Game Market 1983
Chapter 228: Tsubaki's Request

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star~ Shining brightly afar~ In the eastern sky~ And in the west so high~ Twinkle, twinkle, little star~ Shining bright~”

"Wow~"

Clap, clap, clap, clap~

As I entered the special ward where Tsubaki's hospital room was located, laughter from children echoed somewhere.

Amidst their laughter, faintly amid the joy, I slowly moved toward where their voices were coming from.

"Sis~!! Call us one more time. Please?"

"Sure, wait a moment."

In patient clothes, a chubby child eagerly grabbed Tsubaki's arm, urging her while sticking close to her side.

"Hurry~"

"Hey, Masao-kun, let go of my arm so I can play the piano~"

"Oh, right."

"Hahaha~ Masao's such a goof~"

"Yeah, yeah~"

"Guys, don't tease our friend. What did I tell you yesterday?"

"Friends should get along~!!"

"Okay~"

Wow, there's no shortage of daycare vibes here...

Watching Tsubaki sing along with the kids, her bright smile, lightened the heavy feeling I had carried while being here.

But wait, was there always such a place on the first floor of this special ward?

I don't recall seeing it when I was here before...

"Oh!! That suspicious man is looking at us!!"

Hey, kiddo. Suspicious man? Where am I even looking...?

Turning my head at the child's voice, meeting Tsubaki's eyes, I awkwardly smiled, holding out the bouquet.

"Wow~ Is he your boyfriend~!!"

"Sis, is he your boyfriend?"

"Nah, he's already married~ To a really pretty lady~"

"Ah!! So he's having an affair. Mister Adulterer~!!"

Then, a girl beside them teasingly asked the boy who called him an adulterer.

"Hey mister, what's an adulterer?"

"Huh? Um... Well, it's when you get married and then go on trips with other ladies. Saw it on TV."

"Hmm? Why go on trips with another lady after getting married?"

"Well, uh... that's just..."

...Kids these days really know everything.

Tsubaki seemed flustered by the child's words, her face reddening as she stood up.

"Hello, Mr. Junhyuk."

Bathed in sunlight streaming through the window, she walked toward me, wearing a smile so bright that you couldn't possibly think she was a patient.

"How are you feeling?"

With a grin, Tsubaki pulled up her sleeve, revealing her arm and replied.

"I'm very energetic~"

I looked at her for a moment, admiring her cheerful demeanor, then smiled back.

"Are those flowers a get-well gift?"

"Oh, yeah..."

"Wow~ They're beautiful~ Mr. Junhyuk, you have a good sense. I understand why Yuki likes you."

Watching Tsubaki happily receive the flower basket, I silently thanked the florist in my mind.

"But was there always a room with a piano here?"

"No, Ueno-san arranged for the hospital to receive a donated piano."

"Huh? Ueno-san?"

Only then did I recall Ueno-san's request for purchasing a piano a few days ago.

I thought it was for the sound team, but was it actually a donation item for the hospital?

"Thanks to that, I've gotten closer to the kids and haven't forgotten how to play the piano. It's a relief."

"I see... That's fortunate."

Indeed, Ueno-san never lets go of hope for Tsubaki...

However, the moment of parting must only become harder. Ueno-san, despite being the same age as Kawaguchi, the hospital director, and me, who is three years younger, hasn't married yet.

At 36, an unmarried individual might seem like an old bachelor in this day and age, but it seemed like marriage wasn't on their mind yet.

"But what brought you here today?"

Tsubaki, pressing the elevator button to her room, asked me as we walked.

Lost in thought for a moment, I awkwardly chuckled and changed the subject.

"I was just passing by Pentagon Shop on my way to work, had something to do there, and then I remembered you..."

"Ah~ I see. Come to think of it, it's already been a month since Complete Laon was released. September seems to have eased the heat a bit..."

"Yeah, the air, which was so humid, now feels quite refreshing."

"Haha, indeed?"

Ding~

As the bell rang, the elevator doors opened to reveal the empty metal space. Since Tsubaki was carrying her walker, I helped her hook it onto the metal rail.

With a thud, the elevator started ascending to the 7th floor, where her room was, the rumbling sound filling the otherwise silent space. I couldn't help but wonder if it would've been more comfortable if someone other than us were here.

Now, in this enclosed space with just her and me, my heart was gradually darkening once more.

Then, Tsubaki, staring blankly at the elevator door, broke the silence.

"Mr. Junhyuk, you're not very good at lying."

"Huh?"

"Before, when Yuki came for a visit, she heard where Junhyuk lives. If you were planning to go to Pentagon Shop, isn't this hospital completely opposite from Junhyuk's place?"

"Oh, that's..."

"It's okay. I wasn't trying to corner Junhyuk anyway."

Facing me, she slyly stuck her tongue out, leaving me no choice but to respond, "Sorry..."

"It's okay. I understand. But..."

As she hesitated momentarily, the elevator suddenly arrived at the 7th floor, chiming its arrival. The warm sunlight filtering through the corridor sparkled gold, and Tsubaki, grabbing the ring necklace I held, gently pulled me outside.

"Ah, the weather's so nice. Hospitals drain your energy, so shall we chat here?"

"Sure... whatever you want."

"Yuki mentioned that even though you act nonchalant, sometimes you're incredibly sensitive. Looks like her eyes aren't deceiving."

"Yuki said that?"

"Yeah. Oh, by the way, I also saw Seolhyun. Her smiling face was just so adorable..."

Tsubaki seemed to recall Seolhyun, clutching her cheeks with both hands, causing her whole body to shiver with delight.

Seeing Tsubaki like that, I chuckled.

"Ah, you're smiling now. Your face was way too stiff, Junhyuk."

"Nah, I smile fine."

"Of course, especially when you're about to outsmart gamers. That sly, mocking laughter..."

"What...?"

"Heh heh. Surprised?"

"No, it's just...? Rather than that, have you seen any conferences I participated in?"

"Of course. I've secretly played all the games that came out of Pentagon until now."

Her answer astonished me.

She, whom I only knew as someone who wanted to sing and participated in idol auditions, turned out to be a gamer who loved Pentagon's games.

"I first found out about Pentagon through 'Final Frontier.' My father bought a family console as a birthday gift, and 'Final Frontier' was the game that came with it. Even now, it feels strange that my father gifted a game console to a girl, but anyway, that's how I discovered games."

"Is that so..."

"Then, one day, a boy from my class came to school looking really down. When I asked what happened, turns out, he spent a lot of money on a game and got a game over in the end. So, I suggested starting from the beginning, but apparently, it was an impossible game..."

"Dragon Emblem..."

"Correct!"

With one eye squinting, her gesture towards me carried a fresh, idol-like vibe.

"Of course, back then, I didn't know you well, but I had my share."

"Hmm... where?"

"At the 'Dragon Emblem' event organized by Famicon. I was one of the participants then."

"What!?"

I remember there were a few female players, including Yuki, but never did I think Tsubaki was among them...

As I looked at her in disbelief, Tsubaki burst into a cheerful laugh and said, "You're making the same face as Yuki?"

"I really had no idea..."

"I bet. I was eliminated pretty quickly then. I was so young, maybe in my first year of high school? Still, I watched you clear 'Dragon Emblem' until the end. On the way back after the event, I thought about saying something to you, but someone approached you right in front of me, so I gave up."

"Ah..."

So, it was indeed the day I first met Yuki. The young Tsubaki was also watching me.

Staring at her in a daze, struck by the shock as if I'd been hit on the head, Tsubaki smiled warmly, asking, "Surprised, huh?"

"After that, I didn't play games for a while. But one day, I coincidentally saw a gaming magazine at a bookstore with an article about you. Finding out that you were the developer behind 'Dragon Emblem' and that you'd created the sensation of the missing street... and that you'd left Mintendo and joined Pentagon Soft."

"Is that so..."

"It took some time after that, but I've played all the games you made. Then, last year, when I saw an article about the idol auditions at Pentagon, I decided to join. I already knew I was ill, but I still wanted to see you again, the Junhyuk I knew..."

"Tsubaki, you..."

"How is it? Feeling like the tables have turned for the user this time...?"

"Haha... I have no words for this."

"It's fun, right? Don't worry too much; I didn't tell Yuki."

I sighed softly as I stared blankly at her profile, basking in the sunlight against the window frame.

I couldn't bring myself to tell her to give up being an idol and undergo surgery, looking at that smile.

"Junhyuk."

"Yeah...?"

"Well, recently, with Kanna's help, I've been composing a song."

"Oh...?"

"So, I have a favor to ask. It's a bit melodramatic, but could I ask something as a girl who used to like you a lot in the past?"

"A...favor?"

"It's not that difficult. Don't get too nervous."

As she turned to look at me, her expression was filled with a newfound vigor that hadn't been there before.

>

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