Chapter 52: The Approaching 16-Bit Era
"Hey, want to bet on this game? The winner gets a wish granted!"
Huh? This is an unexpected challenge, isn't it? Well then, I'll join in for the sake of reliving my childhood memories!
We amicably inserted 50 yen coins each and started the game.
Soon, two dinosaurs emerged on both sides of the stage, and the game began.
With a total of 100 rounds prepared, this game had a design where the levels grew progressively challenging. Honestly, after 50 rounds, it started to feel a bit tiresome.
But when there's a wish at stake for the winner, the game takes on a whole new meaning. We both began to feverishly mash the buttons to defeat more enemies.
"Huh?"
Yuki's gameplay was cunning. Whenever I managed to trap the enemies in bubbles, she would rush in like a ghost, explode them all in an instant, and selfishly devour the bananas and strawberries that fell on the stage to increase her score.
"Yuki, you seem quite experienced at this."
"I hold the top score in our neighborhood's game center!"
If coming to the game center was the first trap, was this the second trap? In that case, there's no way I can lose! I changed my playstyle and started stomping on the enemies Yuki was dealing with, navigating the stage.
The dinosaurs in Bubble Bobble could jump and land inside one frame if the timing was right, so I jumped rapidly without hesitation. Just then, a pair of sneakers fell from above at the perfect moment. When you grab these, your speed increases by 1.5 times!
Yuki also rushed to grab the sneakers, but I was faster.
"Ah, no fair!"
"Where's sportsmanship in a bet for the high score?"
After quickly snatching the sneakers, my speed increased, and I annihilated all the enemies Yuki had trapped. Wow, I thought I had forgotten all about this game, but it's so much fun!
Back when I was a kid, I would insert 50 won and play up to 100 rounds at the arcade. I almost got chased away by the owner, hehe...
Sudden memories of my childhood came flooding back, and I burst into laughter all by myself.
"Oh! Candy!"
"Mine."
"Aaaah!"
I had already eaten the sneakers, so I started a bit later than Yuki, but in an instant, I surpassed her and grabbed the candy. Candy had the effect of increasing the range of bubble shooting!
With candy and sneakers in hand, my blue dinosaur was practically invincible. By the time we reached stage 20, both Yuki's and my scores were well over the maximum.
"Why don't you give up, Yuki?"
"Hmph, I won't give up. Just watch, I'll definitely win!"
Was this her original personality? It was as if her personality did a 180-degree turn when she gripped the lever, all while a pair of sneakers gently dropped onto the stage.
"Oh! Sneakers!"
"Mine."
"Junhyuk already ate them!"
If you eat sneakers after already having them, you get an extra 1000 points. So, I dashed to grab Yuki's sneakers. Even I feel a bit sneaky about this. But she won't get mad over a game, will she?
I turned to look at Yuki, and she was also looking at me and smiling.
I'm not sure what that smile meant, but it feels a bit strange. Just then, on stage 30, Yuki deftly manipulated the lever and opened a secret door. Going inside would instantly advance us to stage 50.
"I haven't given up yet, you know."
"It's tough to reach stage 50 without items, right?"
"Just wait and see."
As I watched her focus on the screen, I couldn't help but find her cute.
It wasn't just me who thought that; passing gamers were either sneakily glancing at Yuki, who was manipulating the lever with dedication, or openly watching her from behind.
"Wow, this guy's really determined to win."
"She's eating all the items by herself. Do we have to deal with someone like her? No sportsmanship..."
"If it were me, I'd let her have all the items..."
People talk a big game about others, but we're in the heat of competition here!
But... what would I wish for if I won? I don't really have any specific wishes, so if I had to choose, maybe I'd go to that place I had in mind earlier...
Ah, come on, what am I even thinking on just our second meeting today...
Lost in my thoughts for a moment, something incredible happened.
"It's a cross!"
At the shout from behind, I was startled and looked at the screen. Yuki's character was about four blocks above, and a blue cross fell.
"Wow, seriously. This is the first time I've seen a cross in Bubble Bobble!"
Oh no! I must get that, no matter what!
"Miss, you can do it! Jump quickly!"
Anyone watching would think I'm some kind of devil!
With determination, I tilted the lever and rushed toward the cross, but at the last moment, Yuki snatched it. Upon doing so, the surrounding men who had been watching her cheered.
"Wow~!"
The cross, one of the most incredible masterpieces in Bubble Bobble, had an incredibly low chance of appearance, 1 in 4782. If you ate it, your character, which had been blowing bubbles until now, could suddenly shoot fire.
The fire was a powerful weapon that could wipe out enemies with a single hit, far more efficient than my playstyle of trapping enemies in bubbles and bursting them.
In the end, thanks to the grace of the cross, Yuki quickly caught up to my score and cleared all the way to the final boss without dying once.
The final scores were in the 920,000s for Yuki and 890,000s for me.
"I won!"
Clapping along with the scrolling credits, we were both delighted.
We had been playing for almost an hour, and my back was killing me. Whether it's a wish or not, I need to get to the hotel and get some rest.
Finally, after 10 PM, we left the game center and headed back home. It was almost the last train time, so there were people rushing to the station.
"Tell me your wish. We promised to grant it."
Yuki took out a small notebook from her bag and shyly handed it to me.
"Give me your phone number."
"My wish is this?"
"Yes."
It's a rather modest wish considering how we were just having a blast with Bubble Bobble earlier. I accepted the notebook and jotted down my phone number.
"I'm usually home around 5 PM after work, so feel free to call anytime."
"Today was really fun, Junhyuk."
"I had a great time too. If it's okay with you, would you like to grab a meal together before I head back to Kyoto tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'll be waiting for your call."
Before I knew it, we had arrived at Shibuya Station. I glanced at my watch and said to Yuki.
"I think it might be better for me to stay at a hotel nearby. Take care, Yuki."
"Sure, but there's one thing I'm curious about, Junhyuk..."
"What is it?"
"If you had won, what wish would you have made? You seemed so determined."
"Uh... well... it's a secret."
"Oh, it's a secret, huh? But I kind of have an idea."
"Hmm... uh..."
I pretended not to notice and averted my gaze. Yuki smiled and said, "Well then, rest well tonight, and I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes, take care."
A little while later, as Yuki disappeared into Shibuya Station, I muttered to myself with a reddening face, "Ah, it's hot. So hot..."
&
"Ah~ As expected, even if it costs a bit more, luxury hotels are great."
I woke up in a hotel room after a long time, tidied my tousled hair, and headed to the shower room. Half-asleep, I brushed my teeth while the water was running and felt a bit more awake when I splashed cold water on my face.
A few crushed beer cans were rolling around on the hotel table.
Seems like I overdid it a bit with the free TV and a few cans of beer.
Having slept in a bit, I quickly got dressed, checked out of the hotel, and left.
"How about having a meal before meeting with Kawaguchi?"
I polished off a bowl of gyudon in a place where I could comfortably dine alone and spread the newspaper I had brought from the hotel. In an era with only news and newspapers as sources of information, I made it a habit to read it in the morning. Today, there was an interesting piece of news.
"NEGA's first home console, the NEGA Disk. Admits defeat to Nintendo. Unveils the next-generation 16-bit game console, NEGA Drive!"
"So they're trying to preemptively seize the 16-bit market after all?"
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