Chapter 8 - Launch Day

Goichi's words kept replaying in Kazuya's head over and over again, as there was little to no reason to believe the young man was telling a lie. Everything about him seemed like he was telling the truth, and that was bothersome. Neji, on the other hand, tried his best to shove it off his mind, voluntarily not giving it any attention.

They had separated from each other after the conversation, and Kazuya headed back to the queue with Neji while the young man left. Kazuya remembered the final moment of their conversation with him—when he told them that he was going back home. When they asked him why he was leaving before the product was launched, he left them with these words:

"Well, you know I don't want the product." Besides, I can leave with peace of mind knowing that I have made two people aware of this, you know. "I know it's nothing compared to the thousands who will buy the product soon, but at least I am willing to believe that it would make the slightest difference."

The boy's sincerity was impeccable. There was nothing they could use against him to invalidate his testimony. The boy had justified his stance brilliantly, perhaps too brilliantly for it to be just a conspiracy against the prestigious company.

While Neji tried his best to brush everything Goichi told them under his psyche, Kazuya, on the other hand, pondered them critically, not being able to help it. Could this be what Erika was warning them about?

They got back to the queue, and thankfully, the person identified them as the ones right in front of them, so they could get back to their positions without struggling.

They got back to their sitting positions, flipping out their phones to play another round of an online game. Among the people, some were willing to play alongside them, and they all played together, and it was fun. They played for hours until their phone batteries gave up. 

The brief moment of fun they just had was enough to temporarily get Kazuya's mind off the potential problem he was coming to terms with, but now that the distraction was gone, he was back to feeling anxious about it. Neji had managed to get it off his mind, as he had determined that nobody was going to steal his joy on this great day. 

The remaining few hours went by in a flash due to Kazuya's continuous thinking on the subject of the game's potential problems. It was so obvious that Kazuya did not recognize when the sales were about to start. It was midnight when everyone stood up from their resting positions as several others came to secure their places in the queue. 

Neji violently tapped Kazuya's shoulder and said, "Hey, what are you doing?" "The sales are about to start, you know?" he whispered almost furiously. 

Kazuya got up to his feet, shaking his head like a person waking up from sleep. "Has it already started?" he asked while wiping his eyes. 

"What is up with you?" "Don't tell me you have been brooding over what the guy said, are you?" he asked, placing a hand on Kazuya's shoulder before calling his name again. 

"Look, man, you are acting like this is the first time a scandal or enemy testimony has been brought up against Crimson Industries before any anticipated release," he said to Kazuya. 

"But he seemed very genuine." "There is no explainable reason for believing that what he is saying is false or anything," replied Kazuya. 

"Well, actually, there is," Neji replied, causing Kazuya to frown in curiosity. 

"And what could that be?" he asked. 

"As I said, it is mostly right before a company is about to hit the jackpot that different testimonies, secrets, and scandals come to the limelight; it is nothing new." That's the way industries work; secrets and scandals are what make the headlines in the entertainment industry. "So what that guy said shouldn't come as a surprise to you," Neji replied to him. 

"Yes, but the question remains: was he honest or not?" asked Kazuya. 

"I'm sorry to break it to you, but even though he was honest, it would make no difference to me," Neji clarified. "All games are designed to be addictive; if they weren't, then the games industry wouldn't even be here in the first place." And even if he was honest, are you not mature enough to know when you are overusing something? Or when you are getting out of touch with reality? Do you not have people in this world you care about? people who can never be duplicated by a console or VR machine? If your answer to at least one of these questions is "yes," then what are you anxious for?"

Kazuya thought about it for a few seconds, "You know what, you are right... "Things are not supposed to easily swoon me like this; I came here because I wanted to buy the console, not because I care about what some amateur dude thinks about it," he replied with likeable defiance. 

"Good, that's the spirit!" Neji said, patting his friend's shoulder with a smile. 

A few minutes later, a large screen showing a countdown appeared. The people started counting down with it when there were about ten seconds left before the launch day, and once it was midnight, there was a loud cheer, and bright fireworks covered the sky as excitement filled the air. 

Some people brought forth guitars and began singing and rapping songs about the product they were about to buy. Others revealed their underlying t-shirts bearing the image of the "Scarlett Online" logo, while some removed the bandages they were wearing over their new tattoos showcasing the Crimson Industries logo. 

Some others cosplayed as their favorite characters, while some gave public dance performances wearing uniforms with the company's theme all over them. 

In several ways, many people showcased their passion for the company and its products and their excitement for the launch machine. 

The way they did it was so appalling to Neji and Kazuya, as they once thought that they were the most passionate people about this but got humbled by what they saw other people do out of love for the company's output. 

The queue started from within the company's walls and extended beyond the entire street where the building was located. The queue was so long that it caused a very high influx of traffic, and the police were having a hard time putting things in order because the last thing they wanted was to arrest people who just wanted to buy a product without breaking protocol on purpose. 

About a minute after midnight, the first sale was made, and the company's CEO was there to make the first sale and take a picture with the first customer. After that was done, several other sales were made, and less than an hour later, Neji and Kazuya got their machines, lifting them upon receiving them like it was a trophy won at a sports championship final. 

They came out from the other side of the building with their machines, being more than excited to take them home for a spin. The excitement each of them had for the machine was too much for the two of them to camp at one of their homes, so they each wanted to go their separate ways, each wanting to test out the machine alone. 

But they soon realized it would be safer for them to go together to one place, as it was just an hour past midnight and going alone in the dark streets could be unsafe for them, even in a familiar neighborhood. So they decided to crash at Kazuya's home. 

When they got to the gate of Kazuya's home, the boy called his mother, who came out quietly to open the door for them. 

When she opened the door, she looked angry, and Kazuya knew he might soon receive the lecture of his life. 

"But I told you I was going to return late, mom!" Kazuya replied quietly. 

"I was worried sick!" she insisted, "I thought something might have happened to you!" "I tried calling, but your phone was switched off!" 

Kazuya then remembered when he ran his phone out while playing video games in the queue. 

Kazuya understood her worry, so instead of debating, he stepped forward and gave a bow of respect, apologizing immediately without compromise. 

His mother sighed and then gave a slight smile, "When you go straight to the apology like that, you make it hard to get angry with you," she said before seeing Neji, "Well come on in, Neji."

She looked at the machines they both bought, and she knew what they were—at least to a great degree. So she stretched out her hands towards them; "Can I have them, please?" she asked. 

"Don't worry, we aren't going to use it now; we are going to sleep!" Kazuya replied. 

"Give them to me, boys." I know how excited you both have been about this, and the last thing I want is Kazuya waking up late tomorrow morning and being lazy with his weekend chores. I will give them back to you once you are done with your chores tomorrow and to Neji when he is ready to return home. "Now, can I have them?"

Kazuya sighed. "Fine, but I will hold you to that, Mom!" he said as they both handed their machines to her. 

"Now, you boys go get some sleep, okay?" "It's 2 a.m.," she said to them as she placed a hand on Neji's shoulder and kissed Kazuya's forehead. 

"Sleep tight," she said to them. 

"Yes, mom," Kazuya replied in a whining tone. They were both excited to test out the machine, but now they would have to wait till daybreak to do so, and it only deepened their excitement for it.