Chapter 94 Ruthless Even More Than Capitalists: Gu Yu's Thousand Faces, Project Price 8,000...
The first few days were especially tough.
Without Kirihara calling her from downstairs to wake her up, even the convenience store auntie's greeting, "Why didn't you come with that seaweed-headed kid today?" sounded grating to Risa.
The most fatal thing is—
Even her boyfriend, whose smile could heal everything, wasn't by her side.
Ah... now I completely understand how the fox in "The Little Prince" felt.
But right now, something else seems to be giving Risa a bigger headache than separation anxiety.
"Risa-senpai, is the emoji notebook proposal still not working?" Chinatsu poked her head out from the side.
"Too conservative!" Risa closed the proposal.
"What we want to do is create works that will make people stop and be amazed when they pass by the LUMIERA booth."
In early November, Tennis doujinshi received an official invitation from Concept Store—LUMIERA will be exhibiting as a special guest brand at the Tokyo Trade Show next May.
This is undoubtedly a golden opportunity for their fledgling, niche, original brand to achieve great success.
"This time, we must make a name for ourselves!"
On the day they received the invitation, four girls sat together in the club activity room, full of fighting spirit.
But after half a month of hard work, they found themselves surrounded by proposals and line drawings that had been rejected by each other.
“The eighth proposal has also been rejected…” Asuka slumped onto the table and wailed.
"I can't take it anymore, all my brain cells are dead, I need to go find Lord Hoshino for comfort." Chika gave up struggling and opened the mobile game "Love and Starlight".
Asuka: "Haven't you drawn the limited card yet?"
Chika's eyes lost their luster: "Wrong, it's another repeated SR."
"Ah!" She slammed her head on the table, shoving it down with her head. "All the pocket money I painstakingly saved up last month is gone!"
"What are you talking about?" Risa asked curiously, propping her chin on her hand.
"Love and Starlight, that super popular otome game right now," Asuka explained. "All the male protagonists are top-tier handsome men with 3D modeling. The official team recently released a limited-edition gacha pool in collaboration with the Autumn Equinox, but the drop rate is ridiculously low; it's notorious for being a black hole for spending money."
"A collaboration for the Beginning of Autumn?" Risa leaned over to look at Chinatsu's phone screen.
"It's this SSR card of Lord Hoshino wearing a kimono and admiring the autumn leaves. Isn't it exquisite!" Chinatsu exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she carefully zoomed in on the card's details while holding her phone.
"Look at the lighting and shadows, the dynamic effect of the falling maple leaves, and Lord Hoshino's gentle yet lonely gaze... It's gone viral on Twitter, and the tag is trending at number one!"
She showed Risa a screenshot of the game forum: "Look at this gacha statistics post. On average, it takes 300 pulls to get the desired character, but people who have spent all their money on the banner are still lining up to post screenshots. Apparently, this is the highest-grossing limited banner since the game launched..."
She suddenly choked up at this point, "...and I'm the epitome of unlucky person who did 300 pulls and still got the wrong character..."
Risa asked, a question mark appearing above her head: "How much is 300 draws?"
"Around 80,000 to 90,000 yen. If you also factor in the price of breakthrough items and bonus costumes..."
"How much did you say?!" Risa snatched the phone: "80,000 yen for an electronic card?!"
Risa grabbed Chinatsu's shoulders, her eyes wide as she repeatedly confirmed, "80,000? That's enough to buy three SK-II basic skincare sets!"
Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck her. "Wait! I think I've got a brilliant idea..."
Chika was so dizzy from being shaken around: "What inspiration...?"
"We could totally make physical merchandise based on the 24 solar terms for the tennis club!"
Risa's eyes lit up, and she spoke rapidly: "Think about it, since players are willing to spend 80,000 for a single seasonal card, our combination set of physical standee + postcard + art card, priced at 88,000, is simply a bargain! And..."
"And they can also use scarcity marketing," Asuka suddenly interjected. "For example, they can release limited editions for each solar term, and collect all 24 cards to get a hidden item."
The activity room was silent for a second, then erupted in cheers.
The four of them shook off their slump and began to share their opinions on the "Twenty-Four Solar Terms".
"Attention all troops! Entering Level 9 operational meeting!" Asuka slammed her hand on the table and stood up. "I propose creating a '24 Solar Terms Battle Card' system!"
She dashed to the whiteboard, where a tablet covered in Wixos stickers was already open to the sample image.
"Just like Wixos's 'Main Deck' and 'LRIG Deck' separation mechanism! We're making a complete set of 30 cards—24 Solar Terms Main Cards + 6 Dream Special Cards!"
She grabbed a marker and drew arrows on the whiteboard like a battle map:
[Basic Rules ver. 2.0]
1. 24 Solar Terms Cards: 3 cards for each player, with card designs and skills based on their personality, playing style, and classic moves.
2. 6 Special Cards: Combination Attack/Hidden Form/Funny Easter Egg
3. Battle Mode: Compete by using move cards to determine attack power points.
“Like this!” Asuka drew a rough card illustration next to her:
【Nioh Masaharu - Grain Rain - Phantom】
Defense: ★★★★★
Special Skill: Converts the opponent's card attack points into your own.
Chinatsu immediately rushed over with a marker: "I want to design all of Marui-senpai's card art! The series will be called 'Dessert Seasonal Plates,' corresponding to the three solar terms: Lesser Heat, Greater Heat, and Beginning of Winter."
As game enthusiasts, this is clearly Chinatsu and Asuka's comfort zone.
Risa and Yuzuki exchanged a glance, both seeing the satisfaction and slyness in each other's eyes.
"I didn't expect Chinatsu to have come up with the solar terms for Marui-kun so quickly, and even gave him a series name." Risa teased her junior.
Yuzuki chimed in from the side, "Is this the power of love?"
Chika blushed instantly: "Senior!"
“Then, Princess Asuka,” Risa winked, “could you show us your ‘Niou Plan’?”
"Phantom-type character cards naturally need to be paired with the ever-changing Gu Yu!" Her voice suddenly switched to game commentary mode, "When the Yagyu card is on the field, a combo skill can be activated—"
"Wait!" Yuzuki tapped her pen lightly on her notebook. "Explain the basic rules first."
Asuka: "Yes!"
The whiteboard was instantly filled with skill icons:
- Offensive Type (A): Yukimura's "Destroy the Five Senses" is a mental AOE! Kirihara's "Demonization" is a direct attack ultimate move.
- Defensive Type (D): Sanada's "Unfathomable Shadows" comes with a built-in damage reflection shield! Kuwabara's "Iron Wall Defense" can block the opponent's turn.
- Support (S): Represents tactical or team buffs, such as Renji Yanagi's "Data Tennis" and Niou's "Phantom Deception".
- Special Cards (SP): Represent limited-time or combination skills, such as the combined skill "Absolute Domination" of the three giants.
Yuzuki twirled her pen twice between her fingers, then pointed to the budget book: "As for the design and printing plans, I'm sure Princess Asuka has some insights?"
"Good question!" Asuka adjusted her crooked glasses. "I suggest those chibi-style playing cards. The cost is controllable. Price them affordably and win by volume."
Chika excitedly raised her hand: "I think we can launch different versions for different consumer groups!"
Chika came to the whiteboard and wrote:
[Standard Edition] Coated paper + card sleeve 1500 yen/set
[Deluxe Edition] Professional-grade card stock + waterproof treatment 8888 yen/set
Risa gently tapped her chin with her fingertips: "Keep the Q-version design as a traffic driver, the real profit should come from the seasonal art collectible cards."
"As expected of Risa-senpai!" Chinatsu clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "This is just my initial idea; the specific pricing and sales strategy..."
Chika blinked and handed the marker to Yuzuki.
"Let's hear what our business genius, Senior Yuzuki, has to say."
“They all made excellent suggestions.” Yuzuki stood up gracefully, taking the marker and gently twirling her fingers on the barrel. “After all, besides students, there are also many collectors attending the trade show.”
She smoothly wrote down three solutions on the whiteboard:
[Basic Version for Students]
√ 30 standard Q-version competitive cards (playing card size)
√Price: 1500 yen
Bonus: One postcard will be included randomly.
Collector's Pro Edition
√ 30-card set with high-quality craftsmanship and cute Q-version graphics
√Price: 8888 yen
√Supporting items:
• Seasonal Postcard Set (6 postcards / 2888 yen)
• Miniature standee featuring the 24 solar terms (1800 yen/piece)
[Ultra Edition for Connoisseurs]
√Limited edition numbered, fully crafted Q-version card set (only 88 sets available)
√Price: 16,800 yen (including special collector's box)
√Supporting items:
· Special Effects 3D Series
- 20cm dynamic standee
Price: 3888 yen/each
Art Collection Card
- A6-sized 24 Solar Terms co-branded flashcards
- Tiered pricing:
SR (rare): 1,500 yen
SSR (super rare): 2,500 yen
UR (Collector's Edition): 5,800 yen
Risa chuckled, resting her chin on her hand: "As expected of a capitalist's daughter, her pricing strategy is truly..."
“But I think we can be even bolder.” She narrowed her eyes, like a cunning cat. “Since we’re talking about auspicious numbers, how about 5888 for the SR card, 8888 for the SSR card, and 16888 for the UR card?”
The activity room fell silent instantly.
Chinatsu's mouth gaped open in an "O" shape, and Asuka nearly dropped her tablet.
"..." Yuzuki silently made a note of it, "As expected of an artist, even more ruthless than a capitalist."
"Ahem!" Asuka pushed up her reflective glasses. "Since you're going for a high-end approach, I suggest adding an artistic touch." A classical waka card appeared on her tablet. "For example, give each art collection card a unique haiku."
To help everyone understand better, Asuka went to the whiteboard and wrote below the card example Niou had given:
"Grain Rain presents a thousand faces, and what appears to be real becomes real."
"This is... Senior Niou's Grain Rain Card?" Chika leaned closer to examine it.
Yuzuki clapped lightly: "As expected of Asuka from the Literature Club, she can produce masterpieces with ease."
"Thank you for the compliment~" Asuka twirled her pen smugly.
"However, we can discuss this later. The most pressing matter is—"
Yuzuki wrote a line on the whiteboard:
"Art and design determine life or death"
She circled the line and added three exclamation marks.
"Whether this project succeeds or fails, and whether LUMIERA can achieve great success, depends on the design of the art cards."
Yuzuki looked at Risa: "President, this is all up to you."
Risa crossed her hands and rested them on her chin, lost in thought.
“I personally prefer the style of Alphonse Mucha,” she suddenly began, “if you combine the curvaceous beauty of Art Nouveau with modern illustration…”
Risa picked up the sketchbook next to her and quickly began sketching.
“Look,” she said, turning the sketch to the three of them, “each card’s background incorporates natural elements of the corresponding solar term, such as thunder and lightning during the Awakening of Insects and snow scenes during the Great Snow... The character designs are in a Japanese style, but we want to retain the elegant and fluid feel that is unique to Mucha’s paintings.”
As a key member of the art club, Yuzuki quickly understood what Risa meant.
“I understand what you mean,” she said. “I can help with the chibi design and the later coloring of the art cards, but the concept sketches and detailed line drawings for the art cards are something only you can do.”
Chinatsu and Asuka exchanged a puzzled look.
Qianxia muttered softly, "Muxia... is that the one who does the milk commercials?"
"Wait a minute!" Asuka nudged her with her elbow. "It's from the 'Four Seasons' series! The one that hangs in the art classroom."
Risa took out her tablet from her bag and brought up a few Mucha-style illustrations: "Simply put, for example, the Awakening of Insects signifies the moment of awakening, and the card border could be designed as a lily entwined with lightning."
"Wow!" Chinatsu exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "Then Kirihara-kun's demonized card can have a blood-red maple leaf as its border!"
“That’s right!” Risa snapped her fingers. “Sanada’s will use swords and ears of wheat, and Niou’s will use shards of mirror…”
Asuka, drawing inferences from this example, suggested, "We could also create a seasonal gradient, using cherry blossom color in spring and lush green in summer..."
Yuzuki quickly jotted down her inspiration in her notebook and created an Excel spreadsheet. Each of the four of them was assigned two main members to list the corresponding solar term, series name, card haiku, border, and main elements.
After some discussion, the final division of labor is as follows:
• Yuzuki: Yanagi Renji, Kirihara Akaya
·Asuka: Nioh Masaharu, Yagyu Hiroshi
·Chinatsu: Marui Bunta, Jackal Kuwahara
·Risa: Seiichi Yukimura, Genichiro Sanada
-
When Risa spoke with Yukimura on the phone that evening, she told him about the trade show's plans.
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Author's Note: This is a collection of information on currency exchange and gacha pulls, compiled from Baidu and written in a wildly exaggerated and nonsensical style. If there are any inaccuracies, please point them out. [bowing in respect]
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