The startled cry of Mayumi made everyone waiting in line turn their gazes towards .
Thud...
My legs suddenly lost their strength, and I found myself sitting on the floor, clutching the shopping bags' handles tightly.
"Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere!?"
"."
Mayumi's voice, filled with concern, reached , but I couldn't muster a response.
The culprits who snatched my shopping bag had swiftly turned left at the next intersection, disappearing from sight...
All that remained in my hand was the handle of an 80,000 yen shopping bag.
"What... just happened?"
They say when you experience a great shock, you lose touch with reality, right?
I felt like a lost child, stumbling over my words, as Mayumi, feeling over my body for injuries, let out a sigh of relief and settled beside .
"No injuries. Thank goodness."
"Thank goodness? Where's the 'thank goodness' in this? My 80,000 yen just vanished before my eyes! I can't even afford to repurchase the limited edition idol now~!!! It's over. It's all over."
When the Dragon Warrior series was released, I heard stories about delinquents snatching cartridges in alleys, but I never imagined I'd fall victim to a snatch like this.
Feeling absurd and unjust, tears seed ready to burst forth any mont.
"Kensuke, are you crying?"
"W-Who said I'm crying?"
I got up, wiping my eyes, in response to Mayumi's voice. The pitying looks of the surrounding users were palpable.
Feeling like I'd be nothing but a laughingstock if I stayed there any longer, I hurried toward the train station.
With the remaining money in hand, I couldn't afford to repurchase Laon, let alone buy another ga title.
"Kensuke, let's go together."
As I paused at Mayumi's voice, another woman's voice ca from behind.
"Excuse , sir!!"
Turning, the cashier who had just helped with the Laon purchase rushed over and handed a piece of paper.
"I almost forgot to give you this in your hurry."
I looked at the ticket she handed it was a lottery ticket for the afternoon live stage.
"What's this?"
"It's a lottery ticket for the voice actors of the Virtual Idol, giving out presents through a draw."
The number on the ticket she handed was 231.
"The live stage is scheduled for 2 PM. Please attend if you can."
"Oh, um..."
The Pentagon staff handed the ticket and quickly returned to the shop. They seed too occupied with the long queue of shoppers to spare a mont.
Instead of the hefty Laon I had in my hand just monts ago, now there was just this lottery ticket...
Honestly, I didn't think sothing like this would win.
Number 231 ant that already 230 people had purchased Laon ahead of , and including those still in line, the lottery numbers could easily double.
Believing just one lottery number in this situation and waiting for the live stage in the afternoon seed impossible.
At that mont, Mayumi beside asked:
"Kensuke, are you going without seeing Kanna?"
"Oh, right. I promised to et Kanna..."
Lost in my thoughts, I'd forgotten the promise to see her...
Honestly, I just wanted to go ho and do nothing in this mood, but seeing Mayumi's disappointed expression made feel quite regretful.
"Shall we grab sothing to eat?"
Having skipped breakfast and feeling hungry, I asked her with a bitter expression.
"Yeah, let's do that..."
&
A while later, we relocated to a nearby family restaurant, placing our shopping bags on the table and sitting facing each other.
"Are you okay...?"
Mayumi looked at with a worried expression, and I simply nodded silently.
She seed to be thinking it was her fault I got robbed for the Laon...
Up until a while ago, I was boiling with anger and disappointnt, but thinking calmly, I felt that all this stemd from my own greed.
"I should have listened to Mayumi's advice..."
Regret flooded in, but it was already too late.
Seeing even Mayumi looking disheartened, I let out a short breath and said to her:
"It's okay. I'll buy it again next month when I get my salary."
"But you must have been really looking forward to it..."
Mayumi's face looked like she might burst into tears at any mont, but I pretended to smile as I looked at the Laon placed beside her.
"I'm fine. Why don't you take it first and play?"
I genuinely felt a bit touched by Mayumi's offer just now.
But thinking about Mayumi's sister waiting at ho, I couldn't help but chuckle.
"What should I tell your sister..."
"No, just say there were circumstances preventing you from buying it..."
"But you wanted to try it too, didn't you? Virtual Idol..."
Honestly, I didn't expect Mayumi to say sothing like that, so I didn't show it on the outside, but I felt incredibly happy. She had always shown distaste whenever I brought up gas until now, so it felt like she was finally acknowledging my hobby.
While having our al, we took out the Complete Laon to have a look at the actual console.
The high-end body finished in matte plastic was designed to be both standing and usable.
Unlike the Gear Station or Saturn, the tray part for inserting CDs could be pushed out sideways rather than opening a lid.
"Do you open this and insert the CD?"
"The thod is similar to a CD player. You insert the CD onto the central drive shaft, close the tray, and then press the power button."
Mayumi nodded seriously at my explanation.
Even though my heart felt sowhat empty, seeing her earnestly listening to each of my actions as I taught her how the Complete Laon worked felt incredibly endearing.
Well, her younger sibling probably knows how to connect the cables. I probably don't need to provide additional explanations...
"But what's this hole here, Kensuke?"
At Mayumi's question, as I examined the lower front of the Complete Laon, I noticed a unique port next to where the controllers would attach.
"Oh? That's..."
Unlike the Gear Station, where you could insert a mory card above the controller port, the Complete Laon didn't require a separate storage device because it used internal mory.
As it was a rather sturdy port, I unfolded the manual and looked at the na of the small part, quickly realizing what that port ant.
"This is the device to connect the Portable Laon."
"Portable Laon? Is that the gaming device Kensuke has?"
Surprisingly, the main body of the Complete Laon could be linked with the existing Laon.
What was interesting was that when you inserted a CD and synchronized the Laon in the ga screen, you could download mini-gas related to that specific ga.
In other words, when you bought one ga, you could play two versions of it on both the Complete Laon and the Portable Laon.
For instance, if you installed Virtual Idol's ga data on the Portable Laon, you could enjoy a simple mini-ga nurturing your own idol even outside.
'They're not trying to push away existing users by releasing a new console; instead, they're naturally guiding those who have the Laon to consider buying the Complete Laon...'
Moreover, using the TV mode, you could display the ga screen of the Portable Laon on the TV, designed to allow playing gas freely using the Portable Laon even in households with just one TV.
'Wait, does this an they were planning the Complete Laon while designing the Portable Laon from the beginning!?'
Unknowingly, I found myself admiring Pentagon's intricate device synchronization.
'This could pose a significant threat even when the MinTendo 64 is released if it's this refined, right?'
At that mont, Mayumi's concerned voice ca from beyond the manual.
"Kensuke, we're going to see Kanna's live performance later, right...?"
"Of course. I was too scattered earlier and couldn't answer properly."
Only then did Mayumi exhale a sigh of relief and brighten up with a smile.
It seems she thought I'd just go ho because I felt down because of her.
"The live is in the afternoon. Let's go to a caf or sothing to pass the ti before then."
"Okay."
&
Before long, the Complete Laon at Pentagon had sold out by midnight.
It was an achievent made within just three hours since sales began at 9 PM.
The long line in front of the Pentagon shop, which had been bustling earlier, had now dispersed, and Akihabara was returning to its usual appearance.
People walking around the streets were carrying giant shopping bags, and judging by their similar sizes, I could guess what they contained without even looking.
However, at the current ti, 1:55 PM, wasn't it a bit quiet considering the upcoming live performance by Virtual Idol, which had been incredibly popular for the past few months?
"Kensuke, are you sure Kanna's live performance is supposed to happen here?"
Mayumi, sitting across from and examining the ticket intently, asked.
Oh? Co to think of it, the small stage we had set up in front of the Pentagon shop seems to have disappeared.
I took out the live performance ticket I had stashed in my pocket and examined the location.
And the mont I looked at the event map, I inadvertently exclaid.
'Ah, right. Of course, there wouldn't be an outdoor live performance in this scorching heat. No wonder the streets feel empty as the event ti approaches.'
"Sorry, Mayumi. The live performance of Virtual Idol isn't here."
"What? Then where is it!?"
"There's another Pentagon shop nearby called Dragon Emblem, and the performance is there. Fortunately, it's not far from here, so let's hurry."
Instead of Mayumi, I grabbed the Complete Laon shopping bag and dashed toward the venue.
&
A while later, arriving at Dragon Emblem shop, we showed our live performance tickets to the staff and headed straight for the event hall on the second floor. The passage leading upstairs seed deserted, indicating that all users had already entered.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump~!!
Despite the thick doors installed for soundproofing, I could hear the overwhelming cheers of the users from inside.
'Yes. If Virtual Idol's popularity is anything to go by, it should be like this...'
Swallowing dryly for a mont, I opened the firmly closed door after moistening it. As I did, an imnse wave of excitent from the users inside sent shivers down my spine.
Bam~!!
At that mont, along with the familiar cracking sound, Sheryl's provocative voice resounded.
"I'll shake this stage to its core with my song."
At that mont, one thought crossed my mind.
It was the conference about the new launch Pentagon had shown at the ti they released Laon four years ago.
'Right... The Pentagon's launch event isn't over yet...'
>
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