Chapter 11: FGT

The response to the PV was explosive.

No, even "explosive" doesn't do it justice.

[Username: Kirin.]

[Title: Wow, f*ck, I haven't been this hyped since WoW lololol]

Seriously, these guys churned out a few duds recently, but they've finally come to their senses lololol

[Comments][Chronological Order]

-For real lololololol

-How much did they grind for this, Enson? lololololol

-To think these bastards could do this well lololol

-This PV hype is seriously next level lol

[Username: ㅇㅇ]

[Title: Which one of these girls gets you going the most?]

【PV screenshots captured for each character】

For me, it's that Operator girl at the end, no cap

I've never been into loli characters before, but this one just hits different lololol

And seriously, while I was taking these screenshots, I realized their character design quality is completely insane lololol

They're in a whole different league compared to recent anime characters, aren't they?

[Comments][Chronological Order]

-Damn, they're all so hot lolololololololol

ㄴThis bastard's at it again lololol

-They're all my waifus.

-We're getting all of them in-game, right?

-For real, there are too many to choose from lololol

[Username: AniBro]

[Title: That Girls Memorial illustrator we talked about yesterday just tweeted ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ]

【Screenshot of Ye-rin's Twitter main page】

She posted a special illustration with a thank-you tweet, saying the PV response feels unreal.

【Illustration of Operator making a finger heart with a deadpan expression and winking】

I don't think I've ever seen this level of communication from a Korean company, not even in Japan lololol

[Comments][Most Viewed]

-Come to think of it, how did something with this PV quality even come out of Korea? lololol

-Upvote if you think Ji Ho-jin << GOAT weeb game director lololol

ㄴAgain with the overreaction lololol

ㄴHow many games have had great trailers but flopped? lol

ㄴDamn, why are you beating up on the innocent Blood Alliance fans? lololol

[Username: ㅁㅁ]

[Title: The Japanese are going crazy over Girls Memorial right now lololol]

【Screenshot of 4chan's anime character board】

Just from the screenshots I grabbed, you can see the Japanese are completely losing it lololol

Roughly translating what I can see:

-I almost took my pants off watching the livestream loool

-After seeing the PV, I thought for sure another Japanese company made this lol but not at all lol

-It's... heaven where angels gather....

-I love Operator-chan!!!! She's my type!!!!!!!!!!!

-Ah~ Kotone-chan is so cute~ ლ(´ڡ`ლ)

I don't think I've ever seen such a positive reaction just from a PV release lololol

[Comments][Most Viewed]

-They're no different from the weebs on our anime boards? lololol

-If any weeb actually watched that PV properly, they couldn't help but react like that lololol

-It's been a while since I've felt this hyped, for real lololololololol

-So when are you launching, Enson GT!!!!!!!!

It was like a fire that had been doused with oil, blazing up spectacularly.

And it wasn't just in Korea—both Korean and Japanese communities were equally aflame.

The emergence of a game called Girls Memorial was that shocking.

After all, this was Girls Memorial bursting onto the scene from Korea, a wasteland of otaku subculture.

It would have been strange if it didn't catch fire.

While starved otaku in online communities rolled this Girls Memorial tidbit back and forth, building up expectations,

I was boarding a plane to Japan, leading Yu-mi and Ye-rin.

***

This overseas trip was a sudden addition to our schedule.

Originally, we planned to run an FGT (Focus Group Test) in Korea after the PV release, but it was scrapped due to the CEO's opposition.

Apparently, it made no sense to run an FGT in Korea when we were planning to open the Japanese server first.

Instead, an unplanned overseas business trip was added to our schedule.

The team members accompanying me on this sudden trip were Ye-rin and Yu-mi.

After excluding those who couldn't make it due to company schedules, only these two remained.

"D-Director... This is my first time in business class...!"

"...Mine too."

Ye-rin, in the seat next to me, was trying not to show it, but she was clearly looking around in wonder.

Honestly, I wondered if we really needed business class for a trip to Japan, but well...

I decided to just enjoy it as a perk from the CEO.

How hard had we worked on this project?

We deserved to enjoy some company benefits like this at least once.

With this mindset, though we didn't say it out loud, the three of us started to make the most of it.

The in-flight meal, which was decent enough to eat, and the free wine.

A quick nap on the lie-flat seats.

After enjoying everything business class had to offer, I felt surprisingly refreshed by the time we were about to disembark.

It wasn't just me—Ye-rin and Yu-mi's expressions had improved considerably too.

"Wow, stepping off the plane really makes it feel like we're in a different country!"

I was leading Yu-mi, who was looking around excitedly (apparently it really was her first overseas trip), out of immigration when—

"Senior, over there."

Ye-rin gestured towards something.

It was a middle-aged man holding a sign next to the crowd waiting for arriving passengers.

[Enson Korea]

He seemed to be the Japanese branch employee the CEO had mentioned.

As we approached him, he greeted us first.

"Nice to meet you. You must be Director Ji Ho-jin from Enson GT?"

"Y-yes, that's right."

"I've been waiting for you as instructed. I'm Sung In-hyuk, manager at Enson Japan."

"Pleased to meet you. Should I call you Manager Sung?"

"That works."

***

Within five minutes of riding in Manager Sung's car, I realized he was quite talkative.

"I saw the PV you released yesterday. The response has been incredibly hot in both Korea and Japan, hasn't it?"

"Thank you."

"But Director, where are your staff members...?"

"Actually, I didn't bring the employees who came with me for work. I brought them to give them some rest time. I told them to relax while I handle things alone."

Manager Sung seemed touched by my words.

"If only I had a superior like you, Director... my work life would have been much easier. What a shame."

"Haha..."

Once we'd broken the ice a bit, Manager Sung handed me a stack of documents.

"This is the information on the FGT participants. Please look it over and let me know if anything seems off."

"The sample size is larger than I expected. 100 people..."

"It was decided after seeing the PV response. Even the higher-ups have high expectations for Girls Memorial."

I could only offer an awkward smile at Manager Sung's words.

It was obvious that the dramatic increase in the sample size was due to the CEO's influence.

After my conversation with Manager Sung, things moved quickly.

We arrived at Enson Japan headquarters, where I reviewed the participants with Manager Sung, said my goodbyes, and left.

To prevent any variables, the staff weren't allowed to contact the participants.

It was even forbidden for staff and participants to cross paths, as even that could introduce variables.

In the end, my overseas business trip was over in just about two hours after arriving in Japan.

The only thing left on the schedule was to receive the FGT results report and return to Korea...

Before getting a taxi, I called Ye-rin. Her voice came through after a short while.

[You're done already?]

"Yeah. The schedule wrapped up faster than I thought. Where are you now?"

[Yu-mi and I are in Akihabara. Yu-mi wanted to do some market research.]

"Akihabara? I'll head that way. Just give me your exact location."

[You can come to the front of Radio Kaikan.]

"Alright."

After hanging up, I caught a taxi that had just arrived and headed for Radio Kaikan in Akihabara.

"We've arrived, sir."

"Thank you."

As I paid and got out of the taxi, a large, dazzling yellow sign greeted me.

*I've seen it often in manga, but this is actually my first time here in person...*

I spent a moment taking in the scene and snapping some photos.

Soon after, the doors opened, and Ye-rin and Yu-mi emerged from Radio Kaikan.

"Senior, you're here?"

"Director, this place is a whole new world!"

Seeing Ye-rin's nonchalant expression contrasted with Yu-mi's even more excited-than-usual demeanor brought a smile to my face.

"What did you buy that got you so excited?"

"Oh, this?"

Yu-mi pulled out a set of Nendoroids featuring various cute girls from her shopping bag.

"I couldn't find these no matter how hard I looked in Korea, but I got lucky and spotted them right away here."

I nodded at Yu-mi's words and turned to Ye-rin.

"Ye-rin, didn't you buy anything?"

"Me? Not really... I usually ask my little sister to buy anything I really need. But more importantly, Senior, did you see that?"

"See what?"

"They've already put up ads for our game."

"Really?"

Surprised by Ye-rin's words, I asked again. Yu-mi, standing next to us, said with a smile:

"Yes! It was near the station. Didn't you see it on your way here?"

"I came by taxi, so I missed it."

"Then let's go see it now!"