The esports tournament continued until evening. As the sun dipped low, painting the sky a blazing red, the competition finally came to an end.
The second esports tournament concluded, with the top three winners determined in each event.
For Kobayashi Blocks and Tank Battle, scoring was straightforward. For Yamngaard, there were two categories: fastest completion and highest score.
In total, eleven players received awards.
Because the same player topped both categories in Yamngaard, Kohakawa stood among the other participants, a mix of nerves and excitement visible even though the tournament was over.
She had taken first place!
Tetsu Kobayashi held the plastic trophies sponsored by Bandai, each molded in the shape of the Salamander fighter from Yamngaard, and went on stage to present them.
Custom certificates accompanied the trophies, and TV reporters closely followed, ensuring maximum exposure for the players' achievements.
Kobayashi handed the plastic trophy to Kohakawa, gesturing for her to raise it.
"Hold it up."
"Oh!"
Kohakawa lifted the trophy in one hand and the certificate in the other.
"One hand is enough—"
Two hands looked almost like surrender. Kobayashi gently instructed her to hold the trophy with one hand and keep the certificate close to her chest with the other.
"Congratulations to Kohakawa for winning the championship!"
Kobayashi turned to the camera as everyone raised their heads together. The photographer captured the moment, creating a lasting group shot of the winners.
After the ceremony, Kobayashi didn't leave. Instead, he picked up the microphone, clapped his hands, and addressed the crowd.
"Players, spectators, brothers and sisters, we are in Tokyo and are all high-quality people. If possible, please take your trash with you and do not burden the cleaning staff. Let's be civilized Tokyoites!"
After a brief silence, players and spectators alike began picking up their trash.
The TV camera captured the scene. A reporter, moved, commented:
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the second esports tournament hosted by Shimayori Game Shop and sponsored by Bandai. Today, both the players and the audience have shown remarkable civility."
The camera then returned to Kobayashi, who had just set down the microphone to leave.
The reporter added casually:
"Our young judge here was the champion of the first esports tournament. Not only is he outstanding in games, but his professionalism is equally impressive—"
Esports tournaments really are something. Next year, they must continue!
The reporter wasn't alone in this sentiment. Across the street, the Nintendo specialty store, having seen only a trickle of customers all day, left Manager Chiyama sighing.
We really need this guy with the Blue-Eyes White Dragon again! Last year's tournament hadn't gone perfectly—not just because of game issues, but also because the event lacked someone to manage the flow.
This year, the tournament would continue, sponsorships secured, and they would need to get Kobayashi back again.
Hideo Kojima hadn't left after the event; he was helping pick up trash.
He enjoyed being noticed, even if it was slightly performative; the attention felt good.
Yet now Kojima had another minor issue.
Hiroshi Naka was following him.
Kojima sighed, half-amused: "I'm a man—why are you following me?"
Naka replied earnestly, "I'm not following you. And why can't a man follow another man?"
Kojima stepped back, scrutinizing Naka.
What a persistent guy…
Remembering Kobayashi's instructions, Naka introduced himself: "I'm Hiroshi Naka from Atlas Studio. Actually, I have another reason for wanting you to stay."
Kojima didn't believe him at all.
A random stalker claiming to be from Atlas Studio? Who would trust that? Naka didn't even have "Atlas" written on his face.
As Kojima tried to leave and Naka attempted to stop him, a familiar voice rang out.
"Kojima from Kobe, don't rush off."
Kojima stopped and turned to Tetsu Kobayashi.
Seeing Kobayashi approaching, cap on, Kojima hesitated but ultimately chose to stay.
He had been impressed by Kobayashi's commentary and post-match conduct. Compared to the unknown Naka, Kobayashi was clearly more trustworthy.
"First, let's do a brief introduction."
Kobayashi removed his cap and bowed slightly.
"Tetsu Kobayashi, producer of Kobayashi Blocks and president of Atlas Studio, though it's just a small studio."
Suddenly, Kojima looked up and asked, almost on instinct:
"Aren't you the Blue-Eyes White Dragon?"
"Just a pen name," Kobayashi said calmly. "Kojima, you're the first player to come from outside Tokyo, so the organizers wanted to do a short post-match interview, possibly for print or TV."
Kojima felt unexpectedly flattered.
Me, a nobody from Kobe, being interviewed? But if even the Atlas president wants to talk to me…
Although Kobayashi didn't have "Atlas" written anywhere, his words carried far more credibility than Naka's.
He tidied his hair, adjusted his collar, and carefully cleaned his glasses.
Kobayashi gestured, inviting Kojima to a nearby café for a brief seat.
The interview was, of course, just a pretext to casually connect with Kojima.
Kobayashi had a rough understanding of Kojima's personality.
First, flashy—Kojima loved to be in the spotlight, showing off on camera.
Second, prideful—he had great confidence in his own abilities, which is why his name appeared directly in Death Stranding.
Naturally, Kojima already had a professional reputation, so he carried more weight than, say, a "Xia Siyuan" work.
Kobayashi deliberately guided the conversation, which excited Kojima, eager to treat Kobayashi as a kindred spirit.
Holding his iced drink, Kojima exclaimed:
"You're absolutely right! I feel current games lack this kind of gameplay. We could even explore other solutions!"
Kobayashi smiled, then shifted gears:
"It seems you also have insights into the gaming industry. Have you ever considered joining it? You could consider Atlas."
"The gaming industry? I haven't really thought about it; I'm studying economics."
Kojima pondered and an idea suddenly formed.
If I were to join the gaming industry… why not try Atlas?
After all, he got along well with Kobayashi.
And, after all…
Kobayashi was already a well-known game developer, while Kojima was still an undergraduate. Although Kobayashi's words were polite, they were enthusiastic enough.
Based on today's experience and Atlas' games, Kojima liked the studio immensely.
Except for Naka. Kojima seriously doubted he wanted to be around Naka once he joined.
"I… I'll consider it."
Kobayashi sipped his drink.
"But without any work to show, it's hard to make a place for yourself in a software company."
Kojima's eyes widened.
He did have work to show.
"Actually, a few friends and I have been working on a program in the university lab."
Kobayashi remained composed, but inwardly, he was pleasantly surprised.
Of course, student projects usually weren't that impressive.
He asked casually: "What kind of program? A game?"
"Not exactly. It's a program to improve enemy AI in games. I mostly suggested ideas, but my friends implemented them."
Kobayashi's expression stayed calm, but his mind raced.
Anyone who played early Metal Gear on the Famicom would know the enemies weren't dumb. Even mistakes could be noticed by the AI, with some enemies, like dogs, particularly tricky. It was intricate and precise for a stealth game.
Even more sophisticated was the original Metal Gear on the MSX. Kojima had first developed there at Konami's MSX division—a small, underappreciated branch, despite MSX selling three million units in Japan.
The original MSX Metal Gear AI was smarter.
Other contemporary games had enemies following simple preset routines.
This was because Kojima and his friends had developed a program in college, implementing basic AI that allowed enemies to react dynamically—tracking the player's movement or ignoring them when hiding.
After joining Konami, Kojima refined the program.
Early Konami games he worked on didn't use it. Only when he controlled Metal Gear in the MSX department did it get applied.
Kobayashi immediately clapped his hands.
"Coincidentally, Atlas is planning to discuss game collaboration with the same company in Osaka. If you don't mind, would you show me around Kobe?"
Kojima's eyes went wide.
Is this really happening?
He wasn't skeptical about Osaka, but surprised that Kobayashi suggested seeing Kobe.
Suddenly, Kojima felt a surge of pride.
Who doesn't like being valued? Especially by someone he liked—Atlas.
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