Chapter 27
Maruyama agreed to do it, but his suspicions were palpable. After all, I'd asked to have the NTL app blocked only earlier. Thankfully, he didn't interrogate me. He returned the phone to me mere minutes later, with the assurance that the app had returned to its original state. I breathed a sigh of relief. However, I didn't want to turn it on to check for sure until after I left.
"Hey, uh… about Akemi's boyfriend. How did that go? He's here in Togetsu, right?" Maruyama asked nervously.
"Oh. I guess Akemi didn't tell yonu yet? Sato didn't turn out to be who he said he was," I explained.
"What? Like he's some old, pimple-faced, overweight guy?" A spark of hope lit up inside him and showed in his tone.
"The opposite." I shook my head. "Scrawnier than Tetsu back in high school. Very young, probably in his early to mid 20s. He did have some acne scarring, but presently no pimples. Sato looked nothing like his pictures. Akemi was devastated."
Maruyama suddenly leaped out of his seat and cheered, startling me back a few steps. It was the happiest I'd seen him in years. He pumped his fists in the air, thanked God, and did a little dance.
"Yes! Haha! Sato was some chump after all, then? Damn, what a relief!" Maruyama laughed.
I was amused at first, but that feeling quickly subsided.
"Hey." I burned a hole into his back until he stopped and turned around. "Do you have any idea how hurt Akemi was? And here you are, dancing like it's a good thing?"
"No, wait! That's not why I'm—"
"I've never seen Akemi curse up a storm before. It was so bad, her mother stopped me from seeing her. She's probably crying in her bed as we speak. Tanabata was supposed to be a special day for her, but she found out her special man had been lying this entire time. There's nothing to be celebrating about! If you really cared about her, you would be sympathetic!" By the time I finished, I was breathless and panting.
As for Maruyama, he stared at me looking deeply ashamed of himself. Only, the shame also hit me.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blown up on you like that." I gripped the side of my arm.
"No, Marika. You're right. I'm an ass." Maruyama slumped back into his chair and turned his back to me.
I wanted to offer some comforting words, but couldn't think straight.
Maruyama continued, "You know, ever since Akemi rejected my confession in high school, I'd constantly wished she wouldn't find someone. That maybe if we were both single long enough, she would look my way. I even prayed at the shrine every New Year for a chance to win her over. I'm just the worst, aren't I?"
"No, you're not. I can think of someone way worse. But you're a good guy, Maruyama. You'll find yourself a girl. It might not be Akemi, but there's someone for everyone. You just need to go out look," I explained.
"Thanks, but I don't know if I can see myself with anyone other than Akemi. I can't change her mind, but at least I can change myself. For the next New Year, I think I'll wish she finds someone who deserves her."
"I'm sure you have yourself in mind," I teased.
Both of us erupted into laughter. It felt like old times when we were all in school together as children. Back during a simpler time.
"Hey, about the app. What exactly is it? Nothing in the code really tells me what it is. I know I shouldn't have, but I tried to access it through yours and Akemi's phones. It wouldn't boot past the loading screen," Maruyama said.
"It's just an annoying game," I replied, trying to brush him off.
"Annoying enough that you guys wanted to sneak into a company building at Karatsu, huh. I can tell you two don't like talking about it, so I'll drop it for now. You should know though, that A.I. is evolving faster every day. There's a lot of money in that industry. Money that can… make people disappear," he explained.
"Disappear how?"
Maruyama pursed his lips. He shrugged, then spun around in his chair to face the many computer monitors again. I thought he was going to show me something. Instead, he booted up a video game to play. It became clear that I'd overstayed my welcome, so I thanked him and left.
An unexpected overcast shrouded Togetsumura. Gentle rain showered the town. I lifted my umbrella left by the door and only made a few steps when my phone buzzed. There was a bus stop shelter a little ways down the road. I hurried over just as the swell picked up in intensity, strong enough to blow sideways. Today was supposed to be sunny with clear skies. Forecasts couldn't always tell with absolute accuracy, but nothing indicated that it would rain this much. It left me utterly drenched.
There wasn't anything I could do about it now. I pulled out my phone to check the notification. It came from the NTL app.
[Well, well, well. Look who came crawling back to play? That was bold of you to mess with the software. I hope you don't expect me to forgive you so quickly, Marika!] Saya scolded me.
"I'm sorry. I just needed a little peace and quiet from the app. Tanabata is tomorrow, and I didn't need to be distracted with playing the game all the time. Please, forgive me!" I pleaded.
[Hmph! You're lucky I'm your digital avatar. We're in this together, Marika! Alrighty, I forgive you. I just hope you're ready to make up for it with a game later!] She performed a gleeful dance.
I shuddered to think what the NTL app would make me play. However, now that I had access to the shop again, I could tweak Akemi's memory again. But after so much time had elapsed…
"Hey, Saya? With Memory Wipe, can I still use it on Akemi to make her forget something from a while ago?" I asked.
[Yes, you can. You will want to be very clear and specific. Wouldn't want to erase a memory you don't intend to!]
Right. I had to approach this carefully. But the longer I delayed, the less sense it would make in Akemi's mind with a gap in her memories. I sent her a text asking if we could speak, but that went as expected. Minutes went by without a response. However, an indicator next to my message suggested that she had read it.
I had to head to the temple soon to practice for the play. Nick Guo was likely already here. We were to do a mock performance before tomorrow.
"Akemi will have to wait. I'll think of something later. I better hurry before the others get worried," I grumbled to myself.
[Bing, bong! Bing, bong!] Saya's voice came through clearly from my phone as if it were in speaker mode.
"What is it?" I gasped.
[Compulsory game alert! Tanabata Matsuri has begun. Save point logged at bus stop.]
"Saya, what are you talking about?" I asked as a chill ran up my spine.
[It meeeeeeaans a special game has started. Take a look!]
Saya rolled out a long scroll that began at the top of the phone's screen.
[Tanabata Matsuri/Lovers' Festival!
Description: Love is in the air! The two star-crossed lovers will finally meet. Time to earn plenty of points by being true to yourself.
Rules:
- Participation is mandatory.
- A total of 400,000 points must be earned to win within the event period.
- The event ends one second past midnight after Tanabata.
- Points earned during this period will be quadrupled after the event.
- Points that had been earned prior to the event will not be multiplied.
- Any points may be used to purchase from the Shop and limited time event-specific Shop+
- Leaving Togetsumura results in instant disqualification.
- Disqualification or failing to meet 400,000 points incurs consequences.]
[Not at all! There are events during other holidays, too. Your friend Akemi would be playing if her phone wasn't bugged. It's just bad luck that you decided to undo the error now. Oh, don't go back now that the event's started. Don't forget rules #1 and #8!]
That was an incredibly steep amount of points to earn from now until tomorrow midnight. The app showed that I had 855,000 points, most of which came from the past week and the videos I shot with Miyamori for Glimpse. If only they were permitted to count towards Tanabata Matsuri, I would have won already and not worry. On a separate column, my points earned during the event showed 0.
I swiped to the side, showing a different menu with new information.
[Bounties!
Description: Bounties are ways to earn significantly more points. A bounty can only be completed once.
Bounties:
- Have sex with Nicholas Guo - 50,000 points.
- Participate in a gangbang with at least 6 people - 150,000 points.
- Perform the play naked - 60,000 points.
- Stream on Glimpse without censoring your face and voice - 30,000 points.
- Wear a butt plug for 12 hours - 20,000 points.
- Find four star talismans hidden around Togetsumura - 50,000 points.]
- Points earned from non-bounty sex (anal and vaginal) are capped to 20,000 points.
- Points earned from non-bounty blowjobs are capped to 10,000 points.
- Handjobs and boobjobs do not award points.
- Bonuses are disabled for the duration of the event.
- Points can only be earned from someone once.
- Reloading refunds all points except for the cost of Reload]
In the [Shop+] new items and effects showed up like Pop-up Glory Hole, Parry Dagger, Disguise, and more. There were some familiar names though. Invisibility and Broken Egg to name a few. At the top of the list, [Reload] cost 200,000 points. It seemed to be the priciest when I sorted by most expensive.
"Saya, what's [Reload]?" I asked.
[It means what it means. If you've ever played a video game, 'reload' means to go back to a different point in time. Usually, to a save point. This bus station is your current save point. You can create new save points for 40,000 points.]
I tried to make sense of those words and couldn't believe it.
"I can… travel back in time? Th-There's no possible way that's possible." I swallowed hard.
[Believe what you want, Marika. But if you ever need a re-do, know that you can always re-load!] Saya exclaimed playfully.
I had until midnight tomorrow. I should give this more thought later at night before committing to doing anything. The rain had finally stopped. The clouds rolled past, giving way to the bright sun. Its warm rays were already quickly evaporating the soil saturated from the showers. Already, the atmosphere felt many times more muggy than before it rained.
"Ugh. It's so warm," I groaned while climbing the steps up to the temple.
"Marika, is that you?" a familiar voice asked somewhere nearby.
"Ji— Er, Shiraishi?" I called back and searched the area.
The old man was sitting in the underbrush to the right, away from the stone stairs.
"What are you doing over there?" I asked, watching my step as I made my way towards him.
"It poured like crazy just now! I lost my damn footing and nearly slipped to my death. Can you help me up?" Shiraishi asked.
I offered my hand to help him up. He was covered in wet leaves, grass, and mud, but nothing a little brushing didn't clear away. A quick glance over, and he didn't look at all injured. Just frazzled and drenched.
"Are you okay?" I sighed in relief.
"I am now, thanks to you! A sight like that can even cure my old age." Shiraishi's eyes fell to my chest.
I followed his gaze and realized the belt tying my yukata together was a little loose. My white shirt underneath had gotten wet enough to be a little see-through. I was about to cover up until Jiro's hand snuck its way under the yukata.
"Jiro, wait! Ahh!" I sucked in a sharp breath.
Skillful fingers penetrated me quickly, and his thumb rubbed my clitoris at the same time. The sounds my pussy made was so wet and loud, someone passing by might end up hearing.
"You're so beautiful when your face is all wrinkled up like that. I can't get enough of it!" Jiro giggled lecherously.
"What if someone sees us?" I muttered into my hand.
"I'll finish you real quick then!" Jiro pulled his fingers out, kneeled down, and pressed his face into my crotch.
I dug my nails into the tree as Jiro licked my pussy. His lapping tongue pleasured me in ways that I didn't think possible. It circled my clitoris and prodded my entrance. He ate me out so intensely that I couldn't think straight any longer.
"I'm cumming!" I moaned as a quaking orgasm ripped through me.
"Huu! Thank you for the meal! Maybe we can go for a little more?" Jiro wiped his chin and grinned from below, then started undoing his pants.
"We… We shouldn't." I hesitated, but lost the will to resist when I saw his throbbing cock.
Again, my body craved it. Sex. I wanted Jiro's dick so badly that I couldn't think straight. The points. I needed to earn 400,000 anyway. This was just the first step to it.
"Okay, but please be quick." I yanked my underwear down and parted my yukata for him.
"That's my girl!" Jiro shuffled closer, and I lowered my hips until the tip of his cock entered me.
"Mmm… It feels so—"
"Marika? Shiraishi?" Someone's voice made my blood turned to ice.
We looked back towards the steps. Yuuko Maeda, Satoshi's mother, was staring straight at us. Jiro and I couldn't make it more obvious what we were doing with our hips attached so close.
"Yuuko, I can explain!" I panicked.
"Unbelievable! You were just a slut after all, Marika! To think, I trusted you. What about Satoshi? Have you two been together then? Ugh. I don't want to think about it. I'm going to tell Tetsu right now!" Yuuko stormed off.
"No, wait! Please!" I tried to chase after her but slipped on the wet ground.
"Marika!" Jiro reached out to pick me up, but I shook him off.
Reload. I had to reload. That was the only way. I navigated to [Shop+], selected [Reload], and confirmed my purchase.
[Reload, coming right up!] Saya exclaimed.
The last thing I heard was the digital avatar's fanciful voice and Jiro trying to calm me down. In the next blink of the eye, I had returned to the bus stop in the middle of town. The rain was just now coming to a stop.
"I'm… I'm back?" I gulped.
When I checked the points in the NTL app, it showed 655,000 instead of the 855,000 I previously had. I traveled back in time for a second chance.
[Well then, Marika. Let's try not to get caught this time and earn those points!] Saya cheered.