Common holiday short story Hajime's case

The train ride alone takes about 40 minutes. There was a beautiful five-story apartment building in a location where it would take about an hour and a half to commute to school, including the travel time to the nearest station to my home and university, and the time I had to wait for the train.

"Here..."

　Hajime was looking up at the apartment with the map app on his smartphone in hand.

　He is casually dressed in a shirt, hoodie, and jeans, and carries a large backpack over his shoulder.

"You live in a surprisingly nice place. Is it cheap because of the location?"

　I somehow look around. The houses are not crowded together, there are few cars on the streets, and there are not many apartments.

　Although it is a residential area, the atmosphere is not so much ``quiet'' as it feels a bit desolate.

　It takes about 30 minutes to walk from the station, and there is only one convenience store nearby. The nearest supermarket is also a bit far away without a car, so it's probably not a popular place.

　It's strange to see such a relatively new apartment building being built in such a place, but there's no point in thinking about it.

　Shrugging his shoulders, Hajime entered the entrance.

　There was an old man in the manager's office wiping down the windows in the manager's office, so I greeted him briefly.

　Then, remembering the room number I had been given beforehand, I pressed the button on the intercom hanging on the wall.

　After a beat,

``...Nice to see you, Dogeza.''

"Hey, stop it, can't you see the manager behind you?"

　The manager behind me turned around in shock.

　That's right. Residents who suddenly ask visitors to kneel on the floor should be checked by the administrator.

``Oh, that's right. Nagumo, nice to have you here.''

"Oh, come on, open it."

``Before that, I still doubt whether you are really that ``Dogeza Shihan.'' If you want to pass, I'd like you to say the password.''

　Hajime looked back over his shoulder and smiled fondly at the manager who was narrowing his eyes suspiciously. It's like, "I'm a friend who's in trouble, haha." I can't stay here.

"If you're the 'Dogeza Sensei' I know, you should be able to put into words the feelings we shared on that hellish battlefield we fought together in the summer of our second year of middle school."

"Cheetah must die, there will be no mercy."

　Hajime said with a bit of a greedy tone. Although I am concerned about the administrator, my heart...Real feeling anchor Those were heartwarming words.

"...I see. I'm sure you are--Ah! ? What are you going to do? I-I know, I know! I'll open it now! "

　Immediately after the sound of a light beating and the panicked atmosphere, the entrance door opened with a thud.

　Sigh a little. Feeling the manager's bitter smile on his back, Hajime felt a little embarrassed and hurriedly climbed the stairs.

　In front of the desired room on the third floor, I press the intercom again. The door opened immediately.

"That was bad earlier, Dogeza."

　The person who opened the door was a small, slender man with black hair parted in the center and wearing glasses.

"Could you please stop using your handle name outside?　Makoto Date Masa Date glasses"

"It's become a habit. I've been calling you Dogeza Shihan for far longer."

"...I feel like there's some kind of personal grudge involved."

"Then I won't go out of my way to invite you to my house."

　His handle name is ``Date Makegane,'' which makes him snort and click his glasses. Needless to say, they have been Hajime's gaming friends since middle school.

"soundsNeon, don't talk at the door and let me in quickly.''

　Peeking out from the back of the room was a young man with a skin head and no eyebrows, but somehow he exuded a gentleness and gentleness that made me feel no fear.

"I told you not to call me by my first name!"

"Because you're being mean."

"That's right, sounds Neon. Get it in quickly. Also, I think it's a cool name, Otone."

"Nagumo, it's you."

　It became a hassle, so I changed my real name to Date Make gane. Root Nemo to sounds Neon" Hajime-san enters the house while pushing him away.

　Apparently Nemoto-kun doesn't really like being called by his name. The name was given to him because his parents seem to like looking at the neon lights at night from a distance, and also have a hobby of music.

　Hajime doesn't hate it or anything, I think it's a good name for him...but personally, he seems to have some complicated feelings about it.

"rice storehouseYonekura. Here, a souvenir. I bought it properly."

"Ah, thank you...Ahaha, it seems like we're thinking the same thing. I ended up buying almost the same thing. There's only Enadri and no normal drinks..."

"Seriously...?"

"By the way, Nemoto's house originally only had water, except for Enadori."

"Oh my god. Even though it's important fuel for us gamers, I should have expected that."

"Okay. Let's go to the convenience store later."

　Hajime, whose nickname is ``Supreme Ass-Ago'', sits on a chair with a gesture that makes you feel that he is well-bred.rice storehouseYonekuraHumilityKenshin.

　Yonezo has a good physique, so from the outside he looks like a dangerous person who is used to violence, but perhaps because he exudes an atmosphere of peace-loving, he is a rare type of person who doesn't scare you much even when you meet him for the first time. His tone is very gentle and you can feel his kindness, so when you talk to him you can tell that he is a nice person.

　The fact that my parents' home is a temple may also have an influence. He is not afraid of anyone and has a polite demeanor. However, when he gets really angry, his impressive appearance does the job perfectly.

　On the other hand, Nemoto is foul-mouthed and likes to fight. However, this is limited to online games and to people you have given up to, such as friends.

　Naturally, when you meet someone for the first time, you become nervous all at once when you are in front of someone you are not used to. We don't even make eye contact. In other words, it's the so-called online Benkei, the kin Benkei.

　Hajime and Yonezura immediately dug into the bag and took out the burdock, making a sweet sound. and,

``Torima, first off-line meeting!''

　We toasted in unison.

　Yes, today is our first off-line meeting, which we had promised for a long time, and it's a day off where we promised to play games to our heart's content like we used to.

　Nemoto offered his home as a place to gather.

"Well, you guys often feel so at home in someone else's house when you come for the first time."

　Nemoto-kun's eyes twitch as he clicks his glasses on with trembling hands as the two toast, leaving the landlord alone.

"What, is this your first time at Yonezo? We went to the same high school, right?"

"Yeah. But it's far from here."

"Indeed. I think it's a nice room, but there's nothing around it either."

　Hajime looked around. It's a beautiful room. I can't feel any sense of life. There is another room next to the living room, which is quite spacious.

　I thought the next room was a bedroom, but apparently it wasn't.

　The well-made door was open, and I got curious and got up from the sofa to take a peek.

"Oh, you've got some good equipment."

　The PC and gaming environment was so complete that I couldn't help but groan.

　Just by looking at it, a self-made PC would cost around 700,000 to 800,000 yen. There are three displays, and there are also tablets, laptops, and specialized equipment.

"Hehe, I guess so. It's the result of my pursuit of the ideal room. Commuting to school is a little difficult though."

"Ideal room?...There's a microphone, and this room...is it soundproof? Huh, maybe you?"

　Hajime noticed something and widened his eyes.

　Yonezo answered in place of Nemoto, who was wearing some sort of cool glasses.

"Did you notice? That's right. Basically, I'm a so-called game distributor."

"Seriously? Ah, I see. It was strange to see a newly built apartment in such a location, but I guess this is a property targeted at streamers?"

"Well, there's been an increase in the number of places like that recently, and they're quite popular. This was also the last room."

　Although there are soundproof rooms, it is not absolute. However, if the target is a fixed property, the residents can understand each other about some noise.

　The next thing to do is to be considerate of the neighborhood, but since the location is not popular and there is distance from the neighbors, I don't have much of a problem with it.

　Above all, it seems that the fact that there was no need to worry about line gachas made it a much more attractive property for distributors.

``Thanks to the location, the rent is not cheap, but it's not expensive either.''

"I see. I haven't watched the live game in a while, so I didn't notice. It's because of his skill that he's been recruited by professional teams. There must be quite a few people who have registered."

"...Game skill and popularity as a streamer are not equal..."

　Nemoto-kun quietly averted his gaze. There is an indescribable sadness in the air...

　I thought that if he had good equipment and was able to pay the not-so-cheap rent, he would have become a fairly well-known streamer, but apparently that's not the case.

"The PC is a gift for school entrance, and it seems like the rent and living expenses will be paid as normal."

"Yonezo, don't break it up!"

"Oh, this is it. It's just the same handle name...I guess there's going to be 10,000 subscribers soon. That's pretty impressive, isn't it?"

　It seems that monetization is possible. Judging from the comments in the archive, it doesn't seem to have a bad reputation. Although he seems to have a bit of a bad mouth, he seems to have a reputation for his captivating play.

　If you think of it as a small part-time job for a college student, you can probably earn enough money.

　However, even after hearing Hajime's honest praise, Nemoto looked rather displeased and sat down on the edge of the sofa.

"Even if you say that to someone who drives around in a foreign car, it just sounds like a sarcasm."

　He says this with a look of displeasure as he clicks his glasses in frustration.

"What, I thought you were strangely hit, but were you worried about that?"

　Hajime sat back down on the other side of the sofa with a troubled expression on his face.

　As expected, it was Yonezo, not Nemoto, who answered. She says with a wry smile, but with a slight tinge of seriousness in her eyes.

"Yes, but that's not true, Nagumo."

"? What do you mean?"

"...My friend, who I used to hang out with for so long, suddenly stopped hearing from me. We've never met and we only connect online, so it's not that unusual. But..."

　At the very least, if he was going to retire from the game we used to play together, or if he wasn't going to be able to do it for a while, wouldn't it be nice to say something to him?

　It wasn't like I was explicitly promising what would happen next.

　However, I naturally thought that there would be a ``next time.''

　That's how much fun we had together during the three years of junior high school and about a year of high school. ...It was fun, as it should have been. each other.

　However, when I meet him again unexpectedly, I find that my former friend's tone has changed from the calm and slightly timid tone I heard over the headset, and he also has a harem and a foreign car.

　It was natural to wonder if he was really the same person he was back then, but the more we talked, the more he seemed like himself.

　In that case, it's more natural to think that things have changed than to think that people used to wear cats.

　It would be natural, then, to think like this. That is,

――Was it because of this that you severed ties with us...

　I see. It's certainly understandable that the odds are a little harder.

　Rather,

"...That's right. It was certainly unreasonable. Yet, you promised to play with me often."

"It was a good opportunity.For us, it was a great opportunity.InsidehomeTo clear the air."

　It's not like I hold a grudge. What kind of personality and lifestyle does the person on the other side of the internet really have? It's not something you should go out of your way to pry into or point out. He knows it's the other person's choice.

　That's why when she heard that Hajime was getting married, she was able to properly congratulate him.

　But... it's also true that there was something like a lump deep inside my chest, and I happened to be blessed with an opportunity to remove it.

　Hajime lowered his head with a solemn look on Yonezo's face as he lowered the corner of his eyes.

"That's too bad. Also, thank you for today."

"Use. You'll have to decide now whether or not to forgive."

　With that said, Nemoto cracked open the Enadori and drank it all in one gulp, as if swallowing all the things he wanted to say.

"Here, just spit it out."

　Why did he disappear without leaving a single word?

　The two had only known each other online, and even though they were aware of the repatriation scandal, they would not have been able to connect those involved with their friends.

　Hajime should have contacted him. It was definitely Hajime's fault for forgetting that.

　All kinds of drastic changes in the environment. Piles of problems, new troubles coming one after another. In response to the fact that I was completely absorbed in these matters,

(Well, that's an excuse)

　I can't help but smile. I crossed my arms with her, sat deeply on the sofa, and looked up at the ceiling.

"That's right, what did we start talking about..."

"Aren't we staying over tonight? We have plenty of time. Enadri and some snacks."

"The 250% powder happy*n is mine."

　Nemoto quickly pulls out the sweets he's looking for. Laughing at that, Hajime began speaking in a quiet tone.

　Without hiding the absurd story.

　It's the least I can do right now, and it's my utmost sincerity, both to myself who did the wrong thing to me, and to the two people who are trying to become friends again.

　It was well past noon.

　The conversation, which lasted nearly four hours considering we had gathered around ten in the morning, had finally come to an end.

　result,

""...""

　Nemoto-kun and Yonezo-kun both turned their backs to Hajime.

　It's not like I chose to refuse as a result of the discussion. I just needed time to sort things out.

　BrilliantMr. SanThey were sitting in a triangular position facing the window, bathing their entire bodies in the sunlight. His gaze goes far into the distance.

　The room gets a lot of sunlight, and the pictures look like they're being taken to heaven.

　Well, thinking it was no wonder, Hajime calmly waited for the two to recover mentally on the sofa.

　While enjoying my favorite potato chips, ``Happy Butter Flavor,'' for lunch, I was enjoying the archives of ``Date Makegane Channel'''s ``Big Hard Glasses Series'' - a series that recreates scenes from Hollywood action movies in-game. To check.

　It was quite a sight to behold, as its main selling point was fascination. Click to subscribe to the channel.

"...What do you think, Yonezo?"

"...I don't think I would have any choice but to believe it if I were shown something like that."

"Isn't it?"

　The two of them confirmed each other's sanity -- or rather, their sanity, in a voice that sounded like they were talking to themselves.

　Even if the story is far-fetched, I can't help but believe it when I actually see the treasure house, artifacts, and transmutation magic right in front of my eyes.

　What's more, if a fairy sister were to come out of the treasure trove at a casual pace, I would no longer be able to deny the events in front of me other than doubting my own sanity.

"I know, I know. But I'm also an otaku, so if I understand that kind of thing, I also admire it."

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

　At the same time, we looked at each other and let out a sigh.

"The case where the main character of a real harem light novel is right in front of me."

　How should we accept such an unrealistic reality? I can't help but think about it.

　There's too much information to be honestly excited about, and the content is too severe to be jealous. This is exactly what it means to be speechless. My thoughts and emotions are spinning.

　In response, Hajime also gave a wry smile as if to say, ``I understand how you feel.''

"What are we going to do? We're destined to get involved in some kind of commotion. It's almost unrealistic. If the two of us want it... it can't be helped. Let's go home, okay?"

　It simply means that I'm canceling today's offline meeting to free up some time... It also means that I can't help but cut ties with him, so I'll leave that decision up to him... Though they were still in the middle of being confused, the two of them understood it correctly.

　I instinctively looked over my shoulder and saw Hajime.

　The sight of him sitting deep on the sofa, tilting the bag of potato chips and pouring the rest into his mouth is amazing.thicklyimpudentYes.

　He seems to be a completely different person from the calm and kind-hearted boy who never once raised his voice when we used to communicate over the internet.

　However, the way he spoke to us carefully over a long period of time, the way he looked at us at that time...

　We didn't even show it to each other, but at the same time we let out a deep sigh.

"...Well, let's put aside the details for now. If you think about it simply, you're lucky enough to die. It's like winning a rare friend rather than winning the lottery."

"You don't have to be an otaku to think that, right? I mean, you're an otaku, right?"

　A smile naturally appeared on Nemoto and Yonezo's lips. There are still so many emotions I can't accept, and there are many things I can't fully understand.

　But, well, for now. If we only think about what is important to us.

　At the very least, I now understand the reason why we lost touch with each other and the reason why we haven't heard from each other since then, and I can understand it to a certain extent. That was the only thing that was clear, and above all, Hajime's heart and feelings towards them were somehow conveyed.

　If so,

""friend・reach・but・The main character of a light novel"

　Nemoto and Yonezo thought that was enough for now, but this time Nemoto and Yonezo said in unison, ``Isn't that the best?'' Her smile deepened as she saw Hajime's somewhat relieved expression.

"...Thank you."

　Hajime naturally responded that way with a bit of embarrassment that he couldn't hide.

　Without saying anything, Nemoto and Yonezo shrug their shoulders. You can tell by the look on his face. Apparently, the slight mist that had been in the back of their hearts had completely cleared up this time.

"What should we do? There are other things I can show you, but..."

"Hmm, I wouldn't say I'm not interested...I mean, I'm really curious."

"That's right. But..."

　It's like a fairy tale has come true before my eyes. You can actually hold magical products that you could only dream about.

　Moreover, if you are told that you can go to the fantasy world inside the jewels right now if you want to go, even if you are not an otaku, you will definitely respond with two things: "I want it now!"

　Naturally, Hajime was also thinking of that...

　The two people at Nemoto's rice storehouse reacted surprisingly poorly. For some reason, the two of them looked at each other and nodded in understanding.

"What's wrong? There's no need to be shy."

"There's no way you're going to shy away from 'dogeza' now."

　Apparently not. So why aren't you jumping on me? Nemoto snorted at Hajime who tilted his head curiously, and Yonezo gave him a gentle smile.

"Isn't today the day to play games to your heart's content?"

"..."

　Hajime blinked as if he had been caught by surprise.

"Oh, well, I did come with that plan..."

　While moving in front of the TV and preparing for the game, Nemoto handed the controller to Hajime.

"What are you playing stupid about? We're gamers, after all. Gamers, if you decide to play a game, play a game! It's a game first, before another world or magic!"

"Oh, oh..."

　Hajime was strangely impressed by the way Nemoto spoke confidently while pointing at himself with his thumb. Yonezo adds (?) with a wry smile.

"In other words, this is what Nemoto is saying. We're friends from the same university, so you're going to show us as many things as you want about other worlds and magic, right?"

"No! My first priority is to see if this guy still has the spirit of a gamer..."

"That's what Nemoto is saying. Nagumo probably didn't have much time to play games, and I'm sure he was enjoying today, so for now, let's put everything else aside and play to the fullest."

"I always ask you not to paraphrase without permission."

"I see. Is that so?"

"You agree too."

　Nemoto-kun has a blue streak on his forehead and quickly flips off his glasses, probably because it's his habit when he's irritated. Yonezo has a calm, smiling face like a bodhisattva.

　A smile appeared on Hajime's lips as if he couldn't suppress it.

　I'm really happy that we've regained our friendship, or more than that, we're now able to hang out face to face like this...

　That feeling is evident. As if that was getting through, Yonezo's expression became softer and gentler, and perhaps it was just his habit of hiding his shyness, as he started to jerk off his glasses even more.

"So, what game are you going to play? I've brought my laptop with me, so I could play the FPS game I stopped playing a long time ago...but I still have my account."

"You're an idiot. Why don't you suddenly take me to the battlefield with all your blanks? First, I'm going to check your current skill, which was actually outclassed in real life."

　Nemoto, who unlike Hajime prefers downloaded versions, switched the TV screen and selected one of the many game titles lined up.

"Is it a fighting game? Or did 6 come out in this series?"

"You don't know what it's like, right? It came out half a year ago. There are pros and cons, but a new system has been introduced that is innovative and reduces the hurdles that are unique to fighting games. No, even the general public is really excited right now."

"Hmm. I had the impression that fighting games were becoming more rural, but it seems like they're making a comeback..."

　Hajime's eyes were sparkling as he looked at the game screen. Hajime naturally enjoyed fighting games as well. When I hear that the latest installment of my favorite series introduces a system that has never been seen before, my heart trembles with anticipation.

　On the other hand, Nemoto-kun's glasses--not his eyes--were strangely glaring. Yonezo lets out a bitter smile.

"…Just in moderation, okay?"

"Huh, what are you talking about? You can't be shy in a fighting game, right?"

"Oh, you're motivated. I'm sure there are blanks, but I won't give up easily."

　While saying that, Hajime chose a famous character. She's a character that's been used in previous series, so we thought there wouldn't be a huge difference in the feel of the controls.

"There's also a practice mode, right?"

"I want to try torama."

"I see. Then, let's have a good fight, shall we? Hey, dogeza-kun."

　Hajime could see the motivation in Nemoto who was grinning profusely.

　Nemoto chose the character of an elderly gentleman with a cane, and while I was suspicious of Yonezo who covered his eyes with his hand, I realized that he looked much older, and that I loved him throughout the series. Choose a fighter whose blonde hair and red color suit her...

(The commands for the basic moves are probably the same, right? With my current reflexes, I can easily enter them after watching them.)

　This one is here, grinning inwardly even though it's immature...

　Thirty seconds later.

"--picture?"

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

　He was KO'd without being able to even attack, let alone land an attack.

"Wait, wait, what's going on now!? It's a fighting game, isn't it? Why did you unilaterally kill me with long-range magic--magic (?)! No matter how you look at it, it's a cheat!"

"Specifications."

　Glasses quick is annoying! !

"One more time! One more time!"

"It can't be helped."

　And then he died again, unable to do anything.

　After that, we had a rematch over a dozen times. Still, I couldn't win, so I asked Yonezo to take my place, and I watched the battle and played practice mode...

　His opponent is a skilled gamer who has even been invited to join a professional team. In a short period of time, it was all I could do to get one hit, and I was unable to secure victory.

　Hajime almost throws the controller.

　Nemoto-kun looks so happy!

"Just as I told you, that character also has weaknesses, and it goes without saying that it really depends on the player's skill…but, well, I guess they're pretty disliked, aren't they?"

"I guess!"

　Hajime wholeheartedly agreed with Yonezou's supplement.

　In most fighting games, there is a character who is said to be ``those who use this will lose their friends,'' but the basic idea is that this game uses the ``leading character of that type''. It seems that it has come. And with masterclass skills.

　Hajime glared at Nemoto.

"It seems like he just got beaten up…wasn't he supposed to check his skill?"

"That is a lie"

　Nemoto-kun speaks with a straight face. Hajime's cheeks tingled.

"I'm sure your grievances are gone, right? Do you feel any kind of personal grudge?"

"I've resolved the issue of not contacting them. However, I was jealous of the harem. That's why I beat them up in a game. I have no remorse or regrets."

　As a result of questioning, such a statement was returned. I mean, that's it, this seems to be the spirit of this.

"By the way"

　Yonezo-kun interjects with an indescribably troubled look on his face.

"For me, it was decided between my families.fianceGood nameI have someone."

"Fiancée!? What era is this!?"

　It was such a shock that I momentarily forgot how angry I was at the root. Hajime glanced at the rice storehouse.

"We were childhood friends. We've been best friends since kindergarten, and we said, 'Let's get married when we grow up,' so I'm not complaining."

"What girls' manga is it set in? That kind of thing happens in real life..."

"That's right. That promised life of victory shouldn't happen."

　Nemoto-kun's jealous gaze also falls on Yonezo.

``Even when I introduced my girlfriend to Nemoto in high school, he kept beating me with fighting games all night.''

"It's amazing how you can say that with a smile. Are you the reincarnation of Buddha?"

　Whatever it is, it is. Because Hajime is the exact opposite of a Buddha like Yonezo.

　Hajime stood up and turned to face Nemoto, and with his arms crossed, he slowly arched his back as if doing a limbo dance.

　Then, he slowly pointed his finger at Nemoto, who was staring at him, wondering, "What are you doing, this guy?"

"I'm sorry I have a happy family!"

"Hey, this guy!"

　I stirred it up as hard as I could. In a certain condescending Pirate Empress pose. For a moment, it felt like a crack appeared in Nemoto's glasses. Apparently it was a critical hit.

　I can't help but feel a little teary-eyed. He tried to say something, but in the face of the cruel reality, no words came out, so he opened his mouth and suddenly hung his head, looking at his character who had won many victories.

　I gently set down the controller and hug my knees on the edge of the sofa.

"...I want to be this person."

　Nemoto-kun looks like I want to be a shellfish and points at the psycho-powered old gentleman on the screen.

"This game has a story mode. This character appears as one of the biggest villains in the game. He's strong, and has power and wealth."

"Hey, hey...by the way, is your character married?"

"I don't know. I don't have any information on that at the moment, but I don't know if there's any secret settings..."

"You must be a single aristocrat."

""Oh, yes""

　Nemoto-kun raised his head a little and the light in his eyes caught my attention. Hajime and Yonezo nod involuntarily.

"Marriage is a graveyard. All the great people say that."

"I'm sorry, Nagumo. Nemoto, just recently, I was able to do a long-awaited collaboration with a female streamer that I've been really rooting for, but...I got slammed by the listeners. Her words and actions were creepy, and she was being too cool...well... I did think he was conscious enough to be a bit embarrassed even from my point of view."

"I see. Your mental HP was already in the red zone...Nemoto, I'm sorry for stopping you."

"Eh, what, you guys? Are you a demon and want to chase after me when you see me now?"

　Just when I thought he was going to get angry and get better, Nemoto buried his face in his knees. It looks like a shellfish.

　Apparently it's really sinking. Although she took the 80s out of jealousy, she didn't realize that ``victory is empty...'' or rather, she realized how narrow-minded she was and ended up attacking herself.

　The fact that he acted like a novice hunter, which is unusual for a gamer, seems to have a negative impact on me. As someone who truly loves the game, he seems to hate himself.

(It hasn't changed)

　Whether it's a harsh tone toward someone you're close to, or a completely shy word choice toward someone you're not close to, the underlying reason is that you usually regret it afterwards, get depressed, or get busy with self-reflection.

　So, Hajime and Yonezo calmed him down.

　He is truly troublesome.

　However, in a sense, he is honest, or rather, he is someone who cannot fool himself.

　The reason I started playing it was because I was impressed by the fascinating gameplay, but I guess it was because I somehow liked that aspect of it that I became friends with him.

(Maybe, after a while, he'll look a little embarrassed and apologize in a way that's really hard to understand.)

　While thinking this, Hajime became happy to see his friend still the same.

　Glancing sideways, my eyes met Yonezo's, whose personality was like a special buffer for human relationships.

"Then Nagumo, leave Nemoto alone and let's play the game."

"!?"

　Nemoto trembled with his head down at the bluntly dismissive remark, which was the complete opposite of his calm atmosphere.

"I'll train you so that you can at least get one victory. With Nagumo's sense and reflexes...I should be able to do it in two hours."

"!!?"

"That's helpful. I was so frustrated that I kept losing, I wouldn't have been able to play any other games if I kept going like this."

"Hehe, Nagumo hasn't changed at heart, has he? He's usually a quiet person who seems to accept anything, but when it comes to games, he immediately becomes competitive."

"Oh, hey..."

"You're still good at treating people like that. I'll confess now, but I actually thought you were an old man who knew the difference between sour and sweet in your avatar."

"Hey, wait a minute."

"Haha, I get told that a lot. But I wish they would stop saying 'I'm good at dealing with people.' It's like I'm a schemer. I'm planning to inherit the family in the future. I don't like the idea of ​​a schemer monk. right?"

"Haha, definitely!"

"Hey, don't ignore me."

　Hajime and Yonezo quickly restart the game while having a nostalgic conversation.

　In the past, you would have comforted me in some way, but...you guys have changed...He had a sad expression on his face, and Nemoto obediently hugged his knees and went into spectator mode.

　But that was only for a short time. Just when I thought that he started to comment on Hajime's play, before he knew it, he began to cooperate with his practice, and in the ranked match battles where he was training as a warrior, his voice echoed with joy and sorrow...

　After that, time passed quickly.

　I'm really passionate about it. Enjoy the game that connects the three of you to your heart's content, forgetting about time. Even more so after changing to a game that the three of us were addicted to a long time ago.

　Even if the sun goes down, midnight falls, or the morning sun shines, this remains the same.

　Just like in the past, even the incompetent family would get angry if they saw their family eating a random meal by pouring it into their mouths.

　I'm sure there are many things that have changed, not only Hajime, but also Nemoto and Yonezo.

　However, their love of games and their relationship as like-minded friends will definitely remain the same.

　Apparently, this holiday was enough time for both of us to believe.

"Hajime, please come home――"

　The next night, Hajime returned home after enjoying a day off filled with games with friends he hadn't seen in a while, and Yue greeted him. As soon as she saw Hajime, she blinked her eyes. Her words of greeting also turned into her asshole.

"I'm home, Yue. What's wrong?"

　Yue stared at Hajime for a while as he tilted his head and took off his shoes, then after a beat,

"...I hope you enjoyed the evening."

　That's what I said. I'm a little nervous for a moment because the lines are just lines, but there's nothing wrong with that. What's more, Yue's expression is very kind.

"My husband has been having fun playing games with his friends, so you're greeting him with some game material. As expected of Yue. What a successful wife."

　Apparently, Hajime looked more satisfied than I expected.

　Yue asked Hajime with an expression full of compassion as Hajime felt a little embarrassed and couldn't help but caress his face, wondering if his expression was that excited.

"...None of us were around for about two days."

"Ou"

"…Did my husband have the most fun?"

　If I only heard her words, I wouldn't like it, but Yue's expression was still extremely kind.

　Hajime grinned at Yue like that,

"I feel sorry for my wife, but...it was the best holiday ever!"

　What a bold declaration.

　Moreover, Yue's smile became even deeper.