Gamers, p.46
Gamers!, page 46
“I’m sorry, g-give me a moment, Amano-kun. I need a second.”
“O-Okay.”
Then, Tendou-san laughed for another 10 seconds before taking a breath and looked at me.
I don’t think she’s angry.
Tendou-san then explained to me.
“Um, it’s not like that, it’s just that the way that you lost was amusing to me. B-But, if you think about it, I don’t think I should laugh with that situation, so I held it back, but then that just made me wanted to chuckle even more. S-Sorry.”
“N-No, it’s okay…So, you are not mad at me?”
Tendou-san tilted her head when I asked this.
“I’m mad? Why would I?”
“Um, b-because of the way I play…won’t you feel dissatisfied because of that?”
“Eh? Oh…that’s what you meant.”
Tendou-san gave me a smile, then looked at the window gently and looked at the lights shining from Around 1 while answering me.
“You’re right, Amano-kun, you didn’t play anything well today, including sports. Also, it’s hard to say that you are “competing seriously” at all.”
“S-Sorry…”
I’m scared. However, Tendou-san gave me a warm smile before looking at me directly.
“But then, you were trying your best to let everyone enjoy the experience, right?”
“Eh?”
I tilted my head to express my confusion after her explanation. “You didn’t realize this at all.” Tendou-san chuckles while mumbling.
“Amano-kun, while it’s true that you keep losing. But…it’s like what you’ve said in the past, you feel unsatisfied after every defeat.”
“O-Of course, I will feel bad. I said that before.”
“Right. However, your reaction is rare these days. When everyone in the Game Club and I lose a match, while we do feel unsatisfied, we will never express it this vividly. We will just train very hard afterward.”
“…Ehm…”
I-Is she meaning that I’m acting like a kid?
In reality, I’ve always enthusiastically asked my little brother to 1v1 me in games, so I will always express my feelings towards the match immediately after it’s over. The reason for this is that I feel like it will get too serious to the point where we will argue with each other furiously if we just hide everything in our hearts. If that’s the case, I think it’s better to just yell when we lost a match so that we expressed our feelings clearly. That’s what I’ve learned from the experience.
However, I never thought I will make that mistake in front of Tendou-san. Just as I’m scratching my head embarrassingly, Tendou-san continued without a single notion that she’s blaming me.
“You are referring to yourself as a slowpoke. To me, though, I feel like you are just trying your best to act like a slowpoke with that attitude of yours, right?”
“Um, I-I’ve never thought about this before…In reality, I just challenged a kid to a serious match and then lost to him…”
“Yes, you are right, you should be ashamed.”
“Ouch…”
“But then, Amano-kun, that’s why you are amazing.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know which part of me got praised at all!”
“Really? For example…Right, take Shota and Satoshi as an example. If I am just coming here with the Game Club members, I think we will never get to enjoy the experience as much as the brothers did.”
“I-I’m sorry, it’s because I suck, that’s why our date is interrupted…”
“It’s okay, I’ve said this before, that’s the amazing part of you.”
“…Sorry, I still don’t feel like which part of me are you praising…”
“Really? Being completely oblivious to which part you are good at is another fantastic point of you as well.”
“Sorry, I usually just freak out when someone is complimenting me this much while I’m confused.”
It’s like when you got an award in a writing contest when you turned in a half-assed submission. While the comments pointed out that the writing included numerous issues in modern society, I have no memory of writing any of that, something like this.
Tendou-san glanced at my utterly confused face, then gave me a “Hmm…” while putting her finger on her lips, thinking about something cutely…Then, she continued as if she reached a conclusion.
“When you are in the last lap with Shota, you didn’t use the Bomb Wheel to win. If winning is your sole purpose, you could’ve just out-speed him with the agility of your kart.”
“Eh? Oh, s-sorry, I didn’t act seriously-“
I immediately wanted to apologize, Tendou-san stopped me by raising her hand. Then, her eyes are sparkling with logic as she continued.
“The brothers will have fun no matter what the result was – that’s why you used the bomb. Am I right, Amano-kun?”
“…………”
“Whether you or Shota got bombed, it’s funnier to the kids this way then to just compete regularly.”
“…Ehm…”
I scratched my cheeks before looking away, I’m being read like an open book. Crap, I knew my girlfriend’s attitude towards gaming. Then, I deliberately let her knew that I was so naïve that I am willing to lose a match just to let the kids have fun.
Tendou-san’s voice then echoed throughout my head, she sounds a bit baffled, though.
“…Man. You hadn’t changed in the least bit since when you rejected my invitation…”
“Um! Tendou-san, I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to reject your attitude towards gaming…”
“Mmm, I understand, you’re not just randomly losing a match on purpose. But then, when compared to “looking cool in front of me,” you feel that it’s more important to let the brothers have fun, right?”
“Ahh! Well, um, ah, T-Tendou-san, I didn’t mean to just ignore you…”
Crap, I’m too scared to look at her. She sounds pissed from that-
“…That’s what I love about you.”
“Huh!?”
-I heard something big and turned my head around immediately. But then…for some reason, this time it’s Tendou-san who looked away to the window. The lights coming from the houses are flashing in the dark, rural scenery outside.
Although Tendou-san and I are sitting very close to each other, I feel really peaceful, incredibly, and I even told her this when she’s still looking out to the window.
“Tendou-san, I really admired…you for destroying me relentlessly.”
“What’s that? I don’t feel like you’re praising me at all.”
“No, I’m being sincere. If you just let me won purposely, that I won’t even get the chance to feel unsatisfied. You know what that meant, right? Tendou-san, you’re amazing.”
“…I’m a dumb girl who just knows how to compete seriously.”
“I know. That’s what I love about you.”
“…!”
Tendou-san’s shoulders suddenly shivered, …but then even I can tell this time: “Oh, she’s embarrassed.”
This awkward yet satisfying moment slowly slipped away.
It was not until a couple minutes after that I started chatting with her.
“…Right, Tendou-san, have you played the newly-released Fire Knights?”
“Oh. Yes, of course! That’s right, I wanted to talk about that! How’s your progress?”
Tendou-san’s face clearly brightens. I answered confidently.
“I’m in Chapter 9 right now.”
“Ugh, I lost. I’m in Chapter 7. I guess I will fall behind if I spend more time with the Game Club and studying…”
“By the way, did you know that if you didn’t meet the requirements in Chapter 6, you can’t get the item in Chapter 12.”
“Eh, really? Awww, then I have to restart…”
“You are starting over!? The item is not that important, I just left it behind and moved forward.”
“Hmph! That’s what I don’t like about you, filthy casuals.”
“Well, thanks, but that’s the reason why your progress is falling behind, right?”
“Hey, how dare you? But then, isn’t that why we will spend a lot of time in games-“
“No, not at all, you’re missing the key-“
…The calm and peaceful scenery, the tired gamers, the night slowly falls on the bus that is slowing driving through the rural town.
Suddenly, when I am in a break while chatting with Tendou-san, I can’t help but mumble:
“…Master Uehara, you’re right, after all. I’m sorry.”
“What did you say?”
“It’s nothing. Oh, about that part in Chapter 10…”
So, I just chatted with Tendou-san about the game while I’m reflecting on what Uehara-kun had sad before the date.
“It’s a blessing when you can chat happily with a girl you love alone, after all.”
Chapter 3 - Chiaki Hoshinomori and Pursuit of Excellence
* * *
Keita Amano
In the year 775 of the Kingdom’s calendar, the two countries that have been engulfed in constant wars for the domination on the continent of Gorugon, the Republic of Berufurau has signed a truce with the Baochishiu Empire.
In the dirty slums ruled by the soldiers disbanded from the Empire, a man who is destined to change the world was born from an emaciated prostitute.
His name is- “The Tasty Peony Cake Eater”-
“Wait!”
Uehara-kun and I yelled, then the seaweed-haired girl - Chiaki Hoshinomori raised her head from the printed paper and before expressing her confusion with a “Hmm?”
“But, my new game’s synopsis is still in its prologue, what’s wrong…?”
“Um, it’s not what’s wrong, something is clearly very wrong.”
I suppressed myself from scolding at Chiaki while urging her to re-think this whole story. Chiaki only tilted her head dumbfoundedly, followed by another “Hmm?” before reading the paper for a few seconds and giving us a look of sudden realization.
Uehara-kun and I pressed our chests as a sign of relief. “Right, at least she knows what’s the problem here. That’s good.” Chiaki then sincerely thanked us.
“Yes, there’re problems! It would be funnier if I changed the year to 776 of the Kingdom’s calendar.”
“It’s not that!”
Uehara-kun and I yelled at her at the top of our voices…This legendary creator is still tilting her head to express her confusion.
The two boys looked at each other and let out a big sigh.
It’s after school on a typical day. The scheduled 3-players meeting of the Game Hobby Club Is still ongoing at the corner of the classroom. While this is a good thing, the development of this plot is certainly raising our eyebrows.
The reason for this is that at the start of the meeting, Chiaki, the game developer is already…
“E-Ehm, Uehara-kun…and also Keita. If it’s possible, can you please comment on the concept of my new game!” She approached us.
Honestly, the Game Hobby Club’s activity consists of Chiaki and me yelling at each other with our different ideas towards gaming. While it’s rare for her to find a legit topic, the problem is…
“We peasants can never understand what the mindset of this creator is.”
Uehara-kun and I deeply realized this to the heart now.
Honestly, I neither have heard the name of the game from Chiaki nor have I played the games she made as well. But then, Chiaki has always leaked some of the ideas during the meeting every time.
Uehara-kun and I didn’t understand her whimsical concepts at all, so it’s hard for us to give comments on her game development process.
“It’s not easy to grasp how much we should intervene in her development.”
I usually just say what I wanted to say and then falling into an argument with her. Even so, I will more or less become cautious when it comes to commenting on her creations. It’s not just games, most of the productions are like this, right? Something that looks like a kid’s doodle could be a famous artwork that worth billions. It’s not that uncommon.
What I fear is that rare talents are wasted by pedestrian comments coming from an average guy, even if the comments are for my rival, Chiaki.
But then, regarding Chiaki’s concept for her new game, she seems to hope that her work can be enjoyed by the general audience, so she requested us to point out any problems that she had.
If she’s putting it this way, we thought that maybe the setting the game will be less eccentric. In reality, we can tell that it’s going to be a fantastical story with solid content, even a bit pumped up by the plot, but then…
A few seconds after the debut and it went wrong wholly.
Uehara-kun smacked his desk and screamed at her, who are seemingly oblivious to what we are talking about.
“Hoshinomori! Are you really trying to generalize your game!?”
“Y-Yes! Of course! That’s why I have an intricate yet fantastical world setting in mind!”
“None of this was intricate! Everything went wrong all of a sudden! What’s your thought process when you are coming up with the protagonist’s name?! “Peony Cake Eater” is the worst name I have ever heard!”
“You’re wrong, Uehara-kun. “The Tasty Peony Cake Eater” is the correct answer.”
“It’s the same! The setting just suddenly went rogue!”
“Eh? B-But then, I did an explanation to link the plot together.”
“What!? Where!?”
Although Chiaki is acting sheepishly, she somehow retorted to Uehara-kun. She’s scared, but she didn’t step back and proposed: “T-There is…” before continuing.
“Didn’t I tell you at the start? He is “a man who’s destined to change the world,” right?”
“You mean he changed the world with his name!?”
The sudden truth baffled us. Chiaki nodded her head furiously while she continued.
“H-He got an unusual name, and it’s up to the government staff whether to accept a name like this. Will the freedom of name changing, the bureaucratic culture of the Empire, and the policies surrounding names drastically change from this one action? This is one of the questions that this game dives into!”
“Eh? What about the war between them and the Republic? Who gets to dominate the continent?”
“Eh? Those are just background information in the detailed world setting. Is there a problem?”
Uehara-kun and I feel speechless. This is the problem, this has always been the issue with creators that focuses on individuality. There’s no way for ordinary people like us to give feedback. At this stage, isn’t it pointless to dig into the details? She had already completed the whole story in her brain, this is not something we can comment on, right?
Chiaki looked at our reaction sheepishly while asking, “C-Can I continue?” We nodded our heads silently, she cleared her throat before speaking again.
“Then, allow me to re-introduce. After the prologue is over, the main story starts here. Basically, the game is going to be an RPG.”
“Eh? That’s surprising. I thought this was going to be a strategy game or an interactive fiction based on what you’ve said about the whole changing-the-policy thing…”
“No, that’s incorrect. Ehm, this is a game where “The Tasty Peony Cake Eater,” abbreviated as “Peony Eater” to assassinate everyone working in the town hall, one by one.”
“That’s a dirty trick for a guy with a name like this.”
“During this time, the policy of the town hall will change gradually based on the type of staff he defeated.”
Uehara-kun seems to have realized what Chiaki is saying and nodded.
“So your design is, the reforming faction will gain more influence when you defeat a conservative staff, and the same goes for the conservatives as well?”
“No, no, no, that’s not right.”
“Huh?”
Uehara-kun gave a solid remark based on the game’s content, and Chiaki immediately denied his answer. She continued as we froze in place.
“He will murder the staff cruelly based on his/her personality. For example, he will shove a bunch of peony cakes in the mouth of a staff that hates red beans paste until he chokes to death. People will then began to question the Empire’s punishment policies.”
“What about that whole name policy thing!?”
The goal of the game changed again, we can’t help but look at her helplessly. However, Chiaki doesn’t seem to realize what we are complaining about and asked us back dazedly.
“What’s that name policy thing you were talking about?”
“I can’t believe you’re the one who asked this! What about the goal of getting the staff to accept that weird name?! When did this turn into Assassin’s Creed with Altair becoming a strange serial killer!?”
“Alright, alright! Hey, Ms Hoshinomori! You were the guy who wanted to generalize your game!”
“T-That’s why I wanted to discuss with you and the dwarf winter melon. I wanted to know how I should adjust the game to make this popular!”
“YOU SHOULD RE-MAKE THE ENTIRE GAME!”
Uehara-kun and I yelled at the top of our lungs. However, for some reason, Chiaki seems to have taken that as a joke and gave us a “Haha, don’t give me that” look. In a sense, this guy is lonelier and way more twisted than I do! I should’ve seen this coming!
Chiaki just said, “Well, I’m continuing.” Although we would like to file a hundred complaints right now, but then there will be too much for us to cover if we are going to pick on her game.
So, we looked at each other again before nodding and swallowed all of our comments and listen to her.
Chiaki doesn’t seem to have realized our solemn and stirring determination. She promptly continued.
“Then comes to the experience-gaining part. This part follows the traditional RPG route. You can rob the staff’s cash after killing them while raising your murdering abilities.”
“Chiaki, do you know what “traditional” means?”
“Keita, you’re annoying. To put it simply, you can get money and XP from them.”
“Then why don’t you just say this at the start?!”
“But then, I think a good game should bring individuality to the unit of the in-game currency.”
