January 1st, '88 was Friday, and it was customary for most shops to be closed.

However, since the beginning of the Golden Age, Tokyo has become a city that never sleeps.

So even on New Year's evenings, the streets of Tokyo are still crowded.

Hideo Kojima, who was wearing a trench coat and black-rimmed glasses, was walking excitedly on the crowded street with his companions.

"Aonuma-kun, why are there so many people in the New Year?"

"Stupid, just because it's the New Year, there are a lot of talents." Eiji Aonuma has long been surprised by all this.

"And today is Friday, Golden Day. If you don't spend gold, what's the point? ”

As he walked, Hideji Aonuma asked Hideo Kojima beside him to explain to him what was going on in Tokyo.

As a newcomer to HAL, Eiji Aonuma felt it was his duty to educate Kojima about the company's work culture.

After all, I am a senior, although the two of them are the same age, but who let him join HAL a year earlier.

As for Hideo Kojima, Eiji Aonuma glanced at the simple guy next to him, and was a little surprised.

A guy who studies economics does not go to the now hot financial market, but is obsessed with making games.

Tsk, that's weird.

But thinking that he was just a carpenter before, Eiji Aonuma felt a lot more relieved.

"Now, remember, you can enjoy all the activities in peace.

Tonight's expenses will be socially responsible, after all, it's a gold day, we just need to spend it. Hey~"

Eiji Aonuma put his arm around Hideo Kojima's shoulders and laughed very obscenely.

Every Friday in Neon must be the peak day for social animals to go in and out of various social places, and izakayas, nightclubs, and custom shops are all overcrowded.

Because it was a bubble era, it was normal for everyone to spend hundreds of thousands of yen on this day.

So privately, everyone calls Friday (Golden Day) "Flower Gold Day".

Now, even office workers like Eiji Aonuma and Hideo Kojima, who don't know how to manage finance, are not short of money.

After all, an extra hour of work every day costs tens of thousands of yen, and the quarterly bonus is calculated in millions of yen.

If they have their own training program, HAL will subsidize them for a few million more.

For people like them who have just joined the club for a year or less, according to their boss, their basic salary will be increased by at least one million next year.

It's all money, and there's too much money to spend. After two single dogs get off work, what else can you do if you don't drink and consume?

Hideo Kojima, who first came to Tokyo, looked at the brand-name clothes on the street, and couldn't help but look down at his own outfit.

Armani trench coat, Willis handmade leather shoes, when can I wear such a luxury brand with this dirt bun.

"How about it, Kojima, isn't the outfit I picked out for you very stylish?" Eiji Aonuma is quite confident in his own aesthetics.

Hideo Kojima has just joined the company, and the club needs to arrange a senior to take him.

So Eiji Aonuma, who was close in age, stood up bravely.

As for Hideo Kojima's outfit today, it was all Eiji Aonuma's idea.

Anyway, it will be reimbursed by the society, and it will be a matter of millions of yen, so isn't it easy?

In the face of Eiji Aonuma's triumph, Hideo Kojima was a little hesitant. "Isn't that fancy?"

"Fancy?" Eiji Aonuma showed a strange expression, "Kojima-kun, please look at the street in front of you." ”

He pointed to the brightly lit streets, "Now, everyone here is dressed more fashionably than you."

So don't worry, I've picked you the most conservative style. ”

Uh, Hideo Kojima looked in front of him. Ultra-short leather pants, white and greasy thighs, and ramen heads that sway with the pace.

Sure enough, he is covered with airtightness, and he is indeed a bit of a turtle.

"Okay, it's here, let's go in, don't let Iwata-san and them wait for a long time."

Just as Hideo Kojima was stunned, Eiji Aonuma had already taken the lead and walked towards an izakaya.

Looking up, it was a high-end restaurant called Gonpachi, and before I had time to think about it, Hideo Kojima also followed Eiji Aonuma into the restaurant.

"Iwata-san, Akagi-san, you two have been waiting for a long time." As soon as he entered the box, Eiji Aonuma greeted him politely.

"We've just arrived, so please sit down." Satoshi Iwata and Akagi weren't much older than them, and everyone greeted each other in a much more affectionate tone.

After taking off their coats and handing them to the waiters who were waiting on the side, they sat in a circle around a table.

Although it was Chinese New Year's Eve, all four were bachelors. It happened that they were all in Tokyo and didn't leave, so they simply went out for a drink together.

Everyone around me is in the bright lights, so you can't sit at home and watch the red and white by yourself.

Going out for a drink and visiting a high-end club is the right way to open up life.

"Four kaiseki dishes, plus two kilograms of Kobe premium beef." As soon as he sat down, Akagi began to expertly order the menu, "Oh yes, four more bottles of Romani wine." ”

The well-trained waiter of "Hai" respectfully retreated.

And after listening to Akagi's order, Hideo Kojima secretly smacked his tongue on the side.

This is simply extravagant, will you really not need the AA system later?

This kind of kaiseki cuisine is less than 450,000 yen a serving, and Kobe premium beef costs 200,000 or 300,000 yen.

And Romané wine, which is a luxury brand from Gallic chicken, right?

I heard that a bottle is thousands of dollars, and Akagi-san is called four bottles.

Hideo Kojima, who was worried in his heart, had secretly calculated in his heart whether the money he brought with him was enough for the AA system.

Unlike his apprehension, Eiji Aonuma was already familiar with him at this time and began to pat the sycophants of Satoshi Iwata and Akagi.

What is this kind of food, usually he likes to drink the so-called red wine of the country as boiled water.

With less than one million yen per capita, the current neon is so-so.

"Kojima-san, are you still adapting to HAL when you first came to HAL?" After a pleasant exchange, Satoshi Iwata turned to Hideo Kojima, who didn't say much.

"Hay," Hideo Kojima replied subconsciously, "Thanks to your care, everything is going well here at HAL." ”

"That's good," Satoshi Iwata nodded with satisfaction, "I've seen the game you've made, and it's still a little rough, but it's a good idea." ”

Hideo Kojima graduated last year, oh no, the year before last.

However, he was not coaxed by major banks and financial institutions to participate in various training activities like his classmates.

It's not that no company is willing to sign him, but Hideo Kojima has turned down various invitations and plans to make a game of his own.

When he first came into contact with Shirakawa Electric's blue and white machine a few years ago, he became obsessed with video games.

Later, while in college, he also participated in the "Golden Cross Game Competition" organized by HAL.

Although he didn't win the first prize, the 500,000 yen prize for the third prize gave him great encouragement.

So after graduating from college, instead of working, he began the development of the second game in his life.

After more than a year, a well-completed shooter was delivered to HAL.

Facts have proved that a passion and a hard time making games will definitely not bury this talent.

After receiving the game, HAL evaluated it and quickly handed it to Satoshi Iwata.

When he learned that the game was all done by Hideo Kojima, Satoshi Iwata was shocked.

So soon Hideo Kojima, who was far away in Kobe, received a call from Satoshi Iwata himself.

Then a week before the New Year, Hideo Kojima officially joined HAL.

At this time, Satoshi Iwata called everyone out, drinking is one thing, and taking care of Hideo Kojima's work is also one of the reasons.

"Kojima, you first interned with Aonuma and their group for a period of time, and the main job is to familiarize yourself with the various processes of game development.

When the time is ripe after the year, start to form a separate development team, and the first game will be released as a complete release of your previous single-player. ”

"Hay!" Hideo Kojima was excited when he heard the news, and sure enough, tonight's drinking was not in vain.

And Eiji Aonuma on the side is also a little envious, tsk, this is starting to lead the project alone, and he hasn't done it yet.

"You don't have to be envious, the next generation of "Zelda" will be handed over to you."

As if noticing his cha lemon expression, Iwata Satoshi smiled again and said a word of relief.

"Oh, Sanna Iwata, thank you so much. Rest assured, Zelda is my own son, and I will definitely treat it well. ”

Eiji Aonuma's envious expression immediately turned red, look, it's still good for us to shoot on the back.

The atmosphere was eager, and everyone unconsciously wanted to drink two glasses. However, the kaiseki cuisine is not complete, and the sake has not yet arrived.

"Hey, everyone is waiting for the drink, when will the red wine be served?" Impatient, Akagi unceremoniously called the waiter over.

"Sorry sir, Romani wine has been sold out tonight and we are coordinating urgently.

If you don't mind, would you like Mr. Lafite in '82? ”

"Rafite?" Akagi frowned, "Forget it, the red wine will be served in the gold bar if it is not served, please prepare it for us immediately." ”

"Hay!" The waiter hurried to get ready.

Red wine Akagi only drinks Romani's, as for Rafi, he is not interested in such a garbage red wine.

After a while, the waiter who had returned came over with a bottle of shiny sake.

Gin is sake with gold leaf.

In the bubble era, the pompous aesthetic created all kinds of magical food.

Gold leaf ice cream, gold leaf sushi, and now there is more sake with gold leaf.

Tsk, after drinking this kind of wine, the gold panning in history is really not a joke.

With the wine, the atmosphere at the table was a little more lively.

With the strength of the wine, Satoshi Iwata also revealed to Aonuma and Kojima that HAL, who is in charge of game development, and SSE, who is in charge of software development, are both recruiting people vigorously.

If they can introduce one or two professionals in the industry, it doesn't matter if they have experience or not, students can do it.

As long as you are successfully hired, then the referral bonus of 5 million yen per person is almost a certainty.

This bonus amount, Hideo Kojima, who listened to it, gasped.

Many people don't have that much annual salary, but now HAL only uses it as an introduction fee.

This is really beyond his imagination, and the neon is really getting more and more incomprehensible.

In fact, the reason why HAL and SSE spend a lot of money to recruit people is because Shirakawa Holdings is already preparing for strategic transformation.

After the 90s, it was the beginning of the rise of the Internet trend.

The decline of Neon's manufacturing industry is a foregone conclusion, so Shirakawa Kaede has to make plans early to find a way out.

There is no doubt that Shirakawa Kaede is not ready to miss the Internet outlet.

However, talents need to be accumulated, and Shirakawa Mutual Entertainment also needs to grope forward, and it is time to prepare at this time.

After eating a wave at a high-end restaurant, Iwata Satoshi and the others are ready to go to the Rokuhon-continuation stall again.

The nightclub there was perfect for their single dogs, and after arriving at the place, Akagi threw a 100,000 yen tip to each of the young ladies, and Hideo Kojima was stunned again.

In his impression, the neon in recent years has simply opened endless carnivals, celebrating the New Year every day and celebrating the festival every night.

This full-scale madness caused the whole neon to fall into a carnival.

(End of chapter)