Volume 13 Chapter 393 Sayamu Inko, It’s Not a Game, To All the Board-Dwellers Who Don’t Give Up Hope
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After a quick pep talk in the restroom, I head back out. My heart starts hammering the moment I spot Kousaka Aqua sitting on the bench, waiting for me.
That’s right… I’m not playing a game with Aqua-kun right now. I’m on a real-life date with the actual Aqua-kun.
”Ah, Sumire-san. Welcome back,” Aqua-kun said.
”Sorry to keep you waiting, Aqua-kun,” I replied.
Aqua-kun stands up from the bench and gives me a gentle, melting smile.
”Don’t worry about it, Sumire-san. Even the time I spend waiting for you is a privilege-it’s my own little ‘exclusive’ on our date.”
Hearing him say that, I’m practically writhing internally.
I can’t! The real Aqua-kun deals way more damage than his in-game version! Even Yunalesca’s ‘Overdeath’ from Final Fanfare 10¹ would be embarrassed by this firepower! Unless I die and come back as a zombie, there’s no way to dodge this!
”Well then, shall we head to the next attraction?” Aqua-kun asked.
Aqua-kun reaches his hand out toward me. In that instant, a set of choices suddenly flashes through my mind.
> [A: Take his hand normally]
> [B: The mood is perfect-just confess already!]
> [C: Are you really okay with taking this L? Demand a rematch!]
> [D: It’s all about Power. Play until your stamina bar hits zero!]
> [E: Heh-heh… Grab his hand, then ‘accidentally’ sandwich his arm between your b**bs!]
Wha-?! I stare at the choices in my head, totally panicked.
Has my brain finally fried after doing nothing but playing otome games for a year? No, wait. This has to be a special ability-I’ve played so many otome games that my ‘level’ hit 999 and I’ve awakened a new skill!
”Sumire-san?” Aqua-kun murmured.
Aqua-kun tilts his head, looking at my bewildered face.
Right, choices always have a time limit. Looking at the clock in my head, I’ve probably only got about ten seconds left. I put my frozen brain into overdrive.
First off, E is out of the question! B seems doable, but the date just started; it’s too soon. D is a no-go; my own stamina won’t hold out. And C is just stupid! Why would I try to compete with Aqua-kun?! That means my only real option is A… wait, is it a trap? Dammit, no time to think!
I pick the safest route, Option A, and take Aqua-kun’s hand.
”Ah, sorry. I was just thinking again about how this is a real date and not a game, and I… I got a little choked up. Hahaha…”
Hearing that, Aqua-kun leans down, bringing his face right up to mine.
Aqua-kun, stop! A guy as hot as you shouldn’t get this close-one look and I’m a total goner!
”Look, Sumire-san. Look at me from this close. I’m the real thing, not a game sprite, right?”
The choices pop up again.
> [A: Stare silently into each other’s eyes]
> [B: You can’t tell just by looking-start ‘inspecting’ his body for realism]
> [C: You can’t tell just by looking-punch him in the face to see if he flinches]
> [D: Look at him with a total ‘derp’ face, completely lost in his beauty]
> [E: Heh-heh… Well then, for ‘confirmation’ purposes, please show me your one-and-only ‘Excalibur’!]
Hold the phone! You, Option E! You’ve been acting weird this whole time! And C! Stop messing around! Are you trying to get me thrown into a real jail right after I finally tasted freedom?! D is still out of the question, and B is just straight-up s*xual harassment! A is the only normal choice here!
But staring silently into his eyes is such a high-level technique! I can’t handle that kind of atmosphere! What am I supposed to do?!
While I’m panicking, I end up freezing, staring straight into Aqua-kun’s face.
”Sumire-san… If you stare at me that intensely without even blinking, even I’m going to start getting embarrassed…” Aqua-kun said quietly.
”Ah, sorry!”
We both turn away, blushing furiously.
What is this sweet, stinging sensation welling up in my chest?! Is this that ‘acid reflux’ everyone talks about?! Crap, I need to go to the hospital right after this date!
Still holding hands, we head to the next attraction in silence.
It’s almost like… like a real date. Wait, it IS a date! Get it together! I shake my head to clear my thoughts and switch gears.
”Oh, the next section is the ‘Drama Experience Corner,’” I said.
Hoh. So you can re-enact your favorite scenes from dramas Aqua-kun and the others have been in, like Hana-ata, Yuu-onii, or Heaven’s Sword. This looks fun.
”Huh, they have something like this? Kotono-san probably planned this… she really put in the work,” Aqua-kun noted.
I see. I figured Kotono-san would be into this kind of thing. As we stand before the attraction, the choices appear again.
> [A: If you’re a girl, it’s gotta be ‘Hana-ata’!]
> [B: The new historical drama… I mean, look, even if it’s just for the roles, we’d be ‘husband and wife.’ And if we’re married, we can do anything…]
> [C: There is only ‘Yuu-onii’! This time, we’re finishing Big Brother off for good!]
> [D: ZANDAM²! Because I want to pilot a Zandam!]
> [E: Heh-heh… let’s go with ‘Heaven’s Sword’-we can play as Ro-Schutz-Marr and legally harass him!]
Wait a minute! You guys are just choices; stop having so much personality! C is still insane, and D-stop joking around! A is fine, but B is transparent as hell! And I’m not even going to comment on E-I know that’s you, Emily-chan! You aren’t hiding it at all!
Wait… I just realized something. This isn’t just in my head! When Aqua-kun is facing me, the choices are actually appearing on the monitor panels behind him! The moment I realize the secret, the choices in Aqua-kun’s blind spot change.
> [I: Inko… fulfill your destiny as the heroine.]
> [M: Ah, wait, ‘anything’ doesn’t mean THAT! B-but, two people alone in a tenement house at night… something HAS to happen, right?!]
> [Y: Why are you just standing there?! Pick ‘Yuu-onii,’ grab that rope, tie him up, and make him talk! It’s faster!!]
> [K: Forget that, I want to see the Zandam!!]
> [E: Heh-heh… for the shy types, I recommend the ‘Sniff-Sniff’ experience! Get in close and take a whiff!]
The text is bugged! No, wait! Those are their initials! I look over at a nearby security camera.
> [Iria: Ah, looks like she noticed us.]
> [Maron: Jeez! It’s because everyone is going overboard!]
> [Yukari: You’re one to talk! You were the one who went off the rails!]
> [Kaede: Iria was worried so she asked us-the ‘Nightmare Generation’³-to come support your date!]
> [Emily: We’re giving you 100% support! Inko-san, just relax like you’re on a luxury cruise liner and leave it to us!]
I stare at the screen, jaw dropped.
Support, my foot! Luxury liners are famous for sinking! But… fine. I’ll at least appreciate the fact that you guys care about me.
”Sumire-san, is something wrong?” Aqua-kun asked, tilting his head.
Ah… I see. Aqua-kun doesn’t know. I point toward the screen where the choices were appearing.
”Huh? What’s this? Iria-san, Maron-san, Kohina-senpai, Kaede, and Emily?!” Aqua-kun murmured.
”It looks like… they were all hiding and watching our date,” I said.
Honestly, I’m happy they all came together for my sake. But it felt wrong keeping it a secret from Aqua-kun while we were mid-date.
> [Iria: Sorry, Aqua-kun. It’s my fault for telling everyone…]
> [Maron: I thought it was a bad idea, but Yukari insisted on coming!]
> [Yukari: Because this girl! She’s usually as wild as a stray cat, but the second she’s in front of Aqua, she’s as meek as a kitten! If we don’t push her to be aggressive, nothing’s ever gonna happen!!]
> [Kaede: I felt bad for interfering, but Yukari has a point.]
> [Emily: I’m with Kohina-senpai! Everyone helped me on my date, so I’m returning the favor!]
Hehe… I guess I really am loved by my friends. It’s embarrassing that they saw me acting so pathetic, but more than that, it makes me happy!
Thanks, guys!
”Haha, I see. So that’s what happened… Okay, I get it. Thanks, everyone. But… leave Sumire-san to me. Okay?” Aqua-kun said.
> [Fine! Since YOU put it that way, we’ll leave it to you! Come on, everyone, we’re heading out!!]
The choices vanish from the screen.
I guess all five of them left? Seriously, Yukari… she’s like a human hurricane. Shows up out of nowhere, leaves just as fast. No wonder she’s ranked right next to Kaede as a ‘Natural Disaster’ in the Morikawa Kaede Power News. Though… Aqua-kun is ranked as a disaster in those news reports too…
”Well then, Sumire-san. Now that we’re finally alone again, shall we get back to our date?” Aqua-kun asked.
”Yeah, let’s do it,” I said.
I take Aqua-kun’s hand, and we head into the Zandam experience corner.
After all, it’s the series we both starred in together!
”Whoa! They have a life-sized Zandam torso! Incredible!” I shouted.
”Ah, it looks like we change into pilot suits over here. Look,” Aqua-kun said.
He’s right! There’s even a locker room made to look like the one from the show!
Aqua-kun and I took turns changing into our pilot suits.
”Sumire-san, that suit looks great on you,” Aqua-kun said.
”No way, I can’t compete with you, Aqua-kun! Mind if I take a picture?” I asked.
With his permission, I snap a photo of him in his pilot suit.
Kanon-san will be so jealous when I show her this later. Actually, I bet the fans would kill to see this too.
”Hey, Aqua-kun. Can I post this on social media later?” I asked.
”Of course! If you’re going to do that, let’s take one right by the Zandam. Come on,” Aqua-kun replied.
As expected of Aqua-kun. What a guy.
I lean against the Zandam⁴ and snap a photo of Aqua-kun as he strikes a pose straight out of the original series.
”Alright then, Sumire-san. You go first.”
”Yeah. Well then, I’m headin’ in!”
Wait, how the heck does this work? Uh, do I just press this button?
I push the one labeled [Press Here!].
The cockpit hatch slowly slides open. Oh man, this is way too cool!
I don’t know what’s going on in the other sections, but the Zandam Experience has gotta be the only real choice here, right!?
’Please take your seat in the cockpit and fasten your safety belt.’
Oh, that’s AI3510’s voice. This guy really is a jack-of-all-trades.
It feels like a lifetime ago when people on the Bulletin Board⁵ used to mock him as the “Ultimate High-Performance Server, LOL.”
I sit down as instructed and click my seatbelt firmly into place.
Whoa, incredible. Kanon-san and Kotono-san would absolutely flip for this!
’When you’re mentally prepared, please touch the panel in front of you!’
Let’s see… the panel… is it this one?
I tap the screen. Immediately, the startup sequence kicks in, perfectly recreating the original work.
”Whoa!”
The monitors reflecting the surrounding walls all flicker at once.
Wait, is this a hangar…? Which means-!?
’Zandam, you are cleared for launch!’
Whoa! They even got the original operator’s narration!!
This is the kind of stuff that really gets my blood pumping!!
’Push both throttles to maximum and depress the pedal under your right foot.’
Uhh, these must be the throttles!
Push ’em to the max and… alright, let’s do this!
”Inko, moving out!!”
The second I floor the pedal, the world outside begins to move.
I can feel a slow weight of G-force pressing against my body.
As I clear the launch bay, I’m suddenly in the middle of deep space.
It’s amazing. I look to my side and see allied units drifting there.
I glance back and see the battleship that just launched me.
It’s getting smaller and smaller at an incredible rate.
So fast!! I never realized the Zandam was this quick!!
While I’m mesmerized by the view, a warning siren blares.
’Enemy units approaching from port side. Lower left throttle to below fifty percent, maintain right throttle, and depress the right pedal.’
Leave it to me! Despite how I look, I was a Zandam pilot in the original series too!!
Out of all the girls, I should be the one who can handle this thing best!!
”Whoa!”
As I bank the unit, the visuals don’t just spin-the entire cockpit seat moves with me.
Just how much money did they sink into this thing!?
’Enemy units sighted. Please use the control stick emerging from between your legs and center the enemy in your reticle. Press the button on the stick to attack. Different buttons trigger different weapons, so please experiment.’
A joystick pops up from between my knees.
Uhh, so I just grab this, get the enemy in the box, and pull the trigger?
I follow the instructions.
”Got ’em! One down!!”
Let’s see, this is the beam rifle, this is the saber, and these are the missiles. Incredible.
Actually, if I play my cards right, couldn’t I pull off a Hongou Circus⁶?
I start hitting the surrounding buttons, relying on my memory of the show.
”Whoa!? It actually worked!!”
The cockpit tilts slightly at my command.
I lock the target into the reticle and slam the button without hesitation.
”Another one down!”
Man, firing missiles during a 360-degree barrel roll feels freaking exhilarating!
It looks like I can even do an Immelmann turn-I can’t get enough of this!!
”Ah-“
The monitor flickers, and Cruz Leon-played by Aqua-kun-appears on screen.
’Nina! Why are you fighting!? You don’t have to be out here doing this!!’
”Leon…”
Don’t underestimate the original heroine! I’ve got every line memorized!!
The second this scene started, I knew exactly where we were in the story.
’I just… as long as you’re alive, that’s all I…’
”Just leave me alone! Because… because I’m not just a woman who sits around waiting for you anymore!!”
That’s a lie. Once Nina woke up, all she wanted was to be with Leon.
But she was taken hostage and used.
The monitor cuts back to space, and the Zandam I’m piloting faces off against Leon in a mass-produced unit.
Suddenly, the HUD lines turn from green to red. The right-hand monitor displays the remaining battery and the Activity Limit⁷.
I’m pretty sure Nina is scripted to lose here. But as a gamer, this is my time to shine!!
”I’m sorry, Leon. But no one can stop this now. Not me, and not you!”
In the show, Nina fought Leon while trying to hide her tears.
So I’m going all out! I’m gonna take him down before the timer hits zero!!
I grip the stick, desperately trying to lock onto Leon’s twitchy unit.
But his reactions are insane-he dodges every single attack at the last microsecond.
”Whoa, hold up! There’s no way he should be this strong!!”
Watching Leon’s utterly unfair level of strength, a certain realization hits me.
Oh, right… The staff who made that one Otome Game⁸ are the ones behind this…
Without landing a single blow on Leon, I lose the battle.
’Nina!!’
”…Leon.”
Ugh… so frustrating! I mean, who the hell could actually win this!?
As I’m slumped over in the cockpit, the hatch in front of me begins to slowly open.
Huh? Wait, it’s over? But the next scene is supposed to be…
”Nina… I finally found you.”
Aqua-kunnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
Bringing the real thing out is totally cheating!!
I glance at the monitor behind me; it’s flashing “SYSTEM OVERRIDE / FORCED HALT.”
He must have been watching the game from the outside, timing it perfectly to shut the game down. Because this scene is…
”It’s okay. My friends have already taken care of everything that was troubling you.”
”Leon…”
Aqua-kun climbs into the cockpit, perfectly mirroring the scene from the series. He takes my hand and pulls me toward him.
”I’m sorry. I, the truth is…”
Aqua-kun cuts me off.
”Nina. No-Sumire. I told you. As long as I have you, that’s all I need.”
Aqua-kuuuuuun! Swapping to my real name there is totally unfair!!
”Leon. No… Aqua…”
My helmet clinks softly against Aqua-kun’s.
The “Helmet Kiss.” In the original show, they did this while spinning around in each other’s arms in zero-G.
Aqua-kun pulls off his helmet and gazes straight into my eyes.
”Sumire-san. I have so much fun when I’m with you. You’re so bright and cheerful, I feel like I’ll never be bored again.”
”A-Aqua-kun… Y-you can praise me all you want, but all you’re gonna get is the Black Candy⁹ I’ve got hidden in my pocket!”
Flushed with embarrassment, I look away from him.
”Sumire-san… would you like to try a romance with me that isn’t part of a game?”
”Eh? E-Ehhh!?”
G-Game? A real-life romance? There’s no way I could pull that off!
Wait, after everyone went to all this trouble to set the stage for me, am I really gonna be such a coward!?
I shake my head violently back and forth, clearing out the clutter in my mind.
A real romance… if that’s an option, of course I want it!!
”If you’re willing to try a real, serious relationship with me… would you take off your helmet?”
”Aqua-kun… I…”
I steel my resolve and pull off my helmet with trembling hands.
Aqua-kun just keeps watching me, his gaze steady.
No words are needed. Just like Leon and Nina staring at each other in the vastness of space, we simply looked at one another.
”Ah…”
A faint warmth lingered on my lips. Before I even realized it, I was kissing Aqua-kun.
I’ll probably never forget this first kiss for as long as I live…
And that’s how I began a romance-a real one-with Aqua-kun.
——–
Author:
Sorry for being late.
By the way, regarding this impossible game, a person called Otome no Tashinami came on the first day and cleared it.
Next will be either going to a hotel for a Nocturne with Inko-san all at once, or the next story I have planned.
I’ll probably do a poll on X/Twitter, so if you have time, please just come and press the button.
—
Summary:
Sumire (Inko) goes on a real-world date with Aqua-kun, plagued by RPG-style ‘choice boxes’ appearing in her vision. It’s revealed that her friends, the ‘Nightmare Generation,’ are actually hacking the venue’s displays to give her advice. After they retreat, Inko and Aqua change into pilot suits for a Zandam-themed experience.
Sumire participates in a highly immersive mecha cockpit simulation where she plays the role of Nina. Despite the game being intentionally difficult due to the developers’ background in Otome games, Aqua-kun intervenes by forcing a system halt. He uses the moment to transition from roleplay to a real-life confession and their first kiss.
—
Trivia:
- The ‘choices’ were actually being displayed on monitors, not just a hallucination.
- Final Fanfare 10 is a direct parody of Final Fantasy X.
- Yukari and Kaede are both classified as ‘Natural Disasters.’
- Aqua-kun is also classified as a ‘Natural Disaster’ in the same news report.
- Sumire’s otome game ‘level’ is 999.
- The simulation uses a real moving cockpit.
- AI3510 was previously mocked on internet forums.
- The game is developed by staff from a notoriously hard Otome game.
- Sumire’s Kansai-ben (dialect) persists even in high-tension moments.
- The ‘Helmet Kiss’ is a specific callback to the original anime’s ending
—
Character Insight:
Inko shows vulnerability by admitting her confusion to Aqua, while Aqua displays ‘Alpha’ energy by taking control of the date once the friends leave. Emily continues to be the primary source of ‘degenerate’ suggestions.
Sumire shows her growth from being a mere fan/gamer to accepting a real-world romantic connection, overcoming her ‘cowardice’ and internet-persona shield. Aqua-kun shows initiative by breaking the game’s script to create a real moment.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The author uses gamer terminology (firepower, L, stamina bar) to emphasize the protagonist’s background as a shut-in gamer girl transitioning to a gender-reversed reality.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Inko – Vtuber from ‘Generation of Ruin’ (Nightmare Generation)—Beryl’s shut-in gamer idol with self-deprecating high-energy personality, stupidly huge tits, long skirt, and hair transformed into braided pigtails for the date. Former baseball club member in youth. Usually messy long haired ponytail.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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