Gamers!

Volume 4, Chapter 5 – Karen Tendou and Exclusive Contract

Translator: your_pingas

“You’re saying that…you wanted to decide your stance at the Game Hobby Club?”

I grabbed a piece of my favourite fried chicken nugget with the front of my chopsticks as I asked. Then, Tendou-san answered while staring me face-to-face, straight into my eyes. “Yes.” I was so shocked to the point that I forgot to eat my nugget.

Game Club Room, lunchtime, sometime after the end of the summer holiday.

I’m currently experiencing one of the normiest activity possible, enjoying bento with my girlfriend alone in a closed room…That was supposed to be the case. The regretful thing is that my girlfriend doesn’t seem to want to play sweetly with me at all. The atmosphere in the room is literally a lunchtime conference.

Tendou-san set aside her silky blonde hair next to her ears as she continued.

“Even though I immediately accepted your second invitation to the Game Hobby Club during the summer holiday.”

“Y-You’re right, that’s really the case. I was a bit surprised even when I’m the one who invited you.”

Since Tendou-san hesitated to join in the past, I was honestly prepared to spend some time to convince her. I feel like I just wasted my energy there. Uh, even though I really appreciated it.

Tendou-san elegantly picked up a clump of rice from her bento before saying “Of course” without even taking a glance at me.

“When you said that you wanted to always be together, how can I, Karen Tendou reject-“

She suddenly snapped out of her calmness after saying that, the clump of rice fell back into the bento.

I tilted my head as I looked at Tendou-san’s face. She cleared her throat while blushing before continuing.

“It’s the chief’s responsibility to supervise, I don’t want you to go out of bounds with other girl members.”

“Go out of bounds…Tendou-san, who do you think I am? It’s hurtful if you believe that I’m a player or something like that.

“I didn’t say that, but I believe that you are the type of guy that pulls a girl’s heartstring unconsciously before leaving chicly. A disastrous being.”

“I feel like that’s worse than a player! Am…am I really like that!”

“Yep.”

Tendou-san nodded her head calmly as if she’s describing a fact while chewing the rice…I can’t accept that. When did I mess with a girl’s heart? I feel like I was the one that is being messed with. Whether it’s Tendou-san, Chiaki, or Aguri-san…

Tendou-san enjoying her meal for a while before continuing.

“Back to the topic. Whenever we’re in the Game Hobby Club, what attitude should I, Karen Tendou use? I’m bringing you here because I wanted to discuss this matter, it’s definitely not because I suddenly wanted to go on a lunch with you.”

“Oh, actually, I felt like something was going on when you suddenly invited me to this alone.”

So, I’m definitely not complacent…I meant that while I’m trying to smooth things over. But then, Tendou-san immediately curled up her lips like she’s pissed off.

“…I can’t invite you to eat bento together without reason?”

“Eh? No, it’s not like that…But I can’t really imagine you to do that without any reasons…”

“W-What do you know about me! How complacent!”

“I still ended up getting called a complacent person!”

What should I do? There’s got to be a way to get out of this situation.

I freaked out because I still have no idea how to deal with my girlfriend. So, Tendou-san brought me back to the topic with a cough.

“A-Anyway, we’re talking my stance at the Hobby Club. Amano-kun, what do you think? Should I more or less cater myself in the atmosphere of the Game Hobby Club?”

“Any examples?”

“To put it simply, that means that should I pace myself with the casual players instead of expressing my opinion as a hardcore gamer. People often say that do in Rome as Romans do, right?”

A serious discussion that matches Tendou-san style perfectly. I gave her an “Ahh” before mumbling for a while…Then, I gave a standard and moderate suggestion that fits my style.

“I think you just need to act accordingly to the situation.”

“Sigh, the useless opinion in this circle, act accordingly to the situation finally appeared.”

“Which circle? Well, I do understand what you mean.”

As a suggestion, act accordingly to the situation is basically meaningless. Nobody will be bothered if they can do that. However, this is really the best advice I can give.

“I think you just need to be yourself and express your opinion truthfully…But, on the other hand, when everyone is chatting about casual gaming styles, I hope that you don’t go out of your way and yell “I really hate that!” to everyone.”

“Amano-kun, who do you think I am?”

Tendou-san said that a bit angrily. I gave her a bitter smile in response.

“No, those words aren’t really for you…Instead, it’s more for a fanatic gamer that I know, so I have to advise that beforehand.

“Who’s that?”

“Your boyfriend.”

“…Oh…”

Tendou-san seems to have understood. I bet she remembered the scene where I just said “Oh, I don’t really want to play games that much” in the Game Club full of hardcore gamers…Hmm.

“Just like my example, people will really forget to observe the situation when they’re talking about the things that they love, so I guess you’ll have to pay attention to that…”

“T-Thank you for such a personal suggestion.”

“That’s fine…”

We lowered our heads as we apologized to each other…While you should treasure a person that you can share all things with, sometimes it’ll be more depressing…right.

Tendou-san ate her lunch silently for a while. After that, she seemed to have made up her mind and mumbled “Alright” before looking at me.

“I understand. I’ll just be the true Karen Tendou when I’m in the Hobby Club. Of course, I won’t immerse myself too much into it.”

Tendou-san’s determination…made me really excited. I can’t help but lean my body forward.

“Yes! I think that will be okay! After all, you’re already so attractive when you’re yourself! I’m in love with your serious side! Honestly, I really admire you, and also think that this side of you is adorable! That’s why I wanted everyone in the Game Hobby Club to know- Eh, Tendou-san?”

Once I snapped out of it, I found out that Tendou-san plopped her head down while trembling, her ears are as red as a tomato…Just as I’m thinking, her elegant dining etiquette had a 180-degree turn. She held her bento and start digging all the rice like a boy in a sports club that eats his lunch in the morning. Her cheeks are stuffed like a chipmunk, then she chugged all the tea down her throat along with everything in her mouth. After that…

“T-Thanks for the food!”

“Eh?”

She completely ignored her boyfriend, who was just halfway through his lunch. She stood up abruptly from the chair after she hastily packed everything up.

I can’t follow the rapidly evolving situation, so I just froze there…Then, Tendou-san fiercely glared at me with tears in her eyes.

“Y-Y-Y-Y-You! Saying stuff like that in a closed room, w-w-what are you trying to pull off!”

“Eh! W-Wait a minute, this whole luncheon operation was your idea…”

“Yes! Exactly! Then I’ll obviously be the one that pushes you over onto the bed, am I right!”

“WHAT!”

What was that? What did Tendou-san just say to me? All I know is that now’s probably not the time to enjoy my chicken nuggets peacefully, but my brain can’t catch up at all.

“I can’t take it anymore, Amano-kun, I was nearly caught by your ingenuity. Compared to your tactics…even the military adviser protagonist from the recently popular war-oriented light novel looks like a toddler!”

“What the hell are you talking about!”

“What I am talking about…Ho, ho ho, I can’t believe you’re still putting up an act by now, you’re indeed a scary person.”

Tendou-san’s shivering out of her sheer fear…Crap, I don’t understand in the least bit. Although I heard what she just said, I don’t get the meaning. What is this? Am I getting praised? Or am I getting despised? A-Anyway, Tendou-san seemed to be mad, so I should…

“Um…s-sorry?”

I tried to apologize. However…Tendou-san’s face suddenly flared up again!

“You admitted? Amano-kun, that was an admission right! W-Woah…I’m just half-joking…! I can’t believe you’re actually such a powerful little devil boyfriend…! No, this isn’t a little devil anymore! You’re a big devil! Satan Amano!”

“That was the lamest nickname in the century!”

“Hiya…how fearsome…My boyfriend doesn’t resemble those beastly and demanding boys in the least bit...But, in reality, he’s an archdemon that turns the girl into a beast instead…! Moreover, he can still keep his innocent, pure young boy look plastered on his face in a situation like this…! Ah, how terrible!”

“………….”

…Uh…how should I say this, I wanted to be a clam right now. I feel like everything’s going negatively, no matter what I do. Why my communication skills are always stuck before I even have an option?

Tendou-san is somehow making a “Phew…phew..” noise, she glared at me while all of her blonde hair is raised as if she’s a cat trying to intimidate me. At last, she yelled something shocking while still having a blush on her face.

“But how regretful! It’s going to be a while before I can get you!”

“A NOTICE OF CRIME!?”

This time it was me that started trembling…Eh? What’s wrong? When did I piss my girlfriend off that much? She didn’t hit me or scold at me right here. Instead, she gave me a heads up that she’ll get me in the future, this hatred is undoubtedly unusual, right? Relishing in my fear, this is where her move comes from!

My face turns pale. Then, Tendou-san cleared her attitude and said, “A-Anyway!”

“We’ll disband for today. Thank you for joining this discussion. Please return the key to the office after you locked the door. Well, see you at the Hobby Club.”

She said that with a suspiciously calm tone before hastily preparing to leave the club room with the finished bento in her hands.

I froze while watching a Tendou-san like this for a while…However, at the moment of when she’s in the corridor and was about to salute me before closing the door, I immediately spewed out the words that I wanted to tell her no matter what.

“Ah, Tendou-san! Even though a lot of things have happened, but I’m thrilled that I get to join you at your lunch! Well…I have always finished my bento alone when I’m in high school. So, this meal is especially awesome for me! Uh, I really appreciated that!”

Tendou-san blushed instantly after she heard that, but then she calmed down right away.

In comparison, this time she’s much more gentle…before giving me a flirtatious smile.

“Ho ho, I’m the one that should appreciate your hospitality…I love you, Amano-kun.”

Tendou-san immediately closed the door and walked away after she said that.

I heard her footsteps when I’m still in the club room alone as I mumbled.

“I’m sorry, Tendou-san. Although I almost wanted to tell you that I wish my gaming friends to know how attractive you really are…”

During this time, I thought of her seductive lips before she left.

I can’t help but to cover my eyes with my hand and mumbled.

“…I guess those words aren’t all truthful.”

…I shoved all the chicken nugget in my mouth as if I’m afraid that someone will rob them away.

Then, to vent out some kind of emotion in my heart, I started digging in all the white rice.