Tokyo: Oreimo

Meanwhile, NHK has reported that it is mass-producing Blu-ray DVDs and expects to begin pre-sales within a month after the official broadcast ends.

These are all positive developments. Given the longevity of this work, if it is managed well, the profit from peripheral products alone could reach more than 10 times the production cost.

The company currently has ample funds in its accounts. After more than a year of sales, "FSN" has finally stabilized at 110,000 copies sold, while "Clannad" is still in a stable sales period, having already sold more than 60,000 copies.

Excluding taxes, the revenue from these two games alone exceeds 6 million yen. Adding in royalties from music, comics, novels, etc., and deducting the costs of operating the company and producing animation, the current disposable funds are around 8 million yen.

Ryosuke felt that it was no easy feat to stabilize the company so quickly. In any case, the whole team had worked hard for more than half a year and deserved a reward.

"Team building activities? Where should we go?"

Ling Nai's eyes lit up when she heard Ryosuke's suggestion.

Although the Takashiro family is not poor, due to the nature of Takashiro Isao's job, his holidays are very unstable, and he can't spend time with his daughter who is in school.

Therefore, for Ling Nai, traveling has been a rare occurrence since she was a child.

Moreover, this is especially true for team building activities.

"Then we'll have to ask Director Saito to gather the opinions of the company members, and tentatively, we'll decide to do it within the country."

This kind of activity is, of course, a democratic vote.

News of the team-building celebration quickly spread throughout Aniplex, with cheers echoing throughout the offices.

Many members gathered together to discuss their opinions, and the atmosphere was quite relaxed.

Finally, just before the end of the workday, Ritsu Saito collected the opinions and handed them over to Ryosuke.

"There are many activities that interest me, but it doesn't seem difficult to choose."

Looking at the numerous suggestion slips scattered across the conference room table, at least half of them were for the same activity.

——Hot spring travel.

After a period of intense and tiring work, do you really want to relax?

"Hey~ Not bad, I think that would be good too."

"It's decided!" Ling Nai put her hands on her hips and slammed her hand on the table. "Aniplex's first company-wide team building activity is officially on the agenda!"

"Hey, when do we leave?"

The blonde girl was incredibly excited and turned to look at Ryosuke, looking eager to try it out.

Ryosuke looked at her speechlessly, "Have you forgotten that you're still a high school student?"

"Huh?"

"What? Wasn't this a group activity?"

Takashiro Ryou immediately objected, "You could have asked the school for leave."

"You can't convince your parents about something like that, right? Or are you already prepared to be interrogated by your father? Skipping school and going on a trip."

"You're so annoying."

After being doused with a bucket of cold water by Ryosuke, Ling Nai sat in the chair, looking annoyed and throwing a little tantrum.

She'd been looking forward to it all afternoon, and now she's being told she can't participate?

"I'll leave the specifics to Director Saito. As for the hot spring trip, I'd like to keep it to three days or less. You can decide on the location. During the rest of the week, the staff can explore the surrounding area on their own, and the company will cover the expenses."

Ritsu Saito nodded. "I'll make the arrangements as soon as possible, but doesn't the president plan to attend the celebration banquet?"

“Yeah, that’s right,” Takashiro Ryouno chimed in from the side, “That’s just outrageous!”

Ryosuke tilted his head and chuckled, "I never said I wouldn't go."

He turned to look at the girl, a slight smile playing on his lips.

My younger sister's feelings are always written on her face. If I don't let her go, she might be angry for days.

"Because we have to go to class, even if we were to go, it would be after school next Friday. There are no holidays recently."

"So, we went too, right?"

Upon hearing this, Ling Nai immediately perked up.

"Of course, this way it's easier to explain to my parents that I'm just going out with friends, and it won't interfere with my studies."

"What? So you were just teasing me on purpose?"

Takashiro Ryou couldn't help but bare her teeth, like an angry little tiger.

Ryosuke grinned.

No, it's your imagination.

Chapter 168 "White Album 2 (Trial version)"

After setting the date for the team building activity, Ryosuke handed over all the arrangements to Ritsu Saito.

The members will arrange these things themselves; as the president, he only needs to be present.

Before team building activities, you need to finish up any unfinished work.

For example, the release of the demo version of White Album 2 did not involve much work. After the songs and music recorded by Shizuka Hayakawa were available, it had already entered the testing phase.

The promotional campaign started at the beginning of the month, and now all that's left is for the CDs to arrive.

On Monday, Ryosuke received the master copy of the demo version from Saori Hououin.

"Thank you for your hard work. I've already contacted Mr. Yamazaki and the game store."

"Then I'll relax for a few days, Shi Yuze."

As she was leaving, Phoenix Inu Saori winked at him and said, "I'll be waiting for you at the hot spring inn."

"Okay, I'll arrive before the celebration banquet starts."

Ryosuke nodded.

"You don't seem very excited about this trip?"

Phoenix Inu Saori crossed her arms over her chest, while the other hand rested on the tip of her chin as she looked thoughtfully at Ryosuke.

"Hmm? It's alright, because there's still a lot of work to be done."

To be honest, Ryosuke was indeed not very interested in team building, just as the other party said. He still had three works to work on, especially "Is This a Zombie?" and "White Album 2".

The former is scheduled to begin serialization next month, and he hasn't yet provided the subsequent NAME to Arina Haruba. Given that manga artist's writing speed, the latest deadline is early November.

Otherwise, she definitely wouldn't have had time to finish the manuscript before the second issue was published.

The White Album already has a projected release date, and if he wants to finish production before Christmas, his script must be completed before December no matter what.

If it weren't for the requirement to attend as the president of the company, and Ling Nai's considerable anticipation for the event, he would have preferred to stay home and write his manuscript.

"Really? Then I'll create some anticipation for you."

Phoenix Inu Saori chuckled, her bright red lips curving into a beautiful arc.

"Ok?"

Ryosuke looked up at the other person.

"I heard that Saito said the location he's chosen this time is Ureshino in Kyushu, which is famous for its hot springs."

"So?" Ryosuke didn't understand what the other person meant.

Phoenix Inu Saori smiled with narrowed eyes, "And I heard there's mixed-gender bathing."

"?"

Ryosuke was taken aback.

"Hehe, I'll prepare well. Let's soak in the hot springs together when you arrive."

"It's really embarrassing to be so open with someone before you're even married."

“…”

Shy? Ryosuke didn't see a trace of shyness on the other person's face; instead, he saw more teasing.

Phoenix Inu Saori extended two slender fingers to her lips, blew him a kiss, and then turned and left.

"This guy..."

Ryosuke gave a wry smile.

His longtime business partner thoroughly enjoyed making fun of him.

The idea of ​​being completely honest with each other... Although Ryosuke had never thought of it before, hearing it mentioned by the other person naturally made his mind start to wander uncontrollably.

"She's probably still joking... right?"

......

In the last week of October, Aniplex completely shut down because Ryosuke gave his employees a day off.

However, there is no important work to arrange at the moment.

Uncle Yamazaki's CD burners are all running at full capacity. Having had previous experience working together, he specially added a batch of equipment for this purpose, and his business is much bigger than before.

As a result, production speed has also increased.

In just three days, tens of thousands of demo game discs were burned and delivered to the delivery address designated by Ryosuke.

Thursday morning at 7:00 AM.

MESSE SANOH Game Store.

Eiji Miura unloaded two boxes, each about half his height, from the truck and placed them at the store entrance.

"Young people are so much more agile. If I had to lift this size off the ground, my back would definitely give out."

The one speaking was the middle-aged man next to him, named Kenji Yamashita.

Given the current socio-economic situation, finding a suitable job is not easy.

Having graduated with a liberal arts degree, he was unable to find a decent job after leaving university and could only make a living by doing odd jobs.

Working as a clerk at this game store is one of his part-time jobs.

Regardless of his hobbies, he had never even played games before; he only came here because the hourly wage was 1,300 yen, and he only had to do some manual labor occasionally.