join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr
"Did you really never play these arcade games?"
Kirino looked at Asakura suspiciously.
At this moment, the arcade screen of "True Sister Annihilation" in front of Asakura was filled with victory confetti, and the large 'YOU WIN' text was particularly dazzling. Even more dazzling was the health bar of Asakura's character, which showed no change whatsoever, and the timer next to it, indicating that only 16 seconds had passed in the entire game.
"Don't look at me like this, but I am, for what it's worth, the top student at Soubu High School."
Asakura took his hands off the joystick and buttons and said kindly: "I didn't have much time to play games in places like this before. If I had to say, among all these machines here, the only ones I had used before today were the claw machine and the vending machine at the entrance."
"Damn it, in that case, let's have another round. You stupid big brother, don't lose so easily again!"
Kirino reinserted a few game coins into the arcade machine in front of Kosaka Kyosuke, completely disregarding the latter's expression of utter defeat, as if he had been publicly humiliated.
"Soubu High School is that school with a very high academic deviation, right? Is Butler-kun actually the top student there?"
Kitagawa Marin on the other side said with considerable surprise, her already large eyes widening even further, filled with admiration.
This unexpectedly pleased Asakura—during this period, the people around him were either academic powerhouses like Asagumo Chihaya and Yukinoshita Yukino, who were also at the top of their class, or people like Yuigahama Yui and Yanami Anna, who were very insensitive to grades. As a result, his glory as the top student had little presence. Now that he was praised, Asakura was naturally in a great mood.
And so, Kosaka Kyosuke suffered.
"W-what's with this brutal combo? I can't block it, I can't block it at all! In fact, I can't even see the moves clearly. Is this really something a beginner can do?!"
His screams and the wails of his character being hit overlapped, forming a rather peculiar duet.
A strange glint also flashed in Gokou's wine-red eyes, which were adorned with colored contacts, and she said with a full and proud tone: "As expected of my... my Butler. At this moment, he surpasses Master Takahashi!"
"Namu-san, how merciless..."
Saori looked at the miserable state of Kosaka Kyosuke's character on the screen and couldn't help but shake her head and sigh.
"This is definitely strange. Can someone who has never played arcade games really achieve this level?"
Only Kirino was still complaining on behalf of her brother.
Of course, it's also possible that she simply wanted to go to Toranoana more than Animate.
"After all, Butler-kun is the top student, so isn't it normal for him to learn quickly?"
Kitagawa Marin said as if it were obvious.
"But the speed of that breath-less combo is definitely strange!"
Kirino was still protesting.
"Since he's the top student, isn't it quite reasonable that he can do things ordinary people can't?"
"But my idiot older brother wasn't just brutally massacred and zeroed out like a helpless meat puppet,"
Ignoring her brother's tragic expression, as if two knives had been plunged into his heart, Kirino continued, "Even the little Manami I was controlling got a special defeat animation because the top and bottom clothes were torn in a different order! This is absolutely not normal!"
"Because Butler-kun is the top student..."
"Don't use 'top student' as an all-purpose explanation for everything!"
Although the two were still arguing incessantly, Asakura had already contentedly left the arcade machine.
For him, with the constant passive effect of the Magic [Snake] and reaction speed far beyond ordinary people, these reaction-based games were almost always on easy mode, no matter who he played against. Even if the opponent was a master of prediction, he could still force open a situation with his reaction speed.
Kirino anxiously swapped out Kosaka Kyosuke, and Gokou took over for Asakura.
The result was naturally the former being beaten by the latter, screaming in pain. Her miserable state almost perfectly replicated the process of her brother being utterly defeated by Asakura.
After that, the engrossed Kirino and Gokou went on to compete in many other arcade games.
The result was naturally a big victory for Gokou. It was only in physical games like basketball machines and dance machines that Gokou, despite gaining the enhancement of one cat's strength, still had a weak point in physical ability and lost to Kosaka Kirino, who had quite good stamina.
By the way, because her body was very flexible and sensitive, Gokou had zero errors on the dance machine and hit every rhythm point perfectly before she was drenched in sweat and exhausted. It was only later, when she truly ran out of energy, that Kirino surpassed her in total score.
When everyone came back to their senses, the sky outside had gradually darkened.
"Oh dear, it seems both Animate and Toranoana will have to wait until next time."
Saori said with great regret.
"I didn't expect there to be so many interesting things in the game center now. It feels like a new world has opened up."
Kitagawa Marin also said happily.
During their playtime, the two of them played together more often, and their relationship had become much closer. Saori even said she would provide Kitagawa Marin with some cosplay clothing, but the latter politely smiled and declined after seeing Saori's rather otaku-ish fashion sense.
"Shall we disband here then?"
Gokou asked.
Her tone sounded as indifferent as ever, but Asakura, who had known her for a while, keenly detected a hint of reluctance in the girl—not a deep affection for people she had just met for a day, but rather that she genuinely enjoyed the feeling of playing with otaku friends.
After all, the people she met regularly in her daily life, not to mention gentle and elegant girls like Asagumo Chihaya who resembled Yamato Nadeshiko, even the lively and cheerful Yuigahama Yui was a normie. And Nukumizu Kaju, who was considerate and always took her feelings into account during conversations, was a perfect honor student. Only Asakura had a subtle, somewhat outdated otaku vibe.
"Of course, it's not time yet! Because we haven't completed the most important thing!"
Saori stood with her hands on her hips, saying with a serious and earnest expression.
"What? Haven't we already exchanged email and Line IDs?"
Kirino asked in confusion.
"Not that, although that's important too... But isn't it customary to leave a memento when friends finally part ways?"
Saori said happily.
"Memento... are you referring to this and the eroge in your bag?"
Kirino took out a long-handled plastic clip, clamping it with an unhappy clatter. It was clear she really didn't like the thing: "Seriously, I almost forgot about this..."
"No, no, what I mean is,"
Saori pointed to her face, her mouth forming a shape similar to an omega: "Purikura, ara na ika?"
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr