Nakayama Takuya nodded.
"Leave the venue to Sega," Nakayama Takuya promised. "The Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, or the Budokan. If we're doing this, we'll make it the biggest one possible. We'll bring video game music into the halls of greatness for real."
Nobuo Uematsu nodded vigorously, raised his whisky, and drained it in one gulp.
"The promotional budget will come out of Sega's accounts," Hisao Oguchi added. "TV, Game Gear, magazine interviews—we'll arrange all of it. We'll make this concert a carnival for Japan's entire gaming industry."
Mizuno Tetsuo raised his glass.
"To Final Fantasy VII."
Several glasses clinked together above the coffee table, producing a crisp chime.
At the table where the development team sat, even louder cheers erupted in the distance. It seemed someone had won a drinking contest.
Nakayama Takuya leaned back on the sofa, listening to the boisterous noise as his fingers lightly tapped against the armrest.
The banquet hall grew louder by the moment.
At the bar in the corner, Yasunori Mitsuda sat alone on a high stool.
Before him sat a glass of iced oolong tea.
Over in the sofa area, Nobuo Uematsu was surrounded by a group of young audio engineers.
They raised their glasses and laughed loudly. News that the Final Fantasy VII soundtrack CD had sold five hundred thousand copies in its first week had long since spread throughout the venue.
Yasunori Mitsuda watched the lively scene, then lowered his head and took a sip of tea.
The icy liquid slid down his throat, clearing his mind a little.
He was not jealous.
Nobuo Uematsu was his senior, and his ability spoke for itself. Even Mitsuda could not help slamming the table in admiration at the arrangement for Bombing Mission.
But his heart did ache.
It was an intense yearning for a