"So, why did you co here for just a simple interview?"
"Well, I wanted to see the people who might beco my coworkers, right?"
It's the end of February, and while my classmates were still stressed out with their entrance exams, most of them had cald down after the early admissions ended and were now preparing for graduation with a relaxed attitude. Of course, a few looked like they'd already lost hope, probably because things didn't go as planned for them.
While my peers were busy with their studies, I was here in Shibuya, organizing the office space I had leased near the station. I had to move in a bunch of furniture and shelves, as well as so office equipnt to make sure the place was functional. Oddly enough, Asakawa-san was helping out with it all, even though she didn't have to.
She always said she wanted to see the business take off and was always willing to lend a hand.
After all, this was a big step for —this office would be the base for the new company I'd just started. The interviews today would be for dungeon strears and staff, and I had a lot riding on this. Honestly, I was a little nervous, but I trusted my gut when it ca to reading people. Besides, I wasn't interested in grilling the candidates with boring, formal questions.
I just needed a feel for whether they'd fit in or not.
At the scheduled ti, I sat down in front of the computer, turned on the cara, and connected to the first candidate. The screen blinked to life, revealing a young man in his late twenties, dressed in a suit and looking extrely nervous. I had specifically ntioned in the email that casual attire was fine, but I guess wearing a suit for interviews is ingrained in Japanese culture.
"Hello, this is Tsukasa Kisaragi."
"H-hello... the real deal!"
"Yep, it's really ."
I an, if a fake showed up, that'd be a different kind of interview, wouldn't it? I chuckled to myself.
"Can you introduce yourself briefly? I've got your resu here, so no need for the details."
"Ah, yes! My na is R-Rintaro Dobayashi!"
"...Panda?"
"P-Panda?! H-how did you know that...?"
I glanced down at his resu again. Rintaro Dobayashi was a 29-year-old dungeon explorer with a D-rank, which was pretty decent. His voice, though, sounded strangely familiar. I took a wild guess—based on the nickna I rembered hearing in dungeon streaming circles—and, lo and behold, I was right.
"So, Panda ans you're the strear Dodo Rinrin, right? I didn't expect an active dungeon strear for the first interview!"
"Wait, I'm the first one!?"
"Yep. Honestly, I had a lot of applicants, so I cut a bunch of people based on their docunts. I didn't want to waste ti interviewing every single one."
To be honest, the sheer number of applications I received caught off guard. I hadn't expected so many people to be interested in joining a small startup like mine. But by reviewing resus and dungeon explorer licenses, I could get a rough idea of each candidate. If I ended up missing out on a great talent, well, that'd just be my responsibility.
Dodo Rinrin, also known as Panda, had been a dungeon strear for a while now. He'd always joked on his streams about wanting to join a company, but I didn't think he'd actually apply. His real na was Rintaro Dobayashi, but viewers started calling him Panda because his strear na, Dodo Rinrin, apparently sounded cute and cuddly like a panda.
The nickna had stuck, and now it seed like part of his brand.
"Shall we continue with the interview?"
"Y-yes, please!"
"Are you okay with being called Panda by your viewers?"
"W-well, if it makes it easier for them, I guess it's fine..."
"Good to know. You're hired."
"Wait, isn't that a bit too fast?"
"Whoa!? Asagao-san is here too...?" Panda exclaid, noticing Asakawa in the background for the first ti.
I might seem hasty, but when it cos to soone with Panda's popularity and talent, there's no reason to delay things. His personality, willingness to adapt, and his established audience made him a perfect fit. Plus, he'd always been clear about wanting to join a company, so why not give him that opportunity?
"Dobayashi-san, I'd like you to continue working as Dodo Rinrin. Your current audience knows you as Panda, and you've always expressed a desire to go corporate, so there won't be any disconnect with your viewers."
"W-wow, you're really inford!"
"Well, I've done my howork on promising dungeon strears."
Dungeon streaming is a competitive field. Many of the popular strears focus on exploring the middle levels of dungeons, playing it relatively safe to build up their audience. But Panda was different. He liked to explore various dungeons, and he wasn't afraid to push the boundaries a bit. That, combined with his potential as a dungeon explorer, made him a strong candidate.
"Alright, we'll wrap things up here. I'll send you the paperwork. Do you prefer physical copies or digital?"
"P-physical, please..."
"Got it."
"Is it really okay for this to be so casual?" Panda asked, sounding unsure.
"For small offices like ours, it's usually like this. I don't see the need to drag things out longer than necessary."
"So this is what the new generation's like... you guys are too bright for an old man like ."
Panda was a genuinely fun person. He had a vibe that was different from anyone else I'd t so far, but I could see similarities to people like Aizawa-san, who I respected a lot.
After wrapping up the call, I felt good. Landing soone like Panda right off the bat was a big win, and it gave a little confidence boost for the rest of the interviews.
"Is this how you normally handle interviews?" Asakawa asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Why not? I trust my instincts. Besides, I don't think my judgnt is that bad."
"Your judgnt isn't bad, but sotis your perspective goes in unexpected directions."
"My thinking?"
"No, your viewpoint."
Maybe she was right. But I didn't see it as a flaw, so I shrugged it off.
"Alright, let's get to the next interview. Looks like the others are waiting."
"Do you always tell people imdiately if they're hired?"
"No, I only did that with Panda because he's already established and I'm confident he'll be a great fit. For the other candidates, I'll send them an email later with the results."
With Panda on board, I now had four confird strears. Ideally, I'd like to recruit another two or three people, preferably beginners who hadn't started exploring dungeons yet. While experienced strears have their advantages, there's also value in nurturing new talent. It would be great if people started seeing our company as a place where they could grow into skilled explorers.
"By the way, what's with the company na?" Asakawa asked suddenly.
"What about it?"
"early bird? What's that supposed to an?"
"It ans 'early riser.' You know, like the saying: 'The early bird gets the worm.' It's a phrase I like."
It was a simple na, but I figured sothing easy to rember would help. Besides, I genuinely believed in the benefits of waking up early and getting a head start on things. Maybe I'd even make it the company's motto—"The early bird gets the worm."
It wasn't just a na; it was an approach to life and business.
By the end of the day, we had gone through multiple interviews. Each one had its own unique energy, but none quite like Panda's. I felt good about where things were heading, and despite the challenges that lay ahead, I knew we were building sothing special.
It wasn't just about anymore—this company would soon be a place where dungeon explorers could thrive and share their adventures with the world. Read latest stories on mvl
With that thought, I closed my laptop and glanced around the half-furnished office. There was still a lot to do, but I felt a sense of accomplishnt. This was the start of sothing big, and I was ready for it.
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