The First Target

Nakayama Hayao picked up the teapot and filled the cup in front of him. The amber tea looked especially clear in the white porcelain cup. "Try it. This year's new tea." His voice was not loud, but it was deep, steady, and full of strength. "Gyokuro from Shizuoka. I had someone get it for me."

Nakayama Takuya lifted the teacup in both hands and, imitating the original owner from memory, first smelled its fragrance before carefully taking a sip. A unique freshness and mellow sweetness spread over the tip of his tongue. It really was good stuff.

"Very refreshing. Thank you, Father." He set down the teacup and praised it sincerely. Though he was more used to happy water, he could still put on an act when the moment called for it.

"Mm." Nakayama Hayao gave no clear response, his gaze falling back onto his son's face. "You've graduated from university. What are your plans next? Continue your studies, or..."

Here it came. The main topic was finally here. Nakayama Takuya steadied himself, met his father's eyes, and said clearly, "Father, I've thought it through. I want to join Sega and develop games!"

Nakayama Hayao's fingers paused slightly around his teacup. He raised his eyes to look at his son, a hint of scrutiny entering his gaze. "Join Sega? Develop games?"

"Yes." Nakayama Takuya nodded, his attitude firm.

"Nonsense!" Nakayama Hayao's brows furrowed, and his tone grew heavier. "Do you know what kind of situation Sega is in right now?"

"Of course I do." Nakayama Takuya immediately picked up the thread. He could not let the other party think this was just hot-headed impulse. "Over the past two years, our SG-1000, and then the follow-up Mark III, have been crushed so badly by Nintendo's Family Computer in the market that they can hardly breathe. Especially after Super Mario Bros. was released last year, Famicom sales exploded. Now all the capable third-party developers are leaning toward Nintendo." He deliberately spoke in greater detail to show he was not ignorant.

Nakayama Hayao listened to his son's clear, orderly analysis, and the displeasure on his face eased a little. But his doubts did not vanish; instead, he became even more cautious. "Since you understand all that, why would you still plunge headfirst into the mire of game development? You've only just graduated. You have no real development experience, and your understanding of market operations is only armchair strategy. Game development isn't something you can succeed at with nothing but hot blood and those little scraps of tinkering you did in university clubs."

"Father, experience can be accumulated, and the market can be studied." Nakayama Takuya sat up straight. His tone carried the distinctive drive of a young man, along with a trace of confidence from the future. "I know what you're worried about. Empty words prove nothing, so give me a little time to prepare. When I officially join the company, I'll give the company, and you, a surprise. When that time comes, you can judge whether I'm suited to eat from this bowl of rice or not. How about that?" He deliberately did not speak too absolutely, leaving himself room, but the light in his eyes could not fool anyone.

Three days later, in a café not far from the Toshiba Building in Shibaura, Minato Ward, Tokyo Metropolis. Nakayama Takuya sat at a table by the window, holding a newspaper and reading it out of sheer boredom. A cup of Blue Mountain coffee sat on the table.

Before long, a young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a striped suit pushed open the door and entered the café. He looked around, and when he saw Nakayama Takuya, he walked over and sat down opposite him, casually ordering a cappuccino from the waiter at the same time.

"Takuya, long time no see! What made you suddenly think of coming to Toshiba to see me?" The man leaned back in his seat and looked at Nakayama Takuya across from him. This man was named Ito Ryoji, a legendary figure at Tokyo Institute of Technology and a senior whom Nakayama Takuya was very close to. Back when he had still been interning at Toshiba, Toshiba had already locked him in ahead of time with a large signing bonus, proof enough of his brilliance. Now, Ito Ryoji worked in Toshiba's computer division.

Nakayama Takuya revealed a slightly bashful smile, scratched his head, and said, "Senior Ryoji, I just missed you, that's all! And while I'm here... I also wanted to ask you about a few things."

"Come on, there's no need to be so sappy between us. It's been so long since I graduated, and this is the first time you've come to Toshiba looking for me. If there's something, just say it." Ito Ryoji smiled and waved his hand, signaling for Takuya to get to the point.

Nakayama Takuya nodded and lowered his voice. "Senior, I heard... Toshiba has recently been researching foreign computer technology?"

Ito Ryoji's eyes flickered. Without changing his expression, he asked, "That's right. What about it? You're interested in that?"

Nakayama Takuya chuckled and put on an expression that said "you know how it is." "Senior, I'm working at Sega now, aren't I? I've got to understand industry trends, right? I heard... over in the Soviet Union, there seems to have been a very interesting computer game recently?" He deliberately put extra emphasis on the words "computer game."

Ito Ryoji's brows furrowed slightly, as if he were thinking about something. He fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking. "Where did you hear that?"

Nakayama Takuya was delighted. There was a chance! He put on a mysterious air and said, "Senior, don't worry about where I heard it from. Just tell me whether it exists or not!"

Ito Ryoji stared at Nakayama Takuya for a few seconds. Then he gave a soft sigh and said, "Fine. Since you've already put it that way... I won't hide it from you. We have indeed been paying attention to some movements over in the Soviet Union, but..." He paused, as if weighing his words. "But the specific situation still isn't very clear. You know how the Soviet Union is... information is relatively closed off."

Nakayama Takuya thought, Then that settles it! He really had not come to Toshiba for nothing!

"I heard there's a very interesting game in the Soviet Union called Tetris. I don't know whether you've come into contact with it?" Nakayama Takuya leaned forward slightly, an almost imperceptible urgency in his tone.

That was right! What Nakayama Takuya intended to make a move on was this puzzle game that almost anyone who had ever come into contact with video games had basically heard of: Tetris! Tetris was the English translation of its Russian name, Тетрис.

"Tetris?" Ito Ryoji pushed up his glasses, the gold rims flashing under the light. He repeated the unfamiliar name, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he were searching his memory for anything related. "I think I've heard their computer laboratory developed a game... But you know, our division mainly researches their hardware technology. Things like that, 'not proper work,' we don't pay much attention to."

Ito Ryoji paused, then asked again, "So you want me to help you get hold of a machine?"

Nakayama Takuya pressed his palms together and raised them above his head. "Senior really understands me best. If I were a girl, I'd definitely marry you!"

"Get lost! This again! Do I look like I lack women?" Ito Ryoji laughed and scolded.

Seeing that Ito Ryoji seemed somewhat tempted, Nakayama Takuya hurried to strike while the iron was hot. "Senior, please help me out! You have wide connections at Toshiba and plenty of wild routes. You'll definitely have a way! If you can really get this game, I'll treat you to drinks! The best sake in Tokyo, as much as you want!"

Ito Ryoji thought it over, then nodded. "I understand. I'll keep an eye out for you."

Just then, the waiter brought over Ito Ryoji's cappuccino.

Nakayama Takuya lifted the Blue Mountain coffee in front of him and raised his cup toward Ito Ryoji. "Thank you so much! Senior, I'll toast you with coffee instead of wine!"

Ito Ryoji looked like he had no way to deal with him. He clinked cups with Nakayama Takuya, then still pointed at Nakayama Takuya's nose. "Once this is done, I'm definitely going to bleed you dry, kid!"

"At your disposal!" Nakayama Takuya immediately played the fool and gave him a military salute.