Vol 1 Chapter 29 – Game Time

Kajiwara-kun stands out.

No, at this point, he stands out no matter what he does.

He’s a super-buff, muscle-bound guy over 180cm tall, a handsome man dressed in clean clothes.

He couldn’t possibly blend in.

Even at the card game shop, he drew stares.

What’s a guy like that doing here?

That was the look everyone gave him.

With a nonchalant look on his face, Kajiwara-kun downloaded the tournament app onto his phone.

And so, I stood next to him and registered for the tournament on my phone as well.

While teaching Kajiwara-kun how to do it for the first time, I made sure to keep my distance.

I’d be happy if we were seen as a couple here, but—if that happened, I’d be terrified of the jealous glares from everyone around us.

We finished our registration without issue, and I stood next to Kajiwara-kun talking about game strategy while we waited in the shop for the other participants to gather.

It looked like they just hit the 20-person capacity, so the event was officially on.

The rules were simple: three rounds of Swiss-draw (where you fight players with the same record).

The format was BO1 (Best of 1), making it beginner-friendly.

This way, even Kajiwara-kun, who has little experience playing in person, should be able to have fun.

Thinking this, I smiled as I looked at him.

“I’m looking forward to this.”

“Me too.”

As for me, I’ve been playing games since I was in middle school.

But, well, my collection of cards is lacking.

I just can’t build a deck with the kind of power the top tournament winners have.

With three rounds, I figure I’ll win twice at best, maybe once if I’m unlucky.

Kajiwara-kun might lose every match.

But that’s fine.

Kajiwara-kun is the kind of person who can accept that.

It’s frustrating to lose, but winning isn’t the main goal this time.

In a way, this is just to show our faces at the game shop. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a friendly match.

“Alright then, have fun.”

“Of course.”

Kajiwara-kun held out his hand.

I hesitated for a moment, then put my own hand out and gave his a firm shake.

A handshake.

After feeling his rugged palm, I let the lingering sensation go.

Don’t get the wrong idea, me.

There’s no special meaning behind Kajiwara-kun’s handshake.

Just then, our numbers were called, and we moved to our seats.

At his table, Kajiwara-kun was politely greeting his opponent. “It’s a pleasure to play with you!”

His opponent, a woman, seemed a little flustered but returned the greeting.

Yeah, the gamers at this shop are pretty well-behaved.

Some places are like the slums.

“It’s a pleasure to play with you!”

“You too. Hey, is that guy your friend?”

My opponent, who seemed to be a working adult, asked me about Kajiwara-kun.

Well, of course she’d ask.

“He’s a friend! We’re in the same otaku club!!”

“Oh ho, so he’s not your boyfriend.”

“Unfortunately not!”

I denied it clearly and firmly.

I want to say yes, but I’m just too scared of the jealousy.

Hearing that, the atmosphere among the surrounding players seemed to relax.

Yeah, bringing a guy to a game shop is bound to make people jealous.

That’s what I thought.

We started our game right away, competing for the win.

But I couldn’t help but worry about Kajiwara-kun.

It looked like he was having a pleasant chat while he played.

“I play online a lot, but this is my first time at an in-person tournament. Please go easy on me.”

“Of course. Let’s have a good game.”

Their conversation continued like that.

Well, I wasn’t that worried about Kajiwara-kun.

He’s a beginner; I’m sure everyone will be nice to him.

The problem was…

“Untap, upkeep, draw.”

…my opponent’s deck. It had the power of a major tournament winner’s build.

It was a powerhouse deck that only a working adult’s wallet could build.

I’m not going to win this unless I get some really good draws.

The game progressed with that thought in my mind, and just as I expected, I lost.

At the same time, from Kajiwara-kun’s seat nearby, I heard him declare, “I surrender.”

It seemed we lost at the exact same moment.

It’s not like Kajiwara-kun has poured a ton of money into his cards, either.

I wanted to get up right away and go talk with him.

But his opponent was keeping him there, engaged in a long conversation.

I could see Kajiwara-kun smiling, enjoying the chat.

I couldn’t just go and interrupt.

Instead, I’ll just perk up my ears and listen to what they’re saying.

“The person you came with, she’s not your girlfriend?”

“No, she’s not. She’s a senpai from my club that I respect. It would be rude to my senpai for someone like me to call myself her boyfriend.”

It’s not rude at all.

In fact, I’d love for us to be boyfriend and girlfriend.

As I thought that, I lingered at my seat so as not to disturb the tournament.

“Right—but she might not see it that way, you know.”

Ooh.

It sounds like Kajiwara-kun’s opponent is trying to put some strange ideas in his head.

Or maybe… they’re good ideas?

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, getting all dressed up like that, there’s no way she’s not thinking of you.”

Was my outfit a bad idea?

I mean, she’s right, I am conscious of him.

Card gamers are gentlemen, but I’m the only one who shows up to play in a dress.

It’s true, but…

“…Did I make my senpai go to too much trouble? I would have been fine with her wearing something casual.”

“I see. So she’s the one who put in the extra effort.”

Ugh, was I overthinking it?

But still.

As the person walking next to him, and as a woman, I couldn’t let him be embarrassed.

“How sweet. An older lady like me just wants to cheer for a sweet, new couple like you two.”

Kajiwara-kun’s opponent had seemed a bit flustered, but she appeared to be on our side.

In fact, she shot me a smiling glance, as if to say she was rooting for us.

It was embarrassing.

“What was your name again, kid?”

“I’m Kajiwara Ichirou.”

“Kajiwara-kun, you might not be a couple yet. But boys don’t just go along with a girl so easily. And the girl can’t help but be conscious of the boy, you know.”

Is she really cheering for us?

Everything she’s saying sounds like it’s designed to make Kajiwara-kun more aware of me.

It’s like she’s explaining the current situation to him.

“Is that how it is?”

“That’s how it is.”

Kajiwara-kun was starting to be convinced.

I wanted to shout out a correction right then and there, but of course, I couldn’t.

I quietly waited for the second round to begin.

My face grew red.

This was just so embarrassing.

“Hey, are you two really not a couple?”

My opponent asked me again.

“We’re not.”

I replied, leaving out the “unfortunately.”

“Hmm. Looks like he’s starting to warm up to the idea, though.”

She’s right.

Kajiwara-kun is very earnest.

If you state the facts plainly and use them to persuade him, he’ll honestly accept it.

Or rather than just accept it, he’ll break down the facts and fully understand their meaning.

Just like I was the one who taught him at the coffee shop a little while ago how much his mother treasures his freedom.

What am I going to do?

What am I going to do if my feelings for Kajiwara-kun are exposed like this?

And then, what if he rejects me?

I think I’d just want to die.

That’s why I wish people would stop trying to help.

“I see. So the Club President is conscious of me, too.”

The Club President…’too’?

Hearing the word that Kajiwara-kun just casually let slip, I almost cried out.

But I just barely managed to stop myself from letting a sound escape and stayed silent.

Oh, I don’t know what kind of face I’ll be able to make when I talk to Kajiwara-kun today.

I… I…

I want to keep our relationship the way it is now.

That’s all it’s supposed to be.

That’s what’s best.

As I told myself that—the call for the second round came from the shop staff, and we stood up.