Volume 13 Chapter 179 Shirogane Aqua, A Game Tournament Full Of Acquaintances
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I’ve arrived. This is it!”
”Where is this!?”
I was going to say that, but it’s just a regular area in Tokyo.
Moreover, I’ve passed through this street several times to go to Yokohama.
If I go straight, there’s Shinagawa Station, and if I go the other way, it’s Ginza.
I think, address-wise, it’s around Minato Ward’s Mita or something like that.
”Today, we’re borrowing a room from the company inside this building, so let’s head there first.”
”Borrowing a room? What do you mean?”
I’m led inside the building by the staff.
No, wait.
I’ve been to this building before!?
Isn’t this the building where the company making Zandam plastic models is located?
I started to think that maybe the next surprise was related to Zandam, but the elevator stopped on a different floor from where that company is.
”Here it is”
”Here!?”
Wait a second.
There’s no reception and no company name written, is it really okay!?
When the producer opened the entrance door with a card key, a sterile, all-white corridor appeared.
Is this a prison?
Looking around carefully, I saw several extremely sturdy doors lined up on both sides of the corridor.
From one of them, I could faintly hear what sounded like a human voice.
”Why don’t you come back to this room only when streaming Otome games!!”
”Inko-senpai, show me your d*ck!”
”More importantly, senpai, hurry up and give me the souvenirs from Shirogane Kingdom!”
I couldn’t hear what they were saying very well, but it seems like they’re really angry.
Maybe there’s a dangerous criminal locked away and isolated from society in that room.
Feeling a sense of danger, I try to stay away from the door where I heard the voices.
”It’s this room. Go ahead.”
Phew, it looks like the room I’ll be using is just an ordinary room.
When I walked into the room, I found a complete gaming setup ready for streaming.
”What’s going on?”
”The next surprise is here.”
As usual, I received a flip chart from the producer and peeled off the sticker to check what I had to do next.
[Please participate in the game tournament while hiding your identity as a helper. It would be great if you could win for the sake of content!!]
No, no, I’m not a pro gamer, you know!?
Besides, there are plenty of people who are way better at games than I am.
”It’s fine, it’s fine. This is just an online custom match with only amateurs.”
”Is that really true?”
I launch the game, feeling half-convinced.
EPEX, huh…
It’s been a while since I did this.
Winning the tournament with Ai and Euris is now a really good memory.
I enter the shooting range and lightly warm up my aim.
”Huh? Isn’t it harder to control the characters now?”
”It was removed in the last update.”
Huh…?
Me, with a serious face, freeze in place.
The only way I can compete against a controller in this game, using a keyboard and mouse, is through a movement called character control, but how am I supposed to win against a controller with aim assist when I don’t have that?
The game developers really don’t understand anything!!
”Oh, it’s time. For now, let’s talk to the organizer.”
”Okay!”
I launch the voice call software and start talking to the organizer this time.
”Hello, I’m Shirogane Aqua from BERYL.”
”Kyaa! It’s the real deal!!”
”Um, nice to meet you!!”
EPEX is a battle royale FPS game where 3 people form a team to compete against each other.
I start talking to the two organizers.
”Can I ask your names, please?”
”Ah, yes. I’m Sakashita Shoko, and I usually work part-time at Ramen Takeko!”
”I’m Noda Kokone, and I work at a cleaning company in Okinawa, polishing floors.”
So, the target this time is Narumia Mihumi-san.
A college student living in Hokkaido, huh….
When I ask about how the 3 of them met, it seems they got close through social media and gaming.
The internet is really amazing after all.
It’s great how people from Hokkaido and Okinawa can become friends just through one game like this.
”The two of you want to surprise Narumia-san, whose birthday is today?”
”Yes!”
”Thank you!!”
I see.
If that’s the case, let’s cooperate.
However, there are some problems.
”Noda-san, are you sure it’s okay for me to take your place?”
”Yes. Actually, I injured my hand after it was decided I would participate in the competition when I fell off my bike…”
”That, is it okay in a different sense!?”
”Yes! It’s not as serious as I thought, and I’m already on the mend, but the doctor told me to take it easy just in case.”
A motorcycle accident can be pretty serious, after all.
Hearing from Noda-san that she’s okay, I let out a sigh of relief.
”So, I decided to quickly call in a replacement to help me out before the tournament.”
”I see.”
There are no problems with the reason for participation, but there are a couple of points that concern me.
’Won’t I get caught by voice?’
’What if you use in-game chat because the mic is broken?’
Hmm, it might be possible.
It seems tough in intense situations, but if I focus on following instructions instead of being the IGL, I think it could work.
’And what about my game account? Won’t that give me away?’
’Ah…’
’That’s true…’
As we ponder this, the producer nearby taps my shoulder.
”Aqua-san, Aqua-san. The program has prepared a new game account and a voice app account, so please use this one. Oh, and rest assured, we’ve already gotten permission from the game company.”
I log in with the account that the staff provided.
[Anegasaki Ruho]
Anegasaki Ruho…?
”I just made an anagram of the alphabet.”
Anegasaki Ruho…Shirogane Aqua, I see, so that’s what it is.
For now, I’ve cleared 2 major issues with this.
Wait, this account is level 1 if you look closely!
If you’re going to disguise yourself, you have to do it right, or it’ll be too obvious and you’ll get found out!!
’It’s okay… yeah. Maybe, it’s okay.’
’Good luck!’
…Well, I guess I should just give it a try.
’Alright then, both of you do your best!’
”Aqua-san, keep it quiet at first, then later reveal that this person is super skilled! I’m looking forward to some cool plays!!”
”Yeah!!”
I log into the account set up by the program, turn off voice chat with Noda-san, and join a custom match in-game with Sakashita-san.
Um… our team is number 20.
Just a few seconds after Sakashita-san and I joined the team, our target this time, Narumia-san, entered the team voice chat.
’Nice to meet you! Oh, Anegasaki Ruho-san? Nice to meet you!!’
I heard a cheerful girl’s voice in my headphones.
It would be awkward to stay silent, so I write in the team text chat, [Nice to meet you].
’Mihumi-chan. It seems Anegasaki-san’s mic is broken and she can’t talk.’
’Huh? Is that so?’
I type [Sorry] in the text chat.
’It’s okay, it’s okay! More importantly, it’s tough that your mic is broken.’
’Right?’
Haa….
Somehow, I managed to get through the first hurdle, and I refocus my gaze on the game screen.
It seems like things are coming together quite a bit.
Wait, what!?
I’ve seen this team before!?
[Team 01 / BERYL: BER_TOA / BER_MAYUSHIN / BER_TENGA]
Aren’t we super close, though!?
After looking up at the sky, I turn my gaze towards the producer.
”It’s true that there are only amateurs and not professional gamers. It’s just an event hosted by Toa-chan for interacting with listeners. So, it was unexpected for Tenga-senpai and Mayuzumi-kun to participate.Usually, Toa-chan plays with listeners, but since it was summer vacation, maybe he invited friends and acquaintances as a special service.”
Ah, speaking of which, Toa regularly holds such events, and I’ve participated in one before.
I shift my gaze to the newcomer manager, Komachi-chan, who came with me.
”I’ve asked Nekoyama-san to keep it a secret because I want Aqua-san to take a break.”
I see….
You don’t think there are more acquaintances, do you!?
I lean closer to the monitor to check the members of the other teams.
[Team 04 / Otome’s Society: 010me_TA473 / 010me_YUINYAN / 010me_AYANYAN]
[Team 07 / Mary Academy: 21_8KAD0L / T1N_SOMMELIER / DOGEZA_KING]
[Team 08 / Haku Milk Industry: G_9n2 / G_TIGER / H_DRAGON]
[Team 17 / Bocchi Alliance: IQ577YukaR / TK / RULI_DARKNESS]
I see, it really seems like this is a competition full of amateurs.
It doesn’t look like any of my acquaintances are here either.
Also, I’m super curious about Team 04.~
I want to join in on the girls’ conversation and have fun too.
And that girl who wrote IQ 577 is probably just a fool.
I can tell.
For now, I’ll write a greeting in the game’s chat box.
[anegasaki ruho: Nice to meet you!]
[010me_TA473: Nice to meet you!]
[010me_YUINYAN: Nice to meet you!]
[010me_AYANYAN: Nice to meet you!]
See, the girls from the Otome’s Society are really nice kids.
In comparison, there are 2 who seem a bit off.
[21_8KAD0L: Anegasaki-san’s name is so edgy… What cup size are yours?]
Is it normal to ask about someone’s cup size when you first meet them?
No, maybe this is just how girls talk to each other, and I’m the one who doesn’t understand.
So, if I dress up as a girl, would it be acceptable for me to ask girls about their cup size too!?
[21_8KAD0L: By the way, I’m an F.]
An F!?
Ah… after that comment, she was warned by the staff and got banned from the comments.
Hey, hey, is this online tournament really okay?
Just so you know, if our teams overlap at the landmark, I’m going to smash you!!
This girl is definitely an idiot.
Saying that is practically inviting people to overlap on purpose.
’Everyone is really pumped up!’
’Let’s do our best too!’
There are a total of 4 matches.
Since it’s just a casual event that Toa is usually hosting, it doesn’t seem like a serious tournament, so it should be fine.
Yeah, there was a time when I thought like that too.
’I’m so sorry!’
’I’m sorry. We lost.’
We got easily taken down by the Otome Society team that we ran into at the start.
After I properly followed the two of them, I’ll take a peek at the official stream.
[Shumi-san is way too popular LOL]
[Hagetoru and Chins…the sommelier were crushed in an instant LOL]
[Shumi, wait~. Both of them can’t keep up with the movements~]
[Bad news, IQ577YukaR. She failed the first jump and fell to her death, breaking the party LOL]
[Since it’s IQ577, she’s playing in a way that us ordinary folks can’t understand.]
[Only Toa’s team and Nee-san’s team have a chance against the Shumi team, haha.]
[The two juniors are being too kind, keeping pace with Tenga-senpai. If it were Aqua-kun, he’d have left them behind.]
[Kenzaki’s speed is on a different level.]
Hmmm.
If things keep going this way, we won’t win.
We were serious earlier too, but let’s gather even more determination.
[Anegasaki Ruho: Let’s avoid the initial fights and push from the outside slowly into the center.]
’Understood!’
’Let’s do it that way!’
When we drop into a less popular area, we move slowly around the outside of the map and enter the center as the battle area shrinks.
By doing it this way, we can avoid unnecessary fights that might cause accidents, and we can gather plenty of weapons, items, and shields to strengthen the team before entering.
’We can’t push through!’
’Why is it blocked here!?’
We were ambushed by Toa’s team and our progress was blocked.
Damn ittttttttt!
They should at least take it easy for the fans!
[Anegasaki Ruho: Come over here.]
I somehow find a way to break through and lead the two of them.
However, Toa wasn’t kind enough to overlook that.
’I got taken out!’
’I’m sorry!’
It’s okay, we still have time to panic!
As long as I survive, I can bring the two of them back!!
Hang in there, me, me, just keep hanging in there!!
[Anegasaki Ruho: Sorry, I’ve been taken out]
Shintaroooooo!
I was just merging with the rock, so why did you find me!!
Is it that?
Is it because the glasses I bought you were too good!?
Damn ittttttttt!
At this point, it’s serious.
I have no choice but to go for it.
I’ll change the way I enter from the same method.
I’ll avoid places that strong teams are blocking and aim for the weaker spots.
’Anegasaki-san is so good!’
’Nice!’
Since my aim is warming up, I take down 2 teams and head to the central area at the right time.
There are 5 teams left, including ours.
A miracle is about to happen here.
’Oh, both the Otome Society team and Mary Academy have been taken out’
Lucky!
In battle royale games, luck is also important.
With our teamwork coming together, we take out the solo alliance team with fluid movements.
Well, to be precise, we only took out two of them, but the guy with IQ 577 blew herself up with a grenade she threw herself.
In the end, it’s 3 vs 3, and the serious showdown against the remaining Toa’s team begins.
’I’m sorry. I’ve been taken out!’
’Sorry, it’s impossible!’
While I was defeating Tenga-senpai, who was the only one out of position, the other 2 got taken out.
The situation is 1 against 2, me vs.
Toa and Shintaro.
To be honest, my odds are not good.
Still, I am Shirogane Aqua.
If I can’t do this here, then I’m not me!!
I’m really bad at aiming, but if I hit Shintaro with a weapon that can take him down at close range, I can trade blows with Toa.
During the last circle showdown, I remembered IQ577’s gameplay and used a grenade to knock Toa’s character outside the circle and defeated him with the damage from being out of the circle.
’Yayyyyyyyyyyy!’
’Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!’
I strike a victory pose in front of the camera.
It was really close.
Toa, you really are strong.
’I was watching Anegasaki-san’s perspective, and you’re incredibly skilled. I was worried at first when it said level 1, but could you possibly be a pro gamer?!’
Alright, it should be fine to spoil it now.
For the last match, I wanted to enjoy the game with Narumia-san after spoiling it.
’Sorry, I’m not a pro gamer.’
’Huh?’
Narumia-san, having heard my voice, gasps in surprise.
’Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Anegasaki Ruho, also known as Shirogane Aqua.’
’Huh? Wait…? Is this for real…? Or is this, like, my dream or an auditory hallucination?!’
’No, it’s really me, Shirogane Aqua. It’s neither a dream nor an auditory hallucination.’
’Wwwwwwwwwwwhat!’
I hear something fall from the chair.
I asked, “Are you okay?”
’Y-yeah, I’m fine. By the way, did you know about this, Shoko-chan?!’
’I knew. By the way, Kokone-chan also…’
’No way!? Noooooooo!’
Now that my identity’s been exposed, there’s no point in using this account.
I post in the comments, [I’m going to restart my computer], then log back in with my own account and join a custom match.
[Aqua? Aqua-samaaaaa!?]
[No way, Aqua-sama has comeeeeee!]
[About Shumi, who I suspected of being Aqu-tan after seeing her aim]
[↑ What the heck is that guy about?]
[↑ Don’t mess with him]
[It’s crazy that Hagetoru and Aqua-kun are in the same space]
[↑ There’s also Chinsuki!]
[↑ Aren’t we violating some law or something?]
[Toa-chan, you didn’t know?]
[Is this a surprise? Or is it some kind of project?]
It seems like the official stream’s comment section is also hyped up because of my appearance.
I will introduce myself to Narumia-san again.
’I’m Shirogane Aqua. Let’s do our best in the last match!’
’Y-Yes!!’
We got close in the last match, but in the end, IQ577 casually threw a grenade that knocked our team out.
But, shooting at the corpses afterward wasn’t good.
The person from IQ577 who shot my box got excluded from the match by the match referee.
’Um, thank you very much for today!!’
’Thank you too, happy birthday!’
’Wow, thank you so much!!’
I thanked Noda-san and Sakashita-san as well before my team…
”Alright, let’s give it our all since this is the last one.”
”Understood.”
I left the streaming room and took the white path from before.
”Yes! Finally won a match at the very end! Yayyyy!!! Thank you, Nee-san and Hakuryuu-senseiiii!!”
Whoa!
That surprised me.
That room again.
I moved to avoid the room where I could hear some muffled noises and headed outside.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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