Chapter 12: Research

Led by Yu-mi's hand, we found that Girls Memorial's advertisement was indeed plastered on the building's wall.

It seemed the publishing company had quickly put up the ad to strike while the iron was hot...

I was quite satisfied, wondering if this was why the CEO had recommended this company.

"The Operator illustration on the billboard—maybe it's the quality, but everyone's taking a look as they pass by."

"Yeah, they are."

While chatting with Ye-rin, I turned to Yu-mi and caught her wistful expression.

"What's up?"

"Seeing people look at the ad as they walk by... it just hit me that I really made a game with my own hands..."

"Yu-mi, was this your first project?"

"Come to think of it... I guess so? I've helped out on the business team a few times, but..."

"It's natural to feel that way if it's your first. I had the same expression when I finished my first project."

Hearing Ye-rin's words, Yu-mi suddenly looked like a little sister to me...

Yu-mi must have noticed my mischievous gaze because her expression turned sulky.

"Director, stop looking at me like that!"

"Ah, right, sorry..."

"Geez... Anyway, what's next on the schedule?"

"Well..."

I hadn't really thought about the schedule since meeting up with them, so as I pondered, Ye-rin raised her hand.

"If you both have nothing to do, want to help me out?"

"With what?"

In response to my question, Ye-rin pulled two cameras out of her bag and handed them to us.

"Cameras?"

"You know that Yin-Yang Club we're adding in the next update after launch? They asked me to take some shrine photos for their club room background."

"Shrines?"

"Yeah, and if possible, they want shots of the surroundings too..."

I nodded at Ye-rin's request and looked at Yu-mi, who was already nodding in agreement.

"Since Ye-rin Unnie guided me around Akihabara, I absolutely have to help her."

"Alright, so have you decided which shrine we're hitting first?"

Ye-rin nodded at my question.

"They specifically asked for this one."

Ye-rin's smartphone showed an image of Asakusa.

"Okay, shall we head to Asakusa first then?"

"Yes." "Yes!"

Fortunately, Asakusa wasn't far from where we were in Akihabara.

About three stops on the subway?

We arrived at our destination, Asakusa, in no time.

"Wow... there are so many people! Is this what a tourist spot is like?"

As expected of a shrine representing Tokyo, it was absolutely packed with people.

"Excuse me, coming through... Are you both still following behind me?"

"Somehow managing... Stop pushing my shoulder!"

"Whoa... I've never seen so many people in one place before..."

When I looked back, both of them seemed to be experiencing their limits in real-time.

*We'd better get through the shopping street as quickly as possible...*

Somehow managing to forge a path ahead, we made it to Sensoji, Asakusa's main hall, before the two collapsed.

"...Everyone still alive?"

"Thankfully, yes."

"...I feel like I'm dying."

Ye-rin, relatively seasoned from Comiket experiences, seemed fine, but Yu-mi, who appeared less experienced, was in a half-downed state.

"Should we rest a bit before shooting then? Want anything to drink?"

"Ah, I'll go get them. You've worked hard leading the way..."

"It's fine, just sit down."

"...Then I'll have green tea, please."

"Yu-mi?"

"I'll take an iced coffee..."

"Green tea and coffee... Wait here a moment."

After taking their orders, I headed towards the convenience store.

Thankfully, the store was located down a side street rather than the crowded shopping area we'd just passed through, so I didn't have to brave the crowds again.

Even I couldn't push through that crowd again...

I bought the requested drinks at the convenience store and returned to where the two were waiting.

What greeted me was the sight of Yu-mi lying on the bench with her head on Ye-rin's lap.

"...Are you really okay?"

"Probably."

"I'm alive... somehow..."

"Should we rest a bit more before starting then?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Thanks for looking out for us..."

After handing them their drinks, I sat on the adjacent bench as a cool winter breeze blew by.

"You know, Yu-mi, I just realized your image is quite different from when I first met you."

"It is, isn't it?"

"Huh? What do you mean by my image...?"

"Just going by looks and personality, you seemed like the quintessential outdoorsy social butterfly, but it turns out you don't have much experience with outdoor activities."

"Now that you mention it, I can't even argue... which makes me even more annoyed..."

Yu-mi got up with a sulky expression and opened her coffee bottle.

"The Director's right. My personality is like this because in the business team, you can't survive if you're introverted. I had to change out of necessity."

"Ah, um..."

The suddenly heavy atmosphere emanating from Yu-mi made me feel like I'd pushed an unnecessary button, so I quickly apologized.

"Sorry."

"...I'll forgive you just this once."

"Senior, you're definitely in the wrong this time."

Feeling like I might end up being the wronged party if this continued, I stood up.

"Shall we start shooting then?"

*

The background material shooting went more smoothly than expected.

Unlike the crowded shopping street, Sensoji's main hall wasn't too packed, so we were able to finish shooting without any problems.

After completing all the shots in every nook and cranny, we were passing through the shopping street to head back when—

"Unnie, Director. Over there."

Yu-mi tugged on our hands and pointed somewhere.

Following Yu-mi's finger, we saw a group of foreigners gathered.

[Kimono/Yukata Rental]

"Why? Want to try one on?"

"Ah... no? As if I'd want to try something like that on a business trip abroad, not being able to separate work from play. This is just an extension of our research..."

She definitely wants to try one on.

Seeing Yu-mi lose her usual composure and ramble, it seemed pretty clear.

Just in case, I glanced at Ye-rin, who seemed to be thinking the same thing.

"Then why don't we rent some? Senior, you can take the photos."

"Sure."

"W-well, since it's part of our research... Unnie, shall we go pick some out together?"

"Let's do it."

While the two went inside to rent outfits, I took photos of the yukatas displayed on mannequins.

I thought yukatas had a uniform design, but there's more variety than I expected...

Taking photos of all of them would definitely help with costume designs for the Yin-Yang Club characters.

As I was in the middle of shooting,

"Director!"

"Senior."

I turned around at Yu-mi and Ye-rin's voices to see them both dressed in yukatas.

Ye-rin was wearing a cool-style yukata with a white and blue combination,

While Yu-mi wore a pink and light purple yukata that emphasized cuteness.

"They both suit you well."

"Really?"

"Of course."

Seeing Yu-mi and Ye-rin's happy expressions at my words, I took them around the shopping street to take photos.

As we did so, I gradually felt more eyes on us—most of them directed at Ye-rin and Yu-mi.

"Unnie... don't you feel like we're attracting a lot of attention?"

"Yeah, I think so..."

Although no one approached us directly, as we continued shooting,

"Excuse me."

A Western tourist-looking person came up to us.

"May I take a picture with you?"

Just as I was about to step in and handle it, Ye-rin reacted faster.

"Sure."

After giving permission, Ye-rin handed the tourist's camera to me and struck a pose.

I flinched slightly but had no choice but to take the photo, swept up in Ye-rin's momentum.

"Thank you."

We quickly left the spot, ushering the two away as the Westerner expressed their gratitude.

"I-I'm sorry. They'd been hovering around for a while, so I thought we'd just take one photo and send them off. I didn't expect so many people to gather..."

"You don't need to apologize. Just let me know before you act next time, okay?"

Ye-rin blushed slightly at my words and replied.

"Okay..."

After that, the commotion ended with Yu-mi comforting the dejected Ye-rin.

"We've finished all the research we can do here, shall we move on to the next location?"

"Yes."

"Yes!"

"First, let's return the yukatas."

"Ah." "Oh..."

They seemed to have genuinely forgotten, so I took them to return the yukatas before we visited the remaining shrines.

Fortunately, the shrines we visited afterward weren't as crowded as Asakusa, which was a relief, I suppose.

By the time we finished all our scheduled activities, it was already past 6 PM.

"Good work, everyone..."

"You too, Senior..."

"G-good work to both of you..."

We stopped at a restaurant for dinner as our final activity, and all of us were completely exhausted.

"I feel like I've done a year's worth of exercise..."

"Yu-mi, you really need to work out more..."

"I agree."

Ye-rin, unlike Yu-mi, seemed tired but not overwhelmingly so compared to earlier.

I wasn't at my limit either, so maybe Yu-mi really was just out of shape.

"Anyway, good job everyone for getting through today's schedule... The team leader's treating, so eat whatever you want."

"Yay~..."

"I'll enjoy the meal."

"Because once we get back from this overseas trip, it's the start of hell until the CBT ends."

"Ah, Director, really..."

"Senior, please save that kind of talk for when we're heading back..."

As I dealt with the two who seemed a bit soured by my words, our ordered food arrived.

And with the three of us finishing it all off, our overseas business trip came to an end.