How to raise a random guy's wife

"But you've only just begun..."

“You’re a bad president.” Kobayashi Megumi turned around, rubbing against Kobayashi Sora’s arms, and pressed her fingertips to his lips. “You’re also a good husband.”

"So am I good or bad?"

"So good it's almost bad, so bad it's just right."

“I’m a little happier than you,” Kobayashi Sora chuckled. “I have a good secretary and a good wife.”

"Now, my good wife is going to be a good secretary and start reporting on her work." Kobayashi Megumi reached for her notebook, completely oblivious to the blanket slipping off her.

The moment she got the laptop, Kobayashi Megumi tapped Kobayashi Sora on the head with it, saying, "You naughty baby."

"Isn't it just the right amount of bad?"

“It’s not like that now.” Kobayashi Megumi nestled in Kobayashi Sora’s arms, opened her notebook, and wrote as she spoke, “I was inspired by this sentence you wrote in the proposal.”

[By using highly suggestive, targeted options, players are lured into making incorrect choices, leading them to act for a specific purpose, resulting in outcomes contrary to their wishes.]

Unlike traditional visual novels, "Liella! Superstar" modifies affection levels into "stickiness points," which change as the two characters interact and make subsequent choices.

The higher the "stickiness value," the better the relationship between the two. When it reaches a certain level, a special option for "telepathic connection" will appear, unlocking new interactive storylines.

If the "stickiness value" decreases, it means that the relationship between the two people is deteriorating. If it drops to a certain level, some options will disappear.

BadEnding means the relationship has reached a breaking point, making it impossible for the school idol activities to continue.

A happy ending means everyone overcomes difficulties and together they step onto the big stage.

This game mechanic took the development team a lot of time to implement. The game system, which had been used many times before, needed to be modified to achieve this effect.

After the game was completed, Kasumigaoka Utaha discovered a new problem.

The options are too obvious, such as "actively go find Shibuya Kanon" and "find other students", which makes the game process somewhat boring after the game objective is determined.

"So we can change the options." Kobayashi Megumi underlined with her pen to help explain, "Change the original decisive action to a directional action."

"for example?"

“For example, the options of ‘Go to Shibuya Kanon’ and ‘Go to Hazuki Koi’ can be changed to ‘Go to the coffee shop’ and ‘Go to the dance studio’,” Kobayashi Megumi explained. “The former will definitely find the corresponding person, but the latter is not guaranteed.”

“You might run into Heian Sumire on the way to the coffee shop, and you might see Arashi Chisato on the way to the dance studio.” Kobayashi Sora immediately followed Kobayashi Megumi’s train of thought. “In this way, what was originally intended to be getting closer to the target has turned into getting closer to someone else.”

"What I want is that feeling of unexpected twists and turns and things not going as planned."

“That is indeed a good method,” Kobayashi Sora affirmed Kobayashi Megumi’s idea, then raised a question, “but it is easy to provoke the players’ rebellious emotions.”

"Therefore, it should be done in a staggered manner. If players develop a habitual way of thinking about it, then such changes will be meaningless."

"Interweaving... some options can help you get closer to your target, but others can only help you get closer to other characters."

“Mmm.” Kobayashi Megumi added, “We can also add another one: you don’t see the target you want to see, but you meet another character who will offer help and help you get closer to that other character.”

“There are also those that, on the contrary, hinder the development of relationships, and those that have never happened.” Kobayashi Sora calculated, “In this way, there are five different modes of options. By using them alternately, one can experience the capriciousness of fate.”

The previous problem of overly obvious options was immediately resolved.

Is this idea feasible?

Kobayashi Sora's eyes lit up. "This idea is absolutely brilliant!"

Chapter 432 Aggressive Momentum

If you can't reduce the option's directivity while maintaining its appeal, then retain its strong directivity and change the direction it points to.

Kobayashi Sora asked curiously, "How did you come up with that idea?"

This solution is absolutely perfect.

"This is your fault."

"Eh?"

What are we going to do in the bedroom?

"Organizing the wardrobe."

"The results of it?"

Xiao Lin Kong Qing: "..."

Kobayashi Megumi then asked, "What are we going to do in the bathroom?"

"Clean the bathroom..."

"The results of it?"

"..."

“When folding clothes, when taking a break…” Kobayashi Megumi said, listing each item one by one, “and when reporting on work, and when receiving rewards.”

"award?"

"I've come up with such a great idea," Kobayashi Megumi said, staring at Kobayashi Sora. "Don't you want to reward me?"

Just for a moment?

"One breath at a time..." Kobayashi Megumi's voice gradually weakened, eventually turning into soft breaths.

-

"These are the current revision plans for 'Liella! Superstar'," Kobayashi Megumi concluded. "If you have any questions, please feel free to ask now."

As an illustrator, Mayu Sagara also participated in this production workshop.

Now I'm sitting at the conference table, watching Kobayashi Megumi's radiant appearance.

The fitted women's suit accentuated Kobayashi Megumi's beautiful curves, while the black pencil skirt just touched her knees, revealing her calves encased in black stockings.

Her jet-black hair was styled in a bun at the back of her head, with a few strands falling naturally, exuding elegance in its casualness.

Sagara Mayu looked at the little dress she was wearing.

Although they were all around the same age, she looked like a high school student, while Kobayashi Megumi seemed more like a reliable senior colleague, exuding a captivating and capable aura.

There's also the element of magnanimity involved.

Sagara Mayu sighed inwardly, then thought of Eriri.

There's much more balance now.

As for what Kobayashi Megumi said, Sagara Mayu didn't think much about it.

She has a clear understanding of her own role: she is an artist.

She had no intention of getting involved in things like game mechanics and option design—things her drawing skills couldn't help with.

If these things help improve her drawing skills, she will try her best.

Now... just listen, and leave the professional stuff to the professionals.

Having an older brother like Fumio Sagara, Mayu Sagara realized early on the importance of minding one's own business.

Otherwise, you might run into three women while buying a drink, and it would be too awkward if you were acquainted with each of them.

"You can do it like that!" Sakura-sensei exclaimed. "That completely solves the problem, and we can add even more fun plot twists, unexpected meetings, unforeseen developments, five people... hehehehehehehehehe..."

She was just worried that she hadn't had enough fun writing before, but now she doesn't have to worry at all.

"This is where Sakura-sensei's job will be," Kobayashi Megumi nodded. "Thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard work at all," Ms. Sakura waved her hands repeatedly. "How can doing good deeds be hard work?"

Kobayashi Sora felt the same way.

However, it is clear that not everyone shares the same idea.

"Excuse me," someone glanced at Kobayashi Sora, who had been sitting silently at the end of the conference table, then looked at Kobayashi Megumi, "I have a question."

Kobayashi Megumi smiled and said, "Please go ahead."

"Compared to similar products on the market, *Liella! Superstar* is already a masterpiece, and I don't think there's any need to spend further time modifying it," the person stated bluntly. "In fact, the problem of overly explicit options, as mentioned earlier, isn't unique to any one game; most games are like this. Why should we spend so much time and effort modifying such a common problem?"

"Because we want to do better," Kei Kobayashi answered succinctly. "Discovering problems means the game can be improved, so even if the release date is delayed, it's worth it."

"That's the problem: who gets to define what's better?" the person questioned. "Compared to other visual novels, *Liella! Superstar* has already made many minor innovations: removing the male protagonist, changing affection levels to 'stickiness points,' turning romanceable characters into playable ones, and now there's this 'chaotic options'... Who can prove these innovations are good? There are visual novels without male protagonists, but what about others? Who can guarantee that these innovations will bring players love, not hate?"

Kobayashi Megumi began, "Regarding this..."

“I have similar thoughts.” Someone echoed, “You have to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. Bold innovation is good, but this kind of accumulation of innovations is a bit too reckless. Superstar is a long-term project. We can try and verify these ideas little by little, and only proceed to the next step after we have received sufficient market feedback.”

“That’s right. If a single point causes players to dislike the game, the other familiar elements can keep them playing,” someone added. “But if everything is unfamiliar and players can’t accept it, then it’s all over.”

"There's also a demo version, which has already been released." Someone reminded, "Making major changes to the game at this time might not bring back players who didn't like the demo, but it could cause those who did like it to leave. In other words, making major changes to the game now would be a thankless task."

Wow... This display of power startled Sagara Mayu.

Everyone seemed so assertive, and what they said all made a lot of sense.

Even she, who hadn't done anything wrong, began to reflect on whether she had done something wrong.

The longing look that had been directed at Kobayashi Megumi had unknowingly turned into worry.

She's about my age, yet these adults are rejecting her like this.

Sagara Mayu looked at Kobayashi Sora at the end of the conference table; at this moment, she had no choice but to rely on him.

Sure enough, Kobayashi Sora slightly raised her finger, as if she was about to tap the table.

But it fell silently.

Sagara Mayu was very observant. Just now, Kobayashi Megumi seemed to have given her a wink, and Kobayashi Sora, who was about to speak, chose to remain silent.

How did these two communicate?

“Everyone is very enthusiastic and working hard for this game, which is a good thing.” Kobayashi Megumi chuckled. “Indeed, things should be done one by one, and problems should be solved one by one—starting with the first one.”

Chapter 433 The Street Fighter

"First, the first question: compared to similar products on the market, *Liella! Superstar* is already a masterpiece, so why spend so much time and effort modifying it?" Kobayashi paused for a moment. "The reason is simple: there are many similar masterpieces on the market, and they have no further opportunities for improvement, while we have. The more common the problem, the more unique *Liella! Superstar* becomes after solving it. The fewer manufacturers can solve this problem, the fewer competitors we will have."

Yes, yes.

Sagara Mayu nodded vigorously.