"Enough, I've said all that needs saying."
Professor Mizawa waved impatiently. "Eikura is a textbook bureaucrat—he likes big talk, and he likes achievements he can put his name on. When you meet him, don't just talk about Sega's communication efficiency. Too small-minded."
Nakayama Takuya instantly understood and played along.
"You mean I need to speak from the perspective of national development and industrial strategy?"
"Of course!"
The professor glared at him. "Tell him this is about building a high-speed highway for Japan's entire electronic information industry—laying the foundation for the nation's digital future! The bigger the hat, the better. Make him feel that if this succeeds, he'll earn a line on his résumé for 'pioneering achievement.' Then he'll be more eager than you are."
Senior Yamashita listened in a daze, feeling as though a door to a brand-new world had just creaked open.
So things can be done like this?
Nakayama held back a laugh and nodded solemnly.
"Understood. Tomorrow I'll head to MITI—serve the nation, serve the people, and give my all."
He even snapped a mock salute.
The office erupted into cheerful laughter.
After the joking subsided, Professor Mizawa looked at his now fully capable former student, his expression softening a little. He turned to the still-bewildered Yamashita Yukihiko.
"Yukihiko, do you see? In school, a single paper might determine your future. In society, sometimes a name is worth more than a hundred pages of proposals."
He paused, then pointed back at Nakayama.
"But a name only gets you through the door. If this kid relied solely on his father's reputation and had nothing in his head except that damn toilet of his, Eikura would politely kick him out in five minutes. I've paved the road for you. How far you walk—that's up to your own ability. Don't embarrass me."
"You can count on me."
Nakayama put away his smile and answered seriously.
"All right, all right. Get out of here."
Professor Mizawa shooed him away like an annoying fly.
Nakayama stood up, bowed again with a grin.
"Then I'll take my leave, professor, senpai."
"Wait."
The professor stopped him.
Nakayama turned back.
The old man leaned comfortably against his chair.
"When your network plan is up and running, and you develop some interesting new functions, remember to tell me. I'll be checking your results."
Nakayama blinked, then a smile bloomed across his face.
"No problem. You'll be the first to know."
With that, he strode out of the office.
Behind him were Yamashita Yukihiko's admiring eyes—and the professor's faintly satisfied smile.
---
The next morning, Nakayama slipped the note bearing the MITI official's contact information into his pocket and went straight to Director Yoshikawa's office.
"Oh? Executive Nakayama. A rare visitor."
Yoshikawa put down his newspaper and gestured for him to sit.
Nakayama didn't waste a second. He explained everything clearly and placed the memo on the polished mahogany desk.
"That's the situation. Professor Mizawa helped me connect with Section Chief Eikura of MITI's Information Systems Promotion Division."
Director Yoshikawa's gaze fell upon the little slip of paper. His eyes sharpened.
MITI? Information Systems Promotion Division?
He picked up the note, examined the number, then looked again at the young man before him. His relaxed expression vanished, replaced with seriousness.
He had originally thought Nakayama wanted to try some minor new technology—
He hadn't expected him to go straight to MITI, backed by the personal network of a titan-level professor from Tokyo Tech.
Yoshikawa stared at him like he was some kind of monster.
"Do you have any idea how much effort our PR department spends trying to establish relationships with government agencies? And you've had connections like this, and never mentioned them?"
"That's why I'm here to ask for help from the expert."
Nakayama grinned, showing perfect white teeth.
"Hah! Well said!"
Yoshikawa slapped his thigh, suddenly energized.
He grabbed the internal phone and dialed.
"Tell Section Chief Matsumoto to come to my office. Immediately!"
Less than a minute later, a sharply dressed middle-aged man with hair lacquered stiff as a helmet stepped inside. It was Matsumoto, the PR department's most capable section chief.
"Director, you called for me."
"Matsumoto, drop everything you're working on."
Yoshikawa pointed at Nakayama with undeniable authority.
"Tomorrow, you will accompany Executive Nakayama for his entire visit to MITI's Section Chief Eikura."
Matsumoto blinked, glancing between the young executive and the stern director. Then he bowed deeply.
"Yes, sir!"
With arrangements set, Nakayama returned to his office to prepare his "ammunition."
He knew perfectly well that for a bureaucrat like Eikura, personal connections weren't enough. He needed to present a reason so irresistible—so beneficial—that Eikura would fight to make it happen.
Professor Mizawa's words echoed in his ears:
The bigger the hat, the better.
Nakayama spread out blank paper. His pen began to dance.
He didn't bother focusing on Sega's internal communication problems. That was far too narrow in scope.
Instead, he titled the proposal:
"Preliminary Concept for Constructing a 'High-Speed Highway for Japan's Electronic Information Industry'"
In the document, he reframed Sega's needs as a grand, national-level strategic pilot project.
What was merely an "Internet-based electronic forum"?
In his hands, it became:
"A demonstrative platform enabling cross-border information sharing and collaborative operations for Japan's multinational enterprises."
What was simply "enhanced email features"?
He elevated it to:
"A future-oriented, paperless, high-efficiency task distribution and tracking system—building the foundation for national digital administration."
He even wrote that once Sega gained network access, it would leverage its software-development capabilities to create a model "digitized workflow for multinational companies," helping Japan seize the strategic high ground in the next global technological wave.
The entire proposal radiated a heroic aura of
For the nation! For the people! Who else but us?
Nakayama finished writing and couldn't help laughing.
This wasn't a proposal.
This was a tailor-made promotion portfolio for Section Chief Eikura.
---
The next day, in the car headed for MITI, the usually steady and experienced Matsumoto was sweating as he read the "grand blueprint."
He sneaked a glance at the young executive resting with his eyes closed.
"Executive Nakayama… isn't this proposal a bit too exaggerated? Will someone as shrewd as Section Chief Eikura actually believe it?"
Nakayama slowly opened his eyes, a confident smile curling at his lips.
He looked out at the rapidly receding cityscape and said leisurely:
"Matsumoto, this communication strategy came from my mentor. Every bureaucrat hopes for achievements that advance their career. Today, we're not asking him for a favor."
"We're delivering him a monumental accomplishment."
"Of course, we can't look like we think that. On the surface, we still need to act like the ones begging for help."
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