Episode 5

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I Managed to Bring Down the Entire Family of That Impossible-To-Conquer S-Class Beauty, Completely Filling in Her Outer Moat

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So, that’s how it went.

I ended up being led by Chitose-san to a pro gaming agency in the city.

“…Wait, what is going on?!”

“Calm down, calm down. It’s all-you-can-eat sushi if we win, okay? Please! I wanna eat for free too!”

“That last part is totally your real motive, isn’t it?!”

Between us sat a gaming PC and a gaming chair.

Well, I do post videos as a hobby and recently hit 150k subscribers, but won’t me showing up as an independent cause a backlash?

I’m changing my voice a bit, so I probably won’t be recognized, but I’m still uneasy.

But, well… I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited.

“You’re really covering the entire bill, right?”

“Of course.”

“Won’t this cause a backlash?”

“Apparently it’ll be treated as a forfeit and swept under the rug. It’s just a formality to fight. But they’ll take us out for sushi!”

“So no major backlash, then…?”

My video upload frequency has dropped lately and growth has stalled. Since this video has zero elements that could reveal my identity, it’s essentially no problem.

Let’s give it a shot.

“Got it. But if I lose, or if it turns into a boring match, no complaining, okay?”

“Should be fine! You’ve got a 40% chance of beating me. Plus, if it really is boring, I’ll wear even darker sunglasses~”

I sat down in my chair and joined the call connected online.

Apparently, it’s the finals now. The vanguard, second, and center have already fought, and the opposing team has taken two points.

“…Huh? Wait, does this team’s win or loss depend on me, the temporary vice-captain!?”

“Ahaha! Looks like it! Do your best~~”

“The responsibility is too heavy, my stomach hurts… Maybe I have food poisoning too…”

Why is this happening to me…? This was supposed to be a casual meetup with just some gaming buddies!

As I clutched my stomach, an announcement came from the organizers asking us to join another call. And then, we finally moved to the stage being broadcast worldwide.

“Okay, so. Unexpectedly, Team C’s captain and vice-captain have been knocked out by food poisoning.

So! Two others of comparable skill and spirit have rushed over to take their place!!”

“Hey there! I’m Thousand. I was supposed to have the day off, but they called me in. Gonna make the president pay later!”

“Um, well… I’m Hope, pretty much unknown and unaffiliated… Just a lowly student, feel a bit out of place, but I’ll do my best—”

“By the way, Hope-kun from Mabu is the second strongest after me! He’s on par with pros, so don’t underestimate him or you’ll regret it!”

“Whoa!? Thousand, shut up! Don’t say unnecessary stuff!”

The real-time comment section filled with “Who?” and “Never heard of them.”

Others included “It’s Hope!” and “Why the hell are you here lol,” so it seems some people do know them.

I’m scared of backlash, and the pressure is crushing me. I should stop looking at the comments…

‘Now, Hope-san, please move to the dedicated voice chat for the vice-captain match.’

“Ah, understood.”

The opponent seemed to be a streamer named Kagure Nak, using a character that attacks from a distance with magic.

In contrast, I was a martial artist fighting with classic punches and kicks.

I cracked my knuckles and took a deep breath, trying to ease the tension. But it felt like a drop in the bucket.

My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst, shaking my brain.

“Alright then, I’ll keep quiet so I don’t mess up your match. Hope-kun, fight!”

“Yes, I’ll do my best…”

He stared straight at the screen, focusing his nerves on the controller in his hands.

The words “Round 1” appeared, and the match began.

“…!”

The opponent was the fierce vice-captain who had fought his way to the finals of this tournament.

I couldn’t even get close, forced purely onto the defensive. Then, in an instant, the opponent seized a split-second opening, landed a combo, and knocked me out.

“Ah… no, no, he really is strong. Losing to him is understandable, I guess.”

He was two points ahead. If I got KO’d next, I lose. My opponent was more famous than me, and letting him win to give him his moment felt important too.

But—!

“He’s weaker than Thousand san, so I can win. I’m getting used to this. Besides, I don’t want to lose…!”

The corners of my mouth naturally turned up, and before I knew it, the loud pounding in my chest had vanished.

Round 2 began, and the opponent unleashed a flurry of long-range attacks. But I parried them with my guard while stepping forward, then pressed the controller to unleash a combo.

With such a huge health gap, he couldn’t make a comeback. Round two is mine.

(I won… but they’ll learn from this too. One slip in the final round and I’ll lose.)

I let out a deep breath, sharpening my focus even more.

The final round began, and we fought evenly matched.

But suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my wrist.

(Dammit! I hurt my wrist writing yesterday…!)

My guard slipped, and my stamina plummeted instantly. I barely held on, but it was millimeters away.

No, calm down. It’s not over yet. Play the best move, one move… Fire!

‘――KO! Winner, HOPE!!’

“I… I won!!”

A last-ditch comeback—I never thought I’d be the one pulling it off instead of watching it happen!

But then, exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks…

“Wooooo! Congrats, Hope-kun! You’re my boy~~!!”

“I don’t recall becoming your kid. Thousand san, winning means sushi, remember?”

“Ha ha ha! No worries, I’m super strong!”

“Just say you’re the strongest or something.”

—In the end, the result speaks for itself: Thousand san won.

It really drove home that he’s a genuine pro gamer, but his smug grin was infuriating.

The championship prize was a commemorative keychain.

And the non-rotating sushi was absolutely delicious.

＃　　＃　　＃

“I’m home~! Daddy’s back~!!”

After thoroughly enjoying sushi with Nozomu, Chitose returned home at a time when both hands of the clock pointed to the top.

Waiting for him at the entrance was a beautiful girl with a face as terrifying as a demon mask.

“Welcome home, Papa. What time do you think it is?”

“Eh. Ah, I’m home, China-chan… Well, things happened, you know?”

Standing there was Amagiri China, the school’s most unattainable beauty, the invincible S-class girl.

“I watched the match. Your friend is a student, right? he has school tomorrow right?　It’s inconsiderate for grown adults to keep him out this late, don’t you think?”

“Yes… I’m sorry about that…”

“I think you should apologize to Hope-san instead of me.”

“Yes! I’ll apologize right now and bring a gift of apology tomorrow!!”

She looked nothing like the angel who always smiled; it was as if hellfire burned behind her.

Chitose pulled out her phone with trembling hands and sent an apology chat.

“Also, ask Hope-san about his breakfast plans for tomorrow morning.”

“Huh? Why?”

“If he can be out this late, I figured he might live alone. If it’s not too much trouble, I thought I’d make him a bento or something~”

“No, no! I can’t possibly trouble China too!!”

“You’ve already caused trouble by acting like a disgraceful adult. Since Papa probably can’t properly apologize anyway, I’ll do it for him.”

“Ugh, I’m truly sorry…”

Unbeknownst to Nozomu, bonds were rapidly forming and gradually drawing them closer.

The two people at the center of it all, Nozomu and China, still didn’t know…

Maiasa

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