Chapter 11: What Do You Want ?

After finishing our first goal of checking out the Last Destiny booth, we officially set out to explore AGP.

I couldn’t tell if my sister wasn’t particularly interested in this area or if she was just following my lead, but she was busy trailing behind me wherever I showed interest.

Once, she asked if there was anywhere I particularly wanted to go, but each time she responded with, “Wherever Cosmo wants to go,” which left me quite flustered.

As we were wandering around, one booth caught my eye.

“Oh, they’ve got that game on display too. I heard it’s been really popular lately.”

“What kind of game is that?”

My sister, seemingly completely lacking knowledge in this area, just tilted her head in confusion. It was obvious at a glance that she was nothing like a typical gamer.

“It’s a collectible RPG, like Last Destiny we saw earlier. It’s known for having a bit of mature content.”

“Mature content… does that mean it’s violent?”

“Um, not exactly…”

How should I explain this?

Of course, there are graphic representations like decapitations or disembowelments within the game, but those are merely text-based descriptions and aren’t overly gruesome.

When I say “mature content,” I mean…

“…”

“…Yes, that’s what I mean.”

As I hesitated to speak, my sister, perhaps curious, reached the booth and looked at the character cutouts on display, falling silent.

And it made sense; the character displayed was so scantily clad that it would be an understatement to say there was more bare skin than covered areas.

Indeed, this game is one that would earn a high age rating for its characters’ level of exposure.

“…Do you play that game too, Cosmo?”

“Ah, no. I’ve never played it.”

With a slightly cold tone, I vigorously shook my head to clarify my innocence.

Of course, it’s true that the game stimulates a man’s fantasies, but it wasn’t my style, and I had only briefly tried it before quitting in less than a week.

It felt a bit guilty to say I had never tried it, but as long as I didn’t admit it, I wouldn’t get caught.

“Hmm…”

“……”

My sister’s piercing gaze felt like she was asking, “Really?”

Her stare was so intense that I instinctively looked away. Was this how small animals felt when facing their predators?

“Ha, I’m just kidding. Why are you taking this so seriously?”

“…What?”

As our silent battle of wits continued, my sister burst into laughter, leaving me momentarily dazed.

What? So that cold atmosphere a moment ago was all an act?

“It’s just a game, after all. It’s not like I’m gambling; I’m just enjoying a game I like. Who would think that’s strange?”

“R-right?”

Faced with her reasonable logic, I couldn’t bring myself to say, “There are people who do,” and awkwardly smiled instead.

Whether she was saying this out of courtesy or if she truly believed it, I was relieved that the atmosphere didn’t feel too tense.

“By the way, the characters are really pretty. I haven’t played the game, but at least it seems the creators put a lot of effort into the characters.”

In the more relaxed atmosphere that followed, my sister and I looked around at the character cutouts and various merchandise displayed around the booth.

Despite the high exposure, I thought the character designs themselves weren’t bad at all, and my sister started examining each character one by one, mumbling to herself.

The character designs were indeed well done.

“That’s true. I wasn’t too satisfied with the gameplay myself, but the characters were pretty enough that I tried to pull a few…”

I had been rambling on, trying to go along with things, when I suddenly realized my mistake and let out a sigh.

Feeling a sense of crisis, I turned my head, creaking and groaning like a poorly oiled machine. Just as I thought it couldn’t get worse, I made eye contact with my sister, who was looking at me with a skeptical gaze.

“… You’ve definitely played it before, you liar.”

Damn, this was a trap card.

In the end, I found myself dragged along by my sister, wandering around various booths. After a while, we decided to take a break and ended up at a café inside the building.

To pay for the lie I told and settle the debt of dragging her into that nonsense, I resolved to buy the coffee myself. As I stood at the counter,

“What will you have, Cosmo? I’ll get it.”

“Huh? No, I was going to buy it…”

My sister pulled out a luxurious-looking black card from her wallet, showing her determination to pay.

Flustered, I fumbled for my own card, trying to approach the counter, but she firmly pushed my card away with an expression that said ‘No’—the same look she had when scolding our younger brother.

“Older sisters usually pay in situations like this. It’s fine, so just go ahead and grab a seat.”

“…”

This isn’t how it should be.

I just wanted to buy a coffee as a gesture of gratitude for my fan, but now I’d be the one being treated. I felt it would be rude to persist with my card.

“Alright. Then I’ll come get the coffee later.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

After some deliberation, I decided to back down for now, ordered a caramel frappuccino, and headed to an empty seat by the window.

I’m not particularly fond of sunlight as a homebody, but my sister might dislike a corner seat. So, I chose to sit here today.

“It seems like there are a lot of customers, so it might take a while.”

“I thought that would be the case. Oh, can I have the vibrating bell?”

“Yes, here you go.”

My sister returned quickly, handed me the vibrating bell, and softly took her seat.

“Ah, it feels nice here with all the sunlight coming in. The view outside is also lovely…”

“I’m glad to hear that. I was wondering if you’d like a corner seat like I do.”

As soon as she sat down and stretched, looking at the scenery outside, she murmured something quietly, and I let out a sigh of relief.

I thought my unnecessary consideration might’ve been a bother, but thankfully it wasn’t.

“Oh, did you sit here on purpose because of me? You didn’t have to…”

“N-No, that’s not it, so don’t worry about it. I like sunlight too.”

The problem was that I should have kept that thought to myself, but I unconsciously said it out loud.

Thanks to that, my sister looked at me apologetically, and I hurriedly waved my hands, denying it even faster than before. I’m not a vampire or anything; it’s not like looking at some sunlight is going to be a problem.

“Ha, liar.”

“I-I’m not lying!”

My sister looked at me with her chin resting on her hand, declaring my statement a lie, and I tried my best to protest, but her response was resolute.

“You can tell right away. Just like earlier, Cosmo, you’re the type who shows it when you’re lying.”

“You make it sound like you’ve known me for a long time.”

“Hehe, I guess so. Was that a bit rude?”

“Not really…”

It’s not rude. It’s just a bit embarrassing because she seems to see right through me.

On the other hand, I feel a little bashful knowing that she’s paying me such close attention. But then again, since she’s a fan, I suppose it’s only natural.

“Somehow, in person, you seem even more clumsy than you do on your streams.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Of course, who would criticize a celebrity in front of them?”

It must be a compliment.

Hmm, it feels like she’s beating around the bush.

But looking at the bright smile on her face, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. Depending on how you interpret it, I might not know for sure, but she clearly meant it genuinely.

“Anyway, thanks to you, I really had a great time today. It felt like a dream for me as a fan.”

“I had fun too. Honestly, I would have felt a bit lonely wandering around alone, but thanks to you, I could wait in line without getting bored…”

I couldn’t bring myself to say, “It’s an honor to be with someone as beautiful as you,” and just scratched my cheek awkwardly.

That seemed to be enough for her, as she smiled brightly with joy.

At times like this, I really wish I had better conversational skills.

“By the way, I’ve troubled you in many ways today. First with Chaeya, and now you’re paying for coffee…”

“I told you, you don’t have to apologize. Besides, I came here intending to pay for the coffee anyway.”

With a mock serious face, she seemed like she was about to scold me for insisting, but honestly, she just looked cute.

I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud, though.

“Still, I feel like I owe you something. It would be nice if I could think of something I can do for you…”

There’s a term called “reverse tribute.”

It’s used when idols or celebrities do something nice for fans who cherish them, and while I’m not that special, I thought it would be nice to do something for the fan in front of me.

What could I do?

“…You really want to repay me for the coffee?”

While I was lost in thought, her gaze suddenly changed as she looked at me intensely and asked in a somewhat deep voice.

“It’s not just about the coffee, but I want to do something to repay you for the day you’ve spent with me.”

I chuckled lightly and replied in a somewhat troubled tone, and in an instant, her pupils widened, like a businessperson who just caught a big opportunity.

Then she said,

“Then… could you do me one favor?”

With a shy expression, she held up her index finger, forming a number one, and mentioned the word “favor.”

A favor sounds nice. After all, she doesn’t seem like the type to make unreasonable demands, so I’m fine with anything. If it helps clear some of this debt, then it’s worth it.

“Of course, just let me know what it is.”

“Really…?!”

I raised my thumb in response, ready to accept any request, and she looked at me with disbelief.

Wait, did I say something wrong?

That thought crossed my mind for just a moment.

“Then… could you give me your contact information?”

“…What?”

What did she just ask for?

I felt like I had been hit on the head with a hammer, as I momentarily thought my ears had malfunctioned.

But soon after, the sound of the vibrating bell confirmed that my ears were functioning just fine.

So, is she really asking for my number?