Volu 2 Amano Keita and the Sold Out Ga, Chapter 1: Amano Keita and the Sold Out Ga
TL: qbomb
Editor: Deus Ex Machina
The best kind of ga is definitely an action RPG with local multiplayer.
…What am I talking about? I, Amano Keita, am creating a
“List of genres that are easy and fun to play with siblings”
—that’s what I was in the middle of doing.
Everything after first place, though, is bunched together. Fighting gas, puzzle gas, sugoroku, horizontal scrolling gas, shooting gas, all of these are interesting to play with two people.
However, I still think that an action RPG with local multiplayer is the best type of ga to play with a brother. Rather than handheld gas like Monster Hunter, hack and slash gas that can be played on a single big screen… like that ga called Diablo is best.
What is good about these kind of gas is that there is the feeling of “playing together”. We aren’t fighting each other, but cooperating. Of course, there has to be so fighting. By introducing the RPG elent, it can be played for a very long ti without getting tired of it.
Having a sibling ans that you see each other every day in the house. Naturally, that also ans that there’s way too much free ti. When you have too much free ti, the ability to have fun together at the sa ti becos way more valuable.
When we play in front of the big TV, though, my mom complains and tells us to get out of our room, while dad just eats pistachios and silently reads the newspaper.
This is when I feel the happiest.
If I were to talk about “Gas that are fun to play with friends”, though, the situation is completely different. Since I don’t spend long periods of ti at ho with friends, mobile gas that occasionally require cooperation such as hunting gas are best.
…Ah, well.
I, Amano Keita, don’t have any friends to play hunting gas with, so I wouldn’t know.
…N-no, don’t misunderstand. Before high school… in middle and elentary school, I had close friends. R-really.
Back then, I spent a lot of ti in the baseball club, so when I got the chance to play with friends, we would only play fighting gas for a short amount of ti…
W-well, I, Amano Keita, am a gar through and through.
As a second-year high school student, I still haven’t played any hunting gas with friends.
…N-no, let’s say that differently.
I, Amano Keita, am a solo player.
I have decided to play alone because I do not want other people to leech off .
…Yes, that’s it. I’ll use “Bocchi”.[1]
W-wait, no! I didn’t know anyone a month ago… but now I have classmates I can call friends!
Well, that friend is…
“When you say that playing with your brother is your source of happiness, people stop listening.”
He’s really harsh.
The classroom was really lively and loud in the morning. In the seat in front of , Uehara Tasuku-san shrugged his shoulders and let out a sigh after listening to talk..
Even though I wouldn’t usually reply, because it was about gas, I wanted to object to his words. When I saw him interact cheerfully with our classmates, however, my fighting spirit died back down.
I guess you could call him a riajuu? He has a lot of friends, gets along with everyone, and even has a cute girlfriend. Compared to , who reverts back to checking my mobile ga during breaks, he’s the complete opposite.
Obviously, despite being classmates, we’ve only started talking recently. But because we have a point in common, he’s now my friend… or rather, Uehara-kun worries about .
While he was greeting his classmates, he noticed fidgeting, and let out another deep sigh.
“Hey, Amano. I’m not saying that you should be like all of a sudden, but can’t you try harder?”
“E-even if you say that…”
Is he talking about trying to make friends? I don’t know what he’s referring to. Ever since elentary school, I’ve always thought that “Friends are ford naturally” and that they aren’t “forcibly made”. Also, I was never good at getting close to people since I was always shy.
Uehara-kun started lecturing as if he was my dad.
“I’ve said this multiple tis now. Not having friends isn’t bad. Of course, spending your ti happily with your family is good and all, but you have a goal in mind, right? …Trying to get closer to Tendo is a really far-fetched goal, but it’s your goal nevertheless.”
“Ugu…”
That pained . Because of certain circumstances, I sohow started trying to get closer to Tendo-san.
Attractive, intelligent, and athletic. Even though she’s Japanese, she has blonde hair and blue eyes, and is an existence that has surpassed the level of “riajuu” and approaches godlike status.
For a… mob character like , trying to get closer to a girl like her is a foolish thought.
Well, there still is a bit of hope, since we are more or less acquaintances. I was given the once in a lifeti opportunity to listen to her speak, and I engraved that mory into my heart…
“Well… Even I don’t think I can continue on like this.”
“I guess.”
Uehara-kun nodded. I balled my fists and looked out the window. …It reminds of another cloudy day.
The relationship between and Tendo-san can be described as tenuous. Not normal, not negative, but extrely thin. Of course, in a bad way.
In the first place, if my relationship with the school idol Tendo-san ended as being acquaintances, I would normally feel privileged. But… because of my actions, her impression of is not very good (or at least, that’s what I think). I guess you could call it a very big debt?
Because of that, I can’t turn around and go, “Everything’s fine if I just have gas!”. I want to apologize to her… no, rather, I want to improve our relationship.
…After all, it’s sad to leave a bad impression on soone who called out to .
When I resolved myself, Uehara-kun looked over, slightly puzzled but still smirking.
“Well, it’s natural for a man to want to get closer to a beautiful girl.”
“I-it’s not like that!”
“Really?”
“…No… well… Tendo-san is certainly better than anyone else…”
Uehara-kun let out yet another sigh when I blushed and muttered with my head down.
“… Why aren’t you guys dating already…”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“No, it was nothing—”
“You’re talking as if Tendo-san likes .”
“Why are you only perceptive in this kind of scene!? You blockhead of a main character!”
“Eeh!? What!? Why are you getting mad at for getting your joke!?”
There are limits to how unreasonable you can be! Well, he’s probably trying to annoy by bringing up Tendo-san. Am I that funny to tease just because I’m trying to get closer to the school idol? …No, from an outsider’s point of view, it probably is funny, huh.
Anyway, we both got too engrossed in the conversation, so I changed the topic.
“Oh right, Uehara-kun, do you want this ga?”
“Huh?”
At the sudden change in topic, Uehara-kun tilted his head in puzzlent. Reaching for my bag, I took out a ga for consoles. Uehara-kun let out a voice of wondernt.
“Is that Kurikure 3? Wow, you got a copy.”
“Ah, yea, well, I preordered it.”
While Uehara-kun was looking at the package, I lightly scratched my cheek.
Crystal Cradle—or the Kurikure Series for short, is a top-down perspective hack and slash action ga. It’s a really popular smash hit with lots of sales, good reviews, and with the release of the third ga, is currently in very high demand with low stock. Despite having DLC’s, its price on online auction sites are steadily increasing, and even Uehara-kun knows how difficult it is to get a copy. However…[2]
I timidly proposed a deal to Uehara-kun, who was eyeing the package in envy.
“Uehara-kun, do you want this…?”
“Ha? Not even lend, but you want to give it to ? That precious thing?”
“Ah, yea.”
In a panic, I tried to explain to him as he tilted his neck in confusion.
“No, I have another copy. Of course, I preordered one. But at the sa ti, I entered a giveaway on a whim. But I also won the giveaway, so…”
“I see now. Sounds like sothing you’d do. Well, if that’s the case, I understand, but…”
Uehara-kun made a grim face. When I asked, “What’s wrong?”, he scratched his head awkwardly.
“Wait… Why are you giving this to ?”
“What? Why, you say… I thought that you’d be happy if I gave it to you.”
Uehara-kun suddenly went “Oof” and awkwardly twitched, but cleared his throat and responded.
“I-I’m thankful, but you should probably think about how you use things.”
“Huh? Oh, like selling it online for a high price? Hmm, but I don’t want to do sothing like that…”
“No, that’s a good idea, but you can probably do sothing even better.”
“What? What would that be…”
I was utterly confused. Uehara-kun sighed yet again, and with a mischievous smile, held the ga right in front of my face.
“First of all, shouldn’t you see whether or not Tendou-san has this ga?”
“Oh!”
In that mont, my outburst echoed in the classroom.
＊
Uehara-kun was right.
In other words, Tendo-san didn’t have a copy of Kurikure 3 and was looking for it.
“It looks like she really wants it.”
That was one of my few friends, Misumi Eichi-kun, who was pretty close to Tendo-san.
When I learned of this during the lunch break, I imdiately went to Uehara-kun and told him of the news. He was finishing up his lunch with Aguri-san (I got a fierce glare from her—please forgive ). Sitting down in the sa seat as he was this morning, he started to think of strategies as if he was trying to do sothing evil.
“Hey, this is a perfect chance. The way you use this ga is going to be a major factor in this love cody—”
“Ah, by the way, Uehara-kun, do you really not want Kurikure 3? It’s really interesting—”
“Are you an idiot!?”
“Ow!”
He sent a chop towards my head. Why did he have to hit with all his strength!?
“You’re really a big idiot! If I said ‘I want it’, would you hand it over to !?”
“Ah, yea, if you said you wanted it, I would give it to you. It’s really interesting… Ow, it hurts!”
He hit again on the top of my head. Hitting twice is too harsh… While I was groaning in pain with teary eyes, Uehara-kun started shouting at with a flushed face.
“What are you doing!? You’re stupid! You’re really stupid!”
“If you’re saying it twice, then this must be really important…”
“Of course! Seriously, you… Well, it’s because you’re like this that I get this worked up…”
“Ehehe, Uehara-kun, do you like that much—O-ouch!”
He hit again. Cruel. This is too harsh. I can feel a bump forming on my head. Even my parent’s don’t hit like this. Seriously.
“You… Well, fine. Anyway, I really don’t need this ga. Just give it to Tendo-san sohow. Put in so much effort as if you’d die any ti now.”
“W-wouldn’t it be really creepy if so otaku tried to give a girl a ga like that?”
“W-well, I guess. …Then try and give it to her casually, in a refreshing manner, but with that much effort.”
“This feels like a terrifyingly dark plan…”
With a sigh, I thought over the plan once again.
Putting the ga down, I tapped my fingers on the table.
＊
“Eh, did Tendo-san not co to the Gars club today?”
I rushed to the Gars club room right after school.
Misumi-kun made an apologetic face.
“Sorry, Amano-kun. It looks like I underestimated her desire for Kurikure 3.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I an, Tendo-san… took a break from club activities today to go look throughout the town to find the ga.”
“What!?”
“Also, it looks like her phone died. I haven’t been able to contact her at all.”
“Oh…”
Misumi-kun scratched his head in embarrassnt.
“Well, I always thought that Tendo-san was more of the stoic, honors student…”
“Right? Well, in the first place, she joined this school because of the club…”
“Ah…”
We both exchanged wry smiles. Saying my thanks, I left the club room and started to think more about my plan.
“(Well, should I give it to her tomorrow? …But, if Tendo-san finds a copy today, everything’s over. No, even if she doesn’t find a copy, she might settle for downloading the ga.)”
As I thought, are evil plans bound to be unsuccessful?
Leaving the building, I headed towards the nearby bus stop to go ho—not. Rather, I started walking towards the urban area.
“(No, that’s bad! Leaving aside my own feelings, if I gave this to her, she wouldn’t have to waste her money unnecessarily! Alright, let’s try harder! Let’s look for Tendo-san!)”
She’s helped before. So, if I have even the smallest possibility of helping her, I shouldn’t give up so easily.
With renewed determination, I started jogging down the street.
“(In this area, there should be three places to buy new gas.)”
I thought of the best route to look for her. Since I also like gas, I frequented this route after school to look at gas. But…
“(Since Tendo-san left school a while ago, it might be better to look for her starting from the furthest area first…)”
Instead of following her, there’s probably a higher chance of eting her if I try to go the opposite way.
Making up my mind, I decided to go to the toy section in the departnt store that is the furthest from school and has the worst selection of gas.
Going up the escalator, I went towards the toy section, feeling a bit out of place. Walking up to the video ga display, I looked around for Tendo-san, but I didn’t see her nearby.
“(Looks like she’s not here…)”
Even though she wasn’t there, I wasn’t disappointed. I felt that if I got to find her, it would be a great deal. …Well, I didn’t really profit though.
Because I didn’t see Tendo-san, I went to the counter to see if there was a copy of Kurikure.
“Um… well, this area’s pretty ssy…”
That’s typical of a departnt store. There’s sothing that looks like a new releases section, but there were gas from over a month ago. But it looked kind of strange, so it looked great for finding weird gas. However—
“So, um, Chri… Christmas Idol? So you guys don’t have that ga!?”
Suddenly, the voice of a male who sounded too old to be in the toy departnt rang out. I looked towards the source of the voice.
In front of the counter was a 40-sothing man who was pressing the clerk for answers. He was wearing a white shirt with the top button unfastened and was holding a jacket in his right hand. It looked like he was an office worker, but he was also wearing chinos, so I .
“(He has a sowhat rough appearance, but still looks strangely handso…)”
One reason for his rough appearance is because he’s sowhat good-looking, but seeing him desperately asking the clerk for the ga looks straight out of a drama.
Feeling slightly nervous, the clerk said, “Like I said, we don’t have the ga Christmas Idol at this store…”, but he slamd his fist against the counter and sent an earnest gaze to the clerk.
“In the first place, it might not even be called Christmas Idol!”
“Uh—”
At the sa ti as the clerk did, I raised my voice. He glanced at for a second, but turned back to her.
Oddly, my heart started beating faster.
“(W-what is this? Are they actors? It’s completely like they’re on a stage…)”
I felt like they would shout “Oh, god, we have to redo it!?” any ti now.
She turned to deal with the custor once again.
“Um, but I don’t really know the na myself…”
“Tsk…! Is there nothing that can be done!?”
He hung his head. …It was the first ti I heard anyone say that in real life.
“(I shouldn’t be sitting around watching… I’m wasting ti.)”
I should probably leave right after I confirm that they don’t have Crystal Cradle 3—
“Cra… cr, cracking Chestnut Condor! It’s sothing like that, then the number 3!”
“!?”
I looked over towards the counter. By any chance…
In contrast to , the clerk was looking up the ga “Cracking Chestnut Condor”, and obviously, got the result “No matches”.
“Dammit…! Is it the end of the line!?”
Why are you using that phrase? …Well, that’s fine, but was he searching for…
While wondering what I should do, he looked over to and shouted at .
“You boy, over there!”
“Over there!?”
Again, why is he talking like that?
When I asked “Y-yes?” while trembling in fear, he called out to with a sharp glint in his eye.
“Shoplifting is a cri!”
“What!?”
Sohow, I was accused of a ridiculous cri. However, he crossed his arms and started nodding.
“It’s ok, it’s ok. It’s ok if you don’t say anything. Everyone does one or two bad things in their youth. Today, I’ll overlook it. Right, Tanabe-san?”
“Yes?”
The clerk—or rather, Tanabe-san, spoke as if she didn’t hear anything. At least it seems like she didn’t suspect at all. That makes relieved, but… But…
“…Just go, boy.”
“No no no no no!”
Go!? How can I leave in this situation!?
Blood rushed up to my head as I approached him, trying to tell him that I wasn’t a shoplifter… I tried my best to tell him.
“I-I think it’s Crystal Cradle!”
“…What?”
He blinked in surprise. Before anything else ca out, I had to correct the title of the ga first. …I’m hopeless.
At that mont, the clerk went “Oh” and looked it up at the register. It seems like the search yielded a result.
“Crystal Cradle! Was the ga you were looking for called Crystal Cradle, sir?”
“Hmm…? …Oh! It is! It is Crystal Cradle!”
His face brightened up. With a smile, he forcibly took my hand and shook it.
“Thank you, boy! You helped rember the na!”
Another exaggeration. I wryly smiled and said “No, it was nothing…” but he continued on with a broad grin.
“Alright, for your good deed, I’ll forgive your sins!”
“No no no, in the first place, I—”
“It’s in stock!”
“Huh?”
The clerk interrupted our conversation.
“The ga Crystal Cradle 3 is in stock! There’s only one copy, though…”
“Eh!?”
Of course, the man shouted in a panic. That’s odd, when I checked, it was already too late…
“W-where is it!?”
He asked the clerk, almost falling over. She said “Give a second”, but then…
“Oh.”
“…Oh?”
She looked at us with an awkward smile.
“The only copy of Crystal Cradle 3 was just bought.”
“What!?”
Both of us shouted in surprise. Well, I didn’t want it, but questions still arose. Thinking that it probably was Tendo-san that got it, I was feeling regretful.
The clerk was looking around awkwardly. …? Exchanging glances with the man, we followed her gaze, and…
“…Ah.”
Over there, was another person.
At the counter on the other side of the store, soone was finishing up their purchase, and it was clear that the bag was just the right size for the ga.
“Oh!”
At our loud voices, the person who finished the purchase turned around. …Wait, I just realized, but that uniform… and that hairstyle…
“…Keita?”
“Chiaki!?”
My enemy, Hoshinomori Chiaki, was looking at us with her head tilted in curiosity.
Noticing that I was looking at the shopping bag she was holding, she looked at with an evil smile.
“Yay~, I got the last copy of Crystal Cradle 3, I’m so lucky, ehehe.”
“Tsk… Chiaki, you…!”
What a bad personality! Why is a girl like her becoming popular at school! N-no, if I think about it, I already have two copies, so her smug smile doesn’t really an anything… But why do I feel a strange sense of defeat!
Right. Even though I already had a copy, the man next to , though…
“Y-you! You over there!”
“Hii!?”
The man clearly thought that Chiaki was making fun of him, and shouted at her.
“(Crap!)”
Chiaki, who’s really timid when she talks to people other than , started trembling with teary eyes. I tried to stop the man.
“W-wait! This is a misunderstanding! Chiaki, don’t do stupid things and just go!”
“Uuh…! …K-keita, you’re stupid, stupid!
“Why!?”
For so reason, Chiaki ran away in tears. I don’t know why, but she seems to dislike more. …Well, that’s fine. I don’t care whether or not she likes .
“Let go! Let go, boy! You guys were conspiring together, weren’t you! Dammit!”
“You’re misunderstanding everything!”
Trying to calm him down, I explained the situation to him and that Chiaki had done nothing wrong.
When he regained his composure, he bowed his head to both and the clerk as he said “S-sorry…” in apology.
“I got really into it sohow, as if I was acting on stage…”
“We know.”
The clerk and I both imdiately replied, and he bowed once again. And then he said, “Oh, right.” and took out a business card. As expected, the profile written on the card was…
“You’re Miyamoto Satoshi-san, an actor…”
“Yes, for the most part, I always act like I’m on stage.”
He replied with a grin, his white teeth showing. Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of his na, but I feel like he would be a popular celebrity.
He once again bowed to the clerk, said goodbye, and turned his back to the counter. Because I couldn’t stand it anymore, I first said to the clerk, “I really didn’t shoplift!”, to which she replied with a wry smile, “Alright, I got it.” I then promptly said goodbye and left the area.
Of course, I didn’t have anything else to do with the man, but for so reason he followed and eventually caught up to , walking side by side with a big smile.
“Fuu… Both you and I have things to reflect on, huh?”
“No, I really don’t have anything to reflect on!”
For so reason, I was included. Is he still doubting ?
While walking, I tried my best to convince him that I really didn’t shoplift. When we approached the entrance of the departnt store, he said “Well then, bye…” and we separated.
“Sorry for everything, boy! Stay strong!”
“H-hah.”
Miyamoto-san waved goodbye while shouting in a loud voice, while I returned a small bow and hurried away.
“(I sohow t a strange person… Anyway, let’s not lose focus of the goal.”
Once again, I started to look for Tendo-san at the nearby ga stores.
The next store is the only electronics store in town. The good thing is that everything there is reasonably priced, but it doesn’t focus on gas, and so it has a bad selection and bad inventory. It’s a place I go to without any expectations from the beginning. If it has what I’m looking for, it’s lucky event, not anything ordinary. Well, it’s that kind of place.
After walking for five minutes, I arrived at the store. Making my way to the ga corner, I looked at the TV in the store that had the news on. …I’m not a gar that really cares about the display lag, but I am fascinated by good TVs.
At that mont, a ga comrcial played on the TV. After watching it to the very end, I arrived at the ga corner. However…
“(As I thought, Tendo-san doesn’t seem to be here…)”
I would be able to tell if Tendo-san was here in an instant because of her easily recognizable blonde hair and blue eyes. But then again, there were so many people, so I wouldn’t know unless she was nearby.
Looking through the store, I checked the shelves, made sure that Kurikure 3 wasn’t there, and so I should now—
“Do you have the ga Tartar Sauce Binge Drinking!?”[3]
—leave, but at that mont, I overheard another person asking about a ga at the cash register. Acting on a hunch, I peeked through the shelves and looked at the situation. Over there…
“It’s Tartar sothing! No, it might not even be Tartar!”
“Uh… yes?”
—The male actor was annoying the clerk and putting him on the spot.
The clerk looked new to the job and looked around for his co-workers, but no one was around. anwhile, he—Miyamoto-san kept repeating strange titles.
…I just want to leave. I have things to do. But…
“…Uh, I think this person is trying to ask for the recently released ga, Crystal Cradle 3. Do you have any copies in stock?”
“Oh, you’re…”
“P-please wait a bit.”
While Miyamoto-san was still surprised, the clerk searched for the ga. Miyamoto-san turned to with a smile at the chance encounter.
“This is good fortune! A blessing!”
“Ahaha… t-thanks.”
I made another awkward smile when he started talking as if he was acting. And then I tilted my head in confusion.
“Why are you here, too? By any chance, are you looking for the sa ga?”
“Huh? Oh, well, sothing like that.”
Truthfully, I’m looking for soone who is looking for the ga. I didn’t try to explain that since it would be confusing.
Miyamoto-san, with a grim expression, mumbled “Is that so…”.
“It looks like this ga is a popular one. …I should put in more effort.”
“…Um, by any chance, do you normally have no interest in gas?”
I asked because I was interested. No, rather, I thought that he would know the na of the title if he had an interest in gas.
Miyamoto-san scratched his head in embarrassnt.
“Truthfully, yea. I heard that this was really popular these days, so I beca interested. But I haven’t been able to find it anywhere, so I was starting to get annoyed.”
“Hah… I see.”
I didn’t know Kurikure was popular enough to attract the attention of non-gars. That would certainly cause stock to drop a lot quicker, too.
“(…Although, in that case, I wish people that are more interested in gas would be able to get a copy… At least, if there was only one copy and both Tendo-san and this man were there, I would definitely want Tendo-san to get it.)”
In this case, it’s not that bad, but if people who weren’t interested didn’t buy any copies, the ones who actually played gas would be able to buy it.
While I was thinking, the clerk gave us the bad news.
“Ah, it looks like Crystal Cradle 3 is not in stock. I’m sorry.”
“I see… Alright. Sorry for troubling you. Well then!”
Miyamoto-san left the place in a gallant manner. I also started walking in the sa direction. He was scratching his cheek and mumbling to himself.
“Umu, not here too. Money isn’t a problem, but rather…”
“Then you can find them on online auctions, you know.”
“No, that’s a bit different. I want to have it in my hand, not shipped to later. I would be able to pay anything for a copy.”
“Hah…”
I could understand his sentint. If there was a ga I really wanted, I would search everywhere for it and buy it for a fixed price without any discounts.
Facing the exit, I said my goodbye, and walked away.
Behind , I heard Miyamoto-san talk to himself in a loud voice.
“Ah, isn’t there anyone that has a copy of the ga…”
*flinch*
“If soone had it, I would negotiate anything for it…”
*shudder*
I tried to look behind . …I don’t feel like anyone’s staring at . It looks like he’s actually talking to himself. …A monologue, is it? Well, he is an actor, so…
Suddenly, our eyes seed to et, and I turned around in a panic.
“(If he learns that I have an extra copy, then this’ll beco really troubleso…!)”
Tensing up, I quickly walked out of the building.
Walking fast enough to be about of breath, I reached the last store… It was a ga shop that I frequently visited.
“(…I have to be careful to not et that person again!)”
I headed towards the ga shop using a road that I didn’t use very often. It wasn’t much different from walking on the main street, but it’s narrow and dark, so I preferred the main road.
“(Anyway, I probably won’t et Miyamoto-san on this road… but wait a second!)”
While walking, I realized an important point.
“(That also ans Tendo-san probably doesn’t use this road!)”
What should I do? Because I was too occupied with avoiding Miyamoto-san, I forgot… that my original goal was to encounter Tendo-san by going the opposite direction of her path.
“Uwaa, what if we pass each other…”
I thought of going back and taking the main road again, but I was already too far away.
Letting out a sigh, I decided to keep walking to the last shop. Perhaps, for so reason, Tendo-san might be going ho later than I thought, and she might still be at the store.
With a faint hope, I entered the familiar ga store. …I think it was also here that I was able to talk to Tendo-san for the first ti.
“(Alright. I feel like… another fateful encounter will happen here!”
If this was a love cody, where else would an event be?
As I walked towards the inner part of the store, my heart started racing.
As I thought, my expectations were splendidly—
“(…Yea—)”
crushed. There was no blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl in here.
This is my life—diocre. Things like a love cody template wouldn’t apply to . Speaking of which, a flag which would be more appropriate is—
“Shopkeeper, please!”
“(He ca!)”
Upon hearing that distinctive voice once again, I imdiately hid myself behind the shelves.
He—Miyamoto-san entered the store, looked around the store to see if I was there, then headed to the cash register.
“(I-I was saved because I know the layout so well…”
Trying to escape to an area well out of his sight, I moved silently through the shelves. …I imagined I was a snake for a second, but I imdiately thought “What am I even doing…” and beca depressed. …I didn’t co here so I could pretend to be a snake.
“Do you have any copies of Cry… …Crystal Cradle 3, shopkeeper!?”
“I’m just a part-ti worker…”
I stealthily made my way to the exit as I watched him finally get the na right. …I already made sure that this store didn’t have a copy of Kurikure 3. By experience, I know that if the package isn’t in the storefront, it’s not in inventory either.
In fact, as I expected, the clerk imdiately apologized.
“We sold out of stock for Crystal Cradle 3 yesterday… the next shipnt is still unknown.”
“Dammit…! Can nothing else be done…”
Miyamoto-san collapsed in defeat in front of the register. …What is this, a solo performance? The clerk was really flustered in front of the collapsed Miyamoto-san.
“(Alright, ti to leave…)”
While Miyamoto-san was on the ground, I once again made my way to the exit. …I wasn’t able to et Tendo-san, but it can’t be helped. Since none of the stores had a copy anyway, Tendo-san probably wasn’t able to buy it.
After all…
“(I can just normally give it to her during break ti tomorrow!”
Well, she might be able to buy it from an online auction. However, it’s likely that she’ll face the sa problems as today.
Also, after spending all of today looking for the ga, if I’m able to give my copy to her… then she’ll definitely be grateful, and she might look at in a better light!
“(It’s a bit misleading, but… Tendo-san will be happy too!
I felt a strange sense of accomplishnt as I stealthily made my way past Miyamoto-san. Paying careful attention to the register, I walked out of the store with light steps—
“Ah. Amano-kun!”
“…Huh?”
Hearing soone’s voice from the entrance, my body tensed up in surprise.
“M-misumi-kun!? W-why are you here…”
“Well, the club ended early today, so I also thought to look for a copy of Kurikure 3.”
“O-oh, I see…”
I was sweating buckets. Why… would Misumi-kun be here… I felt a gaze on my back from the register…
But, without knowing the situation, Misumi-kun set off a landmine.
“Oh right, Amano-kun, were you able to give your copy of Kurikure 3 to her?”
“(Misumi-kuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnn!)”
I can’t help but feel hatred towards that big smile! Even though he didn’t have any bad intentions and didn’t know what was happening… sorry, Misumi-kun! I want to hit you really badly!
I didn’t even have ti to punch him, though, since I felt a presence approaching from the back.
Turning around in surprise, there was… not Misumi-kun, but rather, the broadly grinning Miyamoto-san.
“Hey hey, we et again, boy!”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!”
I involuntary scread, as if I saw a face from one of Uzu Ka○o’s works. Still unable to read the mood, Misumi-kun tilted his head in curiosity. Miyamoto-san kept smiling with a grin.[4]
Miyamoto stood in front of , and I broke out in a cold sweat at the situation… in an instant, he abruptly kneeled on the ground and prostrated himself.
“Please! I can pay however much you want, but please give the ga!”
“No!”
I refused instantly. T-this is too valuable. It’ll open up a bridge between and Tendo-san. It’s not sothing that can be solved with money.
However, Miyamoto-san kept begging.
“Then what do you want!? My signature!? Do you want my signature!?”
“I don’t want it!”
“What do you an, you don’t want it! Isn’t that rude to an actor!?”
“I’m sorry!”
I apologized out of habit from the great pressure. I quickly regained my wits.
“No, that’s not it! It’s not that I don’t want your signature, but I cannot give up this ga!”
“Then what will make you agree to negotiate!?”
“Nothing can be exchanged!”
“Even if I offered my life!?”
“There’s way too many things wrong with that!”
“Fine. I’m extrely reluctant, but… I’ll go on a date with you once!”
“I’m the one that’s reluctant! It’s on the sa level as offering your life!!”
“My signature, life, a date… boy, do you even have anything you want!?”
“I’m normal! Money was the best option out of all of those!”
“Alright, money it is! How about 1500 yen!?”
“That’s not what I’m saying! Also, way too cheap! Even the listed price is higher!”
“…You have a weird sense of values, boy.”
“I have a normal sense of values though!”
Misumi-kun was flustered, not knowing what to do, while the clerk was looking at us while grumbling “Please stop doing weird things in front of the store…”
We kept glaring at each other in silence for a while… He was the first to break the silence.
Suddenly getting up, he dusted off his legs, and looked at with a wry smile.
“Sorry, boy. I showed you sothing disgraceful.”
“Huh? No, it’s fine…”
I blinked in confusion.
Miyamoto-san scratched his head and continued on.
“Having helped a lot today, even if we were strangers, a nice boy like you must have a reason as to why you can’t give the ga. …Sorry, please forgive .”
“Eh… uh, no… that’s… I’m also sorry too.”
Feeling bad that I tried to stealthily run away from eting Miyamoto-san, I hung my head in sha. He cheerfully smiled and patted my shoulder.
“What is there for you to apologize for? I was just being selfish.”
“Well… that’s true, but…”
“No, really, you don’t have to worry. In the first place, it wasn’t like I really wanted that ga. I was being stubborn.
“H-ha… If you say so…”
“Yea. …Sorry, got a phone call.”
Miyamoto-san took out his smartphone from his shirt pocket. Misumi-kun and I exchanged looks, and then I said, “W-well then, I’ll leave now…”
Misumi-kun, who didn’t know anything to the very end, also awkwardly said bye. Miyamoto-san waved back with a smile.
“Hi, it’s …”
After seeing that he started talking on the phone, Misumi-kun decided to take a look in the store, and we separated. Finally, ti to leave—
“Hey, Kaori. Sorry. The ga’s sold out everywhere. Yea. …There’s other gas to play together at ho. Oh, right, also tell my daughter—”
…
I stopped in the middle of the doorway.
＊
“You actually gave it to so random man on the street!?”
Uehara-kun shouted at in the classroom the next morning. Attracting the attention of the people out in the hallway, I curled up in my seat.
“…Sorry.”
“If things could be solved with a ‘sorry’, there would be no need for a love cody police!”
“Where is this love cody police in the first place?”
“That’s ! I’m the chief of police! And I sentence you to life in prison!”
“That’s not what policen do…”
“Be quiet, you attempted love cody suicide!”
“What is this new charge!?”
“Why do you always, always break your own flags with Tendo! You’d do better even if you ran into each other by chance!”
“I have no words to say. However, um, I would like to call for my lawyer, Misumi-kun…”
“Lawyers aren’t allowed in the interrogation room!”
“This love cody police is very corrupt.”
“That’s because this is an incident at hand! This is just depressing!”
“This system brings happiness to no one, this love cody police.”
“Shut up! If we’re able to control soone like you, we’ll be happy!”
“What a bad organization. Have I even committed that severe of a cri?”
“…Huh?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll go to my cell.”
Because Uehara-kun had a really angry look on his face, I hung my head in sha. He kept looking at for a while, and then sighed in resignation.
“…It’s fine already. I know you’re the kind of person to do that.”
“Wah, those words are really like what a friend would say!”
“Shut up, I’ll actually hit you.”
“Wah, those words are really like what a bully would say… …Sorry.”
“…Hah.”
Uehara-kun sighed once again, then continued talking.
“Well, it was your ga in the first place. You can do whatever you want with it. But even so, you… gave it to so man that you just t for free. Did you not have the spirit to say that you won’t give up your ga for any amount of money?”
“Huh? Oh, well, that spirit hasn’t changed.”
“Hah?”
Uehara-kun tilted his neck, not understanding.
I then told him the whole story.
“Of course, I wouldn’t give up the ga for any amount of money. But if soone can be happy, then I would gladly hand it over.”
“…What the hell, are you Buddha? Or are you so god of gas?”
I returned a bitter smile to the shocked Uehara-kun.
“I’m not trying to say that at all. Hmm… do you not understand? I’m happy if people can have fun with the gas they play.”
“…Is it fine for that man to get it over Tendo?”
“Well, I want Tendo-san to be have fun too. But I think that Tendo-san will probably get her hands on the ga eventually. But, in this case, if I didn’t give it to Miyamoto-san, he probably would’ve settled for a different ga…”
“You couldn’t let him settle for a different ga, huh. …You’re really stupid, aren’t you?”
“…Sorry.”
This ti around, even I was surprised. Giving a ga to a stranger might be a philanthropic activity, but I still have a bad taste in my mouth. …But… but still…
I know more than anyone else what it ans to have fun with your family while playing gas.
Uehara-kun laughed and comforted .
“…Well, isn’t it fine already?”
“Uehara-kun…”
My eyes teared up. Feeling embarrassed, Uehara-kun averted his eyes and changed the subject.
“Well? How are you going to make up for your lost chances now?”
Well, to that question, I… with a smile, answered as I normally would.
“I’ll do that by playing fun gas, of course!”
Epilogue
Miyamoto Satoshi, who was returning ho, was thinking about the contents of the bag with a smile on his face as he walked in the door.
It’s the ga his daughter had wanted for a while now. Furthermore, Miyamoto also wanted the ga so he could play with the family. He would’ve paid as much money as he could for it.
Lately, my job has been busy, so I haven’t been able to travel or do much. I was able to get the ga at just the right ti. Also, my daughter is a child who takes action really quickly, so as soon as she finds a ga, I wouldn’t be able to talk to her, but… because of that boy, I was able to find it quickly. With this, I can communicate with her properly.[5]
Feeling excited, Miyamoto rang the intercom.
The naplate of the house suddenly entered Miyamoto’s vision—it had the characters “Tendo” on it. He laughed to himself as he realized that he got used to using his stage na.
The door opened, and his wife, Tendo Kaori, opened the door with a smile.
Closing her eyes, she told him that their daughter had already co ho in disappointnt, having not been able to find the ga.
Miyamoto returned a smile, walked into the hallway, and…
called out the na of his beloved daughter in a loud voice.
“I’m back! Hey, Karen, co here for a sec—!”
Notes:
1. Bocchi is short for hitori bocchi, which ans “solitary”.
2. I’m not sure if this ga is a reference to anything. Please tell if it is.
3. I’ll be using “()” to denote thoughts.
4. In Japanese, this is pronounced similarly. I couldn’t find a way to make “binge drinking” rhy with “cradle”.
5. Uzu Kazuo is a horror manga author.
6. PoV is weird in this section. It’s generally in 3rd person, but it was in the PoV of Miyamoto for this paragraph.
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