How to raise a random guy's wife

“If choosing a side story means completely separating yourself from the previous characters,” Izumi Hashima had a different idea. “Wouldn’t that make all the previous stories seem meaningless?”

“That’s how it is, isn’t it…” Mayu Sagara continued along the line of thought about the sea voyage from Hashima, thinking of her brother. “Choosing a side story is itself a kind of reconciliation with the past, which is to put it bluntly, it’s about letting go. Learning to let go is meaningful in itself, so there’s no need to reflect on other misfortunes when you’re happy. Just enjoy the happiness in the present moment.”

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” Kasumigaoka Utaha scoffed. “If you enjoy the happiness of the moment, you have to bear the pain of giving it up.”

"You just want to make people unhappy on Valentine's Day, don't you!" Eriri saw through Kasumigaoka Utaha's dark thoughts. "It's all a side story, can't you write something simple and happy?"

"It's precisely because it's a side quest that it has to be so despairing," Boshima explained earnestly. "The best side quests are those that lead to a dead end after a period of unexpected success! You think you've let go, but you haven't. When you come to your senses, you realize there's no turning back. Only side quests like this can be harmoniously integrated with the main quest."

“That’s true,” Mayu Sagara said, feeling sorry for the characters. “Those who like Haruki will choose the Koharu route, those who like Touma will choose the Mari route, and those who like Setsuna will choose Chiaki. These three characters become substitutes.”

“I’ve been very merciful,” Kasumigaoka Utaha tapped the script lightly. “If you choose the side story, you can easily gloss over the subsequent plot of Touma and Setsuna. If you choose two main stories, it will require a higher level of mental fortitude.”

Sagara Mayu approaches the issue from the character's perspective, while Kasumigaoka Utaha considers the player's perspective.

Eriri considers the player's feelings, while Hajime Island focuses on the structure of the creation.

Everyone argued their case logically, and no one could convince anyone else.

“Ah,” Kobayashi Megumi said with a look of sudden realization, “I finally understand.”

"Ok?"

Everyone looked at Kobayashi Megumi.

“That’s it,” Kobayashi Megumi said, resting her chin on her hand. “Why is it that when a lot of talented people come together, the animation they make is always a bit bland, even though each of them could carry a whole show on their own?”

“This is indeed a very common situation,” Eriri said curiously. “Why is that?”

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Eriri helplessly.

Sometimes she really admired Eriri's ability to change the subject.

One second they're having a lively conversation about something else, and the next second any topic can pique Eriri's interest.

This kid... seems so easy to fool.

Eriri looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha with displeasure, "I have a feeling you're thinking something very rude."

My attention has wandered again.

Kasumigaoka Utaha was a little worried. What would Eriri do without her? "I miss you."

Eriri was stunned, her face flushing red. "...Disgusting!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha: "...Do you have such a clear understanding of yourself?"

"Kasumigaoka Utaha!"

"Stop, stop, stop." Kobayashi Sora gestured, continuing Kobayashi Megumi's line of thought, "The specific reason is...?"

“Because each person who can carry a work has a distinct personal style, when they come together, their ideas will conflict with each other,” Kobayashi Megumi explained. “The final product will inevitably be the result of mutual compromise, so it will have everything, but also be lacking in everything.”

Bo Island's journey to the sea brought up another thought: "What if we don't compromise?"

“Then the negotiations broke down,” Kobayashi Sora added, “and naturally, no work could be produced.”

Kobayashi Megumi's eyes softened. "So, what do you all want to do?"

The group exchanged glances, their gazes finally settling on Kobayashi Sora.

“Don’t look at me,” Kobayashi Sora said, spreading her hands. “My creative abilities are limited.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha poses a very practical question, "How many sales do you want?"

Kobayashi Sora explained in detail, "Based on the lowest possible cost, the original artwork costs 15 million yen, the background 150 yen, the coloring 250 million yen, the script 100 million yen, the music 20 yen, the sound effects 50 yen, the programming 50 yen, the demo version 10 yen, the merchandise design 30 yen, the planning and management 50 yen, and the agency fees 100 million yen, totaling 825 million yen..."

Chapter 815 The New Route

Mayu Sagara hadn't paid much attention to these things before, and wondered, "Do we really need so many?"

"I'm referring to visual novels that don't have any obvious weaknesses in any aspect. The sales target for this level of budget is usually around 3,000 copies. If you want to sell more, you have to work hard on the game production process. For example, hiring famous illustrators or scriptwriters will increase the cost." Kobayashi Sora summarized, "Including subsequent promotion, according to the industry's '8800 yen rule,' a sales target of 10,000 copies is worthwhile."

“Considering the materials accumulated by RGW, this cost can be further reduced,” Kobayashi Megumi tilted her head, “around 100 million yen?”

Mayu Sagara muttered, "If we cut back by one million, we'll still have seven million left, which isn't a small amount."

"No, it's about reducing it to just 100 million." Kobayashi Sora gestured, "With some effort, 50 is also possible."

Sagara Mayu exclaimed in disbelief, "It's that low?!"

"That's how 'The Cherry Blossom Promise' was made," Kobayashi Megumi said with a smile, reassuring the audience. "So there's no need to worry about sales; we won't lose money if we make it."

Eriri let out a long sigh. "The worst news..."

"Huh?" Mayu Sagara asked, puzzled. "Isn't this a good thing?"

“If there are sales targets, even if there are problems with the quality of the finished product, players can understand that it’s a compromise made for commercial reasons,” Kasumigaoka Utaha explained for Eriri. “The worst situation is when there’s no need to worry about sales. For creators, they only need to consider creative issues. If the final product still has problems, then it’s simply the creator’s problem.”

Having experienced this situation firsthand during my trip to Bo Island, I recall my own past experience: "This kind of pressure is terrifying..."

Eriri hummed softly, "I'll get used to it eventually."

Kobayashi Sora has always done this, and it is precisely because she withstood the terrifying pressure that Eriri has been able to grow at such an incredible speed.

Whenever Eriri feels like she can't hold on any longer, she thinks of Akane Kousaka.

Akane Akasaka not only excelled at her role as a manager, but also admirably fulfilled her role as a creator.

Eriri only needs to complete the creator's task. If Akane Kousaka can persevere, then of course she can too.

Eriri bit her lower lip lightly, "What are the plans for the future?"

Kobayashi Sora looked at Kobayashi Megumi, "The aftermath..."

“It’s all standard procedure.” Kobayashi Megumi nodded gently. “It’s similar to what we’ve done before.”

Kobayashi Sora recited the details with great familiarity: "After releasing the final chapter of the RGW web version, we'll add a final chapter to complete the story, followed by a collection of character and music remasters, voice acting additions, additional music and CG, an expanded version with added radio dramas and novels, as well as online live streaming content. We'll select suitable virtual idols from within the company, invite guests to each radio episode to voice their favorite characters from the game, and share some behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the game's production. We'll also adapt anime, create original manga and light novels, release some music CDs, and I won't go into detail about the merchandise."

Although the trip to the island of Hashima was somewhat expected, Kobayashi Sora was still a little surprised to hear her list the plans like a menu. "So many?!"

“You are the same,” Kasumigaoka Utaha reminded her.

"Ah..." Boshima's mood instantly plummeted upon leaving the sea, but he quickly recovered when he remembered that the storyboard for the final episode was already completed.

Eriri bit her lower lip lightly, "So... if we want the final chapter and the prologue to transition smoothly, we still need to maintain the consistency of the overall style."

Mayu Sagara sighed, "That's true..."

Players who will play the final chapter are those who have played the prologue and can accept a style consistent with the prologue.

However, if the final chapter changes its style, it will not only fail to attract more new players, but will also lose many of the old players from the prologue.

Mayu Sagara hopes the characters in the game will be happy, but the entanglements in the love triangle and the stomachache caused by the characters' personalities and behavior patterns are the main themes of the game.

Now that the main theme has been established, we shouldn't betray the players who were drawn to it.

Noticing Eriri's change of heart, Hashima asked, "So the script is settled then?"

"How is that possible!" Eriri glared at Kasumigaoka Utaha. "Your script is terrible!"

"Oh?" Kasumigaoka Utaha looked expectant. "For example?"

"If Haruki is the root cause of all this, then why does he always end up with the person he wants, whether in the main story or side quests?!" Eriri exclaimed indignantly. "Why is it always the abandoned heroines who suffer, but he gets to suffer too!"

“Oh right, now that you mention it, it’s true.” Mayu Sagara flipped through the script. “If we’re going to depict the pain that a love triangle brings to everyone, then all three of them should suffer.”

"I knew something was off!" Hashima finally noticed. "If Eriri were to consider things from the player's perspective, none of the current main and side quests would allow players to experience the pain of a love triangle."

"Hmm..." Kasumigaoka Utaha further analyzed, "From a story structure perspective, it does depict a series of tragedies caused by indecisiveness, but for players..."

“There will inevitably be characters that players favor! And as long as there are characters they favor, they will make a firm choice. This kind of character is contrary to Haruki’s character.” Mayu Sagara no longer puts herself in Haruki’s shoes to appreciate other characters, but analyzes Haruki from the player’s perspective. “For the player, Haruki’s thoughts are actually not important. If they can only choose one character, the player will definitely go for their favorite character. To better understand the essence of this story, the player must become the same character as Haruki and face the problems that Haruki faces.”

"In other words..." Kasumigaoka Utaha's red eyes ignited with a chilling flame that hadn't been there in a long time, "...to make players, like Haruki, waver between two characters, and ultimately fall into the abyss because of this wavering, gaining nothing!"

Eriri glared at Kasumigaoka Utaha, "Your thoughts are too dark!"

"It's all thanks to your inspiration." Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled happily, her thoughts becoming clearer. "We need to add another main storyline, with more options. Give the player the illusion that as long as they play well, all three can be happy together. Let the player face the same situation as Haruki, slowly falling into an abyss of entanglement and pain amidst a sliver of hope!"

“However…” Mayu Sagara was a little worried, “This means there will be too many things that need to be revised. Can we finish it in such a short time…?”

Chapter 816 The Powerful Hui

Mayu Sagara's concerns are justified.

Even adding a side story can have a significant impact on the plot.

Moreover, it involves adding a main storyline.

but......

“Someone is very good at this.” Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Kobayashi Sora and Kobayashi Megumi, who had been sticking together since the beginning. “Very good at it.”

Kobayashi Sora pointed to her head, "All the development paths are here. You can add options and main storylines as you like, and there will absolutely be no contradictions."

“But the script is already quite complete,” said Izumi Poshima, still somewhat worried. “Wouldn’t it feel abrupt to suddenly insert a new main storyline?”

“It’s alright,” Kobayashi Megumi chuckled. “I’ll eliminate those awkward parts. Even if I can’t completely eliminate them, I can at least reduce the awkwardness to some extent.”

Mayu Sagara and Izumi Hashima exchanged a glance, gaining a deeper understanding of the name Eri Kasumi.

The visible talents are Kasumi Shiko and Kashiwagi Eri, while the invisible talents are Kobayashi Sora and Kobayashi Megumi.

Having determined the main direction, the next step is to discuss the specific details.

“So the key point is still Christmas,” Kasumigaoka Utaha wanted to connect with the end of the prologue, “With Koharu’s encouragement and help, the two of them have a long-awaited date on Christmas and try to repair their relationship.”

“At this time, Touma was already a famous pianist,” Mayu Sagara analyzed the character’s inner thoughts. “Haruki made a decision to write an article about Touma’s past and publish it. This was his last attachment and his final farewell.”

"Then, while shopping, Setsuna discovered Haruki's article! Her pent-up jealousy towards Touma finally erupted, and she pointed out incisively that the article was practically a love letter to Touma." Izumi Hashima clapped her hands happily, "And just like that, the two who had just gotten closer drifted apart again."

"A date..." Eriri frowned, "It doesn't feel quite right, let's change it to just a date..."

"Wait a minute," Kobayashi Sora reminded him, "couples shouldn't say things like that."

“That was the hotel night when we took the final step,” Eriri changed her words irritably. “Then Haruki went to take a shower, and Setsuna saw the magazine on the bedside table.”

“But we’ve already come this far,” Hashima Izumi said, surprised by how quickly things had progressed. “If we just pretend we didn’t see it, this matter will be over… Didn’t Setsuna do the same thing before?”

"No, no, no!" Mayu Sagara had a deeper understanding of the character. "Setsuna's tolerance is based on the premise that Haruki is far away from her. She doesn't want Haruki to leave, so when she might lose Haruki, she will show extraordinary tolerance and gentleness, making it impossible for Haruki to leave."

“And when Haruki wants to get closer, without the sense of crisis of losing Haruki, everything about Touma will resurface in her mind,” Kasumigaoka Utaha added. “At this time, Setsuna will show her concern for the past again.”

"As for Haruki..." Eriri frowned, "He senses Setsuna's gentleness and wants to get close to her, but once he gets close, Setsuna shows another side of herself, and then he becomes gentle again when he distances himself. It's just..."