*DINER - AKIHABARA - CHIYODA - TOKYO*
If I'm going to be part of this High School Game Creator Contest, then I must get a better understanding of games...
So, I've taken the initiative to ask the members of μ's (namely Honoka, Kotori, and Umi) if they know anything about them.
They seem to know everything...
HONOKA: "I don't know much about games either, but there's one that's really popular with the girls in our class, right?"
AKI: "Oh?"
KOTORI: "That's right. The moment lunchtime hits, everyone's on their phones playing it."
UMI: "I don't really approve of students playing games in a place of learning, though..."
HONOKA: "Don't worry! It's not like they're playing it during class!"
AKI: "What sort of game is it?"
KOTORI: "Um... Here, it's this one."
AKI: "Oh, I played this back at Rina's place! My fingers started cramping up in the middle of it..."
Ugh, you'd think after so many years of playing the piano this kind of thing wouldn't happen.
Or maybe those years of stress have caused my fingers to deteriorate a little?
KOTORI: *Giggle* "The same thing happened to Umi, too."
UMI: "It had quite a steep learning curve..."
HONOKA: "You lost over and over in the beginning! You were all like, 'How did I lose?!'"
UMI: "Honoka!"
AKI: "You don't usually play games, do you, Umi?"
UMI: "No, I don't. I usually only play if someone I know recommends it to me."
AKI: "Guess that makes two of us. So, what do you think of this? Did you have fun with it?"
UMI: "Yes, I enjoyed it. Although it made my fingers cramp, the controls were easy to learn, so I became quickly absorbed in it."
HONOKA: "Yeah. You're really into it now, huh? When you slept over at my place the other day, you kept saying 'One more time' in your sleep!"
UMI: "What?! I don't believe it! I could not have done that, could I, Kotori?"
KOTORI: "U-Um... Weeell..."
UMI: "I don't like how you're avoiding the question..."
KOTORI: "Ahahaha..."
UMI: "Kotoriii!"
AKI: "Oh well, I guess I should be heading back to Nijigasaki. Thanks for your help."
HONOKA: "No problem, hey, are you interested in visiting Otonokizaka soon? It's been a while."
AKI: "Heh, no problem. I'll stop by tomorrow, how about that?"
HONOKA: "You will? Yay!"
UMI: "We look forward to having you."
KOTORI: "I can't wait!"
...
*THAT NIGHT*
*AKI'S ROOM - SUZUKI RESIDENCE - KOTA CITY APARTMENT BUILDING - ODAIBA - TOKYO*
While the second years of μ's were a big help, I decided to get in contact with Aqours.
Or rather...their leader.
To see if Chika could share any insight about gaming.
I figured since as their leader she's always kept a close eye on the other members.
So, she's definitely who I should ask.
CHIKA: "Oh, games? There's one I've been really into lately."
AKI: "What kind of game is it?"
CHIKA: "It's a puzzle game. You have to match up at least four mikan oranges to make them disappear."
AKI: "Eh? How can you tell them apart."
CHIKA: "There are many types of mikan oranges, you know?"
AKI: "Huh... Puzzle games are really popular. But I'm still confused... Matching up four mikan oranges? How does that even work?"
CHIKA: "There are different varieties of mikans, right? You just have to match up the same ones."
AKI: "Huh? Can you really tell the difference by looking?
Aren't they the same?"
CHIKA: "You can! They're totally different."
AKI: "...Well, maybe you can. But I'm not a connoisseur."
CHIKA: "It's simple! Wanna give it a try?"
AKI: "S-Sure, why not."
I guess one round wouldn't hurt...
...
*THE NEXT DAY*
*SETSUNA'S ROOM - NAKAGAWA RESIDENCE - CITY BAY TOKYO TOWERS - ODAIBA - TOKYO*
Before I head to Otonokizaka... Um... Scheduled meeting... Yeah... Uhh...
Maybe I got too carried away ladt night...
SETSUNA: "Thanks for coming, everyone. There's something I'd like to ask you all about today.
But, before that..."
AKI: "......"
SETSUNA: "Um, you look a little pale, Chief. Are you okay?"
AKI: "Huh? What? Really? Don't worry, mikan handle the meeting.
I-I mean me can.
Ack! I mean I CAN."
SETSUNA: "Mikan?"
AKI: "They're everywhere... So many phantom mikans..."
MIA: "Uhh... Terrifying, but okay."
AKI: "D-Don't worry about me. Orange you- I mean AREN'T YOU about to discuss something, Satsuma? I-I mean SETSUNA..."
SETSUNA: "Riiight... I want you all to take a look at these drawings. Since I'm handling the game's worldbuilding and design, I want to make it the best I possibly can.
So, I wanted to ask you all for some advice."
RINA: "Wow, look at all those sketches."
MIA: "Whoa, did you really do all these? How did you draw these in such a small amount of time?!"
SETSUNA: "Oh, no. These are things I've been drawing for a while."
AKI: "That's our award winning manga artist!"
SETSUNA: *Giggle*
AKI: "Oh, this is a character from that anime airing right now! Lemon's Lair, right?"
SETSUNA: "Huh?"
AKI: "U-Um, never mind... And this is from a movie! Wow!"
RINA: "This is one of the bad guys from that manga I borrowed recently."
MIA: "Huh?! You also like American superheroes, Setsuna?! I love this comic too!"
AKI: "Oh that one? I tried searching for it online, but all I saw were issues written in Mandarin."
Damn it... Mandarin... Oranges...
SETSUNA: *Giggle* "I did these drawings by copying the art styles from things that I like."
AKI: "There are so many different things here. What's your favorite genre, Setsuna? Sci-Fi? Fantasy? Navel- I mean Novels?"
MIA: "Superheroes, right?"
RINA: "Mysteries?"
SETSUNA: "Hmm... I like them all."
Sounds like something Yu would say...
SETSUNA: "Whatever the genre, I'm overwhelmed by their power when I read or watch them!"
MIA: "Ah, I see. I know what you mean. You end up drawn in by the passion of the writer, right?"
RINA: "What do you mean by that?"
MIA: "Like, she can sense the love that the writer has poured into their work.
This superhero comic was canceled once, you know.
But the creator kept releasing it online, and it became a huge hit."
AKI: "It must have taken a lot of blood oranges- I mean, blood, sweat, and tears to pull that off.
Come to think of it, when I read the novel that this anime was based on, I remember thinking how the author must've had a lot of fun writing it."
SETSUNA: "...Now that you mention it, I can see that.
I feel like I inherit the power of the love that the writers put into their work.
And that makes me want to shout that love back out into the world!"
AKI: "That's wonderful."
MIA: "It's like you're playing catch with your love."
RINA: "I hope the game we make can inspire those kinds of feelings in someone else, too."
SETSUNA: "That'll be our ultimate goal with this game!
All right, with that in mind, I'd like to ask you all for honest advice based on my drawings!"
AKI: "Of course it'll be honest. I wouldn't lime to you."
MIA: "Lime?"
AKI: "I mean I wouldn't lie!"
Damn citrus fruit game...