Video Game Tycoon in Tokyo-Chapter 721: A Deeply Moving Story

"Uncle Anthony, just follow these steps. Yes, like that. Now you can keep watching that ghost up ahead."

"Y-You're saying... that's Anthony?"

"Of course! Didn't you just see his name? He's in first place. Only the top scorer gets a racing ghost saved in the game. But be careful not to overtake it—if you do, the ghost will update and become yours instead."

Ever since his child passed away, Anthony had never been so emotionally shaken.

It was only a game's ghost image... but it was undeniable proof that his child had once existed.

Like watching an old video, it was a memory made real.

"Uncle Anthony, that's not the only game. There are more—several games with Anthony's traces!"

"Show me—now!"

...

...

Anthony could barely contain himself.

The boy quickly switched games with practiced ease.

In Dragon Quest, a brave warrior named Anthony roamed the world.

In Mario Kart, Anthony's profile had unlocked every character—and there too, ghost races had preserved his presence.

And finally, in a light gun shooting game, a recording appeared.

It was captured using the GS1's motion-sensing camera—part of the light gun accessory.

It was young Anthony—his son.

He smiled proudly and struck a victory pose with his light gun, likely after finishing the game.

The moment that video played, the old man who hadn't shed a single tear at his son's funeral suddenly broke down.

It was a raw, uncontainable surge of emotion.

The boy beside him was startled, but quietly brought him a towel and some water.

And so Anthony sat there, gripping the controller, tears streaming down his face, staring at the screen.

"My boy... I miss you so much..."

The child gently patted his back.

Then, he showed Anthony more games.

In each one, Anthony's son had left something behind.

They weren't just videos—they were interactive memories. Traces of a presence. A sense of life.

In Need for Speed, Anthony could slowly cruise in an old-fashioned car, following the ghost of his son on the racetrack.

It felt like his son was right there beside him.

And that was where the story would have ended.

But somehow, a local news outlet caught wind of it.

They weren't usually known for hard-hitting journalism, but this story was different—unique and deeply moving.

Nothing like it had ever been reported before.

They ran it as a touching human interest piece—a grieving father reconnecting with his child through a game console.

But because it involved video games, everything changed.

The majority of gamers were part of the new internet-savvy generation—experts at spreading stories like wildfire.

And this one, full of emotion and never-before-seen impact, spread faster than anyone could have imagined.

In no time, what began as a tiny local piece became the hottest topic in gaming circles.

Video games gave a grieving father a piece of his lost son back.

"Wow, this is incredibly moving. Who would've thought games could do something like this?"

"Guys, I found Little Anthony's Facebook profile. His last post was two months ago—the day of the accident. He wrote that he couldn't wait to play the new Monster Hunter."

"😭 My heart... One less hunter in our world."

The story spread far and wide. Within a few days, a special memorial group appeared on Facebook.

Everyone who read the full story joined to honor Little Anthony.

"Little Anthony, we'll never forget your name. We'll hunt extra monsters for you in Monster Hunter. Wherever you are now, we hope you get to play it too."

Of course, this story also reached Takayuki.

When he heard it, his first feeling was deep sorrow.

A white-haired parent burying their child—there was no greater tragedy.

Even Ayame Tsukino, who usually seemed cold and emotionless, had reddened eyes.

She didn't have much family—living alone most of her life.

Such stories wouldn't have meant much to her in the past.

But now, with someone she loved and cared about, she'd come to understand family in a new way.

And hearing this... she too couldn't hold back entirely.

Though she didn't cry, her heart was heavy.

"...I think it's time we did something," Takayuki said quietly after a long silence.

Then he walked straight to the Monster Hunter development team.

By now, gaming had long outgrown traditional definitions.

It was a complex, evolving cultural force.

And gamers came from every age, every background.

What had once been a child's pastime had become a lifelong hobby for millions.

Games now carried people's memories—uniquely, powerfully.

And Takayuki felt it was time to shoulder a bit of that responsibility.

Responsibility in a way only games could offer.

He decided that in Monster Hunter: World, they would add a new NPC named "Little Anthony."

This NPC would be part of several unique side quests written just for him.

It hadn't been part of the original plan.

Adding something like this would consume valuable development resources.

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But Takayuki didn't care.

And neither did the team.

When he told them the story, they didn't even hesitate.

They swore they'd add Little Anthony to the game—even if it meant staying late and working weekends.

Not just to the new Monster Hunter, either.

They planned to patch earlier games in the series to include him, too.

They wanted Anthony to live on—as a part of Monster Hunter history.

So that his memory would never be lost.