Interview Room
I don't know anything about programming.
Should I really be an interviewer?
It won't be an issue. I know the applicant's skill level.
Think of this as a personality assessment.
Interview Room
Please, come in.
Huh?
Pardon me!
Nenecchi?!
A-Aocchi?! Why are you here?
Excuse me, "Aocchi"? You are in an interview right now.
Oh!
Suzukaze-san...
Yes, that is correct.
Wh-What's going on here?
Are they messing with me?!
Please introduce yourself.
Oh, right.
I'm Sakura Nene from Kirara Women's University.
Please, have a seat.
Thank you.
I-Is something wrong?
N-No. It's just, you're being so mindful of your manners.
First, let's hear why you applied for this job.
Do I really have to say that in front of Ao—Suzukaze-san?
Is your motivation something Suzukaze-san shouldn't hear?
No, but...
Um... When I worked part-time debugging at your company last year,
the atmosphere and approach to your projects left a deep impression on me,
and encouraged me to apply for a programming position here.
Wow. I had no idea you'd been thinking about that.
This is so awkward!
But does their doing this mean I'm already as good as hired?
No, hang on! This is Umiko-san we're talking about.
It's got to be some kind of trap!
Nenecchi!
When Aocchi's around, I...
I... let my guard down!
I've gotcha!
Game Over
That's right! The moment I take this lightly, it's all over!
Suzukaze-san.
Do you have any questions for Sakura-san?
Um... When did you first consider working for our company?
A canned response won't work on them.
T-To be honest, I simply found the debugging work fun,
so I was just hoping I could do it again.
But... But then I heard you'd stopped hiring part-time debuggers,
so mostly on a whim, I started doing some programming.
Doing so helped me understand the incredible devotion
that Ao—Suzukaze-san and her team put into making their games.
The experience of creating my own game
naturally inspired me to want to work here again!
Thank you.
Suzukaze-san, do you have anything else?
N-No, not right now.
Well then, Suzukaze-san, thank you. You may take your leave.
Wait, me?!
If you'll excuse me...
Nenecchi, do your best!
Now the real interview begins!
Congratulations.
Huh?
You did well to stay on your toes.
You pass, Sakura-san.
Since you're still a student,
per your request, we'd like to offer you
a three-month part-time contract working three days a week to start with.
Thank you so much!
However, I should warn you about a few things.
You are not yet up to the skill level required of a programmer at our company.
But in light of your enthusiasm and how fast you've learned,
I talked to the president and obtained approval to hire you.
For the time being, you'll be given training assignments and odd jobs.
It might be rough for you, given your current lack of skill.
However...
Listen well, because I'm only going to say this once.
I have high hopes for you right now, Sakura-san.
For now, focus your efforts on getting your contract renewed in three months.
No one's ever said they had high hopes for me before in my life!
I won't let you down!
Aocchi!
I passed!
Already?!
Huh? Nene-chan, you're joining the company?
Yes!
I'll be starting part-time, but I look forward to working with everyone!
Congratulations, Nenecchi!
Thanks, Aocchi.
Ah, Aocchi, is that...
Huh?
You're really doing character design!
Can I have a look?
S-Sure...
So PECO was you!
The gaming magazine credited Yagami-san, so I thought I'd guessed wrong.
It was decided that Yagami-san would do the key visuals for the adverts,
whereas I'm the internal designer.
That's amazing, Aocchi! You've moved up so much!
Huh?
It's got your dark, surreal touch. Such a fun style!
What's the matter, Aocchi?
It's nothing.
You couldn't have come at a better time, Nenecchi.
Is it still bugging you? You're going to ruin your pretty face.
If only I had more power, I could have fought the company's decision!
I'll make sure PECO sells, no matter what!
I'm counting on you.
I'll make sure...
So tonight, I'm gonna drink the night away!
Okay, okay. I'll keep you company.
But!
Thanks to that key visual,
offers are pouring in from magazines that want to cover the game!
It was a job well done!
It sure was.
But it was a job handled in the worst way.
After what happened, the character team must hate me.
How am I supposed to ask them for promo art now?
I know a trick that'll get you on the character team's good side.
Would you like to give it a try, meow?
Charm
I put all of my love in this,
so know you're in good hands and go get 'em!
And when you return triumphant,
I expect a passionate embrace...
Toyama-san, if you would adjust the schedule.
Certainly...
Charm
Hey, stop that!
Mozuku-chan, I'm working right now, okay?
Come on. I'll play with you later.
Yagami-san, do you have a moment?
With the buzz after the reveal, numerous companies have sent us offers.
Requests for PECO official art
I don't mind doing exclusive art, but isn't this a bit much?
My job is to make games.
As well as to promote them.
They've allocated pages for us with the expectation of your exclusive art.
I've made sure both the deadlines and compensation will be quite generous.
H-Hang on a sec.
I'm sorry.
So, what do you say?
Fine. If they want art, they'll get it.
This is gonna mess up my groove.
Thank you. That's a load off my mind.
They really do hate me.
If you'll excuse me.
Oh, sure.
What happened?
Catnip?
Are you all right?
Oh, pardon me.
Thank you.
No problem.
P-Please, stay away!
I-I'm sorry...
Oh...
It's just, um...
I'm not comfortable with people touching or getting too close to me.
I'm sorry.
Oh, I see.
I'm sorry, I had no idea...
It's fine. I appreciate your understanding.
Um, Yamato-san, your full name is Yamato Christina Wako-san, right?
Huh? Y-Yes, it is.
I'm half-French, on my mother's side.
Your mother's French?
Oh, my friend said that they greet people by kissing.
Right...
They do, indeed...
Sh-Should I not have mentioned that?
It's just, my family back in France, especially my younger sister,
are overly fond of greetings, so you can imagine....
I see.
So you came to Japan by yourself?
Yes. My love of Japanese video games brought me here.
My sister is also making games in France.
What kind of games?
Well, they're working on a VR game about exploring ancient towns.
Good sales
Welcome back. How'd it go?
Yagami-san accepted the promo art job.
Now, you know that's not what I meant.
Are you on the character team's good side now?
Yes. You were a big help.
Thank you, Mozuku.
That's no fair, Mozuku! She's never even kissed me before!
And I never will.
S-So I'm finally going to be a s-senpai?
Congrats, Aoba-chan!
As if you're not equally worked up about it, Hajime.
Wh-Wh-What if they're older?
You'll just have to wait and see.
'Course, I already know.
Oh, but this cubicle is already fully occupied.
And seating the newbie next to me will just make them nervous.
The best option would be to have someone here move.
W-Wait a sec! As the sole motion team member here, I'd be the prime candidate!
It's gonna feel lonely, with the rambunctious one gone.
So it's a done deal?!
W-Would you really be okay with me leaving, Yun?
Huh? I-I wouldn't not be unbothered by it...
So which is it?
Why not put their seat in the middle of the cubicle?
What is that, hazing?
Let's just rock-paper-scissors.
Um...
Yeah. That's most fair.
U-Um...
Okay! Rock, paper...
Um!
Uh, u-um...
I can... go sit next to Ko-chan.
Well, that's probably best. Hifumin is the team leader, after all.
Still, it'll be kinda lonely without you.
No, it'll be okay.
I'll come by every day... to check on your progress.
E-Er, you can come by without a reason!
A new person, huh?
I can't wait to meet them!
SuFamitsu
What's wrong, Momo?
PECO's designs don't look like Yagami Ko-san's.
Huh? How so?
I mean, she's the one credited, right?
Yeah. But they just look...
kinda dumb?
Isn't it great that we both got to come here as interns?
Suzuran
Yeah.
E-Excuse me!
Could you two be Eagle Jump's new hires?
Yes, we are.
Oh, I knew it! My name is Suzukaze Aoba, and I work here!
N-Nice to meet you...
Come on, Momo! Don't mumble when you greet someone.
My name is Narumi Tsubame!
We came from Tokyo Game School to start our internships today.
This here is Mochizuki Momiji. It's nice to meet you.
I totally get it. Everyone's nervous at first.
She never changes...
Are you two friends?
Yes. We're the same age and grew up together.
I'm studying to become a programmer, and Momo...
Mochizuki Momiji wants to work in graphics.
Really? Then Mochizuki-san will probably be on the character team with me.
She reminds me of Hifumi-senpai.
Um...
Y-Yes?
Are school uniforms the company dress code?
No, this is a suit!
I-I'm sorry.
No, it's okay.
I've kind of gotten used to wearing this,
but everyone else dresses casually.
Sorry, I'm not used to having people newer than me.
Mochizuki-san!
May I ask... how old you are?
I'm 19.
We're the same age!
Oh, please wait here a moment.
Though it should be safe at this hour.
What's this?
Is there something she's ashamed to have seen?
A PECO poster? And illustrations I haven't seen before.
Plus, a lot of character design sheets...
Could this be Yagami Ko-san's desk?
Sorry! Sometimes she'll be sleeping there,
and I didn't want to ruin your first impression of her.
But no worries today.
And who might you be talking about?
Oh, Yagami-san!
Yagami Ko-san!
You're Mochizuki-san, right? And are you the programmer girl?
I'm Narumi Tsubame. It's a pleasure to meet you.
I-I came here because I want to become a character designer like you, Yagami-san!
I'm Mochizuki Momiji!
That's just like me! Let's both do our best!
Huh? S-Sure...
Oh, yeah. Would you like something to drink?
We have coffee and black tea.
I'll take some tea!
Same... No sugar, please.
If you want sugar, don't feel ashamed to ask.
Like the girl who couldn't drink coffee black, but asked for it anyway?
Not everyone's like you, Aoba.
Hey! Please don't say that in front of the new people.
I'll go pour some tea.
Sorry she's so overexcited.
The thought of having people newer than her has gone to Aoba's head.
It's fine. She seems like a nice person.
Well, we've got some time before everyone else arrives, so just take it easy.
Is this not your desk, Yagami-san?
That's Aoba's desk.
I-I see.
I just saw all the character design sheets...
Yeah. That's because that's Aoba's job.
Aoba is PECO's main character designer.
I'm the art director, and I do the key visuals.
Sorry. I can see how the weird advertising tactics might have misled you.
I-It's fine...
So that girl was the main character designer?
Didn't she say we were the same age?
I see...
That explains the dumb look that I knew wasn't Yagami Ko-san's.
But I can't deny they're good designs.
Aoba... Aoba...
What was her family name? I can never remember.
I think it was Suzu-something...
Oh, yeah!
Suzumiya Aoba!
I'll remember it now.
Uh-oh. Now she's all fired up.
I'm back!
Um... Huh?
Suzumiya Aoba! Suzumiya Aoba! Suzumiya Aoba!
Grrrr...
All of a sudden, I'm sensing a very intense gaze.
Thank you for the tea!
Oh, sure! This one's yours, Narumi-san.
So this one must be Momo's.
Here, Momo.
Huh? Oh, right...
Man, a character designer in your second year? That's amazing!
Not at all! I've still got a ways to go.
When did you start studying art?
So sweet!
Oh, did I mix them up?!
No, I did it to mess with her.
Sorry.
Way to ruin my tea and my moment.
Suzumiya-san, I'm not going to lose.
Um... My name is Suzukaze.
Huh?!
Oh, boy. This is gonna get messy.