This winter, let's do it together—smash the ice blocks!
The sound of the TV commercial was still blaring, but it had already faded into background noise, quickly drowned out by cheers.
At HAL Laboratory—or rather, within Atlus Studio's Second Development Division—the moment the phone call came in, the place erupted into excitement.
This was HAL Laboratory's first time independently completing a home console title, finished under the name of Atlus's Second Development Division. No one had expected it to succeed—and yet, it had.
Satoru Iwata pressed one hand over the receiver to make sure Kobayashi Tetsu on the other end wouldn't be disturbed, then looked toward everyone in the Second Development Division.
"Everyone," he announced, "I just got a call from the president. Ice Block Smash sold sixty thousand copies in its first week!"
"Banzai!" The studio burst into cheers.
After all, the Second Development Division wasn't the main headquarters. Achieving this level of success was already remarkable.
Iwata continued, "The president gave us high praise for our work. He also shared some major news—Atlus plans to move into a skyscraper office building soon, and when that happens, the Second Development Division will be moving along with them!"
"Banzai!"
Another wave of cheers followed.
From a temporarily rented apartment to a proper skyscraper—soon they'd be commuting through the CBD, people who could wear suits and ties to work.
Iwata exchanged a few more words with Kobayashi Tetsu before hanging up and turning back to the group.
"Lastly, the president said the entire Second Development Division is to take one week off, and then wait for the planning of the next project."
Amid the cheers, Iwata set down the phone, feeling a quiet swell of emotion.
What Kobayashi Tetsu had actually said was that after the vacation, they would remain on standby for now—and if he himself had a project, they could wait for his own proposal.
Iwata didn't have any concrete ideas yet, but he could sense a certain trust in those words. It made his throat tighten with emotion.
The sales of this game were already impressive. Compared to a year earlier, when first-week sales barely broke ten thousand units, Ice Block Smash achieving this result as the platform grew was extraordinary. Even the phrase "a work by Satoru Iwata" was starting to carry real weight.
Back then, he had turned down offers from large companies to join Masahito Tanimura's HAL Laboratory out of loyalty and friendship, nearly severing ties with his family in the process. For three long years afterward, he had achieved little, and had been too ashamed to face them.
But now, things were different.
Iwata took a deep breath and made up his mind.
This year, he would go back to see his family—and bring a copy of the game with him.
A work by Satoru Iwata.
Just as he turned around to share this thrilling news with his friends, he suddenly caught sight of Masahito Tanimura's expression. His heart gave a jolt and clenched tightly.
He knew exactly what that look meant.
Masahito Tanimura was unhappy.
As early as their days playing games together at the arcade, Iwata had noticed this about him—his emotions showed plainly. If he was about to lose, he would get furious; if his opponent was too strong, he would grow especially irritated.
Iwata knew how to deal with it. As long as he held back a little, Tanimura would calm down again.
"Director," Iwata said, bowing slightly and lowering his posture. "This success couldn't have happened without your usual supervision. Please decide the next steps."
"Why ask me to decide?" Tanimura replied coldly. "Go ask the president. Go on."
Iwata froze for a moment, unable to process it.
"Director? No—Tanimura, what do you mean by that?"
He felt a trace of grievance.
He could understand why Tanimura felt this way, but he also felt he hadn't done anything wrong.
This had been a work requirement. Because he had development experience, he was asked to lead the team in creating this title. During that time, he had worked tirelessly, never backing down, doing everything that needed to be done. That was how HAL's first successful title had come to be.
"Tanimura," Iwata bowed again. "For the next project, please continue to take charge."
But he didn't see much satisfaction on Tanimura's face. Instead, Tanimura only showed a complicated expression—one that stirred an inexplicable irritation.
Iwata could only bow once more before turning back to the others.
Tanimura sat there, his breathing still heavy, bitterness churning in his chest.
"So earlier you didn't think of letting me decide, and only now you say something like this? It makes it look like you've been wronged, and I'm the villain. What, did I bully you? Did I force you to back down? Playing the good guy at a time like this—do you even have any respect for me?"
Tanimura desperately wanted to grab Kobayashi Tetsu and shout at him.
I'm the head of the Second Development Division! If there's work, it should be given to me! Let me do it—I can do it just as well!
Before that thought could fade, the phone suddenly rang.
He lunged forward and answered it before Iwata could.
"Hello, hello, this is Masahito Tanimura—"
As soon as he heard Kobayashi Tetsu's voice on the other end, Tanimura snapped to attention.
"You're coming over now? No problem at all! Everyone's here at HAL Laboratory—we're ready!"
He hung up and turned to the group.
"Everyone! President Kobayashi is coming to HAL Laboratory in person!"
They exchanged looks, momentarily unsure how to react.
Tanimura flared up. "What are you all standing around for? Do something! Show some spirit—get ready to welcome the president!"
Only then did the staff of the Second Development Division react, hurriedly returning to their computers.
There wasn't actually any work to do—they just tapped at their keyboards, pretending to be busy.
Tanimura adjusted his collar, straightened his tie, and smoothed his hair, doing his best to present a sharp, professional appearance.
Iwata moved to stand beside him as well.
Before long, Kobayashi Tetsu arrived at the Second Development Division with Yuji Naka.
Naka had been here once before, so the reunion felt familiar.
Kobayashi Tetsu stepped forward and shook hands with Masahito Tanimura and Satoru Iwata.
"Tanimura, Iwata—this project was very well done. For a studio completing a full home console development cycle for the first time, the Second Development Division has fulfilled its mission admirably."
He gestured behind him, and Yuji Naka brought something forward—a small trophy that jingled when lifted. Beneath the box lay a neatly folded check.
"This bonus is to commend the contributions of the Second Development Division. It's not much—just two million yen."
Tanimura and Iwata hurriedly stepped to either side and held the trophy together.
They hadn't expected a bonus!
Something rattled inside the trophy. When they looked down, they realized it was a key.
"This is a personal gift from me to the Second Development Division," Kobayashi Tetsu said lightly. "It's the key to a Toyota AE86. From now on, it belongs to the Second Development Division."
A company asset—fuel costs reimbursed, no need to pay out of pocket.
Though Kobayashi Tetsu spoke casually, Tanimura's eyes lit up instantly.
It wasn't a luxury car, but a free car was still a free car.
After offering a few more words of encouragement, Kobayashi Tetsu departed.
What the staff cared about most was the two-million-yen bonus on that check.
Iwata, meanwhile, cradled the trophy.
Now he could finally go home and explain everything to his family.
He hadn't joined some fly-by-night company.
The company he had joined out of loyalty and friendship had now produced a successful work.
Tanimura, however, reached into the trophy and pulled out the car key.
This—that was the real prize.
"Iwata," Tanimura suddenly said, "this trophy is the crystallization of the efforts of everyone at HAL Laboratory. Naturally, it should be displayed in the studio for all to admire. You're not planning to keep it for yourself, are you?"
"Of course it should stay with the company. I have no objections," Iwata replied. "I just want to take it home briefly to show my parents—at least to reassure them that I haven't wasted these past years."
The days of being looked down on at home were finally coming to an end.
Please Support me by becoming my patreon member and get 15+ chapters.
[email protected]/Ajal69
change @ with a
Thank You to Those who joined my Patreon