Game Market 1983

Chapter 107: Kagemusha

A little while later...

We moved to a cafe near the station. It was quite uncomfortable to have a muscular cameraman with Katsuragi-san, but it was a moment when the response of the media to "The Empty Streets" became palpable, considering that Uchimura-san's actions had reached even the broadcasting station.

Then, Gunpei spoke up.

"So, this person was responsible for Miyuki's voice in the game..."

"It's Ishikawa Yuki. But do you not know me? You hosted the Dragon Emblem event back then, right?"

At that moment, Gunpei seemed to recall the memories as he looked back and forth between Yuki and me.

"Ah! Right, back then! The female user who took the cartridge from Junhyuk!!"

"It's been a while."

"Oh, yes! But, what's the relationship between Junhyuk and this guy?"

"Are you two dating?"

"Argh! This traitor!! He pretended all this time that he didn't have a girlfriend!!"

Yuki's eyes sparkled as she looked at me.

"Junhyuk doesn't pretend to not have a girlfriend from elsewhere!?"

Startled by Gunpei's words, I spat out the coffee I was drinking and shouted.

"Hey, what nonsense is this with no evidence? How many times have I met you in a month?"

"Hehehe. I was just kidding because I envied you. You, this guy, pretending not to have a girlfriend all this time!"

At Gunpei's playful words, Yuki, despite his praise, pouted and scolded Gunpei.

"I don't really like that kind of joke."

"I'm sorry. I've been busy lately and haven't been able to meet you, but I thought we were quite close. Suddenly saying you have a girlfriend out of nowhere..."

Then, Katsuragi-san, who had been silently observing us, spoke up.

"I just wanted to do a brief interview, but I don't know why I'm here."

In a rather stern tone, she opened her mouth, and Gunpei murmured to me.

"Isn't she a reporter from the broadcasting station? I saw her on TV last time, and her personality is no joke... She'd even twist the neck of someone who didn't want to be interviewed..."

"Can she hear everything?"

"Eek!!"

... Carry on with your show. I put down my coffee and asked Gunpei.

"But Katsuragi-san is a reporter, so I understand, but what's your business here?"

"Oh, well... Actually, I met Uchimura-san once before. She suddenly appeared in the news, so I rushed over."

"You met Uchimura-san?"

What a coincidence.

"Recently, our editor-in-chief told me to investigate the real streets of 'The Empty Streets,' so until a few days ago, I wandered around Tokyo as if I were possessed by it. Then, I met her. A gamer who placed character portraits on the streets."

Katsuragi-san seemed to be interested in what Gunpei said, so she asked him.

"Is that gamer the one who accosted Uchimura-san earlier?"

"Yes, that's right. I happened to meet her in Shinjuku while looking for her. Gamers who place character portraits on the streets, I placed heroines' portraits on each street, and we had a conversation on every street. She remembered every conversation and location without missing a single detail. She said she couldn't go back to her normal life anymore and was crying in front of me, saying it's too difficult... So, I suggested that she go on a trip if she can't forget it."

"What!? A trip?"

"Yeah, why not? It's a trip to help heal after a breakup. They call it a breakup trip, right? I thought it might make her feel better. I didn't really expect her to go, though."

... In the end, were you the cause of this commotion?

Upon hearing Gunpei's words, both Yuki and Katsuragi-san stared at him with cold glares.

"Why are you giving us those looks?"

"Do you want me to explain without any evidence?"

&

After the commotion had settled, Katsuragi-san conducted a brief interview with Yuki and then packed up her belongings.

"Uchimura-san's actions were actually connected to the advice of a magazine reporter. Isn't that interesting? Thanks to that, I got some good content for my article, and I enjoyed the coffee."

She smiled at us and wrapped her bag around her body with a cross.

As the bag strap passed over her chest, her chest seemed exceptionally prominent.

Gunpei was shamelessly staring at her chest, so I kicked his shin under the table.

"Eek~!!"

"Well done, Junhyuk! You took care of it for me. Okay, I'm off now."

Gunpei, who had been petting her chest, suddenly opened his mouth and shouted as she left.

"Wait, do you mind having a meal together if you have time?"

"Huh? Oh, no. I have to hand over the shooting tape to the editing room by 8 o'clock, so I'm quite busy right now. Let's see if fate brings us together next time."

The ice queen Katsuragi-san coolly shook hands and left the cafe with the cameraman.

Gunpei, who was disappointed by her departure, dropped his head and sighed.

"I should have confidently asked for her contact."

"Oh, really? Yuki, can you give me your contact?"

"I don't want to."

"Do you want to die?"

"In just a minute, I got scolded by two people."

To celebrate our rare meeting, we moved to a different place for dinner and had some beer.

Of course, I brought my car, so I had to settle for non-alcoholic oolong tea.

Gunpei, who had a low alcohol tolerance, downed a 500cc beer and seemed to be in a good mood, so he started talking about "The Empty Streets" that he had recently played.

"You know, this game is unbelievably ruthless. I've been working in this industry since the appearance of family members, but I've never seen such a malicious game. How can it not have a single happy ending among so many endings?"

"So, do you dislike it?"

"Well, on the contrary, the game's unique characteristics are amazing. Especially, from the moment the protagonist starts getting sick, the character illustrations intentionally become distorted. I initially thought the cartridge was defective. I really don't know whose idea that was. It's just mind-blowing."

Yuki, finding Gunpei's description interesting, looked at me.

"What character did you play?"

"I played Setsuna. Her figure is amazing compared to other characters."

Gunpei had always been determined to bring the sexy sorceress to life during the Dragon Emblem event.

During Psych Battle, he preferred the character of the second stage boss, the Queen, and...

He was consistent, wasn't he?

"Gunpei-san seems to like sexy women."

"Of course. Oh, Yuki-san... Is it okay if I don't call you 'san'? You know, I'm younger than you."

"Then, I'll call you by your first name as well. I heard that in your country, you call someone older than you by their last name, and someone younger than you by their first name. I find that kind of system interesting."

"Does it suit you? Yuki?"

"Does it suit you? Gunpei?"

"Of course, it's perfect."

Oh, brother, I shouldn't be there when these two are together.

Thinking about it, my cell phone started ringing, and when I checked the screen, I saw a familiar name.

"I have a call from home."

I picked up the call and put it to my ear.

"Junhyuk!"

As soon as I picked up, I heard a cheerful voice from the other end of the phone.

"Yuki?"

"No, I'm Erika. Yuki is also here."

"How do you know where I am?"

"The editor-in-chief at the station saw the tape and said she was going to send a reward to the person who helped me with the shooting. Yuki said that it's hard for you to come all the way to the station, so I suggested coming to meet you."

"Really? Wait a minute. I'll tell Gunpei."

"Of course!"

I put the phone down and looked at Gunpei and Yuki.

"I have to meet Erika and my sister now. Will you two wait here? I don't know how long it will take."

"Erika? Junhyuk, is that the foreigner you always talked about?"

"Oh, did I tell you about her?"

"Yep, you did."

Erika was a foreigner I met through the gaming community. To be more precise, she's a person I met on a character blog.

From the time of the blog post to the present, we've been friends for quite some time.

So I was able to recognize her by voice, and I had no doubt that it was her.

"Anyway, please wait here. I'll be back soon."

After saying that, I went to the train station where Erika and Eunhae were waiting.

At the station, I saw Erika and my sister waiting in front of a familiar hamburger store.

Erika, with her blond hair and blue eyes, was like a foreign movie star.

As soon as she saw me, she opened her arms wide and ran toward me.

"Junhyuk!!"

"Whoa, whoa!"

She suddenly gave me a bear hug.

I hadn't seen her in a long time, so I was so surprised that I almost fell.

"Hey, Junhyuk, it's been a while!"

"Whoa, Erika. You almost broke my bones!"

While I was scolding Erika, Eunhae came to us, but her face was stiff.

"Junhyuk, I don't think she's doing it because she's happy to see you."

"Why? Isn't that a loving bear hug?"

At Eunhae's words, Erika, who was hugging me, said.

"Why are you doing this, Eunhae? Why do you have such a cold face? You should be happy to see me, too."

"I should be, but why did you ask me to come here? I thought you were going to the station."

I explained my situation to Erika and asked Eunhae for her understanding, and Eunhae finally smiled.

"You should have told me that you were bringing Erika. I was worried because you didn't answer your phone."

I patted Eunhae on the head.

"Sorry. Next time, I'll give you a call."

With that, I introduced Erika to my sister.

"Eunhae, this is Erika, the foreigner I've been friends with."

Erika bowed her head and smiled at Eunhae.

"It's nice to meet you, Eunhae. I've heard a lot about you from Junhyuk."

"Oh, you too... Nice to meet you."

Erika patted Eunhae's head.

"You're cute. It's no wonder Junhyuk likes you."

With that, Eunhae, who was bashful in the first place, blushed.

"Let's go eat."

We all entered the hamburger restaurant together.

As soon as we sat down at our table and began to order our food, my cell phone rang.

When I looked at the screen, I saw Yuki's name.

I pressed the answer button and put the phone to my ear.

"Where are you?"

Yuki's voice was urgent.

"I'm meeting Erika and Eunhae now."

"Could you come to Uchimura-san's house? She's about to leave."

"Why is she leaving already?"

"Her brother came to get her. He said there was something important to tell her."

The moment Yuki said that, my intuition told me something was wrong.

Unlock exclusive early access to more than 100 chapters before anyone else by becoming a valued member of my Patreon community.