I Was Falsely Confessed to and Exposed in Front of Everyone, so I Jumped off the Roof

A lot of money came in from in-game purchases. After taking out what was needed for things like server costs, the net profit was amazing. I tried to give Kagiroi-san half of it, but she refused.

“This money is yours.”

“But.”

“Then let’s have a date where you pay for everything. How about it?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

We went on a really fancy date. We watched a play she liked from the best seats, rented a special area in a building’s observation deck, and went to a famous restaurant in suits and dresses. It was so much fun. I felt so energized, I didn’t even need my medicine. When we got home, I checked the server.

“Huh? The number of users has gone way up…”

“The update and extra content aren’t even out yet, right?”

“Maybe it went viral somewhere?”

I was curious, so I had the AI track the source. Kagiroi-san was watching the monitor. I was at the living room table, doing rehab for my right hand, when a huge crash echoed. Kagiroi-san had smashed the keyboard with her fist.

“That damn bitch!!”

Kagiroi-san was completely furious.

“What’s going on?”

“That bitch streamed a playthrough video!! Grrr!!!”

I checked on my phone. Sure enough, there was a recording of the livestream on Youtube. Should I watch it? But Kagiroi-san was so angry. I decided not to watch it today.

♢ ♢ ♢

[Sumire and Ruika’s “Filhos de Deus nas Ruas” Live Stream!!]

Background: A room decorated in a South American style.

Ruika: Wearing a samba outfit.

Sumire: Wearing a samba outfit.

Clip: The video is split into two screens. One showing the gameplay, the other showing Sumire and Ruika.

Sumire: Hey everyone! Thank you for coming today!! We’re streaming [Filhos de Deus nas Ruas]! I’ve already played it a lot, I’m a huge fan! Ruika-chan hasn’t played it yet; she’s still a newbie.♡

Ruika: Why are we wearing these outfits?

Sumire: Because the game is set in Brazil! Oh-re! Samba! Saudade!

Ruika: I don’t think Saudade is something you shout…

: Samba!

: Sumire shouting Saudade is so cute

: Yeah!

Sumire: It’s cute, right? Brazil!! Oh-re! (Sumire starts doing samba steps on the spot)

Ruika: When did you…?

: Boing boing

: Wiggle wiggle

: Saudade!!

Ruika: Do I have to dance too?

Sumire: Yes! Let’s dance! Let’s do Saudade!!

(The two of them dance samba. Everything jiggles (Who knows what exactly?))

(Coins and tips start dropping in the chat.)

Ruika: So, about this game…

Sumire: Ah, yes! Let’s start playing then!

Clip: A game by José e a Luz do Fogo, it said on the screen.

Ruika: José?

Sumire: Hm? Isn’t it Jose?

Ruika: It’s José. In Portuguese, it’s José.

Sumire: Huh? Ruika-chan, can you actually speak Portuguese?

Ruika: I’ve learned it. I spent a lot on an online course.

Sumire: Eh? Amazing!

: I thought it was Jose (;´Д｀)

: Seriously?! But why Portuguese?

: I understand English, though.

Ruika: I can do English and Chinese too. Manwa-san taught me. I wanted to expand my work opportunities. I’m going to China next, so be ready.

: I’m waiting for RUIKA!

: RUIKA is coming!!

Sumire: Wow, going to China, that’s huge!

Ruika: You’re coming too.

Sumire: Wait, what?! I didn’t know that!

Ruika: Ah, I forgot to tell you. I’ll teach you some Chinese later. You have to get it right.

Sumire: Wha?! I don’t want to study!!

Ruika: It’s easier to get used to than English, I think. Chinese is fun. Also… I want to visit the First Emperor’s tomb while I’m there.

: ←China, Brazil→

: Wow, what a slip-up in communication lol

: Let’s make sure to report things properly lol

Sumire: For now, let’s go from China to Brazil!! Let’s start the game!!

Ruika: Ah, yes… um.

Clip: The character selection screen appeared, showing girls and boys.

Ruika: I’ll go with a boy.

Sumire: Huh? Not a girl?

Ruika: Eh? Is that bad?

Sumire: No, it’s not bad or anything.

Ruika: Alright then, my player name will be Ruika… but in Portuguese it might come out as Fúica? Oh well.

Clip: The video showed the character selection complete and moved to the appearance settings.

Ruika: Do I have to do this by hand? That’s annoying…

Sumire: It’s okay! See the text box at the bottom? Just type in how you want it to feel, and it’ll generate something close!

Ruika: Really? That’s amazing. Whoa… it really looks just like me.

Clip: The video showed a beautiful young boy with long black hair who looked very much like Ruika.

: A boy-girl! That works!

: Um? Forbidden door alert…

: I’m ready to give my virginity!!

Ruika: I’m not ready to give mine.

: Cut so quickly, lol

Sumire: Okay, let’s start the main story!!

Clip: The video showed Santa Aurora, the game’s setting, with upbeat Latin music playing. Lively characters and street scenes were shown in a colorful and emotional way.

Ruika: It’s like a Brazilian movie. Like Cidade de Deus or Tropa de Elite.

: You actually know that?! Genius!

: What do you mean?!

: Those are Brazilian movie masterpieces.

: I don’t know them?!

Ruika: In Japan, they’re called City of God and Elite Squad.

: Ruika is a real Brazil fan.

: Have you ever been to Brazil?

Ruika: No, I haven’t. I’d like to go… I think I wanted to go.

: Then just go?

: Yeah, you should go.

: Are you busy?

Ruika: …Someday. If I can go someday. Okay, monologue over. I really want to watch a Brazilian movie. I love how they start with the middle or end, then go back to the beginning. That’s so Brazilian-movie style.

: Is that a template?

: Is it some kind of challenge run?

Ruika: I’ve heard it’s supposed to reflect the censorship society under the old military government. Well, whatever. So we’re playing toward a set tragedy.

Sumire: That’s perfect!! I get it, but that’s perfect!! The feeling of playing it is so fresh!! No matter how much you spend, you can’t avoid tragedy. That structure is amazing!!

Ruika: But… does that even make spending money meaningful…? A Puta Masoquista…

Clip: The video showed Ruika exploring the streets. She got confronted by street children, and a fight started.

Ruika: This is brutal. But the battle feels so smooth.

Sumire: Ruika-chan’s timing is just perfect!!

: Ruika’s… timing is perfect!!

Ruika: I wonder what they mean… Well, whatever. Oh, the enemy dropped a gun. Huh? Did I pick it up automatically?

Clip: The video showed Sumire behind Ruika while looking smug and acting like a protective boyfriend from behind.

: (　-᷄ ω -᷅ )

: ( ˘–˘ )

: ( ´・_・｀)

: ( ˘ω˘ )

: ( ˘•ω•˘ )

Ruika: What? Is the comment section full of protective lover vibes? Isn’t the gun considered part of the equipment? Huh?

Clip: The story moved on. The main character was asked by adults to run an errand. From the slums, she headed toward the wealthy part of the city.

Ruika: Some cop is giving me trouble?

Sumire: Freaking police!!

Ruika: I guess I should just run away.

Clip: The video showed Ruika running from the cop. Along the way, she grabbed a skateboard from a rich-looking boy and sped away.

Ruika: What is this feeling… so thrilling…? I know I’m doing something bad, though.

Sumire: It’s just a game!! But everyone, don’t try this at home!

Clip: The video showed Ruika arriving at a rich man’s house.

Ruika: Huh? This house and this man were in a scene at the start. So it connects here.

Clip: Ruika handed a package to the man. Then, some drugs came out of it.

Ruika: Ah…

Clip: The man lunged at Ruika, messed up from taking the drugs. She struggled as he pushed her down.

Ruika: Can’t I do anything about this?

Sumire: ( ˘•ω•˘ )

Clip: Ruika pulled out a gun and shot the man in the stomach.

Ruika: Ah! It all connects!!

Sumire: Saudade, right?

: Brazil

: Braaazil

: Braaaaziiil

: Brazil

Ruika: Brasil…

Clip: Ruika looked around in panic as police sirens wailed.

Ruika: I see… I have to run if I want to survive…

Clip: Ruika ran through the city while escaping the police. She hid in a favela, and the chase finally ended.

Ruika: Even if I spend money, I can’t avoid this, right?

Sumire: Yeah, impossible. I watched videos of people who spent a lot. They drove tanks through the streets, ran over cops, and still, when they reached this house, this event always happens.

Ruika: It really does feel like a Brazilian movie…

Clip: Ruika went to a church and just stood there, lost in thought. Then another adult came and handed her a bag. Finally, a choice appeared on screen.

Ruika: I shouldn’t take it, right?

Clip: An adult man said, “Then how are you going to survive?”

Ruika: Still… It’s probably better than just doing what someone tells me. Maybe? It’s tricky.

Sumire: From here, you can do lots of things! But the main character always has to do something, or she’ll starve and die. That’s the game over in this game.

Ruika: That’s harsh…

Sumire: But you can use money to make her room nice! Or get better equipment! You can even grow tomatoes in the garden!

Ruika: Tomatoes… It’s funny that it’s actually Portuguese. But wow, this game is amazing. It’s really fun.

Sumire: You can go wild in the city like a silly game, but every mission always hits you with tragedy and the feeling of life’s harshness. This game really sticks in your heart.

Ruika: Yeah. It was intense. It was really fun too.

Sumire: Yeah, last thing, we’ll finish by singing and dancing to a new song in a bossa nova style! If you liked it, please subscribe, share, and especially recommend this game! That would make me happy!

Clip: The video showed Ruika and Sumire singing and dancing to the new song. Even though it was a little sexy, it had an emotional and wistful feeling as it was full of saudade.

♢ ♢ ♢

After Kagiroi-san had fallen asleep, I checked the video.

“She actually played it…”

I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. It was strange.

“Huh? Why? Why?”

Tears poured down my face. That day… the day I showed her the development process. The songs we sang and played together echoed in my head.

“Saudade.”

I lay down on the sofa and closed my eyes. My dreams were nice, but they felt so full of saudade.