Chapter 21

NIGHT BEFORE THE GAME

KOUSUKE

The city air is fresh this day, almost sweet and floral as the pace of living relaxes to a steadier rhythm.

'Am I dreaming? I want to get back here. I want to feel again these fresh air. If I am dreaming of the past, I don't want to wake up. I want to be trap in this paradise.'

It was the fourth Saturday of July today and it's my birthday. And it's the celebration of Kishiwada Minato Matsuri, the bay of a thousand and one lights. The largest fireworks display. I want to see those lights before I die. I'm dreaming right? Why can I speak or think normally in my dream?

There are so many people here in the city today. Tourists scattered and looked forward to the night. Every year this suburb of Osaka programs a huge firework display from the port complex. Almost one thousand five hundred rockets explode in the sky to the delight of residents of the bay but as I have heard and read on the newspaper there will be two thousand five hundred rockets in total for this year and that was a lot. The show takes the entire field of view with fireworks that illuminate for miles around. Over two hundred and fifty fireworks, continue for ten minutes. And to close, a final bouquet created by the best pyrotechnists in the country to make you think its sunrise.

But despite the fun that surrounds me, I still can't help but ask what it really feels like to have your family complete. Why do I still can feel this loneliness? This sadness? This is just a dream right? Just let me savor this dream is peace and happiness please.

I just smiled and shook my head as I walked.

I just sighed as I looked at my path. I still have a long way to go. I also don't know uncle's reason: he doesn't want me to ride or even use a bicycle. That's where we will celebrate my birthday. In an old house with no electricity, and only a lamp and a fireplace have to keep us warm.

Although this is my dream I can't control the dimension of my dream. I still do what I do that day. Complaining and complaining. It's what I do. But this was my last words of complain to uncle Ole.

The house outlasted the others because it's made of concrete. Floor, roof, ceiling. Only one of four glass windows remains, wavy and yellowed by time. I also don't know why every birthday my uncle always takes me there. Besides seeing the whole explosion of fireworks, I no longer know the reason.

I immediately snatched my cell phone from my pocket. This is the latest update of the God Game I played, and I need to update it immediately. I have been playing the game for a long time and the others, and not one of us has yet to open the three vaults.

This was the time that I installed an update of this shit game. Yet the reason that I am reincarnated.

This was the day when Draco Valdemort showed up. And still for how many years I still don't know his intentions.

I immediately tap my cell phone went to the playplay store. Playplay store huh, I miss that name. Playplay store is now a Hub App in my existence.

"Kousuke! Hayate!" I was immediately stunned as I walked, and my eyes immediately searched for whoever called me.

That voice...I miss that voice.

And when I found out it was Hinata, I put down my cell phone. She waved in my direction and I waved back at her. Her black hair lies long and loose, obscuring the open back of her dress, yet allowing glimpses of honeyed skin beneath. Hinata had the eyes of dove feathers, not the blond kind, but the ones with a hue so softly grey that they could have been pencil drawn.

"Hinata," I breathe. She never fails to amaze me with those smiles of hers as she slowly approaches me.

Hinata, I miss you so much. You remember my birthday but yet this was the last time I am going to see. I never even get to confess my feelings for you. What I have learned in here is that never lose any chances that you have now, because you might never gonna get another chance...like me.

She stops in front of me and shows me her smile and hands me a packed lunch that is covered with stripe red cloth. I just looked at it like a fool not knowing what to do.

"O-tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu (happy birthday)," she said happily, and she took my hands and handed me the lunch pack.

"You don't even have to give me this.," I said referring to the food.

I didn't even got to taste the food the she gave me. The fool I am.

"Don't be, it's your birthday, Kousuke, so that is my gift for you. You really need to consume that because I woke up early to cook it for you. Okay?" she said, and I just smiled, nodding.

She immediately took her cellphone out of her pocket and showed me the God Game logo.

"Have you seen the new God Game update today?" she asked while tapping at her phone.

Where are you now Hinata? Are you still alive? How come I have forget you?

I nodded and showed her my cellphone which was updating the game.

"I am updating it just now."

"They are always updating and the money of this game is getting bigger and bigger. I hope they will update that it is easier to get the vault at least one," she said, and I can't help myself not to laugh. She has been playing this game for a long time.

I got the first vault, Hinata. I got the first vault.

"Thank you so much for the food you gave Hinata, but I need to leave because maybe uncle is waiting for me and will scold me again. See you in the game later."

When I shift my eyes the color faded and bring my mind into another place.

"Why are we still celebrating my birthday here, uncle? We used to celebrate here when I was a child and now we still celebrate my birthday here?" I nagged and my uncle hit me again. I smiled, tell me I am idiot but I miss my uncle Ole who hit my head everyday.

"Ever since your mom gave birth to you, your dad always wanted to celebrate your birthday here in this house. So do not complain there, as if you are a son of a rich man. Learn to be grateful for what you have now," uncle said and it surprised me to hear those. I didn't know that this house is our home.

Yes, I shouldn't be complaining. I don't know why but at that age of mine my brain is suck and now that I am matured even though my age is still eighteen I can now totally understand why.

Did I not know or did I just forget?

This house is my home, where the laughter happens from my mom and my dad. Those bricks were laid one at a time, perhaps on a fine spring day. I let my eyes wander the roughness and how each is so very straight. This house was made with love, that's for sure.

The house was long and narrow, perhaps only twelve feet wide at the front, but it stretched some thirty feet back like a giant shoe box.

Is this the house where my father and mother killed?

"Your dad made this house, it was based on a game he used to play. It is no secret to you that he is a formulator of games. So it is not new to me if you inherited it from your dad who is addicted to mobile games. So I hope that does not lead you to disaster," he said as he pulled a chair and took a seat. I can smell what he was cooking, pork ribs if I am not mistaken.

It already leads me into disaster uncle Ole. But I believe that it was my destiny to come into life and bring justice to my parents. What happened to you uncle Ole?

He always cooks my favorite dish and I can see the ingredients at the table kitchen and those were the ingredients of takoyaki. "Uncle, can I know what killed my parents? I am at the right age, at a legal age so I hope you tell me. I can accept what they died for," I said and he looked at me sincerely.

"Not what my child but who," he said to my surprise. Killed my parents? My hands formed into fist while my uncle looked at it

"Tell me more uncle," I said and heard him

sigh.

My heart grip in pain. Why uncle Ole didn't told me that already?

"I am not telling you the assassins who killed them. But I will tell you why, so please be brave," he said, giving a shudder to my chest. Adrenaline floods my system, It pumps and beats like it's trying to escape. My brain could not absorb what had happened to my parents.

"I will," I shortly answered and uncle nodded.

"One night your father was invited for a formal dinner of the most respected man here in our city. Your father was surprised and doubted the invitation, your mother was worried that night and had the feeling that something was wrong, something was up. But your father insisted on going, that

night I too feel the fear because we know everything. Your father is one of the formulators of God Game and your mother and I believe that he was up to this. Everyone was up to that game and we don't even know why it was like a big treasure for them to be like that. You were sleeping that time Kousuke and I can't sit still in my seat while watching over you. While your mom is outside waiting for your dad. I do not know but I feel something strange. But when your dad got home that night I lost my nervousness. Your mom talked to him about what happened. What they did not know was that I was listening to their conversation. I know your dad is hiding something, he just doesn't want your mom to worry. It was about eleven o'clock in the evening when your father knocked on the door. He talked to me about the invitation. I was shocked and scared and immediately looked at you sound asleep. You were only a few years old then but your parents seemed to be on the brink of death. I could see the pain in his eyes. He kissed you and kissed you again and again. And he gave you to me and told me to get away. I also asked if your mom knew even though I already knew the answer. At those times I loaded you and it seemed like your weight was heavy. My nervousness and trembling were incessant. And then I heard the cars. We weren't too far away then and I seemed to stop running. I saw their merciless rain of bullets all over the house. And when they were not satisfied, they entered the house. At that time I should have been running while carrying you but no, I was still watching them. I saw them pulling your dad and mom. They are full of blood but they still have no mercy. They even shoot your parents until they get bored. And then I saw him, the man who plotted everything."I seemed stunned by what my uncle had told me. I can't even swallow my own saliva. I do not know what to say after the filthy past. Uncle seemed to feel it so he immediately got up from his seat and approached me. He said nothing but he just rubbed my back.

This was what I have read on the newspaper that I got from the portal.

"You will always remember that in case something happens, follow your heart and trust yourself and never do anything outrageous. We should celebrate because it is your birthday. Happy birthday my child Kousuke," he said and I can't help but smile and nod.

Follow my heart? Trust myself? How could I trust myself uncle Ole?

I look at the time and it was eleven in the evening near time for the fireworks display. This was the time of my last goodbye to uncle Ole.

"Uncle! I need to get a signal okay? I'll be back!" I shouted and heard him yelled back telling me okay and come back soon before the fireworks started.

I need to get fast and be back again. I just need to log in into the God Game so I can claim my treasure chest and my fragments and my rare skin that Hinata gifted to me. She messaged me a while ago for her present and I can't help but to feel grateful, I will give her rare skin that she likes someday.

I was close to the zone area where the signal was strong when I felt strange again. I felt like someone was following me again. I immediately looked at my cellphone when I was able to log in. I go to live plays and look because there are so many new ones. Completely forgetting the strange feeling. I decided to play first for a while. Due to the strong signal everything became easy

for me. My heart beat faster when I saw the unbelievable first vault. My heart almost pounded as I looked out over the first vault.

This was my second time to see the first vault. The first was when the system got glitches.

"Oh shit," I breathe. I can't believe it. I was about to open it when someone talked behind my back.

My fear returned suddenly.

I want to look the man who talk. But I can't, I can't even look back. I can't even move. My heart stops beating. I can't breath. I can't feel my legs, my neck, my body.

I wanted to shout myself to run. I want myself to run.

"Born to win and born to lose but tonight you are born to die."

"Ahhh!" I woke up with bead of sweats in my forehead. My pillow was soaked. My eyes were in tears.

I was just dreaming but it seems like it was all detailed. I look at the time and look surprised.

One hour?

I took my sleep nine and I woke up in ten.

It feels like a long time. It feels like forever.

Uncle Ole, are you the one whose doing this to me? If so, please don't creep me out.

Tomorrow will be the next game. I don't want to be a zombie in the game but I can't help but to think. Are these the sign?