9 EXTRA: My Rival

My name is Kiro Takume, and I live in the same neighborhood with my childhood friend Hitoshi. We grew up at the same place and pretty much became close. At about age 7, Hitoshi and I raced at a school event but he was faster than me. Always has been. He was always better than me, he was smarter, he was faster, he was better at playing Serpents and Stairs! But even if he was, I still consider him my friend. At about at age 12 I confessed to a girl I liked but she rejected me. Hitoshi then found out and talked to me about it, every time I was sad he always cheered me up. He was so nice to me and to others as well. One time we were at an arcade in a local mall, I was trying to get this plushie of a character in my favourite show I think, but I blew all my tokens. Hitoshi then used only one and got a stuff toy, but it was a pink teddy bear and I laughed so hard when it was an epic fail. I told him to ask a to switch it but he already gave it to some girl or boy who was also looking at the crane machine. I couldn't remember the details that much. There was also this one time where I got grounded because I keep using all my savings in playing Mega Fighters. It was an old fighting game in the arcade at the local mall, my favourite character was this blonde guy who looked like movie star. His name was Allan and I adored him. I remember it clearly...

"Yo Hitoshi let's play a round?"

"Sure thing! I'll beat your Allan with my Kragnus hehe."

Again, he was always better than me, at everything. But I still considered him as my friend until we started middle school. Our rivalry grew bigger, he was now better than me at popularity in our class too. That's when I started the bullying. He always ignored even if it was literally putting his bag outside, in the rain. He never cared and always said...

"I'm used to it."

But everyone has their own breaking point. I wrote a letter and sent it to a girl but I used Hitoshi's name instead. She took the bait and I saw her waiting at the gate and Hitoshi ignored her. The next day rumours spread like wildfire and the girl didn't come to class. Hitoshi came inside the room and a barrage of crumpled paper went to him, he was shocked. At first he was confused then he walked towards me and for the first time, he broke.

"Look Kiro, what the hell have you done? What do I have to do with a letter? Is this even my hand writing?! I didn't know why I ever considered you as my friend!"

I went to far...

After a few months since the letter incident, Hitoshi's family moved away. I never saw him again, but when I knew I won, I still lost. But our rivalry never ended despite him being far away. Summer came and Hitoshi just got his own PC and started playing online games. I went to an internet cafe and played as well. Whatever game he played, I also played it. He never realized until later on but I was always competing against him. He always posts on an online game forum on what game he's playing and that's where I find my information.

[2 Months before Elementos: Online]

Friends List:

1/3 Online

•hitoshi_8 Is Online « Send Message

•juyikun Is Offline « Send Message

•xXhir0Xx Is Offline « Send Message

killerkiro: oi lets battle

hitoshi_8: u again?

killerkiro: and? does it natter?

killerkiro: matter*

hitoshi_8: stop playing the same game i'm playing kiro, it's weird

killerkiro: i wont stop until i beat u fair abd square

killerkiro: and*

hitoshi_8: your wasting your money on playing at an internet cafe. this game is literally a building game, theres nothing to compete here!

killerkiro: you're*

hitoshi_8: oh shut up just stop this rival nonsense already

-hitoshi_8 Is Now Offline-

I was always challenging him in everything he does. I won't give up until I finally beat him.

[1 week after Elementos: Online released]

I saved up some birthday money for over 4 years to buy a gaming laptop. I bought one to play the popular game Elementos: Online, Hitoshi posted at the online forum again that he'll try the game out. This is my chance, I'll use the rest of my money to purchase in-game items to beat him on a 1v1 duel. Let's make a new account. Name....k-i-l-l-e-- wait no... He might find out. Hmmm, aha!

"New Account, Username: 4llan, Continue?"

"Yes!"

"New Account created, Welcome to Elementos: Online."

This game is actually sick! Graphics and everything, let's check out the shop to buy some in-game crap. Oh wait I need to check what Hitoshi's username is.

Let's look at the Find Player option, hitoshi_8. Yep it's him. Add friend. Let's wait until he accepts it, in the mean time I'm going to buy the new player package deal.

[3 days before summoning]

Hahaha! I'm at the top leaderboards again. Hitoshi must've seen me, oh he chatted me?

hit0shi_8: nice job again allan, wanna party up?

Hmm, why would I do that? It's been a month now, let's try to challenge him on a 1v1 duel. He's low level, what the hell? What is that playstyle, a tank build but with magic skills? He'll be easy to defeat hahaha!

4llan: let's duel forst

4llan: first*

hit0shi_8: k

hit0shi_8 is requesting a Battle Arena Duel

Accept Duel Invite?

›Yes No

Oh Hitoshi, how I waited for this moment. No bets for now, I just want to see your reaction when I beat you. The match has now begun! Hahahaha! What the? I just pressed E and my skill one shotted him? Now what, what will he say? Is he frustrated?

hit0shi_8: amazing skill allan wow i had no chance against u. lets party up

Oh right, he doesn't know it's me. Tch, it won't matter because I already won. Once I reach top 1 again I'll tell him that it was me, KIRO!

[D-Day]

I had a dream, it was the same dream as always. We were back at our old neighborhood, I was alone. It's that damn Hitoshi again. I already won! Why do I keep on seeing you!

"You never won something in the first place, in the end you still lost. A friend is more important than some rivalry..."

WHAT THE? Huh? I fell asleep from playing, gah I got drool on my keyboard! Hm? A notification? From the Grandmaster? Who the hell is tha-- What the... I-I'm being sucked into m-my laptop! WHAT....IS....GOING.....OOOOOOON?!

Suddenly, old memories started to fill my mind while I float along the endless void.

I already forgot about this memory why remember now? Why...Why? Wh--

"Kiro-kun! Let's go already, we'll be late at the grand opening of the arcade!" Hitoshi said as he ran inside the mall.

"Now now Hitoshi, wait for your mother! Good grief. Kiro, go ahead and take these coins. Enjoy yourselves today, I'll be having some coffee with Hitoshi's mother today. Behave." Mom said as she handed me some coins.

We entered the mall and saw a bunch of kids lining up at the new arcade. It was cool! It had so many games and prizes! Oh look! A crane game and it even has a plushie from my favourite show! Mighty Mighty M--!

"Mighty Mighty Man! Let's go Kuro! Let's get you that plushie." Hitoshi said as he sprinted towards the machine.

A bunch of kids were circling around it taking turns, and nobody got a prize yet. It was finally my turn and I grabbed on the plushie's body but it still fell. I was so close! This is fun, I'll get it this time for sure!

[Author Note: These kids were already addicted to gambling. Arcades are lowkey casinos in my opinion…]

SO CLOSE! Let's go, 9th time's the charm! One more coin should do i--

"Huh? I'm out? Oh no... Hitoshi, I'm out of coins." I said as I looked at my pockets.

"Don't worry I'll get it for you. Watch this! My mom only gave me one coin and I'll use this to get you that plushie!" Hitoshi said as he inserted the coin into the slot.

"Pfft! The crane is rigged, you'll never get i--"

"Oh what? A pink teddy bear? Aww man, sorry Kiro I grabbed the wrong one." Hitoshi said as he scratched his head.

I laughed so hard that day. He was so confident on getting that plushie but in the end he got the wrong one.

"SEE? Hahahaha! *sigh* Let's just ask some staff for swapping it out. I'm sure that's allowed." I said as I wiped the tears out of my eyes.

"Here have this. You were looking at this game for a while now I kinda guessed you didn't have any coins to play." Hitoshi said as he smiled and gave the bear to some kid.

"OI! Why? We could've exchanged it for the plushie." I said.

"Oh? Sorry but, that's not allowed. I just asked while you were busy laughing. I thought I'll give it to someone else instead since it's a girl's toy anyway."

"Not allowed? Oh..."

"Anyways, let's go back to our moms now! Maybe they'll get us some donuts hehe! Come now Kiro."

"Okay!"

Why do I remember this memory now. And swapping prizes is not allowed? Dang it. But the memory seems too random, why did I remember it while being dragged into my laptop. What does this have to do with the situation? Is Hitoshi also summoned here? Oh, there's another memory... it's from the arcade again, oh it's me playing my favourite game. Wait a minute... who is that with Hitoshi?

The memory is really blurry, but why do I remember them while being dragged into my laptop?

"Who is that?" I said as I walked towards Hitoshi.

"H-Hitoshi? Who is that man you're talking to?"

"Hm? Oh it's you Kiro. This is my dad, we were visiting the arcade today. Oh since you're here, dad may I play Mega Fighters with Kiro? Pleaaaassseee?" Hitoshi asked.

"Sure, but one game only. Your mother is waiting at the grocery corner. We'll stop by once the groceries are packed up." Hitoshi's dad said as he gave him a coin.

I rarely see his dad because he never goes with us. But Hitoshi does resemble his father a lot.

"Alright, your Allan against my Kragnus. Good luck!" He said as he inserted the coin.

The game started and before I could come near him, he already did a combo. As expected, he was good at his main. But little does he know that my Allan has a hidden trick! BEHOLD! UP-UP-DOWN-LEFT-UP-KICK!

"Woah! It's the Atomic Allan Bomb. Heh, missed." He said as he side steppes my skill.

He then KO'ed me and the game ended. Darn it, he was always so better than me.

"Good game Kiro, well I gotta go now. See you at school tomorrow!" He said as he waved goodbye.

Even if I consider him as my rival, he is still my c̷̣̥͂̔̕l̷͍͎̉̓̚͠ỏ̷̺͑͂ s̶̠̝͚̾é̵̱͑̑͑ ̴̛̹̜̟̖͑̍f̷̩͈̞̆̀̾̇ r̴͉͍͌̔͜ì̴̦̲͚͑̏͝e̸̼̦̦̮̋͆̀̏ ṇ̷̯͑̀̍̔ d̵͉̻̣͛̔͜͝͝...

AGHH!

My head hurts. Where am I? Is this... Runrark's Castle? Am I in the game? What...the...HELL!? Earlier, was that a dream? A me...mory? Why does it feel so weird?

[Present]

"Allan-sama, you seem down today. Is there anything wrong?"

"Huh? Oh party member 2, no nothing's wrong let's just go back to the town now. My head hurts a little."

Hitoshi, whatever the challenge is, I'll defeat you once and for all. Because you are my...

f̷̩̆̀̾̇… r̴͌̔…•ì̴̦͑̏͝``….e̸̼̦̋͆̀̏.… ṇ̷͑̀̍̔ ..d̵͛.... my rival. My childhood rival.