Upcoming competition tournament

In Tokyo, Japan, within a certain household, a slender 16-year-old youth was engrossed in playing 'Street Fighter II: The World Warrior' on his Super KiShin Entertainment System (SKES) in the family's living room.

His dexterous fingers danced across the controller, guiding his in-game character with impressive speed and precision. The relentless action unfolded on the screen.

Unexpectedly, a middle-aged man entered the living room. He glanced at the screen and sighed, "Junpei, you're wasting your time on video games again."

The 16-year-old, named Junpei, continued playing, seemingly unfazed by his father's presence.

The middle-aged man took a seat on the sofa, positioning himself beside Junpei. He turned to his son and urged, "Turn it off; I want to catch up on the news."

Junpei, torn between his game and his father's request, replied with a hint of frustration, "Just let me finish this round, Dad."

His father, now visibly irritated, retorted, "Are you seriously defying your own father?"

Having no other option, Junpei swiftly powered off the SKES and disconnected it from the TV. He changed the channel to the news, complying with his father's request.

The middle-aged man nodded in satisfaction and advised, "Good. You shouldn't spend all day playing pointless video games. Go outside and enjoy some fresh air."

Speechless, Junpei left the house and made his way to the local arcades. As he arrived, he noticed a crowd gathered around a poster.

Curious, Junpei approached the group, but the poster remained obscured by the people. He tapped the shoulder of a nearby individual and inquired, "What's going on here?"

The man Junpei approached frowned but still responded, "I heard that KiShin is organizing a 'Street Fighter II' competition!"

Junpei's eyes widened in surprise and excitement coursed through his veins. "Really?" he exclaimed.

The man, still puzzled by Junpei's reaction, furrowed his brows and asked, "What's got you so excited, man?"

Junpei simply shook his head and replied, "Nothing..."

As the crowd dispersed from around the poster, Junpei eagerly approached for a closer look. To his amazement, KiShin was indeed organizing a competition, not only for 'Street Fighter II: The World Warrior,' but also for 'Tetris,' featuring two-player matches, just like the 'Street Fighter II' competition. Moreover, they were extending their competitive spirit to games like 'Super Mario Bros.,' 'Super Mario World,' and 'The Legend of Zelda.' The top scorer in any of these video games had a chance to win a grand prize of 1 million yen, mirroring the rewards in other competitive video games. Given that some of the renowned old 8-bit video games had been remade and were now available in 16-bit, the competition was shaping up to be exciting.

Participants had the option to submit their scores to KiShin either manually by visiting a KiShin branch or electronically by connecting their SKES to the internet, thanks to KiShin's built-in ethernet capabilities. Scores submitted online would automatically appear on KiShin's leaderboard.

Alternatively, they could aim for high scores on the spot during the competition tournament at KiShin's location in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, or at various venues across Japan.

Junpei, with his proficiency in video games like Street Fighter, Tetris, and Super Mario Bros., felt a surge of excitement as he absorbed the details from the poster.

Seeing this opportunity, Junpei couldn't contain his excitement at the prospect of earning rewards for his gaming skills.

---

On another note, while construction of Pokémon Cafés and Restaurants was ongoing in various parts of Japan, it seemed like the projects wouldn't be completed anytime soon. Nevertheless, the Pokémon video game's popularity continued to soar.

In a recently established gaming hub run by a local entrepreneur, several people had already gathered, engrossed in their Gameboy consoles while playing Pokémon. Amid the friendly competition, one player suggested, "I really like your Pokémon! How about we trade?" as he held up a Gameboy Link Cable.

A player in his 20s scoffed at the proposal, replying, "You expect me to trade my prized Pokémon for a Caterpie? You're dreaming!"

The 30-year-old player, seemingly prepared for the rejection, countered, "What if I sweeten the deal with 20,000 yen in exchange? How does that sound?"

The man in his 20s snorted in response, stating, "You're dreaming! There's no way I'd trade my precious Jolteon for a mere 20,000 yen!" He proudly showcased his Pokémon, his head held high.

Suddenly, a 10-year-old boy, sporting a Pokémon cap, chimed in, "Hey, mister, you've got a cool Pokémon there!"

Perplexed, the two adults turned their attention to the young boy, who continued, "But it's quite a common Pokémon, you know. I've got two of those in my collection."

The revelation left the two adults and even some onlookers taken aback. The man in his 20s exclaimed, "No way!" He then turned to the 30-year-old man, who wore an equally surprised expression, and remarked, "That kid must be making it up..."

However, the young boy, sporting a furrowed brow, held up his Gameboy and confidently stated, "I'm not making it up. I've got two Jolteons, a Gengar, a Lapras, and a Snorlax in my collection."

Upon hearing the boy's words and witnessing his game collection on the screen of his Gameboy, the two adults and the bystanders were struck with amazement, collectively thinking, "It's real!"

Upon hearing the 30-year-old man's offer, he stepped closer to the boy and proposed, "Kid, if you're willing to part with all your Pokémon, I'll give you 30,000 yen."

Not to be outdone, the man in his 20s swiftly interjected, "Hold on, young man! I'll buy your entire Pokémon collection for 40,000 yen!"

The bystanders in the hub were left in shock, wondering if these adults were genuinely prepared to spend such money on Pokémon!

Meanwhile, the young boy simply glanced at the two men and calmly responded, "30,000 yen? 40,000 yen? It doesn't even match my allowance, so I think I'll pass..."

"What!?" the onlookers couldn't help but exclaim when they heard the 10-year-old's nonchalant reply.

Just as the two men were about to protest, a new figure approached the young boy. The man addressed him, "Taku, it's time to go. Your mother is waiting." The man was none other than Takuza Yamamoto, the current CEO of Nintengu, having taken over the position after his father's retirement.

The 30-year-old man turned to Takuza and inquired, "Is this your son?" while gesturing toward the 10-year-old boy.

Takuza, meeting the man's gaze, nodded and replied, "Yes, he is. Is there a problem?"

The 30-year-old man quickly shook his head, muttering, "No, no problem."

As the people watched, Takuza and his 10-year-old son entered a luxurious car parked outside the hub. It became evident to everyone that the boy came from a wealthy family.

The man in his 20s let out a sigh of pity, remarking, "What a missed opportunity..."

The 30-year-old man nodded in agreement, saying, "Indeed..."