468 Iphone II

Much like Motorola, other major phone brands such as Suzuki, Tora, and SamStar found themselves equally captivated and confounded by KiShin's achievement with the iPhone. Executives from these companies, each a titan in their own right, were left marveling at the sophistication and innovation of KiShin's new product. A common consensus emerged among them: KiShin must have been dedicating years of secret research and development to bring the iPhone to fruition.

A wave of self-reproach swept through the boardrooms of these competing brands. They lamented their oversight, questioning why the idea of integrating touchscreen technology with a host of other features, much like the iPhone, hadn't occurred to them years earlier. Instead, they had remained tethered to the traditional keypad phone models, even as touchscreen technology began making its presence known within the market.

This stubborn adherence to the old ways wasn't due to a lack of awareness but a strategic decision. KiShin had already been making strides in touchscreen technology, but Suzuki, Tora, and SamStar had been reluctant to adopt this new tech, primarily to avoid paying licensing fees to KiShin. Their strategy had been to prioritize their immediate profits, avoiding any reliance on KiShin's innovations, assuming they could sustain their market positions with their existing technologies.

However, this strategy now seemed shortsighted. The release of the iPhone was a wake-up call, underscoring a missed opportunity and a misjudgment of the market's direction. The reluctance to embrace new technology, to pay the necessary fees for a groundbreaking feature, had left them trailing in KiShin's wake.

Now, as they witnessed KiShin potentially reshaping the mobile landscape, these executives couldn't help but acknowledge the miscalculation. KiShin had seized the moment, capitalizing on an opportunity they had all overlooked. The realization was bitter; their previous focus on maintaining high profit margins at the expense of innovation had indeed backfired. As the market buzzed with excitement over the iPhone, these companies understood that the path to dominance had irrevocably shifted, with KiShin now leading the charge. The race to catch up was on, and the stakes had never been higher.

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In the bustling corridors of their school, Shinichi's classmate, Isobe Yutaka, who came from a wealthy family, had become the center of attention. Just yesterday, he had acquired the much-coveted iPhone, and now, he was more than eager to flaunt it before his peers. As his classmates gathered around, drawn by the novelty of the device, Yutaka took pride in demonstrating its capabilities. He showcased how effortlessly the iPhone could play music, along with popular KSP games like "Flappy Bird" and "Angry Birds," all available through the KiShin Store for download.

The group marveled at the iPhone's ability to access and download video games directly, a feature that seemed almost magical in its simplicity and innovation. Meanwhile, Shinichi and his close friends, Arnold, Ryo, Satoshi, and Takeshi, looked on with a mix of amusement and mild irritation at Yutaka's showboating.

Arnold, trying to mask his envy, mentioned offhandedly, "My dad was supposed to get me an iPhone too, but they were all sold out."

Ryo, Satoshi, and Takeshi quickly chimed in, their determination clear. "We're going to get one too, no matter what. We'll just have to convince our parents to find a store that hasn't sold out yet. We'll search everywhere if we have to."

Amidst this fervor, Shinichi could only offer a wry chuckle. He watched his friends get caught up in the excitement, envying Yutaka for his latest acquisition. Shinichi knew he could easily secure iPhones for them all, given that KiShin was his father's empire. Yet, he hesitated. Revealing his identity as the son of the affluent and influential Shinro of KiShin could alter his friends' perceptions of him, potentially changing the dynamic of their friendship forever.

The dilemma weighed heavily on Shinichi. The thought of his friends treating him differently or expecting special treatment simply because of his family's wealth was unsettling.

Shinichi mulled over a compromise that could assist his friends without unveiling his status. He contemplated asking his father for a discreet favor – to arrange a limited number of iPhones to be made available at a specific gadget store, creating an illusion that they were simply unsold stock, overlooked by the masses. This store, Shinichi would suggest to his friends, was a hidden gem where the sought-after device was still available, bypassing the frenzied rush and sold-out statuses elsewhere.

With this plan forming in his mind, Shinichi approached his friends with a casual air. "Hey, I heard about this store that still has iPhones in stock. It's not very popular, so not many people shop there," he mentioned, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

His friends exchanged skeptical looks. Arnold raised an eyebrow. "Really? In this craze? That sounds too good to be true."

"Yeah," Satoshi chimed in, "every place is sold out. Are you sure?"

Shinichi nodded, maintaining his composure. "Yeah, I'm sure. How about we all go check it out tomorrow? You might get lucky."

Despite their initial doubts, the group agreed to take their chances. After all, the prospect of getting their hands on an iPhone without the usual hassle was too tempting to pass up. They decided to accompany Shinichi to the store he mentioned, their curiosity piqued and their hopes cautiously rising.