“But…”

  “There’s no but. Ah, right, I can tell you a piece of good news. Today, that guy reached his hand out to my chest. Even though a rom-com situation like this happened, I still feel nothing for that guy. Is there any more solid evidence than this?”

  “…Eh? Uh, if that’s true, then why did you-“

  Ao still has something to say. …Honestly, I feel she’s pretty annoying.

  I walked past the girl and towards the convenience store as I told her.

  “Well, I’ll be getting dinner. See you at the university, Ao.”

  I stopped the topic forcefully and quickly left.

  As for Ao, who was left alone-

  …She seems to be mumbling something in the car park of the convenience store. I don’t know whether she wants me to hear it or not due to her volume.

  “If that’s true, then why- did your face blush a little when he just casually reached his hand towards your head…?”

 

  Chapter 4 – Ayumu Kiriya and Mysterious Inference ACT

  * * *

  “I’ll be going on a school trip soon.”

  Keita Amano brought this topic up a bit depressingly. In reality, this is just a while before the 5th live stream recording.

  Both of our personalities aren’t really suited to talking with others. However, the two of us are alone in a room. If we already had 4 joyful and back-to-back gaming experiences, it seems to be enough to close off our distance.

  I prepared the instant coffee in my kitchen and answered relaxedly with a bitter smile.

  “It seems that you don’t like it, Keita.”

  I forgot when did I start calling his name directly. Although I don’t really remember, I naturally call my best friends on a first-name basis. To me, Keita Amano unconsciously turned into something more than a “live streaming partner” already.

  Even so…

  “Well, of course, I’m a loner. Kiriya-san, you don’t like it too, right?”

  He’s still calling me by my last name. Honestly, I do feel a bit upset about that. Well, he’s willing to share his private life with me at this point. So, I guess he’s been slowly opening up to me. I think this counts as an improvement.

  So, actually, I also want to stay and talk with him sincerely…

  (However, if we suddenly chatted about our memories, my gender could be revealed…)

  When we were chatting about high school memories, I accidentally mentioned that “I don’t like how tight the school swimsuit is.” The guy froze when he heard it. From then on, I paid more attention to topics in the past like this. It’s a bit ridiculous at this point. …After all, I don’t want to be treated as a pervert with weird sexual fetishes.

  To prevent revealing my past, I smiled and avoided the topic as usual.

  “I don’t know. I already forgot everything in high school.”

  “No, no, no, that’s not so long ago, right. Kiriya-san, you’re cunning. You rarely say anything about yourself. Well, aside from your love of school swimsuits and bringing nonage boys into your house.”

  “Your impression of mine is quite terrible.”

  “If you don’t want me to think you like that, then please talk more about your past, my loner senpai.”

  Keita pouted in dissatisfaction.

  “As I told you before, I’m not the same as you. I’m not that much of a loner.”

  I chuckled and grabbed two mugs. I placed one of them on the desk that I use frequently. Then, another one was put on the kotatsu he’s sitting in. Also, I moved this kotatsu out from the shelves during the last live stream recording. Thanks to that, Keita is especially excited since the last time was his first kotatsu experience. We were barely playing the game. The recording ended up being “Keita Amano’s First Kotatsu Experience.” …However, the audience called it “creative” and liked it. So, I’m not even sure what gaming streams are supposed to be at this point.

  “Thanks for the coffee.”

  Keita thanked me as he carefully grabbed the mug. Perhaps he’s afraid of the hot. The boy tried his best to blow air into the cup. He’s inhaling to the point that his face pouted before blowing looks way too childish, and I can’t help but smile mischievously. So, Keita seems to have noticed that and changed the topic embarrassingly.

  “Anyway, I’m talking about the school trip. Ay, I hope God blesses me when it comes to splitting off into groups…”

  “Eh? If I remember correctly, didn’t you have a guy that you deemed as your only friend in the class?”

  I sat on the computer chair and crossed my legs as I sipped my coffee before asking.

  Keita answered in a vague tone.

  “I do, …but it’s hard to explain. It’s because he’s popular.”

  “I see, you’re not sure whether you can be in the same group? Well, …just admit your defeat and enjoy the loneliness? You can create a happy trip atmosphere on your own.”

  After he heard what I said, Keita still held the mug with both of his hands, but tears appeared in his eyes like he’s seriously throbbed.

  “…Kiriya-san, you’re a true gentleman and the hope of all loners.”

  “Hey, I already said that I’m fundamentally different than loners like you-“

  “Very well, I will bestow the alias ‘Archmage Loner’ to you.”

  “I don’t need it. Also, you’re already not talking about loners.”

  “…The archmage loner that loves shotas and school swimsuits.”

  “Don’t treat me as a monster spawner or something like that.”

  “Hiya, then it’s almost time for gaming, archmage.”

  “Don’t change my alias. I’m Torabasami.”

  “I do feel that alias is weird enough.”

  I finally started slowly preparing the game while I watched Keita’s bitter smile. I feel like the longer we spent time together, …our “chatters” is dragging longer than the actual gaming session.

  Alright, let’s forget about that and play the game. He’s going to play a detective AVG today. A text-based game is definitely not suited for live streams, at least I won’t upload a video like this. However, I want to experiment with Keita Amano’s live streaming qualities.

  “Alright, we’re all set now.”

  After I opened the game, I clicked on the PC and started recording. Then, I grabbed the mug and moved over to the kotatsu before starting the stream.

  “Excuse me.”

  I squeezed myself into the tight kotatsu with Keita, where I’m practically touching his shoulder. Naturally, I can feel his ankles and waist. It made me a bit uncomfortable.

  (Why am I getting nervous over a brat like this…)

  It’s because Ao is always yelling at me. “I can’t believe you’re bringing a high school boy into your room. How dirty.” I can’t get it off my mind. …During this time-

  “Uh, then can I start playing this, Ki- Tora?”

  I’m still lost in thoughts even when the title screen popped out. Keita asked me this in confusion. I answered. “S-Sure, sorry.” Then, I cleared my throat and switched the mood.

  “Alright! So, we’re playing this game today! !” [Note: The Japanese pronunciation is a reference to Danganronpa.]

  “Although I’m used to this, Tora, why are you often switching like this? Are you the type that changes his personality whenever he holds the steering wheel?”

  Keita is still anxious with my live streaming mode. It’s hard to blame me. If he doesn’t know I’m recording a hot video for the whole world to see right now, of course, he’ll react like that. It can’t be helped. Even so, his reaction already became one of the selling points.

  So, I continued hosting like nothing’s wrong.

  “Jiraiya, have you played this game before?”

  “No, it’s my first time. I do know this game, though…”

  “That’s great. It’s because this is a detective AVG. I can’t look forward to your reaction if you already played it. Thank God, I’m serious.”

  “Why do you care about my reaction so much, Tora? By the way, what does this have to do with my reaction?”

  “My reputation, trust, and friendship (as a live streamer).”

  “It’s unexpected serious! Hey, how did it turn into this!?”

  “Come, chatting about the game is more important, Jiraiya.”

  “You’re still saying chatting is more important. …Sigh, whatever, I’m fine with it.”

  We’ve already repeated this conversation several times, so Keita gave up after a while.

  I started explaining the game again.

  “ is just like its name. The game is about some guys and girls holding a party in a small bar next to the gulf.”

  “It’s indeed what the name says, but why am I feeling a little disappointed right now?”

  “However, things went south during the party due to ‘Hey-hey Bear,’ the mysterious person behind all of this.” [Note: It’s a reference to Monokuma.]

  “Oh, it got a subtle psychological horror vibe-“

  “A joyful King’s Game started cheerfully like this!”

  “-That vibe disappeared right away.”

  “Can the protagonist, Supreme Rintaro, survive in this ‘deathmatch of rejecting ugly girls?’ At the same time, can he ‘pick up’ a cute girl and go home in the process?”

  “What’s wrong with the protagonist’s name? Is he living in ?

  “Also, no one knows the shocking goal hidden behind this King’s Game!”

  “Oh, it gets a bit interesting at this point-“

  “How is it related to the ‘Birthrate Increasing Programme’ pushed by this world’s government?”

  “-I think everything’s solved.”

  “The unexpected real identity of Hey-hey Bear will be revealed!”

  “I’m afraid he’s just working in the government…”

  “Even though it’s just Tuesday, please don’t miss the fight that lasts until 5 AM in this tiny bar!”

  “Hiya, I’m suddenly getting a vibe.” [Note: I don’t know what that is, so I looked this up, and there’s no official English name. It’s a Japanese TV show about food or something.]

  “-The future that awaits them when they leave the bar, will it be hope or despair?”

  “No, only school or work will be waiting ahead.”

  “So, let’s go. It’s time for you to start, Jiraiya.”

  “This is the first time that I’ve played an AVG with such a boring theme and ending.”

  While he did complain, Keita still pressed the start button.

  On the screen, a description of the protagonist and a series of character introductions are displayed one after one seamlessly. Keita let out a convinced sigh.

  “The theme is indeed terrible, but I realized that the character lines and monologue are quite enjoyable once you started playing it. Nice.”

  “Of course, there is a reason for it to sell well.”

  “Yeah. …Strange, I think I suddenly got something called an after talking to female characters…”

  “Ah, you will use that during the main show, .”

  “Billards? Eh, I didn’t know this is a sports game!”

  “You’re wrong. It’s not. Even though this isn’t a sports game, they do play billiards. They’ll do it at the right opportunity in another room.”

  “Ehh! Uh, I didn’t know that. People play billiards in parties?”

  Since I never went to a party, I don’t know the answer even when asked. However, …Keita’s looking at me with hopeful eyes. So, I accidentally answered.

  “Y-Yeah, …I guess a lot of people do that in parties these days.”

  “Eh, really? I see. …I guess so. After all, mobile game cafes are getting popular now. I didn’t know billiards are prevalent among normies…”

  “Y-Yeah.”

  I looked away as I answered. …Sigh, I wonder what people will say in the comments after the video got out. …I get the feeling that there will be more people teasing at me than at Keita. …I should edit this part out later.

  Just as I’m doing these useless plannings, Keita played the game and asked me again.

  “Well, I understood the billiards part, but what does judgment mean…?”

  “Ah, it’s not like you’re going to the court. It’s just that the protagonist will play 1 vs 1 billiards with the girl he wants, and the questioning begins. This process will be presented in the form of .”

  “Oh, …so we’re using this at that time?”

  “Yeah. If what the girl said conflicts with the you got during the , you can expose her with a , just like ping pong.”

  “I see. So, it’s a visualization of words going back and forth in the form of billiards. That’s creative.”

  “You’re basically repeating this process in the game. First, you will collect and . Then, there will be an ugly girl that the protagonist doesn’t want during the . …That girl is called a in this game.” [Note: It’s a sexist term that used to mean girls in Japanese/Chinese.]

  “It’s a terrible word that completely abandons the female player base. It’s so terrible that it’s special.”

  “Anyway, as long as you brutally finish the here, she’ll go home with some guy other than the protagonist. Only then can Supreme Rintaro brilliantly go out with a cute girl, …which is called a in the game.”

  “I want to bring this protagonist to a game over. He should be hit by a car.”

  “I know how you feel, but after you actually played, you’ll realize that this is a super exciting game with exceptional writing and 200 IQ plots. Just follow the story for once. Come to think of it, Rintaro is kind of a likable guy.”

  “Sigh, …I do admit that the story is written pretty well…”

  Keita started playing the game unwillingly as he said that. However, a few seconds later, he can’t hold his laughter when he sees the “Hey-hey Bear” reference.

  Keita started reading the plot fluently. Also, the developers only allowed people to upload their walkthrough on the first chapter. So, even if we’re live streaming an AVG, I don’t need to worry about spoiling the story. I’m grateful for the situation. However, personally, I also love “the realm that only non-official live streams can reach.” Therefore, I’m absolutely not decided to change my route yet by picking this game. …Well, even though I don’t know who I’m explaining to.

  “Hey, it finally comes to that mode?”

  Just as I’m still thrown off, Keita continued the game without stopping to the most beautiful part in this series.

  Keita followed the tutorial and prepared to face the .

  The ugly girl that’s supposed to be the enemy this time, …the started placing her words for seducing the protagonist onto the ball. Then, she hit them towards the screen one by one.

  “Ah, it feels so hot in here…” “Should I take one of my clothes off?” “Eh, Supreme-san, your body is quite masculine…” “Wow, you’re strong.” “I’m thinking about whether we can go outside.” “Perhaps I’m really starting to get drunk…”

  Keita started hitting these balls filled with words back one by one as if he’s in an action game. However, when the round finished, the repeated her lines again.

  I explained.

  “From all the things that she said, if you think ‘this sentence is suspicious,’ you can request a with the you collected before. …In other words, you will score in this match.”

  “I see. If that’s the case…”

  After Keita mumbled, he moved the cursor towards the that looks like it can be used this time. …He selected “the waiter brought the wrong, non-alcoholic drink to the girl.”

  Then, he put it on the ’s “perhaps I’m starting to get drunk…” sentence. Suddenly, the protagonist, Supreme Rintaro, screamed.

  “It ain’t true!”

  “What’s with his sudden Kansai-ben!?”

  Keita complained. Actually, while this Supreme Rintaro guy is a jerk, he’s still a guy that speaks the standard dialect. So, this line is bizarre. While it’s unusual…

  “Rintaro’s setting is that once he’s excited or pissed, his Osaka lineage will start going wild.”

  “Ah, I didn’t know that the protagonist is born in Osaka.”

  “Nope, he’s actually born in Portugal. Also, he never lived in Kansai.”

  “What’s wrong with this protagonist!? There’s a limit for weirdness, right!”

  While he said that, I think the game itself looks pretty interesting to Keita. After that, he still had a good time during the . When he cast out a couple smashes, he stared at the game screen and mumbled.

  “…Sometimes, I’ll hope that these options can appear in reality.”

  “Hey, why are you suddenly saying things that only exist in light novel settings?”

  “Uh, you are so free in real-life. Comparatively, isn’t this like facing numerous options at every second?”

  “I see, you’re right. This game is just the same. After you increased the difficulty, there will be many included in the options. You really need to give it a good think. When there are more choices, perhaps it does grant more freedom, but it’s going to be tougher.”

  “Yeah…”

  Keita answered with a weak smile. I don’t really understand what he’s thinking about. So, I took a sip of coffee with a vague smile. So, at the next moment-

  “…Can someone give me the choices on how I should get along with my beloved girlfriend?”

  “PFFT!”

  -I can’t help but spew all the coffee after hearing such a shocking sentence.

  “Are you okay!?”

  “I-It’s fine. I’m okay, …yeah.”

  Luckily, the coffee didn’t spill inside the kotatsu and the mic. I only need to clean the table with paper towels.

 

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