Gamers, p.83
Gamers!, page 83
“You can be surprising, sometimes.”
“?”
Karen Tendou didn’t even realize that she just said something embarrassing and just tilted her head…Sigh, t-this girl’s love is a bit too heavy to bear! For the first time in my whole life, I’m worried about the guy’s virginity.
I cleared my throat before continuing.
“Anyway, what I want to say is that we don’t need to compete on the same field as them. We have our own ways of turning the tide, right?”
“W-What do you mean? I-I-I-I want to know more!”
“R-Really…Eh? Wait, isn’t this your house?”
Once I snapped out of it, we’re already in front of the house with the “Tendou” doorplate. What an appealing home.
However, Tendou doesn’t care as she leaned forward and asked.
“That’s not important! Please explain in detail about that turning the tide part! Please!”
“A-Alright…”
Tendou’s way too worked up. I freaked out for a bit before I can think calmly.
“Hey, hey, hey, why am I the one that’s giving Tendou suggestion now? Didn’t I decide that I’m on Hoshinomori’s side?”
Then, without me even knowing it, I accidentally acted according to the situation and stood on the same side with the one I’m talking to.
“I guess this is the outcome of me being too smooth and slick…”
Although I reflected on myself immediately, on the other hand, I don’t think it’s right to answer Tendou with a cold attitude.
“Ah, it’s like a match of fighting games come to think of it. While I’m absolutely not holding back during combat. Still, I’ll gladly accept my opponent’s request to talk about what went well and what could be improved for both sides. It’s the same philosophy.”
I’m still not meaning to “stand on the same side” with Tendou. If we’re talking about unconditional support, I’m still shipping Amano x Hoshinomori in the end.
However, even so, I’m not going to waste the chance where both of us can grow.
“I’m certainly on Hoshinomori’s side, …however, I’m really Aguri’s boyfriend.”
After I drew the line in my heart, …I turned to Tendou.
“There’s only one way to differentiate between couples and friends, right?”
“W-What is that…?”
Tendou gulped…At this point, I can’t turn back anymore.
“Sigh, screw it!”
To cheer myself up, I decided to share this method forcefully – The technique that can turn the tide from a couple’s perspective.
“-Creating an indisputable fact, that’s the only way, right?”
Keita Amano
In a night during Autumn, it’s so cold that you’ll immediately start shivering even though for your hot body that just went into the shower.
“D-Double date?”
“Yes. What do you think?”
My yet-to-dry hair has already been pressed flat by the headset, as I asked dazedly. Tendou-san then glanced at me with an angelic smile that looked just as amazing as in real life, even though there’s a screen between us.
I casually rubbed the two sides of my head rudely with the towel on my neck. I even started looking around.
“What do I think…Uh, well, …uh, …uh…”
My brain and tongue are not working correctly, and I can’t squeeze a word out…It’s because we’re calling each other online today at night. It’s an unusual situation, the screen that displayed Tendou-san’s look in pyjamas is already freaking me out.
Moreover, the term “double date” showed up, something that I once thought it had nothing to do with my life…It’s hard for an indoor otaku to not feel scared.
However, since Tendou-san is my girlfriend, she’s guaranteed to know how I’ll react, so she continued without hesitation.
“I think it’s too cautious about calling it a double date. Put it simply, it’s just that we’ll invite Uehara-kun and Aguri-san and go out with the four of us.”
“After I heard that, I feel like it’s only an extended activity for our usual Game Hobby Club schedule…”
It’s just that we didn’t include Chiaki. The things that we’ll do is not that different. However, …why is my back itching so hard right now?
After a moment of hesitation, …I decided to express this feeling sincerely to Tendou-san.
“B-But, …basically, the people that go out of their way to hold a double date, don’t you think they deserve to be thrown into a landfill?”
“I don’t think so!”
Tendou-san immediately complained vehemently about my biased thought…Ay, I understand. But, while I do, …I’m not going to back down easily about this feeling.
“Uh, people will already feel that “pfft, god damn normies” and “explode them all” when they saw a couple. Even so, there’s always a small room of forgiveness of we consider the personality of them, right?”
“No, I don’t have a grudge like that against the couples in the world in the first place!”
“However, for people that will hold double dates, …it’s not like they have anything to do with their relationships. The only thing that you can do is to send them all to the landfill, right.”
“Amano-kun, I don’t have the slightest idea to what you’re talking about!”
“To put it simply, an activity like a double date is the heaviest of the heaviest sins to us.”
“What do you mean by us! Don’t you have a girlfriend already!”
“…Even so, …even so! I still think that there’s a line that we mustn’t cross!”
“What’s with that determined look that resembled the one when you rejected my invitation to the club! Although I’m not willing to say this, I’m attracted to you by a bit! Amano-kun, you’re cool!”
“T-Tendou-san…”
“Amano-kun…”
A sweet and loving aura radiated between the two of us. I let out a laugh before trying to play it cool and tell her. “Bye.” Then, I clicked the disconnect button-
“So, when should we go for the double date?”
“Shit!”
I can’t help but swear, even though I’m talking to Tendou-san. She almost freaked out.
“W-Which part of double dating is making you that uncomfortable?”
“Uh, …well, …I’ll stop joking here…I think it’s really embarrassing.”
After I scratched my cheeks and answered honestly, Tendou-san blushed slightly as well.
“W-Well, I’ll be lying if I’m not embarrassed about the term “double date.” It’s more like, I think that’s more advanced than regular date.”
“R-Right! Double dating could be even more advanced than marriage or giving birth!”
“No, it’s absolutely not there yet. Uh, …but, …Amano-kun, …then you’re really against the idea of double dating, right?”
“…………”
Tendou-san asked again. I can’t help but look away from her…As a guy, of course, I do want to satisfy her wish. However, there’s still a line that I couldn’t cross. Just like when I refused to join the Game Club, in times like this, I should carry a strong and firm determination and-
-During this time, once I looked, I found out that Tendou-san…is currently staring up to me with her watery eyes.
“…It’s not possible, …no matter what?”
How terrifyingly cute. Once I snapped out-
“Of course I’ll go! Double dating for the win!”
-I immediately stood up and answered. Tendou-san put her smile back right away and said. “Really? That’s great!” Then, she started talking about the double date plan that seems to have been initially prepared.
“Well then, we’ll meet each other at 10 on Saturday in front of the entrance of the Viva Spiel Kingdom. Ah, about the tickets, I got some free ones with my parents’ relationship. Please don’t worry about that. You’ll only need to take care of the cost of food and transportation. That’s about it. Amano-kun, are there any questions?”
“…Eh? Ah, no, nothing in particular…”
“Glad to hear that. Then, please look forward to the day. Goodnight, Amano-kun.”
“Eh? A-Alright, goodnight, Tendou-san.”
The call ended without any hesitation.
I looked at the monitor of my PC for a while, dumbfoundedly.
My breaths are getting faster, and I can feel my head is aching.
“…While it’s not good to rely on others with relationships, …however…”
So, I secretly grabbed the smartphone next to me, right at this moment.
Aguri-san called me.
*
Then, after the night, in the family restaurant before we go to school in the morning.
“I can’t guess what my boyfriend is thinking, how frustrating…”
Once Aguri-san took her seat, she immediately put her elbows on the table and wrapped her hands around her head. It looks like she didn’t get a good sleep yesterday, faint dark circles can be seen on the bottom of her eyes.
As for me, …I’m excited about the atmosphere of coming to the family restaurant in the morning for the first time. I’m cheerfully reading the “Morning Menu” that I’ve rarely seen.
“Aguri-san, Aguri-san! I didn’t know that a slice of toast in the morning is roughly the same price as the drink bar in usual times! Woah, that’s incredible, I’m feeling so grown up now!”
“…Amanocchi, you’re quite relaxed…”
Aguri-san turned to me with her dead face before staring at me grudgingly.
Facing her, I raised my head from the menu and answered with a bright smile.
“Yeah, I’m really relaxed right now! It’s because-“
“It’s because?”
“It’s because Tendou-san and Uehara-kun are finally announcing that they’re dating in front of me, publicly. There’s literally nothing to worry about anymore. It’s a complete game over for me! HAHAHA!”
“I take back what I said, this child is in critical condition! W-Waitress, we would like to order breakfast! Give this poor boy an especially good slice of toast, and also a cup of thick coffee! This is an emergency!”
Aguri-san seems to have helped me to order something. Eh, she’s such a nice person. I can’t believe she’s willing to pay for my first breakfast in this family restaurant!
I smiled brightly as I expressed my gratitude to Aguri-san.
“Hey, being able to enjoy a tasty meal in my last moments, I’m so blessed.”
“What do you mean by in your last moments, Amanocchi! Get a hold on yourself! H-How about you just plays on your phone to change up your mood! C’mon!”
“Then I’ll gladly comply…Let’s play this “Girl Oriend” (Temporary)…”
“Eh, why are you playing a game with such a name right now! Are you torturing yourself!”
“I didn’t mean that at all. Even though it’s temporary, now it looks like I’m thinking too highly of myself to treat Tendou-san as my girlfriend.”
“You’re terminally ill, Amanocchi! Wake up! You’re still Tendou-san’s boyfriend!”
“Aguri-san, did you accidentally read “clown” as “boyfriend?”
“Your paranoia is going haywire! I didn’t say that at all! Don’t let yourself spiral down forever!”
“There isn’t an unstopping Ame (ano)…or not.” [Note: The name Amano is derived from Ame, which means rain. He’s joking with his name (or his relationship) here.]
“Amanocchi, what you just said was so boring than I began to cringe! Wake up, I’m serious!”
“That’s rude, I’m excellent. Please look at my phone, Aguri-san. I wrote the word “seasoning” this many times in my notepad in a single night!”
“That’s dark! Especially when you didn’t write words like “die” or “broke up” to express your feelings!”
“But seasoning is good.”
“Okay, I feel like your brain isn’t operating at all, Amanocchi! Ah, here comes breakfast, sip the coffee! Chug the coffee down! Quick, pour it down your throat at once!”
“A-Alright.”
Aguri-san is weird. I’m obviously so energetic and calm right now. She’s the one that’s exhausted. Moreover, seasoning is delicious.
I followed Aguri-san’s advice and drank the coffee before taking a bite of the toast.
…So, for some reason, a tinge of depression immediately swept over me.
“…Sigh. I can’t believe Tendou-san is trying to go out with Uehara-kun…How depressing.”
“Nice! That’s great, Amanocchi, you finally woke up!”
“W-What? Uh, but I’m very depressed right now…”
“Right, at least your emotions returned to normal!”
“R-Really…”
I really don’t understand this girl. However, perhaps it’s because of the coffee and toast deeply resonating within my body, there’s actually an unbelievable feeling of “waking” up. Yeah, breakfast is fantastic.
Just as I’m chewing on my toast energetically, Aguri-san looked at me warmly as if she’s my mother.
“…Sigh, as long as Amanocchi cheered up, I’m satisfied…”
“What the hell, that’s disgusting. Can you please leave me alone?”
“Here comes the rebellious period! This child is finally going through his rebellious phase because of our deep relationship!”
“Hahaha, I’m just kidding…Uh, well, I really appreciated it, Aguri-san.”
I scratched my cheeks as I thanked her. She answered. “Jeez…” Then, she rested her chin on her palms before sighing dumbfoundedly.
Aguri-san suddenly took away my half slice of toast before chewing on it slowly.
“But thanks to you, I’m more or less cheered up now. So, the same goes for you, …Amanocchi. Don’t tell me you planned this all along-“
“Aguri-san, Aguri-san! Right now, in this situation, …I’m enjoying breakfast with a girl in a family restaurant before going to school. A high school student like me should rank very high in the world of normies! Right! Right!”
“-It looks like you’re not.”
Aguri-san looks dumbfounded but relieved at the same time. She’s still beaming her motherly smile at me…Although I appreciate her warmth, it’s kind of pissing me off when I’m treated like this by a girl with the same age as me. Ay, even though those feelings immediately went away when I’m bathed in the peacefulness of enjoying my breakfast.
I can’t stop myself from getting purely excited. Aguri-san then let out a “hmm” before continuing.
“Actually, perhaps this is my first time…to come to the family restaurant in the morning.”
“Eh, really? That’s unexpected. I thought you use this family restaurant as a bus from the core.”
“Amanocchi, did you just casually say something vicious? …However, I did actually went to a bunch of family restaurants, but I never go in the morning.”
Aguri-san dragged my plate of breakfast to her as she said that, and she immediately started digging in one of the poached eggs without any hesitation. Well, I didn’t really mind things like this now. Our distance is comparable to that of family members.
I sipped my coffee as I stared at the office workers outside the window dazedly.
“I still had so many first experiences when I’m with you.”
“That’s my line, Amanocchi. I have never done this with Tasuku.”
“Ah, come to think of it, a guy and a girl drinking coffee together in the morning, that feels…”
“Yeah, you’re right. It feels like we’re in those cliché couple plots in songs from the 90s-“
Aguri-san stopped in the middle of her sentence, and even put her utensils back onto the plate. I also silently put my coffee back onto the cup mat.
“…………”
“…………”
A wave of silence crossed between the two of us…for more than 10 seconds.
We quickly bulged our eyes and locked each other, and then we yelled at each other, blamingly at the top of the lungs!
“Isn’t this the problem!”
We pressed our hands onto the table forcefully. The utensils are shaking. This didn’t raise much attention in the restaurant with the hustle and bustle in the morning, but people from other seats still glanced at us.
After we apologized, we lowered our voices while continued to chat in a heavy tone.
“When did I have so many first times with you!”
“That’s my line, Amanocchi! How many first times do you want to take away from me-“
As we said that, the office worker in the next seat choked with a couple coughs.
“I feel like Tendou-san keeps suspecting the relationship between you and me recently, please don’t do that! Come to think of it, why did we gather secretly in the morning to eat breakfast!”
“What a coincidence, Amanocchi, I’m regretting about this right now! How can you just do a bunch of things with me when even Tasuku and I haven’t done before like it’s nothing! Showing up immediately when another girl called you despite having a girlfriend, I can’t believe it!”
“Y-You say that out loud. If I didn’t show up when you’re trying to find me, you’re the one that will be pissed off in the end! This means that I don’t have a choice at all! This is irresistible!”
“But Amanocchi, isn’t your life all about self-defeating?”
“No! What’s with that crappy impression of yours! My life is still filled with hope and future!”
“Like BL, for example?”
“I feel like I can develop on that side! I’m not referring to that, this is from a rational perspective! Usually, I still got some room when it comes to relationships with girls…”
After I said that, Aguri-san immediately stared at me with an alerted look. She even hugged herself tightly.
“Amanocchi, you’re nasty.”
“…? …Ah, I got it. Aguri-san, you perceived that I wished for a sexual development between our relationship just then…Is this interpretation of what you’ve just said okay?”
“Is it that hard for you to comprehend what I’ve just said to the point that you’re explaining it that much! Hey, hey, hey, …I’m not really treated like a proper girl in your heart, that’s surprising.”
