Manager Han

In the office of Ikeburo Entertainment, a middle-aged man cast a glance at the gaming machine that featured ping pong and Tetris, recently relocated to his office by his diligent workers.

This man was Lee Han, a Korean who had ventured to Japan in 1985 for work. Through his intelligence and diligence, he had ascended to the position of manager at Ikeburo Entertainment.

Lee Han's gaze fell upon the game machine that now resided in his office, and his eyes welled with a sense of melancholy.

As the workers completed the transportation task and exited, Lee Han let out a sigh. "It's not as popular now, but I still remember the days when it captured people's attention in the '60s. Now it has become a relic of the past," he lamented in Korean, his hand caressing the game machine with nostalgia.

In that moment, his memories transported him back to the past, and the voice of his childhood echoed in his mind. "Papa! Let's play Tetris!" he had said to his father, who responded with laughter. "Tetris? Hehe, but I prefer a round of ping pong!" his father had replied.

"Alright! Let's play ping pong!" echoed Lee Han's youthful voice.

A smile crept onto Lee Han's face as he relished the memory. He had placed this game machine in Ikeburo Entertainment a year ago when he became the manager. However, until now, not a single soul had ventured to play it recently. In fact, the sole player had been Lee Han himself, indulging in it during his scarce free moments.

A few brave souls had attempted to play, but none had returned for a second round. Due to this, the higher-ups had instructed him to remove it and seek out a new tenant for the vacant spot.

And so, a company named 'KiShin Electronic' had taken over the space. From what Lee Han had heard, they also dealt in game machines, possibly featuring games similar to Tetris or ping pong. Curiosity piqued, Lee Han left his office to investigate it for himself.

---

Shin and Mira successfully set up the game consoles on the coin-operated machine. Shin took a seat in front of it to test the system.

Unbeknownst to them, a middle-aged man in a formal suit approached. It was Lee Han.

Lee Han couldn't help but be curious as he saw the young man holding a controller, engrossed in the game on the screen. He watched as a 2D pixelated character leaped, ran, and tackled monsters, all while entering pipes.

As Lee Han continued to observe, he became increasingly captivated. Unable to contain his enthusiasm, he asked, "Young man, may I give it a try?"

Shin and Mira turned to Lee Han. Mira had noticed him watching from the beginning, but she hadn't expected such interest from a middle-aged man.

Lee Han snapped out of his reverie, realizing his abruptness. He apologized, "I'm sorry for my rudeness. I'm Lee Han, the manager of Ikeburo Entertainment Center," bowing as he introduced himself.

Shin nodded and said, "I'm Shinro Suzuki, the one you called earlier. So, you're Manager Han." Shin smiled and asked, "You'd like to try playing?"

Lee Han smiled humbly and said, "If I'm not intruding, I'd love to experience it."

Shin chuckled and assured him, "Hehe, Manager Han, it's no problem at all. This video game machine is for everyone, but it does require some coins." Shin continued to sit and play the game.

Lee Han waited for Shin to stand up, assuming they'd switch places, but after a minute, Shin was still engrossed in the game. Lee Han hesitated before awkwardly asking, "Um, can I try now, Mr. Suzuki?" He thought that Shin might have forgotten.

Shin was a bit surprised and asked, "Manager Han, were you waiting for me to finish?"

Lee Han awkwardly replied, "Weren't you going to switch with me?"

Shin shook his head with a laugh and explained, "Haha, I forgot to mention that there are identical game machines right here," pointing at the adjacent one. "This one," he gestured, "and these five others are the same as the one I'm playing. You can just insert a coin, and it will start."

Mira chuckled, realizing Shin had been mischievous, intentionally omitting this information.

Lee Han felt embarrassed and said, "Ah, forgive me, I didn't know. Hehe." He quickly took a seat in front of the video game machine, inserting a coin.

The game started, playing a cheerful Mario theme, and Lee Han, initially unfamiliar with the controller, began experimenting. It turned out to be intuitive, with the buttons corresponding to their expected functions. Lee Han observed Shin playing, learning from his actions, and soon grasped the controls.

He read the game's title, "Super Mario," and dived into playing. Lee Han felt like a child once more, just as fascinated as he had been with Tetris in his youth.

A single tear welled up in his eye.

Mira noticed this and nudged Shin. Shin looked at her, and she pointed at Lee Han. Shin approached the manager and asked, "Do you like the game?"

Lee Han snapped out of his reverie, nodded joyfully, and said, "I love it."

Shin smiled in appreciation and inquired, "Do you think others will feel the same?"

Lee Han replied confidently, "Certainly!" He then realized that Shin was talking to him and awkwardly added, "Oh, it's you, Mr. Suzuki." He was speaking without realizing it.

Shin nodded and remarked, "It's a shame that few people visit this section; most prefer Pachinko or Gashapon."

Lee Han agreed, saying, "Don't worry, Mr. Suzuki. This game won't collect dust for long. Many people will love it."

Shin smiled and replied, "I believe so."

Lee Han adjusted his glasses and asked, "Would you be interested in selling this game machine to us, Mr. Suzuki?"

Shin and Mira exchanged glances, and Shin showed interest. "How much are you offering, Manager Han?"

Lee Han raised three fingers and proposed, "How about 30,000 yen?"

Shin smiled in response.

However, Lee Han noticed Shin's expression and asked, "What do you think, Mr. Suzuki?" He wanted these game machines, not just for profit but for himself, sensing their potential popularity.

Shin shook his head with a smile and said, "Thank you for the offer, Manager Han. But I have to decline."

Lee Han was disappointed.

"Is the price too low? Should I raise it?" Lee Han inquired.

Shin shook his head again, explaining, "Even if the price were higher, I'd still have to say no. I won't sell these game machines at the moment."

Lee Han sighed but was not too disheartened. "I won't press you, then," he said. He sensed that there might be a chance to acquire them in the future.

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Word counts : 1126