Chapter 7

"... It was supposed to be your sister here..."

"What...?"

"Like I said..."

"I HEARD THAT! I MEAN... I was brought here by mistake?!" I gasped, reeling from the sudden bomb as he scratched his head awkwardly after such a revelation.

"Well, you're twins so..."

"So it doesn't matter? If you even try to say that line I'll beat you up despite that handsome face... you know what— change back right this instance, I think I can handle killing one cockroach at this moment." I cracked my knuckles as he backed away slowly.

"Hieek— spare me! I didn't even realise there was a problem!"

"So in the end— it really was your fault!" I glared at him menacingly as he cowered despite me being several heads shorter than him in this body.

"No, no! I mean... I would have looked over the person after they are near completion of the chapter. But you've done exceedingly well in such a brief period of time. And some options you chose were not even supposed to occur."

"So you're saying it's a glitch now?" I kicked his shin in anger as he groaned and dropped to his knee to rub his shin while shaking his head.

"N-no... If the story still progressed, it's likely due to the fact that it was a hidden option so it's all good."

"If it's hidden... is there an option somewhere in the system where I can forgo this option boxes?" I glanced at the two options hovering in front of Strawberry as he shook his head and sighed.

"There is but... the price is quite hefty. And are you certain you could handle the characters without the safety net of the options? Even I don't know what would happen if your choices guide them to different endings than the ones they are meant to achieve."

"You make it sound like a terrible idea..."

"But it is! They become unpredictable and we can't calculate how safe it may be to interact with them if you were to select such option. No one has ever chosen such an option before!"

"But wouldn't they feel more... 'alive'? I think I'd be able to get to know them better that way and... who knows? Finish this game faster?"

"Faster... this isn't a grinding game?"

"I know, but everything that has led to this moment was because of my sister... I feel like getting back at her... plus... I want to go home... human interaction is so tiring. .... And in a way aren't I grinding the ads for coins?" I sighed the last part as an afterthought as he stares at me in silence.

"Well, if you want to know the price for the removal of the option boxes, it's—"

***

"You lost track of time because of playing with Blueberry?" Strawberry frowns as he looked to be on the verge of tears.

"I'm sorry. It must have been hard covering for us." I rubbed his arms reassuringly as he sniffles but says nothing.

"... How do I make it up to you?" I tilted his chin upwards to get a look at his face before he stopped crying and stares back at me with his beautiful eyes that sparkled with curiousity while his cheeks gradually flushed pink.

"Anything goes...?" he shyly asks as I nodded my head fervently.

"Then—"

***

Night fell and soon everyone was tucked in bed. Aside from me that is.

I folded my arms behind my pillow, pushing it up against my cheek as I stared at the ceiling. The price of the removal of option boxes which I want to just label as 'freedom of speech' was...

RIDICULOUSLY HIGH! How many bloody ads would it take?! Is he seriousssss?! No wonder nobody tried that route! Might as well use all the coins from the ads for options already available!

Though...

"Hidden routes... that sounds tempting..." I grinned to myself as the gamer spirit ignited within me.

Even my sister can't be as great at games as me. She takes too long to complete her runs because of that perfection she strives for. What she's missing is passion and the need to know the right ending after hours of repeating the story just to find the perfect solution that leads to that ending.

She's a completionist that takes so long to complete the story since she wants to hit all the right choices and resets with just the slightest mistake but there are times where speedruns are better and oh so much more efficient. What are they if not an option to finish early and get started on a different route and such.

Either way... I want to be the first to reach the ending with the hidden routes.

I opened the watch ads button that somehow always lingered nearby. I clicked the play now and watched the ads as I focused on trying to hit at least two hours of the ads a day so that it could accumulate my coins for the day.

As I yawned at the Xth number of ad I watched, I glanced at the stopwatch Mr C, my system gave me to keep track of time while the time is stopped. A pretty weird nickname but I don't want to question it because I'm certain it is a short form for the C from cockroach. And I don't need to hear that from him either.

Apparently, there will be a time skip after I accumulate enough affection points from the two of the male leads. So I need to account that as well. I have the option to not partake the time skip as well so if I were to accumulate coins while watching them daily...

I don't think it'll be enough either... 1 coin for 20 seconds of ads... With the addition of 200 coins per ad on a new day... Gah! I can't maths right now! It's been two hours of the same ads! I'm going to sleep!

I drew the covers over my head, deciding to get some shut eye as I finally drifted off to sleep. Let the worries of tomorrow plague me then...

***

"Lucien~ let's go!" Strawberry shook my tired body as I groaned and sat up in bed groggy as heck.

"What time is it...? Nngh... ... zzzzz" I gradually nodded off as I hugged my pillow before Strawberry tugged the blanket off my lap, forcing me to pry my eyes open as I glanced around the room in a panic.

"You told me this was the best time for this." Strawberry frowns as I sat up and shook my head to stay focused.

"I did say that... Let me get up first... Huaaa~!" I yawned, stretching my limbs as I glanced out the window at the first crack of light.

Wha— it was just a joke but he seriously... nevermind... I'm just a little sleepy so moving around should wake me up.

In the end, I got dressed and refreshed myself before Strawberry tugs my hand to follow after him enthusiastically. Most of the other children were still fast asleep so I tiptoed after Strawberry as we "snuck out".

***

"I didn't know about this place..." I glanced around us as Strawberry dropped the blanket he insisted on bringing somewhere beneath a tree and shook it open as a replacement for a picnic mat.

I helped him smoothen out the corners as he signals me to drop the basket he had handed me to carry earlier. I placed the basket in the middle of the sheets, taking off my shoes as we got on top.

"It feels like a date." Strawberry giggles as I agreed without thinking too much about it.

In the end, this was ultimately a romance game. So I guess most things we do would lead to something romantic. Though as kids it's probably just going to be a nice memory.

"Here... After you agreed to follow me out I made this with sister yesterday. I made sure to check there wasn't any eggshells inside." Strawberry handed me a cookie with a jam filling as I smiled and opened my mouth while he fed me.

It's... Salty! Did he focus too much on the eggshells that he made a mistake somewhere else instead?

"How is it?" Strawberry smiles expectantly at me for my reply as I gazed into his sparkling eyes.

Should I mention it or not... what to do....

"It... it's... good..." I smiled after a pause as he beamed.

"Really? I'm so glad! I took your advice! I also prepared chocolate milk! Here, let's take them together." Strawberry handed me a cup as he grabbed the flask.

I felt a streak of cold sweat run down my back as I pondered whether to tell him the cookies were too salty. But usually chocolate milk was sweet so it should balance it out...

— or not! Why is the drink salty as well?!

I nearly spat out the drink as it was too salty to even swallow. Top it up with the salty cookies...

I took a glimpse at Strawberry as he was about to take a sip from his cup. I paled and debated my options before suddenly jumping up and causing the flask and its contents to spill onto the sheets. The cookies got a little soaked but since he made only a few batches I believe I could handle it.

"The milk—" Strawberry seemed visibly upset as I immediately acted like I got burnt by it's heat when his attention immediately shifted to my condition.

"I-Is it that hot? Take your clothes off! Let's head over to the nearby river!" Strawberry paled as he grabbed my hand and rushed towards the river, dragging me with him as I felt a little guilty for tricking him.