(Satoshi Aiza: Story Two)
Dual EX. A rhythmical deathmatch between two players, a show of skill, speed and endurance.
In this arena, there is not such thing as honor or respect...
The will to defeat your opponent is all there is...
"Then, let us begin"
The three of us stood in the back room behind the store where the only light sources were the two player platforms. A player platform is where the players will perform the Score Battle, taking the appearance of a speech table except completely made of glass. Above the platforms were two glass screens, both within fingers' reach. On the table itself were the Quirks, Aberrations and the Score and Combo board. There were two platforms for both players in the room, both facing each other at a distance of eight meters away. Floating at the center was a blue glowing cube called the Generator, where the -Notes- would be generated and guided to the screens. "First, both participants, please hover your -Notebooks- over the platform"
They did as instructed. As Ashley put her -Notebook- over the display, the data was transferred. "-DATA SYNC- COMPLETE. DUAL EX PARTICIPANT, ASHLEY SAKAGAMI, RANK 143"
On the other side of the room, Nikolai had finished his sync as well. "-DATA SYNC- COMPLETE. DUAL EX PARTICIPANT, NIKOLAI AKEMI, RANK 133"
"Ahh.. Seems I'm ten ranks short" He cooed, feigning embarrassment.
"Anyway. Let's begin the Practice Match. Both-"
"Wait... Practice Match?" Ashley interrupted.
"Y-Yeah...?"
"Bull! I want a REAL match!" The girl complained.
Nikolai raised his hand as well. "I have to agree. Besides, she's still new to Dual EX so it's not like it would matter as much, win or lose"
The difference between official and practice matches was that official matches are recorded into the official roster. The amount of points gained from winning matches are counted and players are given ranks. As for practice matches, they weren't recorded and are simply for, well, practicing. br /But as these two insist, I can't deny my customers. Ugh...
"Very well. This is now an official match. Please bear in mind the Cup rules of the system before we begin" Two holographic screens appear before the platforms presenting the rules of official score battles. There were many restrictions to use medication and injured players were not permitted to play. There are a lot more but I'll leave it at that for now.
"SYSTEM, LOADED. SHUFFLING SONG LIST"
The Generator began shuffling the songs, the album covers being shown on each side. As it came to a slow halt, the cube rose higher, adjusting to the player's handling. "SONG, LOADED. 'Snow Halation'"
"Yes!" Ashley yelped in joy. "This game is mine"
"Hmph" The businessman just continued to smile devilishly.
The countdown to the match began. The last time I hosted a match was between my aunt and my dad to which my dad suffered an outrageous loss. It's kind of nostalgic, seeing this sight again except it's between my aunt's boyfriend and an upperclassman I've never met before.
"TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX..."
I notice from the corner of my eye, Nikolai whispers something into his -Notebook-. I suddenly notice a significant boost in his Smile. He performed a -Sway-, a type of encouragement boost in the form of speech. Very few players perform this exercise as it only works depending on how an idol is treated. Again, the more positive the persona, the higher the stats.
"FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO..."
"ONE. BEGIN"
The first part of Snow Halation was a soft piano melody. However, 'soft' was nothing to describe what I saw before me. The cube began shooting out -Notes- at an amazing speed, each one following true to the melody but exaggerating the notes, doubling them. Though it did not sound bad, it was overwhelming. To my right, Nikolai was already dropping beads of sweat, trying to catch up with the melody, his fingers making sounds as he taps on the glass screens. Majority of his hits were greats, a perfect happening very rarely. However, from the stats I see, he's suffered already three combo losses.
Ashley, on the other hand, couldn't catch up. Her eyes were wide open, her fingers tapping hard on the screens, unable to get a single great out of it. Her fingers were too slow and they couldn't move fast enough from one point to the other. She kept her face straight, trying to look at both screens at the same time. Though it was a good strategy from a new player's standpoint, it was not. All it would do is make her more confused. Feeling pity, I yell out. "One screen at a time, Ashley. Predict"
"Ashley-san! You can do it!" A familiar voice from the score platform rang on her side. The Kotori was encouraging her which was natural if the idols see that the player is under pressure. "Ghh!" However, she already expended too much energy on the intro alone.
As soon as the second verse began, the -Notes- doubled. Though Ashley was beginning to catch up, she's already strained her fingers too much. A red stain was visible in between her fingers as she moved from one note to another. Nikolai wasn't having a pleasant time either but his score was rising higher and he managed even a 400 combo. And then, he hit 7 million. No quirk appeared but he remained oblivious, keeping track of the approaching notes.
"Naze~?"
Those were words of doom for anyone who's played this song before. The notes began to speed up again, slowing down as it follows the rhythm. Ashley was beginning to take my advice as she switched from one screen to the other, keeping herself on her feet. For a first timer, she was already above average in terms of performance but her current stat of shock was killing her play.
Nikolai looked ready to end the game, spreading to an 800 combo, already. "Yes!" An 800 combo unlocks -De-SYNC-, an Aberration that causes the opponent to hear the song wrong, a slowed down version, not at all matching to the notes that came.
"W-Wha! What's happening!?" Only Ashley could hear the change in song as holographic speakers appeared in front of her ears, changing completely the rhythm. "N-No! Stop!" Her play was getting lousy but she kept on her feet. I'm not even amazed anymore, this is just stunning to watch. I've never seen anyone resist De-SYNC so easily. "Ghhh!"
When the song ended, Ashley fell on her knees. For her first official Dual EX, she suffered an overwhelming loss against Nikolai Akemi, who managed a two million point lead. However, he was only able to make it slightly past C while Ashley remained halfway. Her stamina gauge stood at 3 but she looked like she couldn't move anymore.
"I guess it's my win, Sakagami-san" Ashley looked, other than tired, pissed beyond belief.
"R...Re..."
"Ha?"
"REMATCH! REMATCH, NOW!" She declares, pointing at the suited man.
"E-Eh!? Y-You're still going!?" Nikolai and I stumbled back in shock. I knew she was good and all but I didn't know she was this competitive.
"W-Well... Um.. You can't. See..."
"What're you... Eh?"
The Kotori, who had been the center, was knocked out, sleeping on the wall. I almost forgot that centers leave their -Notebook- once a match ends. This has yet to be fixed by the developers but it is rather amusing to watch. "W-What's wrong with her!?"
"She's completely depleted of energy. Think of it as LP. A Dual EX takes all of it. So, to replenish it all, your idols need to rest" I explained, watching the bird-themed Kotori snore in the background. "As for the victor of a Dual EX, their idols don't lose any energy at all. It's been made a rule so that people may go on tournaments"
And because Nikolai is the victor, that means...
"Nico Nico Nii~~!" Something small and flat tackles me from behind, making me crash on my face.
"W-Wha!? A Nico!"
Yes, Ashley. It's a Nico. But not just any Nico. The worst one. It was the starter R Nico, the very same one from the beginning of the game wearing a school girl uniform, Nikolai's most prized card. I can't remember how many times I told him to idolize her but he refused, saying that she'd lose a sort of 'purity'. Goodness, all Nico fans are so weird.
"Aha! Yes, it's a Nico. My Nico~!" Nikolai laughed in amusement as the midget idol cuddled my back.
"Get off me..." I mutter with killing intent.
"E-Eek!" She immediately jumps back, running behind Nikolai. "J-Jeez, I was only joking, Satoshi!"
Here's the breakdown of my relationship with this Nico. Whenever Nikolai was absent on a store day, he sends his Nico to receive the things he ordered. Sometimes, she'd overstay her welcome and start playing pranks on me if there weren't any customers. And if there were? She'd advertise Nikolai (and the store) with her beyond adorable poses.
After the match, we returned to the store counter, which was still devoid of customers, and I made coffee for each of us. (Yes, even robotic idols drank that stuff) Though I was itching for a peaceful drink after that deathmatch, I never got it. Ashley gulped down her coffee and slammed the cup down. "I-I need to keep training! I swear, I'm going to make it to the top! Mark my words!" She declared, her fist pumped in the air.
"I will follow you to the end, Ashley-san!" The Kotori, now less depleted than before, showed a supportive face, really determined to follow her.
"A-Ah... Kotori..." She smiled, holding back a sniffle. "Thanks!"
"I get the feeling you two are going to be a great pair" Nikolai chuckles, taking another sip of his coffee. His Nico was taking careful sips of the coffee. "Just like how me and this girl here are one of a kind!" He puts an arm around her.
"G-Gah! Nikolai, stop!" It was amusing, actually. Players are supposed to have close bonds with their idols but it is common that the -Center- is the one with the closest relationship to the player. Sometimes, I wonder if that 'launch idol' thing even is a bug.
"Oh yeah! I forgot!" Ashley stood and turned to face me before suddenly bowing. "Thank you for showing me Dual EX! It means so much to me! Oh, and for the -Notebook-!"
"W-Wha!?" I went beet red, covering my face out of embarrassment. My beautiful senpai was thanking me! Oh, what a blissful day! But I clear my throat and return to my normal state. "S-Sure..." Updating was a free service so she didn't need to pay me for anything. Speaking of pay...
"When are you taking that statue, by the way?" I turn to Nikolai, reminding him of the Eli statue that stood idly in front of the shelves.
"Haha. I'll have to get one of my boys to pick it up"
"Sometimes, I wonder why you don't just carry it yourself like a real man" Nico commented, wearing a teasing smile. But it just ended up backfiring.
"D'aawww, she's mocking me! So cute!" Fun fact, all Nico fans are masochists. Well, in this day and age anyway.
"I have a question, Akemi-san. How do you train your idols?"
"Well, let's see. Try asking an already trained idol. It all varies"
Nico sighed, pinching a strand of her hair. "Guess it can't be helped, then. The way Nikolai trained me, he would ask me to exercise every morning with the other idols and he also treats us like kids which is why most of us are the Pure attribute. What it really comes down to is the idols and how well they believe they're treated. Almost like humans, only we're kinda not..." She drifts off, thinking hard about something. "Ghh. I have nothing more to say. Just, 'take care of your Kotori', Ashley-san"
"N-Nico-chan" The Kotori sniffled. "You're so sweet after all!"
"W-Wha!? What's that supposed to mean, Kotori!?"
"Well, I'll be seeing you! Goodbye!"
Ashley waves us goodbye as she leaves the store. Me and Nikolai wave goodbye as she walks off into the neighborhood. Nikolai remained but only to wait for my aunt since she said she was coming home now. It was about 7 o'clock now and I wasn't going to expect any more customers so I flip the store sign to 'Closed'.
"What a day..." I yawn, stretching my arms. Well, it was rather eventful compared to my normal weekends.
"... It was a good thing you didn't accept..." Nikolai muttered, staring at me with now serious eyes. Nico had a face of concern as she sat uncomfortably.
I feign ignorance and refuse to look back at him. "I don't know what you're talking about"
"Well, she failed to ask if you were a -Notebook- user. That was a shame..."
"Shut up for a while, please" I keep my face down, re-fixing all the shelves that looked ugly.
"... You know, if you did participate and not lie to the girl, you would have pulverized her"
"I didn't lie. I don't play Dual EX-"
"Anymore"
"Shut up!" I yell, slamming a towel on the counter. Nico was shaking now. "G-Guys, stop fighting"
"Satoshi. Play in the Cup. Pair up with that girl. She's good, she's fast. She nearly caught up to me and that was only her first try!" He pleads, standing up.
"I'm just a high school student who works a part-time job on weekends with his aunt and her boyfriend. I'm not the person you want me to be, Nikolai
"Besides...
"I'm not Deus EX anymore..."
"Eh?"
"Oh..."
"YOU!"
"GAH!"
I tried to run but she was too fast. It was my grave mistake to pay a visit to the tennis club during lunch time.
Let's rewind back a bit. I came to school, as usual. I brought lunch with me, as usual. And, I ate it, as usual. Since I had more time, I decided to just walk around the school grounds. Little did I know, I'd find a certain senpai coaching the tennis club
"You! You're the clerk... Satoshi-san! And you're... a first year!? I thought you were older! Anyway, come with me!" She yells, pulling my arm.
"L-Let me go!" I plead, continuing to pull away. I don't care if my arm snapped. I'd be embarrassed if someone saw me talking to her of all people.
"NO!"
"LET ME GOOOOO!"
Next:
Episode 3, Attack of the Demo
