Another failure...
Argh. darn it... I just don't get why the game keeps failing.
Muttering in front of the TV screen, a young man named Ryan stares at the screen, where the words "Harem Route Not Achieved" pop up. Frustrated, he tosses his controller aside across the room
"DAMN GAME, WHAT KIND OF LOGIC DOES THESE DEVELOPERS EXPECT US TO USE? THEY EXPECT ME TO DATE ALL OF THEM?!!!"
After a moment of silence, Ryan picked up the controller that he had thrown against the wall. Resuming the game, he took a sip of his drink and clicked the X button to reload from the 'quick load' option
This is the most trashy eroge game ever made by human hands
That was this man's thought, as he read through the dialogue he'd already read countless times—since he believed that skipping dialogue would only appeal to people who were to lazy to read.
Inside the game, our main character, Ren, rushed to the airport in order to stop Lily—one of the four heroines—from leaving the country before he was able to confess his feelings to her.
[Lily, please wait!!!]
Says Ren. As shown in the game's dialogue box. She stops, turning around to look at him.
[Ren?! What are you doing here?]
[Dialogue Options:]
{>I need to talk to you first before you leave}
{>What are you thinking about leaving me?}
Ryan thinks about the two dialogue options, as they will have an impact upon Lily's route.
"Uhm... it would be pointless to choose the first option since Lily's affection points for Ren were only 65, leaving me to rely on the RNG gods giving me a good roll. Choosing the second option would increase her affection points by 5, and Lily would get a less favorable status... and that would affect the storyline later when I play through Chloe's route..."
A tough choice. There's no mercy in this game at all. Thinking for a while, Ryan chose to go with the second option.
Maybe he thought it's better not to play with RNG, since it always leads to an unlucky outcome.
[Lily. What makes you want to leave me? Weren't we supposed to stay together forever, as we promised since we were kids?]
Ren reached out for Lily's hand. And brought up the promise they'd made since childhood. Like most childhood friends, their promises were always a bit odd.
[I-I… can't. I'm really sorry, Ren.]
Lily released Ren's hand and hugged him. "I'm sorry." those were Lily's parting words, before she left.
"What a RETARDED game." Ryan complained about Ren's behavior as he just stood there watching Lily enter the airport. "These DEVELOPERS must be BRAINLESS! What the hell—Lily's route in the third act ends like this? No wonder when she gets back to school, those three other girls will definitely be stepped ahead of her. What a Garbage ending. It's total trash."
Maybe Ryan was being too loud, so his little sister Mimi barged into his room and yelled, "SHUT UP, STUPID BIG BRO!!!"
Mimi stepped into Ryan's room and saw her brother playing an Eroge, a visual novel… She immediately put on a face that screamed disgust at her brother's pretty nerdy hobby.
"Eww… you're playing this again? Don't you have anything better to do on a Saturday besides staring at virtual girls?" Mimi plopped down on the bed right next to him. "You're seriously weird, bro. I can't believe we're actually siblings."
Hearing his sister's rant, Ryan just grumbled while continuing his game. "You so noisy, idiot. Why are you even here? Go away, shoo-shoo."
Ryan waved his hand in a clear "get lost" gesture. Of course, Mimi didn't budge. "Don't talk to your little sister like that, dummy, or I'll tell Mom you keep those weird magazines under the bookshelf." She pointed at the bookshelf next to his study desk.
Ryan forced out his fakest smile ever. "Heyy, I was just kidding~ How could big brother ever chase away his precious cute lovey-dovey little sister~"
"Eww… I'm getting goosebumps hearing you talk like that." Mimi lay down and started playing with Ryan's phone. "Hmm… you know, you're actually kinda popular. You've got tons of chats with girls from campus."
Ryan answered without looking away from the TV. "Hey, it's rude to snoop through someone's SNS. And they're just acquaintances, nothing more."
"Hmm… yeah yeah, even a nerd like you can talk to girls." Mimi then noticed a new notification on his phone. It was from Arisa—if she remembered correctly, Arisa had been his friend since high school. "Bro, you got a message from Big sis Arisa. She's asking 'Are you free next weekend?' Ohh… looks like she wants to ask you out for date~"
Ryan kept playing and casually said, "Just reply that I'm free. And it's not a date—she already has a boyfriend."
"Huh? Big sis Arisa has a boyfriend? Then why are you two still hanging out together?" Mimi raised an eyebrow and stared at Ryan. "Don't tell me you're the side piece's."
Ryan paused the game and gave his sister the 'are-you-stupid' look, then sighed. "Of course not, idiot. Her boyfriend is my friend too, and he of course knows Arisa and I are just friends."
"Huff… boring. You really are more husband material than boyfriend material." Mimi replied to Arisa's message while talking. "You're seriously boring as a guy, zero passion… I bet you'll never get a girlfriend and will just end up marrying whoever Dad and Mom picks for you."
Ryan went quiet after hearing that. Boring? Him? Wasn't that somehow worse than getting flat-out rejected when you try to confess?
"Hey. Don't say stuff like that, idiot. That's really rude."
Mimi just grinned. "Eh, but it's true… though it's not necessarily a bad thing. Maybe you'll become super popular with women once they hit their 30s." She giggled.
"Uh-huh… whatever you say. So… you're not going out with your boyfriend today?"
Mimi logged into her brother's online game on his phone. "Nope. Joshua is busy helping his family sell stuff at their café. Unlike you, who just plays games every weekend."
"Huh… you're the same. Nineteen years old and still no part-time job… classic spoiled mama's girl. And don't pull characters on the current banner. I'm saving those gems for the next patch banner."
✦•✩•( •_• ) ★ ( ˶ˆ꒳ˆ˵ )✩•✦
Today was Sunday.
Just like they promised yesterday, Ryan went out to meet Arisa. As usual, he arrived 10 minutes early.
He checked his phone, scrolled randomly through Facebook, until Arisa showed up. Ryan watched her walk toward him. As always, she looked really pretty with her black hair. For some reason, a beautiful girl like her was willing to hang out with him. Life is so really weird.
"Ryan~! Sorry, did I make you wait long?" Arisa clapped her hands together in an apologetic gesture.
Ryan just shook his head and started walking, with Arisa following beside him. "It's fine. Besides, I'm always on time, right?" He glanced at her. "So why aren't you going out with your boyfriend? I know Kyle isn't really into the same hobbies… I mean, nerd stuff like us. But, wouldn't it be better to go with him? You know right, introducing your likeness to your BF."
Arisa gave a small laugh at what Ryan said. It was true—her boyfriend Kyle was a total normie. While Arisa… well, she was pretty much like Ryan. A Geeky Person.
"By the way, how's your progress on that game I recommended?" Arisa asked. "Hehe, which route are you on? Harem?"
"Ugh… don't remind me. Honestly, that eroge you recommended is straight-up trash… yet I am finished it 100% Completion yesterday." Ryan sighed and scratched the back of his head. "I mean, how can all the capture targets be so annoying? Especially Risa's route. If I think about it, Risa's character is like my little sister but the worse version."
"Hihi~" Arisa chuckled. "True, Risa does feel a bit like Mimi, but at least Mimi kinda loves her dear big brother~"
Ryan shook his head and sighed. "Yeah, compared to Risa, my lil sis is slightly better. But doesn't Risa have an older brother character too?"
"Uh-huh. If I remember right, her brother's name is Kai? But he's just an NPC and only gets mentioned once… ah, we're here."
Arisa and Ryan stopped in front of a café that was currently doing a collaboration with a popular gacha game. They went inside and ordered a few items to get the collab merchandise.
Time passed quickly without them noticing, and soon it was already late afternoon. Ryan walked Arisa home. After saying goodbye, he headed back to his own house.
A long day for someone with low social points… but for some reason I have way more female acquaintances than male ones.
Ryan let out a big sigh. Maybe Mimi was right—he really was the type who gave comfort to girls but was painfully boring as a romantic prospect.
"Hmm… so this is what they mean by 'green-flag guys are boring traps'… ugh, but calling myself a green flag feels so cringy…"
Ryan muttered to himself as he walked home. Maybe he'd continue that damn eroge… even though he already "finished" it yesterday, he still wanted to mocking how stupid the Male Lead after all.
Actually the capture targets in that game were pretty good… but for some reason the protagonist…
Yeah, Ryan had to admit—the protagonist was trash. Developers usually make the MC blank so players can self-insert… even though he himself was a nerd, Ryan never thought of himself that way. He was just a guy who enjoyed games.
"Oh right, Mimi asked me to buy ice cream and pudding earlier." Ryan turned toward the minimarket.
He went in, grabbed what Mimi wanted plus some snacks for himself. After putting a few things in the basket, he headed to the cashier—who happened to be his acquaintance, a girl you could call… Goth Girl. "Oh, Emma. Rare to see you working at third shift."
The female cashier named Emma took his items and scanned them. "Eh… I'm doing overtime, taking two shifts—third and fourth. By the way, where are you coming from? Date?"
"Nah… just accompanied Arisa to a café. Overtime again… don't tell me you took extra shifts just to watch another concert…"
"Eh-heh~ you know me too well, so you already know the answer. Total's $12. Need a bag?" Emma bagged everything after Ryan nodded.
"Okay, thanks for coming—"
"DON'T MOVE!!!"
Ryan and Emma turned and saw a man pointing a gun at them. A robber?!
"Hand over everything in there in 5 seconds… 5… 4…"
Emma quickly opened the cash register while Ryan slowly raised his hands. The situation was intense… both of them were panicking inside but tried to stay calm so they wouldn't provoke the robbers.
Three guys… two with guns, one with a small knife. One of the robbers stared at Emma and commented that she was pretty.
Emma slowly glanced at Ryan, and his eyes signaled her to stay calm. The robber who complimented her stepped closer and touched her cheek. Emma was trembling—she really wanted to scream.
Ryan just watched Emma… he felt conflicted. If he tried to fight back, something terrible might happen, but there was a chance that gun was fake…
A man should protect a women… but he didn't want to die.
"H-hey… stop that… you already got the money, right…? Can you just leave…"
The guy touching Emma's cheek turned toward Ryan. "What's your problem… want me to shoot you?" He pointed the gun at Ryan's head.
Ryan tried to calm himself… he'd never been in a situation like this. And that gun looked real. "Oh yeah… you're not gonna—"
BANG!
…
Darkness.
Damn it… I haven't even had… a girlfriend yet.
✦•✩•( × _ × )•✩•✦
Regret always comes, and fate cannot be changed.
But… there is always a second chance.
"Hey, stupid big brother. Wake up, you're gonna be late."
"Ugh… what is it Mimi, big bro is still sleepy…"
"Mimi? What are you talking about, idiot? Get up!!!"
Feeling a hard slap, Ryan jolted awake. "Ouch… OI that's too much Mi…mi?"
Huh… who is this short girl? Ryan thought as he looked at the unfamiliar girl standing there with a pout and a disgusted expression. Wait… I think I've seen that face before.
"What are you staring at? You're so creepy. I'm seriously grossed out that I'm your sister… huff, you're nothing like dearest big brother Ren. I wish he was my brother instead."
"Ren…?"
"Yeah, big bro Ren is way better than you. Handsome, perfect like a prince charming." The girl smiled brightly when talking about Ren, then went back to frowning when she looked at her actual brother.
"Hurry up and get up. I'm not making you breakfast again if you don't move. Stupid Kai." She turned and left the room.
"Kai… my name is Ryan, you know." Ryan got out of bed and looked in the mirror. "…"
Who?!
He leaned closer to the reflection. "…EEEE!!!!"
No way. No way. No way. No way. NO WAY.
ISN'T IT LOVE!!! This is the game world!!!
Ryan—or rather… he had become Kai… the NPC character!!!
He pinched his cheek. "Ouch! It's real… so it wasn't a dream… I actually… died?"
…Can I go back?
Ryan wondered if he had really been reincarnated into the game world. But what about his previous life?
He sighed. "I hope Mimi isn't mad… I didn't get to bring home her pudding and ice cream."
Ryan… or rather Kai… maybe Kai was the name he'd use from now on.
Urgh… living as a background character—probably no different from what I did before.