– Beep beep~
“…”
“…”
10 out of 10.
10/10.
First place and the absolute last place opposite.
That was my score in the racing game.
If it had been the first round, I certainly would have made excuses.
In fact, I did make excuses in the first round…
“…it’s unfair.”
I had no choice but to make excuses again this time.
After all, the game made me feel unjust!
“The car in front is deliberately blocking my way. No matter how much of a game this is, isn’t this too much?”
“Lin, you…”
“……”
“You really have no talent for gaming.”
“……”
I wanted to argue back, but I couldn’t.
Because even I thought, I really seemed to lack talent.
Still, I thought I would at least be able to play at a level that was what you’d call “normal,” but somehow I was doing terribly.
Was it because my body swapped? Or was this my actual ability?
One thing was for sure: my skill wasn’t originally like this.
Absolutely not.
“……”
“I thought you had at least some confidence in this game… This is serious.”
It is serious.
Yeah, it was at a serious level in terms of gaming skill.
I had been coming last continuously in a simple racing game.
And that too against AI.
Despite being up against 1 human—I mean, apart from me, everyone else was AI—always placing 10th hit hard on my mental state.
“The Commander has… placed first five times in a row, huh?”
“Well, I’m playing against bots. It’s a natural result.”
“Natural….”
“…Sorry about that.”
Today, that apology felt particularly painful.
Of course, the Commander wasn’t at fault, but it truly felt unfair.
I never expected my gaming skills would become this pathetic.
To be getting wiped out against AIs like this…
“Let’s have one more round.”
“Are you sure? You look pretty exhausted.”
“I’m not the kind of person to collapse over this. Let’s hurry up.”
Yeah, now that I’ve really gotten a grip, maybe this time I can escape 10th place?
Hearing my words, the Commander leaned back against the bed and continued the controls.
The matchmaking for another AI battle began again, and I adjusted my sitting position on the bed to ensure I’d definitely escape 10th place this time.
I held the controller properly again, breathed out deeply, and relaxed.
“……”
“Why do you look at me like that?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just… You seem more earnest at this than when you work.”
“That’s not true at all. There’s no reason for me to be serious over a game, right?”
“…Well, if you say so, it must be true.”
Yeah.
I wasn’t exactly putting in my utmost effort either.
I hadn’t yet given my 100% in gaming.
Yeah… I had to.
My true skill couldn’t possibly be on the level of placing 10th out of 8 AIs!
*
“……”
“Umm… Sorry about that.”
“……”
I wanted to die.
Honestly, I felt even more upset, embarrassed, and dizzy now than during the serious game in the morning.
No matter how I thought about it, this felt like a seriously dire level.
Technically, it could be said that it wasn’t me but Lindera’s body that was to blame.
Of course, I was now Lindera, but still, it wasn’t really my issue.
“If I had known I would be this bad, maybe I should have suggested we try something else….”
“……”
“I’m really sorry. I’m really… sorry.”
I felt even more embarrassed because the Commander was there, trying to comfort me while I sat on the bed.
He probably didn’t realize it was more humiliating to say “I’m sorry” while standing next to someone who sucked at gaming.
Because he, unlike me, was actually good at games!
On the ranking screen displayed, Player 1 was in the highest position—the Commander.
And Player 2, at the very bottom—me.
“It’s not my fault.”
“Yeah, you haven’t done anything wrong. It’s… it’s a possibility.”
“…Other games….”
“……”
“……”
The Commander looked at me with a puzzled expression listening to my words.
I wasn’t sure myself, but his expression wasn’t very positive.
It was somewhat like watching a newborn kitten trying to jump to a higher place.
Sympathy.
Yeah, it was that kind of look.
“Don’t look at me like that…”
“I just thought it was ordinary.”
“Ugh…”
“Still… I’m glad to see you seemed to enjoy it, considering you weren’t that interested at first.”
“I didn’t enjoy it.”
I never enjoyed it.
I mean, I wasn’t some little kid. I was just doing it because my superior told me to!
Even though I had played continuously since the morning apart from when we had lunch, it was never for enjoyment.
Anyway.
“Right, if you say so, it must be true.”
“Indeed.”
“How about we stop gaming for now?”
“……”
I was feeling competitive and wanted to keep playing more.
Even though I had come in 10th for five consecutive rounds, I still wanted to challenge just one more time.
But just like that, it was over.
In fact, I wondered if he purposely stopped when I wanted to keep going.
After all, he had already gotten first place five rounds in a row and must’ve been in a good mood, so there was no need to continue.
“When you’re struggling in a game, it’s best to take a break. I’ve played a lot more than you, so how about listening to me?”
“…If you say it like that, I can’t really respond.”
“Right, put down the controller for a moment and let’s get up from the bed.”
Following the Commander’s orders, I did just that.
Maybe it was because I had just been sitting on the bed, but my back was slightly aching.
“…Are you alright, Commander?”
“?”
After feeling a bit of pain in my back, I conveyed my slight, really slight concern to the Commander.
And rightfully so…
“Weren’t you leaning against the bed the whole time?”
“Oh. I’m fine. It’s not painful at all.”
In that case… well, that’s good.
I was only concerned because I was the one who had been sitting on the bed playing games; I was just worried about the bed’s owner.
It wasn’t that I thought there was anything weird about it.
“That’s a relief.”
“Yeah, the bed wasn’t uncomfortable was it?”
“It was comfortable. It’s the same model as the one I have in my private room.”
“Then let’s go out for a bit. It’s the weekend after all; staying in my room all the time isn’t that fun, right?”
I didn’t care much, but… since the room’s owner said so, I couldn’t just stay.
So, I followed the Commander outside.
The time wasn’t much different than after lunch.
After all, I hadn’t played an absurd amount—only about five rounds—so it couldn’t be later than 4 PM yet.
“Where do you plan to go?”
“Just thought I’d take a walk. Sitting around playing games all the time isn’t good for the body or anything else.”
I wasn’t quite sure what he meant, but the Commander and I started to walk slowly through the ship.
Since it was the weekend and there weren’t many agents working, there were quite a few agents around moving about the ship.
We encountered new agents every time we walked.
There were some agents who seemed to be watching us closely as we moved around, but… I just ignored it.
It wasn’t really a moment where anyone could say anything.
In a way, it was just a situation where they merely witnessed random people passing by.
After all, who would even comment on seeing the Commander?
We had no relationship whatsoever.
It was just the level of a superior and a subordinate.
“So, how was today?”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean the game. At least it’s better than working on a weekend, right?”
“That… is true.”
I wasn’t addicted to work, so naturally, that was a better option.
Working at the cafe last week was just something I did because I had nothing else to do.
If I had something to do, I would certainly have chosen anything other than work.
So, I answered the Commander affirmatively as he asked.
“That’s a relief. I was afraid you’d be one of those people who is just crazy about work.”
“That’s absolutely not the case. Who enjoys work anyway?”
“That’s true.”
From his reaction, he really looked worried about me.
I mean, I would also be a bit concerned if a subordinate worked all day on a weekend, suddenly, without any reason.
Particularly after we had a company outing the day before, starting from lunch and then working through dinner—wouldn’t that be a bit scary?
Of course, I actually did just that, but still, that’s what I meant.
“Commander, do you enjoy gaming on the weekends as well? Considering the variety of games you’ve played.”
“It’s at a level I’d call a hobby.”
Oh, I see.
Before diving into the games, I was just curious since I saw a lot of titles I recognized earlier.
As I suspected, he seemed to play a lot of games even in his spare time.
He looked like he’d be the type to party with girls, but instead, he seems to have a more wholesome side!
“Ah, by the way, about what I said previously—if we get closer, I’ll let you know my hobby—it turned out to be gaming.”
“…Excuse me?”
I was momentarily dumbfounded.
Back then, I thought it was something strange or risky!
He had said it in a rather ambiguous way, so naturally, I figured it was something on the more… suspicious side!
And it turned out to be just gaming?
Why the heck did he bring that up with such weighty implications?
Seriously, how absurd.
“It’s just that I’m somewhat of a commander and if I say my hobby is gaming, it feels like it gives off a certain image, doesn’t it?”
“……”
“So I just hid that part. I mean, at my previous workplace, I just casually mentioned gaming as a hobby.”
“Is that so?”
“Sorry for making you suspicious in various ways.”
I found it quite ridiculous, but I could understand it was a thought-through action.
After all, if a commander spent his free time gaming every chance he got, it would indeed be kinda awkward.
“Do other agents know?”
“Of course, I kept it a secret from the agents. I had the intention from the start, which is why I didn’t mention it back then.”
“…I think it’s best not to let other agents know in particular. Unless they’re gaming enthusiasts, it might seem like an odd hobby to those who aren’t into it.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course, it’s just my personal belief, but I don’t think gaming as a hobby is odd. I think it’s more wholesome than messing around with drugs or women.”
Yeah, to be honest, I’d been worried the Commander’s hobby could be more about women.
But now that he said it was gaming, I felt relieved.
Of course, for someone who doesn’t like games, it could still seem like a weird hobby, but I wasn’t one of those people.
After all, I ended up getting sucked into a game character!
“Thanks.”
Could it be that recognizing his hobby made the Commander feel grateful?
He responded to my words appreciatively.
“Not at all.”
Well, now that I knew he didn’t have a hobby of chasing women, he seemed a bit… more innocent.
I thought I wouldn’t have to worry about those strange concerns anymore.
Would a guy who spends his weekends at home gaming ever be messing around with girls?
Back at my previous workplace, he’d even brought in kids and had separate gaming sessions with them.
Although I do think if he had a girl in the room, it wouldn’t be likely she’d be sitting still either!
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