Signing with Sony

Inside Mitsui Chuta's private office at Sony Headquarters, the tense atmosphere of the previous meeting room had quietly dissipated, leaving only the delicate aroma of premium Gyokuro tea. Here, there was no cold metal or glass; instead, there was solid wooden furniture and several elegant ink paintings. An antique vase in the corner held a few sprigs of simple white plum blossoms, revealing the owner's refined taste and the ease of being relieved of burdens.

Mitsui Chuta personally poured Takuya a cup of clear, golden gyokuro tea. The rising steam carried the suppressed admiration in his eyes, a glimmer of light he had displayed in the meeting room. "Takuya- kun, the game you conceived for the LD player is truly a genius idea." Mitsui Chuta's voice was much gentler than at the negotiating table, carrying a hint of relaxed acceptance. "It's a perfect match for the characteristics of the Sony LD."

Takuya accepted the teacup with both hands, the warmth spreading from his fingertips, seemingly dispelling some of the fatigue from the negotiations. He nodded slightly, calmly accepting the praise. "Mr. Chuta, you flatter me. I just happened to capture some inspiration."

He abruptly changed the subject, naturally steer the conversation in another direction, his tone relaxed, yet his eyes held an undeniable expectation. "Speaking of which, regarding the matter of promoting cooperation with Bandai, I wonder if there has been any progress on Mr. Chuta's side?"

Mitsui Chuta took a sip of tea, his gaze flickering behind the thin mist in the teacup. His gentle smile remained, but now held a hint of meaning. "As for Bandai, President Yamashina is a man who values both old friendships and profit; he certainly needs my intervention." He set down his teacup, his fingertip lightly tapping the lid of the purple clay cup, his tone resolute. "Takuya- kun, please give me some time. It won't be long; things are progressing."

This promise reassured Takuya somewhat, but it also meant that getting to Yamashina Makoto wouldn't be an easy task.

The atmosphere in the office became even more harmonious after this brief exchange. Mitsui Chuta seemed engrossed in conversation, his fingers lightly tapping the desk, the topic casually shifting to Sega. "Sega's recent momentum is truly remarkable," he said casually, as if chatting about everyday matters, but his gaze subtly swept over Takuya's face, carrying a hint of inquiry. "Especially under your leadership, Takuya- kun, you've achieved quite a few astonishing feats."

"I'm quite optimistic about Sega's future." Mitsui Chuta picked up his teacup, his fingertips lightly tracing the warm, smooth surface, and added seemingly casually, "If the opportunity arises, owning a stake in Sega would be a wonderful thing. What do you think, Takuya- kun?"

This seemingly casual conversation actually concealed a sharp edge. Takuya felt a slight chill run down his spine, but his smile remained unchanged. "Mr. Chuta, you flatter me. Sega's success today is entirely due to the wise leadership of my father and all the senior colleagues, as well as the tireless efforts of my colleagues." He paused, his tone sincere, "I am young and inexperienced, and at present I am only focused on doing my job well. As for such important matters as company shares, they are truly beyond my ability to comment on or make decisions about."

This subtle maneuver, seemingly gentle yet subtly cunning, demonstrated that he had no right to interfere while remaining courteous, and even subtly flattered his own company's higher-ups. Mitsui Chuta, upon hearing this, a knowing glint in his eyes, recognizing the young man's slippery nature, but refrained from further investigation, simply laughing it off and letting the delicate moment pass. "Takuya- kun is too modest; you are a formidable young man indeed."

The two chatted for a few more minutes about industry anecdotes, and the atmosphere relaxed again. A short while later, Shigeo Maruyama and Ken Kutaragi entered. Shigeo Maruyama still wore his usual formulaic smile, but his gaze towards Takuya was much more complex, no longer showing the initial disdain. Ken Kutaragi appeared somewhat tired, but his eyes held a newfound appreciation for an Takuya product manager, characteristic of technologists.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Mitsui Chuta, Shigeo Maruyama, and Ken Kutaragi politely saw Takuya and Director Yoshikawa and their entourage off from the Sony Headquarters Building.

A week passed quietly as both teams worked tirelessly, negotiating details and coordinating legal matters.

Finally, in the familiar conference room at Sony Headquarters, the atmosphere was solemn. A thick contract lay quietly in the center of the conference table, its weight seemingly bearing the shared expectations of the two giants for the future, as well as the countless sleepless nights of negotiation.

Director Yoshikawa sat side by side with Takuya, representing Sega. Opposite them were Shigeo Maruyama and Mitsui Chuta from Sony, both wearing standard business smiles, but only they knew how much resentment lay behind those smiles.

Under the watchful eyes of both lawyers, sharp as hawks, Director Yoshikawa took a deep breath, picked up the specially prepared Parker gold pen, and solemnly signed his name at the end of the contract. Then, he pushed the contract and pen toward Takuya, his eyes filled with satisfaction and trust.

Takuya took the pen, which felt slightly heavy in his hand. Without the slightest hesitation, he glided the pen across the paper, making a soft yet clear scratching sound. Each stroke was steady and powerful, just like him, always able to maintain his course amidst turbulent waves.

Standing to the side, watching the signature fall, Masao Suzuki's admiration for Takuya deepened even further. This young man was simply a prodigy, always able to leverage a maturity and foresight beyond his years to overcome seemingly impossible situations, and each time he made people feel that this was the way things should be done.

Although the signing ceremony was low-key, it was of great significance. Sony went to Kung Fu to keep the project confidential, even increasing security outside the conference room compared to usual.

After the ceremony, Sony's legal team and related personnel politely took their leave, and Shigeo Maruyama only symbolically shook hands with Director Yoshikawa before hurriedly departing.

Mitsui Chuta deliberately stayed behind, a meaningful smile on his face. He walked to Takuya's side, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of mystery, "Takuya- kun, congratulations. It's been a pleasure working with you."

Takuya. I hope our collaboration will usher in a new era."

"Yes, I will." Mitsui Chuta nodded, then changed the subject, "By the way, I've already spoken with President Yamashina about Bandai."

Takuya's gaze sharpened slightly, and a thought flashed through his mind.

"President Yamashina Makoto has agreed to meet with us." Mitsui Chuta's voice was low, but each word was clear, like a pebble dropped into a calm lake. "The meeting is set for next Wednesday at Bandai Headquarters. I will also be there."