Vol. 2 Chapter 93 – The Sea, Popular Types, and a Luxury Resort (17)

“Reiya… Hikaru…” (Someone)

Someone who had entered the stopped time read the text on the screen aloud.

After another beat of silence, explosive laughter erupted as if the air itself had exploded.

“Ahaha!! What is this~!! This new form of showing off~!!” (Girl A)

“My stomach hurts… ‘♥Reiya & Hikaru♥’… I can’t…” (Girl B)

“Um, well… this is Reiya-kun’s account, this is mine… and the third one is… for when we play together… surrounding it with hearts was my idea, but Reiya-kun said it was fine too…” (Hikaru)

Even Hikaru herself, who set up the accounts, was taking self-damage with a bright red face.

Not knowing how to act, she was somehow explaining the details for some reason.

“Don’t~ explain it so seriously… you’re really too cute…” (Girl A)

“Being hit with such a curveball of showing off, I give up…” (Girl B)

“Really can’t… there’s a limit to being a lovey-dovey couple… hehe…” (Girl C)

Everyone was writhing in various emotions while having trouble breathing.

“Reiya, honestly we lose to you guys…” (Shuu)

Shuu patted my shoulder, conceding that we held the title of the school’s biggest lovey-dovey couple.

Everyone else was making various comments teasing us.

Embarrassing. Too embarrassing.

This embarrassment might be even worse than when Hikaru confessed to me in front of everyone.

Right now I felt like I could become a king who’d burn down this entire resort with the fire shooting from my face.

“Kageyama-kun, you didn’t bring this just to show it off, did you?” (Matsunaga)

“No no, of course not…” (Reiya)

“Really…?” (Matsunaga)

“R-really… More importantly, I’ll use my account, so shouldn’t we decide what to play?” (Reiya)

To divert the topic, I gripped the controller and selected my account.

“Eh~ we’re not using your couple account~?” (Girl A)

“Honestly, we’d be fine just watching you two play together lovey-dovey.” (Girl B)

“Come on…! If you don’t stop I’ll get angry…!” (Hikaru)

While Hikaru said that about the continued teasing, her face looked strangely happy for some reason.

“Sorry sorry. But you two are just too endearing.” (Girl A)

“Hmph! Then I’ll just get all lovey-dovey without caring about anyone watching!” (Hikaru)

“H-hey, Hikaru…” (Reiya)

This time Hikaru stuck to me as declared, causing me trouble.

Seeing that, everyone started teasing us again and again.

Being next to Asahi Hikaru apparently makes you the center of the community whether you want it or not.

“So, what games are there?” (Girl A)

“There are various kinds… even for multiplayer, there’s co-op and competitive…” (Reiya)

“Something simple would be good.” (Girl B)

“How about Marimo Cart?” (Reiya)

I moved the cursor and suggested the national racing game.

“Mario Kart? Sounds good.” (Girl A)

“Isn’t that fine? We can take turns with members each round.” (Guy A)

“I agree! No objections!” (Girl B)

…And so, the first game was decided to be Marimo Cart.

I started handing out controllers to everyone to play.

After distributing the controllers, I sat on the edge of a sofa a bit apart.

Today I wouldn’t be a player, but would observe to make sure everyone could have fun.

“Which character should I pick…” (Girl A)

“I’ll be Yoshi!” (Girl B)

“Ah…! Yoshi got taken… then I’ll be Pinocchio.” (Girl C)

“Then I’ll be Mario!” (Guy A)

“What are you picking, Hikaru?” (Girl A)

“Of course… Waluigi!” (Hikaru)

“Eh…” (Everyone)

Everyone selected their favorite characters and machines, and the first race was finally about to begin.

3, 2, 1… Start!

And right from the opening, Hikaru pulled off a rocket start.

And predictably, she took an overwhelming first place without any surprises.

“Yay! I won!” (Hikaru)

“Hikaru, Hikaru…” (Reiya)

I beckoned to her as she was happily celebrating alone.

“Hmm? What?” (Hikaru)

“You’re trying too hard… you need to hold back a little…” (Reiya)

I quietly advised her in a volume the others couldn’t hear.

With people who were touching the game for the first time, including girls, having a player who took nearly optimal racing lines while chaining mini-turbos would ruin the fun.

Having been shown something ridiculous from the first race, the other seven people were confused about how to react.

“Ehehe… when it becomes a competition I just…” (Hikaru)

“Anyway, today we’re on the hosting side.” (Reiya)

“Got it! Then I’ll sit here too and become a supervisor!” (Hikaru)

At my second warning, Hikaru sat next to me and pressed her body close.

Maybe her real goal from the start was to naturally do this.

The game resumed without Hikaru, and a good balance was maintained.

“Hey! Don’t use lightning when I’m jumping! That’s not fair!” (Girl A)

“Haha! There’s no such thing as unfair in the world of competition!” (Guy A)

“Ah~ jeez~ Hikaru! Teach me how to do that start dash! I definitely want to win next time!” (Girl B)

“Um, that’s done by pressing the accelerator the moment the 2 count appears…” (Hikaru)

No one was exceptionally skilled, and we gave light advice to those who placed low.

By doing so, we maintained even better balance and made the battles more intense.

I thought there might be opportunities to play with everyone.

The game I brought with that thought was showing excitement far beyond my expectations.

As I was feeling moved by an event that would have been impossible for me just a few months ago—

“Playing just us two is fun, but playing with lots of people is fun too!” (Hikaru)

From beside me, Hikaru said that with a genuinely joyful smile.

“Yeah. It’s fun.” (Reiya)

I answered briefly and honestly.

I actually wanted to say one more thing—’It’s all thanks to Hikaru’—but I held it inside myself, thinking it would be a bit embarrassing and might confuse her.

And so, while I was watching everyone get absorbed for a while—

“Well… now that things have warmed up, shall we move on to the main event!” (Ooba)

Ooba-kun, the male instigator, put down his controller and stood up saying that.

“Main event?” (Girl A)

“You’re not planning something weird again, are you?” (Girl B)

“Well, you’ll see… it’ll definitely be fun.” (Ooba)

He walked toward the corner of the room with complete confidence.

The girls, starting with Matsunaga-san, directed suspicious glances at him.

I was also watching his actions wondering what it could be, when he casually started rummaging through the Discount Palace plastic bag he’d brought.

That bag definitely only had snacks and party goods… no wait.

His rummaging figure overlapped with events that had happened to me in the past.

Yes, in the past Hikaru had also bought party goods from Discount Palace, and the standard item among those was…!

“Ta-da! How about from now on, whoever gets last place has to wear this as punishment!” (Ooba)

Saying that, he held up various cosplay costumes with both hands.