3 Chapter 3 - Dimensional Group Chat

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Dimensional Group Chat

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Today is a good day.

"FUCKING RUN KANAME! DON'T LOOK BACK! JUST KEEP RUNNING!"

Oh? It seems I didn't finish my sentence.

Today is a good day to not die.

"Dio, I can't run anymore! Let's just hide!" Kaname yelled from behind me. Personally, I didn't think it was a good idea. Since the guy literally had his leg shot, I was confident I could outrun him, hiding will just give him time to catch up to us.

As I was about to retort, I turned around and saw that Kaname was already close to kissing the ground. I hurriedly held him by the shoulder and carried him. "Goddammit! Why did I even follow you!"

"You followed me!?"

"Of course you idiot! Did you really think I didn't actually see that snake coming out of your phone!?"

I can't really tell you that I followed you out of my own selfishness. Or that I was planning on asking you for the game too, just in case that snake is actually a magical snake that gives free powers.

"Shit...! Then... Haaa... Why did you lie...!?"

"Huff! Because... I don't want to be bullied again!"

"I-I can't... stop... talking..." Kaname said between panted breaths. He looked like he would collapse at any moment. Compared to me who was barely out of breath, I wondered which one of us was the real otaku.

This all felt surreal to me. I was just some normal everyday otaku pretending to be a normie, now I am getting chased by a killer mascot.

Some cop just got stab death.

And now I'm running the fuck away from the crime scene after tasering the killer.

"Hahaha...!"

Is this not an exciting plot or what?

"Why are you laughing!?" Kaname shouted beside my ear.

Grinning, I held him closer to me.

"Just cause! It's been a while since something interesting happened to me!"

"Ugh... You're strong right? Why can't you just carry me on your shoulder?"

"Hahahaha."

That's gay. I only carry beautiful girls. And also I don't want to be shot you asshole.

"Don't talk if you're out of breath. Just run!"

We ran through the back alleys, the open roads, even inside a thrift shop side by side. But the guy still managed to trace us. I began to suspect that he might actually have a tracker of sorts.

"Anyway, what did you do Kaname? Why is that guy so desperate to kill you?"

"I-I don't know. I overheard their conversation earlier. Someone must've paid him to kill me..."

"That sucks."

"...You're not gonna leave me are you?"

Kaname smiled nervously. Even though he said it in a joking tone, I could tell he was scared to the bones. If I leave him here I would probably see him in the news tomorrow, gutted like a fish on a sidewalk.

"Don't worry bro. What are friends for?"

"Dio...!"

Light returned in his eyes, his steps became faster and faster. Soon, we reached a four-story parking garage. We immediately took shelter on the third floor and sat on a pillar to catch our breaths.

"So? What the hell was that?" I asked.

"I-I don't know... I was just playing a game when all of a sudden...!"

As if remembering something, Kaname pulled out his phone and opened an app. As if it was waiting for it, the cell phone made a ding sound and a message appeared on top of the screen. Kaname pressed it and the phone switched to the inbox.

●info@darwin'sgame.com

♦News from the management of Darwin's Game♦

"From the management of Darwin's Game...?"

"Read it. It might give us a clue why that mascot guy is trying to kill you."

Oh ho ho, it seems this game is really magical. I could only read the inbox message because it was part of Kaname's cell phone feature, but once he pressed the message, it immediately went black.

"Can you read it like that?"

"What do you mean? I can read it just fine."

"Hm, it's just that... I can't read it."

Kaname tiltled his head.

"You can't? But it's right here though?"

"It's pitch black to me. It looks like you're just staring at a black screen."

"Ah... that is weird."

Kaname nodded his head before staring at his cell phone again.

I frowned.

"Aren't you gonna read it to me?"

I saved you, you shit head, at least be grateful and give me some information.

"Ah... ah! My bad, I'm sorry, here I'll read it out loud."

Kaname cleared his throat before speaking.

"I received a message from shuka. She said 'Do you need my help? SudoKaname-kun'..."

"Shuka? Do you know her?"

"I don't know either... what should I do?"

Naturally, you ask for help when you are offered. A guy in a fucking mascot is chasing us with a gun and a knife— no wait why didn't this idiot pick up the gun in the first place!?

Hooh... calm down. I'm a normie now. Normie place, go to your normie place, Dio...

"Let's ask her help for now. Let's see if she can really get us out of this situation."

"Okay, I'm typing 'Help me! I'm hiding because a weird guy in a costume attacked me!' and send."

"Eh, why would you send that."

"What? What's wrong with it?"

"I mean, isn't she a girl? You sound so desperate that even a guy like me wouldn't want to hang out with you."

"What? But some guy is really trying to kill us!"

"Calm down man, it's just a guy trying to kill us. There's no need to act uncool like that. Plus I think she already knew that."

"Then, what should I send?"

"Just ask for information or something. Girls like smart guys."

"Do you have a girlfriend, Dio?"

"Do you want to die? Kaname?"

I raised my fists and threatened him with a smile.

"Haha, I'm just joking dude. I also don't have a girlfriend."

I didn't ask you, you normie.

"I typed, 'Do you know anything?' is that okay?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

Not even a second later, a reply came.

"Oh! She said, 'You won't win if you hide, you know? He can find you by using the search feature..."

Shit.

"He's here."

I lowered my head and stared at the limping mascot, surveying the surroundings while holding his phone. He kept glancing at the surrounding buildings and staring at his phone. I wonder why he's so confident. Some concerned citizens could have called the police by now, but I don't see any sign of them.

Maybe it's because of the game?

Darwin's Game.

From what I could guess, it's the type of game that makes players kill each other. A game like that should at least be known by the authorities. So how can Kaname get his hands on it...? Maybe the government is just incompetent? Or maybe... the government is the one who made the game?

But if they did, that wouldn't explain the powers.

I'll have to cross the secret government for now and prioritize aliens and gods.

If it's aliens, then I could at least believe it. But if it's gods... if it is the gods that made the game, then I will believe in religion from now on.

I am a very flexible normie after all.

While I was busy thinking of conspiracy theories, the mascot who I recognize as Banda-kun turned his head in our direction. It seems he really has something to track us. I glanced at Kaname and pondered what I should do from now.

Should I throw Kaname? No, maybe just his phone.

But if I do that, then I would give up my chance of getting superpowers...

Maybe Shuka can help? After all, she did say she could help us.

"Kaname what the hell are you staring around for!? Ask her for help!"

"R-right! Okay! 'He knows where I am! What do I do!?"

"Fucking shit! That's the dumbest way you could possibly ask someone what to do!"

"Shit, then why don't you try!?"

"Ask about his invisibility!"

"O-okay, okay! She said 'That must be his sigil. You really don't know anything, huh? lol'..."

"What's a sigil?"

"I don't know!"

You useless fuck.

"You—"

I held my tongue.

You're slipping Dio. You are a normie. Always remember, a normie a day keeps the bullying away.

"Look Kaname. It's simple really. Before you play a game, what do you do?"

Kaname's eyes widen. Finally, after wasting our time for who knows how long, he finally started using his brain. He fiddled with his phone before he shouted.

"It's here! My sigil!"

"Good. Now, all we have to do is use that and escape..."

"..."

"You do know how to use it, right?"

"..."

"You know how to use it, right?"

Don't tell me...

"A...Ahaha..."

"Don't laugh you retard. Just read it properly."

"I can't. It just says [Hinokagutsuchi], it doesn't explain what it does..."

Should I just throw him after all?

"Look... do you have any weapons?"

"No. But you have a taser."

"Are you an idiot? Do you think I'd approach someone with a gun?"

I suddenly remembered that we had a crazy killer on the loose. I glanced back to see where he is—

!!!

Only for our eyes to stare at each other.

"Hm. Kaname... do you want to live?"

"Of course! Do you have a plan?"

"Good. I'll explain this to you clearly."

I pointed at the mascot who was slowly limping his way into our building.

"You see that guy?"

"Yeah... I don't know where you're going with this..."

"He can go invisible right?"

Kaname nodded his head.

"Now... what can you do?"

"What?"

"Exactly. You don't know. If we want to win against him, then we need something up our sleeves."

I grinned faintly.

"So, here is my proposal... pass me the game."

"What!? Are you insane? I can't get you involved in this!"

Kaname yelled fiercely. As if feeling indignant that I have to sacrifice myself for him. Only someone with a normie mindset could truly think of that. He didn't even doubt whether I had any other intentions.

I'm jealous.

"Don't worry Kaname. You know what I am right?"

He furrowed his brows.

"An Otaku?"

"No—, okay. Yeah, I'm an otaku. I like watching anime. Therefore when it comes to superpowers, I am what you could say, an expert."

I pointed at Kaname's cell phone.

"Pass me the game so I can also play. Since this shuka person said that the mascot guy is using his sigil, that means every player has their own sigil."

"Ah! You want me to invite you so you can also have your own sigil?"

No, you bastard. I want to have it so I can help you.

That's why I followed you here, even if I have to get reprimanded for cutting class. Even if I have to stop a crazy killer, take a bullet for you, and maybe even kill myself for you...

It was all to help you.

Like I would do that, you dumb shithead.

"Who knows? Maybe I could get lucky and get a power to get us out of here."

He nodded.

Kaname was about to pass the game to me but in the end, he bit his lips.

"Are you sure?"

Look at this guy.

Some weirdo wearing a mascot suit wants to gut you. The stab and tear your stomach open kind. Your kind friend Dio here wants to help you. So why are you still hesitating?

Truly, I am very jealous of you normies.

"Yes."

Eventually, he nodded his head. He closed his eyes and pressed the 'Send' button on his screen.

DIng~!

An excited smile appeared on my face. I hurriedly took the phone in my pocket and placed it over my face.

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From: Kaname

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You were invited by player [SudoKaname]-san to play Darwin's Game!! Join him and play Darwin's Game together!

✭Darwin's Game is completely free✭

Try it right now ->

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"Hehehe..."

"You're making a scary face right now, Dio."

"Oh, shut up."

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Hello there everyone.

As you all know, this is a family friendly fanfic.

Therefore, I would appreciate your help.

(Please suggest some characters for the group chat. As many as you can.)

Some characters are already in the group chat for the first arc.

(Please suggest some worlds to use for missions.)

This fanfic was just for fun at first, so I didn't plan anything.

The voting ends on Monday.