Amai Konpeito

“And now we have our bright and cheerful intern here today to show you how we’ll develop the start-up for our mobile game called Candy Crush!”

A round of mandatory applause echoed in the meeting room as I took center stage and flipped up my presentation to life.

“Good morning. Here’s how we’ll set up the whole game concept, the market... strategy, and the projected revenues that we’ll have for this project.”

At first, I didn’t feel too confident with my introduction as to what the game I was pitching is, but as soon as I presented the visuals, the game mechanics, and how we are making money out of it in terms of cost and labor, everyone in the meeting were soon turning their heads with interest.

“And for now, it’s acceptable that we stop at level 200 for now, that’s what I believe can be a good stopping point for the 1.0 release of the game. Our devs won’t be pressured to make new game levels for a good 1 to 2 months, and we can recycle our art and assets to a minimal yet effective amount to produce promotions and adverts.”

Everyone in the meeting room was impressed by my project pitch. I thought that I would get off scot-free, but someone raised their hand and asked a question.

“I’d like to ask one thing.”

“Yes, what would that be?”

“For starters, I like the appeal that there’s a small story of a child being guided to various lands of sweets with side stories occurring that certainly gives the player a reason to look out for the game as if they were following a story being released chapter by chapter. Where’d you get the inspiration for that story?”

It wasn’t a hard question, but it was something I didn’t have an answer for.
…Where did I come up with the story for Candy Crush?

20 years ago.

“Maaaaan, I want to get some candy from the candyman out there!”

I sighed in jealousy as the other street kids clamored to the man on a sidecar, wheeling in various candies for sale. For a poor child that had a sweet tooth, it was pretty tormenting not being able to try out the candies being sold every day.

My family was not that well off, and I don’t spite them for it. But again, it can get pretty sad that I don’t have the means to try all the sweets in the world.

As I lay in bed, I prayed with all my might that my wish could be fulfilled.

“Please Heaven and God, please grant me my wish to try out all the tasty, tasty treats that exist on earth! Please hear my wish!”

After repeating this phrase with imaginary puppy eyes on my head, I eventually fell asleep and had a sweet (pun intended) dream.

Fields of Cotton Candy, rivers of Milk Chocolate Fondue, and the flowers that blooms tasted like sour fruit candy that’ll make my cheeks puff up, it was a dream that I wish I had lived in forever!

“Hey!”

A voice had called out. I turned around and saw a little butterfly circling around me. I reached out an arm to let it flutter and land on my hand.

“Was that you who spoke to me, little butterfly?”

“What are you talking about? Butterflies can’t speak!”

Out of nowhere, a lady popped right in front of me, causing me to stumble and fall on my butt.

“What the?! Who are you?”

“I’m the Sprite of Sweet Tooths! The Sugar Plum Fairy! The… I ran out of witty nicknames.”

She smiled and extended a hand to me.

“You must be that girl who wanted to taste all the sweets in the world, right? Well, I’m here to guide you to that wish!”

“...Okay? And how will you do that?”

“I am doing it right now! Here.”

She picked up one of the sour fruit flowers that I had seen and placed it on my hand.

“Eat it!”

I was skeptical, but I did as she asked.

Munch, munch…

“...! No way!”

It tasted like the real thing! This was similar to the sour candies the candyman sells!

“See? I told you I’d make your wishes come true!”

She led me by the hand and made me try out more of the sweets that grew out of the field. Chocolate eggs laid by weird looking chickens, the chocolate fondue river with grass made out of marshmallows, oh my, I get to eat, eat, and eat all the sweets I like, and I don’t even feel bloated or like I’m in a sugar rush because this is all a dream!

“Oops, time’s up kid, it’s morning on your time!”

“Ehhh?! Do I really have to wake up?”

“Hey, it’s your body that’s deciding to get up, not me. Don’t worry, I’ll be here every weekend! We can travel to more places that hold more candy, so look out for it!”

Next weekend huh? Then…

“Alright, make sure you’ll be there!”

She only shot me a smile before fading from my view, and I woke up. The taste of everything that I had just eaten lingered in my mouth, but I didn't feel sick from eating too much sweets.

“...”

I had doubts that what she said was real, but the next weekend came, and true to her word, I was back with her in a dream.

“See kid, I told you I’d be back!”

“Wah!”

She popped out of nowhere again. This time, we were in a different place: something that looked like the inside of a building.

“Hey, where are we?”

“Oh, right. This is Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory!”

“...Where?”

“You know, the factory with the little elves? Whatever, just follow me!”

And we went into a factory that seems overly massive, and each room had dedicated sweets and candies! There were vats of Nerds Candy of different flavor, Wonka Chocolate bars, jawbreakers, and more!

With each passing weekend, the sprite would take me to different areas that had candies of different origin per country or per variation, and we would dine,

And dine,

And dine on different candies through the years every weekend…

But eventually, I had grown out of my own sweet tooth that would merit me going on a rampage through each land that she had brought me to.

After 12 years of being with her, I eventually had to break it to her.

“Hey, I was wondering if it’s okay to ask a question.”

“Of course, ask away.”

“Am I the only kid that you’ve been visiting in these dreams?”

“Well, yeah.”

“I see…”

I curled my knees up to my chest and sighed.

“Maybe it’s time that you stopped visiting me.”

They had a look of shock all over their face.

“Huh?! But why?!”

“Well… I’ve grown old, and I feel selfish for keeping you all to myself especially when my sweet tooth grew mild through the years. Basically what I’m saying is that there are other kids like me out there who also want to savor sweets that they wouldn’t have the chance to do, and you should help them out as well.”

They blinked, and a smile curled up from their lips.

“Ah… I understand.”

She put a hand on my shoulder and patted it gently.

“You’re very considerate, you know, and I do agree that other kids should also have a chance to have sweet dreams like yours.”

She took my hand and handed over something: A metallic pin with the shape of a blue flower.

“Here, something to remember me by. Take good care of it, okay?”

“I… I will.”

She pulled me in for a hug. Only now did I realize she smelled of fragrant candy that was enough to pull me in for another sugar rampage.

Once she let go, the dream world around me faded along with the sprite that had been with me. For the last time, I had called out to her.

“Thank you.”

As the world dissolved fully into nothing, I woke up from my bed with a lingering, sweet taste left in my mouth.

Present Day

“I just… happened to read a few books here and there, and had the idea pop up as a draft and then… yeah. Candy Crush!”

The person who asked me the question nodded, and sat back down. The meeting concluded and everyone was satisfied. The project pitch was a success, and it looks like I’ll be directing the development from here on out!

Satisfied with my performance, I went back to my own cubicle and plopped on the computer chair with a wide smile.

“Ah… feels so good to ace the presentation!”

My eyes glanced over to my corkboard. Placed right on the center is a blue, metallic flower enamel pin.

“...Huh, I think I vaguely remember where that came from.”

Just looking at the pin made me hungry for something sweet. Maybe I should go out and get something from the convenience store to reward myself.

As I excused myself from the office and walked across the garden to the nearby konbini, I saw something flutter around, a butterfly that seemed all too familiar.

…

I smiled at the sight, and headed for the doors of the store.

Maybe I’ll go on a sugar rampage today… Show more