Chapter 2: After School. Break_Time.[Part 4]

After finishing their meal, the Kamijou trio walked out of the shop.

Index recalled the taste of eating a diet lunch for once and tilted her head as she said,

"It's not unpalatable, but not really good. Mm, how should I describe it? My chest feels a bit weird, there seems to remain a bit of dissatisfaction…"

"These are dishes that were designed for everyday, it's more important that people don't get sick of eating it instead of whether it's delicious. If one's to eat a deluxe meal everyday, anyone will want to puke after one week already, right?"

Index placed her thumb under her chin and looked up. She pondered for a while and then said,

"If it's a deluxe meal, it's also good to eat till I puke."

"…I understand, I understand."

Kamijou answered in self-defeat.

It was now 1 plus in the afternoon, and right now, the surface should be a scorching hell. It was thanks to the air-conditioning that the underground street was at a temperature suitable for humans. He definitely didn't want to leave the underground before the sun set.

Kazakiri Hyouka noticed their looks, and cautiously asked,

"…Erm…excuse me…then…where're we going to play next…?"

There was not a hint of respect in the tone, so it seemed like she was talking to Index.

"I don't know either. Touma, is there somewhere nice to play?"

To Index, just being in the underground street was already something new to her. Since she didn't feel a sense of dissatisfaction, she decided to give Kamijou the lead.

"Mm…if it's the underground street, there's only the video arcade."

Most of the gaming lands in Academy City were gathered underground, most likely to prevent noise from spreading outside.

Kamijou thought this as he headed outside, and just so passed through the entrance of a video arcade.

The electronic sounds rushed out of the shop like a flood, stunning Index.

"WAH! WAH! What's that? They have so many TVs inside!"

"Oh, that isn't a TV…alright, that is. I'll lose if I go serious. That's a TV, a TV."

"Erm…I have to say…this 'close-one-eye' method is a little…"

Basically, the video arcade shops in Academy City could be classified under two types.

'External shop' and 'internal shop'.

The game consoles of the external shops were imported from outside Academy City, and the internal shops specialized in games developed by Academy City.

Academy City's technology was 20, 30 years more advanced than the outside world, this was apparent from the gaming consoles. However, since the companies from the outside world couldn't match Academy City's advanced technology (since the technology was not released to the outside world), it was easy to have inadequate software when Academy City released their latest games.

Kamijou and company were seeing an 'internal shop'. It was more like an indoor playground than a video arcade. The shop included large sensor pads that were developed through the latest technology, it was basically not much different from a science exhibition.

"So…so cool! It's all shining everywhere, and there's DING DING noises all over the place! To…Touma! I want to go in! I want to try that walala thing!"

Being prompted by Index, the trio walked into the shop. The moment they passed the automatic door, the level of the noises increased by 2, 3 times.

There were many unique large-scale gaming platforms inside the shop. Besides the high-resolution screens and the virtual-reality games that utilized 3D goggles, there were other weird games like rail shooters that tested the 'scaredy-catness' of a person through pulse and brainwaves.

"What do you want to play, Index?"

Kamijou casually asked, but he didn't get a response.

Feeling puzzled, he turned around, only to see Index completely stoned, her eyes emitting a glow of happiness.

"Ah, damn it…"

Kamijou inadvertently muttered.

That abnormally excited look was like the time when she had first seen the calico cat. Index forcefully turned her head around and said to Kamijou,

"All of them! I want to play all of them! Touma, Touma! That first!"

Unable to wait any longer, Index tugged forcefully at Kamijou's wrist as she moved forward. The target was similar to those bumper cars in the oval stadiums, it was just that the bumper cars were replaced with walking robots that had two legs below the chair.

In this scenario, Index was invincible.

Kamijou was worried about his wallet as he sighed deeply. Coincidentally turning around to look, Kazakiri gave a smile of compassion and pity.