"[Passing the first round, RE-Zephyrus!]"
Hachiman put his Gunpla in the box, then in his backpack. Today had been rough, and he was able to escape with the proverbial skin on his back.
Although RE-Zephyrus was able to reach the semifinal, the top 16 U-18 Gunpla Battler in Japan, they were hard-pressed to fight against teams that have three members. That they were able to reach the top 16 was a miracle.
"We're outnumbered." Akira cracked her neck. "It was cocky for us to keep going through with two people."
"Yeah, the game is designed for three people." Hachiman said. "If she can't be here tomorrow, we're screwed."
"We can't rely on her. Although she was very guarded about her identity, Melty_Gemini seems like someone famous and busy." Akira sighed in resignation.
Akira looked at her custom GM Quell. "But I'm not giving up. I... I will be honest. Likewise, I think I began to understand what Gundam fans truly feel. Even though I didn't make this model, it was like the extension of my own body."
"Seeing the game system breathe life into their personal Gunpla probably makes them euphoric. Their hard work and passion came into fruition."
"Yeah." Hachiman nodded. "Gundam fans had been waiting for this for literal decades. Ever since Plamo Kyoshiro manga was published, and then Gunpla Builders OVA was made, and Gundam Build Fighters aired. Gundam fans everywhere dream of this moment."
The scanning technology wasn't completed until 2020; a trial arcade release to version 1.0 takes two years, and it takes four years for the scanning technology to be developed to version 2.0, which supports fully customized Gunpla, even accounting for the materials used.
That's why the second ever official Gunpla battle tournament takes place between December 2023 and March 2024.
"Promise me to give your all even if we're unlikely to win." Akira raised her fist.
"Sure." Hachiman hesitated at first, but then bumped fist with her.
Just as they separated their fists, Akira received a call.
"No way. Melty_Gemini!" Akira was startled. "Hello?"
"[Moshi-moshi. Melty_Gemini here. This is A_Spark73, right?]"
"Yeah, you can just call me Akira."
"[Akira-san, we managed to watch the top 32 match just now. You two seemed to do well even without us.]"
"That's not true. We almost lost there if not for some stroke of luck." Akira responded. "So, can you come to the match tomorrow?"
"[We do have the time, but Akira-san... is it alright with you? After all, we were missing from our most important matches today.]"
"It doesn't matter. Everyone had important things to do in real life. If you can join us tomorrow, Sage and I will be delighted." Akira laughed. "But if you're still busy, you shouldn't feel bad about it."
"[Actually, we have a request. Do you mind if we came as ourselves instead of under disguise? That includes you as well, Akira-san.]"
Akira rolled her eyes at Hachiman.
"I don't particularly mind. But you can't ask the same thing about Sage823." Akira responded. "In fact, you should ask his opinion as well."
"[In that case, can you please give the phone if he's nearby?]"
Akira gave the phone to Hachiman, who was surprised and took a few seconds before accepting.
"Uh, he-hello?" Hachiman awkwardly greeted the other side.
Akira found it strange that Hachiman lacked that awkwardness when they met the first time, but then again, if she had to recall way back then, Hachiman was very awkward in game chat too.
"[Is this Sage of Purgatory? We're Melty_Gemini.]"
We? Plural? Hachiman had suspicion, but perhaps the owner of the account was actually two people.
"[We wanted to join the second day of the national tournament. But also, we wanted to come without disguise. Do you mind?]"
"Sure enough?" Hachiman raised his eyebrow. "Just come; you are still part of the RE-Zephyrus, after all."
"[We're wondering if it bothers you since you want to be incognito.]"
"As long as you keep a distance away from me in public." Hachiman coldly told them. "It's a deal."
"[YATTA!]" The voices—yes, voices—on the other side of the phone rang loudly. There were two people, after all. That's why they called themselves with 'we', plural.
Melty_Geminy is, in fact, two people. Maybe actual twins, even. If they take turns during their shared time as a team during preliminaries, then it's possible that their style was similar enough for Hachiman not to notice.
"[If you don't mind, can we meet for a dinner? Our treat.]"
"I don't mind. Ask the person who came all the way from Niigata." Hachiman handed the phone back to Akira.
"I see. Right. I don't mind if we have a dinner anywhere." Akira said. "In fact, you don't have to treat us."
"Right." Akira looked at Hachiman. "Is Saizeriya fine with you?"
"You're kidding? I'm so in." Hachiman reflexively blurted. "Oh shit."
"Eh?"
"... I don't usually hide it, but Saizeriya is my favorite family restaurant. Same with Zaimokuza, really." Hachiman said. "But for some reason it's unpopular with girls of our age."
The only reason why Hachiman hid it was because Komachi insisted he should never reveal his preference in front of a girl. But in the case of Akira, he had no reason to hide it.
Not like he's trying to woo her or anything.
"I don't think I ever go to Saize myself, but perhaps you're right." Akira grinned. "Then, this would be a first."
"You don't have to force yourself, you know?" Hachiman blushed. That excited expression of hers is unfair. "If girls dislike it, maybe it was for good reason."
"Eh, I could imagine it was mostly a pride thing." Akira walked ahead of him as she wore her mask. "The reason why I never go to Saize isn't because I hate it. It's because neither my family nor my friends ever brought me to one."
"I see." Hachiman muttered.
That said, Hachiman wondered why Melty_Gemini decided to treat them at Saize. If they were celebrities, they're probably not some rich big names in the industry. Saize was the second-cheapest western-themed family restaurant chain, after Gusto.
It's also not exactly a private place for a meeting.
CHAPTER 3 - OFFLINE MEETING, PART 3
"Fuck me absolutely sideways." Hachiman swore.
"Eh?" Akira blinked in surprise. "You two really are..."
"The name is Ami!"
"The name is Mami!"
"We're secretly Idols!" They whispered in chorus.
One of Japan's top idols—or, rather, two of Japan's top Idols. The twin stars, Futami Ami and Mami of 765 PRO. Famed for their resemblance and chemistry on stage, Ami and Mami were known as some of the most passionate Idols.
Although 765 PRO wasn't a big production office, it was known for always giving birth to some of the best Idols in the industry. Hachiman's father had to work his ass off in the last four years just to play catch up, despite the massive investment behind him.
To encounter them in this situation, Hachiman couldn't say that fate had a great sense of humor.
"Yeah, I often see you on TV and in commercials." Akira said. "Top Idol Futami twins, so you're both Melty_Gemini."
"That's correct. We took turns on who became navigator and who became pilot." Ami said. "Although we registered me as pilot and Mami-nee as builder and navigator for the preliminaries."
"Right. And you want to publicly participate in the semi-finals tomorrow." Akira grinned. "Sure enough. It is interesting for me to collab with National top Idols. So I wouldn't have to hide myself."
Akira looked at Hachiman. "However, please promise me you will protect Hachiman from public scrutiny."
"We swore!" The twins both raised one hand, reciting an oath. "To keep Sage823 remain anonymous."
"Good." Hachiman agreed without hesitation.
"Eh? You won't even ask us the reason why?" Ami, the younger twins with the right side of their hair tied, pondered.
"I think everyone has a good reason as any." Akira smiled at them with a gentle, mature face. "Whether you joined, whether you can't join."
"It's because the President was hospitalized, and the leadership of the 765 PRO was handed to his grandson." Hachiman said quietly. "Stock tanked, sponsorship pulled and program cancelled. Most Idols are idle from Sunday and beyond. Your job prospect is uncertain. 765 PRO is at risk of getting in the red now, correct?"
Mami and Ami were flabbergasted.
"I know the stock tanking is public news, but how could you know that we're lacking sponsorships and job offers?" Mami questioned. "Are you a fan or a hater?"
"Neither. My father works in the industry, so I'm familiar with Idol news." Hachiman looked at the menu calmly. "It will take a while for 765 PRO to regain its reputation, but for that to be accomplished, the Idols will have to go beyond their comfort zones. To seize neutral events that can only be accomplished through personal abilities instead of connection."
"Ah." Akira realized. "You want to use this tournament to promote yourselves."
"We're sorry." Mami, the elder twin with the left-sided hair tie, clapped her hands. "But Sage's analysis is completely correct."
"Please don't hate us." Ami begged.
"Of course not. Hearing your situation like this, I'm even more willing to help. I might not be an Idol, but trust me to say I know how it feels. Besides, it benefits us three to show ourselves." Akira grasped the twins' hands. "And I know for sure Hachiman also wanted to help."
"I wouldn't say that." Hachiman shamelessly grinned. "I'm just saying I won't get in your way."
"Aw, thank you!"
Afterward, they discussed the strategy and formation for tomorrow's combat. With an additional pilot and registered builder and navigator, their team's power had been increased twofold.
Although Akira tried to pay her share of dinner, the twins refused to allow her to pay. Hachiman didn't even bother trying to be polite, as he considered the meal a bribe and apology token for their lateness.
"You're surprisingly petty, huh." Akira commented.
"I am an extremely petty and unpleasant person." Hachiman scoffed. "You acted like you just knew me yesterday."
"You are always honest in the worst way possible." Akira chuckled. "I don't hate it."
"I don't hate myself, either."
Akira honestly felt a bit... jealous. Hachiman knew so much about the Futami twins, even though this is their first time meeting. Did Hachiman perhaps... more interested in Idol than e-celebs?
No, if he did, why wouldn't he openly say it to Akira? Hachiman said his father works in the industry; maybe Akira should believe it for now.
"But seriously, though. Could you act a bit nicer?" Akira asked. "Do you perhaps... hate me for trying to gain clout from this?"
Hachiman's face softened.
"My little sister is also a content creator." Hachiman told Akira. "Clout is everything in this industry. If I condemn you for using this opportunity to expand your career and connection, it's the same as condemning my little sister's job."
"Besides, even if they were a small, no-name Idol, you wouldn't reject them." Hachiman confidently pointed.
"Ah." Akira blushed a bit.
It is true that she would still help the Futami twins, even if they aren't some of the most famous Idols in Japan. The clout boost is nothing more than cherry on top for Akira.
"I don't believe in the Idol dream, nor do I believe in the value of internet fame." Hachiman looked at her. "But who am I to disregard the belief of those who valued them? Especially people who worked their ass off to earn it."
Akira blushed. With the strong wind of Odaiba, Hachiman's fluttered hair and summer coat made his look more cool and compelling than he actually is.
"Erm. Anyway, are you going home now? Honestly, I plan to go home, but my family insists I should spend a night here." Akira coughed. "They even ordered a business hotel room for me to use. Because it's cheaper than to pay the train fare!"
A minor cannot rent a hotel room in Japan—not the normal kind of hotels, anyway. The house of pleasure, aka, love hotels, are somewhat different. To rent a business hotel room, an adult has to book it ahead if a minor needs to stay.
"It's a bit late, but a train home should be viable." Hachiman said. "So I'll go home."
Hachiman received a call.
"Hello? Father?"
"[You're screwed. No more Soubu trains left for today because of maintenance reasons. If you want to go home with trains, you'll have to go to Kaihin-Makuhari or get a Taxi.]"
"It's just two kilometers walking. Not that far." Hachiman said.
"[Nah. I'll book you a hotel room somewhere close. Is your friend also spending a night?]"
"Yeah. Her parents booked her a room in advance."
Niigata is really too far. While Tokyo is relatively dangerous, following Akira's logic of multiple trips just for the tournament is both expensive and taxing.
"[In that case, what is the hotel name?]"
Hachiman looked at Akira and, for a while, was silent and hesitating. "My father asked what's the hotel your parents' booked."
After telling his father the name, the father said. "[Gimme ten minutes. I'll call again. Just escort the girl to that hotel and don't wander anywhere else at night. Tokyo is a dangerous place.]"
?
Hachiman closed the call and told Akira. "I'll walk you there. Father said he'll call me again soon."
"Alright."
To be honest, Akira was happy to hear that, although she was concerned by Hachiman's mild distress.
"[I got your room booked and paid for.]" Hachiman's father told him. "[It's cheaper than taking a taxi home. If you need a change of clothes, just call Komachi in the morning. Not like she's busy or anything, and she'd be happy to help.]"
"Ah, thank you." Hachiman said. "I'll just buy a cheap shirt and pants to sleep on."
Hachiman wasn't accustomed to his father being so kind and attentive, to the point of suffocating. He used to think that he had some sort of agenda, but considering what happened in the first year of High School...
Maybe he became somewhat paranoid because of it.
"[Anyway, don't mess around with someone's daughter. And if you do, get some protection in advance.]"
"Fuck off and good night." Hachiman burst out, his face red as a tomato.
His father hadn't changed in the slightest, after all!
It was just a simple hotel close to Shiomi station. Around here, hotel fares are quite expensive. In most places, business hotels cost maybe 6,000-9,000 yen, but here, 10,000-12,500 yen is about expected even to get a simple room.
However, it's still cheaper than getting a taxi back home. For Hachiman, that is. Also, his father paid for it, so that saves Hachiman a good ten thousand' yen.
"Looks like I'm staying, after all." Hachiman told Akira.
"Eh?" Akira's eyes bulged, and she blushed hard. "You want to stay with me?"
"Different room, idiot." Hachiman chopped her forehead. "Don't make things awkward when it doesn't need to be."
"Tehe." She mischievously grinned.
"Don't tehe me, you evil woman. I'm going to Shimamura first; I need clothes to wear while sleeping and doing laundry."
Shimamura, eh?
Shimamura is a chain of fast fashion stores; well, fashion is a stretch. However, if there's any place where you can buy clothes the cheapest, it would be Shimamura.
Akira knew she should not be judgmental about a person's wallet or choice of brands, but the idea of going to Shimamura actually offends her.
"At least go to UNIQLO or G.U., bro." Akira sighed. "Then I can come with you."
Hachiman looked at her in disbelief, if not disgust.
"I'm buying sleepwear, not catwalk getup. And no one asked you to come."
That actually hurts Akira, no lie. In fairness, it was very well warranted. She was too confident of herself, bordering on arrogance. She should just tell Hachiman she wanted to come along.
"I'm still happy that you get to stay, though." Akira earnestly told Hachiman. "To be honest, I'm a needy girl that easily gets homesick. If not for my family insisting, I'd rather go back home."
"But with you around, it won't feel as lonely." She grinned. "Even if we sleep in the different room."
Aw, man. Who could win against that honest smile? Hachiman thought. Fucking unfair.
"Sure." Hachiman said. "Let's see each other at breakfast."
...
Because the hotel was as simple as it could get, they didn't even have a buffet breakfast service. All the money basically went into the rent of the fairly comfortable room.
With freshly laundered clothes, Hachiman and Akira checked out of the hotel to get their breakfast elsewhere.
"What do you want to eat?" Akira asked.
"I'm fine with anything." Hachiman said. "What do you want?"
"Eh? Huh." Akira whined. Sometimes, she really wished Hachiman could take charge. Even if he was trying to be considerate, the boy's too passive for his own good.
"You get to decide." Akira rudely pointed at him. "Don't make me do all the thinking."
Akira knew that Hachiman is a loner, but this is too much.
"Alright." Hachiman pointed. "I assume you like Japanese breakfast, so let's go and pick a teishoku chain."
Teishoku is a type of Japanese set meal where all the dishes in the course are served together as a set. The Teishoku restaurant chain serves as a quick and cheap way for people to taste bona fide Japanese breakfast, lunch, or even dinner.
"Do you prefer western breakfast?" Akira asked.
"Not particularly. I like bread and pasta, but for breakfast, I prefer rice." Hachiman told her. "If you want bread, we should go to Denny's. I think their other menus are overpriced, but at least if we're talking about morning toast, no other chain can compete."
Even as Saizeriya fanboy, Hachiman could not say Saizeriya is perfect in every way. Like how Gusto is cheaper, Bikkuri Donkey has better meat, Coco has better curry, and Royal Host is a fine dining experience as far as family restaurants concerned.
It's just that Hachiman likes Saizeriya menu the most.
"Mmmh, let's go to a teishoku chain." Akira laughed.
She learned one thing, and that Hikigaya Hachiman is a cheapskate. Not many Japanese boys would make a fuss over the price difference between Saizeriya and Denny's. They'll be rightfully mocked for it.
Just like choosing Shimamura to buy your clothes.
This guy is always passionate about the weirdest things, doesn't seem to care about his public image, and doesn't seem to understand social norms and nuances sometimes.
"If this is how he talks in Soubu High, no wonder most girls around him called him gross." Akira told herself. "Or maybe he was only like this because he was with me."
But still...
"By the way, do you have somewhere to go?" Hachiman asked. "Yesterday we didn't have much time, but today we have the entire morning for ourselves. So you have all the time needed to enjoy yourself."
"You mean?"
"We'll spend all morning going to places of your choosing." Hachiman grinned. "I'm not that familiar with Tokyo minutiae, so I'll go wherever you want to go."
There's always these little moments that made Akira realize.
Hikigaya Hachiman might be clueless, awkward, and abrasive. But he is a kindhearted and honest guy, after all.
And she had chosen to meet him for these reasons.
"Yeah." Akira nodded and pulled her phone. "Let's take some photos. A lot of photos."
Some go to her Stargram account, and some she will keep in absolute privacy. But all of them will be important proof that they were here. An anchor of happy and precious memories for Akira.
...
"[What an insane plot twist!]" An anime girl on the screen shouted. "[Forgive my language, but what kind of All Star ensemble is this? It turns out that Futaba Ami-chan is Melty_Gemini!]"
"[It seems that A_Spark73 is no longer anonymous herself. A Stargram model and famous FPS streamer, Sunazuka Akira-san!]"
"[This begets the question: who is exactly Sage823?]" The anime girl cutely posed. "[Will the secret be revealed in this watch-along?! My name is Mach TRI, the supersonic flight AI, at your service!]"
Hachiman in his blue gray wig and sunglasses, suddenly said when a camera confronted him. "[Move aside, peasant!]"
Hachiman parsed his words in a way that sounds different to his usual deadpan voice. He did this in battle too; his voice became more intense and emotional. Not to mention, his straightened and firm posture gave him a very different impression.
The last part was something he did subconsciously, but since Akira highlighted it, he thought that the straight-back posture certainly helped him hide his identity.
In other words, the Reeve's Superman method.
Since he doesn't have many friends and acquaintances in the first place, knowing his identity would not be easy.
If his fame grows enough, his disguise will be dismantled eventually. But Hachiman had planned to go low after this tournament concluded.
"[This is your host, Mach TRI, speaking.]" The anime girl danced on the screen. "[Let us cheer up for your favorite fighters!]"
"Woah. Didn't expect Hachiman to team up with these girls." The mother pointed. "You think he planned this?"
"Unlikely. The twins weren't there in the yesterday tournament. If they were that committed and well-connected, the twins will be there." Her husband chuckled. "And Hachiman most likely understood their situation all too well; hence, he let them join today's tournament."
"True." She hummed. "I bought 765 PRO stock at it's lowest. Let's see if that gamble pays off big time."
"Aww man. That was such a low-hanging fruit, but if I got in, that would be a conflict of interest." Her husband laughed.
It was a good Sunday in the Hikigaya residence.