Chapter 15: And You Thought There Is Never A Shinobi Girl Online?
"Damn it! They got us pinned down! Cover me while I rush in to distract them, BeBerry!" I command over the mic attached to my headset. BeBerry gives me a thumbs up emote. "Alright! Here I go!" Expertly pressing buttons and moving the sticks on my controller, my character jumps out of cover and weaves through the gunfire and explosions with slides and jumps. As BeBerry lays down cover fire with a light machine gun, I leap to a wall and run on it, taking out a few enemy players with my revolver as I do so.
"Yes! Eat shit!" I exclaim, taking out a couple more enemies with headshots while evading the blasts of their mechs. Taking the window of opportunity, the rest of our teammates call in their mechs with them crashing down on top of the enemies' robotic support and destroying them in the process. In no time, they pilot their robots and begin steamrolling the enemy team until the victory screen pops up. "Let's fuckin' go! We did it! Wouldn't have happened without your help, BeBerry!" I cheer loudly. BeBerry sends me a blushing smiley emoji. Catching a whiff of okonomi sauce and deep fried dough in the air, my stomach grumbles. "Hey, I've had a lot of fun today but unfortunately I gotta go. I'll play with you again soon!" BeBerry sends me an emoji that's reluctantly waving goodbye.
Quitting the game and turning off my console, I slide my headset down to rest on my neck. BeBerry's complete turnaround in demeanor is amazing. To think they used to constantly teamkill and troll whoever gave them orders, especially me. I guess me choosing to always be nice made them lighten up overtime. Despite clearly having a mic, BeBerry chooses to text instead even when we're in a private party together with no one else. It'd be cool if they could feel comfortable enough to talk to me and possibly meet in person at some point.
"Is that takoyaki I smell?" I take a guess as I turn my head to see Ikaruga approaching the couch with a big bowl filled beyond the brim with steaming hot doughy balls.
"Can't get anything past that nose of yours! That's right!" Ikaruga affirms, taking a seat beside me. The stacked mountain of octopus balls are topped with okonomi sauce, a drizzle of mayo, and bonito flakes. A toothpick sits atop the peak, stabbed into the ball like a sacred sword.
"I bet it tastes just as good as it looks!" I grab the one with the toothpick.
"Careful now. It's hot," Ikaruga warns me. Blowing on it to cool it down, I pop it in my mouth and it practically melts all over my tastebuds.
"Mmm! So delicious~! You did an excellent job!" I praise her.
"Y-You really think so?! T-Thank you, Atsuki!" She stutters. "T-There's a way to make it even better."
"Oh yeah? How so?" I ask while she takes the toothpick from me and picks up another ball with it.
"By sharing one together," she holds the takoyaki with her lips, giving me a sultry look while blushing. Oh, I see. Kissing her, our lips mash the ball into mush, getting slathered all over our tongues as we transition into french kissing. The savory taste of takoyaki mixing with her decadent saliva makes for a strong aphrodisiac. Grabbing my head with her hands, she straddles my lap while my hands grope her ass through her soft jeans, her tongue moving more frenetically as it clearly has the same effect on her as well. At this rate, we're gonna be having sex rather than our lunch. Managing to break away from the kiss, we breathe heavily.
"Our food's gonna get cold if we keep going," I chuckle.
"O-Oh, that's right!" She snaps out of her lustful haze. "Sorry! I got a little carried away," she sheepishly apologizes, dismounting from my lap.
"No problem. I don't blame you. Let's dig in," I grab another ball.
"Yes," she nods. One by one, the takoyaki disappears into our stomachs until there's nothing left but an empty bowl. With my hunger satiated, I lean on her, resting my head on her pillowy chest. "Was Mama's cooking filling enough for you?" She inquires softly in my ear while caressing my waist.
"Totally! Urp!" A small burp slips from my lips. "E-Excuse me."
"Happy to hear that," she giggles. The doorbell abruptly rings.
"Damn," I mumble, not wanting to move as I force myself to stand up.
"Expecting someone?" She asks, following behind me to the front door.
"Not really last I checked," I sigh. Let's hope it's not Hikage. I'm still not ready for that rematch. Opening the door, Ikaruga and I get taken aback by who we see.
"Imu and Miyabi?!" Ikaruga and I gasp.
"Yeah, that's us," Miyabi affirms. Stupid status effects just activated. Thankfully, it's only making me slightly more sheepish in the presence of Miyabi this time.
"Sorry for suddenly dropping by! Hope we're not interrupting anything!" Imu apologizes. Ikaruga subtly mumbles, trying to hide her annoyance.
"N-Not at all but how did you two even find…," I pause, realizing I know the answer. "Hikage?"
"Hikage," Imu and Miyabi nod in unison as they confirm my suspicion.
"Of course. So what's up?" I inquire.
"It's my little sister, Murasaki. I think enough time has passed to try and get her to go to school again but as I'm sure you can guess that the attempts haven't been going well. However, she's been seemingly having a whole lot of fun playing some multiplayer game in her room lately so maybe her demeanor is softening up somewhat," Imu explains. Oh god! Murasaki's a person I was definitely trying to avoid meeting at all costs because if she gets attracted to me, the Root Of Calamity will forever be a threat to my existence! I manage to gulp down my instinct to freak out.
"So you assume that maybe Murasaki might be more receptive to a fresh face that happens to also be a fellow gamer and the like?" Ikaruga takes the words right out of my mouth.
"Yeah," Miyabi answers.
"That's the gist of it," Imu adds.
"I see," Ikaruga grabs her own chin, pondering something.
"I've got a question of my own. How many times has Murasaki gone to Hebijo?" I inquire. That's by far the most important question I think I've ever asked while here!
"Well, I did make her go by force one time when I threatened her stuffed bear. Needless to say, I wasn't proud of that moment, especially when it garnered her wrath as an initial response. On another occasion, Miyabi and some of the others had to help me pull her out by force. She hasn't left the house after that last instance. She even gets everything delivered or sends me to get stuff in her stead," Imu further explains.
"We're trying to not make demands so she'll willingly go this time," Miyabi clarifies. This Murasaki might be even more of a shut in than the Murasaki from the actual games! That makes this version of her potentially more unpredictable even if she's doing something like enjoying multiplayer in a game! I needed to know but I still regret asking now!
"This issue seems important and all but Atsuki is busy!" Ikaruga suddenly declares, visibly surprising Imu and Miyabi. Didn't think Ikaruga would actually say anything.
"Uh… excuse us for a moment!" I close the door.
"What, Atsuki? You are busy. You're spending time with me right now! Not to mention that they are a rival school!" Ikaruga asserts.
"…Are you telling me that you feel challenged by the Hebijo girls taking interest in me? That I'll prefer them over you or something?" I bluntly cut to the chase, unable to contain my sly smirk.
"N-N-No! T-That's ridiculous!" She stammers, blushing wildly.
"Coming from the one who wanted me all to herself. It's very cute seeing you get jealous so easily," I snicker, lightly pulling on her right cheek. Grabbing my shoulders, she kisses me briefly before tenderly gazing into my eyes.
"Are you going to be gone the rest of the day?" She asks gently.
"Probably," I answer, shrugging as I don't really know.
"Then will you promise me that I get a whole day with you to myself?" She requests.
"I promise," I nod. "I'll make sure you're satisfied too," I swat her ass which makes her yelp.
"L-Looking forward to it. I… love you, Atsuki!" She mutters.
"Heh. I love you too, Ikaruga!" I smirk, watching her face completely fill with red.
"I-I still can't handle it when you say it! I can't stay here with such indecent ideas forming in my head so I'll see you later!" She shouts.
"See ya some other time!" I chuckle, watching her scramble out of the door past an astonished Imu and Miyabi. "Well, that takes care of that," I grin.
"I'm not even gonna ask what that was about," Miyabi sighs. "So are you planning to agree to be our scapeg—I mean help us out?"
"This has the potential to get super dangerous, doesn't it?" I ask.
"Yes!" Imu and Miyabi answer swiftly. They didn't have to be so quick about it. Geez.
"Very well. Let me go throw on my shinobi stuff then," I groan, accepting to help them. I'm only doing this for Miyabi. Maybe I can get a favor from her on Imu's behalf as a nice little reward for my troubles.
"I honestly didn't expect you to agree to this after the Hikage ordeal so thank you," Imu comments as we walk through the forest.
"You're welcome, Imu. I don't really have it in me anyway to shoo you both away when you made the trip all the way to my place just to ask," I explain.
"You're certainly the nicest rogue shinobi around. Rogues typically only care for themselves but I guess when you hang out and fool around with the Hanzo girls, that's bound to change," Miyabi says.
"I don't know if I'd say the ni—Wait! What do you mean by fooling around?!" I shout, feigning ignorance.
"Oh, you know exactly what I mean! Don't try to pretend you and Asuka weren't doing anything out here!" Miyabi teases.
"I thought we silently agreed to pretend that part didn't happen?!" Imu and I yell, embarrassed.
"I couldn't pretend to even if I tried! I'm sure it's more than just Asuka too seeing how you got Ikaruga all up in your house as well!" A few chuckles slip from Miyabi's lips. She's not goddamn wrong but if a Hebijo crush of mine is gonna bully me like this then I'll invoke some forbidden knowledge to shut her up! Apologies for the friendly fire I'm about to commit, Imu!
"You laugh now but just wait until the moment I catch you and Imu in a similar act! You'll be singing a different tune then!" I call Miyabi out.
"W-W-What do you mean by that?! I-I haven't gotta clue what you're referring to!" Miyabi stammers, looking forward to hide the blushing on her face.
"T-That's right! I-I don't know what you're talking about either!" Imu adds. That's a much stronger reaction than I expected! Did these two actually have sex or at least got close to it at some point?! Awkward silence takes over for a couple seconds.
"Anyway, how about I explain my background a bit seeing as this is our first time properly talking to each other?" I suggest, attempting to switch topics.
"Yeah, we probably should've started off like that to begin with," Miyabi agrees.
"Certainly. I am very interested to learn about your circumstances that led you to being around Hanzo as opposed to the other schools. You're quite the anomaly if you didn't know," Imu responds. Sounds like the rest of Hebijo and Gessen definitely know I exist then but just haven't encountered me personally.
"Is that so? Hmm. Where do I begin?" I ponder. Traveling from the forest to Imu's place, I explain myself to them while obviously not bringing up the fact that this is an eroge and that I'm from a different world.
"How intriguing. I'd find it hard to believe that you're even so closely related to Hibari but your looks speak for itself. Why not just join Hanzo outright then?" Imu inquires.
"I prefer not feeling tied down to a faction and it just makes other things a little more easier to do," I answer.
"I see," Imu pushes her glasses up with the sun glaring off of the lenses. I hope she doesn't think that means I'm willing to do anything on the shady side for them even if for Miyabi's or Hikage's sake at least not without proper context first. If I can get her sister to consistently attend Hebijo, they shouldn't need me for anything anyway.
"As interesting as it is to learn about him, we've arrived at your house, Imu," Miyabi points out.
"O-Oh, right!" Imu stutters. Leading us inside, she guides us to just outside Murasaki's bedroom door. The quiet clacking emanating from her room definitely belongs to a video game controller.
"Don't think Murasaki's gonna be pleased if we interrupt her gaming session. I would know," I mutter.
"She's gonna be playing for hours so I'm sorry to tell you that's not really an option!" Miyabi whispers.
"Hold on! I actually have something that might help you out," Imu quietly runs to her own room and quickly comes back with a stuffed bunny plushie. Oh right. I forgot about Murasaki's bear. "She has an affinity for her stuffed bear she calls Bebeby so having a stuffed friend of your own should break some ice."
"Makes sense," I take the bunny from her.
"Here goes nothing," Miyabi sighs. "Remember that all you need to do is convince her to attend Hebijo on her own."
"Right," I nod. Honestly, something doesn't seem right and I feel stupid that I can't figure out why I feel like this. It's like a sense of foreboding but not necessarily because of the danger of Murasaki. Imu knocks on the door.
"Murasaki! I need you to pause your game for a moment!" Imu shouts.
"What is it? If you want me to go back to Hebijo, then you can forget it. I'm not going anymore," Murasaki's quiet voice rejects the notion before Imu even dares to bring it up.
"That's not what I'm bothering you for. I brought a guest over who I think you could relate a lot to and find a friend in if you're willing to open your door. Could you do that for me?" Imu asks.
"… This is a trap. Miyabi and the others are silently waiting for the moment to grab ahold of me and rip me from my room again. I won't let it happen this time!" Murasaki declines.
"That was a dirty tactic but it's not like that," Imu admits to her. Miyabi nudges me with an elbow, wanting me to talk as Imu's proof.
"…Hey, Murasaki. Imu's being truthful. I know we don't know each other but I would like to meet you," I back up Imu's claim.
"H-Huh?!" Murasaki gasps, quickly scurrying up to her door. Slightly opening it, her right eye and hand are visible as she peeks from it.
"There she is," I chuckle.
"See? No danger here," Imu affirms.
"So come on out. I promise not to grab you," Miyabi adds. Opening the door entirely, Murasaki steps out and grabs me by the arm.
"W-Wah! M-Murasaki?!" I exclaim, surprised.
"P-Please come with me!" Murasaki swiftly pulls me into her room.
"Don't… have too much fun?" Imu's taken aback by her plan seemingly working.
"Was it really that easy?" Miyabi questions, perplexed. Murasaki closes the door and tries to make direct eye contact with me but can't do it.
"P-Please… talk more for… me," Murasaki shyly requests, fiddling with her hands.
"It's… nice to meet you?" I don't know exactly what to say.
"N3koNek0_Atsu?! It's… it's really you?!" She inquires. What?! That's my gaming username!
"Wait… It can't be… BeBerry?!" I exclaim, shocked.
"Y-Yes! It's me!" She affirms, smiling. "You even got me a gift?!"
"Uh, y-yeah! T-This bunny's name is Usahi. Make sure to take good care of him," I give her the plushie. I guess my improv is a little better than I thought.
"Oh, I will," she hugs the bunny, hiding her blushing face with the back of its head. "S-Sorry for my room being a little messy. If I knew you were coming, I'd have tidied up a bit." Looking around, I'm honestly surprised that it's still far less dirty than my real life room as I remember it.
"Don't worry about it. That doesn't bother me," I assure her.
"W-Well, I happened to make some tea a couple minutes ago. Do you want to try some?" She points to a small table with a faintly steaming kettle and teacups on it that her teddy bear is sitting at.
"Certainly. I am kinda thirsty," I answer.
"A-Allow me to pour you some then!" She gently grabs my hand. Focusing on it now, her hand is a little cold and trembling. "Y-Your hand is so warm!"
"Heh. Thanks, I guess," I chuckle. I can't believe I've been playing games with Murasaki for so many months now without a clue! It doesn't change the fact that I must remain careful but at least it gives me something to work with. Let's hope this doesn't quickly backfire.