NHK ni Youkoso! Vol 1 Chapter 4

Chapter 04

Part One

do. And because of some stupid daydream about the N.H.K. as the evil

myself.

spring that made me want to imitate Vincent Gallo in Buffalo 66.

on living."

Today was already different from every other day, though.

After waking up at one in the afternoon, I found an unfamiliar slip

It was the resumé that I had written several days earlier for the parttime

application, a memory that I now wanted to forget completely.

I hurried next door to Yamazaki's apartment.

computer, he was playing some sort of game.

"Hm. . . they came about two hours ago. I got some of those

go to your apartment, too, Satou?"

Apparently, I had left my resume behind in the manga café. I could no

handed it to Misaki. Because of the massive shock, my memories of that

Only one thing was certain: While making her religious rounds,

when I had asked, "Do you like bikes?" in a clumsy effort to conceal that

Realizing this, nothing at all seemed to matter anymore. When humans

emotions go numb.

the paper. As I did, the back of the resume caught my eye. A message

Welcome to the N.H.K.

project. Please, come to the Mita Fourth District Park tonight at nine o'clock."

Now, objectively considering it, I saw that this was an earthshattering

met twice. Really, it was so incredibly incomprehensible that I had no

The park was only a two-minute walk from my apartment. It was

old jungle gym, the bench with flaking paint, and the towering

blue glow. I liked this park.

always made sure to stop here. Empty, the space belonged to me alone.

the sky, I could see the faintly waving branches of the trees and, through

worries.

else was there.

What are you trying to do? What are you thinking? Who on Earth are

remained clear for some reason. I was even calm, my thoughts moving in

This may have been a form of resignation. Perhaps I had finally

admitted to myself that I was a hikikomori, a person with no future,

Lately I had been living in the past. Every night, I dreamed of long

things that had made me happy, other various memories—fragments of

Indeed, the future had ceased to be a problem. It already had been

wonderful, comforting memories. While this was obviously an extreme

Yes, that's right. I am a hikikomori, a worthless person with a weak spirit.

all over!

"'No,' what?" the girl inquired. She was rocking in one of the swings

wind. Tonight, too, she was dressed like an average teenage girl—no

However, I forbade myself to let down my guard. More than

how truly odd she was. I had to deal with her calmly, but with total

Right then and there, I decided to think of her as an ASIMO, the

even keel. Why not? Nowadays, robot technology is really coming along. No

Rocking slightly back and forth in the swing, the robot asked, "Why

Welcome to the N.H.K.

use the help. We would have decided to hire you right away."

extending flexibly from its skirt Japans technical skill truly is the best in the

"Seeing as you're a hikikomori, did you get scared of working in the

drove right to the heart of the matter—in the end, though, they were just

that angry.

worry. I know how to escape from being a hikikomori."

"Satou, right? Well, you're really a hikikomori, aren't you?"

hanging over the park entrance. It warned, "Beware of perverts! Young

I said, "Are you sure it's all right to meet a shady person like me at

"It's okay. My house is right over there, so I know all kinds of things.

right? I saw you from my window."

figure out what she wanted. Her real motives remained a mystery, and

solicitation?

“Huh?"

to repay her."

our awkward conversation as we both stared at the streetlamps.

how to escape from being a hikikomori?"

"You know my age?"

"You're absolutely right!"

display of energy seemed intentional. It might have been my

the bench and looked straight at me. Crouching, her hands resting on

you."

floated across her face. I was unable to think of her as a successor to the

hikikomori."

away when Auntie tried talking to you the other day? Even though you

don't do stuff like that."

"You're scared, right? Of other people?"

Welcome to the N.H.K.

Gazing into those eyes, I was at a loss for words.

Suddenly, I realized that somewhere along the way, the wind had

stirring. It was a chilly night.

on her. From behind me, she tried to stop me. "Wait!" she called, "You'll

"What are you talking about? For starters, who are you, anyway?"

'And what's this 'project' that you mentioned in your letter?"

However, you can rest assured that I won't do anything bad."

away from that place. "I'm not just any regular hikikomori, you know.

"What's your job?"

"What's that?"

apartment. . . or rather, my home office. I'm not a deadbeat. Although

anything about that! Trying to get a part-time job was just a momentary

"Huh. Really? What kind of work do you do?"

I thought, marvel at my job title! "Because I do creative work, I may act a

I'm not just some good-for-nothing, jobless guy!"

"That is. . . you know, what do you call it, the latest, revolutionary

"Well, let me know when you've finished what you're currently

"N-no, I can't do that. It's privileged information that I can't divulge.

can't just give it away so easily. . . "Just as I had begun to wish for death

away.

She really seemed to think this lost opportunity was unfortunate. In a

again. . . "

provided by the streetlamps.

My bad habit prompted me to keep gushing. "It seems you doubt

girl like you probably wouldn't be aware of this, but I'm sort of well

all about it. About my work. You'll be really surprised! You'll respect

Why did I say, "when I see you next time"? What did I mean by "my

Welcome to the N.H.K.

disproved? I could just be honest and say, "I'm a jobless hikikomori!"

Whatever. It didn't matter. I should just run. I should just get out of

Uncertainly, I headed toward the park exit. Behind me, she might

Part Two

how can one become a creator?"

"I have to become a creator right away. You're a student at the

kind of stuff?"

"I'm serious. I'm completely serious. Anything will do. Just tell me

"I'm hanging up. Come over."

my next door neighbor. It was the first phone call I'd made in months.

Road to the Creator

minutes earlier, I actually had said this. I had inflated my chest with

I suspected that this would not be far in the future. Misaki seemed to

By that time, I had to change my huge, incredibly stupid lie into reality. I

it?

"In short, Satou, you told a horrible lie because you were trying to look

conceal the fact that you lied. Does that about sum it up?"

know my real identity as an unemployed, hikikomori dropout! There's no

Yamazaki!

Yamazaki folded his arms and groaned, deep in thought. I sat on the

made no sense whatsoever. "To begin with, no matter how much a real

"Eh?"

normal humans. In fact, it might not be an exaggeration to say that

no need to go out of your way like this. What does it matter if you're

His expression was as calm as usual.

He continued, "Those things don't have proper human hearts. They

understand this fact."

"Ha ha ha! Well, anyway, it's not really that big of a deal. No matter

probably not half bad. It's fine. Let's think about this together."

were infused with a bizarre confidence. Apparently, a four-year span

be twisting in a dangerous emotional direction. However, at this point,

down to a demon.

all different kinds of creators, Satou—what would you like to do?"

"There's no job called 'creator'!" Yamazaki's voice grew rough. "It's

'creator' is simply someone who makes something. So, what would you

"Anything, as long as I can be called a creator."

had regained control of himself, he let out a heavy sigh. "Well, let's just

"What do you mean, 'skills'?"

Road to the Creator

programs? There are all sorts of possibilities."

talent for solitude. I've been able to live for an entire year without

"That won't do at all!" Yamazaki slammed the floor with both hands.

Yamazaki stood and grilled me with greater force. "There's no way

right to say whatever's easy for you, all the time. Listen to me, you

Institute, didn't you, Satou? Oh, it's fine, no need to hide it. . . Still, it's

Please understand this."

automatically several times.

my class, I got overexcited. People like them make me the maddest—

can't do anything themselves."

decided to make him drink some coffee to calm him down. Salvaging an

from the hot pot set up in the cabinet. Then, fishing farther under the

Eating the crackers, we drank coffee.

about it more concretely this time. Music takes a lot of skill and

programming, you're no good at math, right? So, that's out. Art also

illustrating manga won't work. Then. . . "

the literary club, weren't you?!"

"Novels! It's novels!"

written any long compositions since they made me do it in middle

Yamazaki scowled at me again. Breathing violently through his nose,

I felt a light touch of fear and decided to change the subject.

anime, after all? Are you painting cels and stuff?"

Yoyogi Animation Institute, there are many different departments. I'm

Game Creation? The second I heard that phrase, it excited me.

The glamor industry of the modern age. The number one job that

in a Lamborghini, being entertained at a high-class club in Ginza. He

hanging out amid the huge, long lines for his latest super-popular game.

Road to the Creator

demand games from an elementary school kid, and the story would be

It was high-salaried, with a yearly pay of one hundred million yen! It

Finishing off my coffee in one gulp, I grabbed Yamazaki's hand.

It was past eleven o'clock at night. Yamazaki was sipping his tenth cup of

Yamazaki grew angry. "Don't just take food from someone's

I bowed my head in apology and put some pepper on the noodles.

impossible for beginners to make games."

"Modern games are a comprehensive art. A decent game can be

couldn't do it, Satou."

insolently, haven't you?" was what I felt like saying to give him a hard

insolent for a long time. Yeah, that was true. Even though he'd been a

whomever he wanted. He'd openly call his classmates idiots or tell them

Welcome to the N.H.K.

He'd spoken politely to me; but once he found out that I'd become

he started making fun of me, calling me "worthless" to my face. All that

game creator. I had to become an industry insider. Please, Yamazaki. . .

things that can't be done, no matter how much you beg, Satou."

"For one thing, there's no way that something you started to earn a

motivation soon."

"I have school tomorrow. I'm tired already."

creator, I'd be able to escape my life as a hikikomori, wouldn't I?!"

"No, it can't be!" I insisted.

"Yes, it will."

coaxing him, yelling at him—and finally, I tried wheedling to get on his

even cut out the commercials for you."

committed." His voice was serious.

"If so, there's one way that even you, Satou, could become a game

"But?"

painful method that would make anyone want to abandon the course, not

Yamazaki's face was grave, and I gulped reflexively. My

"I'll do anything," I said.

I nodded.

I made a show of nodding deeply again.

second bowl of ramen. "I understand, Satou. Let's talk. I'll tell you about

games are made on an incredibly large scale. A huge amount of data and

anything. Even making a game around the level of the outdated Super

like that, you still couldn't possibly call yourself a game creator."

Yamazaki quickly cut me off. "Just listen to me, all right? We have

limited resources. Even in our humble situation, there's still a way. Even

crappy music, as long as we have about fifty CG—or computer graphic—

Welcome to the N.H.K.

should work for us.!"

"S-so what's the genre?" My own voice sounded hollow.

engine, we'll be fine. Let's just take the soundtrack off a copyright-free

Scenarios? Oh, that should be easy as long as I just had to write

was kidnapped by villains."

What's the genre?"

"Yeah, let's do it, Yamazaki. Let's make a game together! So, like I

"As long as the CG and scenarios are good, we can become totally

we make some money with a self-published project, we even could start a

"A company! That would be amazing, Yamazaki. You could be the

"You'll do it, right, Satou?"

"If we go this far, there's no turning back."

"Well then, let's shake on it. Together, we can run toward

kindred spirits."

“We're friends!"

"We're creators!"

Yamazaki finally proudly answered the question that I had asked

Someone, please save me.

"Here are the materials. Please, look through them as soon as you

understand the industry trends." Saying this, he handed me about thirty

"torture," "wet," "abuse," "lewd," "tie," "academy," "confinement," "rape,"

I wanted to cry. But Yamazaki was grinning.

Well, these are really, really erotic games—but they're the only path

people in my class with our erotic games! Let's become billionaires with

games! We'll go on to Hollywood with our erotic games! Let's get

Nobel Prize for our erotic. . . "

and run off had evaporated completely.

Chapter end

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