Gamers!

Short Story Collection: Chapter 5 – Gamers and the Past and Future

Translator: your_pingas

“Amano-kun, you’re asking me how did I feel when you rejected my club invitation, right?”

Someday after I started dating Tendou-san.

We opened our bento in the Game Club room just as usual. I asked her a question that I want to know the answer to since a long time ago.

“Why are you suddenly asking this, Amano-kun?”

Tendou-san enjoyed her little octopus-shaped sausages as she expressed her confusion.

I scratched my cheeks and continued.

“Well, how do I put it…? I’ve always felt guilty about that, and I’m really sorry to Tendou-san at that time.”

“Amano-kun, you didn’t change at all. I already forgot about that. Moreover, I can understand what Amano-kun was thinking.”

“But you were really mad at that time, right?”

“W-Well…”

Tendou-san didn’t know how to answer. She put another piece of octopus-shaped sausage into her mouth awkwardly.

I mustered up my courage and asked further.

“S-So, Tendou-san, what were you thinking at that time?”

“…Then, I’ll answer honestly?”

“Please do that!”

Tendou-san bent to my determination with a deflated expression. She sighed and put down her chopsticks for the moment.

“…It can’t be helped. Well, right here, please allow me to…recreate what I was thinking at that time.”

“P-Please.”

“Ahem.”

She cleared her throat and sat straight. Then, she stared at me directly-

-Suddenly, she was on the verge of crying and screamed at the top of her lungs!

“H-How could you do that! I hate you! I hate you so much! Idiot, you’re a big idiot! Uwah!”

“Gurk!?”

Keita Amano suddenly suffered massive mental damage! I can’t help but grab my own chest along with the shirt.

On the other hand, Tendou-san…

“…Just like that.”

In conclusion, she reverted to her usual calmness and started digging in her rice.

“I’m really sorry…”

I can’t help but apologize and freaked Tendou-san out.

“W-Why are you apologizing now? Like what I said before, I already understood you.”

“But, I still really want to sincerely apologize to Tendou-san at that time…”

Tendou-san chuckled upon hearing what I said.

“What’s wrong? Really, you’re way too honest.”

Tendou-san looked at me, passionately.

I looked away. She continued. “However-“

“Come to think of it, I really want to know this. At that moment, what did Amano-kun think about me at that time?”

“Oh, really? When?”

After hearing my question, Tendou-san slightly sipped her tea and answered.

“Can you sincerely tell me what was your first impression and feelings when I first talked to you in the game store?”

“Eh, what?”

“Please tell me, alright!”

Tendou really looks forward to my answer. …This is hard.

(However, …I must answer seriously as well, yep.)

I made up my mind. Then, I injected my mind into the past and presented my feelings.

So, …facing Tendou-san’s passionate eyes, I tried my best to recreate what I was thinking.

“H-Hiya!? What is this! Why…? This is freaking me out…! I want to go home…!”

“That’s what Junji Inagawa says when he encounters a ghost, right!?” [Note: Junji Inagawa, an actor and director specialized in horror stories.]

Tendou was shocked as she fell speechless. I started getting anxious and asked her.

“Tendou-san, what’s wrong!? Did the fried chicken in your bento just talk?”

“That’s scary! Nobody thinks like you!”

“That’s too common, right!”

“No!”

“See, …that fried chicken over there is staring at me angrily. It’s mumbling “coward” over and over again. When you stab it with your chopsticks, they will scream sternly as their meat juice is scattered everywhere…”

“Don’t imitate Junji Inagawa when he didn’t even say something like this, alright!?”

So, Tendou-san cleared her throat and calmed down.

“Let’s move on. Why Amano-kun’s first impression of me is like that?

“Oh, Tendou-san, you weren’t at fault. It’s just that I’m a coward.”

“What did you say?”

“Ay, think about it, it’s that Karen Tendou, after all, right? That Karen Tendou stands on the top of the word. She is the treasure of the world, the legendary hero, and she comes from another dimension, right?”

“I don’t know who that Karen Tendou is.”

“She started talking to a guy like me. …This means something terrible is about to happen!”

“That was mean!”

“Anyway, I feel extremely honored and scared.”

“I-I see. That’s okay…”

Tendou-san pouted for some reason.

I picked up some vegetables and continued casually.

“So, of course, my heart is filled with feelings like ‘she’s beautiful,’ ‘she’s an angel,’ ‘she’s so gentle,’ ‘she smells really good,’ ‘it’s like I’m dreaming,’ ‘I’m so blessed.’ I skipped all these because I don’t think I need to say them.”

“R-Really. …I see…”

Tendou-san powerlessly answered as she plopped her head down. For some reason, her ears are all red as she avoided looking at me.

So, I can only continue eating silently.

Well, after I finished my meals, …I spoke up to her again.

“There’s one more thing. It’s about what I was thinking that day…no, it’s about how I think since then. There’s something I want to tell you.”

“How you think since then? …You mean you really love games?”

“Hahaha, it’s been like that for a couple years.”

“You’re right, me too.”

Both of us chuckled. This way, the embarrassment and anxiety finally disappeared. …So, I said my “appreciation” out loud.

“…I’m really glad that I can meet Tendou-san.”

“Eh…”

She bulged her eyes. I continued with a little bit of embarrassment.

“Recently, Tendou-san and I, …no, there are also Uehara-kun, Aguri-san, and Chiaki as well. A lot of things happened to us.”

“…You’re right.”

“…I guess it will be the same afterward.”

“Yes, I can guarantee that. How regrettable.”

We smiled at each other.

I faced Tendou-san again and smiled. “Even so…”

“Tendou-san, I’m really glad that you talked to me at that time. Right now, I feel sincerely blessed. So, …thank you, Tendou-san.”

I plopped my head down.

Tendou-san smiled and answered.

“Amano-kun, I should be the one thanking you. I’m also sincerely glad that I get to meet you. …This will stay true, no matter what happens.”

We stared at each other lovingly.

Then, as if we’re being attracted by something, we slowly stood up from our seats…

“Ding!”

“Ah!”

The bell that signaled the end of the lunch break rang suddenly. We quickly snapped out of it.

(What was I trying to do…)

Embarrassment quickly overwhelmed me. Well, Tendou-san’s face is as red as a tomato too.

“A-Amano-kun, it’s time for us to leave!”

“Y-You’re right, Tendou-san!”

We hastily packed everything up and dashed out of the clubroom.

So, the two of us walked towards our classrooms in the corridor. I asked her something to relieve this awkward atmosphere.

“B-By the way, Tendou-san, when you were saying ‘no matter what happens,’ what were you actually referring to?”

After she heard my question, Tendou-san walked next to me as she thought about it. “Let me think…”

“For example, …I suspect that Amano-kun fell in love with someone else?”

“Hahaha, that’s a good joke. It’s impossible. How would I dare?”

I teased at her concerns. She asked me a bit unhappily.

“Amano-kun, what’s going to happen in the future?”

“Oh, …personally, I think I will have more friends and get to know more people. The school trip will be great!”

“Yeah. I guess your optimism isn’t entirely unjustified.”

“See!”

I’m looking forward to it!

However, if I’m looking forward to something good, I have to prepare for the worst as well.

“Then. …perhaps Tendou-san will break up with me?”

“Let’s see.”

She laughed. Y-Yeah, it’s impossible.

Then, we strolled along the corridor as we thought about our future.

When we arrived at the sideroads to our respective classrooms, …we faced each other and smiled.

“No matter what, Amano-kun. From now on…”

“Yes, Tendou-san. From now on…”

We took a step closer to each other. Then-

-We shook each other’s hand.

“We have to enjoy gaming.”

After that, we turned around and bid farewell energetically.

…………

Well, no matter how our relationship will go, before we even became couples, -we’re always partners that love gaming.