Tokyo: Oreimo

It was a gift given casually, yet her daughter cherishes it so much.

This was the first time he had ever experienced being treated as a special person.

"This child is so sensible it breaks my heart."

"But I can still bear it at this level."

Hiroki Suzuki glanced at the tissue box beside him. After finishing the previous pack, he had half left in the new one he had opened.

This is the last pack of tissues at home, so we need to use them sparingly, otherwise we won't have any left when we finish Clannad and want to play other games.

It would be too much trouble to go out of your way specifically for this.

"There shouldn't be anything else worth crying about, right? The next part should be the story of the father and daughter reconciling and living happily with Nagisa's will, right?"

Thinking this, Hiroki Suzuki continued clicking the mouse.

But the conversation that followed caught him completely off guard.

"I lost something very important today, and I'm really upset."

"So, Dad, listen to me..."

"Do I... no longer have to endure it?"

"Are you going to cry?"

"Yes, Sanae said it's a place where you can cry."

"Only the bathroom... and Daddy's arms."

Upon hearing Shio's crying voice coming from the computer, Suzuki Hiroki's tears flowed uncontrollably the next instant.

"Damn it!"

.....

Chiba Ichi-Jiu High School, during break time.

Three weeks have passed since Clannad was released.

"The online reputation has completely changed. When I went shopping last weekend, I saw long lines outside game stores, and it seemed like everyone was buying games made by my older brother."

Ruri Aragaki and Ayano were sitting on the rooftop, exchanging bento boxes and enjoying their lunch.

"Yes, now the dissatisfaction with visual novels has turned into a campaign against that guy alone."

Ling picked up a piece of tamagoyaki and stuffed it into her mouth.

The school arc of Clannad has a total playtime of about 20 hours. Due to limited release and the initial return controversy, it wasn't until a few days ago that many players started to complete the game.

After entering After Story, the word-of-mouth almost went through a complete reversal.

Takashiro Ryouna still feels lingering fear when she recalls the feeling of her nerves snapping and her tear ducts bursting when she saw Shio lying in the snow a few days ago after she finished posting the epilogue.

I almost cried myself to death.

Damn it, Ryosuke Takagi!

In order to achieve the perfect ending, she has been repeatedly playing through the AS storyline every night to collect light orbs, which means she has to watch those heartbreaking scenes repeatedly.

That persistent, dull ache is what makes this work so hurtful.

"I heard that we've received a lot of letters with cursed words at the company entrance, all targeting that guy."

"Huh? That's too much."

Ruri Aragaki looked incredulous.

It's just a game. Although the older brother is indeed a pervert, there's absolutely no need to curse him to die.

"That guy didn't seem to care, saying that the curse wasn't directed at him anyway. But it's understandable, considering he wrote such a cruel ending."

Is it cruel?

Ruri Aragaki looked puzzled.

To ensure she had common topics with Takashiro Ryouno, she deliberately spent time completing Clannad, building relationships with several of her favorite characters, and reaching the ending.

The stories about some of the characters are indeed quite touching, but they're not exactly cruel, are they?

In terms of sheer cruelty, she believes it pales in comparison to Fate/Zero.

"Ruri hasn't completed all the levels, has she? You need to collect all the Light Orbs in the Academy Arc to unlock it."

A mischievous smile appeared on Ling Nai's face, which she quickly concealed.

"Really? Can Ling Nai teach me?"

Ruri Aragaki immediately seized the opportunity to ask her friend for advice; she wouldn't let go of such a topic that could bring them closer.

It's all thanks to my older brother that I can chat with Ling Nai without having to play those 18+ works. That's wonderful.

The girl was completely unprepared and accepted Ling Nai's teachings, so much so that she started practicing them as soon as she got home that night, and paid a heavy price for it.

I almost cried myself unconscious after seeing that Nagisa Furukawa died during childbirth.

Chapter 128 Small Goal

Kobe, Phoenix Residence.

Saori sat beside a long dining table. Apart from the old gentleman sitting in the master bathroom, the only other people in the spacious dining room were servants.

"You've dragged this out long enough. We've already reached an agreement with the Murata family. They'll marry into your family and you'll inherit their wealth after the marriage. How long are you going to keep playing around outside?"

"It's been so long since I came back, and the Murata family's son has come more than ten times. It would be too impolite not to see him even once."

"Have you completely forgotten all the family values ​​I taught you since you were little?"

Saori looked at the old man in front of her. His face was filled with anger, but there was also a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

He is the head of this family and her father, Phoenix Inu no Munema.

“I’ve answered that many times already, old man.”

Saori remained calm. "I will not marry anyone you arrange. If that's a prerequisite for inheriting the family business, I'd rather not have it."

"Then why did you come back? Did you come here just to annoy me?"

Phoenix Inu no Munema clutched his chest.

Seeing Zongzhen's condition, the butler Iwata, who had been standing by for a long time, skillfully handed him a few white pills and helped him take them.

"I just recently had a feeling that you were dead, so I came back to see you."

Phoenix Inu Saori waved her hand dismissively, saying things against her will without batting an eye.

Actually, it's because after reading Ryosuke's entire script, I suddenly felt like I could understand my father.

The same thing happened to Saori Hououin: her mother died early, and her father raised her alone.

The fatherly love portrayed by Naoyuki Okazaki in the script reminded her of the time she spent with her father when she was a child, which is why she took a leave of absence to come back and stay for a while.

Before she came of age, she had a good relationship with her father. It was only after she reached marriageable age that they started to fall out due to differences in their beliefs.

Her interests lie more in the internet and ACG-related fields, and her unwillingness to follow arrangements is, to some extent, also an unwillingness to take the path arranged by her family.

I've been staying at home for a month or two recently, and although I've come to understand some things, I still can't get along with my father's personality.

"I plan to leave in a few days because I've also become a shareholder in other companies. Until things improve, I won't be involved in the family business for the time being."

"Anyway, your uncle and nephew's families are all eyeing those positions, aren't they? Just have them do things for you."

Saori got up, preparing to leave the dining table.

"You bastard! Listen to what you're saying!"

After swallowing the pill, Phoenix Inu no Munema's mood had improved considerably, but upon hearing her words, he immediately flew into a rage again.

"I've worked hard for most of my life to lay the foundation for you to stand at the top of society. Instead of taking over, you're helping others run their companies. Are you crazy?"

Saori stopped in her tracks.

"Isn't that a transaction? Selling a marriage for the family business as a condition for something. You and Mother have already done that once, old man, haven't you?"

"Now, things that I know will not bring me happiness are being imposed upon me."

Upon hearing his daughter mention his deceased wife, Hououin Sōzō, who had been angry, immediately calmed down.

He loved his wife so much that he never remarried after she passed away.

"You don't want to get married because of that guy outside, right?"

Saori frowned when her father mentioned Ryosuke.

Once the company is registered, this kind of information is not difficult to investigate. With the Phoenix Inu family's capabilities, they can find out the truth very quickly.

"Since you've put it this way, I don't want to force you. If that boy is willing to marry into the family, I can agree to your marriage, but he must be brought here so I can see him first."

Phoenix Inu no Munema tried to calm himself down.

As the man got older, he became less able to control his anger, but since he only had one daughter, he had no choice but to give in.

"He will not agree to marry into the family."

Phoenix Inu Saori answered without even thinking.

It's impossible for someone as talented as Shi Yuze to marry into his family. Saori doesn't even need to confirm with him to give an answer.

If I were to make that choice, the other person might reject me from the very beginning.

That's why she hesitated to take the final step several times.

It's better not to start than to put him in a difficult position.

"What a joke! Do you expect me to marry you down? I would never agree to that. He's just a young boy."

Phoenix Institute's Munema was so angry that he blew his beard and glared.

"Wouldn't it be fine once he reaches the same level as you?"

Saori left her seat and walked out of the restaurant in her high heels.

"What did you say?"

"I said, wouldn't it be enough if Aniplex reached the same level as Shibaura?"