*LATER*
*RINA'S ROOM - TENNOJI RESIDENCE - BRILLIA ARIAKE CITY TOWER - ODAIBA*
RINA: "All right, let's begin the strategy meeting."
SETSUNA: "Strategy meeting... That has such a nice ring to it. I couldn't be more excited! Be still, my..."
AKI: "Hm?"
SETSUNA: "...M-My heart! Yeah, that's it."
MIA: "How do you expect to make it to the end if you're already this worked up?"
SETSUNA: "..."
MIA: "Well?"
SETSUNA: "It's okay. If I fall, I'll at least fall forward!"
MIA: "Just make sure you don't collapse on us..."
SETSUNA: "..."
Hm?
RINA: "U-Um, first thing's first. I'll go over the High School Game Creator Contest rules now.
All we have to do is create a complete game based on the theme announced at the event within 48 hours. The winner will be decided based on how well-made the game is.
We will use equipment provided by the event organizers, making this a test of technique and creativity."
AKI: "Hey, is it really possible to make a game in 48 hours?"
RINA: "We're not making a AAA title. We can't make anything complex, of course. We'll have to think of something simple enough to be made in two days."
MIA: "The simpler the games are, the more obvious their difference in quality will be. So, we'll need good skills and good ideas to set ourselves apart from the others."
AKI: "I-I see."
SETSUNA: "The bigger the hurdle, the more exciting the challenge! We'll overcome those hurdles with the power of friendship and hard work. Victory will be ours!"
RINA: "We're going to need a base of operations, somewhere that we can stream us working from.
Participants can enter and leave the room as they please. But, as a rule, nobody else is allowed to go in.
...And that's about it."
AKI: "Where should we set up our base? Maybe we can ask Shioriko to let us use one of the classrooms?"
SETSUNA: "That's a good idea. Then, when we need to sleep, we can use our Clubroom."
MIA: "This is kind of like a sleepover...
Wait, no! This is a test of our skills and creativity! We can't go into this feeling like we're just here to goof around!"
AKI: *Laugh* "We know."
RINA: "Okay, let's hurry up and prepare."
SETSUNA: "What should we do?"
RINA: "First off, game research. The theme for the game will be announced at the event. Let's familiarize ourselves with all sorts of games so we can adapt to whatever the theme ends up being."
MIA: "Okay! Let me scope things out."
RINA: "No, we don't have to do that."
MIA: "Huh?"
RINA: "The best way to familiarize yourself with games is by playing them. Let's find out what's fun about each game."
SETSUNA: "I like what you're saying!"
AKI: "Uh oh, c-could I sit this one out?"
RINA: "Nope, as part of the team you're going to play them too!"
AKI: *Gulp*
I'm about to get my ass handed to me on a silver platter by three elite gamers.
RINA: "Okay, let's start with this one. Let's all play it together!
Just because we're playing a game DOESN'T mean we can cut corners!
Rina-chan Board says, 'Motivated'!"
...
*ONE ASS WHOOPING LATER*
Ugghhh....
AKI: "You're all WAY too good at this!"
MIA: "Babyboy, you're just WAY too bad at this. I couldn't get last place every time even if I tried."
AKI: "I told you that I was bad at this. Being forced into extra classes growing up didn't leave me with many opportunities to play any games."
RINA: "I've figured out your weakness and I know how to fix it. Listen..." *Whisper*
AKI: "Mm-hm. I see... I'll give it a shot."
Geez, I'd expect that kind of thing from Shioriko, but not Rina.
Guess when it comes to games, Rina is on a whole other level.
Kinda like how Chika is better than me at leadership and Maki is better at composition...
Ugh...
Anyway! This advice from Rina could be worth a shot.
...
*ANOTHER GAMING SESSION LATER*
AKI: "I-I didn't come last?!"
Did hell freeze over or something?!
MIA: "You're kidding! How could I lose to Babyboy?! This is outrageous! It's unfair!"
SETSUNA: "That was a close one, Mia!"
MIA: "Close or not, a loss is a loss! Screw the second round, I'm ready for the third!"
...
*THE THIRD ROUND COMMENCES*
MIA: "......"
Again?! So it wasn't a fluke!
Ha ha!
AKI: "You know... I think I understand what games are all about now."
RINA: "Ooh, you've awoken..."
SETSUNA: "That's awesome! Just like a hero's awakening in an anime or movie!"
MIA: "I...I can't lose to you! One mooooore!"
AKI: "Oh? Are you sure you can beat me? I seem to have your number."
MIA: "Let's change it up! I challenge you to a rhythm game battle!"
...
*ONE RHYTHM GAME BATTLE LATER*
Huh?
B-But I thought I was getting the hang of this gaming stuff!
MIA: "There, see? Just call me the rhythm game queen!"
AKI: "Well played..."
SETSUNA: "Ugh, I can't believe my world-class reflexes got beaten...!"
AKI: "At least you didn't come last..."
RINA: "You have a great sense of rhythm, Mia."
MIA: "I know, right? You can count on me for anything musical, Rina!"
AKI: "Regardless of the results, that was still a lot of fun."
SETSUNA: "It's truly eye-opening to be reminded of how many different types of games there are out there.
I thought it would be good if I could use one of the ideas I've already come up with for this contest, but maybe it would be better to try something new.
Could I be in charge of handling worldbuilding and overall design?
All of the games we played today had so much detail packed into them. They were so immersive.
I realized that's something that all of the games I love have in common. I'd also like to make a game where people can get lost in its world."
MIA: "I'll handle the music, then."
AKI: "I guess I'll take care of coordination and management just like Rina said at the start. If anyone needs help with more specific tasks, you're welcome to come to me, too."
RINA: "I'll handle the programming."
AKI: "And you have another important role too, Rina. Isn't that right, everyone?"
RINA: "Huh?"
SETSUNA: "That's right. A huge role!"
MIA: "It's something only she can do."
AKI: "You're our project leader, Rina! We'll all follow your lead!"
RINA: "I-I'll do my best. Rina-chan Board says, 'Super serious!'"
Then that's that. Our team roles are settled.
Even so, there's something that doesn't make sense to me...
During the first gaming session I was last place every time...
FIRST SESSION:
1ST - RINA
2ND - SETSUNA
3RD - MIA
4TH - AKIHIKO
But after Rina gave me some advice I really started to play better... I even beat Mia at this.
SECOND SESSION:
1ST - RINA
2ND - SETSUNA
3RD - AKIHIKO
4TH - MIA
And it wasn't a fluke either, because the same results applied to the third round.
THIRD SESSION:
1ST - RINA
2ND - SETSUNA
3RD - AKIHIKO
4TH - MIA
But then the game genre was switched and it all fell flat for me...
FOURTH SESSION:
1ST - MIA
2ND - SETSUNA
3RD - RINA
4TH - AKIHIKO
I don't get it... Even with Rina's advice, I usually suck at games so it shouldn't have made any difference...
..unless.
...
T.C: "We're straying off topic... I want to tell you that the ability you DO have, is that you're a fast learner.
I've done a lot of teaching over the years to up-and-coming producers, but none of them had your ability."
...
Maybe Trevor Chase was onto something after all...
Has my ability to learn been my greatest strength this whole time, and I never saw it?
If that were the case, it would explain a lot... Especially our meteoric rise after I learned from the best in μ's and Aqours.
But I always attributed that to the girls and their growth as school idols...
Could the skills I picked up from μ's and Aqours have played a large role in all of this?!
I don't know...