Gamers v1c1

There was nothing more interesting than playing games when I was in a good mood.

That was why, the me today──

── Could enjoy myself even though I was sitting in a corner of the classroom and playing social network games on my mobile phone.

I liked the design that tempts players to pay cash, even though it usually frustrates me.

Even the usually unbearable ‘after school sit in place forever alone time’ felt trivial today. After all...

The famous Tendo Karen invited me to join the Gamers Club!

The person I admired approached me, and on top of that, I had a feeling that I would get to know a lot of comrades who loved video games.

Actually after what happened yesterday, I went home and played Super Smash Bros with my younger brother. For the entire game, I was so hyped that I was all smiles even when I lose, even my brother who was in the third year of middle school said “You look really disgusting!” But I couldn’t help it even if he said that.

I had to keep myself from snickering at school, but a background character like me won’t be noticed── I thought as I continued playing with my phone in a great mood.

Even a self-proclaimed gaming enthusiast like me didn’t know.

I played around with the operating system of my phone as I slowly think back about what happened after school yesterday… After shifting location from the game store to a bench in a nearby park, I listened to what Tendo-san had to say.

Tendo-san said as she took out a small bottle of mineral water from her bag to drink.

“Thank you for enlightening me, But in that case-”

“?”

“We are in the same grade, you can just talk to me like an equal, Amano-kun. Or rather, I am already speaking in such a casual tone, it would be awkward if you respond with honorifics.”

I apologized on reflex, and then noticed that I almost used honorifics again. Tendo-san smiled wryly.

“I-I see.”

“Haha…”

“Oh… Eh, no no no, that’s too ridiculous!”

“There should be a limit on how bad a bug affects the game! And under what situation did this bug occur!?”

“It’s a dream! There is no doubt that it was a dream!”

“It’s probably a dream! It would be terrible if it is not a dream!”

“Why do you insist on denying that was a dream! Don’t do that! Of course, the one who was mistaken is Tendo-sa──

When Tendo-san suddenly giggled, I finally realized that she drew out my true colours, and felt really embarrassed.

“Sorry, I veered from the topic accidentally. Ehh, where were we…”

“Right, we were talking about not advertising for the Gamers Club after founding it, right?”

After I had calmed down a little, pure curiosity stemmed from my heart. Tendo-san capped her bottle as she looked at the kids playing in the sandpit.

“...? …… Ah... Ah~~ I see…”

Simply put, Tendo-san was probably worried there would be half hearted people who would join in order to slack off or to woo her. After all, unlike sports club, the entry bar for the Gamers club sounded really low.

“I really love video games, although I don’t really mention that to my friends. And the reason I am studying in Otobuki High is because I heard we have a famous Gamers Club here.”

That was the first time I heard that. Tendo-san laughed weakly.

“Okay…”

“And so, in order to revive the Gamers Club, I have been working behind the scenes for the past year. Finally, I became the Club president this spring…”

I offered my sincere compliments. Tendo-san said shyly: “It isn’t much.”

“Eh, but, what exactly does the Gamers Club do…”

“... Are there any difference between it standing out or not? Actually, how can playing video games be a club activity…”

“Ahaha, yes, that’s what people would normally think. However, it really is different from just playing video games. Or rather, we have to play games seriously for it to be a club activity.”

“Eh… Sorry, it’s hard for you to imagine that right? But that’s how it is.”

“Well, Amano-kun! Would you like to visit the Gamers Club room!?”

“W-Why would you invite someone like me…”

Compared to me who couldn’t understand and was flustered──

“Because you like video games, right?”

I tilted my head as I pondered, and Tendo-san began explaining in detail.

“Oh… I see…”

Hmm? But this means… I really...

She had probably set a vibrating alarm on her phone, Tendo-san looked flustered when she took it out from her pocket.

“That’s it for today! Tomorrow! Make some time for me after school tomorrow! I will tell you the details… I will find you after class is over! Bye, Amano-kun!”

I stood up from the chair hurriedly, and despite a slight hesitation in my heart, I still waved my hand shyly… Even though Tendo-san wasn’t looking at me, I continued waving my hand… I only slumped back onto the bench when I could no longer see her figure anymore.

“So that means… I… was chosen by her?”

“Gamers Club… Gamers Club huh… Fu, fufu…”

That I looked forward to going to Otobuki High the next day.

As I absentmindedly cleared my Social Network game missions, I kept replaying back the event from yesterday in my mind.

What an exciting day. To think I would see such a day in my high school life.

Could it be… That was just a dream…?

...N-No way, that was definitely not a dream. Yes, it was real, no doubt about it… I-I just need to play my game and wait for school to end, yup!

For me, games were a safe haven, and also my mental stabilizing injection. I liked to empty my mind, play task oriented games, and immerse myself in the world of RPG as well. Because no matter what I was playing, I could forget everything about reality, and cleanse my soul completely.

The players had to use the energy that recover over time to adventure, and battle by playing mini games. They could also use the rewards from battles or the bonus from logging in daily to play gacha to collect comrades, power-up and synthesize new items.

I completed a mission today as usual, and found a ‘help request notification when I returned to the home screen.

Ah, even though the term ‘friend’ was used, I don’t know most of the players, and was only helping out in the game. Just strangers that didn’t communicate, and only helped each other for the reward, with no emotional investment.

Ah, it’s ‘MONO’. I will help him then.

However, ‘MONO’ was a ‘friend’ I made when I first played this game. Even though we didn’t message each other at all, I somehow feel a strong sense of camaraderie for him. Our game progress was almost the same and we go online at similar timings, which was probably the reason why we often help each other.

I immediately reached out to press the ‘accept help request’ button──

── It happened really fast, Tendo-san entered the classroom after speaking loudly.

I froze on the spot as I stared at her with my mobile phone in hand flusteredly,

Ugh… This really is...

To be honest, instead of being envious, the gaze of my classmates appeared confused.

“Hmm? Amano-kun, are you busy with something?”

“Oh, a social network game. How unexpected, I didn’t think you will play such boring things.”

My face started heating up for no reason, and I hurriedly flip my phone over… Why was my body turning hot too? Was it because Tendo-san was beside me, and I was being watched by everyone? Or perhaps…

Tendo-san moved the phone I put on the table away, placed her hand there, then spoke to me intimidatingly:

“Ah, a-alright. It should be… fine.”

And so, Tendo-san said with a smile: “It’s settled then!”

I couldn’t find the words to answer her as my mouth opened and close. The gods probably couldn’t bear seeing me like this, and rang the bell for the second period of class.

Tendo-san left quickly after saying that. The only thing accompanying me was the words ‘Ah, right, bye…’ I uttered in relief, and…

The rude stares from my classmates. Also, as the bell for class just rang, even the classmates that would normally riot didn’t talk to me, and the air felt dangerous. That might be so, but I couldn’t take the initiative and talk about the Gamers Club…

── At this moment…

I picked up my phone and looked at the screen, and the message ‘help request fail’.

But, why…?

Chapter end