Chapter 104 :[Epilogue] The Sisters Dream of Video Games!

A month had already passed since the hectic days of the Eden Treaty. I’d found a part-time job and gotten used to my new life. With no trouble breaking out and nothing in particular changing, my days had settled into an utterly ordinary routine.

I’d wake up in the morning to find my little sisters there. We’d eat together, chatting about trivial things as usual. Then I’d head off to work, study, and so on... Technically, I was still the squad leader of Arius Satellite School. I looked for problems everyone was having in their daily lives and tried to work out budgets to resolve them.

At any rate, working together with everyone, we were slowly reclaiming the ordinary life we’d lost in our previous existence.

Our standard of living had gotten pretty close to what it had been back then in my previous life... No, in fact, our days were more leisurely now than they’d been then. That didn’t mean everything had returned to the way it used to be, of course, but I was living a fulfilling life.

...Or at least, I should have been.

“Is there something I’ve forgotten...?”

That was it. Something was missing. I could feel it with absolute certainty: something was still lacking, and I wasn’t completely content.

There were people who weren’t satisfied with their lives. That much was certainly true. But this was something else. I had a vague conviction that there was something beyond all that.

My work schedule... should be fine. I’d replied to Mika’s MomoTalk messages, too... Was it because I still hadn’t received a single request to take a shift at SCHALE? No, that certainly bothered me, but... that wasn’t it.

“Hmmm?”

“Suou, is something wrong?”

While I sat on the sofa, relaxing and racking my brain, Atsuko sat down beside me and spoke.

“Atsuko... No, it’s nothing in particular. It’s just that something feels...”

“Want some?”

“Oh, thank you.”

I popped a stick-shaped chocolate snack into my mouth and savored its sweetness. I could almost feel it seeping into my brain, and yet I still couldn’t remember.

“It’s unusual for you to forget something, Suou... You usually have a pretty good memory.”

“Of course! When it comes to my little sisters, I remember everyth— Oh. I see.”

In that case, whatever I couldn’t remember had to be unrelated to my little sisters... Which narrowed down the possibilities considerably.

“Never mind. I’ll remember eventually. What were you up to, Atsuko?”

“I was trying out a game Azusa told me about. It’s surprisingly difficult...”

“...A game?”

What was it? Just now, I almost remembered something…

“Yeah, a game. It’s a puzzle game called Momofriends: Squishy Squishy (Momofure Munimuni) ... I just got Dark Peroro, and it’s really strong.”

“I-I see...”

I was worried that my little sister was gradually being led down a questionable path... But still... games, huh?

Hadn’t I played them with Shian (Cyan) and Anna back in the day? I vaguely remembered winning rather decisively... Which meant I’d played games in my previous life, too, right?

“...Ugh. I’m so close to remembering...!”

“Do your best... Want something to drink?”

“Oh, thank you.”

Strawberry milk, huh? Its overpowering sugary sweetness made me want to ask if it could honestly call itself strawberry-flavored... But well, it tasted good, so whatever.

“There’s more if you want a refill.”

“I-I’m not going to drink that much, you know?”

“Okay.”

I felt like she was feeding me treats or something... No, focus. Set those pointless thoughts aside. I was almost there…

“Whoa!”

Just then, something vibrated in my pocket. It was the secondhand smartphone I’d bought by spending a month’s worth of part-time wages. I’d exchanged contact information with Mayumi, Mika, all my little sisters, and plenty of other people.

I wondered who it was as I unlocked the screen.

“Suou! I’m thinking of holding a small-scale exchange event at Millennium. What do you think?”

“...An exchange event?”

Ignoring the robot icon that practically screamed for attention with its garish appearance, I read the message on the screen aloud.

 

---

 

“...All right. That should be everything, right?”

We carried the equipment out of the Student Life Support Club’s vehicle, lined it up inside an otherwise empty room, and began connecting the cables.

“You really do have ridiculous strength...”

“Huh...? Was that a compliment?”

“Half a compliment.”

“I see.”

　 We traded a few jokes as I picked up the TV remote. It had been a long time since I’d held one of these. The warm rubber felt ticklish against my fingertips.

　 I clicked the power button, and after a moment of static, the screen lit up and came fully into view.

　 “Ooh...”

　 A box spun around in the middle of the screen, trailing letters as it moved.

　 The startup sound consisted of a few high piano notes, as though someone were playing with one hand.

　 “W-We finally have games in our home, too...!”

　 “But Mayumi, are you really sure about this? We’ve received so much...”

　 Mayumi looked considerably healthier than she had when we’d gone out to buy clothes the other day. After a brief silence, she smiled at me.

　 “It’s fine. I just put together things I received from repair jobs and scrap collection. The TV itself is secondhand, though. Basically, it’s a collection of junk parts and used goods, so my initial investment was practically nothing. Besides, you paid me properly!”

　 “Hahaha... Though it wasn’t very much.”

　 “These are secondhand goods. This is a perfectly reasonable price, so please accept it.”

　 Even though everything was used, we’d bought three sets of equipment: televisions, game consoles, wiring, a collection of game software, strategy guides, and more. The total came to a little over thirty-six thousand yen. I’d forgotten what money had been worth in my previous life, so I had no idea whether that was a fair price.

　 Mayumi had said that the games were old enough to be considered retro, so if anything, we’d paid her more than we needed to. But who knew what the truth was?

　 “Come to think of it, you managed to gather quite a few contributors. Why not buy some newer games next time? Even a brand-new home console costs only around thirty thousand yen these days...”

　 “Maybe another time. Everyone’s worked hard for that money.”

　 That was right. We’d all chipped in and worked together to buy this equipment. Divided among us, each person had contributed less than five hundred yen. It might be worth remembering that for the next time we needed to make a major purchase.

　 In exchange, though, the equipment wouldn’t belong to any one person. It was now shared property of Arius. Everyone would submit requests to use it, and we’d arrange a schedule.

　 I’d have to make sure nobody got into a fight over it. That was precisely why we’d bought enough equipment for three setups.

　 “Besides, we’re dealing with a rather particular group this time.”

　 “Ah, yes. That’s true... Those girls do like retro games.”

　 Thanks to that, we’d managed to keep the costs down. I was grateful, if anything.

　 “And we’re at Millennium, of all places! There are other machines we could be working on... No matter how hard I try to teach them the virtues of robots, I somehow end up repairing games instead...”

　 “That’s because you’re so easy to per— I mean, never mind.”

　 “Aren’t you just too soft on them...?”

　 “I-I’m not... probably...”

　 Saori? Big Sis had the same thought, but I kept it to myself!

　 Honestly, I thought Mayumi being a pushover was at least half the problem. She was pretty easy to persuade even when it came to me... What was this, anyway? Were all the people in positions of authority at Millennium lolicons? No, who are you calling a loli?!

　 “Suou? Were you just thinking something rude?”

　 “Not at all.”

　 We continued setting up the other two stations while trading jokes, and I asked Mayumi various questions along the way.

　 When I asked what we should do if Azusa couldn’t get a connection working, Mayumi mimed unplugging the cable and blowing into it with a little puff of air.

　 Even my hazy memories told me that was something you weren’t supposed to do anymore. While I was off on that pointless tangent, we somehow finished setting everything up.

　 “Well then, Suou. Is everything all right now?”

　 “Yes, thank you so much!”

　 “Good. Then I’ll be going. I’d really like to stay and play with you, but... my deadlines and repair requests are piling up...”

　 Muttering that she’d been doing whatever she pleased a little too much lately, Mayumi broke into a cold sweat and looked away.

　 ...I felt like I ought to do something for her later, to thank her for all the help she’d given us. I could at least clean her room or take care of some odd jobs.

　 “Mayumi, you’ve done so much for— No, for all of us. Let us repay you sometime.”

　 “You treated me to a meal the other day, remember? That was more than enough... But all right, I’ll look forward to it. See you all later!”

　 She gave a small yawn and left with a light, cheerful step. There it was... She probably wasn’t just being polite. She was genuinely looking forward to it. I’d have to give it some thought.

　 “Now then...”

　 I waved Mayumi off, then turned to face everyone else.

　 Saori, Misaki, Azusa, Hiyori, and Atsuko. The usual members of the Squad. Everyone was here.

　 “All right, then! Once again, we have one week until our exchange event with the Game Development Department! Let’s give it our all—”

　 “Wait. I haven’t really heard the details yet...”

　 I’d been smiling in an attempt to raise everyone’s spirits when Misaki suddenly raised her hand.

　 “Hmm.”

　Come to think of it, Misaki had been working night shifts for the past few days. How about Big Sis gave her some praise and affection...

　 “...Why are you backing away?”

　 “I can read you like a book, Suou. How many years do you think we’ve been together?”

　 “Guh...!”

　 Darn it! I’d been planning to squish Misaki’s cheeks... Oh well. Time to get back on track.

　 “It’s been almost a month since the discussions aimed at reconciling with Trinity.”

　 “...Yeah. And it’s been a month and a week since Suou went completely off the rails.”

　 “A-Atsuko? Are you still angry with me...?”

　 “...Huh? Of course not. You’re safe, and that’s what matters.”

　 She tilted her head in genuine bewilderment, as though she hadn’t even considered being angry. Cute, but that wasn’t the point right now.

　 “Anyway, Mika proposed holding an exchange event with Trinity at the time. As a trial run, Mayumi has arranged a smaller exchange event for us.”

　 “Oh... So what does that have to do with all this?”

　 Misaki twirled a finger toward the equipment we’d just installed, then looked back at me. Right, this was her first time seeing it in person.

　 “The students from the Student Life Support Club who know our circumstances won’t be taking part in this event. We’re also using it to test whether our identities will be exposed.”

　 “I see...”

　 “Also, we need a club where it wouldn’t be a big deal even if our identities were exposed by some slim chance.”

　 “Millennium has many large clubs, and some students have started businesses, making their words carry considerable weight. If things go badly, we may have to leave this place,” Saori added, explaining the risks of holding the event at Millennium.

　 That was right. This trial exchange event was supposed to involve walking a very dangerous tightrope. Under normal circumstances, anyway.

　 “...Is it really worth taking that much of a risk?”

　 “Yes, it is! This time, we’ve found a club that’s practically tailor-made for us! One with almost no risk at all!”

　 And that club was none other than...

　 “The Game Development Department! A club consisting of four students, the smallest unit at Millennium Science School!”

　 That was right: the Game Development Department. It had only four members, and they’d already proven themselves by sheltering the mysterious Arisu out of both practical considerations and sheer kindness. In other words, they were good kids.

　 Mayumi had assured me that they were trustworthy, and there weren’t many of them. We wouldn’t need to be excessively wary.

　 I brought over the whiteboard, which outlined the event and featured portraits of the Game Development Department members, and held it up for everyone to see. Saori and the others stared with widened eyes for a moment before narrowing them.

　 “...S-Suou, um... those... things? Are they supposed to be people...?”

　Hiyori cautiously ventured the question.

　 “They’re members of the Game Development Department! As best as I can remember them!”

　 Yeah, considering I was relying on memories from seventeen years ago, I thought I’d done a pretty good job drawing them.

　 “Are they human?”

　 “Wha—?! How rude! Look, they have eyes and mouths right here!”

　 “Couldn’t it be the face-like illusion? Hanako told me about it the other day.”

　 “Whaaaat?!”

　 The face-like illusion. The phenomenon in which three dots look like a face. There was no way that was what had happened here.

　 “S-Saori? Surely you understand, right?”

　 “...Hmm? O-Oh, yes... You’ve drawn them well. The eyes with their dilated pupils... And especially the way this arm sticks out in front...”

　 “That’s their torso.”

　 “...M-My apologies.”

　 Hmm... Well, they’d never actually seen the Game Development Department girls, so I supposed it couldn’t be helped. I wasn’t listening to any of them saying things like, “Suou has an unexpected weakness,” or, “That thing is going to appear in my nightmares.” I absolutely wasn’t listening.

　 “Anyway, let’s put that aside. This time, we’ll be facing three of the four members. We’ll hold friendly matches against them using video games, and that will serve as our exchange event!”

　 “Three... So the student with the potato-shaped outline won’t be participating?”

　“P-Potato...? O-Oh, you mean the girl with the big forehead! She’ll be absent for personal reasons!”

　 To be specific, she couldn’t stand the thought of being in a room with six strangers. Well, it couldn’t be helped.

　 Besides, she was way too strong to begin with... Though, if possible...

　 “Hehe...”

　 “...Suou?”

　 “Oh, it’s nothing. Anyway, there’ll be six of us on our side, including me and the Squad. That’s twice as many people as they have.”

　 “Six... We have quite a few more people than they do. Friendly matches... I see.”

　 Misaki seemed to have figured something out and nodded.

　 “Exactly. It’s a handicap. None of us has really played video games before... Our victory condition is three wins. And apparently, each match will begin with the opponents playing under some kind of handicap...”

　 They were making considerable allowances for us, showing us a great deal of consideration. It was true that Saori and the others had barely played any games, so this was much appreciated. ...Yes. Much appreciated.

　 “...They’re looking down on us, aren’t they...?”

　 “...Hmm?”

　 Someone muttered a question. It sounded as though the voice had come from somewhere far away.

　 “...S-Suou? Did you say something?”

　 “No?”

　 What was that? Had I imagined it? I was a little concerned, so if it kept happening, I’d have to get them to see a doctor.

　 “We’ll apparently decide which games to play and what counts as a win on the spot. No matter how many handicaps they give us, a match is still a match! If we’re going to compete, we’re going to win!”

　 I thrust my fist into the air with a spirited “Yeah!” Atsuko and Azusa responded as enthusiastically as usual, while Hiyori joined in with a little less confidence.

　 “Come on, Misaki. Saori, you too.”

　 “Yeah, yeah.”

　 “O-Of course. If we’re going to compete, we should care about winning.”

　 I raised Misaki’s arm with my free hand and encouraged Saori with the other. We all came together in solidarity.

　 “And that’s why we bought these game consoles for practice.”

　 “Oh, so that’s how it all ties together.”

　 At last, we’d come full circle back to the original topic.

 

---

 

　 We gathered the televisions and game consoles together, then paired up two to a station. I was with Azusa, Saori with Atsuko, and Misaki with Hiyori.

　 The things we held weren’t guns or knives, but game controllers. Not that we didn’t have guns, as a matter of course. In Kivotos, the extraordinary remained as ordinary as ever.

　 “Everyone, look over here!”

　 “Hm?”

　 “Okay, say cheese!”

　 Even so, this scene unfolding before us right now was part of what I had left. It was something everyone had fought to protect. And so, for no particular reason, I wanted to capture even these little moments and hold on to them.

　 “Hey, you’re doing it all of a sudden... You’ve been taking pictures a lot lately. With those two, too.”

　 “Yep!”

　 Printing every photo from my smartphone would be a waste of money... So I used the phone to keep them, and the instant camera for the ones I wanted to offer up in a ceremonial burning.

　 “Anyway, Suou, what am I supposed to do with this?”

　 Saori called to me. Looking at her screen, I saw a box with letters written on it wobbling around in the middle. The graphics certainly showed their age, but I was pretty sure I’d played this game at some point in my previous life...

　 “First, I don’t think there’s a game disc in it, so we need to choose one. Is there anything you’d like to try?”

　 “...Hmm... I can’t really tell from the titles alone. What about you, Atsuko?”

　 “...Then, this one.”

　 Atsuko pulled out a game case featuring a round, blue character riding a starfish, posed as though it were racing. This was...

　 “Casey’s Sea Dive...?”

　 “Right... It’s what you’d call a racing game. Since it supports four players and we have two people left over, why don’t we split into groups of three?”

　 We used that variant of rock-paper-scissors where you can only throw rock or paper—a game with different names depending on the region—to decide the teams. As a result, I ended up with Atsuko and Saori. I gave the strategy guide a quick read to familiarize myself with the basic rules and terminology.

　 “Then I’ll handle this one. Atsuko, please take out the disc.”

　 “Got it.”

　 A familiar little snap rang out.

　 Now that I thought about it, I’d played games just like this with my stupid big sister. Back when I was so little I couldn’t even take a disc out by myself. And with Shian and the others... We hadn’t even played games that required a screen in the first place... It really had been ages since I’d heard that sound.

　 “Then put it in this slot. Are you all right over there, too?”

　 “Y-Yes! No problems!”

　 “Then press the button to start the game.”

　 “...How long do we have to wait?”

　 “It varies from day to day.”

　 The game started in less than ten seconds, taking us to the mode selection screen. Several different modes appeared. Atsuko looked at me, wondering which one to choose.

　 Hmm. Casey’s Sea Dive... That was the one Shian had told me about ages ago, wasn’t it? In that case, we should try the mode unique to this game.

　 “Let’s go with City Trial. I think that’ll be the most fun.”

　 “What kind of mode is that?”

　 “I’ll explain as we go. For now, press the A button to confirm that you’re ready.”

　 Once everyone had confirmed their readiness, the screen went dark. At the same time, it split into four sections. In the lower center of each was a round little creature riding a starfish. A countdown appeared, and the battle began.

　 “H-Hey! Something’s happening! Is that all right?!”

　 “It’s fine. There aren’t any computer-controlled opponents this time, either... I’ll just teach you the basic controls.”

　 There were all sorts of techniques I could teach them if the goal were to help them improve, but none of that was necessary today. What mattered most was that everyone had fun. Besides, I wanted to enjoy playing games with my little sisters, too.

　 “First, try moving the left stick.”

　 “Like this...? Oh, it went off in a weird direction.”

　 “That’s how you turn. Next, hold down the A button.”

　 “It stopped... and then sped up.”

　 “That’s a charge dash. You can use it to break those box-like things scattered around.”

　 It’d probably be faster to demonstrate. This was my first time actually playing it, too, but... surprisingly, I knew how to control it. Maybe it had something to do with my memories of my previous life.

　 “Like this, see? The more you charge, the more powerful it gets. And when you break a box, these sticker-like things come out.”

　 “Stickers...? What do you use them for? They aren’t actually stickers, are they?”

　 “Exactly, Azusa. They let you strengthen your machine or gain abilities you can use to attack your opponents. Everyone collects them for a set period, then races using their upgraded machines. They’re scattered around randomly, too, not just inside boxes.”

　 “I see...”

　 For some reason, though, a voice in the back of my mind kept insisting that I should break the boxes whenever I could. Was there something else I was supposed to do, too? Oh, well.

　 “Sometimes you’ll find vehicles lying around, too. If your machine breaks, hop into one of those... Anyway, that’s the explanation! Let’s get started! Ready, set, go!”

　 “Wha—?!”

　 While Saori and the others were absorbed in my explanation, I’d already set my machine in motion, collecting every enhancement item I could see. I broke a few boxes along the way, too.

　 “T-That’s cheating, Suou!”

　 “Hahaha! That’s what big sisters do! Every single item is mine!”

　 To be honest, our starting positions were pretty far apart, so it didn’t make much difference. We probably wouldn’t run into each other for a while, either. First, I needed to find some abilities...

　 “Oh, there’s Suou.”

　 “?!?!”

　 I heard a quiet remark from the side, like a hunter who’d just spotted its prey.

　 “Here you go!”

　 “W-Wha—?!”

　 A huge iron ball came flying at me a moment later. I didn’t even have time to dodge before it struck, wiping out almost all of my machine’s durability in a single hit.

　 “A-Atsuko?! When did you get something like that?!”

　 “While you were explaining, you were making a pretty devious face. So I collected things without telling you.”

　 “Grrr...!”

　 “...Let’s just play peacefully over here.”

　 “Y-Yes...”

　 The gauge showing my machine’s remaining durability flashed red, sounding an alarm. It was a clear warning that I wouldn’t be able to withstand much more damage. But Atsuko still needed a way to attack me...!

　 “Sorry, Suou.”

　 She brought her hands together demurely in front of her, looking apologetic and adorable. A moment later, electricity surged through the water.

　 “Whaaaat?! W-Why?! Why do you have an ability, too?!”

　 “There was one nearby... Oh, you’re already out.”

　 “N-No way...!”

　 In other words, in the brief time between the start of the game and the end of my explanation, Atsuko had managed to find both the iron ball and an electrical ability... I was pretty sure that one was called Spark.

　 What incredible luck! This was the power of royal blood...! Atsuko, you terrifying little sister!

　 “Sorry, Suou, but I’m going to have you sit out for a while.”

　 “...Heh. Hahaha! How naive! How naive you are, Atsuko!”

　 But I was of royal blood, too. Which meant I could draw upon it. Find it. The ability best suited to me right now.

　 “Behold! The Aqua Jet!”

　 I’d spotted it while looking through the strategy guide earlier. Abilities weren’t all about attacking. Some were designed to help you move around.

　 “With Aqua Jet, you can move through all sorts of places in three dimensions! You should’ve finished me off when you had the chance!”

　 “...But it won’t last very long, will it?”

　 “Hehe! Saoriii!”

　 “?! M-Me?!”

　 Saori had been unable to keep up with the situation and was quietly collecting items on her own. I moved toward her, ignoring the obstacles in my way.

　 “Guh... I can’t fight you while I’m still getting used to the controls...!”

　 “Oh, no, that’s not it. Could you give me that machine?”

　 “...Hm? Oh, this one... I’m not using it, so I don’t mind.”

　 ...Now I was starting to feel bad, as though I were tricking her. It wasn’t as if you couldn’t switch machines, though.

　 “Saori, you can change machines, too, you know? Just take whichever one you have left.”

　 “I-I see... I’ll take one, then.”

　 Saori, you’re so trusting that Big Sis worries about you... No, that’s a good thing, really.

　 “Saori, would you like to fight me?”

　 “...No. I’d rather not. Please spare me this time.”

　 “A wise decision.”

　 There was no reason to fight without any abilities. If I provoked her carelessly, I might end up suffering a nasty counterattack.

　 “Then I’ll see you around!”

　 “Right... Hm? What’s this symbol...?”

　 Now, what was Atsuko up to? She was steadily collecting enhancement items. There was no reason to fight her for the time being, so I’d continue collecting items as well... I still hadn’t gotten the hang of the map, so I’d have to explore different areas.

“Oh, found a weird place.”

　 I climbed up what looked like an underwater volcano and found a single rail at the summit. The moment I landed on it, I accelerated along its length and wound up in a subterranean area resembling an ancient temple. The graphics were about what you’d expect from an old game, but the presentation was surprisingly mystical... In a word, it was beautiful.

　 “We had places like this in Arius, didn’t we?”

　 “...We did.”

　 Arius had a lot of cloudy weather because of its climate, but on nights when the sky was clear and the full moon shone, we could see views like this. Not that it made me want to go back.

　 “Oh, found an ability... This is... a torpedo?”

　 The ability I found after leaving the temple and returning to the surface was a torpedo. It let me launch an explosive straight ahead. Its power was decent enough. There was nobody around me at the moment, so the timing was honestly a little...

　 “?! W-What’s that warning sound?!”

　 I took that back. The timing was perfect.

　 “It says a giant boulder has appeared... What’s going to happen?”

　 “It’s a boulder filled with tons of items! Let’s go break it!”

　 In Casey’s Sea Dive, little events like this occurred at irregular intervals. They could be annoying because of all the racket they made, but they were also incredible opportunities.

　 “Hehehe... What a stroke of luck to find a torpedo right before this!”

　 On top of that, I was the closest to the boulder. At this rate, I’d be able to destroy it before Atsuko and the others arrived.

　 “All right! Mine!”

　 When the giant boulder shattered, a round enhancement item that glowed like a rainbow appeared.

　 “What’s that?”

　 “It boosts every single one of your stats.”

　 I answered Atsuko’s question and picked up the item. The word ALL! appeared on the screen, accompanied by a sound effect announcing the boost. And on top of that...

　 “That’s an awful lot of items...”

　 A huge number of abilities and enhancement items spilled out. You could only equip one ability at a time, but...

　 “Atsuko! Coming over here was a mistake!”

　 “...!”

　 If she was willing to come to me, then all the better. This pile of items was practically bait.

　 “I’m sorry, Atsuko! I’ll pet you lots later, so please forgive me!”

　 “I don’t need that.”

　 I apologized as I hurled the iron ball, destroying the machine Atsuko was riding. That erased the advantage she’d gained over me earlier. In fact, I’d not only caught up but overtaken her.

　 If that was the case, then I had three minutes left. I’d interfere with Saori, collect enhancement items along the way, and make up for any shortcomings in the final race with my skill. I could see a path to victory. All that remained was to put the plan into action...!

　 “Something’s complete.”

　 Saori’s words interrupted my train of thought. At first, I couldn’t understand what she meant.

　 Complete? What had she completed? Before I could even ask, Saori’s screen—which had previously occupied only the lower-left corner—expanded to fill the entire display.

　 “?! W-What is this?!”

　 “I don’t know... I was just collecting these similar indigo-colored items, and then this happened.”

　 Despite everyone's confusion, an animation played on the screen, as though celebrating the completion of something. Plasma scattered across the screen, each fragment connected to the next, until they all became one.

　 “...A dragon?”

　 A machine modeled after a dragon had been assembled.

　 “Wait, time out! I need to consult the strategy guide!”

　 “I’ll keep collecting items.”

　 “Of course! Let’s see... Item list... Here it is!”

　 To summarize the information in the strategy guide, it was a legendary machine assembled by collecting three separate parts. One of those parts was Leviathan.

　 It could swim and boasted overwhelming speed... It could swim?

　 “...No way!”

　 I looked back at Saori’s screen. She was soaring through the water, moving with complete freedom in every direction, as though she could travel through three dimensions at will.

　 “Wha—?!”

　 As long as she could stay up there, I had no way to reach her. I was left staring in stunned disbelief, wondering what to do, when...

　 “Never let your guard down.”

　 “Atsukooo?!”

　 Right before time ran out, Atsuko destroyed my machine.

 

---

 

　 Naturally, there was no way I could win the race in that state, so I lost as expected. Even with the advantage of my previous life’s experience, I’d been completely defeated... That was a little unexpected.

　 “Oh, you’re finished, too?”

　 “Yes. Saori came in first, Atsuko second, and I came in third.”

　 “I see... Over here, Hiyori collected all three parts needed to assemble a legendary machine... but it was incredibly slow, so she came in third.”

　 “U-Uugh...! I can’t tell whether I’m lucky or unlucky...!”

　 Ah... Hiyori had completed the Sea Serpent, then. I seemed to recall the guide saying that it had tremendous attack power but mediocre speed.

　 “...But this is fun. I wish we’d tried it sooner.”

　 “Agreed... Come on, let’s try some of the other games.”

　 “I-I want to try this one...! This one called Momoiro Memorial...!”

　 “Then I want to play MomoMas.”

　 ...Still, I was glad everyone was enjoying the games. That alone made buying all this equipment worth it.

　 “Suou, you look so lively.”

　 While I leaned back against the sofa during a break, Atsuko came over and spoke to me.

　 “...Do I?”

　 “Yeah.”

　 Hmm... I hadn’t really noticed it myself, but... I did feel as though something inside me had finally been filled. Maybe it was because I’d played a game for the first time in so long.

　 “That might be it!”

　 “Then I’m glad. Next, I want to try this one.”

　 “Let’s see what you’ve got— Hm?”

　 The game Atsuko brought over was in a case with the handwritten title Tales Saga Chronicle. When I opened it, I found the same title written inside.

　 “What is this...? I feel like we shouldn’t play it...”

　 “...Is it bad?”

　 “Shall we give it a try?”

　 A big sister who made her little sister look at her like that had already failed at her job. First things first, I had to make sure everyone got to enjoy themselves.

　 “Everyone, how about we play this one?”

　 “You’re all doing whatever you want... Well, we have three consoles anyway, so let’s try them all.”

　 “Yay.”

　 And so, without any particular reason or lofty purpose, we could play games simply for the sake of having fun. I wanted everyone to know that this kind of everyday life was possible.

　 “All right, I’ll put this one in.”

　 I held back my excitement and inserted Tales Saga Chronicle into the console.

　 ...Needless to say, the room was soon filled with cries of agony.