20 days until the master!!
We're on the home stretch, meow~
I've implemented my assigned parts!
Good work. That was fast.
It was nothing!
Speed is highly valuable for a programmer.
It's worth being proud of.
Thank you!
Please continue the good work.
Will do!
Still stuck debugging, Sakura-san?
Yeah, that's right.
But right now, I'm reading code.
Oh, yeah.
I was looking at your code, and couldn't you shorten this part?
C-Crap. I'm gonna look less competent!
Oh, that part?
I was just thinking about fixing it.
Were you really?
Don't say things that'll make me look bad in front of Umiko-san!
What?! I was just trying to help you!
Umiko-san!
Gah! Is she tattling on me?!
Could I go study in the cafeteria for a change of pace?
That's fine, but make sure you don't fool around.
I won't!
You're only doing this on a whim anyway, so stay out of my way.
Correction Request
Code correction in mini game [Reason for correction] There was unnecessary code and it was inelegant.
People are so darn complicated.
Do you like that?
It's Momiji-chan.
Your muscles are so tense.
The character team seems strife-free. I'm jealous.
How's it going? Are you two on break, too?
Yes! And very well, thank you.
I'm studying!
Oh? You came all the way here to study?
Meaning...
Ahagon told you off?
Did not!
It was just uncomfortably tense at my desk.
Momiji-chan, what kind of person is Narucchi?
Naru?
She's flawless when it comes to housework, be it cleaning, laundry, or cooking.
She likes taking care of others, kinda like a dependable older sister.
Of course, she's Little Miss Perfect to everyone but me.
Naru's the only daughter of the owners of an inn back home in Hokkaido.
She was thoroughly trained in hospitality.
Wow. She'd be set even if she didn't become a programmer.
Yes.
They actually wanted her to eventually take over managing the inn.
Huh?
In fact...
Naru's parents are against her entering the game industry.
After pleading with them countless times,
they agreed to let her go to a vocational school.
But they don't send her any money,
so she had to do part-time work alongside school.
Wow. I had no idea Narucchi was working that hard.
Naru's always smiling, but she's had it really rough.
They made her agree that if she doesn't get hired by her first choice, Eagle Jump,
then she'll take over... the inn...
That was supposed to be a secret! Please forget about it!
Too late for that.
Why? Why is it a secret?
Because she's stubborn.
She said it'd be meaningless if she wasn't hired on pure skill.
She said she was going to get back at her mom
by becoming a programmer on her own merits.
I see. So that's why...
Well, I mean, she's always so driven.
She's a lot more laid-back, usually.
You don't have to worry about me telling Umiko,
but she's not the sort of kind soul who'd hire someone out of pity.
Not to mention, someone hired out of pity
will only suffer once they start falling behind the rest.
She's not the friendliest person, but she makes responsible decisions.
I see. But I know Naru will make it.
Hey, now. You're in the same boat, Momiji.
I'll do my best.
Did Aoba-san also do an internship?
Aoba was still in high school when we interviewed her,
so she was hired directly.
That's amazing. To go to an interview right out of high school.
Believe it or not, Aocchi had no direction until her third year of high school.
No way! Really?
Then she met Hotarun...
our classmate, Hoshikawa Hotaru, who she drew with in art club.
Aocchi got a lot more purposeful after that.
Hoshikawa Hotaru?
What was this Hoshikawa-san like? I'm so curious.
M-Me, too!
Oh, I have a picture!
She's the second from the right.
She's cute.
She looks very mellow.
So this Hoshikawa-san was Aoba's rival?
Hotarun was so good at art, it sometimes discouraged Aocchi.
Does that make her a rival?
Even Aoba-san gets discouraged?
Aoba's a normal human being, you know.
So, what did Hoshikawa-san end up doing?
She's in college right now.
She's studying at Hobun College of Fine Arts.
Aocchi also got accepted, but came here.
Can you believe she chose the workplace?
It's true, we were sad to part.
But we agreed that, even if we were apart,
we wouldn't be lonely if we devoted ourselves to the tasks at hand.
So we got by just fine.
But...
now that I'm at Eagle Jump, too, I feel sorta bad for Hotarun.
Sakura-san.
I-I was also studying.
I highly doubt that.
Never mind that. The programming team is having an emergency meeting,
so I need you to come as well.
Aw, what's going on?
Just come.
So even apart, you won't be lonely if you devote yourselves to something.
I think we've had long enough a break. Shall we get back to work?
Um, I have a question for you, too, Yagami-san.
Hm?
Do you have a teacher or a mentor, Yagami-san?
Me? If you're talking about art, then no.
That said, I try to learn from everyone.
Of course, that includes you, Momiji.
Huh? What have you learned from me?
It's a secret!
Now back to work. We're almost there!
Wait, Yagami-san, what is it?
Not telling!
Yes... Yes.
All right, please go ahead with that.
Oh, Yamato-san, there you are. Do you have a moment?
Did you need something?
I'd like to ask a favor of you.
What?! The parts Narucchi coded are full of bugs?
I thought she was having no trouble.
It appears that she didn't check them thoroughly enough.
I thought if one case worked, so would the rest, and didn't test them.
No wonder you seemed unusually fast.
Huh? Will everything be okay?
I skipped testing so I could show off my speed
We're figuring that out, hence the meeting.
and further guarantee I'd get hired.
I thought I'd been careful enough, but I must have rushed too much.
Thorough gameplay and certain sets of conditions turn up numerous bugs.
It's all over.
There weren't any when I played.
The dream I worked at so furiously for so long, gone up in smoke.
The rest of you, see if you can reproduce the issues.
Guess my mom was right. My only future is in the family business.
I'm sorry, Momo.
Worse, I've wasted not just my own, but everyone's time.
I've wasted everything.
It's all ruined!
We have to hurry up and fix them!
You can't give up just yet!
Sakura-san?
You said so yourself, Narucchi!
You don't leave mistakes be!
You're fast if you skip testing, right?
I'll help!
Don't forget, I'm a debugging pro.
Plus, now I know a thing or two about programming. Just leave it to me!
As much as I'd like to do that, given our schedule,
it'd be most realistic to cut some of Narumi-san's mini-games.
What?!
However, as my mismanagement is partly to blame,
I will assist as much as possible.
At any rate, start making corrections. I'll tell you what to prioritize.
We'll see how things go from there.
However, if it doesn't look feasible, some mini-games will be cut.
Understood?
Yes!
Here's the bug report.
Already? And this many?!
Yeah. They were all over the place.
I'm gonna flush them all out, so hang tight.
Why... Why are you even bothering with me?
Huh?
I thought you hated me.
After I said all of those awful things to you...
I did hate you.
But then I found out why you said all of those things.
Momiji-chan told me all about your family situation.
I'm a simple girl.
Once I heard that, I wanted you to succeed.
Considering how hard you work, it's no wonder I'd rub you the wrong way.
Sorry that I'm like this.
No...
Actually, when I saw how hard you worked on your board game,
I realized I'd misjudged you.
But I was too stubborn to take it back.
I'm so sorry, Sakura-san!
Oh, just call me Nenecchi!
Okay, Nenecchi!
We'll divide the next task as follows:
Narumi-san, start from here, and Sakura-san, start from here.
Do Do Donuts
We brought you a pick-me-up!
Thanks, Aocchi!
How much do you have left?
I'm too sleepy to figure it out...
Th-The bugs are all gone!
I was just dreaming...
Apparently not.
You mean...?
Yes.
Narucchi, wake up! We're all good!
You both worked very hard. Thank you.
Narumi Tsubame-san, though there were a number of issues, you pass.
If it's all right with you, we'd like you to continue working at our company.
You did it!
Thank you! I couldn't have done it without you, Nenecchi!
Thank you. Thank you!
That's not true. It was all your skill, Narucchi!
Nenecchi...
She's right. I accepted you based on skill.
I meant to scare you a bit, but I knew we would finish.
If all else failed, I'd have stepped in.
Hey! We were just feeling accomplished!
I'm joking. However, we still have some days before the master.
Let's stick it out to the end.
Right!
Oh yeah, what about me?
What? Do I even have to say it?
Please do!
We're renewing your contract.
Please keep up the good work for the next three months.
Congratulations.
We did it!
Must be nice for you, Mozuku-chan, lazing about all day.
Yagami-san, I asked for you, and they agreed quite readily.
Really? That's great.
Thank you.
I may have put you in touch, but personally, I'm opposed...
to you leaving Eagle Jump.
I've been thinking about this for a while.
Knowing someone with a connection to that company was a stroke of luck.
Oh, it's just you, Mozuku.
Don't scare me like that.
Did you get even heavier?
Ko-chan's... leaving?
Dossari
Welcome!
Please have a seat over there.
Ramen for lunch? That's not good for you.
Look who's talking!
Scallion ramen, please.
One scallion ramen, coming right up!
Coming right up!
How's it going with your two newbies?
Oh, they're quite endearing.
One acted nice but was catty behind my back.
Meow... Meow, meow.
The other never sits still, like an excitable dog.
I feel like I'm raising a dog and a cat at the same time.
Are they animals to you?
And yours?
Just quietly and efficiently churning out work.
And hey, she's good.
The funny part is, Aoba of all people is still struggling with how to approach her.
And are you trying to help, Ko-san?
No, not really.
I mean, Hifumin's their direct superior.
It's not really my place...
You have the silliest priorities.
What'd you say?!
One scallion ramen, order up!
Thank you.
Order up!
Mochizuki-san came to our company for the same reason as Suzukaze-san: you.
You could at least do her the favor of talking to her now and then.
I do! Though it's mostly just saying hi.
It's not like they're hostile to each other.
Any issues are for Hifumin and her team to work out.
They shouldn't depend on me.
Otherwise, they'd be in trouble if I disappeared one day!
It's true that you carry the graphics team on your own in many ways.
Ah, yes. There are still some bugs left, but the master is basically complete,
thanks in part to our two newbies' efforts.
Us programmers are gathering in the cafeteria for some playtesting this afternoon.
Would you like to join?
Oh, absolutely!
All we're really doing is quality tweaks, anyway.
So without further ado, let's go!
Huh? But I'm really busy.
So many adjustments to make.
Oh, right. You're doing design work now, too.
But don't you want to play, Hajime-san?
Well, yeah. What about you, Aoba-chan?
I have graphics adjustments, too.
Are you going, Yun-san?
I'm not sure...
Priorities, huh?
Momiji.
Wanna come watch the gameplay demonstration, too?
I'm sure it'll be a nice break, and educational to boot.
What do you say?
I-I'd be happy to!
10 days until the master!!
See? If Momiji's going, so are the rest of you!
Jeez! That's not a reason!
If you wanna play, rock-paper-scissors for it!
Me! Me, me, me, me!
Aren't you just rarin' to go?
I wanna play!
Me, too!
Hajime-san, Narucchi, and me...
What about you two?
Huh? It's sort of embarrassing...
Anyone else wanna play?
Same...
Here! These two want to play, too!
Y-Yagami-san?!
Come on, go!
Looks like the five of us will rock-paper-scissors.
Well, all right.
I'm gonna win!
Is something wrong?
Huh? No...
Everyone's watching! This is so embarrassing!
Please lose! Please lose! Please lose!
Is she nervous?
I won...
Should I really be the one playing?
There's nothing to worry about.
Okay.
Yagami-san is watching! Yagami-san is watching! Yagami-san is watching!
It's in debug mode, so you can pick whichever stage you want.
Okay.
The BGM for this stage is so good. It matches the town perfectly.
Yeah. It really has that fairy tale feel.
Don't let them surround you! They'll get you!
Look out!
I-I know that!
The hay stacks! They're right there!
Oh, you can hide in them.
I didn't know you could do that.
Why not?!
The graphics team aren't as familiar with the mechanics.
Bear-ear-ear! Bear-ear-ear! Bear-ear-ear!
They're even more creepy with sound. Who thought up these guys?
Oh, that was me. The bear cannibals.
I showed them to Hazuki-san as a joke, and she liked them.
I'm rather fond of them.
I shudder to imagine what's hidden in your heart, Aoba.
But this was Momiji's first true showcase of her skills.
You did a great job.
Th-Thank you very much!
The final boss is super intense, too.
Really? I wanna see.
Prepare yourself!
This one showcases Yun-san at her best.
Only because your designs were great, Aoba-chan.
I'm flattered to hear that.
All of you have improved so much.
Well? Thoughts on your first character designer job?
It still hardly feels real.
What started with one random doodle, which I revised over and over,
has now come to life before my eyes thanks to everyone's efforts.
I'm so happy I drew it.
You got me, bear!
Aw, you died!
I'm sorry! Right at the exciting part!
I promise it wasn't on purpose!
No, don't worry about it.
You're also an aspiring character designer, right, Momiji?
Yes!
I hope that dream comes true someday.
But I won't lose, either!
N-Neither will I!
Boy, you two are perfect for each other!
What?!
Ko-chan...