[OreGaIru : New Me!]

….

[-Continuation-]

[-Location : Game Launch Auditorium-]

.

[-Third Person View-]

Dark Circle sat in the sixth row of a packed auditorium, the buzz of excitement swirling around him.

Beside him, PJ leaned in, his voice low but brimming with curiosity. "Are they really cosplaying the game characters?"

PJ was a longtime gaming buddy, someone Dark Circle had met online five years ago during a late-night raid. They had bonded over shared victories, epic failures, and their mutual respect of throwing shade at bad gameplay. Now, here they were, trying to figure out the peculiar scene unfolding on stage.

Two life-sized, blocky figures shuffled across the platform, their movements slow and mechanical. They were deliberately placing pieces together, as if building something familiar - a hut, maybe? Their clunky, exaggerated motions mirrored the exact animation style of in-game characters, right down to the stiff turns and repetitive gestures.

The audience was equally captivated, leaning forward in their seats or snapping photos on their phones. Vendors milled about the venue, peddling pixelated merchandise: blocky swords, clunky pickaxes, shovels, and even jagged square glasses. It was as if the game's aesthetic had exploded into reality.

It was all surreal.

Dark Circle had been to a few game launch events before, but nothing like this.

This wasn't just a launch. It felt like stepping into a live version of the game itself.

Everything about it was new.

And he was sure it was the same for many.

…

Soon the massive timer on the stage's digital screen ticked its last second, and with a hiss, white smoke erupted from the floor near the stage.

Just as the smoke cleared, a Ryota emerged.

The crowd watched as a blonde man strode onto the stage, a microphone in one hand and a pair of ridiculous yet fitting pixelated glasses perched on his nose.

His confident walk matched the energy of someone who was born for the spotlight.

Even though most of the crowd didn't know who he was, their claps and cheers filled the air - they are smart enough to know he is someone integral part of the game about to launch and will be acting as the presenter for today.

"Hello there, people!!" He shouted into the mic, his voice booming with a practiced enthusiasm that instantly matched the auditorium energy.

As the cheers settled, he continued, flashing a confident grin. "I am Ryota, your co-director for this project. Before we move forward, I want to take a moment to introduce someone truly remarkable. But first…"

He paused, letting the anticipation build. "Let me thank the incredible team behind this game. From the designers to the developers and, of course, our dedicated managers - this wouldn't have been possible without them."

Ryota's words earned another round of applause, and he nodded, soaking it in before moving on. "Now, before I present the sole concept creator, my co-director for this game, [Minecraft], and also the mastermind behind [Candy Crush], I would like to show appreciation where it's due."

Right at the mention of these two titles, their logos lit up on the screen behind him, and this was enough to remind everyone in the audience why they were here. Whispers rippled through the crowd, a mix of excitement and curiosity.

"Finally." Ryota said, his voice softening for effect. "I want to express our gratitude to Mr. Arigoro, chairman of Orgo Corporation, for believing in us and giving us the platform to create something truly special."

With that, Ryota exited the stage, leaving the crowd buzzing with speculation.

"With this I would like to leave the stage and watch the trailer of the game once again. Right after it is finished, the stage is completely to the MVP of the event. Oh, a small suggestion from my part… don't be too shocked. And yeah, whom you will be seeing is real. Thank you."

Dark Circle, puzzled by Ryota's words, focused on the projection displaying the [Minecraft] logo.

The trailer began, showcasing a small island surrounded by water - a scene he had seen almost ten times on his gaming setup.

However, experiencing it on such a grand scale was still captivating.

The two-minute trailer flew by, holding the audience's attention as tightly as a well-placed cliffhanger.

As the final moments played out, the credits rolled across the screen.

Co-director: Ryota Arigaro

Co-director: Hachiman Hikigaya

For a second, both names stood side by side.

Then, Ryota's name faded, and Hachiman Hikigaya grew larger, and another title was added, dominating the screen.

Creator and Co-director: Hachiman Hikigaya

The lights dimmed, and smoke hissed across the stage floor, obscuring the view entirely.

When the smoke finally cleared, the figure standing on stage sent the crowd into a frenzy.

The roar of cheers and clapping was deafening, an overwhelming wall of sound that struck Hachiman like a physical force as he stepped forward into the spotlight.

….

.

Backstage, Hachiman felt like he couldn't breathe as he tugged at his tie again, attempting to loosen it.

His discomfort wasn't because he was nervous. He had accumulated decent experience of facing crowds by now and stopped caring about trivial things like that.

His situation is related to the tie.

It was too damn tight. He had alway hated ties.

If it hadn't been for Yukino and Komachi's stern insistence, he would have happily left the tie to gather dust in the store where he bought it.

But alas, he couldn't, and now he even has to wear it.

Beside him, Ryota clapped a hand on his shoulder, jolting him from his internal grumbling.

"Showtime, boss." Ryota said with a grin so wide it was almost infuriating. "Try not to blow them away too much, yeah?"

The trailer came to an end, and the credits were rolling. It was his cue.

Hachiman rolled his eyes, adjusting his coat one last time. "Don't jinx it." He muttered, stepping forward.

…

Hachiman stood into the spotlight, the roar of the crowd hit him like a wave.

The auditorium stretched out before him, impossibly vast, filled with over 50,000 faces. Some were here out of curiosity, others to judge, and a few because they probably had nothing better to do.

Hachiman took it all in with a neutral gaze, not letting the sheer scale of the event faze him.

The massive screen behind him displayed the unmistakable blocky logo of [Minecraft].

He took his place at the center of the stage, pausing briefly as the murmurs settled into a tense, expectant silence.

He adjusted the microphone clipped to his shirt and let the moment stretch just long enough to let the crowd focus entirely on him.

Then, he began.

"Good evening, everyone. I am Hachiman Hikigaya, one of the co-developers of [Minecraft]. First off, thanks for coming out. We have got a lot to share about this game, so sit tight."

"[Minecraft] isn't just a game. It's not some flashy time-waster where you swipe at candy and hope for dopamine. No offense to [Candy Crush] - it paid the bills - but this? This is something else."

The auditorium fell into complete silence. He had them now.

"This is a world. A world where creativity doesn't get smacked down by rules or some overbearing system. A world where you can build your own kingdom - or, if you are feeling particularly chaotic, burn someone else's to the ground."

"You decide. The only limits here are your imagination… and how much time you can spare before your girlfriends start yelling at you to go outside. And, uh, sorry about the singles—my bad. But hey, you've still got your parents to worry about…"

There were a few grumbled protests that weren't as angry as they sounded, followed by laughter from several others.

The screen behind him lit up, showcasing Minecraft's gameplay - endless green hills rolling into the horizon, towering mountains touching pixelated skies, and vast, winding caves filled with hidden treasures.

This shootage wasn't there in the trailer.

Gasps rippled through the audience as intricately crafted castles and sprawling cities appeared, built block by block.

Hachiman let the visuals sink in before leaning slightly into the microphone. His voice dropped, sharper now, like a knife cutting through the awe-struck silence.

"I am not going to tell you this will change your life. Because honestly? That's on you. But I will say this, if you have ever wanted to create something that's yours and yours alone, this is your chance."

The crowd erupted into applause, but Hachiman stood still, his expression unchanging.

Inside, he felt a flicker of something - not pride exactly, but the quiet satisfaction of seeing his vision finally take shape.

Like seeing a plan come together, even if it took longer than expected.

After a moment, he raised a hand to calm the crowd, adding with a hint of dry humor. "Let me be clear about one thing. I didn't make this game for the suits sitting in the front row. And I sure didn't make it for the critics who will spend weeks debating the color of the dirt blocks."

"I made it for the kid who builds castles out of cardboard boxes, or sketches cities on the back of math homework. You are the ones who will make this world special - or just blow it up with TNT. Whatever suits you."

Laughter rippled through the crowd, quickly overtaken by cheers.

Hachiman glanced back at Ryota, who gave him a subtle nod of approval.

Turning back to the microphone, Hachiman concluded, his voice steady and sure. "So here it is - the keys to a new world. Do what you want with it. Build something incredible. Tear it all down. Start over. It's your world now."

"Now here is the official trailer for you."

The crowd erupted. Applause thundered through the auditorium, shaking the walls and floors.

Hachiman stepped back, letting the massive screen behind him take center stage as the official trailer began to play.

He didn't turn to watch it, though - his focus lingered on the crowd, absorbing their reactions, their awe, their excitement.

….

In the crowd.

In the second row, the dynamic mix of Hachiman's closest people painted an amusingly vivid picture.

Hachiman's parents sat together, both visibly overwhelmed.

His father, Nanami, leaned toward his wife, his voice barely above a whisper, though his astonishment was clear. "...Is that really our boy up there?"

.

….

[To be continued…]

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