Gamers!

Short Story Collection: Chapter 7 – Thanksgiving: Karen Tendou’s Episode

Translator: your_pingas

“By the way, Amano-kun, why don’t we visit the southern islands when we get a chance?”

“Eh?”

Someday when we’re going home, after we chatted about “what if we’re in the Football Club,” Tendou suddenly smiled and said this.

After hearing the unexpected question, I answered a bit unsettledly.

“Uh, what does that mean…”

“What do you mean by what does that mean? I’m just saying, …why don’t we go travel together?”

“…Y-You’re not talking about online games, right?”

“No. Amano-kun, who do you think I am?”

“A scarily hardcore gamer.”

“I mean, you’re right. However, I was talking about real-life traveling.”

“Really…”

I never would’ve expected that my lover is suggesting a day without any gaming elements at all. I’m thoroughly throbbed.

Tendou-san looked at the dusk sky as she continued with bright eyes.

“It’s going to be great. …An endless sunny sky, the blue ocean, sparkling beaches, cheerful couples…”

“Yep, …it’s great.”

Although I’m always in the indoor gang, nothing is better than spending time with your beloved ones like this-

“Also, an unending swarm of zombies.”

“Stop right there.”

-I interrupted the blonde-haired girl forcefully. She bulged her eyes.

“First of all, …sorry, Tendou-san.”

“Hiya, what’s wrong, Amano-kun?”

“I want to say, …just then, the security sensor that leads to my ‘Dream Kingdom’ at the departure hall detected something extremely dangerous. …Please, can you walk over it once again?”

“Hiya, that freaked me out. But I didn’t bring anything weird…”

To my airport setting, my girlfriend responded cooperatively. …She’s such a smart girl. Hmm, …it was indeed my imagination, right?”

I started checking her.

“Well, please tell me the things that are in your right hand’s ‘Dream Luggage,’ alright?”

“No problem. Let me think about it. ‘An endless sky,’ ‘the blue ocean,’ ‘sparkling beaches,’ ‘cheerful couples’-“

“Yes, yes, there’s no problem-“

“-‘zombie swarms,’ ‘heavy-caliber gunfire,’ ‘a throbbing plot,’ ‘a grand open-world’-“

“Alright, please come to the room here.”

I grabbed Tendou-san’s arm forcefully and dragged her. She tilted her head unbelievably.

I cleared my throat and started a trial against this extremely suspicious blonde-haired girl.

“Hey, …Miss? What’s with the ‘imagination of the southern islands’ here…?”

“Uh, you’re asking what? …Aren’t these zombie fight elements…?”

“Hmm, that’s strange. You can’t bring these things in a real-life holiday imagination, right?”

“No, no, officer-san, you’re wrong. We’re traveling to the southern islands, right? Aren’t people only looking forward to one thing at that place?”

“What?”

“Epidemic.”

“Okay, 17:32, we caught a core terrorist.”

I pretended to be looking at my watch as I grabbed Tendou-san’s arm tightly and dragged her.

Tendou-san let go of my hand as she protested with a bewildered expression.

“W-What does this mean, Amano-kun!? I’m just…I’m just looking forward to a ‘real-life zombie fight’ during the trip!”

“No, no, no! It’s not going to happen!”

“Ehhh!? Aren’t we talking about the southern islands!?”

“What did you expect the southern islands to be!?”

After I complained, Tendou-san was shocked and nearly tripped over.

“H-How’s that possible…? Well, then why are people visiting the southern islands…”

“They’re just going there for swimming in the ocean, surfing, and sightseeing!”

“Unbelievable. …Sigh.”

Tendou-san is depressed. …Come to think of it, why does she believe that zombies exist? Did Chiaki teach her that?

…No matter the cause, I can’t just let my girlfriend remain upset forever.

I scratched my cheeks awkwardly. ….Then, I tried my best to hide my embarrassment in my heart and told her.

“I-It’s fine even if there are no zombies…as long as we can spend time together.”

“Eh?”

“…Nevermind.”

Yep, I immediately regretted after saying it. I-It’s so embarrassing! How can I say such a normie line! I need to explode right here! Where is my self-destruct button!?

My face flared up as I quickly walked away. …As for Tendou-san, she immediately chased after me. Her depressed look disappeared into nowhere. She carried a cheerful expression and stared at me with her watery eyes.

“Hmm? Hmm? Amano-kun, what did you say? Can you say that again?”

“T…That’s why I said nevermind!”

My head is dizzy from the embarrassment, and I can’t help but rudely reply as I walked forward.

As for her, she kept a couple steps behind me…and chuckled alone before answering quietly.

“…Yeah. We’re already…in the actual paradise.”