Chapter 72: Competitive Games Show No Mercy
The night passed quietly, the moonlight fading slowly behind drifting clouds as the city sank into a deep, peaceful silence. For Kouya, the night felt endless—dreamless and calm, like still water. By the time dawn came, the faint cry of crows and the cool touch of morning air signaled another ordinary day.
Then his phone began to ring.
He reached over, eyes half-open, and answered. A soft, melodic voice came through the receiver—gentle and graceful, each word clear and tender, like cherry blossoms fluttering down in spring.
"Kou-kun, good morning."
"Mm." Kouya sat up and replied with his usual composure. "Good morning, Ruri-San."
"Kou-kun, are you busy today? If not, would you like to come over for lunch?"
Her tone was light, almost casual, yet there was a subtle warmth to it that lingered in his ear.
Kouya thought for a moment. He had nothing urgent to handle—no assignments, no missions from the shrine. After a short pause, he agreed.
Half an hour later.
The morning sun had risen fully, spilling light through the torii gate at the entrance of Chiba Shrine. The gravel path gleamed faintly with dew. The faint scent of incense mixed with the early breeze, making the whole scene feel calm and sacred.
"Kou-kun, you came."
The shrine maiden's voice carried softly through the quiet air. She stood by the gate, the wind gently lifting the long sleeves of her crimson-and-white miko robes. Her long black hair cascaded down her back like a flowing waterfall, glinting under the light. She was serene and poised—a perfect portrait of traditional beauty.
Next to her stood her little sister, Chiba Hinata, her face lit with energy. "Onii-chan! You came! Come play games with me!"
Kouya smiled faintly, handing her a small gift bag. "Of course. I brought something for you."
Bringing gifts when visiting was basic courtesy—especially when visiting the shrine maiden's home.
Hinata's nose twitched as she leaned close to sniff the bag. "It smells so good! What is it?" She tore it open, revealing a box filled neatly with taiyaki—golden-brown, glossy, and perfectly shaped fish pastries. The sweet aroma filled the air instantly.
"Taiyaki!" she exclaimed in delight.
Taiyaki was a simple but beloved street food—made from flour, sugar, and baking soda, filled with red bean paste, and baked into the shape of a fish. Cute, tasty, and irresistibly warm.
"Big sis never lets me eat these," Hinata muttered, puffing her cheeks. "She says outside food isn't clean..."
Ruri's gentle face froze. "Hm? What did you just say?"
Hinata froze like a deer caught in headlights. "N-Nothing! Don't pinch my cheeks, onee-sama! It hurts! I'll get wrinkles!"
Ruri gave a quiet huff before pulling her hand back. "Only two, Hinata. No more. We're having lunch soon."
Then she turned toward Kouya. "Kou-kun, please make yourself comfortable in the living room. I'll bring some tea."
Kouya nodded silently.
As soon as Ruri stepped away, Hinata's restraint disappeared. She snatched a taiyaki and bit into it with a delighted squeal.
"Mmm, it's sooo good!" she murmured between bites, crumbs clinging to her lips. Then she leaned closer to Kouya, whispering conspiratorially, "I'll eat another one—no, two more! But don't tell onee-sama, okay? Or she'll make me practice piano again."
Kouya chuckled softly. "Got it."
The air inside the shrine house was warm, filled with the faint aroma of tatami and incense. But something still felt slightly off, as if the house was missing its usual liveliness.
He turned slightly—and caught a shadow moving behind the folding screen.
A pair of feline ears twitched above it.
Then, a small catgirl peeked out, her curious golden eyes peering directly at him.
"...Staring again, huh?" he muttered.
Ah. So that's what had been missing.
"Come here," he said with a faint smile, gesturing.
"Nya~! No way!" the catgirl yelped, face flushed. She ducked back behind the screen so fast her tail nearly knocked it over.
Kouya sighed in amusement. That expression—half shy, half guilty—made her look less like a cat and more like a frightened rabbit. Did she really think he'd eat her alive?
"Onii-chan, let's play games!" Hinata called, holding up two controllers with excitement.
"Sure," Kouya replied.
The little girl quickly turned on the TV, the screen lighting up with a colorful title sequence. Characters with wild hair and exaggerated poses filled the display, each one radiating strength and flair.
Kouya narrowed his eyes. "Street Fighter?"
"Yup!" Hinata grinned proudly. "Have you played before?"
He shook his head. "No."
"It's fine! I'll teach you," she said, puffing her chest. "It's easy, and I won't laugh even if you lose!"
"...I'll keep that in mind."
She selected training mode, choosing a female fighter with twin buns and a blue qipao—Chun-Li. She handed Kouya a controller and explained enthusiastically. "See? This mode doesn't count losses. Try out the moves first, and then we'll play for real!"
Kouya nodded. His fingers danced over the buttons with quiet precision. In just a few minutes, his character's movements became sharp and controlled, his timing perfect. Years of gaming had honed his reflexes well.
But just as he began to settle in, he sensed someone watching again.
He glanced back—and caught Rina, the catgirl, sneaking closer, her tail swaying as she clutched a taiyaki in both hands.
Their eyes met.
Rina froze, then shook her head frantically. "You're mistaken! It wasn't me, nya!" she said—and darted away again.
Kouya exhaled softly, hiding a small smile.
Hinata giggled. "Ready, Onii-chan?"
"Yeah."
The countdown began. The match started.
Twenty seconds later, the match was over.
Hinata's character lay defeated on the ground. Kouya's fighter still had half his health left.
"Onii-chan... you sure you've never played this before?" she asked, pouting.
"No. But I've played similar games."
If he had known her move set earlier, he wouldn't have even taken that much damage.
"I see." Hinata squinted, determination blazing in her eyes. "Then I'll use my favorite—Chun-Li!"
Fifteen seconds later, Chun-Li was down again.
"Grrr!" Hinata puffed her cheeks, almost growling.
Another round. And another.
By the fifth, Hinata's eyes were teary, her lip trembling.
Kouya coughed lightly. He didn't mean to destroy her that badly. Sure, competitive games had no mercy—but maybe he could've eased up a bit.
Before he could speak, a calm, gentle voice came from behind.
"Hinata, what's wrong?"
Hinata jumped up instantly. "Onee-sama! Onii-chan's too good! I can't win at all! Help me!"
Ruri blinked once, then smiled faintly. "Alright."
A new match began—this time, Kouya versus Chiba Ruri.
Hinata cheered from the side. Meanwhile, in the corner, Rina the catgirl sneakily took another bite of taiyaki while pretending to watch innocently.
"Kou-kun, do you play fighting games often?" Ruri asked, sitting beside him. Her sleeve brushed lightly against his arm.
"They're not bad," he replied casually. "I've been playing them more recently."
"Then please show me what you've got," she said softly. But her expression shifted as soon as her fingers touched the controller. Her eyes turned sharp, focused, filled with quiet confidence.
The fight began.
The first round was fierce—Kouya narrowly won with only a sliver of health left.
Ruri looked at him with a half-smile, Her gaze held excitement, maybe even challenge.
That was it—the true joy of a match.
It wasn't about crushing an opponent without mercy. It was about clashing equally, reading each other's moves, pushing every skill to the limit.
When two players looked into each other's eyes and smiled wordlessly, it meant they understood: this is the fun part.
The thrill of a comeback, the rush of perfect timing, the roar of the crowd that existed only in their minds—this was the beauty of competitive gaming.
"Another round?"
"Of course."
Kouya, Ruri, and Hinata sat lined up before the glowing screen, controllers in hand. From the side, Rina nibbled another taiyaki, her tail flicking lazily. The air was warm, filled with laughter and faint music from the game.
"Ah—onee-sama, open wide!" Hinata said suddenly during the loading screen, holding a taiyaki up to her sister's lips.
Ruri blinked, smiling as she leaned forward slightly. "Ahh~" She took a bite, her lips curving as her eyes softened into crescent moons.
Kouya watched the scene quietly, a faint warmth stirring in his chest. For a moment, he thought of Kanna and Gabriel—those days that felt both close and far away. And before he realized it, an impulse rose within him—the sudden, simple desire to feed them himself flashed through his mind...