At the dinner table, Nakayama Miyuki, seated beside the head of the table, added another spoonful of stewed pork and potatoes to Eri's bowl.
Eri quickly pressed her hand over the bowl.
"Mom, that's really enough. If I eat any more, the baby will be too heavy."
"There's no harm in eating a bit more," Miyuki said, setting down the spoon. Her gaze shifted to Takuya Nakayama, who was busy serving Kazuki. "What time's the flight tomorrow?"
"Two in the afternoon."
"When will you be back?"
"The exhibition ends on the 11th. I'll be home by the 13th at the latest."
Miyuki didn't respond immediately. She slowly sipped her soup, set the bowl down, and then said, "Ten days again. You just went at the beginning of the year. Eri's pregnant, and you're still running off every day."
Takuya's chopsticks froze midway to serving food. He looked helpless.
"Mom—"
"I didn't say you couldn't go," Miyuki said, her tone gentle but her words clear. "Eri is pregnant and staying at home, and Kazuki is here too. With you on a business trip, the three women at home can take turns looking after things—we won't be short-handed. But think about it: Eri needs you most right now, and you're constantly flying off for work."
Kazuki, seated in his high chair, tilted his head to listen to the adults. He was poking at the rice in his bowl with his chopsticks when Takuya reached over and straightened them.
"Mom, I really can't get out of this work obligation. E3 is the first-ever gaming industry expo led by Sega. If I don't attend..."
"What about that trip to New York before? Was that really necessary? You didn't even ring the bell."
Takuya had no rebuttal for this. The New York trip could have been fully handled by Director Hoshino and Director Sugiura; he had insisted on going because he didn't trust them to handle it alone.
Hayao had been silent, his head bent over his meal.
Hearing this, he set down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"Your mother is right."
Takuya turned to his father.
Hayao picked up his teacup and took a sip, speaking slowly and deliberately.
"You absolutely have to go to the first E3. That's non-negotiable. But you need to learn one thing: delegate what your subordinates can handle. You're currently the Executive Managing Director, and you're about to move up higher. At that level, your job is to set the direction and make the final decisions, not to personally monitor every single screw on the factory floor."
He paused, then added, "You know better than I do how Zhuge Liang died. By trying to do everything himself, he exhausted himself, and Shu Han didn't survive. Don't follow that path."
Takuya Nakayama didn't argue.
He knew his father was telling the truth.
Over the past six months, Sega's operations had expanded exponentially: the IPO of Silicon Valley Online, preparations for E3, the expansion of the Mexican factory, and the global launch of Jupiter. He wanted to oversee every detail personally, which resulted in a packed schedule. If he hadn't been slack on the side, he would have been completely worn out.
"Dad, are you flying again tomorrow?" Kazuki suddenly interjected.
"Yes."
"Where to?"
"Los Angeles."
"Is it far?"
"A bit far."
Kazuki thought for a moment, then picked out a piece of fried pork cutlet from his bowl. He held his chopsticks out to Takuya, holding the pork cutlet in mid-air.
"Take this with you. The food on the plane isn't good."
The pork cutlet wobbled precariously on the chopsticks, threatening to fall onto the table.
Takuya Nakayama quickly opened his mouth and caught it.
"Thanks, Mr. Kazuki."
Kazuki, looking pleased, lowered his head and continued eating.
Eri watched the father and son's exchange, her lips twitching. She turned to Miyuki and said, "Mom, Takuya is actually doing much better than most people."
Miyuki looked at her daughter-in-law.
Eri put down her chopsticks and spoke earnestly, "Except for business trips, he finishes work at six almost every day. He never takes work calls at home or handles official business there. No matter how busy he is, he always sets aside a full day on the weekend to spend with Kazuki. Last year, when Kazuki had a fever, it was Takuya who got up at three in the morning to take his temperature, give him medicine, and change his cold compresses. When I offered to help, he pushed me back under the covers and told me not to move."
She paused.
"Many of my friends are married into wealthy families, but I've never seen anyone do what Takuya does."
Miyuki listened without comment.
She looked at Eri for two seconds, then at her son, finally settling her gaze on Kazuki, who was intently focused on his meal.
"I know you're protecting him," Miyuki's tone softened. "I'm not trying to stop him from working. It's just that seeing you alone at home... it weighs on my heart."
"Mom, I'm really fine," Eri said with a smile. "With you and Aunt Keiko taking care of me at home, I'm so comfortable I almost forget I'm pregnant."
Nakayama Hayao tapped the table twice, bringing the conversation back to the matter at hand.
"Alright, we've covered everything. In Los Angeles, handle your business quickly and come back as soon as the exhibition is over. Don't linger there. After this, there's nothing that requires your personal attention. Let Koguchi and the others step in. Your most important task now isn't just at the company, but right here at this table."
Takuya Nakayama nodded. "Understood."
Kazuki, who had already finished his meal, slid down from his high chair and ran to Takuya, tugging at his sleeve.
"Daddy, come play with my blocks after you're done! We haven't finished building that castle you taught me last time."
"Sure," Takuya said, wiping his mouth as he stood up.
Kazuki immediately grabbed his hand and ran toward the living room, chattering about how they were going to build the castle so high it reached the ceiling today.
Eri watched the father and son's retreating figures. Kazuki tugged on Takuya's hand, bouncing along, while Takuya stumbled slightly under the pull. The difference in their heights cast long and short shadows under the hallway lights.
Miyuki began clearing the dishes.
Eri stood up to help, but Miyuki gently pushed her back down.
"Sit down."
"Mom..."
"Sit down."
Eri had no choice but to sit back down.
She turned her head towards the living room, where Kazuki's excited shouts were already audible, punctuated by Takuya's deliberately lowered voice mimicking monster roars.
Nakayama Hayao stood in the dining room doorway, listening to the commotion in the living room, and shook his head.
"He's thirty-two, but he acts like he's four."
Despite his words, he didn't hesitate to walk toward the living room.
Within five minutes, the sound of blocks crashing down echoed from the living room, followed by Kazuki's shriek, Takuya's booming laughter, and Hayao's booming voice:
"This isn't right. The walls need a foundation first. Neither of you knows how to build. Move aside, I'll do it."
June 1st, 10 AM Tokyo time. Takuya Nakayama stopped by Sega Headquarters to sign some pending approval forms he'd been waiting for. After a fifteen-minute call with Oguchi Hisao to confirm the status of materials in Los Angeles, he headed straight for Narita Airport.
The entourage was substantial.
The producers of several games being showcased accompanied him, along with technical support and translators. Sega booked over a dozen plane tickets for the group.
In the departure lounge, the group occupied half a row of seats, with luggage racks overflowing with equipment cases bearing the Sega logo.
Please Support me by becoming my patreon member and get 30+ chapters.
[email protected]/Ajal69
change @ with a
Thank You to Those who joined my Patreon