The difference in ability was plain to see.

From my presently controlled ninja character 『Found』’s movements and, Nakamura’s fox-character 『Foxy』’s movements, anyone watching would be able to tell that a level gap existed. Well, for a riajuu [1], he wasn’t actually at all that bad.

I had, as soon as the match started, been certain of victory.

However, I was, with regards to «ATAFAMI», not the type to hold back. That’s why, even in this situation where Nakamura’s remaining lives had already reached 1, despite me making a show out of straight up plunging in recklessly so as to prompt a reaction from him, I would be using 『Blink』 [2] mid-charge. Likely, if it’s the case that his true strength only amounted to this much, he probably wouldn’t even know what 『Blink』 was. Barely touching the ground by applying 『Midair Evasive Movement』 diagonally downwards, a quick, surface-skimming evasion technique.

Nakamura, discomforted by my actions, fired a blow. I let the shot pa.s.s behind me, using 『Blink』 to dodge, then took advantage of the opening and drew close. The fundamental of this game’s combos was throwing. After throwing an opponent to the ground, for how long would an activated combo be able to connect? The character I was using, Found, was especially powerful in that aspect.

Nakamura’s character was now held in place by Found. From here on out the fight proceeded into my unrivalled sphere of activity. Though I phrased that rather simply, in truth this required the use of combos that each demanded delicate operation, strung together in rapid succession. It wasn’t that methods of escaping did not exist, but that Nakamura, did not know how, did not have the ability to do so. Therefore, this situation as it was, naturally meant the end.

With that, Nakamura’s lives were zero──。

「Yosh」 [3]

Yep. Whoops, I just went and won it. Well, for me to lose in ATAFAMI to an amateur was an impossibility, but for it to have been carried out with such ease was what brought about the problematic feeling. How should I put it, I was scared of what was to come.

Each player starting with four lives. An even stage devoid of gimmicks. Seeing each other’s play for the first time.

Under those impartial conditions, Nakamura’s remaining lives totalled zero. My remaining lives ── four.

That would be, well, a complete victory. I tried looking in Nakamura’s direction, and found him examining the controller I held in my hands for comparison, with an expression of wanting to say something. This was somewhat surprising. Who would have known that during my high school life, from Nakamura I would have this kind of weak gaze directed at me. I had never imagined it.

A brown-haired ikemen [4], riajuu from a glance, even when it came to studies, sports, and popularity with the girls; the only thing missing was gaming skills, or else all aspects would be of the highest tier. With just his good qualities, already head and shoulders above the rest of the crowd, countenance overflowing with confidence, the riajuu high school student, Nakamura.

That same Nakamura was, looking at me with weak eyes. At the likes of someone like me who, from one look, would be exposed as a kimo-ota [5].

「…the… ault.」

Nakamura was saying something.

「Eh?」

「It’s the character’s fault」

「…What?」

「The character was inferior. Because of that, this kind of thing is normal.」

「N-No, that character and this character, in terms of ability they’re about the same, though…」

「Not that, I meant in terms of compatibility. No matter how

you think about it, isn’t the compatibility bad here?」

Nakamura spoke matter of factly. I was completely taken aback. That kind of, no-matter-how-you-think-about-it excuse.

Then with a, ahh I get it now, I realized. The reason for this kind of useless resistance, was the matter of how much he had immensely underestimated me. If he didn’t do this much, he’d be unable to hold on to any of his pride after suffering such a humiliating defeat by me, so — since it’s this person it’s acceptable to make such a lame excuse — even that consideration existed. Since I possessed the prerequisite of being looked down upon. That’s right, this was an unfair provision bestowed upon jaku-charas.

However. Only now was different.

This moment. Only at this moment where Atafami was being played before my eyes.

「Cer-Certainly, Foxy falls fast, making combo connection very, very easy.」

「As I said. Then it was down to the characters’ compatibility, that game.」

I breathed in, then looked straight into Nakamura’s eyes. Scary. But.

「…That sort of thing, don’t you agree that it’s an excuse?」

I had gotten used to being looked down on. There weren’t any particular feelings of frustration. Such a thing had become natural, after all.

「No, wasn’t it actually like that? You’re seriously happy about winning with that thing? It’s a kusoge, isn’t it. Pointless.」

However, to something like this, I was completely unaccustomed.

To me── the defeated persons, who without any exertion, used such justification, were an existence I disliked above all else.

「You bet I’m happy. That you think it’s pointless, isn’t it because you didn’t win? You didn’t taste the sensation of winning, and so don’t actually comprehend anything, right? The one who has won and after winning, even so calls the game pointless, that I can understand. However, for the guy who lost to, even after losing, say that kind of thing, it’s just the whining of a loser.」

I, using the conviction of myself being on the ATAFAMI battlefield, spoke sharply.

「Ha? It’s really just the character’s affinity isn’t it. It’s a kusoge, a kusoge. Wins and losses don’t exist.」

「Like I said, it’s not a difference that was down to compatibility. The reason you lost is that you are weak. Even with our characters switched, I would have won.」

「Then, should we do it? Character exchange. In that case, I definitely would not lose to someone like you.」

With eyes fired up with fighting spirit, Nakamura said as such. To be able to declare at this timing something like he’d never lose, something like courage, or should I say, thick headedness, or should I say, something like groundless self-confidence, is really a unique characteristic belonging to one of Life’s kyou-charas. As for me, as for a Life’s jaku-chara, this is nonexistent. Despite being mistaken, the power to behave as if in the right. Possessing self confidence on the basis of 『It’s me after all』. I did not possess the strength of such a living being.

Far removed from that, I had won this many flawless victories, but for some reason still felt slightly uneasy.

However, in the present moment I was nothing like a jaku-chara.

「…Err, but it’s kinda bothersome, so.」

「What’s up with that? If you’re going that far, we’re definitely doing another.」

「…NOT, afterwards if there’s yet another worthless excuse, it’ll be troublesome.」

「Ha?」

The me that is in the middle of playing ATAFAMI, is the strongest.

「Certainly there’s the, let’s switch characters, afterwards it’ll be, let’s also switch controllers. Then something like, the b.u.t.tons aren’t functioning properly, that’s why I was sluggish. Next could be, why don’t we change our seating positions? The screen glare was～ or reaching something to that effect. Then, let’s change the settings to eight lives. If it’s a drawn out contest, wouldn’t our true strength clearly come out?

Then, I wonder what next. Maybe, if you don’t know how to get out of it, then something like let’s not use inescapable combos? That’s not an issue of technique, it’s a matter of game knowledge after all. If we do so then it will be a battle of purely operating technique, reflexes, and judgement right? Uhhh, seems like there’s probably more? …Shall we change clothes or somethingtoo?」

Ha ha ha. Now I’ve said it, now I’ve gone and said it. There’ll definitely be regret later. For me.

「…Don’t need those excuses. Don’t get carried away. Seriously.」

Incredible, how I’m being glared at this intensively by those eyes. Glared at this intensively, I’m instinctively made to think that compared to him, I’m nothing more than a lowly animal, and the inferiority complex comes surging out. A given that I should apologize. Even though in this situation, no matter how you think about it, I’m the one in the right. These are the rules that have been established in Life.

Nakamura and I changed the stage, changed controllers, changed characters, configured the settings to eight lives, and as expected, without changing clothes, all that was left now was to press the start b.u.t.ton, and the battle would commence.

「If I win, properly accept it, Nakamura.」

「I get it.」

「You really don’t, you know.」

「…No, like I said, I get it already. I’ll properly recognize your true strength.」

「No, of course that’s a given, but. After that, there’s one extra thing you need to recognize.」

「What now?」

This guy, seriously doesn’t know a thing.

「Earlier, you called ATAFAMI a kusoge, right?」

「Ha?」

The truth is, rather than the matter of him refusing to accept his defeat, it was this that I had been taking offence at.

「…That ATAFAMI is a kamige, recognize it.」

Naturally, in that bout, I ended up winning eight lives to none, a complete victory.

Thus, the next day, as per usual, I was fighting online battles in AttackFamirizu [2] — colloquially known as «ATAFAMI». Since opponents have the ability to chat with each other, it was part of gaming etiquette to exchange such formalities at the end.

Naturally, this time had also been my victory. Steadily, increasing my rating [3]. After the ratings had been reset four months ago, in a number of weeks I had ascended to the rank of number one in j.a.pan, and even now I was safely maintaining that position. My online handle was «nanas.h.i.+». The reasoning behind it might be embarra.s.sing, but I had gone with 名無しnanas.h.i.+ (nameless [4]) purely on the basis of it looking cool. Tomozaki Fumiya, my real name, had absolutely no relation to it.

Before the ratings had been reset, I guess there had been a few instances where I had fallen into a slump, but nevertheless for the most part I had consistently maintained my number one rank. It was probably safe to say that, at least domestically, there were no contenders.

ATAFAMI, due to its seldom seen degree of perfection, currently held the highest gamer population in the current compet.i.tive online gaming world. In other words, being number one in this game meant that, saying I was the most skillful gamer in j.a.pan would be a justified statement. Probably.

As for my tag «nanas.h.i.+», regarding that, there existed another ATAFAMI player with the one of a kind naming sense, «NO NAME». While not to the extent of s.n.a.t.c.hing away my number one status, for these past few months they had continuously attached themselves to the number two spot in the rankings. Moreover, as far as I could tell, ever since attaining the second place rank, NO NAME was also such that they had never given up that position. In other words, 『nanas.h.i.+』 and 『NO NAME』 currently held a monopoly over first and second place.

Since there was also similarity in the name, within the Internet gaming community, there existed a 「Could it be that those two accounts are the same person?」 rumour that was making the rounds with plausibility.

Therefore the I of nanas.h.i.+ will declare. «nanas.h.i.+» and «NO NAME» are, completely different people. However, in the ATAFAMI world, the matter of how NO NAME had suddenly turned up during the past few months, the matter of the improbable speed with which they had ascended all the way up to second place, and then more than anything else, the matter how nanas.h.i.+ and NO NAME directly confronting each other was an event that had yet to materialize, all these points lent themselves to the authenticity of the theory that they were one and the same. At any rate, since their character of choice was the same «Found», there were even similarities in playstyle. Most likely, it would seem that they had used the archives of my battle recordings for reference.

«nanas.h.i.+»: Good game

«YuKichi»: Good game. You’re incredibly strong, aren’t you?

«nanas.h.i.+»: Thank you. Then.

Thus with yet another victory, I left the room. Well, even I had suffered defeats before but, recently, those had become more down to the issue of an internal battle with myself. An incident where I had lost to my opponent in terms of technique execution, first of all did not exist; all those times where I had lost had been down to my own mistakes. However for this reason, even now when I held first place, effort was still worth putting in, for it could be said that there still remained some room for improvement.

With that reason in mind, while thinking about things such as reducing my mistakes made in the next fight —

I caught my breath.

In the opponent column, a single name was displayed. [5]

«NO NAME»     Rating: 2561

I could feel the blood in my body beginning to rush to my head. My prior thoughts had been, that NO NAME was simply imitating my playstyle. However, their actions taken immediately following the commencement of the match proved completely different.

I charged my opponent, with the aim of executing a combo. However, NO NAME simply stayed in place on alert, starting to acc.u.mulate firearms.

This was, in times where it had become a Found mirror match, the only action that I considered disadvantageous to me.

Thus, this was no coincidence. I evaluated the situation without even considering that possibility.

They had performed their research on me, but rather than it being a simple blind imitation, they had even gone so far as constructing countermeasures for my individual style. For some reason, this was something I held confidence in.

What was even more astonis.h.i.+ng was, things like NO NAME’s unmatched accuracy, and the overwhelming skill with which they were able to escape from combos. If I let up just a little in my operation, they would immediately escape from the combo. Things like their movement around the stage and conception of a situation from which to start a combo still had a ways to go before reaching my level, but if it was their combo escaping technique we were talking about, then in all honesty ── they had already surpa.s.sed me.

Rather than that, perhaps it’s just that my combo escaping technique was currently too poor. As for why, I was too strong, so in the first place, instances when I had been caught by a combo were scarce. In other words, this was one of my very few weak points.

To sum up, 『Not receiving an attack from the onset is good, therefore it is only the skill of escaping combos that is unnecessary』.

Such a consideration, such a premise. For this reason, supposing an occasion where NO NAME possessed approximately the same level of movement or combo conception as I, the difference in skill at escaping combos would probably bring about my loss.

── and it is likely that, NO NAME had such things included in their outlook.

As for why I knew that. It was simple.

NO NAME was, in comparison to their level, way too skilful at escaping combos.

At that level, it becomes uncommon to be caught in a combo by an opponent; in other words, the number of chances to practice escaping combos steadily diminishes. That’s why, without being limited to NO NAME, within the super top rankers, myself included, the kind of players who were strong at attack but poor in defensive battles were numerous.

However, this NO NAME. Considering their second place ranking in j.a.pan, they had way too much experience in defensive battles. No, rather than that, that was probably their specialty.

This implied, that NO NAME had numerous opportunities to be struck by combos ── no, if I had to say it fully, 『Regularly, for the sake of practice, was deliberately letting combos connect』, that was the kind of meaning this carried.

In other words NO NAME was, throwing aside immediate gratification such as their win percentage or exhilaration from playing.

With their terminal strength, their ranking in the long term in view, they fought. Even if as a result their circ.u.mstances were to become unfavourable in their immediate battles, even if their winning percentage decreased, even if their ranking or reputation were to fall, instead opting for the results several months later.

People who might call such a person a namepu [6] would be wrong, for this was fully-fledged training.

At the very least, I was unaware of any other player who had abandoned all immediate pleasures without exception, and then produced clear 『Results』.

NO NAME. I’d had the intention of staying the number one rank in j.a.pan forever, but perhaps there was no longer any allowance to declare as such. This much could be said, however. In the present state of affairs, within j.a.pan, if there ever were to materialize an ATAFAMI player that surpa.s.sed me, then.

It would likely be NO NAME, only a single person.

As I reflected on that, the outcome was decided ── a manifestation of the present difference in abilities, I was victorious with two lives remaining.

«nanas.h.i.+»: Good game.

Then, the final courtesies. The acknowledgements in the chat. As soon as I received the response from my opponent, I would leave the room.

«NO NAME»: Do you live in Kantō? [7]

Hn? Asking where I live. I wonder what the intention might be.

«nanas.h.i.+»: Yes, it is Kantō…

«NO NAME»: If you feel so inclined, would you like to meet up?

«nanas.h.i.+»: Eh, by that, do you mean one-to-one in real life?

«NO NAME»: Yes, precisely that. If possible, I’d like to have a talk, and revenge match.

An invitation to an offline meeting. In addition to that, likely one-on-one. Just what might it mean?

What’s the deal here. Certainly, recently the hurdle of meeting someone you had met online had been lowering, and in actuality, thinking about it normally, it wasn’t even that dangerous of a thing. In this way, considering the connection between the first and second rated in ATAFAMI, meeting them would probably make for an interesting experience. With that being the case…

«nanas.h.i.+»: Understood, I’m ok with that.

«NO NAME»: Thank you! Your closest station, which might it be? I’m the one who invited you, so I’ll make my way from here.

«nanas.h.i.+»: Ehh, let me see…

I designated a station, and we arranged for a meeting place and time. Rather than the station closest to me, I chose the terminal station one stop away from my house. This way would probably provide the other party with a more convenient commute.

«NO NAME»: Understood! Then, next Sat.u.r.day, at 14:00. I look forward to meeting you!

In this way, right after the long awaited showdown, with such offhand acceptance, a face to face offline meeting [8] with NO NAME had been arranged.

A face-off against Nakamura on Sat.u.r.day, and against NO NAME on Sunday. The Year 2 Cla.s.s 2 cla.s.sroom for the first time after those two days was, contrary to my expectations, fairly normal. Depending on Nakamura’s arrangements, considerable deterioration of my social status would not be unusual – is what I had resolved myself for, but after actually attending school, I was relieved by the lack of interest.

The revelation that Nakamura, who had the reputation of being formerly strongest in middle school, also strongest in high school, and myself, who had the reputation of 『For some reason, he seems very strong』 would finally be having a showdown. While not to the extent of making headlines, that story had still carried the sensation of being the kind of incident that would only spread through the cla.s.sroom once every two or three weeks. In comparison to then, during the now after the confrontation, n.o.body was even approaching the subject, probably meaning that everyone had vaguely guessed the outcome and decided it was best to avoid touching on the subject [1]. Well, something like that was the number one peaceful resolution.

Just like that, I continued as always with my days of solitude, the time I spent not being very exciting, but at the same time not particularly dissatisfying. One could say that I was enjoying my lukewarm everyday life. I accepted such an everyday, continuing to live on.

── In the middle of all this, when a small incident took place was during Wednesday’s lunch break.

Appropriately, at that time I was walking through the corridor on my own, on the way to eat a meal or such. I had just so happened to come across Nakamura. Had this been under the same conditions as usual, then simply ignoring each other would have been acceptable but, this time, an irregularity had sprung forth. Nakamura was leading a girl. On top of that, it was Hinami Aoi.

Hinami Aoi. A yamatonades.h.i.+ko [2] gifted with both intelligence and beauty, with her innocence, liked by males and females alike, an undisputed perfect heroine. That she was first in the school for academics was natural, but she was even a cut above the rest in all manners of tests for physical fitness — short distance sprints and handball games to name a few — making her ranked first amongst the girls. No, to say nothing of the girls, she could even make for fierce compet.i.tion [3] with the boys’ top athletes; it was exactly that kind of cheat specification. Despite all this, as part of her natural makeup, she sported a sociable smile devoid of disagreeableness. Notwithstanding that, she possessed, in some respects, an impossible to hate spontaneity, or should I say frankness, or otherwise ridiculous elements, but those weak points only served to perfect her even further as a woman, even leaving a sense of glamor drifting in the air, to the point that the construction was already beyond understanding.

Even the bad with riajuus me had a favourable impression, or rather, was already at the level of having completely embraced the feelings of awe.

Why she came to this Sekitomo High School was pretty much a complete mystery. Within Saitama prefecture, top private schools do exist but, at the end of the day, when compared to prep schools in the metropolitan area, they’d be no more than average in the rankings. I mean, there are an excessive number of surrounding rice fields. Talking about Saitama, if one were to move far away from the train station, rural areas would be numerous, right.

Previously, the two — well, ike but not really ike, though when compared with me could decisively be called ike [4] — cla.s.smates seated behind me had discussed the matter, and I recall their conversation going something like this.

「Say, about Aoi-chan, what do you think of her?」

「Aoi-chan, meaning, Hinami Aoi?」

「That’s right.」

「My thoughts…… I super love her. Everyone’s the same, don’t you agree? She’s an idol, so isn’t that already a given?」

「Totally.」

「It should be abnormal in itself, right. Studies, sports, figure, perfect in just about anything and everything. Isn’t that at the same level as being a genius?」

「Soo true. For us, no matter how hard we were to try in whatever part of whatever genre, against her it wouldn’t feel winnable…」

「Despite all this, she has an extremely good relations.h.i.+p with everyone, doesn’t she. That part’s so weird. After all, if I were asked by anyone which girl I’m on the best terms with, it’d definitely be Hinami Aoi.」

「……Me too. That girl’s the one I have the best relations.h.i.+p with」

「Right? It’s so weird. There isn’t even very much merit to being on good terms with us. Yet, she doesn’t discriminate. So, it’s not a calculated thing, that.」

「Just what is with that, I wonder if it’s okay to do something like call her a prodigy at life too…」

「Aaa, that’s exactly the right feeling. A baseball prodigy, or inventive genius, t.i.tles like those aren’t quite right, but rather than those, a prodigy at life. A deity.」

「For our school to be blessed by her admission, it kind of makes you want to express grat.i.tude to Aoi-chan’s parents doesn’t it.」

「So true. Like, the only victory Saitama has over Tokyo, it’s Hinami Aoi’s existence.」

──That Hinami Aoi, far from even being on bad terms with, I had never even spoken once with, just how was this possible…? On the contrary, might she possibly be some kind of genius, is what I had been made to think. Also don’t talk about Tokyo Tokyo, first of all we should defeat Kanagawa, I had also thought. Otherwise, Chiba. We can’t be defeated.

At any rate, that Hinami Aoi was together with Nakamura. Naturally, for the news of the face-off between Nakamura and I to have not reached her was highly unlikely. And so, a small explosion took place.

「Ah! Tomozaki-kun! I heard you had a match with Juuji [5] in Atafami? How did it go?」

「Eh, ahh Hinami-san, err, about that, kaba—」 [6]

Completely bit my tongue. However, this wasn’t a matter of me biting my tongue because I was a kimo-ota, but rather, probably one of Hinami Aoi being the other party, expectedly making it easy for me bite my tongue like a kimo-ota.

「Ahaha, what’s with that, kaba?」

Completely being laughed at, yet for some reason without the feeling of being made fun of. I wonder if it’s the innocence seeping out from that smile that makes that happen. Or else, perhaps the laughter’s pure timbre. Or else, perhaps the elegant way in which she held her hand over her mouth. To be able to see Hinami Aoi-san in a joyous state, only pleasant feelings rose up. I wonder what this is. As for this smile, it involves magic.

「Ahahaha, ahh, fun. Err, what was it. Ah, that’s right! Which side won?」

Fun? Fun. That I had been able to amuse Aoi Hinami-san, something as wonderful as this, I wonder, does it exist? Even the impression of a saint-like existence. The heck is this.

「Uhh…」

「Un un」 [7]

However, Nakamura was in the immediate vicinity. It was evident that the sight of me had put him in a bad mood. At the time of the showdown, being caught up in the heat of moment, in the end I had continuously barraged him with all those words, so that was inevitable.

The problem was, under these tense circ.u.mstances, not to mention being in front the campus’s heroine, there was the issue of, were I to say something like 「I’m the one who won」, just what would happen? Nakamura would likely want to be thought well of by Aoi Hinami, and for my stock to rise was something, I, from the bottom of my heart, would probably not be pleased about… yep, seems like it’s about to become an unpleasant matter.

No, well, even I possessed feelings of wanting to show off my cool side just a little in front of the campus’s heroine. I might be twisted but I too am human. However for me to show off that kind of slightly cool side, it would in no way be relevant hereafter; on the contrary, the possibility that I’d be thought of as an exceedingly strong otaku-kimoi-warota [8] existed. As for why, it’s because Life is an unfair kusoge. With that being the case, saying here something like I lost might be the better way to go. If I did so, then as a result everything would probably work out peacefully. No, but on the contrary, that might injure Nakamura’s pride…… After thinking this far, I suddenly came to a realization.

Wait a minute. This perfect superwoman Hinami Aoi, why was she asking me? They were on good terms, so no matter how you think about it, asking Nakamura would be natural. Could it be the considerate let’s have a conversation with Tomozaki-kun, with whom I hardly ever talk? No, to begin with, given Hinami Aoi’s skill at reading the mood, from the recent atmosphere at school, she should have come to more or less realize that Nakamura had lost. Under these circ.u.mstances, bringing up the subject with me was unusual. If that’s the case, I wonder what this state of affairs is.

…I don’t understand. As I thought this, Nakamura suddenly opened his mouth.

「Shut uuup Aoi, I’m the one who lost. Something like this is enough, so let’s go. 」

Looking very unhappy, he spat that out. The mood froze. Oi oi, is this really all right?

「Ehhhh! Was that how it went! Aren’t you amazing, Tomozaki-kun! Juuji, don’t mind it!」[9]

It was the slightly teasing, affectionately nuanced kind of don’t mind. The mood softened.

「……Shut uup, idioot!」

While laughing as if astounded, Nakamura retorted to Hinami Aoi.

「Heeh, but, to win against the  can-do-anything Juuji, Tomozaki-kun must be very strong! Amazing…」

「N, not particularly」

「Next time I also want to try fighting you!」

「I-I think it might be best if you stopped that…」

「Right! Sorry, got caught up in the mood!」

With that, Hinami Aoi laughed with an ehehe. What’s this, she’s super easy to talk to. This must be that so-called communication skills thing. Furthermore, Nakamura, in spite of having his loss declared, was simply standing at the side with a thin smile as if watching over a child. Could this also be a result of Hinami Aoi’s follow up? If I a.s.sumed that to be the case, it had truly been amazing.

「Ah, well I’ll be, heading to the cafeteria.」

「Okay! Bye then. Do teach me the ropes next time, even if it’s just the basics.」

「A-ahh.」

「…ext……in」

In a small voice, Nakamura said something.

「Eh?」

「It’s nothing, bye.」

Wh, what?

「Err, b, bye」

「Bye!」

Thus, I received Hinami Aoi’s second goodbye from the back as I walked off towards the school cafeteria.

…Some, somehow it turned out alright. I felt relief.

However, I get it now. Since the follow-up was appropriate, even though that topic came up, in the end, with some careful treatment, the swelling had amounted to nothing. An option unavailable except to a riajuu. It was something I’d have in no way been able to use to my brain to conjecture.

Be as that may, for Nakamura to have declared 「I lost」 by himself was something unexpected. Due to that, the hate directed at me hadn’t had to acc.u.mulate, but……. As I reflected on this amongst other things, I arrived at the cafeteria.

In this way, the small explosion that took place was, by way of Hinami Aoi’s overwhelming communication skills, able to be amiably wrapped up, shrunk, and given new form. Things like a riajuu’s superb self confidence, or reckless raising of the tension in the atmosphere, I couldn’t stand them all, and had thought of those as pointless; however, I could not help but accept that Hinami Aoi alone was amazing. In that manner, my sense of values had been changed slightly, it was that sort of significance that this small incident had held.

Then, on the Sat.u.r.day that arrived, a large incident took place.

『I’ve arrived!』

『I’ll be there in about another two minutes』

『Understood!』

The day of the appointment with NO NAME. As for our method of correspondence, our mail addresses had previously been exchanged with a 『If you need to get in touch, please use this!』. It would seem that NO NAME had already arrived. Only travelling one station, with a jolt of the train, I too reached my destination.

『I’ve arrived.』

『Understood! I’m in front of the East Entrance convenience store.』

『Roger that! Please let me know what you’re wearing.』

Upon exiting the east entrance, could be seen from the front convenience store there was an ashtray, with several males smoking cigarettes. I wonder if it’s somebody among them.

My cell phone’s vibration sounded. I opened the mail. Eh.

「The top is a white and blue s.h.i.+rt, the bottom is a black skirt!」

──female. Ah, well, so that had been a possibility. Against my better judgement, I had arbitrarily a.s.sumed them to be male but, certainly, it wasn’t particularly unnatural for them to be female [10]. Thinking as such, I arrived nearby the convenience store, and upon surveying the scene, I caught sight of a lone female staring at a vending machine. White and blue s.h.i.+rt, black skirt. It’s this person.

Their appearance from the back was approximately shoulder-length silky black hair, skin a translucent sense of white. The face couldn’t be seen but they were probably fairly young. It’d be nice if the voice didn’t betray my expectations.

「A-ah, excuse me, might you be NO NAME-san?」

Skillfully said. At being called, the head of the black haired, innocent maiden turned. Just what kind of face would they ── Eh.

「Nice to meet you! Yes, I’m NO NAME… … ha?」

「… Eh … ? Hin…」

「HAAA!?」

In comparison to the astonished voice I had raised earlier, Hinami Aoi let out a loud shout. Hinami Aoi!? The heck is this?

「Eh… Hinami…san?」

「One moment, let me calm down. …You are, if I remember correctly, Tomozaki-kun, right? From the same cla.s.s.」

「Ah, ahh, that’s correct…」

As I had thought, rather than being the splitting image, it really was the actual Hinami Aoi. I mean, ever since the earlier astonishment, she had been acting kind of strange. Her tone of voice was also completely different from usual. How should I put it, there was none of that cheerfulness, but instead, an icy impression. Considering all this, the kind of performance she’d normally put on was nowhere in sight.

「You’re nanas.h.i.+?」

An incredulous reply that was also, to say the least, overbearing. I answered fl.u.s.teredly.

「Th-That’s right…」

「………!」

Guh. Her brows began to furrow. What’s this. The Aoi Hinami I knew was not the kind of girl I’d expect to make such a frightening expression. Something more innocent and cute…

「Isn’t this the worst……」

「Eh?」

「If possible I’d rather not believe it. That nanas.h.i.+’s true ident.i.ty would be this kind of no-hoper.」

「Hi-Hinami-san?」

Just now, what did she say? 「This kind of no-hoper」? Shouldn’t someone of her disposition not be using that kind of language on another person? The heck is this? Split personality? No, I’m just too disgusting, is is that?

「Wh-What’s wrong? Hinami-san, wait, your appearance is… and your tone is kind of…」

「…!」

Greatly leaning backwards, with a terribly uncomfortable looking expression. With how unbelievably her face was contorting, her emotions were all too easy to read. Usually that face would be used for cuter feelings, but…

「Ha… When it comes to Atafami, I somehow manage to lose control of myself.」

「Huh?」

「But if you’ve seen this much, it’s no longer of any concern.」

「Concern…?」

「Tone and appearance, right? Enough already, with this it’s no problem.」

「Uhh, by no problem, just what do you…」

It exists doesn’t it, a problem. A lot of them. Who is this? That’s the kind of level of confusion, really.

「……」

「……」

Then a moment of silence suddenly appeared. Awkward. However, Hinami Aoi, with a dignified expression, didn’t display any intention of finding words with which to cover up this unpleasant atmosphere.

「At… at any rate, err, that NO NAME would be Hinami-san, it’s surprising… or something.」

…I even made my words for filling in the gap in conversation come out in a jumbled mess. Even though the intention was for it to flow smoothly.

「That’s right. I too was disappointed. Someone like you who doesn’t even possess a fragment of aspiration, resigning yourself to a fate of losing at life, a trash-like human being is, the only one I had respected, that nanas.h.i.+.」

「……Ha?」

I had always been belittling myself in my heart, but hadn’t expected that it’d be from the outside world that I’d receive the final blow. Such heartless abusive language. Things like a trash-like human being. Earlier there had been use of things like honorific language, but that had was past-tense. I’d been completely preoccupied by the gap between the her now and the her in school being so large but, being deprecated to this extent, I could no longer hold my silence.

「Wa-Wait a moment. Uhh, why did I, to that extent……have to be told this?」

「I’m just saying the truth, though.」

「Truth? That’s not… there are things that are good to say, and there are things that are bad to say, isn’t that how it is?」

「What’s with that?」

「To someone you don’t really know that well, no aspiration or, resignation to a fate of losing? That’s… that kind of sermon, there isn’t any right to give it, isn’t it impolite, is what I’m trying to say……」

「If you’re talking about being rude to a person, shouldn’t you stop talking like you’ve got something stuffed in your mouth?」

「There’s nothing in there!」

I let out a loud voice, at last getting out a phrase without biting my tongue. Hinami Aoi brusquely looked in my direction.

「…… Though well, that’s right. Impoliteness is impoliteness. Therefore I apologize for that. Excuse me. When it comes to that game I get a bit fired up. … Even so, allow me to speak impolitely. The personality I had uniquely respected was, the type of person I hate the most, after all.」

「Like I was saying, that kind of thing is…」

「If you’re discussing the etiquette of conversations, shouldn’t I be able to talk about the person? Just what is with that attire.」

Haa? Isn’t that completely unrelated. Like, there wasn’t a dress code.

「Ju-Just what do you mean? Isn’t something like attire up to the individual to decide?」

「……Haah. As I’ve been saying, this is exactly the part that I hate.」

「Ha?」

Still saying that? A while ago she had apologized completely.

「When meeting a person, furthermore, meeting someone for the first time, there’s a minimum standard of attire that one should have, right? Well, this time, coincidentally it wasn’t the first meeting but, that should have been the intention for the first meeting, isn’t it so? Just what is with that wrinkled s.h.i.+rt. Doesn’t it need a proper ironing? Also, the cuffs of those trousers, they’re tattered aren’t they? How long have you been wearing those? Haven’t you ever felt like buying a replacement? A high school student who is still wearing those high-tech sneakers, that’s something I haven’t seen in a long time. They’re covered in dirt, and the shoelaces are also worn out. I wonder, isn’t it easily understandable from the way they’re left untied when walking. Look, even that hair, isn’t it bed-head. Did you properly style your hair? By any chance, did you not even look in the mirror? Meeting someone for the first time when in such a state, can be called 『impolite』, is that not the case? Tomozaki-kun?」

Having it pointed out, I became conscious of it myself. I hadn’t paid it any attention, but, well, certainly, saying I had tidied up my personal appearance might not be possible. Well, I got that part. But, just what is this person’s problem. Just why does she, to some guy she doesn’t really know too well, have to suddenly go this far in stabbing them repeatedly?

「B-But, that kind of thing, doesn’t it have nothing to do with you, it’s the person’s freedom of selection.」

「Ha?」

「That’s right. You think it’s fine like that, so to you there’s no problem. Just, about the meaning of what you said, 『impolite』, you’re also doing the same thing as I am. That’s all I’m saying here.」

「The same thing?」

「Well, in reality this wasn’t actually our first meeting so, there isn’t really any need for you to apologize. Supposing it really had been a first meeting, there would have been a need to apologize, though.」

Far from being disdainful as if looking at an actual piece of trash, Hinami Aoi faced me with a repugnant gaze.

「…… Be as that may, considering what has been said up to this point, as expected I’ve been one sidedly impolite. I don’t believe I’m wrong but, for my impoliteness, as expected I will have to apologize again. Excuse me. The desire to talk about ATAFAMI and to do a revenge match has vanished. Goodbye.」

Saying so, Hinami Aoi turned around in the direction of the station and walked out. That expression was fleetingly visible.

──That the me who should have been planning to say goodbye as soon as possible to that kind of rude girl, had, over here, now involuntarily opened his mouth, it might have been due to annoyance at what had been said earlier, or else the way in which Hinami Aoi’s expression for that fleeting moment she had looked over her shoulder had felt like disgust rather than disappointment; what the reason was, even I was unable to judge.

「…Just wait a moment. Don’t go around saying as you please on your own here.」

Hinami Aoi stopped moving and looked over her shoulder.

「Was there still something else?」

I had unconsciously blurted that out to keep her from leaving, but to tell the truth I hadn’t had anything in mind. No impatience could be read on Hinami Aoi’s face. Rather, something like disgust as well as antic.i.p.ation was visible. My mind had whited out; all I could feel was my fingertips that had become cold to the touch.

「You, were saying something about me losing at life, weren’t you.」

At this point even I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say here. The sound of my heart was echoing in my lungs, causing my brain to shake.

「Someone who has had high parameters from early on like you, of something like my feelings, you have absolutely nooo idea.」

Perhaps as if to repeat my words, Hinami Aoi opened her mouth very slightly but, whatever she was saying, I was already at the point of being unable to hear it. I wasn’t really aware of what kind of tone of voice I was talking in either.

「Life is unfair. Someone like me, unattractive, of poor physique, overthinking things so never being able to take a step forward, mentally weak, ridiculed no matter what they do, possessing neither communication skills nor self confidence; that kind of human being, just how are they meant to win against a strong human being like you?」

This was perhaps the first time I had ever said something like this to a complete stranger.

「But isn’t it fine like that. Due to that inequality. Doing one’s best bears no fruit. If it gave results then I’d do my best. But in Life, there are nooo rules. No reward. No correct answer. Isn’t it a kusoge? Then, there’s no use in trying your best is there, since there’s no correct answer. To begin with, you know, the kind of life led by riajuus like you, I hate it. With nothing more than baseless self-confidence, crowding together like you’re having fun.」

Now that the dam had been broken, the flood of words could no longer be stopped.

「Even if the foundation for it is there, I don’t possess the feeling of something like self-confidence. Even in a crowd, there’s still a feeling of solitude, so I can’t come to enjoy myself. That kind of way of living indelibly stains one’s body. I don’t even know a single cause behind it. Is that bad? When I came to my senses, it was that way, this is how I am. I’m fine like this. This solitary, but in its own way enjoyable everyday, it’s fine as it is.」

I clenched my fist.

「…That’s why, don’t impose on my sense of valueees!」

──Suddenly I felt a burst of pa.s.sion. The mist that had been flickering from the beginning had now been cleared, and with the return of my vision, I was recovering my sense of composure. Gradually, I was able to make out Hinami Aoi’s facial expression.

Hinami Aoi was, expressionlessly, just steadily looking here.

「… The whining of a loser.」

Then, Hinami Aoi, vacantly said as such with a tone of voice as if simply pointing out the truth.

「What’s with that.」

「I said, the whining of a loser. Hate for the riajuu-like life? Even though you have never led the life of a riajuu? Just like a fool. Do you know why you hate it? Had you, after tasting the enjoyableness of the life of a riajuu, then said it is not enjoyable, that would be logical. But, you haven’t ever tasted it, have you? If that’s the case, isn’t that just sour grapes, the whining of a loser.」

… a similar line of reasoning, I had a feeling I knew it from somewhere. In addition, from a source quite close to myself.

「You know, I, of the people who in spite of their loss, justify it without putting in any effort, those people are what I hate the most.」

Truly, a familiar line of reasoning.

However, well, this and that are different.

「What you want to say, I understand. But, you know, the situation’s different. In life, well, chara alterations are impossible.」

「Chara?」

「At the instant of birth, it’s to some extent already been decided. Were I like you, a kyou-chara with a pleasant face, able in studies and athletics, then I’d be a bit more successful. But, that’s not how it is. I don’t know if it’s sophism or rebelliousness, but far from being rather irrelevant to Life, if you think about it, if just self-confidence and motivation are lost from your parameters, your attribute values are given the cold shoulder, and there’s nothing you can do about it!」

Hinami Aoi just silently stared into my eyes.

「It’s the character difference. That’s why it’s fine, like this. Besides, I do, fairly seriously, believe this situation to be enjoyable as it is right now. Therefore! Just leave me alone…」

「…Character difference, huh.」

Hinami Aoi’s eyes faced downwards for a moment. Suddenly, outside my expectations,

「Come.」

She grabbed my arm.

「Eh?」

I was, in a state of bewilderment, more than half against my will, dragged off somewhere by Hinami Aoi.

And so, I was currently, with my back curled up, looking small and quiet in a state of seiza [1], boredly looking around, searching for the point of departure of this sweet smell. Something matching an aromatic or incense could not be found. However, the odour was fragrant and feel-good to the extent that it would be impossible for the original source to not be present. What waspresent, was a white sheet and a light yellow towelket [2] covering a bed. Placed on top of them was a pink pillow and a dark, fluffed-up pajamas that had a lived-in-feel. On top of a small, black, elliptical desk, there was only a cute orange pen and a black lamp. Pure white cabinets and bookshelves. A stylish black study table. Pale pink carpet. The other objects present were everyday items that used warm colours as a basis to convey a sense of lovability and freshness. There should have been no spare time to use something like a spray beforehand.

With that being the case── cloth?

Clothes or bed sheet, towelket or carpet, if one were to a.s.sume that the smell of such things acted as the room’s odor, sublimating through the air, then it was possible to comprehend. However for the sake of implementing this, frequent cleaning, was.h.i.+ng, and maintenance should be essential. If I hadn’t seen the suddenly changed Hinami Aoi not too long ago, 「I see, just as one would expect of the perfect heroine Hinami Aoi」, is the kind of understanding I would have happened upon, but this was no longer to be.

Just what is with this woman. Saying whatever she wanted as she liked. Making me say things I hadn’t even wanted to say. Generally, to a young man of similar age who you don’t even know very well, something like suddenly dragging them to your room against their will would be considered ill-mannered and…

I was, right now, inside the room of Hinami Aoi!

Becoming ever so slightly aware of this, I averted my eyes, but this was a serious state of affairs. Entering a girl’s room for pretty much the first time, not knowing the proper conduct for such an occasion, for the time being I had decided on performing seiza, but there were probably a number of things wrong with that. The girl in question, Hinami Aoi, had left behind the mysterious words 「You said, chara difference, didn’t you?」 just like that, and had after several minutes, yet to return; if this persisted any longer, I would probably die of mental suffocation.

With my jumbled thinking, one way or another I had managed to deceive myself, but I was already at my limit. Someone, please give me peace! *Ton Ton Ton*. Came the sound of someone going up the stairs. Aah, that reminds me, this room was on the second floor. I was panicking to the extent of forgetting even that detail. Most likely, it was Hinami Aoi returning. *Gacha*. The door to the room opened.

「……. Uhhh, apologies for the intrusion.」

I greeted the unfamiliar female who had entered. At the very least, the part of communication skills that covers greetings, or should I say, etiquette, was something even I possessed. If compared with Hinami Aoi, in all honesty she wasn’t that much of a beauty, but, in those features, the traces could definitely be seen. Likely it was her younger sister or something, probably. 「For that flawless bishoujo to have allowed this kind of boring male into her room, just what is going on」, was probably the kind of thought going through her mind, I think. I’m well aware of that, so I’d prefer that you don’t let those words escape from your mouth!

「How is it?」

「Pardon?」

「The house’s upper floor…」

「Uhmm, what might you mean?」

「……You really don’t have any experience with females, do you.」

「Wha…?」

For what reason do I suddenly have to be told such a thing by this unfamiliar female, I wonder. The Hinami household, does the urge to suddenly say something impolite to a kimo-ota run in their blood?

「It’s my no-makeup face.」

「Eh?」

「I’m Hinami Aoi. I removed my makeup. Just how thick-headed are you?」

「……Eeeeeeh──!?」

Certainly there had been the thought that the features were there, but, to have brought about such a change with just that? There hadn’t been any impression of heavy makeup; rather, it had seemed completely natural. Just what in the world was this.

「You, talked about chara difference, didn’t you?」

「……?　I did, but…」

「With this do you understand?」

「…With what?」

「Your crime of thick-headedness even extends this far? The appearance parameter, with enough effort, it’s always possible to change it however you like, isn’t it so?」

「Aah.」 I see, that’s what it was, huh…….

Well, I more or less understood what she wanted to say.

But either way, she had no right to give me that kind of sermon.

「Even if we a.s.sume that you are a jaku-chara, it is possible to make changes later on. Using your appearance’s initial parameters as an excuse to abandon Life, that’s something you shouldn’t do.」

Haah. This was kind of, different to what had been promised.

「…What? Did you bring me here to give that kind of common sermon?」

「Well, to put it simply, that’s right.」

「It’s none of your business. Didn’t I say so? The circ.u.mstances of you and I are different. Firstly, I’m a male so I’m not in a position to be applying makeup, so to begin with, that initial parameter is different. The base facial features make up the end of it for me. With that kind of thing, can something be done afterwards? For a jaku-chara, that’s how it is. …Haa, I’m leaving.」

Saying so, I picked up my bag and stood up. Perhaps because I’d thrown out everything I wanted to say just now, the nervousness from before had come to disappear.

「You really don’t understand anything, huh.」

「……Was there still something else?」

「Do you know the essential components of a human being’s appearance? Please try give about three.」

「I said I was leaving, didn’t I? Do I really need to keep playing along with you?」

「With that, it’s not just Life, but you even run from a trifling conflict of this degree, huh. A genuine loser.」

Just how could she allow such remarks that would irritate a person to come out so smoothly.

「I get it already, shut uuup, since you’ve gone that far with your words, I’ll respond to the provocation. The essential components of a human being’s appearance? Their base facial features and, what was it? Stature, and, something like body weight, I guess.」

「That’s entirely wrong.」

Complete rejection.

「Then what?」

「Facial expression, physique, and posture.」

Isn’t physique pretty close to what I’d been saying earlier.

「No, facial features are-」

「That kind of thing isn’t a particularly important problem.」

「No, that sort of conclusion is……」

When it comes to appearance, the original face is essential, isn’t it? Her answer just now was incorrect, right. The evidence is my life.

「Well then, won’t you have a look at this?」

Saying so, Hinami concealed her face with both hands.

Still in that state, after stretching her body, with a *paka*, she now angled both hands outwards as if playing peek-a-boo. Eh.

「How is it?」

「……I’m not sure what happened there……」

With the hands opened, compared to when the face was previously hidden, there was a fifty or sixty percent increase in sociability; quite the beauty had manifested. Hinami Aoi who had decided to appear without makeup, that’s the kind of the impression I got. No, the impression should have been the same as just now, though.

「Do you understand now? It’s the facial expression.」

「No… that’s no longer on the level of facial expression is it?」

「Then, just how would you explain this? Some kind of subst.i.tution sleight of hand? Or else, instant plastic surgery?」

While saying so, this time, without covering her face, Hinami began to slacken her face. Returning to her previous self-styled expression. Just when I’d thought that, little by little, she transformed back into that fairly sociable beauty. She repeated this several times.

「Ooh……」

I got the feeling like I was watching some kind of very well done performance. To tell the truth, this was quite amazing.

「To be able to do just this much, it’s only because I had put in the effort to that end, though.」 while saying these words, she slowly alternated between the two. 「Incidentally, do you understand that it’s not just the face, but also the posture that’s s.h.i.+fting?」

「Eh?」

Having being told so, upon watching closely, when power was being lost from her face, she was at the same time hunching her back; when she was transforming into that sociable beauty, she was at the same time straightening out her spine.

「Posture also changes the impression of the face. Facial expression and att.i.tude, with just those executed perfectly, for a 『Riajuu-like appearance』, they’re more than enough. Well, nevertheless, it’s because I am blessed with the raw specs that I can become this much of of a beauty, though.」

「Well, don’t you possess such confidence in your good self.」 [3]

「That’s right, that’s exactly right. Self-confidence is also important, isn’t it.」

「I didn’t say it with that kind of meaning, you know… So? What’s up with that?」

「Do you not get it?」

……It wasn’t that I didn’t understand. With the flow of how things had been going, with this being shown to me, well, in summary-

「Almost all of the unattractive guys can become average looking or better, or something, is what you want to say here, I guess.」

「That’s a good guess.」

「Then, so what? That’s why you too should keep at it, is that what you want to say or something? Didn’t I say so already, that’s unnecessary meddling.」

「It’s not that kind of thing.」

「Then what?」

When I said this, Hinami, while gazing deeply into my eyes, no, as if even peering into the depths of the depths of my mind, said the following.

「This is why, the human beings who are like the current you, have the ugliest hearts in the world.」

「Wha……」

What was that, so suddenly.

「Though, that’s human beings who are like the 『current』 you.」

「Cu-Current me? ……Even if you try to make it sound profound,  even if you misrepresent it like that…」

「From here on out what I’m saying will be for my own self-satisfaction. I won’t mind if you ignore it. You might think that I’m giving you orders here but, in the end, the one making the final decision is you. It’s also not a problem if you simply disregard everything. Under that premise, please hear me out.」

Hinami Aoi, intercepting my words, said as such, changing the mood . Her tone of voice and gaze didn’t have any feeling of mocking in the least. As lacking in communication skills as I may have been、I could still tell that Hinami could not get any more serious than she was right now.

「……Al…Alright.」

One would not have thought that I was in fact of the same age, considering the manner in which I said this while being overwhelmed by the silent, unwavering intensity.

With that positive confirmation received, Hinami now spoke out, with neither the slackened face from earlier, nor the face of a sociable beauty, but rather, with an unhappy expression that was in some respects a reflection of human weakness.

「……You said this earlier, did you not? 『I possess neither communication skills nor self-confidence, while in comparison, you had high initial starting parameters』. However, there’s no such thing. I truly am nothing but an average person. No, I was living my life in a manner even worse than one. ……At least as far as elementary school. That’s why, I’ll be frank. The things you talked about like communication skills and self-confidence, all of them can be changed however you like with effort. The me that debuted in the first year of middle school is proof of that.」

A strong tone that made me sense that within herself, there was a definitive basis to her words.

「……You also said it was irrational and unfair, right? However, that’s wrong. The game called Life, operates using a few simple rules. They just intersect in a complicated manner, so you aren’t able to grasp them.」

Regardless of whether I believed her words or not, I could sense the content entering my mind.

「I respected nanas.h.i.+. I had won all manners of things just through effort. That’s why, that method of putting in effort, with regards to continuing in that fas.h.i.+on, I had confidence that I wouldn’t lose to anyone, and because of that, I had the confidence to be able to produce results. However in Atafami, no matter what I did, I was unable to reach nanas.h.i.+’s level.」

Gesturing only ever so slightly, it was just words being spoken.

「Therefore, I had thought that nanas.h.i.+ was a human being that was able to put in more effort than myself, and it was precisely because I thought this, that I revered nanas.h.i.+. But, when I tried lifting the lid, I got this. The nanas.h.i.+ in Life, to say nothing of losing, isn’t even putting up a good fight, furthermore, is the type of human being that uses their qualities possessed since birth as an excuse to escape and move on. No, let alone that, is someone who, without even experiencing the fun of Life, arbitrarily decided on it being uninteresting, using himself as justification, an unsightly loser.」

Being belittled to this extent, it was a wonder how rage had not sprung forth. Perhaps because I had been overpowered by her earnest intensity──or, rather than that, I had the suspicion that it was because I had realized how similar I was to her in some respects.

「I’m an amazing human being. You think so too, don’t you? To the point that you might wonder if a sixteen year old in j.a.pan who was this amazing could really exist. But, over that sort of me, you gained victory in one field. Additionally, at the same age, in a field where there is no advantage nor disadvantage due to gender. ──That’s why, let me say it. The fact that you, who is gaining victory over that sort of me is, the nanas.h.i.+ who I uniquely respected, and is in the game called Life, in this of sorry state of affairs, this makes me irritated from the bottom of my heart. Unforgivable! The worst! For the human being who I’m losing to to be a good-for-nothing, by extension doesn’t that make me look like a good-for-nothing too!」

That, despite being told this much, it did not appear likely to have been out of arrogance, this was probably because I perceived this person’s implicit behind the scenes, blood-running-like endeavours.

「Superior games are always simple, this is my pet theory. Thus, when the game called Life appears to have no rules, the truth is it has become a beautiful structure where there are only simple rules that have been interlaced. You’ve been saying that it’s a kusoge, but far from it, Life is pretty much a kamige that can’t get any better. It’s just that you haven’t realized it yet. …… Is it really okay for nanas.h.i.+ of all people to be defeated in this kind of wonderful game? Is it really okay to lay the blame on the game and run away from it? Is it really okay to leave things as they are, as the whining of a loser? ……Tomozaki-kun. I have one proposal for you. No, I’m giving you an order.」

The leaves and branches might be completely different, but this was the first time I had seen such a human being with a way of thinking so similarly rooted as mine.

For this reason.

「I’ll be teaching you the rules of this game, one by one. That’s why──」

Reluctantly, I had already consented to this person’s words.

「This 『Game』 called 『Life』, face it seriously!」

This was, the large incident that took place on Sat.u.r.day.

「Well, I get what you want to say.」

It was probably the first time that someone had preached this much to me with what they truly thought, devoid of facades or any of that c.r.a.p.

「I’m relieved that’s the case.」

Hinami Aoi had yet to tear down that expression that was like a reflection of the depths of her heart.

「But there are some things I don’t understand.」

For this reason, I was unable to provide an appropriate response on my side. Pos