Sept 15, 2024 1:30:56 GMT
Post by Kozue Yoshi on Sept 15, 2024 1:30:56 GMT
[attr="class","header"]The Champ
[attr="class","body"]In the bustling streets of Shibuya, a small commotion could be heard coming from inside from one of the many arcades in the ward. On an off street, just a bit south from Shibuya Crossing, sat a small arcade hosting a number of old school arcade games, with most only costing a hundred yen coin. The arcade was small, and mostly run down. Usually, the place was pretty quiet, hosting only a few regulars and high school kids who thought it was a fun place to smoke cigarette. But today a small crowd had begun to form, a tight knit group of people of maybe twenty bodies, all packed in the small arcade, with various people spilling out in the street. Voices spoke within the crowd, talking excitedly toward the event they were currently watching. "That's the thirtieth win in a row right?" One university aged man said, lit cigarette in his mouth. One of his friends who stood in front of him, with a better angle at the screen they were all trying to view spoke up. "I think it's only twenty nine. There was that kid who walked off halfway through the first round. That didn't count as a win.""Either way, that guy has some serious skills. Is he a pro or something?""Nah, he's just some guy."
The woman who had just lost, stood up sighing, stepping out of the way of the blonde high schooler who stepped forward to take her seat. The woman opened her purse, pulling out a 1,000 yen bill she handed to a cleft chin man who seemed to be running this little event. Before the group sat an old school fighting arcade game, complete with a joystick and six red buttons. The high schooler dropped a 100 yen coin into the slot, as the game's intro music began to play. Sitting adjacent from the new player sat a young man in a red and black jacket, sitting slumped in his seat. A look of boredom was slapped across his face. A man with the cleft chin placed a gentle hand on the kid's back, giving words of encouragement to the new player. "You know the rules. beat the champ for the jackpot." The man stepped back, with a sly grin on his face, as the game started.
As the game began, the red jacket player wasted no time, quickly catching the new player in a combo. This, was Kozue Yoshi who at this point was wondering what he was still doing here. Ever since he had moved to Tokyo, this little arcade had become one of his favorite hangout spots. It had cheap games, was usually pretty quiet, and had a number of pretty rare fighting games. A hidden gem where he could hang out for pretty cheap. The current game he was playing, Phantom Impact had probably become one of Kozue's favorite. The gameplay and characters were pretty fun, and when playing with someone else, the winner didn't have to pay to play another round, if they chose to play again within a minute or so after winning. So with the potential for unlimited replays, it had become on of Kozue's go to choices. And he had gotten pretty good at it. Something that another arcade regular had noticed.
Osamu Kusakabe was a local university student who often bummed around the arcade. Kozue had hung out with Osamu mostly by happenstance. The two would just happen tp run into other at the arcade, play some rounds, and then get some food or see a movie or something, usually on Osamu's dime. While Kozue considered him a friend, it was in very broad terms. The two hadn't even exchanged contact information. Today had been a similar situation, except this time, Osamu was hanging out with a good deal of his friends from university. Kozue was introduced to them by Osamu as "the guy" and the next thing Kozue knew, he was a part of this weird money making scheme.
The match flew by, with the new player being very much an amateur. That had been the norm unfortunately. The game was a bit niche, with a number of odd movement mechanics that gave the game a steep learning curve. There had been a few regulars who played a few rounds, along with a couple of Osamu's bodies, and those games were a bit more fun. But Osamu's friends who were looking to make part of the profits, would play a good game, only to throw near the end, to keep the win streak alive. The bigger it was, the more hype it built up. This whole scheme had been pitched for him playing a bunch of free games, which sounded fun. But honestly, this felt more like bullying newbies which wasn't something Kozue was a fan of. Plus, the growing crowd had left Kozue feeling uneasy.
As the second round game to a close, Kozue's screen flashed the YOU WIN! graphic. Kozue gave an exasperated sigh, before standing up and stepping back from the arcade machine. Osamu who was happily collecting another 1,000 yen bill, turned in surprise as Kozue's sudden movement. "Hey where ya going? Gotta take a leak?" Osamu asked, slipping the note in his pocket. "Nah man. I'm just gonna head home." Kozue gave a shrug, pulling his duffel bag off the ground, and slumping it over his shoulder. Osamu, now looking a bit nervous, sidestepped and slung an arm over Kozue's shoulder, before leaning in close. "Hey man. We got a good thing going here. If you're getting cold feet, I can cut ya a piece of the profits. Huh? How about that?" Osamu shot Kozue a wink, with a sly smirk on his face. Kozue felt a pang of dread in the pit of his stomach. Kozue pushed Osamu away, before taking a another step toward the crowded exit. "Nah, I got shit to do." Osamu's cocky grin fade, as Kozue turned away from him.
"What? Scared you're gonna lose in front of everyone? Is the little baby running home to his mama?"
As Osamu's words echoed out, Kozue snapped back around, shooting a fierce glare toward Osamu. "Watch what the FUCK you say Osamu. And keep her out your mouth." A thud followed Kozue's words, as his duffel fell to the ground, the strap Kozue had been holding it, having now been burn through. Kozue's left sleeve had caught flame, quickly burning up to reveal Kozue's bare arm, now glowing red and radiating heat. His hand was tightly clenched in a fist, a direct threat toward the now stunned Osamu. A tense silence fell over the crowd. A pervasive nervousness, that left Kozue feeling a bit awkward. The color and heat quickly faded, as Kozue quickly snagged his bag, with a quieter, "I'm out of here man." before squeezing himself out the exit, and onto the street, where he quickly began to walk away. As he did, he heard the quiet whispers, of people talking, probably talking shit about him.
[newclass=.body]width:500px;margin:auto;text-align:justify;font-family:Copperplate;font-size:12px;[/newclass]The woman who had just lost, stood up sighing, stepping out of the way of the blonde high schooler who stepped forward to take her seat. The woman opened her purse, pulling out a 1,000 yen bill she handed to a cleft chin man who seemed to be running this little event. Before the group sat an old school fighting arcade game, complete with a joystick and six red buttons. The high schooler dropped a 100 yen coin into the slot, as the game's intro music began to play. Sitting adjacent from the new player sat a young man in a red and black jacket, sitting slumped in his seat. A look of boredom was slapped across his face. A man with the cleft chin placed a gentle hand on the kid's back, giving words of encouragement to the new player. "You know the rules. beat the champ for the jackpot." The man stepped back, with a sly grin on his face, as the game started.
As the game began, the red jacket player wasted no time, quickly catching the new player in a combo. This, was Kozue Yoshi who at this point was wondering what he was still doing here. Ever since he had moved to Tokyo, this little arcade had become one of his favorite hangout spots. It had cheap games, was usually pretty quiet, and had a number of pretty rare fighting games. A hidden gem where he could hang out for pretty cheap. The current game he was playing, Phantom Impact had probably become one of Kozue's favorite. The gameplay and characters were pretty fun, and when playing with someone else, the winner didn't have to pay to play another round, if they chose to play again within a minute or so after winning. So with the potential for unlimited replays, it had become on of Kozue's go to choices. And he had gotten pretty good at it. Something that another arcade regular had noticed.
Osamu Kusakabe was a local university student who often bummed around the arcade. Kozue had hung out with Osamu mostly by happenstance. The two would just happen tp run into other at the arcade, play some rounds, and then get some food or see a movie or something, usually on Osamu's dime. While Kozue considered him a friend, it was in very broad terms. The two hadn't even exchanged contact information. Today had been a similar situation, except this time, Osamu was hanging out with a good deal of his friends from university. Kozue was introduced to them by Osamu as "the guy" and the next thing Kozue knew, he was a part of this weird money making scheme.
The match flew by, with the new player being very much an amateur. That had been the norm unfortunately. The game was a bit niche, with a number of odd movement mechanics that gave the game a steep learning curve. There had been a few regulars who played a few rounds, along with a couple of Osamu's bodies, and those games were a bit more fun. But Osamu's friends who were looking to make part of the profits, would play a good game, only to throw near the end, to keep the win streak alive. The bigger it was, the more hype it built up. This whole scheme had been pitched for him playing a bunch of free games, which sounded fun. But honestly, this felt more like bullying newbies which wasn't something Kozue was a fan of. Plus, the growing crowd had left Kozue feeling uneasy.
As the second round game to a close, Kozue's screen flashed the YOU WIN! graphic. Kozue gave an exasperated sigh, before standing up and stepping back from the arcade machine. Osamu who was happily collecting another 1,000 yen bill, turned in surprise as Kozue's sudden movement. "Hey where ya going? Gotta take a leak?" Osamu asked, slipping the note in his pocket. "Nah man. I'm just gonna head home." Kozue gave a shrug, pulling his duffel bag off the ground, and slumping it over his shoulder. Osamu, now looking a bit nervous, sidestepped and slung an arm over Kozue's shoulder, before leaning in close. "Hey man. We got a good thing going here. If you're getting cold feet, I can cut ya a piece of the profits. Huh? How about that?" Osamu shot Kozue a wink, with a sly smirk on his face. Kozue felt a pang of dread in the pit of his stomach. Kozue pushed Osamu away, before taking a another step toward the crowded exit. "Nah, I got shit to do." Osamu's cocky grin fade, as Kozue turned away from him.
"What? Scared you're gonna lose in front of everyone? Is the little baby running home to his mama?"
As Osamu's words echoed out, Kozue snapped back around, shooting a fierce glare toward Osamu. "Watch what the FUCK you say Osamu. And keep her out your mouth." A thud followed Kozue's words, as his duffel fell to the ground, the strap Kozue had been holding it, having now been burn through. Kozue's left sleeve had caught flame, quickly burning up to reveal Kozue's bare arm, now glowing red and radiating heat. His hand was tightly clenched in a fist, a direct threat toward the now stunned Osamu. A tense silence fell over the crowd. A pervasive nervousness, that left Kozue feeling a bit awkward. The color and heat quickly faded, as Kozue quickly snagged his bag, with a quieter, "I'm out of here man." before squeezing himself out the exit, and onto the street, where he quickly began to walk away. As he did, he heard the quiet whispers, of people talking, probably talking shit about him.
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