Romantic Date (2)

⁠—Now then. Shall we go over the work’s premise from the beginning? At this rate, we’ll never get anything done.

Yes.

“There Are So Many Idols In Love With Me I Just Don’t Know What To Do - Love Battle Stadium”, also known as “Ai-Stars”, is a dating simulator game made for women.

Yes.

By the way, there are a lot of game projects that real idols star in, and there are some that only have their faces modeled.

For example, there’s “Ansta” a fighting game in which special abilities are used based on a battle manga¹.

“Ansta”…fumu, I’m not too familiar with that.

Apparently it’s popular enough that it will be made into its own anime. HiMERU isn’t informed much on the details himself, but groups would get into trouble in the past for creating characters inspired by real life idols without their consent.

Is that so…

Well, all those characters were based on Yumenosaki idols, so it wasn’t really much of an issue for Reimei or HiMERU. And so, of all the plenty idol-inspired games, “Ai-Star” seems to be the most popular now.

Originally it was a “mobile game” available on smartphones apparently. Then, with the use of “SSVRS” technology it was adapted into an all-new hit VR game. It’s like falling in love with a real idol, they say. Even more so because of the fact that ES closely collaborated with the project.

Each idols’ looks, verbiage, and actions were replicated, so it’s popularity is no surprise. Thanks to “Ai-stars”, “SSVRS” VR headset sales have gone up, and now a large amount of people are playing the game for themselves at home.

Fufu. You sure are informed, HiMERU-san. You had to have done a lot of studying beforehand.

But of course. HiMERU would never risk sullying the reputation HiMERU’s name has. So he will do his best and ensure there is not a single part of the job left unfinished.

Wonderful. I, too, don’t plan to leave anything unfinished. However, this makes me realize that I still might not be giving it my complete best.

HiMERU-san, I’ll learn from your example and keep working even harder.

⁠—“Ai-star“‘s premise is to make it so that female producers are able to fall in love with a lot of male idols.

In addition, if you tried hard enough, you could be in a romantic relationship with your favorite idols and even marry them.

Actually, that just seems to be the whole point of the game.

Is that even okay? Wouldn’t there be legal and ethical issues?

It’s just fiction.

Fumu…I’ll agree to disagree. However, I have another question still. This is a game where…a female producer falls in love with a male idol, isn’t it?

I don’t know much on that myself but…

If it’s supposed to be a work where the relationship is between a man and a woman, then why were we⁠—as men⁠—whispering flirtatious words to each other?

Was that your idea of flirting? You suddenly started quoting the Bible.

It was surprising and it messed up the entire conversation.

Fufu. Apologies. I’m really clueless…

“The assassin is on the run after defecting from the organization, and the assassin that is hot on his tail! The pursued and the pursuer! What type of forbidden love will sprout between them both?!”

…That was the scenario assigned to us, but I don’t get half of it.

HiMERU can’t blame you, Tatsumi. Doesn’t that kind of story seem heavy? It looks like you can experience all kinds of scenarios like that in “Ai-star”.

Wasn’t this a game about falling in love with idols…? Why are there assassins in it?

Don’t ask HiMERU. Projects like these have always had a tendency to overextend over a period of time. They need to constantly add updates⁠—each of them being more diverse than the one before.

“Ai-stars” has been around for a long time, and with the amount of things being added to it, it’s starting to become confusing.

It seems like even the producers of it feel the same. I can definitely sympathize with how they feel.

As an aside, “Ai-stars” is a live-action production and you might not know what that is, Tatsumi. Essentially, it’s a game made with the idol’s actual voice and appearance, so that’s why we’re being made to film the materials that are necessary to the games production.

HiMERU doesn’t really get why we have to act our romantic scenarios with each other as men. They said it would be more efficient that way…but he wonders if that’s actually the reason.

Fumu, I wouldn’t know how it would be efficient, but for us we’ve gone the opposite direction. We’ve become inefficient.

…Yes. Unfortunately.