Gamers, p.195
Gamers!, page 195
During the next break, I ran towards the toilet. My hands are trembling while holding the phone.
(I’m afraid I missed the most critical event in the game. Also, I gave the most crucial choice to the scumbag protagonist instead of myself…)
Ahh, what did I just do! I sacrificed my sleep to get the game at this stage yesterday. …I can’t believe a hardcore gamer like me will make a rookie mistake like this.
I sighed out loud. However, …well, there’s no use sighing.
I opened the app and observed the protagonist determinedly.
On the screen, he’s still lying on the bed-
-The young man evolved into a muscular person. His body is covered in dark skin.
“WHAT HAPPENED!?“
I can’t help but yell, and I even forgot that I’m in school. “Eek!?” I can hear someone’s gasp outside the toilet, but who cares!
I really want to break the screen with my clicking. The young man showed his sparklingly white teeth and mumbled the epilogue.
“What operation!? Did you get Dr. Goodjob by your side!?” [Note: Dr. Goodjob is from Power Pros. A randomly encountered character that can enhance the pitcher’s body performance.]
“What did you choose in the last event to turn the whole situation into this! This game’s events are too weird, right! Also, what did you do to Madagascar!”
“Who are you taunting!? Hey! Explain who’s the devil you’re referring to!”
“I don’t give a damn.”
“Uwah, your name actually echoed with the topic♪ …Did you really think I’ll praise you like that!?” [Note: The game title can also be interpreted as
Looking at the credits that started playing on the screen, I really want to throw my phone to the wall.
However, …I barely stopped myself.
“N-No, …you can’t do that, Karen Tendou. This is obviously my problem. Yes, if I didn’t miss the last event, perhaps I’ll be just as touched right now…”
The credits are over, and the game returned to the title screen. …I tried my best to suppress my anger…and clicked on the new game button.
“I’m playing it. …Let’s give it my best! I’m the hardcore gamer, Karen Tendou!”
…………
In the end, no matter which option you pick, and even if you saw all events, the game will eventually return to this baffling ending…
-She already wasted 2 weeks of her life when she knew this fact.
Epilogue – The full conversation of Amano and his friends in Class F
“C-Chiaki, that app, …the
“Really? But didn’t Keita plan this out excitedly back then?”
“I mean, you’re right. …Uehara-kun, what do you think?”
“Ahh. ….Hey, Hoshinomori, actually, I think that app is pretty bizarre as well.”
“Okay, it’s off the shelves.”
“Why are our treatments so different? However, come to think of it, I’m afraid a lot of people played it already.”
“Ahh, don’t worry about it, Keita. I just checked, and only 3 people downloaded it.”
“Ah, really. I’m glad to hear that. We said we’re downloading it, so it’s just Chiaki, Uehara-kun, and me. Ah, good to know that there are no victims! Right, Uehara-kun! …Uehara-kun? What’s wrong? Your face is covered with sweat.”
“…Oh, oh! …I was saying since I’ve been swamped lately, I actually didn’t- …Ah, no, it’s fine, yep! Ah, it’s great! There are zero victims! Yep!”
Chapter 26 – Tasuku Uehara and Gender Change 1
* * *
Keita and Tasuku became friends after that incident at the arcade. What are the two of them talking about today…?
“I’ll definitely fall in love with Uehara-kun if I’m a girl.”
Amano suddenly said that before our after-school Game Hobby Club meeting.
I answered him while sweating profusely.
“Give me a break. …I’m about to vomit.”
Yet, Amano continued cheerfully despite my reaction.
“Hiya, it’s because there’s no reason for me to not fall in love with you. Uehara-kun is handsome, and you’re as close to me as my family…”
“What’s wrong with me? Is this a nightmare?”
“Honestly, I’m already falling in love with you so much.”
“Yep, this is a nightmare.”
What did I fall asleep? Amano continued just as I’m pinching my cheeks.
“It’s just that I, Keiko Amano, am not happy.”
“You’re going first-person?”
“It’s because Uehara-kun isn’t loyal.”
“Please just say you don’t like me out loud, okay?”
“In the end, I feel like Keiko Amano will stab Uehara-kun to death.”
“How much more do you want to twist the story?”
“Then, she’ll chuckle as she’s eating the heart.”
“How am I supposed to listen to this story?”
“…Hiya, I’m glad that I’m not a girl.”
“Seriously! I don’t want to hear any of this, even if it’s just a hypothesis!”
“Well, I still undoubtedly love Uehara-kun even when I’m not a girl.”
“HELP ME!”
What kind of hell is this?
I’m exhausted. Amano smiled and apologized.
“Ahaha, …I’m sorry. I went overboard.”
“Forgive me, seriously…”
“Sorry, that’s the end.”
I’m relieved with Amano.
However, …Amano pushed for another topic.
“Instead, what if Uehara-kun is a girl…?”
“…………”
It looks like I have to go through this nightmare once again.
Chapter 27 – Tasuku Uehara and Gender Change 2
* * *
Continuing from last time, Keita and Tasuku’s gender change imagination is entering its climax…!?
“If Uehara-kun’s a girl, I…”
Amano brought up an extremely disgusting topic in the classroom after school.
I’m too lazy to struggle and just answered him casually.
“Alright, alright, you’ll fall in love with me, right? Whatever.”
It’s not whatever.
Facing my causal reaction, Amano…said something unexpectedly with a complicated look.
“No, …I’m not sure how it’ll go. I think it’ll be hard for us to get along, Yuko-san.”
“Don’t give a name to my female version.”
Even though Yuko fits me perfectly.
Amano continued.
“Think about it, Yuko-san switches boyfriends as often as she’s buying new clothes. You’re literally a thot, right?”
“You actually really hate me, don’t you?”
“…I’m not confident enough to be friends with Yuko-san.”
“I’m not confident to be friends with you right now!”
Amano ignored my complaint and deepened his imagination.
“Come to think of it, your girlfriend, Aguri-san…”
“Hmm, … a male Aguri…”
I started thinking about it too. In the end…
“He’ll be hard to get along with.”
This time, Amano and my thoughts lined up. Amano continued deflatedly.
“A hot boy that’s loyal to the public toilet Yuko-san…”
“…How should I put it? Although I’m not supposed to be the one to say this, I think we can’t be helped.”
Both of us are deflated. Suddenly, Amano changed the topic to lighten up the mood.
“Oh, but I really want to see a male Tendou-san. I bet she’s a heroic handsome guy.”
“Ah, you’re right. Also, a male Hoshinomori, …ah, it’s right in front of me.”
“H-How impolite!”
Come to think of it, gender change’s kind of interesting.
So, we continued talking about everyone in the Game Hobby Club if they switched gender.
For example, Tendou is a silent satyr, Aguri wears many ear studs, and Hoshinomori is probably dark inside.
When we snapped out of it…
The girl members are looking down on us with vicious smiles.
…………
I can’t reveal the ensuing tragedy. Please forgive me.
Chapter 28 – Chiaki Hoshinomori and Mutual Insult
* * *
Today’s a fighting game battle between the identical yet rivaling gamers, Keita and Chiaki! The end result is…?
Please look forward to it!
“Keita, we’ll decide a winner with fighting games today!”
“Sure, Chiaki!”
So, even though this came out of nowhere, Keita and I went to the arcade.
The reason is simple. I have to win against my nemesis.
Initially, I, Chiaki Hoshinomori, share the exact same stats as my rival, Keita Amano. …We’re so disgustingly synced.
It’s not just test results or physique. Even our rhythm and writing look the same.
So, after a while, it evolved into a gaming duel.
Keita and I wandered around in the arcade silently. The goal is…
“Keita, let’s find an unpopular fighting game!”
“Sure. Chiaki!”
The timid duo went around the group of fighting game lovers. We found an arcade machine at the corner.
We started playing without saying much else.
“I’m choosing this classic protagonist.”
“What a coincidence, Keita. I’m choosing this as well, but in a different color.”
We’re so common that even our characters are the same.
So, the match finally started.
We shot a ranged attack at the same time. They canceled each other out.
After that, …things went ugly.
We keep hitting each other with cheap ranged attacks while mixing in some hesitant strong moves.
Our ultimates also didn’t hit each other because we executed it in a rush.
Finally…
Both of us ended the game exhaustedly when there are still a lot of HP on our bars.
An elementary boy stood next to us.
“Boring.”
The lonely gaming duo left the arcade deflatedly.
“L-Let’s fight next time, Keita!”
“S-Sure, Chiaki!”
This is only the start of our battle.
Chapter 29 – Hoshinomori Sisters and Light Novel Attack-Defend
* * *
This time, Konoha’s trying her best to get a sample copy of a new light novel!
I, Konoha Hoshinomori, am a hentai game super fan.
However, my onee-chan, …Chiaki Hoshinomori, doesn’t acknowledge hentai games at all, not to mention moe. It’s common for her to keep complaining about shoujo anime.
Obviously, I won’t reveal my hobby to her…
“Konoha, Konoha, you’re totally not interested in a new light novel sample written by a dating sim plot writer, right?”
“Ugh!?”
My body turned stiff the moment onee-chan said that.
Onee-chan continued explaining.
“Uh, I don’t know whether they messed up or not. A light novel publisher just sent me a tweet about a new light novel sample.”
My onee-chan is a nameless game developer.
I answered while trying my best to suppress my urge to lean forward.
“H-Hehe, …w-why don’t you take it when it’s free?”
“But, I literally have no use of it. Konoha doesn’t need it too, right?”
I need it! I’m literally craving for it!
“Although you’re right, …well, perhaps my friends want to see it…”
“Please stop hanging out with such a friend, Konoha.”
“Aren’t you too ruthless to light novels?”
I’m shivering from my onee-chan’s extreme hatred towards moe.
Crap, I can’t get the sample if this continues. I have to do something…
“T-Think about it, there are other uses aside from reading, right…”
Decorating the bookshelf, filling up the spaces, …I tried to recommend all kinds of solutions.
My onee-chan nodded her head and added another suggestion.
“I can toss it into the fire.”
“Are you a demon?”
“Even so, it’s still a useless piece of trash.”
“Please don’t.”
I don’t think I can get the sample. It’s time for me to give up, ..but I tried one last time.
“Perhaps Amano-senpai will be envious of you.”
“I’m taking the sample.”
She immediately made up her mind.
Conclusion: Recently, I think it’s pretty easy to manipulate my twisted onee-chan.
Chapter 30 – Eiichi Mizumi and Dog Food
* * *
[Dog food means getting diabetes from sweetness overdose.]
Keita and Karen started going out. Where does Karen find Keita attractive…?
“Tendou-san, what do you usually talk about with Amano-kun?”
In the Game Club, I asked Tendou-san this question while I’m taking a break.
She thought about it for a while and asked me.
“We confess our love to each other.”
“Uwah, acute diabetes from the first bite…”
I immediately retreated from the overdose.
However, Tendou-san pulled my sleeves and said, “Please stay.”
“I still have to tell you how amazing Amano-kun is.”
“But I don’t want to hear it!”
“The first one is his voice!”
“Ugh, I need insulin…”
My eyes are raining tears. Yet, Tendou-san is still continuing her lecture stubbornly even after seeing my sorry state.
“His clear voice is like 8-bit music to my ears.”
“Are you sure you’re praising him?”
“His adorable appearance is like bitmaps.”
“You’re insulting him, right?”
“Nope, what I want to say is that he’s like the most vintage of vintage games to me.”
“I still don’t think you’re praising him!”
“Also, he often compares me to VR.”
“That’s a huge difference! Don’t you think there’s a canyon between you two!?”
“I just want to say that, in my heart, …Amano-kun has already surpassed every RPG.”
“What a cheap slogan.”
“As for Amano-kun, he thinks that I’ve already surpassed all horror games.”
“He’s afraid of you, right!?”
“If I’m comparing Amano-kun to characters in games, …he’ll be the dumbest enemy at the start.”
“You’re really insulting him, right!?”
“Also, he compares me with the hero or the final boss.”
“What a big difference!”
I’m exhausted from yelling.
Tendou-san showed a gentle smile…and concluded.
“In other words, we’re always happy when we’re chatting.”
“Really? …That’s great.”
“Yes.”
…Hmm, they do match each other.
In this peaceful atmosphere, I smiled at Tendou-san and turned around as I’m trying to leave. …However, she tugged my sleeves again.
“Well, let’s continue talking about how attractive Amano-kun is.”
“…Eh?”
After that day, no one in the Game Club asked Tendou-san about her boyfriend anymore.
Chapter 31 – Game Hobby Club and Beginner’s Guide
* * *
In a certain day’s Game Hobby Club meeting, the beginner Aguri asked questions about games.
“Which game should I try first?”
At that moment, Aguri-san’s question brought an abrupt end to the Hobby Club’s peace.
“…………”
The four gamers suddenly stopped talking and lowered their heads silently.
“Eh, what’s wrong? Did I step on a landmine again?”
Aguri-san asked sheepishly. I answered her. “Nope.”
“It’s the complete opposite. Aguri-san, …you just threw food to a bunch of kois.”
“I want to go home.”
The gal immediately sighed.
I robbed the first opportunity and suggested.
“Nintendo’s the only choice. You should try Mario first.”
“Ha, that’s why Keita isn’t appealing. Compared to action, turn-based RPGs are clearly better.”
The fuse between Chiaki and I was immediately lit.
“What the hell are you guys talking about? The best option is clearly puzzle games.”
“Uehara-kun is really shallow. A newbie must grind through tests and hardships. So, the true answer is FPS.”
Uehara-kun and Tendou-san share wildly different opinions too. Aguri-san mumbled.
“Well, that’s enough. It was meant to be a simple question…”
However, we ignored her and continued arguing.
“The most typical option is Mario!”
“No, no, it’s clearly
