How to raise a random guy's wife

Kobayashi Sora's computer was always on in the living room, and Kasumigaoka Utaha saw the email as soon as it arrived.

Well... as a light novel author, staying up all night is just a regular occurrence.

Immediately after hearing noises from Kobayashi Sora's bedroom, she came over and knocked on the door.

Eriri's voice trembled, "You...you...how dare you say that to me?"

“I didn’t do anything, of course I’m fine with this.” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s gaze shifted slightly. “But the other two are a different story.”

"I didn't do anything I'd be embarrassed about," Kato Megumi said, as she reached out and hooked the bra strap back onto her rounded shoulder.

However, because she was sitting on the edge of the bed, her nightgown wasn't hanging down naturally, and her old shoulders were extremely slippery. The shoulder strap that she had just hooked up slipped down again under the gaze of Kasumigaoka Utaha and Kobayashi Sora.

“Hmm…” Kato Megumi tilted her head and then looked at Kobayashi Sora.

Kobayashi Sora: "......" Is it my fault?

"So..." Kasumigaoka Utaha ignored them and asked Eriri, "As for seeing the sea, I remember you can't see the sea from there, right?"

“It’s a sea of ​​snow!” Eriri shouted back.

"So, what's the progress on the original artwork?" Kasumigaoka Utaha asked directly, focusing on the key point.

"Well... I think it should be enough time."

"Probably?" Kasumigaoka Utaha frowned slightly.

"Actually, I had a flash of inspiration yesterday and came up with a great idea."

Kasumigaoka Utaha frowned even more, and just as she was about to speak, Kato Megumi spoke first, "What's your good idea?"

"When I used to draw characters and backgrounds, didn't I always use separate layers?"

"Hmm..." Kato Megumi looked at Kobayashi Sora, "Hmm?"

"You can think of it as layers of transparent paper stacked together, with each part drawn on a different layer so they don't interfere with each other," Kobayashi Sora explained. "That's what makes computer drawing so convenient."

“That’s right, generally speaking, that’s how you draw concept art for games. But I also participate in the art club, so it’s different from computer art.” Eriri rambled on, “Separating the characters and backgrounds just doesn’t feel right when I’m drawing.”

Kato Megumi asked, puzzled, "Why?"

"It just feels so out of place, like you've stuck people who were supposed to be in other places onto a deserted landscape..." Eriri clicked her tongue. "Well, that's understandable, since they were actually just pasted on separately."

Kasumigaoka Utaha pressed, "So?"

Eriri replied, "So I changed my mind... Come to think of it, oil paintings and watercolors don't actually have layers."

Kato Megumi noticed that Kobayashi Sora's expression was rather unpleasant.

Eriri continued, "Indeed, in a picture, the people and scenery should blend together to achieve a harmonious effect..."

"So," Kobayashi Sora let out a long sigh, "you want to change your painting style from now on?"

"Just use the same method for the sketches as before, since we already have some," Eriri nodded. "For CG, the entire process will be different—first, draw the image with art supplies, then scan it into the computer using a color scanner, and then use that as a base for coloring..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha clicked her tongue. "Are you sure this time-consuming and energy-draining method will work?"

“It’ll work, it’ll work! Maybe only I can do it…” Eriri paused. “If I draw it this way, the brushstrokes will be different from before, but the two routes are inherently different in style, so it’s normal for the CG styles to be different. So, I want to start working on it right away. The snow scene is beautiful right now—you think about it, the ending of the Junri route doesn’t specify a season, so it can be drawn as winter, right? It’s okay if there’s snow in the CG scenery, right?”

Kobayashi Sora lightly tapped her forehead, and Kato Megumi opened her mouth but no sound came out.

Kasumigaoka Utaha lowered her eyelids slightly. "So... you have quite a few drawings now?"

"I told you, now's the time to start drawing."

Kato Megumi grasped Kobayashi Sora's hand.

really.

In other words, Eriri has three days left to refine the remaining sketches and complete nine important CGs using a new drawing method.

Time is too tight.

Let's leave aside the final result.

If it can't be completed...

“Eri,” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s voice was calm, “Are you sure you can do it?”

Of course!

"What if we can't finish it?"

"..."

“Then we’ll just have to cut the Junri route,” Kasumigaoka Utaha said, revealing the cold truth. “Anyway, the other route can be released as a game.”

"No! I won't accept this!"

“This isn’t a question of whether you accept it or not!” Kasumigaoka Utaha bit her lower lip lightly. “This is a choice that must be made.”

"But... I love the stories you write." Eriri's previously excited voice turned low again. "I love them so much... so I'll definitely finish drawing them!"

"What about Sora?" Kasumigaoka Utaha pointed out the key question. "What will happen to Sora if the game isn't produced on time?"

"This is the only way to win!" Eriri's voice was almost shrill. "If we draw it the way we did before, I..."

Eriri played a demo version of a game that Hashima Island helped produce.

"Kong Qing... I don't want to lose. Our script is so great. I don't want to lose because of my painting."

Kato Megumi looked at Kobayashi Sora with some concern.

He hasn't said a word since just now.

"Sky Blue..."

"It's alright." Kobayashi Sora patted Kato Megumi's hand, indicating that she didn't need to worry.

"Nine CGs, and several more sketches that need to be perfected." Kobayashi Sora took a deep breath. "Compared to the production progress, I'm more worried about your health. If you want to change the drawing style, that's fine, but you need to promise me that you'll take care of your health first, and then we can discuss the drawing issues."

Eriri exclaimed in disbelief, "You agreed?!"

“In the past, I wouldn’t have agreed.” Kobayashi Sora smiled. “Now, I’m willing to give it a try. I’m looking forward to your new painting style and the results.”

"Yes! I will definitely deliver an amazing drawing before the deadline!"

Kobayashi Sora wanted to say something, but the call had already ended.

Did she really grasp the key point of his words?

Chapter 276 Taking a Ruthless Action

"Sora," Kasumigaoka Utaha said seriously, "Are you really going to let Eriri go?"

Kobayashi Sora shook her head, "It can't be called laissez-faire."

"This game is very important to you, isn't it?" Kasumigaoka Utaha tapped her leg in frustration. "If it's not finished on time, your position as club president..."

"I'm truly grateful that you considered my feelings and talked so much with Eriri," Kobayashi Sora said, holding Kato Megumi's hand. "But..."

"Prepare for both possibilities, right?" Kato Megumi turned her head to look at Kobayashi Sora.

"That's it."

Kasumigaoka Utaha was even more agitated. "What?"

“From the very beginning, Akane-nee asked me to make a game that could showcase the passion of creators, not a game that sells well.” Kobayashi Sora recalled her previous phone call with Akane Akasaka. “RER needs a president who respects creators, not a manager who only cares about sales.”

“So it’s no use stopping Eriri now.” Kasumigaoka Utaha understood Kobayashi Sora’s thoughts. “We can only trust her.”

“It’s not just that.” Kobayashi Sora brought in the computer from the living room. “I’ve always liked planning and I hope everything goes according to plan. When I first decided to make the decision, I already determined the size of the game—about 30 CGs, 10 songs, and a script of about 30 words.”

Kato Megumi asked curiously, "At the very beginning?"

"Right after I finished transferring schools."

Kasumigaoka Utaha was a little annoyed. "That's really early."

Kobayashi Sora had already plotted against her from that time on?!

"However, many things happened in between, which disrupted my plans time and time again."

It all began with Kato Megumi, who is now sitting on Kobayashi Sora's bed.

From the moment she appeared, the disruption of the plan gradually became acceptable, to the point that it became a normal part of Kobayashi Sora's routine.

"So, what's the current size?" Kobayashi Sora pulled up the summary table. "Take a look."

"Over 100 million words of story, 30 pieces of background music, 100 CGs?" Even Kasumigaoka Utaha, who wrote the script, found it hard to believe. "So many?"

"It's beyond my expectations..." Kato Megumi said, somewhat puzzled, "Is this a lot?"

"Remember Steins;Gate, the game we played before?" Kobayashi Sora found a good example, "It's about the same size."

"That's a masterpiece."

“That’s right, and it’s a product from a reputable developer. Regardless of quality, it’s already quite an achievement for a high school club to complete something of this scale,” Kobayashi Sora murmured. “Although a lot has happened along the way, everyone has been working hard to make this game better. Now that the results are right in front of us, what reason do I have not to trust Eriri?”

The repeated disruptions to the plan broke Kobayashi Sora's self-righteous limits and shattered his constraints on creators.

Kasumigaoka Utaha wasn't swayed by these sentimental words and forgot the main point: "What if Eriri doesn't finish?"

Kobayashi Sora answered truthfully, "Then I can only step down and use the information I've gathered to coerce and manipulate the person who takes my place, to gain benefits for myself, and at the same time help you complete your new book and Eriri's manga, so that I can regain my original position with the success of the two works."

Kasumigaoka Utaha recalled what Kobayashi Sora had just said, "That's why you told Eriri to take care of her health."

"What if she develops some health problems from staying up all night? Who will do my work then?"

"As expected of you." Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled. "I thought you were indulging in a life of pleasure, going from one extreme to another."

As a producer, if you don't consider the creators' ideas at all, you basically can't make any good games.

However, if you cater too much to the creators' ideas, you'll basically never be able to make a game.

Many games announce pre-sale dates, partly to generate buzz before the official launch, and partly to motivate themselves.

If we don't do this, game development will just continue indefinitely.

Kobayashi Sora looked at Kato Megumi, "A gentle paradise."

Kato Megumi whispered a correction, "It's not inside yet."

Xiao Lin Kong Qing: "???"

Kasumigaoka Utaha: "...Why don't you guys continue?"