Volume 5, Chapter 3 – Keita Amano and Neutral Route

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Volume 5, Chapter 3 – Keita Amano and Neutral Route

Translator: your_pingas

People will encounter a moment where they have to make a choice, even though when there isn’t a correct one.

It’s impossible for an ending where everyone can be happy, a merciless, and irreversible choice.

That’s a brutal test on one’s mindset and values.

Also, it always comes suddenly, completely ignores where we’re mentally prepared or not.

After school, a day in September.

At the corner of a family restaurant, a boy and a girl are seriously staring at each other.

“No, …I still can’t make a choice like that…”

The overly harsh choice is right in front of my eyes. It makes the boy, …which is me, Keita Amano, can’t help but look away due to the overwhelming stress.

The girl sitting in front of me – Chiaki Hoshinomori, doesn’t seem to want to let me escape, she wrapped her hands around mine and spoke to me with a sincere look.

“Please make a choice, Keita. I-I can’t wait any longer!”

“Chiaki…But, but I…”

I can clearly see that she’s almost relying on me, but, of course, I don’t have the strength to take it on directly…So, I can only lower my head.

…No progress will be made if this continues. Even though I already knew that it’s not helping everyone, I still can’t make a choice. I hated my own indecisiveness from the bottom of my heart.

Chiaki grabbed my hands even harder. Her hands are already getting sweaty by now.

“I know that this is forcing you to make a hard decision, and I know that I’m selfish. But…but I really don’t know what I should do now…”

“Well, …it’s the same for me.”

“I’m sorry. However, as long as you make a choice, …I think I can accept it honestly, no matter what the answer is…So, Keita…”

“Chiaki…”

We started breathing rapidly as our passionate glare connected with each other.

I even closed my eyes at one point…Then, I decided to make a move first and grabbed Chiaki's hands tightly.

So, -I finally told her…I told her my chosen answer to her, even though it was a brutal choice without a correct solution.

“I think- I’m still picking the Neutral Route in the newest series of this Twisted God’s Reincarnation…”

I answered with a dubious smile.

Chiaki immediately let go of my hand as she started scolding me like she’s going to spit on me.

“Sigh, here comes the most boring answer! Neutral! You dragged until now just to say that you’re picking Neutral! Keita, I’m kind of convinced that you lack any sort of adventuring spirit!”

“W-What’s wrong! You’re the one that said you wanted to consider my opinion when you’re picking your routes. That’s why I reluctantly stated what I wanted to choose despite only played the start! I-I can’t believe you just called me boring…!”

The person that I’m discussing with is way too capricious, my voice’s trembling from my anger. So, Chiaki chugged all her soda at once before staring at me suspiciously like she’s drunk.

“Nope, I didn’t deny Neutral Route itself. Also, I planned to choose Neutral Route as well.”

“Then you’re the same as me!”

“That’s why I said it’s annoying. Now I even have to hear why you find the route attractive to you, …my stomach hurts from thinking it.”

“Don’t hurt your stomach! You’re the one who wanted to talk to me! Do you even know how our society works!”

“Y-You’re the only person that makes my stomach hurt!”

“Thanks for your special treatment, then, see ya!”

“Fine, don’t say that, Keita. Please just stay as my chatting partner (sandbag).”

“Did you just add a useless annotation there! Calling me a chatting partner while thinking differently in your heart, right! I’m really leaving!”

“You’re going home to play games anyway, Keita.”

“But I feel like it’s a million times more meaningful to play games at home than to be treated like a sandbag in this situation!”

I yelled at the top of my lungs to complain while feeling exhausted at the same time, so I just leaned down on the sofa weakly. Chiaki is drinking her beverage happily in front of my eyes.

Actually, …coming to the family restaurant with my rival Chiaki to relax a bit, this is initially something that I’ll never have imagined. However, the only reason that I accepted her request is that this girl told me this seriously. “I wanted to sincerely discuss something with you …”

I didn’t hate Chiaki from the bottom of my heart. No, while I do hate her, …how should I put this. Right, I got it. The relation between is like the ones of Nobita and Gian from Doraemon or Ash and Team Rocket from Pokemon. Although we rival each other, usually, we still unite immediately when something’s off.

So, as a fanatic gamer, I’ll have to be considerate of Chiaki. So, I tearfully took away my time for gaming to join in this discussion. After the topic is revealed, I’ve finally realized that…

“A particular option about the RPG Twisted God’s Reincarnation.”

That’s what she wanted to talk about.

Honestly, I felt “what the hell” for a moment before feeling a sense of fatigue…

However, after I thought about it, I realized that…this is quite an important topic for us gamers.

I should give a summary of the Twisted God’s Reincarnation series.

This is one of those so-called RPGs as well. For non-gamers, it’s pretty accurate to just think it as Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy.

However, this Twisted God’s Reincarnation has a bunch of features that differentiated it from other traditional RPGs.

The most iconic two are the world settings and the plot.

The plot of traditional RPGs is usually based in a fantasy world with medieval European elements and a plot of good vs. evil.

However, the stage of the Twisted God’s Reincarnation series is usually based on modern Japan (Tokyo) as the prologue of the story. Also, it described the hardcore survival of the protagonist in an apocalyptic world with demons appearing throughout the globe.

Due to the nature of the game, the plot would naturally be different from the clean, straightforward good vs. evil.

Basically, the special ability of the protagonist isn’t something like “The Darkness Shattering Power of the Bright Hero!” From the part where you can dispatch demons, the story is already twisted to the extreme.

To survive in a world ruled by demons, you have to use the demon’s power in reverse. Such conflicting scenery…I guess Yokai Watch or Pokemon had dived into that end for a bit. The game mechanics are in similar behavior…but it’s still giving people a dark and depressing feeling.

Anyway, the protagonist will lead numerous demons to adventures and combats. Just like in most RPGs, the main character will gain experience and will be more acknowledged in the world.

However, based on a chaotic human world, the protagonist will be approached by the Angels, the Army of Humans, and the Advanced Demons. They’ll compete with each other fiercely to draw the protagonist into their side.

Ah, also, when you think about this usually, you’ll feel that perhaps the Angel side would be the correct answer. In reality, they did call upon the protagonist based on the bright and upright justice. However, about the “justice” that the Angels advocated in this series…

“Humans should be justly and absolutely managed and guided by us.”

A trap that makes people give a “hmm” also exists, you have to be careful.

Also, when you picked the Human side, they will attempt to cleverly use the powers of the demons and angels on their military to gain an advantage over other nation’s army. Clear ambitions like this shouldn’t be overlooked either.

Comparatively, the demons are just advocating for “A world where only powerful people have the right to speak! Haha!” This rude and straightforward stance looks unbelievably cute and beautiful.

Although the names and stance of each side changed a bit in each title more or less, the most fundamental plot and core theme are the same for the entire series.

Good and evil. Order and Chaos.

The protagonist is stuck between values like those and was forced to make a choice.

That’s the “core” part of the Twisted God’s Reincarnation series.

…Up to now, I think you can see where this is going.

To be honest, this is the part where Chiaki wanted to discuss it with me.

“Well, this feature of Twisted God’s Reincarnation has always been a source of frustration for players…”

If this is purely a choice in text-based adventures, it’s easy for you to replay after playing the plot development on one side before switching to the other from a saved point.

However, Twisted God’s Reincarnation is a more solid RPG. It’s not just the story, the game also included elements like combat and adventure. This means that it’ll take quite some time and effort even if you wanted to replay it.

Also, that’s precisely why this is a hard choice for players. A decision that will create a decisive divergence in the plot that can’t be restarted readily.

So, even though it’s just a game. With such this title in the series alone, I can still understand Chiaki’s particularly serious attitude…However, that’s why I feel she’s unreasonably criticizing me when I made the Neutral conclusion after a long time of hesitation.

The sunset beamed into the family restaurant. I finished my café au lait at once, and then I put down the cup forcefully with a “bam” before continuing.

“Well, the Neutral Route doesn’t belong to order or chaos. It’s kind of like walking along the third path, …which is the choice between the two mindsets. However, that’s still a possible choice, right?”

“Of course. I don’t have any opinion on this either.”

“Then what do you have an opinion with?”

“I have an opinion of an average guy like you picking the Neutral Route like a passerby.”

“I think you just dislike me, right!”

“Not at all! If you picked either order or chaos quickly and cleanly, …I would have only used 90% of my power to scold you!”

“I still end up getting scolded at anyways! This whole discussion is a literal trap for me!”

“Hmph, sucks to be you, it’s okay as long as I can benefit from it! No matter whether it’s a double-win or win-lose, as long as I’m on the victory side, it’ll be no problem!”

“A true lowest scum on the Earth!”

She’s not my rival anymore. This girl is literally an enemy of the public, right?

Chiaki seems to have realized that she went overboard, so she let out a cough before restarting the discussion.

“A-Anyway, what I wanted to say that this time is that…Keita, you’re boring.”

“What kind of conclusion is that! Enough, I’m really going home!”

Chiaki bullied her rival with sinister means. There’s no reason for me to play along with her any longer. I grabbed my bag before standing up angrily-

“Ah, …um, …no…Uh, …well, …Keita, …uh, …I…”

-Suddenly, shock and regret filled Chiaki’s eyes as her sight began to float around.

“…………”

After seeing her like that, I ended up sitting back onto the sofa. Although I supported my cheeks with my hands sulkily, I still sat down and didn’t leave. Chiaki asked me as she’s frozen.

“Uh, …Keita, you’re now…?”

“…It’s fine. Let’s continue chatting, Chiaki.”

“Eh? O-Okay, sure…”

While Chiaki acted sheepishly, she still beamed me a smile in relief.

“…Damn.”

I can’t help but let out a sigh.

“…When I met a person that’s so bad at communicating with others, …I, …being a guy with social skills just as low, there’s no way for me to leave her behind…”

Honestly, that’s why Chiaki Hoshinomori as a person, pisses me off so much. To me, she’s a person that I can’t ignore in every way. That’s why I feel so annoyed. That’s why we will often fight each other. That’s why…we understand each other more than everyone else.

I fell silent, and Chiaki seemed to have reflected on herself. She continued with a softened attitude.

“W-Well, …I picked the Neutral Route out of some apathetic reasons on my own…Uh, that’s why I wanted to hear others talk about they chose this route out of the same reason. How should I put it, it’s like a strongly biased advocate…”

“Ah, …I seem to have understood your feelings. It’s like comments for games, movies, or books. Instead of giving an average score, it’s better to just praise it greatly or criticize it fiercely.”

“Yeah.”

“However, …if that’s the case, this is too much for an honest passerby like me.”

“Sigh, …honestly, I kind of knew that you’ll pick the Neutral Route. But it’s okay for you to choose whatever you want, perhaps you can still find a point in the game where you can passionately defend with from your style…”

“…Ah…”

I sighed dazedly…Right, even though it’s not strange for me to do that usually. But this time…

“Ah, right. Although I’m unwilling to say this, Chiaki’s right this time. Perhaps… I think that it’s better to not make a mistake right now, that’s why I picked the Neutral Route.”

I’m still at the beginning of the game. I guess it’s understandable for me to think this way.

The problem is, I didn’t identify the difference between picking the Neutral Route based on my beliefs and picking the Neutral Route to not make a mistake.

“Not being able to know what my beliefs are…I really didn’t change for a bit when I rejected the invitation to the Game Club randomly. Sigh, I’m screwed.”

I can’t help but sigh deeply. Then, I guess Chiaki freaked out for some reason and immediately tried to smooth things over.

“A-Anyway, Keita, compare to others, I still wished to ask for your opinion first! Yes! …U-Uwahhh, what am I even saying…!”

Chiaki lowered her head somewhat embarrassingly. It almost looks like she’s a girl embarrassed with the person she loves…However, thinking about this normally, I guess this just means that she’s not used to giving in for her rival.

I beamed her a smile.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Y-You’re glad about that! Keita!”

Chiaki suddenly stood up and leaned towards me. I-I don’t understand why she’s doing this. Just as I’m frozen out of my shock, she seems to have snapped out with a blush before quickly sitting down back to her original position.

“S-Sorry. Uh, I can’t help…can’t help but feel embarrassed to the top of my heart.”

“Is that a common slang between you two sisters? The “top of my heart” you just said…”

I think I’ve heard the same words from Konoha-san before if I remembered correctly. I asked Chiaki about this, but I didn’t expect her to shake her head in disbelief.

“Eh? No, it’s not like that…Uh, Keita, Konoha had felt embarrassed to the top of her heart before?”

“Hmm? Yeah, although I’m not sure what happened, I think it’s true.”

I ended up getting punched by Konoha-san at that time. Then, this time, the older sister slapped the desk to try and intimidate me…I really don’t know what does these two sisters’ “embarrassed to the top of their hearts” means.

During this time, Chiaki curled up her mouth for some reason.

“Oh…really? Keita, you’ve made Konoha embarrassed to the top of her heart…Oh…”

“?”

W-What’s wrong with this girl? She suddenly became pissed. If I’m reasonably reading this. It seems to be that she’s getting jealous of the scene where I made Konoha embarrassed…

“Uh, but this sister isn’t normal.”

I immediately stopped my bad habit of treating myself like a famous light novel protagonist. It’s terrible to have an overly self-conscious habit like this! That’s how otakus are! Damn you!

Honestly, the “embarrassed to the top of the heart” that these sisters were talking about, seems to include the tone that they’re pissed as hell. So, from the current situation, …perhaps Chiaki thought that I did something impolite and pissed her sister off, that’s why she’s mad at me. Yep, that’s got to be true.

“…Jeez, a person that read other people’s feelings based on weird bias, is undoubtedly annoying!”

For a guy like me that read other people’s mind precisely, I’ll feel that Chiaki being stubborn like this should be despised on. Whatever, I’ll forgive her this time. Yep, I’m really growing up.

With my generosity, I didn’t persuade after Chiaki’s impoliteness and moved on to the topic.

“I got a real question here. It’s okay for us to talk about Twisted God’s Reincarnation…Even so, do we really have to go out of our ways and come to the family restaurant?”

“W-What do you mean?”

“No, I mean. If we’re just chatting about gaming, why can’t we just do it in school or send an e-mail, isn’t that enough…”

To my reasonable question, Chiaki seemed to be pissed as she pouted her cheeks.

“…But you and Aguri-san frequently come to the family restaurant…”

“Aguri-san? Uh, that’s because she-“

“Because she what?”

“…………”

After she asked me this, I was surprised that I went speechless, unbelievably.

“Eh? Since Aguri-san is…what? It’s natural for me to meet up with her in the family restaurant. It should be reasonable-“

I really thought about it this way in my heart, …but once I have to look for a solid reason, I can’t think of anything convincing. Strange, there’s clearly a problem.

“…………”

…Nope, I can’t work my mind out. I should keep this in my heart now. The problem’s with Chiaki this time.

Aguri-san isn’t my girlfriend. If chatting with a Hobby Club member like her in a family restaurant is a natural thing for me to do, the same should go for Chiaki. There’s nothing actually weird about this, yes.

Although there’s a subtle difference here, I still decided to reluctantly accept the current situation based on how things work.

“Ay, …I guess it’s okay for you to come to the family restaurant with me.”

“R-Really? I-I’m glad to hear that.”

“?”

Chiaki’s the person who brought up this question, and yet she’s the one that backed up embarrassingly. What’s wrong with this girl?

I exhaled before moving back to the discussion.

“So, Chiaki, what do you want to do? About Twisted God’s Reincarnation.”

“Hmm, …I still need to consider the options. It’s because there’s still time before we have to choose.”

“…You’re still just as indecisive as I do, Chiaki.”

“S-Shut up! I-It’s just a game, why can’t I just hesitate for a good while! It’s not going to bother anyone!”

“You’re right…Ah, now that I remembered, how’s the thing with Uehara-kun’s confession going?”

“Eh? Ah, a-about that? Uh…”

Chiaki looked away explicitly…After all, she still hasn’t made a move yet.

I let out a dumbfounded sigh.

“Although I’m definitely qualified to give an opinion to other people’s relationship, …I think the least you could do is to not leave it alone, in terms of life.”

“I-I understand! But while I do…”

Chiaki suddenly deflated. Sigh, …it’s not like I don’t understand how she feels right now.

“If I’m you, I would probably not do anything either.”

“Y-You’ll be the same if you’re me? …Hmm, Keita…and Uehara-kun…”

“Hey, did you just imagine things with Uehara-kun and me!”

“H-How did you know! Keita, you have superpowers, right!”

“Everyone can see it! Damn, you two sisters are the same…”

I sighed as I mumbled. Then, Chiaki answered me bafflingly.

“You two sisters…are the same? This has nothing to do with Konoha.”

“Eh? Ah, it’s nothing…”

I freaked out and tried to sip from the cup, but I drank all of it just then, so it’s empty.

Chiaki stared at me, silently and suspiciously…Ugh…

“Right. Chiaki didn’t know that Konoha-san is a hentai game fan with powerful imagination…”

I missed that. There’s too much change in the information recently, my brain’s not keeping up.

After I grabbed the cup and stood up, I spoke to Chiaki to try and cover what I said before.

“Uh, I’m going for a refill.”

“Ah, then I’ll go with you-“

Then, I stopped Chiaki with my hands and even naturally grabbed her cup.

“It’s okay, Chiaki-san. I’ll refill yours as well.”

“Chiaki-san?”

“Crap.”

Crap, this time, it’s the Aguri-san Treatment popping up where I got used to in the family restaurant.

“Sorry, this is how I am when I’m with Aguri-san, that’s an accident…”

“R-Really. You’re always helping her…Whatever, it’s fine…”

Although Chiaki curled up her lips for some reason, she still prepared to stand up.

During this time, I saw her legs hit the table for a bit, so I immediately acted and kneeled down!

“Are you okay, Chiaki-san! Did you hurt your precious legs!”

“Precious legs?”

“Ah! Crap, I accidentally fell to my bad habit again. I just wasted the Aguri-san’s treatment on you…!”

“It’s wrong, Keita. Your Aguri-san’s Treatment has some issues! Seriously, who’s Aguri-san in your eyes?”

“Eh, I worship her.”

“Hiya, I just heard a ridiculous answer.”

Chiaki can’t take this anymore as I stood up with my back straight.

“Hiya. Anyway, I just kneeled down for nothing.”

“W-What’s with that tone of yours? Even though I wasn’t hurt at all, actually…”

After I heard what Chiaki just said, …I immediately and explicitly responded negatively to her.

“Damn, seaweeds like you shouldn’t hit your legs, understand? It’ll be a problem for the restaurant. Also, you should just drink salt water when you finished your beverage. You’re a seaweed, anyway.”

“In reverse, you’re treating me ridiculously! Honestly, I’m about to cry!”

“Sorry, Chiaki. But think about it, it’s better to achieve a balance in life.”

“If you’re achieving a balance, please refrain from treating Aguri-san too nicely! Why do you have to adjust by acting so rudely to me!”

“…Uh, it’s because you’re a seaweed, after all.”

“Hey, that’s the first time in my life that I wanted to stab someone severely before.”

Chiaki didn’t say that she wanted to murder people, that feels horrible.

I exhaled before moving back to the topic.

“Alright, Chiaki. We’ll stop messing around here. Sit down, I’ll grab your drink as well. What do you want to drink?”

“Eh? W-Well, I want orange juice…”

“Understood.”

After I answered, I went to the drink bar familiarly and got both of the drinks.

Waiting for me in the seat, Chiaki grabbed her juice with both hands and even nodded at me to express her gratitude.

“T-Thank you…”

“No sweat.”

We started sipping our beverages.

“…………”

A quiet and peaceful moment. Once we snapped out, …we chuckled at the same time.

“W-What’s this. It feels weird to treat you usually instead of fighting.”

“Yeah. Uh, b-but…”

“Hmm, …I guess it’s not bad this way.”

“Y-Yeah. It’s not bad, right!”

…Then, we made eye contacted and looked away embarrassingly.

I cleared my throat before speaking to her again.

“Right. C-Chiaki, about this Twisted God’s Reincarnation…”

“Yep, h-how was it, Keita!”

So, after we chatted excitingly with each other about the game for an hour.

Rarely, Chiaki and I waved at each other with a smile before disbanding.

*

“Amano-kun, do you want to join the Game Club activity with me?”

“…Eh?”

Two days after, I chatted with Chiaki at the family restaurant after school. My girlfriend suddenly invited me.

The 2F classroom after the class meeting, since the Game Hobby Club doesn’t have a meeting today, I was casually planning to return home. Suddenly, a blonde hair beauty sternly appeared in front of me.

The classmates in 2F immediately grasped…Even though I’m dating with Tendou-san, this kind of subtle nervousness is still here. No matter how long it has passed, Karen Tendou’s outstanding attractiveness always can’t merge with 2F’s daily scenery at all.

However, the person in question didn’t seem to mind at all and even continued with a smile.

“We don’t need to be in the Hobby Club today. You have time, Amano-kun, right?”

“Eh? Ah, yes, time, …uh…”

I answered sheepishly, but I still stuck in the middle of my sentence…Also, my stomach is constricting harder and harder, and sweat begins to appear on my forehead.

“Hmm…?”

I can’t help but look away from Tendou-san first.

…Although I was a bit proud of myself recently, I’m still me in the end even when I got a beautiful girlfriend, …the introverted, cowardly, Keita Amano.

Being suddenly invited to a group with a subtle distance, I’m freaking out even more.

This is entirely my imagination, but I feel like this situation Is like getting invited to drink with my boss that’s hard to deal with. Although I knew that the person is doing this out of kindness, I don’t think like I would thoroughly enjoy the experience…Even so, it’s no good to just reject casually.

Just as I’m racking my brain to think of a clever excuse, perhaps Uehara-kun felt terrible for me, he came here from the normies in the center of the classroom.

“Hey, Tendou. What’s up, suddenly coming to our class?”

“Hello, Uehara-kun, I didn’t expect you to say that this is sudden. At least, I have discussed with you before, I wanted to invite Amano-kun to the club again…”

“Eh, really?”

That’s the first time I’ve heard that. I looked at Uehara-kun. He then scratched his head before answering.

“Ay, right, we actually discussed that. But that’s already…”

Uehara-kun suddenly mumbled as if he realized something as he said this. “Really.”

Just as I’m completely confused with what’s going on, Tendou-san answered with a smile. “That’s right.”

“…………”

Eh, what’s this? I feel like only they are connected to each other. Also, …this kind of uncomfortableness in my heart…what’s wrong with me? Don’t tell me, I’m jealous? Me, Keita Amano?

Just as I’m feeling depressed with all those emotions flushing in my heart, Tendou-san continued.

“At the same time, when the affair between Aguri-san and Amano-kun barely ended, I somehow forgot inviting him to the club. However, Nina-senpai asked me, “How’s inviting Keita Amano to the club going?” I only remembered because of that.”

“Right, you didn’t clear up with Amano about that.”

“Yes. How careless of me.”

“…………”

The handsome boy and the beautiful girl laughed as they talked to each other, and there’s a short winter melon in the middle spectating unhappily, that’s me.

Tendou-san finally looked back at me during this time as she invited me again.

“So, because of that, Amano-kun, do you want to revisit the Game Club?”

“The “because of that” you just said…it’s because of what?”

I answered like I’m slightly throwing a tantrum.

“…Uh, Amano-kun, it’s because I want to spend more time to be together with you…”

“Then let’s go, Tendou-san!”

I instantly grabbed my bag and made up my mind as I stood up heroically.

After Uehara-kun saw me like this, he mumbled dumbfoundedly.

“Sometimes, I feel like you’re actually a guy full of manliness…”

“Hey, the weakling from the Game Hobby Club, you’re still here?”

“I take back what I’ve said. You’re truly the lowest scum on this Earth.”

“Tendou-san’s really cute. Nothing on Earth is more important than this fact, right.”

“Your personality is seriously going haywire! We even reflected on ourselves last time, I just feel like an idiot now!”

“Reflect?”

What’s Uehara-kun talking about? Although I’m not sure, now’s not the time for that.

I turned to Tendou-san and answered her clearly.

“Tendou-san, I’m glad to hear that. So, I would love to visit.”

“Really? That’s great! Then let’s go, Amano-kun!”

Tendou-san beamed me a smile as she walked forward. I soon followed her…Then, Uehara-kun seems to be trying to call me, so he poked at my shoulder.

I turned my head around, wanting to know what’s wrong, then I realized…his attitude turned serious instead of just messing with me. He continued.

“…You’re just pushing yourself, right?”

“…………”

I can’t help but stop walking. Uehara-kun glanced at me, worriedly from the bottom of his heart.

“I knew this when I looked at you, you’re trying to keep up appearances by joking around…Sigh, Amano, how about I just help you and tell Tendou-“

I shook my head to stop him as he said this.

“Uehara-kun, you’re a nice person. But it’s fine, just let me push myself. After all, …I’m still Tendou-san’s boyfriend.”

I replied with a smile after I said this…Then, Uehara-kun let out a huge, dumbfounded sigh.

“Damn, You sure are manly in weird ways.”

“Ugh, I think the “weird” part is extra…Yep, but thank you, Uehara-kun. I’ll be leaving then!”

“Alright, Amano, have fun!”

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QAx6xZ9I_Q8/XuIEpD0BZaI/AAAAAAAAO6w/6glOtdgEMj0tMXhrBGMwqa09yo7ZXOYXwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DLraw.net_0121.jpg

Uehara-kun padded my shoulder forcefully as he sent me to my way.

I gained a massive amount of courage from that, so I hastily chased after Tendou-san.

…My stomach ache disappeared when I didn’t even notice it.

*

The clubroom of the Game Club is on the 3rd floor of the passive club building renovated from the old part of the school after you passed the corridor from the main building.

I walked up the stairs following Tendou-san as I grabbed the chest of my uniform tightly.

“It’s okay, calm down, calm down…Nothing bad should happen…”

Basically, when Tendou-san and Mizumi-kun, who I’m familiar with is here, I should be guaranteed to receive a certain amount of welcoming. Moreover, if Kase-senpai and Nina-senpai really hated me, they should’ve stopped Tendou-san at the start.

So even I knew it the only reason that I’m freaking out is that I think things will go wrong, …but I can’t help it.

“Amano-kun.”

“?”

During this time, Tendou-san suddenly called me from the front, so I looked up. Then, I nearly saw the scenery under her short skirt, so I immediately looked away.

“Uh, I think I’ve reacted similarly in the past…”

I’m Tendou-san’s boyfriend now, is it alright to keep the same attitude even when things were different? Being able to stare at my girlfriend’s skirt calmly from the bottom, that’s what a manly boyfriend should do-

“You’re welcome.”

“I think I shouldn’t do this once you said that!”

-I can’t bring myself to look at her skirt after the unbelievable permission.

“Saying stuff like that, I think you’re even closer to the 18+ side than Konoha-san, Tendou-san.”

“Sorry, Amano-kun. Even though I don’t understand what you mean at all, but I can clearly see that you’re freaking out. But, anyway, you’re welcome to do so in the Game Club.”

“Y-You want to me to generously stare at your panties in front of everyone in the Game Club!?”

“Amano-kun, what were you saying up until now!”

Although our conversation seems a bit erotic, this is just how we are, in a sense. Tendou-san and I smiled at each other before passing on the corridor on the 3rd floor. So, after we finally arrived in front of the clubroom, …Tendou-san turned her head and looked at me with a smile as she asked.

“So, are you ready, Amano-kun?”

“I-I-I-I-I’m r-r-r-r-ready…B-B-B-Bring…i-i-it…o-on…”

“That’s the first time that I’ve heard something that deviates so far from the state of your mind. A-Are you okay, Amano-kun?”

Tendou leaned forward and looked at me worriedly…Honestly, I’m not okay at all. While my stomach doesn’t hurt anymore, but I can’t stay completely chill in this situation. Perhaps it’ll be better when I just head in there with hope without knowing anything, just like last time.

…However-

“…Okay, I’m fine, Tendou-san.”

I managed to suppress my feeble side and replied a smile to Tendou-san.

She glanced at me like she didn’t expect this, then she secretly grabbed my hands.

“…………”

I would’ve freaked out and sweat crazily in the past. However, incredibly, I’m deeply surrounded by a sense of peace right now.

After who knows how much time has passed, I completely recovered and nodded at Tendou-san. She nodded in the same manner before quietly letting go of my hand.

“Then let’s go, Amano-kun.”

“Alright, Tendou-san.”

Tendou-san pushed the door to the Game Club after she heard my answer. Then, she smiled a bit naughtily and copied what she said when I came to the club last time.

“Welcome to the Game Club!”

Just like last time, I squinted my eyes because of the brightness…However, different than the previous time, I walked into the clubroom stably and slowly.

Just as Tendou-san’s closing the door, I can see the scenery in the room after my eyes got used to the brightness. The clubroom is filled with a massive amount of consoles and screens. Still, they appeared to be very tidy because of some clever cable placement magic.

The scenery in the room when compared to me… a guy that will casually place a game disc into the box of another title is still way stronger than I can handle. Even the clubroom itself shows that it’s sincerely serious toward gaming.

In a clubroom like this, …Gakuto Kase-senpai, Nina Oiso-senpai, and Eiichi Mizumi-kun are already ready for action.

I swallowed because I remembered what happened last time…In reality, this club is so serious that it can put a sports club to shame. These people are burning their youth here, …there’s no point for them to invite a sucker who rejected the invitation once here to visit again.

Even so, I still made up my mind in front of Tendou-san and mustered up my courage to bear their xenophobic glares-

“Welcome to the Game Club.”

“…Eh?”

-Then, I was greeted unexpectedly warmly. I can’t help but let out a sigh in relief. Once I took a good look…I finally realized that everyone in the Game Club is looking at me gently, way different than what I’ve imagined.

“Strange…?”

I’m freaking out since this is far off from my imagination.

Uh, let’s forget about my friend Mizumi-kun first, …even Kase-senpai and Oiso-senpai stopped playing and smiled at me. I can only say that this is unexpected.

Just as I’m frozen, Tendou-san helped to explain with a bitter smile.

“Amano-kun, please don’t feel disgusted. Despite senpai looking like that, they’re just trying their best to be friendly.”

“Hey, Tendou.”

Kase-senpai and Oiso-senpai immediately glared at Tendou-san fiercely. Just as her shoulder is shivering, Mizumi-kun started speaking to me with a smile.

“Tendou-san is right. Amano-kun, the two senpais are more or less being considerate to you. Ay, don’t mind it. Alright, take a seat.”

“Ah, alright. Thank you, Mizumi-kun.”

Mizumi-kun urged me to sit down on the chair next to the door. Then, Tendou-san sat next to me today as well. Mizumi-kun is at my left, Tendou-san is at my right, this arrangement made me a lot more calmed down. Even I felt like I was just an innocent guy.

I felt relieved while almost started to chitchat with them. However, Kase-senpai let out a cough, so Tendou-san seemed to have grabbed the chance and started talking.

“Amano-kun. I’ve briefly explained this before. The reason that I’m bringing you here today is not just because I wanted to try my best to spend even a second more with you. Ah, while it’s true that I wanted to be with you, I’m actually feeling so blessed right now.”

“The same goes for me, Tendou-san. Being able to meet you after school like this, I really need to treasure this time!”

“Amano-kun…”

“Tendou-san…”

“…Ahem!”

Just as Tendou-san and I are staring at each other passionately, the three explicitly coughed to interrupt us for some reason. Although we’re feeling sorry for the short moment we had there, we still had to move on.

“Anyway, today’s the same as last time, we just want you to visit and experience our activities.”

“Uh, …in other words, you want me to observe Game Club’s activity before asking me to consider joining the club, right?”

“Yes, you’re right.”

“I understand…but…”

Just as I wanted to continue, Mizumi-kun seems to have realized something and cut me off.

“Alright, you just got here. There’s no need for a haste answer, Amano-kun.”

“But…”

After that time, my opinion for gaming still hasn’t changed a whole lot. If that’s the case, it’s not like my answer can be different than the last one.

I let out an awkward bitter smile, Mizumi-kun still pressed on.

“Anyway, let’s just have fun playing video games today, alright? Ay, despite only a few months has passed, I’m already missing out on all 5 people showing up like this.”

Mizumi-kun changed the topic a bit forcefully. However, I didn’t expect Oiso-senpai to be the one that continued.

“Yep. A lot of things have happened after that…Specifically, starting from Mizumi’s World Championship’s chapter, then Kase finally ending the war in the Battle of the Games chapter. Also, that rouge friend of mine who brought the world to the brink of destruction in the Ragnarok chapter…A lot of things have surely happened.”

“Eh, too many things have happened in the Game Club! P-Please everyone, there should be a limit for messing with me!”

“…Yeah, I slightly went out of bounds there. I think I made 20% of it up.”

“Only 20%! Eh, what’s wrong with the Game Club! Sigh, even though I heard that everyone has a weird background the first time I’m here…D-Don’t tell me that isn’t just a little joke!”

“Hmm, …it’s hard to say…”

Nina-senpai chuckled…This person still hasn’t changed. I really don’t know what she is hiding. Is she serious or just joking…

I can only confirm from Mizumi-kun.

“Uh, Mizumi-kun, about you joining the World Championship, and the things happened throughout the Game Club…Honestly, how much of that is real?”

After Mizumi-kun heard my question, he can’t suppress it anymore and began to laugh out loud.

“Ahaha, Amano-kun is indeed an innocent person. You just believed what she said completely.”

“Y-Yeah. I guess you shouldn’t take in those words entirely-“

“Of course. It’s because in reality…the two ghost juniors from this club have partnered up after they swept opponents from another race in an Isekai gaming championship before coming back with a brilliant victory. The chapter of No Game No Rise is the most unusual and heated. In fact, senpai is already trying to tone down the excitement instead of adding for dramatic effect.”

“…Is it time for me to abandon my position as the narrator?”

Initially, I made it all the way to high school with the belief that a passerby has a passerby lifestyle. However, when I’m in this club, I feel like I can no longer hold back my emotions. From now on, I should stop trying to be a protagonist and just be a machine that repeats “Welcome to Otobuki High School…”

So, just as I’m falling into a depression, Mizumi-kun quickly tried to smooth things over.

“Even after we were busy with a bunch of chores, that’s just a sidequest. We’re still honing our skills in the game industry. I think the Game Club will continue to achieve more feats in the future.”

“R-Really…”

After all that, the Game Club still seems to be a group that hones their gaming skills healthily in regular days.

I pressed my chest in relief after knowing the truth.

During this time, I suddenly found out that Kase-senpai is trying to find something deep in the clubroom. T-This kind of change seems familiar…

“If we remembered correctly, this is…”

Just as a tinge of nervousness appeared in my heart, Kase-senpai quickly finished his preparation and looked here. He even slid the handheld console on the long table.

“So let’s play immediately, Keita Amano.”

“Here it comes…!”

Kase-senpai slid the same consoles to Tendou-san and Mizumi-kun. I tremblingly grabbed the one in front of me before looking at the screen. Then, Kase-senpai already opened the game, the title of the game is…

“J-Just like what I’ve expected, it’s the same as last time…!”

This is the same FPS that I’ve played at my first experience in the club…My stomach begins to hurt again.

N-No, I don’t hate the game itself. Instead, I think it’s a pretty exciting game. Although it’s handheld, how immersing when you’re dashing across the battlefield, the controls, and the graphics…are incredibly high standards. Even a couple months have passed, it still remained as the most decisive title in FPS for handheld consoles without a doubt. So, we can see the degree of completion of this game.

So, as a gamer, I’m thrilled that I get to play a game like this with others happily. While I’m thrilled…

“What should I do, if we’re talking about how much my skills have improved, …it’s exactly zero!”

In novels or manga, shouldn’t a plot like this would only happen after the protagonist has gained some experience, right? The entertaining part is to see a character that used to look down upon the main character will soften a bit and say, “Hey, you’re not too bad.” This is how the plot is supposed to go, right?

However, if we’re talking about what I did for these couple months…

“I played some relaxing games, then I sleep. Play mobile games, then I sleep. Starting some minor argument with Uehara-kun, then I sleep.. Being kicked like a ball in a complex web of relationships, then I sleep. Trying to revel in being a normie, then I sleep. Fighting with the seaweed girl, then I sleep. Being caught by a gal, then I sleep. Being so attracted to Tendou-san, then I sleep. Playing some relaxing games because I feel like it, then I sleep again…”

I’m roughly repeating this process. If this is a light novel centered around gaming, it’ll literally force people to write down “it’s time for the protagonist to practice gaming” to complain about my daily lives.

And now, I can’t believe that a plot of “test my abilities like previously, that’s why I have to show myself in a different state than me last time” happened. My god, don’t you think you’re too cruel?

Just as I’m holding the console with my hand and shivering like a small animal, Tendou-san beamed me a smile, seemingly trying to calm me down.

“It’s fine, Amano-kun. This is different than the last time.”

“No…no, no, no, no, no! It’s okay if I went through some kind of training or a brutal battle to gain more experience! My skills are really the same as last time! No, I’m mostly playing clicking games or games that require me pressing options only. My skills may have rusted even more!”

Just as I yelled this declaration out, …everyone in the Game Club looked at each other gimmicky.

“?”

Just as I’m tilting my head to express my confusion, in the next moment, Kase-senpai suddenly announced loudly.

“Then we’ll start the match now! I’ll team up with Mizumi, Tendou will be with Amano. Including AI characters, this will be a 6v6 team deathmatch! Begin!”

“Eh? U-Uwah!”

The match started right away, I was pushed onto the battlefield when I haven’t even started hesitating.

The screen is displaying a section of the streets in ruins: exfoliated concrete walls, broken glass windows, and a bunch of rubble.

This is just an ordinary and typical battlefield in FPS, …but I can’t be more nervous.

The countdown of the match ended quickly, the game has finally begun.

The AI soldiers started charging at their best, and I just looked at them dazedly.

During this time, a solider suddenly turned around in front of me. The name “Player 3” is displaying above his head, …it seems that’s the soldier controlled by Tendou-san.

I thought Tendou-san was urging me to charge for a moment, so I immediately start to panic…However, in the next moment, her character started floor dancing, which was a move purely for fun.

“…Eh?”

I can’t help but look up from the game screen and towards Tendou-san. She also looked away from the screen and replied with a smile. Her hands even left the buttons and gave me a thumbs up.

“Eh, wait…”

The match started long ago, …yet she did mishaps and unnecessary actions that a hardcore gamer would never do.

Just as I’m worrying, and like what I’ve expected, I can start to hear gunfires from the battlefield. Two friendly signals were lost from the radar. The two AIs on our side were demolished right away…Of course, it’s because the leading players are still rubbing around at spawn.

I quickly started controlling my character to attack as I talked to Tendou-san.

“T-Tendou-san, we have to go to the frontlines quickly! We’ll lose at this rate!”

“Yep, okay, perhaps you’re right.”

“You’re still saying perhaps! You’re the main star of our team no matter what you think, please be more serious…”

Just as I’m mumbling as I lead my character to the entrance of the ruins, that moment.

“Boom!”

“Uwah!”

Along with an explosion, white smokes and red damage effect flashed on the screen.

“Sigh, I was immediately murdered!”

Since this game designed the characters to have low HP on default, while light gunfires don’t hurt too much, being bombed by explosives in the face is guaranteed death- It’s supposed to be this way.

“What?”

Unbelievably, my character is still alive. Although I was frozen for a second, I immediately turned around and hid myself to confirm the situation. So…

“…A-A smokescreen?”

The place where I just stepped on some explosives is currently enveloped in white smoke…Yep, that’s all.

N-No, smokescreens are valuable equipment in FPS. Whether it’s blocking sniper’s sightlines or blocking enemy advancement, there’s a lot of usages.

However, …of course, it’s not used to hurt people. Although there’s minuscule damage when it blew up, that’s really it. So, this kind of smokescreen where it’ll only activate when an enemy stepped on it is quite confusing, …or what people call a meme weapon. Of course, it’s rarely used in online battles. After all, this is a “meme” weapon that even I will hesitate to equip. I’ll only use it when I’m up against my family or my friends…

With that, I abruptly raised my head. Then, I realized Mizumi-kun is glancing at me with a mischievous grin.

“Ho, ho, ho, how does it feel, Amano-kun? Was it fun?”

“Mizumi-kun…!”

I can’t believe a serious person like him will use tactics like this…No, while I’m glad that it played out this way. However, I do mind what the reaction of the dead-serious Kase-senpai is. 2 out of the 4 players don’t take the match seriously. It’s unavoidable that Kase-senpai will be mad at us.

I tremblingly looked at senpai’s reaction, then I found out…senpai is still paying attention to the screen and even mumbling quietly.

“…Ho, I got it.”

“Ah!”

Tendou-san immediately let out a quiet surprised grasp. It looks like she was killed by Kase-senpai. No matter how talented Tendou-san is, it looks like when it comes to FPS, Kase-senpai is still better-

“Ugh, I saw that mouse first!”

“Sorry, Tendou. First come first serve…let us meet at the next kitchen again!”

“No, no, no, no, no, what are you two competing over!”

I questioned shockingly at the baffing conversation. Tendou-san, who’s still paying attention to the screen, answered.

“This time, I’m competing with Kase-senpai over personal kills. The target is mice that will occasionally stroll around the edge of the map!”

“Uh, the mouse that you two are talking about, was it a term for enemy soldiers…”

“Of course, we mean genuine mice!”

“Genuine mice!”

That’s the first time that I’ve heard the term “genuine mice.”

“So, Amano-kun, please don’t interrupt me right now! …Ah, that CPU on our team is annoying…Alright, I’ll shoot him down.”

The enemy team scored a point right away, no, no, no, no, no!

“Tendou-san, you can’t shoot down your teammate! Although it’s adorable for you to say that! While you’re cute, you’re the one who’s interrupting the match, right!”

Just as I’m complaining at full-power, this time, it’s Kase-senpai that raised his head from the screen casually and looked at me.

“Ho, don’t worry, Keita Amano.”

“K-Kase-senpai?”

Kase-senpai pushed his shining glasses as he told me this proudly.

“I’ve already…killed my own CPU teammates 8 times!”

“I’m anxious about your mental health! What’s wrong with a guy that kills his own teammates 8 times just to catch mice!”

After I yelled that, Tendou-san suddenly let out an “ugh” grasp as she mumbled strictly.

“…Just watch, Amano-kun. I…I’m not going to lose either. I’ll kill even more teammates!”

“So what the hell are you competing over!”

I’m running out of breaths from complaining…During this time, I finally realized that I’ve abandoned my character.

In this utterly undefended state, I should’ve been killed by enemy AIs, right? I thought of this as I looked at the screen, then I found out the scene is-

“Amano-kun, …I got your back!”

-Mizumi-kun kept killing his own teammates just to protect me!

“Why! Why are you giving everything you got just to protect an enemy like me, Mizumi-kun!”

“…Ho…why...Perhaps it’s because…even though we’re enemies, ..you’re still my friend.”

“What a throbbing line! You’re indeed a male protagonist! But if we’re already throwing out this kind of hot-blooded friendship card in a game, we can’t play anything that involves combat!”

“Amano-kun, …what you…what you mean is that…even though we’re friends, sometimes we have to abandon our kindness…and fight each other…”

“That’s what we’re supposed to do in combat games, right!”

“Alright….Then, show me what you got, Amano-kun! Let us throw away our weapons…No, let just throw away our consoles and wrestle each other with live flesh!”

“Then we’re just really fighting each other! Let’s just combat each other normally in the game!”

“Don’t tell me…don’t tell me, you just really wanted to kill your friends in the battle!”

“I want to! Instead of fighting in real life, what’s wrong with killing in a game!”

“It can’t be helped then…let’s go…This is The Battle of Games Between Us and Her!”

“Uh, very poor choice of words! Well, while it fits for our situation, but how should I put it? You have to pay attention when you’re saying it like that! Although the orientation of the content is very different, we’re still in the same genre. So, your words are a bit sensitive!” [Note: Amano and Mizumi are referencing to the light novel Boku to Kanojo no Game sensou, roughly translating to The Battle of Games Between Her and Me. The female protagonist is also called Tendou.]

“…Amano-kun, sometimes you’re confusing me with your words.”

“You’re the last person that I want to hear that from!”

We repeated this useless interaction as we fought each other chaotically.

Then, around 10 minutes later.

“I-It’s over…”

Although the match ended with Tendou-san and me on the victor’s side, honestly, I don’t feel that I’ve won at all. In reality, Tendou-san didn’t even look at the results. She just tiringly mumbled. “Mice…It’s not enough…” …If a stranger saw her, the person will immediately feel that she’s a psycho. By the way, even her boyfriend, that’s me, wanted to keep my distance from her. Scary.

On the other hand, Mizumi-kun has his own issues as well. He laughed it off even after he killed a bunch of teammates. “I…I didn’t regret any of this, Amano-kun!” Nuts. This guy went nuts.

Only Kase-senpai barely remained calm, but he’ll mumble pretentiously. “Ha, I knew how to kill mice now…” In a sense, that looks like he’s the one that went utterly crazy.

So, in a situation like this, I snapped out and realized Oiso-senpai is seemingly trying to install a large screen…Memories from the past began replaying in my mind again.

“In this situation, …it’ll turn into me sucking at fighting games before there’s no place for me to stay here anymore…!”

Just as I’m sweating, senpai continued her preparation. Once I looked, Tendou-san, Mizumi-kun, and I already got the wireless controllers.

As I’ve expected, the massive monitor in the clubroom displayed the screen of the same battle royale type fighting game just like last time.

Oiso-senpai hastily chose something at the main menu. This is a battle royale. It’s different from the FPS, you can’t rely on others anymore. (Even though I didn’t count on Tendou-san just then)

The character selection screen appeared. Just as everyone started to choose, Oiso-senpai was the first one to finish selecting.

“Then, I’ll choose this one that I’m the least familiar with, just to practice and be lenient.”

Oiso-senpai used the exact same reason as last time to pick her character, still a mindset identical to that of a real gamer.

Then, it’s Tendou-san and Mizumi-kun’s turn. Contrary to Oiso-senpai, they seemed to have chosen a character that they’re familiar with. This is also what a gamer would do.

As for me…

“Uh, then I’ll go for Random Selection.”

Without a character that I’m especially familiar with or unfamiliar with, and having the symptom of performance drops as I play. Also, I’m indecisive. So, I gave in to my habit and picked Random Selection that I would often go for when I’m fighting against my little brother.

However, -at this moment, I immediately realized.

“Crap, this is something that’ll piss everyone in the Game Club!”

Without determination or will, that’s the most casual way for character selection in a sense. There shouldn’t be something that will piss a serious gamer even more than this. After all, if you’re doing this, you can’t blame people for accusing you of underestimating them in a sense. Although I didn’t mean that in the slightest, I still can’t retort if someone scolded at me for not being sincere to gaming.

My heart skipped several beats as I secretly looked at Oiso-senpai. Then, …just like what I’ve expected, senpai is looking a bit angry. However, that only lasted for a short moment, she immediately let out a huge sigh like she changed her mind before looking at me with a smile.

“I got it. Random Selection is the one that you’re the most familiar with.”

I feel like senpai is praising me. I immediately waved my hands.

“N-No, it’s not that ridiculous! Uh, but-“

“Alright, let’s start, Keita Amano.”

“Eh? Ah, o-okay!”

After senpai said that, I immediately turned back to the screen and put my heart and soul into the game.

The first round finished shortly…In the end, I didn’t expect that I wasn’t the last one.

Tendou-san scratched her head as she smiled bitterly to Oiso-senpai.

“Ahaha…Sigh, I wanted to imitate Nina-senpai and try to use Throw as my main move even though I’m not familiar with it…However, I guess I really can’t do something that I’m not used to.”

“Maining Throw despite choosing this character, I don’t think anyone can play like this way.”

“Y-Yeah…”

Tendou-san glanced at the miserable results on the screen before letting out a sigh. Just as I’m staring at her dazedly, she tongued out at me slightly. How adorable. My girlfriend is super adorable.

Just as my thoughts are running wild, the character selection of the second round began.

I looked back at the screen while considering seriously to just so I can pick a suitable character-

“…Eh?”

-During this time, I found out that Oiso-senpai moved her cursor to the Random Selection button.

I stared at senpai shockingly. She then started to blow on the bubble gum that she chewed since who knows when, and even glanced at me…After that, she pressed confirm.

Also, even Mizumi-kun is seemingly following senpai…and picked Random Selection. He looked at me with a smile.

“It’s good to play with this style sometimes.”

“Mizumi-kun…”

“Ah, then I’ll be the same too.”

At last, even Tendou-san picked Random Selection as well…This way, I can’t be the only one that selects a character.

As everyone waited, I scratched my cheeks embarrassingly and chose Random Selection.

So, everyone played 3 rounds with Random Selection.

Forget about Oiso-senpai, Mizumi-kun and Tendou-san look like they didn’t practice anything other than the characters that they’re familiar with. Thanks to this, although I’m not talented in gaming, I still practiced all of them averagely. I managed to put up a brilliant fight…Even so, I ended ranking the last 2 out of 3 rounds. It’s not like I was defeated brutally.

In the 5th round, I guess Tendou-san and Mizumi-kun finally realized that they didn’t have the time to get used to the character. So, they started to use attacking items actively that hardcore gamers usually wouldn’t use. This way, the match fell into chaos. No matter how powerful Oiso-senpai is, there’s a lot of situation that can’t be conquered with skill alone. So, I managed to cheese it and distanced myself from the fierce fighting of the three and start attacking continuously. Then…

“Wow, 1st place.”

I miraculously managed to surpass Oiso-senpai in a slight difference and got 1st place.

Tendou-san clapped her hands excitedly like she’s the one who got it.

“Wow, you’re amazing, Amano-kun! Even I didn’t win against Nina-senpai!”

Mizumi-kun cheered along soon.

“Fantastic, Amano-kun. You completely demolished me, who just got the world champion. You really are something!”

“No, no, no, no, no, that was all just luck!”

I tried to play it cool. Then, even Oiso-senpai turned to me with a smile at last.

“Keita Amano. Whether you relied on skill or luck, a win is a win. You should learn to be proud of yourself.”

“…Yep, senpai. While I felt a tinge of throb in my heart, I still think that luck is just luck. I’m thrilled, but I still think that I shouldn’t be proud of myself…”

“Perhaps you’re right.”

“Ah, senpai agreed with that as well, right!”

Oiso-senpai is still just as hard to understand. However, for some reason, even though I don’t know senpai very much, I don’t feel that sense of coldness like last time anymore. Instead, I wanted to get closer to her.

…No, it’s not just Oiso-senpai.

“Hey, time’s almost up.”

Kase-senpai looked at the clock as he noticed us. Oiso-senpai replied with an “okay” casually before cutting the power to the console and start packing.

“Ah, I’ll help.”

Although I stood up as I said that, Oiso-senpai stopped me. “No need, it’s better for people who’s familiar with the club to pack.” Comparatively, she ordered Tendou-san, Mizumi-kun, and Kase-senpai.

Just as the four of them are busy packing, I leisurely went idle and observed.

…I can feel a sense of “warmth” here, different than the last time.

“So that’s why…Tendou-san dragged me here because she wanted me to experience all this…”

Right, this is something that I didn’t get to see when I’m visiting the Game Club previously.

The Game Club is willing to be considerate from the bottom of their heart for a sucker like me…Then, they even welcomed me with the corresponding preparation and mindset.

I looked at the senpais who still busy while being convinced by their effort again at the same time. Tears are even starting to appear in my eyes.

…So, the club was as clean as before without me even realizing it. Once I snapped out of it, the four people standing in the clubroom with their backs facing the sunset is looking at me warmly.

Just as I’m shocked at their solemn faces…Tendou-san is seemingly trying to represent everyone as she took a step forward and asked.

“So, …A-Amano-kun, how do you feel? Today’s visit to our club.”

Tendou-san is a bit nervous. I immediately responded with a smile.

“Of course, I’m super delighted! Everyone is doing so much for me…!”

I stood up abruptly and bowed down to everyone in the Game Club.

“I really appreciated that!”

“It’s fine, well, it’s good to know that you’re having fun.”

I raised my head and realized Tendou-san, …no, even other members are smiling a bit shyly.

…At this moment.

I felt that the tinge of uncomfortableness existed between us since the last time when I visited the club, …gradually merged with the sunset and disappeared.

As if we’re trying to finely experience this afterglow, a moment later.

Tendou-san spoke with a gentle look.

“Well then, Amano-kun. Perhaps you’ll feel annoyed with this already, …but, please allow me to ask again.”

“Yes.”

After I heard that, I answered with a warm smile.

Tendou-san then cleared her throat before asking her question once again.

“Amano-kun, can you please join the Game Club with us?”

Tendou-san’s eyes are looking up to me…This is too powerful. My mental resistance instantly turned to zero, and my face is completely red at this point. It’s a miracle that I didn’t hug my girlfriend in front of my eyes.

Now that I’m looking, Mizumi-kun, …Kase-senpai and Oiso-senpai are awaiting us with a smile. Treating an utterly unworthy person like me like this, …how throbbing.

I took a good look at the Game Club.

An ideal space surrounded by my favorite games.

As the cutest girl in the whole school, while being my girlfriend at the same time, Tendou-san.

The charming smile of Mizumi-kun, who’s so close to me that it’s safe to say that he’s my BFF.

The senpais that care a guy like me, and the two juniors that I didn’t get to meet yet.

Everything from my normie high school life dream is here.

All of this is at the state where I can grab them once I said yes.

…That’s literally a paradise.

People that understand me, there are fun games around…This is a pure utopia to me, Keita Amano.

That’s why I…

Facing this person in front of me, …the girl that I loved the most, while also being the girlfriend that I admired at the same time.

I smiled sincerely.

I’m filled with determination.

I told her my answer.

“No, I’ll pass. It seems that the “Game Club” I initially respected was seemingly gone.”

*

“ARE YOU AN IDIOT? KEITA, ARE YOU AN IDIOT!?”

“The seaweed girl next to me, you’re annoying.”

In the evening, one hour after my visit. At the same family restaurant, a boy and a girl are looking at each other face-to-face at the seat.

Although the two of us glared at each other fiercely for a while, …this contest didn’t last long rarely.

It’s because I backed down right away.

I pressed my forehead on the table apathetically as I moaned with my arms around my head.

“Ugh, ugh…Chiaki, even you think I picked the wrong option as well?”

I secretly looked at Chiaki’s face from the gaps of my bangs.

She’s despising me with a scaringly cold stare.

“No, no, no, you didn’t just pick the wrong option. If I’m the developer of this dating sim game, I would’ve made that a weird choice that goes straight off to the bad ending. Rejecting your girlfriend’s club invitation with a smile for the second time…What’s wrong with your nerves?”

“W-Well, Chiaki, didn’t you reject the invitation to the Game Club for once-“

After I retorted, Chiaki slammed her cup of red tea to the mat as if she’s intimidating me…I was honestly a bit scared.

“Mr. Amano, this is entirely different than the last time, do you understand that?”

“Mr. Amano…”

Hiya, she’s switching to her preaching mode. I raised my head from the table and sit upright.

Chiaki sighed helplessly as she continued.

“Last time, the cutest girl in the school wanted to kidnap an unfamiliar and easy-to-fool otaku boy into her club, so it kind of made sense for you to reject.”

“I feel like that’s too straightforward-“

“However, this time is…your beloved girlfriend musted up her courage and wanted to work hard to close off the distance, yet you still brutally rejected. That’s already the first small step towards psychopath!”

“I can’t believe you just called me a psycho. Sigh, even though it’s true that I did hurt Tendou-san.”

I’m embarrassed when Chiaki pointed out that. However, I still have to smooth things over.

“Of course, I did explain to Tendou-san later and even apologized to her; at least she forgave me.”

“That’s because Tendou-san wanted to be an empathetic girlfriend…Perhaps she was deeply hurt but is just trying to play along with you!”

“Ugh, if you put it this way, I can’t really retort anything…”

Although it doesn’t look like that from my eyes, …when people pointed out that the person in question may have hidden him/her thoughts, I can’t do anything. Actually, I’m a bit anxious about this part as well. That’s why I wanted to discuss this with Chiaki.

However, even so, there’s a small part that I find unacceptable.

“…Uh, Chiaki, although you’re right.”

“Of course. I’m in the same league with Tendou-san, after all!”

The seaweed girl said that with a coarse voice for some reason…When did this girl share something in common with Tendou-san? I have no idea. With that, I asked my question once more.

“Uh, Chiaki…Why are you so enthusiastic about this? Are you that close to Tendou-san?”

“Eh? T-That’s because…”

Chiaki looked away during this moment as she mumbled.

“…After all, I was the one that called for the second invitation…”

“Eh? You were the one that suggested this?”

“Hey, how can you hear my mumbling so clearly! I was confident that only I can hear it with that volume!”

“Actually, I started picking up on lip language recently.”

“What is this protagonist trying to become!”

After Chiaki let out a somewhat dumbfounded complaint, she cleared her throat before continuing.

“However, I didn’t suggest it directly…Uh, I should say just as Tendou-san was hesitating whether to invite you or not earlier, I accidentally said something that encouraged her. Well, …something along the lines of it’s fine to be rejected, Keita is a person like that anyways…”

I bulged my eyes shockingly at Chiaki’s words.

“Eh? Then Tendou-san and you both understand my temper, right.”

“Ah, b-but that was purely based on the same situation as last time. To put it this way, it’s alright for you to reject them if you view gaming differently. However…”

Chiaki glared at me fiercely as she said this.

“You still tried to cut ties with them when the Game Club members are willing to back down on their gaming attitude, that’s an entirely separate issue.”

“…Yep, you’re right. Well, that’s actually…completely different.”

That’s the part that I agreed with. I lifted the coffee at the side that was about to lose all of its heat and sipped gently to buy time.

During this period, Chiaki is still staring at me forcefully…It looks like she’s really considering Tendou-san.

“…I’m excited.”

Even though I was the one that Chiaki is pissed with, I’m pleased to know that she is willing to be angry for Tendou-san.

However, that’s why…I can’t cheese it with random words.

I drank my coffee as I made up my mind before looking at Chiaki’s eyes directly.

“Right. Just like what you’ve said, my reason for rejecting to join the club is entirely different than last time. However, on the other hand, my fundamental mindset is still the same.”

“What do you mean?”

“Previously, I rejected because I wanted to keep my attitude for gaming.”

“Yeah, I was the same too.”

Chiaki nodded. We really are the same, she seems to have no issues with this part.

However, if that’s the case, Chiaki must understand what happened this time as well.

I puffed up my chest, as I explained.

“This time, I rejected because I wanted to respect the Game Club’s attitude for gaming.”

“…………”

Chiaki glanced at my eyes silently…Although she didn’t forgive me right away, I can no longer sense the apparent hostility coming from her.

I smiled and continued.

“Uh, I’m so excited that I nearly cried when the Game Club members spent so much effort for me. Really. If this is just a pure friendship instead of club activity, I think I’ll gladly join their circle…However, that’s not the case, after all.”

I carefully put my coffee mug on the cup mat and spent some time searching for the right words.

“How should I put it…Yep. Today’s visit was relaxed and enjoyable for me, and that’s a fact. It’s like heaven for me when I can play games happily with Tendou-san. Moreover, the two senpais didn’t force themselves too much to act in concert with me. Yep, …really. No matter how many times I thought of it, this is entirely different than last time…This time is both warm and cheerful, I think that’s a comforting scenery for a club activity.”

“T-Then, why did you…”

Chiaki tilted her head confusingly.

However, …to that, I…

“But it can’t be helped. After all, in my eyes, instead of everyone trying to cooperate with me to create a relaxing and enjoyable club activity scenery…”

I smiled before answering.

“The scenery of the Game Club practicing seriously without Keita Amano – That is Tendou-san and her friends honing their skills unrelentingly with each other. It looks way, way more charming.”

“…Keita…”

Chiaki immediately changed her attitude and even looked at me sympathetically.

That has its own issues as well, so I hastily tried to smooth things over.

“O-Of course, I’m trying to criticize the relaxing Game Hobby Club! How should I put it…Right, it’s like coffee and milk.”

I raised my coffee mug as an example.

“Although the café au lait mixed from both beverage is undoubtedly tasty, it doesn’t mean that the former is a level higher than milk or pure coffee, right?”

“…Yep. To put it this way, if the Game Club is coffee and the Game Hobby Club is milk, we don’t need to mix both sides forcefully, it’s better to just go our separate ways, …is that right?”

“E-Exactly!”

I’m satisfied with being able to convey my metaphor successfully to a person, but Chiaki immediately started to gab.

“However, I think I liked café au lait the most among all those drinks.”

“Ah, I think I liked café au lait the most as well, among all of them.”

“…………”

“…………”

…Chiaki rolled her eyes in front of me, …sweat begin to appear on my forehead…

“…C-Chiaki, how’s your Twisted God’s Reincarnation playthrough going?”

“You just straight up avoided the question, Keita! Sigh, …whatever. This kind of incomplete conclusion fits your style as well…”

After Chiaki said that, she suddenly looked like she’s happily embarrassed.

“I felt a bit relieved. Haha!”

“!”

In my eyes, who was always fighting with Chiaki, that’s an extraordinary expression…

“…Crap. I just accidentally felt that…Chiaki’s a bit adorable!”

I already have Tendou-san as my girlfriend. I can’t believe I’m attracted by this seaweed, what the hell!

To expel these evil thoughts, I quickly slammed the table with my forehead. Although Chiaki and the staff freaked out as they looked at me was embarrassing, …the pervert that ignored his angelic girlfriend for a clump of seaweed deserved punishment like this. I’ll have to gladly accept it.

I pressed my slightly red forehead as I raised my face with tears in my eyes. So, Chiaki smiled bitterly, but she didn’t talk about my strange actions. Instead, she brought us back to where we were.

“As for Twisted God’s Reincarnation, I’m finally at the last scene where I’ll have to pick which side I should follow. The same goes for you, right?”

“Ah, yep, you’re right.”

“I initially called you here to talk about this, didn’t expect this to turn into you talking about your bizarre adventures when you got invited to the Game Club…”

“S-Sorry, Chiaki, that was a long walk. Uh, so, you decided to choose…”

“Ah, before that.”

Chiaki interrupted my question and acted like she’s passing me a microphone. She even asked with a slightly mischievous smile.

“Please tell me first, the choice you’ve made at last. Tell me, Master Keita Amano, who’s seemingly trying to respect both milk and pure coffee at the same time, what did you choose.”

“…Me? …Haha, you’re dumb. Of course, …the choice that I’ve made, there’ll only be one.”

“Oh, so, what did you choose?”

Even though Chiaki should already know the answer, she still curiously pointed her invisible microphone to my side.

To her question…

“It’s Neutral.”

I immediately answered that. Then, Chiaki continued to ask with a slightly naughty look.

“Hey, hey, hey, after all, did you still pick Neutral because it’s the safest? Or is it because you hate both order and chaos for being biased?”

“Nope, it’s not like that. It’s more like…”

I replied Chiaki with a smile.

Although I’m a bit embarrassed, …even so, I have a strong determination in my heart that differentiated me from the past.

Then, I answered her question.

“I think, it’s because I love both sides.”