Gamers, p.62
Gamers!, page 62
“What do you mean by ugly. No, I didn’t mean to despise you…”
“Hmph. I’m sorry. I’m different from that Tendou-san. I’m just a pretentious girl.”
Konoha-san said that a bit angrily. I tilted my head for a bit and responded.
“But, I actually really respect people that can put up a performance on their own. Ah, I didn’t mean to cheer you up. Just saying. It takes a lot of effort, after all. It’s incredible for people to not give up and learn that skill.”
I spoke to Konoha-san as I stared her in the eyes. Then, she turned away from me.
“…You are saying that naturally again…!”
“Again?”
Did I mention something like this to Konoha-san before? I don’t really remember. Crap. I forgot something that the girl remembered. Isn’t this super impolite?
Just as I frowned to try and dig into my memory, Konoha-san leaned towards me with a mischievous smile on her face.
“Wow, Amano-senpai, I can’t believe you can forget interacting with such a cute girl. Are you thinking too highly of yourself right now?”
“Ouch…! Y-You’re right. I’m getting ahead of myself! Just a while ago, I will remember all conversations from my high school!”
“…Ah..I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you remember the pathetic high school life you were in…”
“Eh? You’re now pretending to be a girl that shows her compassion to a regretful senpai! Please don’t do that! I’m feeling really empty right now!”
After my protest, Konoha-san smiled happily before asking me in a pranking tone.
“Eh…Amano-senpai, do you mean you’re the type that all people want to bully on?”
“Exactly. People often see me like that without realizing it!”
“Ahaha, I guess so! Hey, it’s fun to bully senpai, after all!”
“You just spew that insult out of your mouth so randomly! By the way, Konoha-san, I don’t feel like you’re trying to pretend as a lovely little sister anymore!”
“Eh? Ah…yeah, you’re right.”
Konoha-san gave me a bitter smile. This time, she scratched the back of her head roughly and started to face me with the true her.
“Sigh, for me. I’m not a girl that hides everything in my heart, not to mention negative emotions. Everything from work, affection, and sexual desire- I mean power. I wanted to vent them out whenever I wanted to.”
I agree with her.
“Ah, I know how you feel. It’s effortless for me to express my emotion out sincerely since I’ll always overthink everything and freak out. If I can’t even say something that I wanted in a place that I feel secure with, my emotions will probably erupt someday. I’m really a guy that can only vent out my anger in front of my family or close friends…”
After I said that, Konoha-san’s eyes brightened as she becomes interested.
“Yeah, I get it. I get it! That’s precisely the reason! Come to think of it, it’s the same when I’m the student president in Hekiyou…Although I didn’t become the president purely out of my acting skills, there’s a lot of times where I can’t express how I really think…That’s why I will often show who I really am when I’m chatting with my family, friends, and when I’m on the internet.”
“Exactly! However, that’s the reason why I will let loose too much sometimes…”
“Yes, yes, yes! I know how it feels! Life is always either being serious or let loose with no in-between. This can really mess with the brake that prevents you from going out of control!”
“That’s what I’m trying to say! I always care about what others are thinking worriedly. Then, if I slip for just a bit, I’ll yell at my little brother or Uehara-kun like I’m a different person. Either that or I will oppose Chiaki or Tendou-san when it comes to gaming style.”
“It’s the same for me, it’ll always end like this! I can’t hold my violent desires back even if I met someone I knew outside, then I’ll end up buying hentai games explicitly.”
“Right…”
Konoha-san raised her plastic bag with the game as she said that.
I responded with rasing my bag as well. Then, we gave each other a bitter smile.
Then, I realized the gap between Konoha-san and me has already disappeared.
Well, it’s because we have the same hobbies in the first place. We can just start chatting right away, just like…when I first met the girl’s sister.
“Ah, right. Konoha-san, have you played Eushully’s new title that was released last month?” [Note: Enshully, a famous Japanese eroge studio in Sapporo.]
“Of course! Eh, you’re playing that as well, senpai! That company’s game design is still comparable to console versions!”
“Yeah! That’s it! You feel that too! Uwah, I’m excited to know that someone actually played it!”
“That’s what I wanted to say! Sigh, but that game is quite erotic when it comes to the plot CGs. Amano-senpai…you acted like you’re an innocent boy, I can’t believe you were just hiding your teeth.”
“Do I? But...compared to the fact that the elite and adorable student council president is a hentai game lover, I feel like I’m nothing.”
“…J-Just like the intelligence from my sister, you’ll praise others unconsciously…”
“What intelligence? Ah, let’s move on to that game! Even though the players are focusing on the UI, don’t you think the plot is incredible as well?”
“Yes! Exactly! Exactly! I’ve always got a grudge with people only praising the UI…but the plot is very well-made, after all!”
“Yeah! Right, speaking of the famous titles-“
So, during the walk to the station..both of us just chatted about hentai games that no one could talk about loudly.
*
“Eh? Chiaki?”
After Konoha-san and I entered the station, we surprisingly saw Chiaki, who’s sitting on the chair playing on her phone.
As soon as I spoke, a defenseless Chiaki freaked out after she raised her head and saw me.
“K-Keita? W-W-Why, are you here…?”
She trembled and accidentally dropped her phone. I immediately grabbed it, that was so cool that even I wanted to praise myself for it. I gave Chiaki a smug look, however…
“P-Please return my phone!”
“Eh!”
She robbed her phone back from my hand…Honestly, I was pissed.
“I almost forgot the fact that she’s my enemy.”
We started fighting each other because we have different opinions when it comes to moe. However, now I feel like we both hated each other’s behavior. See, Chiaki’s glared at me while blushing, even with a bit of tear on her eyes, she’s clearly angry…Right, a guy like me can’t even touch your phone, right?
“I think I glanced at a mobile game screen that I’m familiar with…Whatever. I don’t even have the mood to chat anyway.”
I explicitly let out a sigh to Chiaki, and Konoha-san leaned forward to try and smooth things over.
“Uh, I’m coming out with my sister at the start. We were walking together, but we split up because each of us has things to do. So, we decided to meet at the station before disbanding…”
“Oh, that’s why. That’s why you were going to buy the hentai-“
Konoha-san stared at me while I’m in the middle of my sentence, I immediately fixed my words.
“-That’s why you met me, who was happily buying hentai games alone.”
“…Uwah…Keita, you’re disgusting…”
Chiaki is giving me a cold stare…Uh, even though it’s true that I’m buying hentai games, but why I’m feeling like I’m the only one getting hurt right now?
I glanced at Konoha-san and found out that she looked away like she has nothing to do with this…should I say that this girl is really something…?
“Damn, why does this have to happen…”
Chiaki mumbled as she put her phone back to the pocket before she stood up.
This is only the third time that I’ve seen Chiaki in her casual clothes. However, she’s still the same type as I do. An attire that she didn’t spend any effort on that can reluctantly be worn out to the streets, a T-shirt with a tannin skirt. How should I put this…while I’m pissed, I’ll probably wear the same boring outfit if I was a girl. Although I’m unwilling to admit this, Chiaki does look good because she has a beautiful figure. It’s giving off a “back to nature” vibe, she was not supposed to have reached this level yet.
“W-What’s wrong, Keita? You keep staring at my body. This is what a hentai game lover is like…”
“Hmph, Ms. Chiaki. Bold of you to assume that you earn the same position as the female protagonist in hentai games. You sure do think highly of yourself. What, are you getting smug just because you changed your look?
“I…I don’t want an otaku that pretends to be a protagonist from harem novels just because he accidentally started dating with Tendou-san to say that to me!”
“Hmm, this seaweed still got thorns on it…!”
“This is what a bean sprout boy that keeps overthinking looks like…!”
We closed off our distance as we stared fiercely at each other. Then, Konoha-san looked at us with admiration.
“You two can surely start a fight with each other like it’s breathing…want to go on a show?”
“Please don’t say it like our minds are in sync!”
“I feel like I just saw a boy and a girl with brains that are completely synced with each other!”
Konoha-san is throbbed for some reason…I’m not convinced in the least bit…!
Chiaki and I gave a “Hmph” before turning around with our backs facing each other. Konoha-san, who was in the middle, annoyingly scratched her cheeks. To calm things down, she said this a bit forcefully.
“Um, well, Amano-senpai, thank you for accompanying me to here-“
“Amano-senpai?”
Suddenly, Chiaki noticed how Konoha-san called me as she put on a poker face.
I responded with a frown.
“What, you got a problem? I’m a year older than Konoha-san. That’s a normal thing for her to call me that right.”
“It’s not. You don’t deserve to be called senpai at all, how arrogant of you. Moreover, our Konoha is cute, smart, gentle, and the student council president. She’s the perfect little sister.”
Konoha-san lowered her head with a blush after Chiaki tried to fend me off.
“Uwah…we got another person that blatantly praises people here…forgive me…”
Konoha-san seemed to be mumbling something, but I couldn’t much as I’m retorting.
“Konoha-san is indeed adorable and smart. Also, I realized that she has a good personality after I talked to her. I’m convinced that she’ll be a fantastic student council president as well! But I’m really older than her!”
Konoha-san seemed to have blushed so hard that she had enough and screamed.
“What’s wrong with you two! Pretending to be fighting each other, but you are just trying to mess with me in reality!”
“But, even though you’re older, my sister is surely nobler than you! At least she’s totally different from a prick that buys hentai games in the middle of the day!”
“Ouch!”
Konoha-san moaned while pressing her chest suddenly. She…she was hit even though she was outside the situation! That’s bad!
“Y-You can scold me, but I won’t allow you to look down upon all hentai gamers!”
“That’s the part that you were trying to defend? What are you? President of the Hentai Game Fan Club?”
“Uh, no…A-Anyway, you can depreciate me, but don’t depreciate all hentai gamers! This is for the sake of someone you treasure!”
I reaffirmed Konoha-san’s depressing look with the corner of my eyes as I announced to Chiaki.
However, I didn’t convey my true meaning to her.
“W-What kind of fallacy is that! Uh, i-if I have to say it, I really didn’t mean to scold at anyone except you…I guess I can apologize for that…”
“Yes, Chiaki! Just target me!”
“Why are you getting so excited about this! Sigh…that’s enough. I ran out of steam to fight.”
Chiaki finally decided to stop fighting after she mumbled…No matter how much I hate her, I’ll never go after someone who lost the will to continue. I took a couple deep breaths to clear my mind.
After we calmed down, Konoha-san started explaining to Chiaki about how we met. (The entire hentai game was skipped.)
“Oh…so you two met on the road and just chatted with each other all the way to here…?”
“Yeah.”
Chiaki finally understood. Konoha-san and I nodded with a smile.
However…Chiaki immediately gave us a confused look.
“…But, were you two that close before?”
“Hmm.”
Konoha-san and I lost our words. Ay…we only started chatting with each other happily because we grabbed the same hentai game at the same time…If we just met on the streets, we’ll probably go our separate ways after a standard greeting.
Konoha-san tried to explain.
“Sis, think about it…Amano-senpai and I will often chat on the internet, r-right?”
“Eh…”
Then, for some reason, Chiaki is the one to turn sheepish this time…? Why is she acting like this after she knows the relationship between Konoha-san and me?
“Ah…her little sister had a connection with her rival, is this the reason why she’s being so repulsive?”
If this is indeed the cause, I find it quite convincing…
Just as I’m suspicious, Chiaki cleared her throat with a cough. Then, her eyes rolled around as she asked me for reasons unknown.
“Uh…about the chatting on the internet part, what did you talk with Konoha…?”
“Eh? Nothing much…Also, why do I have to tell you?”
I feel like this is a sensitive part of both Konoha-san and me. Even though she’s a relative, there’s no way for me to just explain everything clearly…
In this awkward situation, Konoha-san somehow tried to smooth things over again.
“Ah, well, as long as it’s related to NOBE and Mono, you can tell my sister all about it, Amano-senpai!”
“Eh? This is wrong…what’s happening…”
I can’t believe she can just reveal who she is on the internet to her family…I don’t really understand the entire reasoning behind it. For me, at least I will never tell my little brother about it.
Konoha-san beamed me a manly and frank smile.
“I’ve nothing to hide from my sister!”
“Konoha-san, are you sure you can say that!?”
The little sister that is hiding her hentai game in her bag while saying stuff like that. I feel like this scene is out of reality…but I can’t reveal her secrets now.
I unwillingly admitted…and told Chiaki about the exchange with Konoha-san.”
“We didn’t talk much about the internet part…Ay, but we had fun chatting with each other, that’s basically it.”
“You’re chatting with Konoha? What did you two talk about?”
“Sigh.”
Konoha-san and I froze…she’s annoying! This sister is annoying! What’s wrong! Why does this girl care about the conversation between Konoha-san and me?
Konoha-san and I glanced at each other silently to think of a solution. Too many things had happened today. We already knew this is the way to get us out of this mess. However, squeezing our eyes seems to have ruined the whole thing. Chiaki is looking increasingly suspicious of our movements, so we just stood like a statue there.
Just as we were in a standoff, we heard a ringtone coming from somewhere suddenly.
I grabbed my phone out to confirm, thinking that it was mine, but it’s not. Then, Chiaki freaked out and said, “Oh, it’s my phone.” She grabbed her phone out. This girl…she even got the same ringtone as I do…Sigh.
“Anyway, we’re saved for now.”
Konoha-san and I smiled at each other…what’s going on? She was so rude to me earlier, but I don’t feel bad about it incredibly. Is it because we both have each other’s secrets? I feel like I’ve changed, I’m closer to Konoha Hoshinomori-san now.
However, on the other hand, the more I get to know her…
“I feel like…while she’s different than her stiff version, but I still think that there’s a difference between Konoha-san and NOBE or Mono…”
I dazed in thoughts as Chiaki is picking up her phonecall.
…Konoha-san is no doubt a “good person,” I think that she shared some similarities with NOBE and Mono in terms of attitudes. But…they’re still different.
“Sigh, if she already said that they’re separate characters, I guess it makes sense for me to view it this way…”
The situation is perfectly logical, but I’m not 100% convinced. This is the first time that I’ve encountered something like this…Uh, even though Konoha-san is really nice…
“Amano-senpai?”
“Ah! It’s fine, nothing’s wrong, I’m sorry.”
Once I snapped out of it, I realized that I’m staring at Konoha-san directly. Her face’s slightly red. Of course, she’ll feel uneasy when a guy that she’s not that familiar with stared at her face.
I lowered my head to apologize and said.
“Well…Chiaki’s busy answering her phonecall, after all. I should leave.”
“Ah, alright. Well…uh…ehm…”
“?”
Konoha-san suddenly started stuttering for some reason. I tilted my head dumbfoundedly. Then, she gave me an unwilling pout before mumbling.
“…See you next time.”
“Eh? Ah..o-okay. Uh, well, see you next time.”
I was flattered as I replied to her…It’s because I didn’t expect her to say that. I’m excited.
“This got to be just out of her courtesy. Still, I appreciated that. Konoha-san is incredible.”
She is the student council president, indeed. Her social skills are way out of my league. Although I really feel that Konoha-san is impressive, on the other hand…
“This person…is she really NOBE and Mono?”
The two people that I liked…the two people that resonated deeply with me…Do they really exist in the heart of this smart and hardworking girl? The more time I spend with her, the more I feel…
