[Tokyo, Japan]
With the sudden release of "Super Mario Bros. 2: The Lost Levels," the enthusiasm for this game surged not just in Tokyo, but across all of Japan. This fervor can be attributed to the fact that "Super Mario Bros." marked KiShin's debut in the world of video games and the captivating gameplay of "Super Mario Bros." which appealed to people of all ages.
However, the downside of its immense popularity and craze was that it led to numerous arguments in various locations, including stores and malls.
The demand for "Super Mario Bros. 2: The Lost Levels" was so intense that the game sold out within just one day.
Despite the apparent silence of strong competitors like Tora and Suzuki, they had already made their moves behind the scenes. Several major TV channels in Tokyo began to feature segments highlighting the perceived negative effects of the Mario craze.
One particular TV channel had a news anchor who raised concerns with a social psychology expert. The expert expressed, "It is genuinely concerning how much influence video games can have on a group of people. We should expect more negative behavior from this group, especially with highly addictive games, like the ones produced by the leading company in the Japanese video game industry."
All of these discussions seemed to point toward KiShin without even mentioning Tora or Suzuki. However, this propaganda did not significantly impact the sales of KiShin video games, except among older people in Japan who held negative views of video games, and some strict parents. It's worth noting that Suzuki enjoyed a favorable reputation among the latter group due to their educational consoles.
Meanwhile, in various countries across Asia, such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, KiShin continued its expansion unabated.
Shortly after gaining popularity in South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, KiShin made its much-anticipated release in South East Asia, slowly garnering the attention of this region.
KiShin, which had only been in existence for 11 months, had an estimated net worth that had already surpassed 100 billion yen, a staggering figure that drew envious glances from companies like Tora and Suzuki.
KiShin's commitment to providing more employment opportunities endeared it to the Japanese Government, further solidifying its status in the business world of Japan, where many could already foresee the global dominance of this once-fledgling company that was steadily gaining momentum.
Meanwhile, on March 1, 1991, it was Mira's birthday, and Shin and Mira celebrated together. Then, on March 5, 1991, it was Shin's birthday. Surprisingly, Shin's birthday was close to Mira's, so they, along with key employees and an invited Western enthusiast named Higeki, celebrated Shin's birthday together.
On March 20, 1991, KiShin surprised the video game community once again by releasing "Super Mario Bros. 3," featuring a two-player mode. This led to a resurgence in Mario game trends in Japan.
However, that wasn't the only surprising news. Suzuki made a bold move by entering the USA and European markets, creating an event where a specific console, the SES 16-bit, offered a chance to win $20,000 as a reward. This attracted a large number of buyers eager to seize the opportunity.
Suzuki's strategic move paid off as their sales skyrocketed, gradually surpassing Tora in the 16-bit market. To seal their victory, Suzuki enlisted Michael Jackson to promote their products. In a heartwarming commercial, Michael was seen joyfully playing the SES 16-bit with a group of children, captivating the hearts of pop star fans. SES 16-bit sales surged even further.
Not to be outdone, Tora countered with advertisements featuring a famous band singing praises for their console and video games. The competition between Suzuki and Tora intensified in the USA, as they couldn't make as much of an impact in their home market.
---
April 5, 1991.
KiShin celebrated its one-year anniversary.
On April 7, 1991, shortly after KiShin's anniversary celebration, the wedding of Shin and Mira was approaching. Despite Shin's young age of 19, he was filled with excitement, and everything felt surreal for a while.
He invited his second brother, his friend, Higeki Kiyoshi, as well as his second sister and mother to a Japanese restaurant but a modest yet elegant chapel.
---
[Suzuki Mansion]
Ruki Suzuki and Airi Suzuki were rather perplexed when Shinro suddenly called them and invited them to an important party. They inquired about the nature of the event, but Shinro simply advised them to dress nicely.
They harbored some doubts.
During dinner, Ruki and Airi exchanged knowing glances. Naturally, they refrained from mentioning Shinro in the presence of the family's patriarch, Shiro Suzuki.
As Shiro enjoyed his meal, he suddenly remarked, "Lately, I've had a nagging feeling that something isn't quite right..." he said between bites of his food.
Airi gazed at him with concern and asked, "Have you had a medical checkup? Could it be due to overworking?"
Shiko chimed in, "Father, you should take a break."
Seki nodded in agreement.
Shiro shook his head and replied, "No, I've had a thorough checkup, and the doctor didn't find anything unusual."
Airi regarded him with a tinge of worry, saying, "I see..."
Shiro nodded and continued, "I just have this sense that something significant is on the horizon... I don't know what it is..."
Reina chuckled and playfully remarked, "Maybe it's because my birthday is just around the corner, right? You're going to get me an expensive gift, aren't you?" She made this request to her father, but oddly, he and everyone else in the room seemed to ignore her.
Airi and Ruki exchanged glances, suddenly remembering that Shinro had invited them to an "Important Party."
Then, Shiro suddenly turned to his wife and asked, "How is Shinro?" He inquired, recalling something that had been on his mind.
Everyone present was taken aback by this unexpected question.
Shiro noticed their surprise and cleared his throat, repeating the question to his wife, "Have you been in touch with him recently?"
Airi, with wide eyes, looked at her husband and inquired, "Why the sudden interest?"
Shiro, hearing her question, furrowed his brow and responded, "What do you mean, 'sudden interest'? He's been on his own for a year!"
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances.
Shiro went on to clarify, "I simply wanted to know how he's doing. I just want to gauge his situation and, if necessary, remind that stubborn child that his father is always right!"
Upon hearing this explanation, the others nodded with some understanding.
Airi added, "He got in touch with me yesterday and mentioned that he's doing well."
Shiro, upon hearing this, seemed a bit disappointed and mumbled, "I see..."
Airi nodded and continued, "He even invited me to an 'Important Party on April 12...," glancing at Ruki as Shinro had specified that she and Ruki were the only ones invited.
Shiro, Shiko, and Seki furrowed their brows in response.
Shiro thoughtfully remarked, "An 'Important Party,' huh..."
[While there might appear to be several timeskips, I deliberately included them to maintain pacing and avoid unnecessary filler content. I plan to dedicate an entire chapter to the wedding, and then shift the focus to video game development for the remaining storyline.]
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