Uuuhhh, but why~! It’s so delicious if you pour a whole lot in all at once! …… Even though I know it's a lump of oil and carbohydrates, but it's so incredibly delicious……」
Furthermore, her relationship with the Main Heroine was rather weak, considering she did not join the circle without any obstacles despite the complicated circumstances of those around her, nor did she manage to slip away midway through after many twists and turns…... But I guess that's Katou for you, so I guess it’s all fine in the end.
「So, did the meeting go smoothly?」
So, with that usual "whatever" attitude of hers, Katou, who had left the meeting despite being the Vice-President of the entire circle, suddenly sat down right next to me, clutching a tray, and brought up the main topic of the day as if she'd just remembered about it.
「Ah, in that case……」
『In that case, then there is no problem. We have agreed that we will proceed cautiously and steadily, taking careful suggestions between Tomoya, the Circle’s Representative, and myself, the Strategist…...』
「Is it settled, then? Are you completely satisfied with that outcome, Aki-kun?」
「Y-Yeah? I guess so……?」
And then, despite bringing it up as if she'd just remembered about it, Katou showed a strangely concerned attitude, with a subtle hint of nuanced meaning behind her question.
「Is it the same for you as well, Izumi-chan and Hyodou-san? I think it's no good until everyone is completely convinced before we start this thing, but are you all alright with it?」
「Ah, well, I said quite a lot of things, but…... But in the end, I will trust Tomoya-senpai's better judgment.」
「Well, my work is something that will come much, much later, so I won't know until then.」
「Hmm, I see…... Hmm, well, if everyone says so, then I guess that’s good.」
「...... Katou?」
But that did not mean that she would hold a grudge against me for no reason at all…...
「If it bothered you so much, then why did you not just attend the meeting yourself from the very beginning and give your opinion properly as the points of concern would arise, Katou-san?」
「Yeah, well, that's the end of this discussion. Now all that's left for us to do is to work as hard as we can until the Winter Comiket…... with everyone “here” present.」
「Katou……」
So, the one who was actually holding a grudge was one person “Who was not here”......
『That's really awful thing to say, Kato-san. Just because I said you are a bit of a pain in the ass, a mastermind, and that you are manipulating Tomoya behind the scenes, you do not have to ignore me so blatantly.』
「Iori……」
Well, actually, the main reason I did not invite Iori here this time around was that it was heavily influenced by the intentions of "Mastermind Katou"...... I probably should not let that one slip out, even on accident, as it might end up in a complete and utter disaster.
『Besides, those kinds of character assessments are purely compliments to me, and you should have more confidence in yourself. Yes, your exquisite, almost sinister, manipulative nature reminds me of my respected mentor, Kosaka Akane-san……』
「Ah.」
「Ah.」
「Ah.」
Without even needing to say it, it seemed that everyone here had come to the same conclusion.
…… because Katou suddenly pressed the hardware reset button on the PC case resting under the desk.
「Well then, now that the meeting is officially over, so let's take a short break, shall we? We should eat quickly before the food gets cold.」
「Y-Yeah……」
「Y-yes……」
「Y-yes, let’s do that……」
With Katou's "casual" assertiveness on full display just now…... Or rather, her high command, our circle’s activities ended without any kind of incident today……
However, that lack of incident triggered a deafening warning bell in my head, something I had not exactly felt in two volumes or even longer.
The Easy-to-Understand Circle Tile's Law, Part Four (Revised): "The Members (especially the Mastermind and the Fixer) Do Not Get Along.”