Since both parties were willing to cooperate, DUN was generous with their investment and granted considerable creative freedom.
Aside from the requirement to make it a galgame, DUN wouldn't interfere with any aspect of Pokeni's production.
President Tsuda also promised that DUN would actively promote the game alongside Pokeni upon its release.
To be honest, if it weren't for the galgame requirement, Tsuda would have been an excellent investor.
Now that the decision was made, Aoki Haruhi had nothing more to say.
If we're going to do this, we have to do it the best we can.
Even if it's a galgame.
Originally, adapting Onmyoji into a galgame wouldn't have been a problem—it would simply be a dating sim where players could pursue beautiful girls.
What Aoki Haruhi feared most was that players would mistakenly perceive it as Huang Xiaoyou, making it a nightmare to clear up that stigma in the future.
"By the way, since everything went so smoothly today, it's getting late. How about we grab a drink together?"
Aoki Haruhi raised his hand and made a drinking gesture.
Ishino Mika and Senkawa Hiroichi exchanged glances, not immediately agreeing.
Remembering something, Aoki Haruhi added, "I'll treat you today, so don't worry about it."
In Japan, there's a workplace tradition where after-work drinks are common, with everyone staying out until late before going home. However, these are typically split evenly among everyone—even when the boss is present. Unless the boss explicitly offers to pay, everyone pays their own share, with no gender distinctions; women pay just as much as men.
This is very different from China.
Back in his Mihoyo days, Aoki Haruhi loved instigating after-work activities with his superiors, knowing they'd usually end up footing the bill.
"Thank you, President!"
The two immediately beamed.
The group found a nearby izakaya, ordered some dishes, and poured themselves drinks, their spirits lifting.
"This is great! I never expected the President of DUN to be such a straightforward person," Senkawa Hiroichi said, sipping his sake.
"I think you're just happy about getting to make a galgame, aren't you?" Ishino Mika retorted, her tone sharp.
But the galgame Senkawa envisioned was certainly not the same one Aoki Haruhi had in mind.
Most galgames on the market were essentially just "Huang Xiaoyou"—erotic visual novels. Aoki, however, imagined a galgame that was pure and flawless.
"Haha, you've seen right through me," Senkawa said, his face flushing as he scratched the back of his head. "But President Tsuda's character art is really beautiful. I was stunned when she showed it off earlier."
"Hmmph," Ishino paused for a moment before realizing. "Ew! Senkawa, you're obviously saying President Tsuda is good-looking, aren't you?"
"Ah, don't expose me," Senkawa said, covering his burning cheeks.
Aoki Haruhi shook his head.
If this guy hadn't been here today, we might have successfully secured DUN.
Still, it's hard to say. Tsuda Nao looks like a formidable woman; if she refused to invest in the end, it would have been a total loss.
"Chikawa, you seem to know a lot about women. Why haven't I ever seen you out on dates?" Aoki Haruhi took a sip of his drink.
"Not at all... I'm still single," Senkawa Hiroichi frowned, seemingly disheartened by the president's jab. "That's exactly why I have to entertain myself with games and videos."
Bitter wine burns the throat, and nights without her stretch endlessly in dreams.
Aoki Haruhi felt a pang of empathy. In his previous life working at Mihoyo, he'd been too busy to even consider dating.
"Games are the true source of happiness in life. What use are women anyway?" Aoki Haruhi raised his glass to clink against Senkawa's.
They drained their glasses in one go.
Ishino, sitting nearby, frowned deeply.
As expected, all men are cut from the same cloth. I thought the president might be different.
But... is the President implying that both Chikawa and I are single?
"That can't be right. Didn't you have many girlfriends before, President?"
Aoki Haruhi froze, feeling even more dejected. "That was my past self! What does that have to do with me now?!"
To be honest, the original owner of this body had been quite well-off during the bubble era, frequenting cheap bars and Ginza... but he'd never experienced any of that.
"Speaking of which," Chikawa slurred, downing another gulp of sake with flushed cheeks, "I never knew the President of DUN was a woman! And President Tsuda—have you noticed her figure? Absolutely top-notch!"
As he spoke, he wrapped his arms around his chest.
Ugh...
This guy was clearly drunk.
No matter how beautiful the President of DUN might be, it had nothing to do with him. From the look of her, President Tsuda was clearly the cold, aloof type—the kind of woman who wouldn't suit him at all.
It was 10:30 PM.
Aoki Haruhi struggled up the stairs, carrying Ishino on his back.
Both reeked of alcohol, but the alcohol in Aoki Haruhi had largely evaporated, leaving him drenched in sweat from the exertion.
This guy's alcohol tolerance is pathetic, he thought. She's barely had anything to drink and she's already a total mess.
"Ishino, do you know how heavy you are?"
"Nonsense... I'm not that heavy at all."
Ishino's eyes fluttered open slightly as she mumbled, "I just have... a big chest."
Tsk tsk.
She's getting bold now that she's drunk.
But she's not wrong.
Aoki Haruhi had already vaguely noticed this when Ishino wore loose white sweaters at the office.
If even baggy clothes couldn't hide it—
She might be even bigger than some of the teachers.
"Ishino, why do you live in a place without an elevator? Doesn't climbing the stairs tire you out?"
"President! Hic!"
Ishino let out a drunken burp on his back. Aoki Haruhi, afraid she might vomit, quickly set her down and patted her back.
She gagged for a moment but didn't throw up. Instead, she squinted and sat down on the ground with a grin.
"President, if you gave me a raise, I could afford an apartment with an elevator! Why don't you give me a raise?"
"Ah, you fucking..."
Aoki Haruhi raised his hand, seriously tempted to punch her in the face.
"Do you think the company money grows on trees?"
"Grows on trees? What do you mean?" Ishino Mika tilted her head.
"Never mind. You wouldn't understand even if I explained."
Aoki Haruhi crouched down again and hoisted her onto his back.
After climbing a few more flights of stairs, she complained, "President, you're crushing my chest. I can't breathe."
"You're just too big," Aoki Haruhi gritted out in response.
"President, how do you know that?"
Aoki Haruhi: "..."
If you weren't so big and I didn't worry about you, I would have left this drunken, babbling fool here long ago.
They climbed a bit further.
Ishino seemed to be half-asleep.
"Ishino?"
"Here, President."
She's still not asleep?
"Ishino, do you know? If a woman like you goes drinking with a guy with bad intentions, she might end up losing her virginity."
"Hmm?" Ishino hummed softly, still groggy.
"Fortunately, you met me today, a gentleman. Don't drink with anyone else in the future."
"President," Ishino murmured, her face pressed against his back, "why do you have to be such a gentleman?"
"Uh, well..."