[1].
I stare at the several flavors of microwavable noodles on the convenience store shelf. I barely had enough to feed myself because of my otaku hobbies, but I didn't want to leech off Ryuma this time around. That's one reason why it's so hard to cut him off. For some reason, he's helped me live this far without going homeless or hungry. I don't know what he sees in me to continue to lend me his pretty huge wallet — it might be because of pity.
After barely managing to pay the cashier, I walked out into the chilly night. I sighed loudly as I looked through gaming forums, waiting for the bus to come. I was going to run out of money eventually and I can't keep any sort of job. My parents could care less about my well-being. They're off in their little world, always traveling overseas on romantic getaways. For all they know they think their son is some sort of honor student when that couldn't be further than the truth.
No matter how many ways I look at it, I need Ryuma. It's tough trying to avoid the very person you leech off of. I can't stand not knowing his motives behind our friendship. It couldn't just be because we're childhood friends, right? Why put so much time and effort into a person who isn't going to achieve anything in life? He's the protagonist while I'm just that lowly childhood friend stereotype. Wait a minute — no! I'm a minor character! I should be in the background, not some sort of stereotype. I scratch my unruly black hair, messing it up even more than before.
"I just want to go home already and play video games. . . ." I groaned, glancing up at the dimly lit light above the bus stop.
"Video games!?" A low but loud scruffy voice yelled from behind me. It came from a short, oversized man who wore a baggy brown jacket covered in pockets. He smiled, showing off several of his missing teeth. "I have a whole bunch of those!" He dug into one of his pockets, pulling out a blank video game container.
"Um. . . ." I responded with a blank stare. This guy is completely nuts, but what should I do? He'll probably mug me if I refuse and we're alone so no one would see him. "What game even is that? There's no picture let alone a description to tell me the genre."
"Fuu~" He smirked when he caught my attention. "This right here kid, is an unreleased visual novel from overseas! They normally ban this typa stuff, but I managed to get my hands on one!" He flaunted the blank video game, trying to get me interested. "And it could be yours for only—"
"Not interested." I quickly cut him off. I moved away from him, staring out into the dark street for the bus to arrive. Visual Novel from overseas? What a load of crap. I bet there's no game inside and is just trying to make a quick buck off a high schooler. He's gonna have to be more crafty than that.
"N-N-No! Please, sir! It is quite a special game! Nothing of its kind! H-Here, I'll give you a special discount. . ." He rambled, holding out the game towards me. "It was going to be 10,000 yen but since you're such a nice boy I'll drop it to 1,000 yen!"
10,000 yen for a video game? Just what drugs did this old geezer take this morning? I could barely afford dinner today, how would I eat tomorrow if I spent all my money now? He doesn't look like he'll give up though and I don't need him following me home.
"It's a Visual Novel, right?"
[2].
I slammed the creaky door of my rundown apartment with the so-called visual novel game in my hand. The only information I got out of that sleazy guy was that it was 'out of this world' — like that improved my expectations for this scam. I dropped my plastic bag that had my chicken-flavored ramen inside on the counter.
"Oh, what do you know. . . ."
I muttered as I opened the white disc container. There was something inside it! So not a total scam, but still quite sketchy. I sat on my rolling chair, preparing to boot up my PC. The disc looked fairly normal — I guess. It had some weird barcode and numbers inscribed around the edge but maybe that's what people overseas do? Honestly, I didn't think I would make it this far, I'll take what I can get! After I slid the disc into my computer, it began to shine brightly. It completely blinded me.
"Ugh! Wh-what the hell!?" I yelled, putting my arm up to block the bright rays. It was around nine but it felt like it was sunrise with how bright it was in my room. Suddenly my PC just shut off, leaving me in my dark but small bedroom. "Did I just cook my computer alive??" I pressed the power button several times but nothing. "No way, no way, no way! My computer!!" I wailed as I pressed every button on the keyboard, trying to revive the old thing.
That's what I get for shoving unknown things into my computer. It wasn't turning back on at all and it's pretty old as well. I don't think any sort of customer service would help me now. I pushed my chair back, heading towards my small kitchen where my noodles were waiting. As soon as I turned around, I could hear small beeping sounds coming from it.
A T B A
R Y E N
G P T G
U E A E
S - L
B H
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"A-Argus. . . . ?" I repeated looking at the bright green words appearing diagonally on my computer screen. Type-B? Beta?? It was all gibberish to me, but I couldn't even process it because the screen began to glow again, obscuring my vision. A bright light appeared through the screen, shaping into a human-like figure.
"Ahh~!!!" A loud thud as well as a feminine scream filled my bare room. I opened my eyes to see a cute girl in a skintight black and neon purple bodysuit on my wooden floor. Her entire midriff was exposed and her breasts were prominent. "Retrieve Mission Information." She touched a weird upside triangle tattoo on her forehead, like it was a communication device. A holographic screen was then displayed, coming directly from the tattoo! A loading screen appeared and stayed like that for a good minute.
[Retrieving «Mission Assignment» from God Shiva].
Within that time, I couldn't help but eye her. She was a cute girl with beautiful eyes and short pink hair. The way she was dressed didn't help keep my gaze off her either. I was just in awe that she just appeared right out of nowhere. She sat on her knees on the rough wooden floor, waiting for something to happen.
[. . . . . . . . . . «Cannot Retrieve Mission Assignment» . . . . . . . . . . . . .].
"Wh-who are you?"
Her bright orange-red eyes stared deep into my plain dark purple ones. I felt like I was in a dream — a girl just randomly dropped into my house through my computer. Even Ryuma wouldn't believe me! She took a moment before answering me. It was like she was analyzing me in some way.
[Undergoing Analyzation of «Unidentified Humanoid»].
The weird upside triangle on her forehead echoed as a bright white light scanned my entire apartment. Argus stood up, while her eyes had several different letters flash through them.
"You are a human. . . . ? Does this mean, I left Planet EiRian?" Argus asked me in a low voice like she was in shock. "I'm on Earth then."
Of course, the first girl that's ever acknowledged me without being rude is some alien. I must be dreaming.