Chapter 1469 1387 Hidetaka Miyazaki

Monday night, 19:30.

The ZAGE Tavern inside the ZAGE Tower complex was still quite crowded despite normal working hours already being over. This wasn't unusual at all. The tavern had become one of the most popular places around the complex for ZAGE employees to eat after work, partly because the food was genuinely good and partly because employees received special benefits and discounts whenever they ate there. Because of that, plenty of developers, artists, programmers, office staff, and even team leaders could still be seen occupying the tables while talking about work, games, or simply relaxing after another long day.

Among them were two young people sitting across from each other at one of the tables.

Hidetaka Miyazaki and Sanika Ran.

Or more accurately, Sanika Renkonan.

Inside ZAGE, Sanika continued working under the name Sanika Ran rather than openly advertising herself as the younger sister of Zaboru Renkonan. Of course, several higher-ranking people already knew her identity, but to most normal employees she was simply Sanika Ran, the talented young woman currently working under Team NOVA.

Sanika sighed while eating another spoonful of ZAGE Tavern's fried rice. The fried rice itself was admittedly delicious. It had plenty of meat, vegetables, eggs, and just enough spice to make it satisfying after a full day of work. Hidetaka Miyazaki was eating the same thing in front of her with his usual peaceful expression.

That was exactly the problem.

Sanika narrowed her eyes at him.

Every single time she said something like, "Hide-chan, let's go somewhere to eat," this idiot somehow ended up recommending the ZAGE Tavern.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Not that Sanika hated this place. Far from it. The food was good, it was comfortable, and she practically grew up around the ZAGE Tower complex anyway.

But occasionally...

Just occasionally...

She wanted her boyfriend to understand the concept of a proper date.

A restaurant somewhere outside ZAGE.

A quiet cafe.

Something with an atmosphere.

Anything.

Instead, Miyazaki's idea of a romantic dinner was apparently sitting inside his workplace and eating discounted employee fried rice.

Sanika sighed again.

Still...

That was also one of the reasons she loved this idiot.

He really was a nerd.

A very serious, awkward, hardworking nerd who somehow understood complicated game systems better than he understood how women worked.

Sanika took another bite before looking toward him. "So, Hide-chan... how's Team NIWA?"

Miyazaki looked up from his plate.

Sanika continued, "I've been hearing some interesting things lately. Apparently you're doing really well over there."

"Eh?"

"Don't 'eh?' me." Sanika pointed her spoon at him. "There are already people talking about you becoming one of the leaders of a division. Is that actually true?"

Miyazaki scratched his cheek awkwardly before smiling. "Well... not exactly a leader yet."

"So there is something."

"Maybe."

Sanika stared at him.

Miyazaki immediately surrendered.

"Okay, okay." He laughed quietly. "I'm currently doing a challenge given by Team NIWA's leaders. If everything goes well, there is a possibility I might become one of the vice leaders for one of the development divisions."

Sanika's eyebrows rose.

She already knew Miyazaki was doing well inside Team NIWA, but hearing him actually say it himself still made her happy.

"Vice leader already?"

"It's not decided yet," Miyazaki quickly clarified. "That's why they're giving me the challenge first. They want to see how I handle planning, team coordination, game systems, and decision-making when I'm responsible for more than just my own work."

Sanika smiled. "Sounds like they're basically testing whether you can lead developers instead of just being a good developer."

"Pretty much."

"And?"

Miyazaki tilted his head.

"Are you nervous?"

"...A little."

Sanika chuckled. "Of course you are."

"But I'm also excited." Miyazaki looked down at his fried rice for a moment before continuing, "Team NIWA has taught me a lot. Especially how different it feels when you're not only thinking about one mechanic. You have to think about how the world, story, combat, enemies, progression, level design, and atmosphere all connect together."

Sanika smiled slightly.

That sounded exactly like him.

Ever since Zaboru had assigned Miyazaki to Team NIWA, he had been absorbing everything around him like a sponge. Team NIWA specialized heavily in RPG development, so Miyazaki had spent months learning about world-building, combat balance, storytelling, pacing, enemy design, progression systems, and all the hundreds of small elements required to keep a long game interesting.

More importantly, people inside NIWA seemed to genuinely respect his ideas.

Sanika chuckled. "Well, my Nii—"

She stopped herself.

Miyazaki immediately grinned.

Sanika narrowed her eyes. "...Our boss likes you and your work anyway, so you'll probably be fine."

"You almost said Nii-san."

"Shut up."

"Hehehe."

Sanika kicked his foot lightly underneath the table.

"Ow."

"That's what you get."

Miyazaki laughed before taking another bite. "You're doing pretty well too, Sani-chan. I've heard good things about you from Team NOVA."

Sanika groaned immediately.

"Don't remind me."

"Huh?"

Sanika leaned against her chair. "Apparently being a woman who's decent at game design, programming, using Unreal Engine, and actually understanding what everyone is talking about makes me some kind of legendary rare monster inside Team NOVA."

Miyazaki blinked.

Sanika raised both hands dramatically. "'Whoa! A girl who likes games!' 'Whoa! She's actually good with the engine!' 'Whoa! She's beautiful too!'"

Miyazaki's expression slowly changed.

Sanika continued complaining without immediately noticing it. "Seriously, sometimes it's annoying. A lot of guys in NOVA suddenly become way too nice whenever I'm around. Some of them keep offering to help me with things I obviously already know how to do."

Miyazaki's eyebrows lowered.

"And there are a few who keep trying to ask whether I'm free after work." Sanika casually took another bite of fried rice. "Apparently I'm considered a 'rare catch' or something."

Miyazaki stopped eating.

Sanika finally noticed.

"...Hide-chan?"

Miyazaki stared toward her with an unusually serious expression.

"Those damn wolves."

Sanika blinked.

"What?"

"How dare they."

Sanika's eyes widened.

She hadn't actually said all of that because she was seriously bothered. Well, some of it was annoying, but mostly she wanted to tease Miyazaki a little.

Normally she expected him to respond with something painfully Miyazaki-like.

Something such as:

"You had it rough, Sani-chan."

Or:

"You should tell them you're uncomfortable."

Maybe he would awkwardly laugh and return to eating.

Instead...

He was jealous.

Actually jealous.

Sanika stared at him for several seconds before her lips slowly curled upward.

"Ohhhh?"

Miyazaki froze.

Sanika leaned forward.

"Hide-chan."

"...What?"

"Are you jealous?"

Miyazaki looked away. "No."

Sanika's grin widened.

"You're jealous."

"I'm not."

"You absolutely are."

"I just think they should respect that you already have a boyfriend."

"HAHA!"

Several nearby employees briefly looked toward them before returning to their meals.

Miyazaki's face turned red.

Sanika could barely contain her grin. This was much more entertaining than she expected.

"Wow, Hide-chan. You actually have this side."

"Sani-chan..."

"Those damn wolves!" Sanika repeated in a deeper voice, imitating him.

"Stop it."

"How dare they approach my Sani-chan!"

"I didn't say that!"

"You were thinking it."

Miyazaki immediately became silent.

Sanika stared at him.

"...You were actually thinking it?!"

Miyazaki looked toward the ceiling.

Sanika burst into laughter.

After several seconds, she finally calmed herself down and wiped the corner of her eye. "Wow... you're actually getting braver lately."

Miyazaki sighed. "I just don't like imagining other guys bothering you."

"Hehehe..."

Sanika rested her cheek against one hand while looking at him with an increasingly mischievous expression.

Then an idea appeared.

"Well then..."

Miyazaki immediately became suspicious. "What?"

"If you're that jealous..." Sanika lifted her left hand and deliberately showed her empty ring finger. "Where's my damn ring, you bastard?"

Miyazaki nearly choked.

Sanika grinned.

"Go on. Propose, idiot."

"S-Sani-chan!"

"What?"

Miyazaki's entire face became red. "You can't suddenly say that!"

"Why not?"

"Because—"

"What exactly are you waiting for anyway?"

Miyazaki stopped.

Sanika's expression softened slightly, although she still maintained her usual teasing tone. "Seriously, Hide-chan. My mom already approves of you. My dad approves of you. Nii-san approves of you. Hell, my brother approves of you, and considering how protective that idiot can be toward me, that's probably the hardest boss fight you're ever going to complete."

Miyazaki couldn't help laughing at that.

Sanika pointed her spoon at him again. "And before you start saying some stupid shit like 'I'm not worthy of you' or 'I need to prove myself first,' don't."

Miyazaki opened his mouth.

"Don't."

He closed it.

Sanika nodded approvingly. "Good."

She took another bite before continuing, "You already proved yourself. You're working inside Team NIWA, you're being considered for vice leadership, people actually respect your work, and you're improving constantly. So what exactly are you waiting for?"

Miyazaki remained silent for several moments.

Sanika knew him well enough to understand why.

Hidetaka Miyazaki had always been someone who questioned whether he was good enough.

Good enough as a developer.

Good enough to stand beside people he admired.

And especially...

Good enough for Sanika.

It wasn't because anyone around him treated him badly. Quite the opposite. Zaboru had personally recognized his talent, Team NIWA trusted him, and Sanika's family had already accepted him.

But Miyazaki himself still wanted one thing.

To feel that he had earned his place.

Sanika understood that.

She just occasionally wanted to punch him because of it.

Finally, Miyazaki placed his spoon down.

"If..."

Sanika looked at him.

"If I successfully complete the challenge Team NIWA gave me..."

He hesitated briefly before continuing.

"It should take around two months."

Sanika's teasing expression slowly disappeared.

Miyazaki reached across the table and gently took her hand.

Sanika blinked in surprise.

This idiot almost never initiated things this confidently.

Miyazaki looked directly into her eyes.

"When I finish it..." he said quietly, "I'll propose to you."

Sanika stared at him.

Miyazaki's cheeks were still slightly red, but this time he didn't look away.

"I promise."

For once, Sanika genuinely didn't know what to say immediately.

Miyazaki tightened his hand around hers slightly.

"When that time comes, I don't want to make excuses anymore. I don't want to say I'm not worthy of you or that I still need more time." He smiled nervously. "I want to propose properly. Not because I suddenly got jealous tonight... and definitely not while we're eating fried rice inside the ZAGE Tavern."

Sanika's mouth twitched.

"Thank God."

Miyazaki laughed.

"But..." His expression became serious again. "I want to finish this challenge first. Not because I think I need a title before I can marry you. I just want to finish something I've been working hard toward, then start the next part of my life properly."

Sanika looked at him silently.

"I promise you, Sani-chan. When that time comes..."

Miyazaki swallowed nervously.

"I'll propose properly."

His face became even redder.

"So... wait for me, okay?"

He paused.

"My love."

Sanika froze.

Her eyes widened.

Miyazaki immediately realized what he had just said.

"...Ah."

Sanika's grin slowly returned.

"Ohhhhh?"

"Sani-chan..."

"You called me my love."

"I..."

Sanika leaned closer. "Hide-chan, you've gotten way more dangerous lately."

Miyazaki looked like he wanted to disappear underneath the table.

Sanika laughed before standing slightly from her chair, leaning across the small distance between them and kissing his cheek.

Miyazaki became completely motionless.

Sanika sat back down with a satisfied grin.

"Heh. You've become way braver, Hide-chan."

Miyazaki touched the cheek she had kissed.

Sanika picked up her spoon again.

"But..."

She smiled warmly at him.

"I don't hate it."

Miyazaki smiled back.

Unfortunately for both of them...

They weren't nearly as private as they thought.

Several tables away sat four familiar men who had witnessed almost the entire scene.

The Bakudan Boys.

Rikki stared toward Miyazaki and Sanika with absolute disgust while holding his chopsticks.

"Damn."

Sawada glanced toward him. "What?"

"They actually have the guts to be that lovey-dovey right in front of us."

Sawada looked toward the couple for several seconds before shrugging. "Let them. They're not bothering anyone, idiot."

Kumogi slowly leaned back against his chair with the expression of a man whose soul had already departed his body.

"I'm so damn jealous..."

Rikki looked toward him. "At least try to hide it."

"Why should I hide the truth?"

Sakaki suddenly slammed both hands against the table.

"SHIT!"

The others jumped.

"What the hell?!"

Sakaki clenched his fists dramatically.

"I DEFINITELY NEED TO STOP BEING SINGLE!"

Sawada stared at him.

Rikki stared at him.

Kumogi stared at him.

Then all three slowly looked down at their meals.

"...Yeah."

For several seconds, the four Bakudan Boys silently ate together in complete sorrow while Miyazaki and Sanika continued enjoying their dinner nearby.

None of them had ever felt fried rice taste quite this lonely before.

To be continued.