Chapter 731 - 731: September, Annual Health Checkup

Phasmophobia was the studio's first attempt at making a horror game, and judging by the current reception, the results were very promising. Combined with the long list of post launch updates that had already been planned, the game would continue receiving new content throughout the next year.

With sales already exceeding 200,000 copies, Ichin estimated that the game could easily surpass 500,000 copies sold over the coming year.

As a horror game centered almost entirely around multiplayer, with virtually no single player content, it was never going to reach the massive sales numbers of games like Resident Evil.

Still, it was more than successful enough.

Ichin had never expected every game he made to sell over one million, let alone five million copies.

With Phasmophobia essentially wrapped up, only a small portion of the team remained to work on future updates. Everyone else, after returning from their vacation, immediately moved on to the studio's next project: GARO 2.

After all, they had already signed a contract with Tohokushinsha, so there was no time to waste.

Since the foundation from the first GARO game was already in place, development on the sequel would naturally be much faster. Many character models could be reused, and a large amount of the game's core code could simply be carried over with some necessary adjustments.

While the development team began work on the new project, progress on Bloodborne was also advancing at an excellent pace.

Most of the game's content had already been completed. Every regular monster was finished, leaving only the final few bosses and several remaining areas to be built.

Looking at the progress schedule in his hands, Ichin said excitedly,

"At this rate, we should be able to finish developing the game within this month."

Beside him, Hazuki smiled and nodded.

"That's right. The progress has been excellent, especially after we hit the middle stage of development. Everyone's efficiency has improved dramatically. Even if we include the day one patch and all the console optimization work, everything will definitely be finished before October 10th."

"Great. Then let's stick to this schedule."

Following the development roadmap, Ichin began his work for the day.

...

At noon, Utaha had gone to the publishing company, so there was no one bringing lunch for him today. Instead, Ichin headed to the company cafeteria with everyone else.

After ordering his meal, he carried his tray over to Yagami Kō's table and sat down beside Hazuki.

Glancing at the food on her tray, he looked surprised.

"Huh? Hazuki, you're eating a lot less than usual today."

Although Hazuki wasn't anywhere near Momiji Mochizuki's legendary appetite, she still normally ate a healthy amount. Yet today she had nearly cut her lunch in half.

After taking a bite of rice, Kō chimed in.

"Exactly! We noticed too!"

Facing everyone's concerned gazes, Hazuki sighed helplessly.

"Stop looking at me like that. I'm on a diet. I've noticed my weight has been creeping up lately, so I have to start controlling it."

"Huh? You've gained weight?"

Hajime Shinoda stared at her in disbelief.

"But you can't even tell!"

Hazuki rolled her eyes at Hajime before lowering her head to glance at her stomach.

"Of course you can't. It's in places you don't see. I've even started getting up early every morning to go jogging. Hopefully I'll slim down soon."

Ichin laughed.

"Looks like the company's food is just too good. Even you've started putting on weight, Hazuki."

"Tell me about it."

Hazuki looked at the food on her tray with a helpless expression.

"I'm getting older, so I really have to pay attention now. Eating is wonderful, but dieting afterward is torture. I wish I were like Momiji. She can eat as much as she wants without gaining a pound."

Hearing her mention, Momiji looked up at everyone, then calmly lowered her head again and finished the last piece of braised pork.

She was always the quietest person at the dining table.

When she ate, she focused solely on eating, completely ignoring whatever conversation was happening around her.

As everyone talked about weight gain, Ichin suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, I almost forgot. At the end of this month, it's time for our annual health checkup again. Everyone should get ready. We've got about two weeks left."

Rin clapped her hands.

"Ah, that's right! It's health checkup season again. I'd completely forgotten."

For people like Umiko, Rin, and Hajime, it wasn't a big deal.

But Aoba, Nene, and several others immediately became nervous the moment they heard the words health checkup.

It wasn't because they'd gained weight.

Rather...

During the physical examination, their height and body measurements would inevitably be recorded, meaning all those numbers would be exposed to their coworkers.

Though, to be fair, Aoba and the others hadn't really changed compared to the previous two years.

Looking at everyone, Ichin smiled.

"It's just a health checkup, so don't be so nervous. It's for everyone's own good. Getting checked once a year lets us catch any health issues early, and if something does come up, we can treat it before it becomes serious."

He then glanced specifically at Hazuki.

"And don't suddenly start starving yourselves just because the checkup is coming. Especially you, Hazuki."

"..."

Hazuki twitched at the corner of her mouth before finally nodding.

"Fine, I know. I'll just keep exercising normally."

...

That afternoon, after finishing her work, Utaha arrived at the company together with Yukino, who had just finished her classes.

"A health checkup?"

After hearing what Ichin had said, Utaha immediately became interested.

"Ichin, how about Yukino and I go for one too?"

"Of course. We'll all go together. I'll add both of you to the company list."

Both Utaha and Yukino were due for a checkup anyway, so it made perfect sense to go together with everyone from the company.

Then Ichin suddenly thought of Haruno.

He took out his phone and gave her a call to ask about her company's schedule.

Haruno, who was busy working in her office, sounded a little surprised after answering.

"A health checkup? Ours isn't until the end of October. But since all of you are going, I'll just go with you at the end of this month instead. It doesn't really make any difference."

Just like that, the entire family settled on going together for their annual physical.

After hanging up, Ichin noticed Utaha sitting on the sofa, gently pinching Yukino's waist.

"Mmm... Yukino's waist is still as slim as ever. I'm so jealous."

Yukino's cheeks turned bright red as she quickly slapped Utaha's hand away.

It was so ticklish that she had almost burst into laughter.

After teasing Yukino, Utaha pinched her own waist.

"Ichin, do you think I've gained weight recently? I didn't really notice before, but now that we've been talking about the health checkup, I suddenly feel like my waist has gotten thicker."

Ichin smiled.

"Don't worry. Absolutely not."

When it came to Utaha's figure, he considered himself the ultimate authority.

There was absolutely no way anyone could call her fat.

At most, she was simply curvier than before.

And as for her waist...

There wasn't an ounce of excess fat on it.

Watching Utaha twist her waist from side to side, Yukino quietly lowered her head and looked at herself.

Mm...

She could still easily see her own stomach.

She still couldn't compare with Utaha.

But...

She had definitely grown more than she had before.

...

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