V2C4

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*****

“Well then, I’m returning the test results now~” said our homeroom teacher Hirosaki Michiru-sensei, with a casual tone like deciding today’s dinner.

Michiru-sense is a responsible woman in her thirties. She’s quite petite, with a height of around 150 cm, she’s good at socializing, and popular amongst her students. A lot of students even call her Micchan-sensei.

There were rumours floating around that at the faculty meeting, no other teacher was brave enough to oversee the class that Oozuka Mai was in. There was only one person who merrily raised her hand and assumed that responsibility. “Ah, well then, let me, Hirosaki, do it~”

I’d wondered how brave that person was to make that decision, but turned out she was just an ordinary teacher.

“Next, Amaori~”

“Yes.”

“You’ve worked hard this time~”

“Eh? Ah, yes.”

Ashi-High is a prep school, so we also received a paper with our rank noted inside. I decided to open it once I arrived back at my desk…

My grade was a bit higher than usual. I usually placed around the bottom average, yet this time I had managed to score around the midpoint average. Even though I had been so engrossed in gaming this week...the study sessions with Satsuki-san were really worth it. Somehow this made me happy.

After feeling momentarily content staring at my result, I tucked it away inside my desk. It seemed like the other members of our group had way more desirable results than mine, so I had better make sure that this was hidden away…

But still, in around two weeks, I’d never expected my score to change this much even though I had spared some time to study after school.

Could it be that if I kept doing this, in three years, I could snatch Mai’s throne as the top of our grade...? As long as I pushed myself until I reached my limit and vomited blood…

Huh, that sounded like some pipe dream, but also not…

“Err, what is it again. Aah, yes, tomorrow is closing ceremony so no class tomorrow~ Don’t forget, okay~”

I peeked at the other students.

Between Mai and Satsuki-san, I wondered who had won this round of test results.

Usually, they would instantly compare their score with each other to see who had the best mark, but this time they weren’t doing anything.

Mai seemed like she didn't really care about her results. I figured she was putting her focus on our upcoming match.

After homeroom, Ajisai-san, who sat in front of me, turned to face me.

“Hey, Rena-chan. It’s today, right?”

“Yeah.”

Today, after school, we would head to Mai’s house.

We’d also already told Ajisai-san and Kaho-chan that the two would settle this through a gaming competition.

Well, you see, I had been very nervous up until yesterday, okay?

But when I think that the only thing left to do is to just do it, I felt like I could bring out my real strength. Something almost like how hard work wouldn’t betray results? With that feeling, I was sure that I was invincible.

With a smile brimming with confidence, I looked at Ajisai-san and declared my optimistic thoughts, “I-I-I-I-I will do my, my, my best...you don’t have to worry, and leave it to me…....just wait…….kahyu….”

“Rena-chan?! You look like someone who slowly had her soul leave her body though?!”

Even though I had intended to say it the way Mai had in her overconfident declaration, how peculiar…

Huh, my hands were trembling. What was happening…? Could it be that I was nervous? This me was…? Nonsense…

“Uuuh, Ajisai-san…”

If only I could just go home and sleep. This was so weird! I had suddenly become weakened!

“It will be okay, Rena-chan!”

“Ouch.”

Kaho-chan, who had suddenly approached, striked my back confidently.

“Even if you failed miserably to the point where MaiMai and Saa-chan would instantly unsheathe and point their swords at each other the moment their eyes met...you can leave it to me and Aa-chan!”

With a reassuring wink, Kaho-chan gave me a thumbs up.

Uuh, I was grateful…

“Kaho-chan, Ajisai-san..”

“She’s right. Of course, I also won’t put the responsibility on Rena-chan. If by any chance it doesn’t work out, just come back and we can find another solution together.”

Goodness gracious, they were so reliable.

So it would be okay even if I failed…? No, wait, if I failed here, my life and freedom would be taken away. Failure was not an option!

Despite that realization, I felt like the weight on my shoulders was slightly lighter, thanks to Kaho-chan and Ajisai-san.

“Just remember, our promised group outing is tomorrow, so in the end the best outcome is when you manage to do it flawlessly!”

“Uuuh, I’ll try my best………”

“W-wait, Kaho-chan, don’t give her more pressure...Rena-chan, i-it will be okay. Don’t cry. I’m sure it will work out somehow, okay?”

After being reassured by them, I felt like I was finally able to move ahead.

I sure was a handful, considering I needed to be taken care of in this situation!

When my heart was nearly done with its weeping, Mai and Satsuki-san came to me.

“Well then, let’s get going, Renako.”

“Yeah, we’re going, Amaori.”

It wasn’t like their relationship was back to their usual one, but it had been quite some time since all five of us had gathered in one spot.

As I thought, the aura that was released when these girls gathered with Mai at the center was awesome. It felt like a hotspot of legendary Pokemon. Of course, excluding me.

“I’m going then!”

With support from Kaho-chan and Ajisai-san, I followed behind Mai and Satsuki-san.

Yeah, once everything was done, I was going to immerse myself in enjoying the summer break!

***

It was my second time coming over to Mai’s house.

Last time, the house was empty since her helpers were out, but this time we had Hanatori-san together with us.

Inside the elevator, Satsuki-san yawned many times.

Looking closer, I spotted dark eye bags under her eyes.

“Satsuki-san, were you up late last night?”

“Yeah, well, since it was my last chance before the real thing.”

Even though she’d said that she couldn’t get her head working if she didn’t get enough sleep. I wondered if she was going to be okay.

“I’ll be okay. I slept for a bit inside the limousine.”

“You read my mind again…”

“You’re just too easy to read.”

I looked at Mai, who was on my other side. She sure looked gorgeous even from this angle. Her skin looked flawless, as if it was made of marble.

Upon detecting my gaze, Mai brought a finger to her lip while forming a smile.

“I guess I should also try to guess what’s inside your mind.”

“Go on.”

“Let’s see. Right now you’re thinking that if only Satsuki weren’t here, you would want a hug and a kiss...right?”

“An extremely wrong answer!”

“Really? So you’re okay even if Satsuki is here? But still, even I would be a bit embarrassed doing something like that…”

“We’ve arrived.” Right after Hanatori-san finished her sentence, the elevator door before us opened and we arrived at our destination floor.

We let her guide us towards our battleground, a room that had been specially arranged for us to game.

“Whoa, this is amazing…”

Inside the wide room, there were three sets of screens arranged into a triangular shape and connected to a PS4 console. On top of that, each screen was paired with a comfortable-looking game chair. This was just like some sort of e-sport tournament studio.

Un-unbelievable. Usually, I was appalled with the ways Mai flaunted her wealth, but this time I couldn’t help but feel sheer excitement looking at the scene before me…

Mai sat down and rested her chin on her elbow, looking proud.

“How is it, Renako? You like things like this, right?”

“Uuu...I-I like it.”

“Can you repeat that again?”

“I like it...”

“Again.”

“I like it...a lot…”

“Fufufu, of course, right? Me too, Renako…”

“When will you guys be done with this charade?”

Slap. Satsuki-san hit the back of my head. That hurt.

“Ah right, let’s start our lovey dovey time after we send Satsuki back home. Anyways, I asked the entertainment company to set things up for us, so the chair is also custom-arranged based on your body and posture. Just in case, try it out and adjust it properly so you don’t feel any discomfort.”

“I-I see…”

Mai’s chair was red, Satsuki-san’s was black, and mine was pink. She had really designed things specifically just for us, huh…

“Let me help you.”

“Ah, yes. Th-thank you very much.”

Hanatori-san taught me the way to handle the lever, and I adjusted the seat so I could see the screen and hold the controller comfortably. I mainly played games while sitting on the floor so at first I thought it would feel a bit weird, but I quickly got used to this. So this was the power of an expensive chair…

“Looking good, eh.”

Like me, Satsuki-san sat on her chair and picked up the controller. The screen was displaying the game we were about to play.

“Could it be that Mai would gladly provide us with the PC version if we asked for it…?”

My mind had been affected by some greedy thoughts.

“Is there a difference between this and the PC version?”

“Nice question, Satsuki-san...fufufu. First, they have completely different frame rates. Also, the PC version is basically operated by a mouse so the aiming ability greatly differs...in the first place, this game was originally a STEAM game, then adapted into a PS4 version later after the first release. Thanks to the change in mechanism, the PvP battle was down from 100 players to a 30-player capacity...In exchange, we could build a private match like this by system. But still, as expected, the PC version offers a great playing experience. The PC version basically provides the players with an exceptional performance so I’ve really wanted to try it out. It’s basically a desire for every student player like me, or something along those lines...hehe…”

“I have no idea what you just said, Amaori.”

“Ha!”

I regained my composure. The light finally returned to my eyes.

“D-did I say something?!”

“Err.”

“No, that’s a misunderstanding. It’s not like what you think, Satsuki-san! That wasn’t me, that was the middle-school version of me!”

“I-I see...I didn’t really get what you meant back then, but now I understand...you sure did your best, eh…”

“Stop looking at me with pity in your eyes!”

What an unexpected huge failure from the start...I’d worked hard to change the way I talked so people could properly hear my voice…

I’d trained my abdominal muscles everyday for the sake of a loud and clear voice, yet even though I’d done all that, I-I, u-uuh……..

“I don’t get what you’re talking about, but I like every side of Renako.”

“Stop spoiling me!”

If that Oozuka Mai tried to accept even this part of me that I loathe so much, it only made me feel terrible to the point where I’d want to end my own life.

Why should I suffer such a huge damage before our match even started? Even the RPGs nowadays provided a proper save point before the last boss match…

“Well then, if you’re ready, let’s start our match.”

Mai, seated in her chair, elegantly crossed her legs.

With that, our seating arrangement also formed a triangle.

I placed my phone on top of the table and then took a deep breath.

It’ll be okay, just play like I usually did.

“I’m ready."

“Me too!”

“Hm.”

Mai was on my left side. She tied her hair into a ponytail so her hair wouldn’t get in the way. On my right was Satsuki-san who had also tied her black hair back, focusing her gaze on the screen.

I couldn’t sense whether they felt nervous or not with these normal eyes of mine. It was also possible that they’d already experienced something like this a few times during their lifetimes.

I was nothing compared to them, but I loved gaming. It was time for me to reinstall the me from back then who had nothing to brag about except her ability on PvPs.

“The private match will begin shortly. The map layout will be selected randomly among the smallest areas. Battle royale mode. The weapons to be used are the standard arms. Three players limited. The player to secure the first two victories will be the champion...if the rules are clear, now...”

I gave them the password to the private room and then the two of them joined shortly. The only thing left to do was for me to start the game by pushing a button.

If Mai wins, she will marry me. If Satsuki-san wins, she will marry me. If I win, they will make up with each other. Now that I think about this condition, everything is so poorly balanced, huh!

But I had no other choice.

I took a deep breath again and blew it out. Then I pushed the button.

“Begin!”

With this, the first round had begun.

I immersed myself in the screen before my eyes.

The map selected for the first round was a residential area. I was starting from a point where my surroundings looked like some prefabricated buildings on an American farm.

This game has a system where we start with no equipment or weapons. In short, we start off barehanded. We needed to search for weapons, collect them, and then assemble them for the incoming PvP battles.

The first stage was most important since the equipment we gathered would determine the outcome of the match. If we didn’t do this step properly, in the worst outcome possible, we would face our opponents barehanded.

Well then, if we were using this setup, I figured there would be something on the second floor.

Err, so we should look around and assemble stuff, and…

“...Nnn?”

I think I heard something…

Right, we weren’t equipped with headphones, so I totally forgot about that. If I increased the volume, it would only intermix with sounds from the other’s screens so it wouldn’t do much.

But still, usually I played this game with a limit of 30 other players. This time, it was just the three of us. That’s why, to have an encounter with an opponent this early in the game was simply impossiー

Something crossed my field of vision.

It was Mai.

“Ha?!”“Ei.”

Mai’s character raised a long bar that looked like she had just randomly picked it up midway and struck me with it.

Wait, wait a minー!

I quickly fired my gun in her direction but she was too close. I couldn’t aim properly.

It was a fatal misjudgement. Things might get better if I quickly put distance between us, or I could counter-attack her with my fists.

As I decided between my options, my screen suddenly turned red.

Mai landed her finishing blow, which was accompanied by a gruesome sound from my screen.

[You Are Dead]

The letters showed up on my screen with a loud sound effect.

Wha, wha, wha………….

“What the heck was that?!”

On instinct, I pounded the table like a boorish player.

Mai looked like she was having a blast.

“Did I surprise you?”

“That’s a given, right?!”

“That’s good then. I didn’t think it would work that effectively.”

“There was nothing good from that though?! Wait, what the heck were you doing?!”

We were still in the middle of the game, but I really had a great urge to stand up and shake her chair furiously. Of course I wouldn’t do something like that though!

Like swirling an expensive wine glass, she elegantly moved her controller with a laugh.

“Well well, it wasn’t that complicated, you see? In the event of a small battleground for four-player-limited areas, the distance between each player’s starting points is only 24 units, right?”

“Eh? For real?”

I’d never played a private match before, so I hadn’t even bothered to memorize something like the spawn area.

“There were a few points that would most likely be set as the starting point, so I quickly sprinted towards that point. If my hunch was wrong, it would become my opponents’ advantage. I’m glad that my plan worked well.”

Mai gracefully brushed her hair back and formed a smile.

“I have great luck after all.”

“...this, this jerk…”

I was so frustrated I felt like wanting to vomit blood.

It wasn’t like Mai had displayed her overwhelming strength. She just had the composure to form a proper strategy. It frustrated me when I compared myself to her. I easily became uselessly agitated by the whole situation.

“Anyway, putting aside whether this plan would work well or not, I arranged a few strategies to counter you especially.”

“Strategies…”

“That’s right. At first I arranged around 20 strategies after considering your personality. After doing a simulation practice, I narrowed it down to three options. I’d already used one so there are two strategies left.”

Mai really looked like she was relishing the whole thing. I was sure that I would be happy gaming if my friend had that kind of expression under normal circumstances.

“Fufu, you’re a strong opponent, but let me say this. There’s no one in this world who thinks about you to this degree other than me, okay?”

“Guh, gah, gugugu…….”

This jerk, she’d really intended to defeat me from the beginning.

I wondered why I hadn’t considered that kind of approach from this woman. She was someone who decided to focus on combo practice for the sake of defeating me in a battle game within a short span of time after all. If she could achieve that, of course she would also do it with FPS by considering the limitations of her ability, seeking the most effective way with the highest probability to let her win this fight!

Of course, it was a given that I would win if she faced me head on comparing our abilities. That’s why she had purposely put her aim on me with well-crafted strategies. I had become ensnared in her plan. How frustrating!

Displeased, I leaned my body back as my screen changed views. Since I had died first, I’d now be able to watch the other players’ movements from my screen.

I couldn’t keep feeling downhearted like this. For now, I should carefully prepare for the next battle, and gathering intel was my first step…

Satsuki-san steadily accumulated necessary items and selected appropriate equipment for the battle. Looking at her movements, the Satsuki-san who had been a complete amateur during our first practice session at my house seemed like a completely different person.

It appeared that she had memorized the map, and she was also being vigilant whenever passing through a space that was perfect for a sudden raid. Her actions really showed that she had done her research.

Honestly, I was really moved. So this was how a teacher felt when her disciples were leaving their nest…

“Satsuki-san, you really got better at this…! That’s amazing, really!”

“How noisy. Shut up, you’re distracting me.”

“Ah, ‘kay.”

On the other hand, Mai was...being absurd. I couldn’t grasp what she was trying to do since her actions were kind of undeveloped. Comparing the two in fundamentals, Satsuki-san’s movements looked better compared with Mai’s rough maneuvers.

Normally when you’re playing this game, you could land a kill, but a death could also take you with an almost even probability. Watching from the sideline like this, I did my best to not say anything.

At last, the two of them had found each other, and engaged in battle, they started to exchange fire.

Mai, who had positioned herself on the higher ground with better equipment, seemed like she had a high chance of winning, but Satsuki-san, positioned well herself, also managed to counter-attack perfectly.

Even then, the result was a win for Mai.

That was a close one.

The battle was so even it wouldn’t be weird if either of them secured a win. Satsuki-san might have fought an unfavorable battle with that situation.

“That was close.”

“.......yeah.”

Satsuki-san unlocked her phone and glanced at her notes.

Her notes revealed her strong desire to win, considering the amount of things written. This diligent side of hers really showed Satsuki-san’s personality.

“My first win. Also, match point. The next round will also become mine.”

Mai’s eyes looked like the eyes of a child who had just received permission from her parents to buy all the toys she desired. She directed those eyes on me, sending a chill through my body…

“A-as if you can easily secure a winning streak like that….”

“Renako, once everything ends, we should go straight to your parents for greetings. I know that we’re still students, but what do you think? If you’re okay, we could arrange to live together a few days a week. Hanatori-san is really great at cooking. It would be great if you get to try her cuisine next time.”

“Can you stop planning someone else’s life during a casual break?!”

Was this part of her psychological warfare?! It was working perfectly, in case you were wondering!

“Game, start!”

Second round. This time I would definitely win.

My tactic this round was a simple one.

First, I would randomly look for a weapon. Once I got it assembled, I would then go straight to a perfect place to observe my surroundings. If I was engaged in a gunfire, I would simply show the difference in our skills. A 30-meter distance from your enemy was the easiest way to do this, based on personal experience.

Fortunately, our stage this time was a desert area. We were basically in an open space, which was relatively prone to lengthy combat.

This stage was a natural disadvantage for Mai, since she relied on her swift attack strategy.

I wondered what face she was making right now so I peeked at her. What I saw was surprising. Mai had set down her controller and was resting her hand on her chin, thinking. “Fumu.”

“Eh, we’re in the middle of battle though?!”

“Of course I’m perfectly aware. I just tried to consider a few patterns that will allow me to grasp a win in my own way. This is something that I need to do.”

“I-I don’t get it…”

This time, I managed to get my hands on the weapon I usually used, an assault rifle. I grabbed it single-handedly and ran hurriedly. I had raised my awareness enough so I wouldn’t get ambushed a second time by Mai’s surprise attack.

I mentally prepared myself so I wouldn’t get caught in Mai’s incoming strategy. No matter how good Mai was at reading my behavior pattern, unlike real life, the things you could do inside a game was limited to a certain extent.

Even if she came up with another strange scheme, as long as she didn't take over the flow of battle, leaving a major disadvantage for me, it wouldn't mean anything.

That was why the most important thing to do for now was to be wary of my surroundings. If I managed to keep up my composure and focus, I should be able to deal with whatever she had planned...I hope!

“What will you do, Mai!”

“Just let me think a bit more. It’s an important strategy for how to deliver you your glass slippers after all.”

“Excuse me, the prince over there, weren’t you the one who brutally cracked Cinderella’s skull a while back?!”

Uh-oh, there was another person’s shadow.

It wasn’t Mai...it was Satsuki-san.

“Tch, so it’s Amaori.”

“Clicking your tongue in the middle of battle is terrifying, you know!”

We exchanged shots while I carefully watched for the timing to pull the trigger. Satsuki-san took cover and returned fire, perfectly aimed at me. Aah, yeah, this is how you're supposed to play this game…!

“Mu…”

“Oo?”

Satsuki-san’s voice sounded distressed.

Did she find out about my prodigious aiming ability...yeah, of course not.

Mai threw her character into the middle of our battle as the third contender. Satsuki-san was caught between our crossfire. In this situation, where there were only three players, aiming at two players simultaneously was a tough thing to do.

“Satsuki, how about we team up for a bit to defeat Renako?”

“Heh, as if. You’re going to come out as the winner if you defeat me after that.”

“Oh my. Are you implying that you have zero chance in defeating me if we face each other?”

“It’s not like that. I just calculated the most effective way for me to win this, and your plan won’t give me the highest probability out there.”

“I see, probability, eh. But Satsuki, what we’re doing right now isn’t the same as your favorite hobby of studying.”

“...what do you mean?”

The sound of gunshots weren’t stopping.

I deduced that Mai was trying to disturb Satsuki-san’s concentration with her talks since earlier, and it appeared that Satsuki-san had taken the bait.

“Imagine you’re under a surprise attack, and there are two choices between a small passage and open space for your escape path. The thing is, both of these choices have enemies lying in wait. So, which one would you choose?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Of course anyone would choose the second choice, since the probability of surviving with the second choice is higher, hence, a [true] answer. That’s a given.”

Mai and Satsuki-san gradually moved further from my position.

If I waited and observed their fights and ambushed them in the middle of their battle, my probability of winning this would be pretty high. So while I was going after them, I tried to remember the sense of discomfort I had felt earlier.

During the first round, why was it that Satsuki-san couldn’t land a blow and win? Could it be that I had misunderstood something?

Was their fight earlier really a close one?

“But listen, Satsuki. The only true answer for my question earlier is a path where there are no enemies lying in wait.”

“?!”

At that moment, Satsuki-san was killed.

Oh no, would Mai also win this round and take victory over us?

“You kept choosing the [true] choice. That’s why you couldn’t defeat me.”

Mai had on her usual smug expression, showing her feelings of triumph. Taking advantage, I quickly shot her and the bullet went through her.

“....................”

She was perplexed for several short seconds.

I was also the same.

“Errr...well, you were just standing there anyway, so, y’know…”

“Yeah, uh, well, that was inevitable.”

Renako, win!

With this, I was also at match point. The only one who hadn't won so far was Satsuki-san…

Rattle. Satsuki-san stood up from her chair.

Her strands of hair danced in the air as she said, “I’m going to borrow your washroom.”

“Go ahead.”

Mai pointed in a certain direction and Satsuki-san walked past her.

“Satsuki-san…”

I muttered her name under my breath out of concern while Mai shrugged her shoulders.

“I wonder if I was too harsh with that one.”

“...right, what you said back then.”

That wasn’t something that someone would say to her friend.

But I chose not to blurt that out.

I felt like it wasn’t right if I’d applied my own concept of an ideal friendship to Mai and Satsuki-san’s relationship.

“But you see, even though I said all of that, I once thought, what if I let Satsuki grasp an easy win? What do you think would happen? In the end, I concluded that she did her best for the sake of defeating me, and if I easily let her have it, do you think that would have made her happy?”

“That’s…”

I was perfectly aware that if her opponents held back, it would only make matters worse. Especially if the opponent was Mai.

“It would be great if she could live her life a bit more carefree.”

“...she’s Satsuki-san because she can’t do that, though.”

“You’re not wrong.”

Hanatori-san approached with a tray filled with refreshments. She really came at the perfect timing.

“Th-thank you very much.”

I accepted the teacup from her and brought my nose close to it. What a wonderful fragrance. Once the tea touched my palate, the warmth quickly filled my mouth. Swallowing the hot tea, I felt like I calmed down.

The sweet taste combined with a slight sour flavor was perfectly balanced with a tint of bitterness. It quickly relieved me of my fatigue. It tasted great.

After emptying my mind for several seconds savouring the tea, I remembered the match back then and opened my mouth.

“Hey, Mai.”

“Nn.”

“You really are amazing after all. How should I put this, like you have your own way of thinking, something that’s not quite ordinary.”

“That’s right. I’m someone who would accompany you for the rest of your life, Oozuka Mai.”

“We won’t though.”

We won’t, but…

The fact that she’s attractive, I should admit it whether I liked it or not.

Even though Satsuki-san practiced desperately, Mai had managed to defeat her completely, huh.

Mai brought her teacup to her lips and sipped it.

“But she’s the one who taught me freedom.”

“Which means…?”

Her blue eyes stared at something far away, as if she were reminiscing about something far in the past.

“It was a long time ago. The moment of our first encounter.”

“During elementary school?”

“Aah.”

Mai shrugged again.

“Good grief...why should I get so fixated on something like this.”

“I don’t really get it but…”

Satsuki-san hated to lose, but she wasn’t someone who would be hostile to someone because of that. Mai was an exception. Well, she behaved like that out of frustration since she couldn’t beat Mai, not even once. And they were childhood friends after all, but…

Why Mai couldn’t understand something simple like this, I wondered while glaring at her.

“Anyway, I also wondered the same thing, about your feelings to me.”

“That’s because you’re my fated person.”

“You’re still saying that…”

“Of course. I’ll keep conveying these unchanging feelings to you, even after 100 years.”

Muu...even though we were in the middle of a break, it didn’t mean that she should say something like that…

I drained my cup and exhaled warm air. I wondered how the next round would progress. Personally, I would like to settle this with Mai on this round. It would be okay. I was composed enough to do it. I would definitely win the next round.

And that was when I remembered.

“Isn’t she taking too long?”

“You’re right. Let’s just leave her for a while.”

I stared at the empty black chair as Mai calmly answered my question. At that moment, I redirected my gaze towards her, wide-eyed.

“Eh, leave her for a while…”

Mai didn’t respond.

It seemed like she was trying to respect Satsuki-san by not saying anything.

“So this is something like that?”

I stood up from my chair.

My body moved so naturally, even I was a bit surprised.

“I-I’m going to take a look.”

“It would be better if you leave her alone.”

“Don’t wanna.”

Those words left my mouth so instinctively that it left me stunned. Even Mai looked astounded.

“I-it’s because.”

I hurriedly came up with some answer since I kind of didn’t want to leave it at that.

“That time, you came for me. That time when I ran away to the rooftop.”

“Thanks to that, I made you jump from that height, though?”

“Th-that’s right, but...”

I was desperately searching for the right words, but I couldn’t find them.

What I could think of right now was only something plain, not something wonderful like a beautiful, fancy phrase.

I bit my lower lip and expressed my feelings, “I was happy.”

When she heard my words, Mai smiled.

“I see. Well then, I’ll respect your choice.”

From her face, I could see her expression change into something like loneliness.

“I’m sure that my words can no longer reach her, after all.”

I quickly moved my legs to the washroom. It was as if I had been entrusted with something important, even though I wasn’t someone capable of something great after all. I was just me.

Before me was a tightly sealed door, resembling an immovable giant stone at the mouth of a secret cave.

I was sure that she wouldn't accept my words easily. So I timidly called her name.

“Um...Satsuki-san?”

First time. There was no answer.

“Satsuki-san.”

The second time, I waited a while before I heard a voice.

“Amaori.”

Her usual commanding tone was nowhere to be heard. I clenched my fist at my chest.

“I’m sorry, did I make you worried? I will go back soon. Just give me some time. I’m thinking about how I should proceed in the next round.”

I planted my palm on the door and gently pushed it.

Of course, the surface felt cold and firm.

“It didn’t go smoothly at all. As expected, Mai is really a great person. But you see, even I worked really hard, right? It’s just, if only I had a bit more time…”

“...yeah. You really did everything you could, of course I know about that. You really improved wonderfully after all.”

A brief pause.

“...but, I’m not good enough to defeat Mai.”

“That’s…”

I couldn’t say anything.

Something like that, well, it happens. There are players so skillful you can’t beat them.

I’ve already witnessed that numerous times. Even though my play time and the number of my matches were higher, there were players higher in rank than me. Some players were so incredible you couldn’t help wondering if they were what you called prodigies.

Mai had worked as a model since her childhood. This meant she had continuously beat the rivals who had the same dream as her, to reach her current level.

She didn’t need to fight CPU players to nurture a winner’s mentality. She was a natural-born champion after all.

That was why it couldn’t be helped.

I swallowed the words that had reached the edge of my tongue.

Satsuki-san was someone who doesn't accept ‘it can’t be helped’ as consolation.

“During our finals, I still took shifts for my part-time job.”

“...eh?”

“The manager told me that it would be okay if I took the day off, but I’d already promised my mother that I would earn money to help out. I didn’t want to violate something that I had been determined to do.”

“So that’s the thing.”

“I properly studied, I also practiced a lot.”

That was why she had those eye bags…

She had sacrificed her sleep time to do a lot of stuff.

“I see. I understand. You really are a remarkable person, Satsuki-san.”

Her part-time job, her studying...from the perspective of someone who lazily completed her own studies, Satsuki-san was someone high above the clouds.

Someone who was far in the sky, a moon that shone brightly.

Someone unreachable.

That was how I saw Satsuki-san.

“But everything I did, they were things that I did to make an escape from reality.”

“That’s…”

That wasn’t true, Satsuki-san.

You can’t say that.

“I risked everything for the sake of victory over her, but I can’t even scratch her skin as she easily tramples me. I no longer have anything left.”

“Satsuki-san…”

‘I’m enjoying this.’ I remembered the night she said those words with a smile on her face, shining with her ambition of defeating Mai. I regretted one thing.

The fact that I was a fool.

I’d thought that as long as I won this game, everything would go back to normal, including their relationship.

But things weren’t as simple as that.

If we returned and resumed our match, even if I won, Satsuki-san would no longer be able to see herself as Mai’s equal.

They wouldn’t be able to stay friends.

“...Satsuki-san…”

Outside the secluded room filled with despair, I hung my head.

That time I had been happy when Mai came for me, because she was Mai. I couldn’t do something grand like Mai since I wasn’t good at conveying my feelings with beautiful words. I also couldn’t do well to comfort Satsuki-san.

In the corner of my mind, I understood that it might be better if I just left her alone rather than making things worse.

I really was a fool.

But still…

“You can’t give up, Satsuki-san.”

“...the heck is that.”

Now it was too late to regret anything.

The match had started. That was why I was standing here right now.

I couldn’t change my past, like the times I had shut myself away from the outside world. I had harboured a lot of regrets, always overthinking my past actions inside the warmth of my bed, year-round. But in the end, I had managed to come out of that shell and completed a splendid high-school debut, and met Satsuki-san.

So I raised my head.

It was never too late to change yourself after all.

“Even if you don’t win today, there’s still tomorrow. You might be able to win the day after this. No one knows, but perhaps you could overtake her someday.”

I was spouting very irresponsible words.

“I...I always thought that. But the opponent isー”

“Even though your opponent is Mai, you can’t give up! I don’t want you to!”

I wasn’t simply being selfish. This was the point where I expressed my personal desire.

I just wanted Satsuki-san to look ahead.

“You want to defeat her, right? You’ve always yearned for that since a long time ago, right? That’s why you can’t quit now. Because I also want to see it, the moment you defeat her! I really want to witness a frustrated Mai when you defeat her, I really want to see it!”

“...it’s too late...for that.”

“It’s not! Because you already dragged me this far into your scheme after all! I decided to go with your words back then, you know? I chose to take your hand even though you were planning to betray your own friend! Let me tell you, doing all of that made me feel so suffocated, okay?! “

That was right, our relationship...

Since the beginning, we weren’t simply strangers.

We were already friends.

(TL Note: The kanji used here is 共犯者 which is accomplice or partners-in-crime, but the author written the furigana as friends.)

“That’s why you can’t stop now! If you lose, you just need to flash your usual daring smile and say ‘I wont lose next time’! Things that you usually do, being the usually impudent Satsuki-san! Don’t lose heart to someone who’s only good at appearances but a cocky jerk inside!”

Bang. I beat the door before me.

“...you.”

What I had said wasn’t something like words of consolation or pity.

I wasn’t someone worthy enough to say something like that to Satsuki-san after all. I wasn’t insolent enough to praise her efforts when my own efforts couldn’t even compare with her hardships.

What I could do right now was to put my expectations on her.

That was the best thing Iーthis mediocre and dull meーcould do to support her.

A moon can’t shine if there’s no sun. Even then, since long ago, no one could help but be taken aback by the moon’s beauty. Both the sun and the moon have their own charm. One wasn’t better than the other.

That was why I liked to see a Satsuki-san who looked forward and forged her own path.

“Hey, Satsuki-sanー”

When I hit the door for the second time—

As if it hadn’t been locked from the beginning, the door opened quickly. Eh?!

Moved by momentum, my body plunged forward towards Satsuki-san, who was seated on the toilet cover. She looked perplexed when she saw me but still caught my body anyway.

“Awa,wawawa.”

“What are you doing…”

From the bottom of my heart, I was really grateful that she had her skirt on.

“M-my apologies...it’s just, I was being too eager...”

“To think that you’d resort to violence like that.”

“I admit that I hit the door! But, eh, are you just starting a logical argument with this timing?”

My body was still embraced by her arms, and I couldn’t move freely. For some reason, Satsuki-san wasn’t releasing her grip on me…!

Her soft body with supple skin was holding me firmly. Her flowing long hair covered my body gently like a blanket. No matter which direction I directed my gaze, my view was filled with Satsuki-san. It was like the scent of a night basked in moonlight.

“Wh-why won’t you let me go…”

“When I listened to you, I remember one thing.”

“You really have no intention to answer me, huh! Eh, and that was…?”

“The fact that Oozuka Mai isn’t someone as amazing as she thinks.”

“Satsuki-san…”

I lifted my head, and when I did that, Satsuki-san’s face was right before mine.

Her lips formed a smile like a crescent moon. An eerie laughter emanated from her.

“You’re sure bold enough to say everything to your heart's content like that, even though you’re Amaori.”

“Eh?! I-I’m sorry…”

“Don’t mind it. It’s not like that I hate that part of you.”

After she said that, her previous smile changed into a light one.

And then she brought her face closer to mine. Eh?

She planted her lips on mine and we kissed.

“But why?!”

“Nothing deep, business as usual.”

“Stop treating people’s lips like it has the effect of a nourishing tonic!”

“When are you going to hug me until? Can you release me now?”

“You’re being very unreasonable! You’re the one who should let me go now. Just, let, me, go!”

Inside the cramped washroom, I squirmed with all my might to release myself from her grip, but she was strong. I couldn’t really budge her arms to move as she laughed at me. Grrr.

After a while, she finally let me go. I was too tired and gasping for air. Thanks to her I had worked up a nice amount of sweat.

“What was that…”

I rolled over to escape the washroom. While still trying to catch my breath, I stared at her.

“Thank you, Amaori.”

“No, well, I don’t really get it but, it’s alright.”

“Now if I think about it, it would be very irrational if I let her break my spirit like that. I also should mess with her heart just like what she did to me.”

“What are you scheming?!”

Her jet black hair was swaying like an assassin's coat as she answered, “Of course, the continuation of our war.”

Could it be that I had just awoken a forbidden monster from her slumber…?

“Hey there, you sure took a long time.”

Greeting us, Oozuka Mai looked gorgeous as usual, like how she had sent me off a while ago.

“So how did it go? Did you find a way to defeat me?”

Satsuki-san answered her question bluntly, “Yeah, thanks to you.”

Oh my.

“Hou, I’m looking forward to it.”

I didn’t know whether Satsuki-san’s answer was true or it was just a bluff. Even though she could read my mind, I really couldn’t understand her at all.

“But still, what were you doing in the washroom? You were taking so long and Renako is also quite drenched in sweat.”

That was because Satsuki-san had been picking on me and wouldn’t let me off…

Before I managed to say anything, Satsuki-san answered first, “You’re right, it’s because I just embraced her.”

“Ho?”

“I mean, Amaori.”

Satsuki-san threw a flirtatious glance in my direction.

Huh? No, wait, wait, wait, wait a minute!

Your choice of words! That would surely invite a misunderstanding! Was this part of her plan to disturb Mai’s composure?! That was too obvious, not even Mai wouldー

“Ho, hou, h-h-hou?”

It worked!

Mai, who had tried to calm herself, picked up her teacup, but her hand was trembling so hard that it let out a loud clattering sound. Satsuki-san’s plan was very effective!

“You really have no tact in choosing your words, Satsuki. Actually, she just let you hug her, right? But still, I’m envious…”

“We also kissed though. Right, Amaori?”

“We did but still!”

So this was what she meant! She had done that for this moment! How terrifying!

“Renako……?”

Mai’s gaze was quite impressive in a certain way. Her childhood friend had changed into a very terrifying person since she sacrificed her first kiss two weeks ago for the sake of her goal! This wasn’t my fault at all, okay?!

I couldn't stand this atmosphere any longer, so I boldly pressed the start button.

It was better if we finished this quickly, right!

“G-game, start!”

This time the stage was—ah, a quite well known stage, an urban area, huh. It was mainly developed, with factories and business towns.

“Hey, Amaori. Should I tell you the reason why I’m so determined to defeat Mai?”

“Eh?! We’re in the middle of a match though?!”

“A long time ago, Mai was your textbook spoiled rich girl.”

Somehow she started talking!

“Wait, Satsuki. What kinds of things are you intending to tell her?”

“The time of your most, no, the only cute phase in your life.”

Satsuki-san continued moving her mouth as her hands skillfully maneuvered the joystick.

L-let’s concentrate…! Of course this was her trap so I didn’t have to lend her an ear…

“That time, she was popular just like her current self. She was always surrounded by a lot of people. But that was limited to school, since she never had spare time after school. Besides her modelling job, she also had several lessons after all. Of course it wasn’t something easy to endure as a child.”

“...Mama put me in a special class for gifted children. I think it’s part of her education policy which is to extend your children’s potential until it reaches its limit.”

“But back then, you felt shackled by that, right?”

“What I felt was probably jealousy. Since you and the other children always looked like you were having fun all the time.”

“And that was why you did something foolish like that.”

“That’s part of youthfulness.”

Guh, if only we had headphones!

I kept overhearing their conversation and it impaired my concentration!

“One day, Mai came to us and said that she was free that day so she joined us after school to play. Of course, the other girls welcomed her since it was rare for the popular Mai to join us like that. But that day, Mai didn’t look like her usual self. She looked absent-minded.”

“...you really intend to tell her everything, eh.”

“Yeah, is there anything wrong? You don’t want her to know?”

“...even though I’m telling you to stop, you won’t, right?”

“You know me really well.”

“We’ve known each other for a long time after all.”

Satsuki-san smiled calmly while Mai shrugged. The bantering just now really felt like something between childhood friends.

Huh, wait, this wasn’t the time to get carried away with their story!

“After that, it was evening when the other girls had already gone home, leaving only the two of us. It was at the park near the shrine where she crouched down and with a face like she was almost crying, she said that she didn’t want to go home.”

Shrine...ah, that shrine.

The place we’d visited for our agreement that day. That place.

Aah, geez.

“Wh-why is that?”

I ended up joining their conversation. For now, I picked up a rifle that I usually used, and left a few things that I probably wouldn’t use.

“Actually, Mai was skipping her after-school activities. It wasn’t only her lessons, but also her modelling job. She’d turned off her phone and chose to play with us. I think that time she’d reached her limit.”

So it was something like that…

“I was a child back then. Of course, I made mistakes during work, got scolded by adults, had small fights with Mama. I went through a lot and finally reached a rebellious phase.”

“And then what did you do, Satsuki-san?”

“I brought her home with me. I couldn’t really leave her like that after all. She was someone who always wore beautiful clothes, someone who was sparkling like a princess. It was a given that I was ashamed to bring her to my house. My mother was like that, and my father was not around ever since I was able to remember.”

So Satsuki-san had that kind of circumstance.

“It was my first time to visit a friend’s house. Of course I was nervous. But that time, Auntie was very kind. Of course, you too.”

“I did my best to treat you with hospitality. When I saw your face with that uneasy look, I was desperate to comfort you. I also frequently had fights with my mother and left home after all, so I could empathize with your feelings.”

Somehow I felt like relaxing due to this suddenly gentle atmosphere, but it was an illusion. This was a battlefield, so everything was a mere illusion. The only reality we had was the smell of gunpowder.

Even though I was aware of that, the dissipating tension between us felt like the time we normally had as friends.

“A-and then?”

“Let’s see, after we had dinner, Mai’s mother came to our house.”

“Uwaa.”

I automatically let out a groan.

“Could it be that, something like coming with anger, or…?”

“No, rather, she looked so calm she was like a robot. She calmly gave an apology since her daughter was bothering us. But that time, I’d thought that adults would definitely be angry during times like this. Looking at that attitude somehow brought me greater fear than ever.”

“It was also my first-time seeing Mama act like that. But now if I think about it, since I had done something unreasonable like that, she was able to reflect on her behavior. She was clumsy at expressing her emotions, so she really didn’t have any way to show what was inside her heart. But that time, I also definitely thought that she was scary.”

“Especially since your actions caused huge trouble for others when you decided to skip your work. Hey, did you know? That time I was really sure that at that rate you would be taken away and killed.”

Satsuki-san laughed, and Mai let out a bitter smile.

Mai’s ears had been red since earlier. Was this what she meant when she said her childhood self was a foolish little girl?

“You’re exaggerating. But I also thought that she would stop me from going to school, even though we were just in elementary school back then.”

“And then, what happened after that?”

The one who answered my question is Mai.

“Satsuki covered me.”

“Eh, Satsuki-san…?”

“Aah.”

“You can’t bring her back!” said the little girl.

The black-haired girl stood up in front of the blonde girl.

And then, while she glared towards the woman in the black suit like she was trying to intimidate her, she shouted, “Mai just wanted to play with us, she didn’t do anything bad! My mother said that playing around is part of a child's job! That’s why I’m sure that Mai isn’t doing anything bad at all!”

The blonde girl cried as she saw the black-haired girl spread her arms in front of her like she was protecting her.

The blonde girl didn’t quite understand the reason behind her tears. She did fear her mother, but there were also other feelings as she saw her friend protecting her like this, something precious. She didn’t want to be apart from her friend. Her feelings were unleashed and the tears flowed.

“Mai, you don’t have to go anywhere! You can be part of our household! I will always be by your sideー!”

“Ah,” a small voice from Mai’s direction.

She stared at me with a passionate gaze.

“I see, so that’s why I, you…”

“Eh?”

“No, it was nothing. Right, this is something boorish, let’s stop that. Listen, Renako, I really love you from the bottom of my heart.”

“Wh-why were you suddenly saying something like that…”

Satsuki-san let out a sigh.

“My mother got really mad since I had gotten angry out of nowhere without trying to understand the circumstances. After that, Mai also got taken from our house. That day was really terrible.”

“Since that, right, Satsuki?”

“What?”

“Whenever I’m alone, you’ve always come to me, which leads you to see me as no one special. In the end you even concluded that I wasn’t that amazing.”

“Well, that’s a given. A girl who cried like that. Also, you had acted like an adult before so it can’t be helped.”

“But that’s why you started to compete with me and also act like an adult. Why was that?”

“That was because you started to act like an adult. I was just playing along with you.”

“And why was that?”

“Because.”

Satsuki-san put her controller on top of the table. It was like she had abandoned the match.

She stood up, and she looked at Mai from above, pointing her finger.

It was like she was saying, “Why don’t you get it?”

“If I hadn’t done that, one day when you’re alone again, I couldn’t stay by your side, right?”

Both Mai and I turned our heads and stared at Satsuki-san.

In short, she did everything for the sake of staying by Mai’s side as her equal.

So Mai wouldn’t be alone again.

“Fu.”

Mai hung her head in embarrassment.

“...things would be better if you just honestly said it. I was sure that you no longer cared about me and shunned me… But as I thought, you haven’t changed at all since our first encounter. You’re really a kind-hearted person.”

Without any real intention, I muttered, “Huh, so in the end you really do like Mai after all, Satsuki-san...”

Satsuki-san, who toppled back onto her seat, let out a huge sigh.

“I don’t really care about that. That was something that I had decided for myself, something that I did without any intention to make her feel gratitude for me… Also, it would be embarrassing if I said it straight up.”

“Fufu...but I finally get it. About your true feelings. Thank you for telling me.”

While still looking down, Mai couldn’t contain her grin while rubbing her chin, looking happy.

“And then, well.”

At one point, Satsuki-san had picked up her controller, proceeding with the game.

“With this long conversation, not even Mai can keep her guard up since she became vulnerable thanks to my feelings.”

“...excuse me?”

The sound of a gunshot echoed.

Middle-range sniping. With all her training, Satsuki-san took down Mai in one shot thanks to her polished aiming ability.

““Eh?””

Both Mai and my voice echoed in unison.

Once again, Satsuki-san stood up from her chair, but this time she put one leg up on the chair like a hooligan.

“STUUU~~~~~~~PID~~~~ YOU REALLY PUT DOWN YOUR GUARD, HUH~~~~~~!!!!”

“Wh-wh-wh-wha…….”

Even Mai was lost for words.

“Didn’t you say that you like me…”

“That’s that, and this is this! The heck with ‘always be by your side’!? Being by your side, it was always loss, loss, loss, a chain of losses! Of course I would get pissed! This is why a naive girl with a flower field inside her head like you are so troublesome! Did you really think I’m that pure, huh?!”

She really answered like she felt refreshed.

“...for the sake of putting mud over my face, you went to that length…you conveyed the feelings hidden inside your heart, just for the sake of one win…..?!”

“If it’s for seeing this look on your face, this is a cheap price to pay~~~~~!!!”

“This is too much…!”

Mai somehow had tears welling in her eyes.

“How’s that?! The feeling of getting deceived and destroyed by me?! Sorrowful?! Frustrated?! Or could it be that you're hurt?! Hey, tell me, just tell me! Your feelings, everything! You see, right now I’m feeling very joyous! This is the best! I’m so thankful that day they brought you home!”

With this tension, it wouldn’t be weird if Satsuki-san applauded herself soon.

“Why are you being that vile?!”

So this was what she had meant by messing with her heart…

But, yeah.

The thing about Satsuki-san liking Mai, and being glad the day they brought Mai home, I think both of those were her true feelings.

I turned around for once and looked at the two of them who were swearing at each other with vulgar words. Somehow it made me laugh.

I was really envious after all.

One day, I also want to have that kind of relationship like them, a relationship that allows you to compete with each other whole-heartedly.

Wait...whole-heartedly might be a bit impossible. I might cry for real if Satsuki-san crushed me with all of her might, so it would be great if she held back.

Well then, now.

“Satsuki-san, now it’s time for our showdown.”

“........”

Satsuki-san became quiet as she sat back onto her chair and picked up her controller.

“Amaori.”

“What is it?”

“Err. I like you. I really like you. I like you so much, it's crazy, I love you.”

“What a sloppy confession! Tell me then! Which part of me do you like!”

“...let’s see…”

After thinking for a while, she turned her face to look at me.

And then, as if she had prepared to say something grand, she opened her mouth.

“You’re thoughtless, bad at socializing, and on top of that, reckless. You also have no real talent…but—”

“Yeah.”

“—but you perfectly understand your own weaknesses, and that’s why you’re kinder than anyone else… also, that single-minded intention of yours that somehow brings embarrassment even to someone who witnesses it...these are the reasons, I think.”

Somehow, her words really sounded sincere and gentle.

Hearing those words that appeared earnest, of course even I………...wouldn’t get deceived.

“I see~~~! Thanks~!”

From a rooftop across a 200-meter distance, I channeled my gratitude into one shot, a perfect headshot.

Amaori Renako, grand victory!

OMAKE

*****

For more detailed info about the novel, click here

Credit:

TL and everything else: Meatbun

Proofread: Lyra

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