Tokyo, Japan.
At Haneda International Airport, several employees from Galaxy Games' Japan branch exited the terminal one by one. Among them was Miyamoto Ei, who had just returned home after two intense months in Hong Kong. Their newest arcade game, "Pac-Man," had officially been completed, and with the company now flooded with international orders, the development department was granted a well-earned vacation.
As the taxi rolled through the familiar streets of Tokyo, Miyamoto couldn't help but feel a deep sense of emotion.
Just two months ago, he had left Japan full of uncertainty — unsure whether the small Hong Kong startup called Galaxy Games could even survive a few years. Yet now, everything was different. "Pac-Man" had exploded in popularity worldwide, and the company had earned millions in overseas orders. The staff had been rewarded handsomely, and the company was now financially secure for years to come.
Most importantly, President Lin Baicheng had personally spoken with him before the break, asking whether Miyamoto was ready to take on the role of chief engineer and lead his own game project. It was the opportunity he had been dreaming of.
Miyamoto had pitched an idea that had been lingering in his mind — a platform adventure starring a giant ape, full of dynamic movement and simple but exciting gameplay. Lin Baicheng had approved it immediately, promising full support. For Miyamoto, this was the start of his next big step.
But before beginning, he had another mission: to meet an old friend — the man Lin wanted to recruit for the company's next big leap.
That night, in a small Tokyo restaurant, Miyamoto met Gunpei Yokoi, his former mentor and senior at Nintendo.
Over drinks and grilled skewers, the two caught up.
"So, when did you get back?" Yokoi asked, sipping his sake.
"Just today," Miyamoto smiled. "President Lin gave us a week-long vacation."
They chatted casually at first, until Miyamoto finally steered the conversation toward business.
"Yokoi-san… do you remember the promise you made two months ago?"
Yokoi raised an eyebrow. He hadn't forgotten. Back then, Lin Baicheng had told him: If Galaxy Games could raise more than 200 million Hong Kong dollars within two years, would you consider joining us? Yokoi had agreed — not expecting the company to actually pull it off.
"You might not believe this," Miyamoto continued earnestly, "but President Lin did it. Our game, Pac-Man, was a massive hit at the Los Angeles trade show. The company made well over two hundred million Hong Kong dollars."
Yokoi blinked, stunned.
"That's… impossible. Two months? You developed a hit game in that time?"
"It's true, senpai," Miyamoto said, smiling. "I was part of the development team. The president's sense for game design is unbelievable — like he already had the entire game mapped out in his head before we even began. The whole project went smoother than any I've ever seen."
Yokoi was quiet for a long time before finally nodding.
"If that's true, then your president is indeed remarkable."
Miyamoto leaned forward.
"President Lin truly values your expertise. He wants you to lead our hardware division, with a research budget of at least one billion yen per year. You'd have full creative control. No more layers of managers above you like at Nintendo."
He paused, then added respectfully:
"He asked me to come ahead of him to hear your thoughts. Regardless of your answer, he plans to fly here personally soon — to show his sincerity."
Yokoi chuckled softly.
"So he even taught you how to say that, didn't he?"
Still, his tone wasn't mocking — it was thoughtful. For the first time, he was seriously considering the offer. Galaxy Games was no longer a tiny startup. Lin Baicheng had proven himself capable, and the promise of true creative freedom was tempting.
That night, Yokoi didn't give an answer.
He said he needed time to think.
When Miyamoto reported back to Lin Baicheng, the young president was thrilled. "No outright rejection means hope," he said with a smile.
Without hesitation, he booked a flight to Tokyo — determined to win Yokoi over personally.