【Chapter 1: Two Moves Ahead of the Draft Results】
"C'mon, it's fine, right? Let's do it, Banjō."
At my workplace, a gal was whispering sweet words of temptation, her hot breath tickling my ear.
I—Tokiwa Kotaro—being a healthy seventeen-year-old boy, was naturally about to have my bones melt into jelly within seconds. However, I mobilized every scrap of my meager reason to attempt a rebuttal.
"We can't, Takanashi-san. Doing that at work, of all places... it's just..."
But she—Takanashi Mifuru—didn't let up on her assault.
Crossing her legs with a precariousness that threatened to reveal her underwear, she ran her hand sensually over the back of my hand resting on the table.
"C'mon, I... I just can't hold back anymore."
"P-Please stop, Takanashi-san. If you keep doing that, I-I'm going to..."
I was practically panting. But apparently, I wasn't the only one whose desires had reached a boiling point.
"Ah, I can't wait! C'mon, let's just do it already, Banjō!"
She finally stood up from her chair, gazing at me with feverish eyes, and voiced the ruinous desire of her youth—the "thing a gal wants to do at a board game cafe."
"De-clut-ter-ing."
"Seriously, stop."
I instantly shut her down with a deadpan expression. The unnecessarily provocative heat from a moment ago vanished, replaced by my gal coworker puffing out her cheeks like a kindergarten child.
"Boo, boo!"
After voicing her dissatisfaction as loudly as possible, she seemed to realize something and offered a supplementary explanation.
"Ah, wait, maybe you don't know the word, Banjō? Danshari—decluttering—comes from like, Buddhist terms or something. It means, like, cutting off unnecessary stuff and throwing it away."
"No, I know what it means. I'm saying we can't do it because I know what it means."
"Why though?"
Takanashi-san tilted her head cutely. I finally unleashed a full-force retort at her.
"Because this is a Board Game Cafe!"
"LMAO."
"Don't laugh!"
I stood up with the momentum of my denial, slamming the table as I shouted.
"Listen to me! If we executed a 'decluttering' based on your standards, Takanashi-san, everything in this store would vanish!"
"Yikes. A 'Total Wipe'? That's kinda hype."
"We aren't playing Puyo Puyo here!"
Takanashi-san cackled at my outburst. Dammit... it's annoying, but she's cute. Her visuals are too strong. It's unfair. Seriously cute.
As I stood there lost for words in more ways than one, she continued with a "But like, for real."
"If we sell the board games here, we get cash, we free up space, and regular cafe customers might actually come in. Isn't that like, a total win-win?"
"Honestly, I can't even argue with that logic!"
"Right?"
The gal cackled again. The fact that she could strike at the heart of the truth with such a lighthearted vibe made her the natural predator of the otaku species.
"Plus, for us part-timers, the board game workload goes down, so it gets way easier, yeah?"
"T-True. The more I listen, the more it sounds like a great proposal for management. But..."
"But?"
I felt a little shy as I voiced a sentiment that wasn't based on logic, but pure emotion.
"I'd be lonely. Because I like board games, and that's why I work here."
The gal received my childish words with an unexpectedly serious expression.
"...So, like, if this wasn't a board game cafe anymore, you'd feel like there's no reason to work here?"
"Ah... well, if you put it that way, I suppose so."
To be honest, even if the board games disappeared, if you—if Takanashi-san continued to work here, I think I'd stay. Because something I like would still be here.
Well, there was no way I could actually spit out such a cheesy line.
"......"
Takanashi-san was making a complicated face. I guess bringing emotional arguments into a logical debate would cause that reaction. I felt terribly apologetic.
Needless to say, for a part-timer like Takanashi-san who wasn't into board games at all, my "I love board games, keep it as it is" stance wasn't worth a damn.
I braced myself, expecting her to hit me with her usual, "What's that? Cringe. This is why otaku are..." type of slander to end the conversation.
But surprisingly, Takanashi-san backed down easily.
"K. Let's not then. No decluttering."
"Eh?"
As I stared wide-eyed at this response—so unlike the usual Takanashi-san, the "gal with zero interest in board games"—she fiddled with a bag of candy provided for the shop while looking up at me through her lashes.
"I mean, I only wanted to declutter 'cause I wanted to chill and chat with you more, Banjō."
"......"
"So like, even if the work is a bit tough, I guess having you here is best after all."
The gal smiled endearingly as she said this.
I was significantly shaken, but somehow managed to keep my expression calm.
"...What is that? That's silly."
Turning my back to her as I gave her the cold shoulder, I immediately—
(Shuki.)
(I luv her.)
—covered my bright red face with my hands and writhed in agony.
(No. This is too much. What is this? No, impossible. Impossible, impossible, impossible. What is this cute creature? She's so precious I'm gonna lose my mind. What the hell? Seriously, what the hell? Is she a legit angel?)
Overwhelmed by the sheer preciousness of my coworker, I stamped my feet on the floor in a jittery dance.
Seeing this, the gal called out in a listless voice.
"Um, what are you doing, Banjō? That's super gross."
I stopped my feet instantly. Pushing up the bridge of my glasses so they glinted meaningfully, I turned back and replied with extreme coldness.
"'Gross' is rude. I'm merely stamping my feet in frustration at the workplace."
"Normal people don't usually start stomping around at their part-time job."
"Hah. For someone living in an era that respects diversity, you sure like throwing around words like 'normal' and 'usually.'"
"God, this guy is annoying."
The gal looked genuinely pissed off. ...Yeah, definitely not an angel. My expression was a bit off there. Though, in the sense that even her angry face is cute, she might be an existence surpassing angels.
I took a quick deep breath to calm myself, sat back down with composure, and faced her—Takanashi Mifuru—once more.
Long eyelashes, symmetrical features. Skin white as snow, and legs as long and slender as a model's. Essentially, her base potential is that of a beauty. Add to that her pink-dyed hair and casual gal fashion, and her unreality increases a notch. She has the presence of a cosplayer who'd go viral on Instagram, or a successful live-action heroine.
So, what happens when you throw a virgin otaku boy into a workplace with something like that for six months? That's right. You get a creepy guy with a crush.
No, of course, even I have my pride as an otaku. Or I had it. I didn't intend to be the kind of shallow guy who wags his tail just because a girl is beautiful. But...
"Oh, right. Look, look, Banjō."
—She suddenly cut into my thoughts.
"I bought a new piercing. Well, it's a fake one without a hole, though."
"Hah, is that so? Huh, but looking at your ears, I don't see anything..."
"Ah, no, no."
She said this, and then suddenly—she hiked up the hem of her uniform, innocently and boldly exposing her beautiful stomach to me.
"My belly button piercing. Totes cute, right?"
"......"
—Biologically speaking, there is no creature on earth that wouldn't fall for this when exposed to it on a daily basis.
"...Y-Yes, it's cute."
I managed to squeeze out just those words before swiftly averting my gaze to prevent my rationality from shattering. However, Takanashi-san seemed dissatisfied with that reaction. She leaned in closer, pressing the issue.
"Hey, look properly, Banjō."
"I did, I did."
"Nah, that's the reaction of a guy who didn't look. What's your deal?"
" That's my line. What is your deal?"
"With what?"
Takanashi-san responded while still exposing her pristine midriff. I asked my question while trying my hardest not to look at it.
"I mean, doing stuff like that isn't good. Showing your skin to just anyone is..."
"Huh? What are you talking about? I'm showing you 'cause it's you, Banjō."
"......"
"I wouldn't show just anyone. I mean, I wouldn't even show my family."
"......"
"Only you, Banjō. You're the only one I can show this to."
Takanashi-san murmured this in a small voice, looking endearing with her cheeks slightly flushed.
"......"
Okay, what is this? Am I being subjected to a "Don't Kiss the Girl" challenge? I don't even know how my reason is still functioning at this point. Actually, aren't we basically dating already? The distance between us is weird if we aren't. Yeah, that's right. Come to think of it, Takanashi-san was my girlfriend. In that case, there's no problem if I surrender myself to my carnal desires and—
"Gwah!"
"Wait, Banjō?! Why are you suddenly punching yourself?!"
Takanashi-san couldn't hide her shock at my sudden act of barbarism—though thankfully, the momentum made her cover her stomach.
I stroked my chest in relief and responded.
"Please rest assured. I am sane."
"You're like a totally suspicious Yasumura right now."
"I just understood the psychology of a stalker who commits a crime based on the terrible delusion that the other person belongs to them—something I really should never have understood in my entire life."
"Um... literally what are you saying?"
"Nothing. Anyway, please spare me from seeing anything else risque—"
Just as I started to say that.
"Don't worry. I'm wearing them."
Takanashi-san used the comedian's catchphrase to lower my guard, and then—instead of her stomach, she slightly shifted her skirt, flashing the top band of her underwear.
"Gh! Cough, cough!"
As the sight caused me to choke involuntarily, even she decided that was enough, quickly covering up her underwear and laughing casually.
"Banjō, your virgin vibes are seriously hilarious! LMAO. My stomach hurts."
"Yes, yes, is that so? Good for you then... And please don't let your stomach get cold."
Naturally, I replied sullenly, a mix of exasperation and anger. Takanashi-san continued to laugh. She's persistent... I thought, glancing at her profile.
"?"
I might have been imagining it, but her cheeks looked somewhat more flushed than usual.
...W-What the hell, seriously.
＊
"Kurumaza" is a board game cafe that opened about six months ago in Ogikubo, Tokyo.
The pricing system allows customers to play any board game on the shelves freely as long as they order food or drink. That said, for the general public, suddenly being told "you can play freely" with complex board games is a bit daunting.
That's where we, the staff, come in. Alongside our cafe duties, we handle everything from recommending games and explaining rules to mediating shared tables upon request. Honestly, the workload borders on being a one-man operation, but since customer traffic is low, it’s manageable for now.
So, I, Tokiwa Kotaro, and my partner Takanashi Mifuru have been employed here as opening staff for about half a year.
Naturally, that implies we should be board game specialists... or at least, we should be.
"Hey, hey, Banjō. What's a 'Token'? Is it To-yama-kun's nickname?"
The gal asked me this while lazily watching a board game explanation video on her smartphone. I retorted with exasperation while checking the contents of a new board game arrival.
"Who is To-yama-kun?"
"That hot old magistrate guy."
"You mean Toyama no Kin-san?"
"He's got that rugged vibe. Toh-kun."
"Don't call Kinshiro Kagemoto Toyama by a nickname. Show some respect."
"But names like 'Shiroukagemoto' aren't cute, so that's a no-go."
"Then what kind of first name do you consider cute, Takanashi-san?"
"Eh? Like, 'Yukachia' or 'Harupoyo' or 'Mechoru'."
"Those are account handles."
"Your comebacks are annoying. So, what kind of names do you think are cute, Banjō?"
"Eh... Ah, ...M-Momoa, maybe?"
"Cringe."
"I don't accept that judgment."
I think it's at least better than "Toyama Yukachia." Well, continuing this debate would be fruitless, so I steered the conversation back.
"Right, so about tokens. Tokens are generally like chips or money..."
"Hmm."
I gave the board game terminology explanation for the umpteenth time, and the gal instantly tuned it out, looking bored. ...As you can see, my partner is still in this state. Despite the general expectation that working at a board game cafe for six months would impart some knowledge—even if one started with none—she has remained surprisingly at her initial parameters.
Actually, "no interest" is the ultimate debuff. Even I haven't remembered any of the fashion or cosmetic terms Takanashi-san has told me over the last six months. So, I guess we're even. ...Wait, are we even? Isn't this technically her job? Well, whatever.
However, if you asked whether "zero board game knowledge" equals "disqualified as a board game cafe clerk," that's not necessarily true. To be honest, while Takanashi-san might be disqualified as a "board gamer," she is wonderfully excellent as a "cafe clerk." Mainly in the sense of being a social powerhouse.
Social skills—in the context of playing board games, this power is, in a sense, far more important than game knowledge. In the extreme, even if the inst (rules explanation) is clumsy, if the customer ends up thinking "that was fun," then the board game cafe experience is essentially perfect.
Conversely, no matter how superior your knowledge or how skilled your instruction, if you make the customer feel awkward or bored, you've failed as a clerk.
And frankly, my stats are: Board Game Knowledge: A+, Social Skills: C-.
I can explain rules fluently, but if you ask whether I can keep the conversation lively or draw out smiles during the actual game, I'm hopeless.
But Takanashi-san is different. Her rule explanations are full of holes, but she more than makes up for it by making the game experience fun. She shares the customers' joys and sorrows, turns her own mistakes into jokes, follows up with losing players, or playfully taunts them. The tables she joins are always full of smiles.
That's why.
No matter how non-existent her love for board games is, I respect Takanashi Mifuru from the bottom of my heart as a cafe clerk—no, as a person.
"......"
I mean, well, I've carelessly gone and fallen for her, too. Yeah.
A socially powerful gal who treats everyone equally is, in other words, the so-called "Gal who is kind to Otaku."
For a loner, virgin, complex-ridden seventeen-year-old otaku like me, there is no way to resist that charm.
"Ah, look, look, Banjō. Come here. A kinda ecchi social game ad popped up."
So, today as always, the gal leaned her shoulder against mine with a glitched sense of personal space, showing me her smartphone. I frowned, feigning annoyance, and shot back.
"Why did you think I'd be happy about that?"
(Like. I like her. Ah, it's no use. No matter how calm I pretend to be, my cheeks heat up.)
The gal, sharply detecting my reaction, grinned bewitchingly and poked my cheek with her fingertip—though her teasing was slightly off the mark.
"Aha, getting shy over an ad like this? Mr. Virgin is so cute."
"N-No, I'm not."
"Eh, no way. Banjō, did you lose your V-card? How? Did you gather the Dragon Balls? Or did you win the Holy Grail War?"
"Could you stop making supernatural powers a prerequisite for me losing my virginity?"
Also, she knows about the Holy Grail War? That part of her is also actively killing this otaku with her calculated charm. I love it.
"I mean, I wasn't denying the virgin part. I was denying the part about being shy over the ad..."
"? If you aren't shy about the ad, then what were you shy about?"
You. If only I could answer honestly, how great would that be?
After thinking for a moment, I looked at the smartphone again and pointed to a Japanese-style female character blushing on the screen.
"...Sorry. Actually, this character is really my type."
It was a haphazard excuse, but Takanashi-san seemed to buy it. She said "Heh" and stared at the screen herself.
"So Banjō, you like girls like this?"
"Eh? Ah... maybe so."
"Hmm. This girl, black hair, kimono beauty... she kinda looks like Utakata-chan."
"You... think so?"
"Yeah. ...Ah, what about this sporty tanned girl over here?"
"Ah, due to religious reasons, absolutely not."
Thinking of a certain acquaintance, I went completely cold. Takanashi-san responded with "Ah, k."
"I see, I see. So Banjō likes the pure and innocent type, huh."
Saying that, Takanashi-san moved away from me. I was concerned that her mood seemed to have dropped slightly compared to before, but there was no way I could understand the nuances of a gal's heart.
As Takanashi-san resumed watching her video, I returned to checking the contents of the new board game to sort out my feelings.
I meticulously checked the number of pieces and chips against the contents list in the manual. Takanashi-san muttered without taking her eyes off the video.
"Isn't that working a bit too hard? Banjō. You do that much for the shop?"
"Ah, no, regarding board game inspection, even individuals do this pretty thoroughly. I hate to say it, but board games are a genre where missing components happen with decent frequency."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The variety and number of pieces are crazy, after all. For example, having only thirty-eight cubes when there should be forty, or conversely having forty-five, happens all the time."
"Wow. You'd definitely never know that just by glancing."
"Exactly. That's why inspection is important. No, actually, in board games, 'preconceptions,' 'assumptions,' and 'sloppy judgment' are always the greatest enem—"
"Ah, watching a video here, so you're kinda loud."
"Sorry."
The board game otaku obediently apologized and withdrew. ...Sniff. But it really is important to be careful about judgments based on assumptions. I think it's a lesson that applies to life, too.
I continued working silently for a while, stealing glances at my beautiful gal coworker's profile in the meantime.
She was still impossibly cute. It was strange that she hadn't gone viral worldwide yet. Just looking at her made an unbearable affection well up inside me.
—But, I have never voiced those thoughts. Because...
"Ah, a LINE from Usa-kun!"
Perhaps receiving a notification, Takanashi-san paused the video and happily started replying. She operated her smartphone with a melting smile, leaking small mutterings.
"Fufuh. I love you too... send."
"......"
The unrequited lover otaku bastard—me—watched this scene with eyes like a dead fish.
Yes, as you can see. The unrealistic existence of a gal who is super cute and kind to otaku naturally comes with a very realistic attachment—"She has a boyfriend."
Takanashi-san told me with a sparkling maiden's face she rarely showed me.
"Usa-kun says he's coming to pick me up soon today too."
"Is that so."
"Ehehe, looking forward to it, right, Banjō?"
"I gueeess so."
Why do I have to look forward to your boyfriend's arrival? I wanted to retort, but if she asked why I looked displeased, I'd be at a loss for an answer. For now, I just let it slide noncommittally.
Anyway, as you can see, Takanashi-san already has a partner. Naturally, I can't just go around casually saying I like her. For my sake, of course, but also for the sake of Takanashi-san and the others.
That's why I intended to keep these feelings hidden in my chest forever.
...Until just a few days ago.
(A confession, huh...)
I slowly picked up a die included in the board game I was checking and gazed at the "3" face. ...I'll omit the detailed circumstances, but the other day, I decided the fate of this love with a die roll.
Would I keep this love hidden and give up, or would I confess, prepared for rejection and causing trouble?
Just as a maiden plucks flower petals, a board gamer entrusted his love to the dice.
If a 3 came up, I would confess. Anything else, I would give up. It was practically a one-in-six gamble made as an excuse to give up on love.
The result was that the destiny presented by the die was—ironically, a confession prepared for self-destruction.
(Even if I do it, it's seriously all pain and no gain, though.)
Confessing to a coworker who is head-over-heels for her partner isn't something a rational human being does. It's a choice that ends work, human relationships, and love all at once. It's madness. ...However.
There is nothing uncooler than a board gamer who doesn't follow the result of the dice.
In other words, the event "Make a reckless confession to colleague gal Takanashi Mifuru" is already a confirmed matter in my mind. But because of that, I want to properly assess the situation and timing. Setting myself aside, if the damage to Takanashi-san and Usa-kun can be minimized, that would be best.
So, for now, I'm basically continuing to hide my affection for her.
I placed the die back on the table and initiated some small talk that doubled as an investigation.
"Come to think of it, how exactly did you and Usa-kun meet?"
"......"
For some reason, the gal stopped operating her smartphone abruptly and froze in silence. It was a rare reaction for her, given that her usual response speed was practically instant.
True, this was a topic we hadn't really touched on. Thinking about it now, it's a bit strange; Takanashi-san constantly brags about Usa-kun, but she has barely told me about their "meeting" or the "events leading to their relationship."
But thinking deeply, it is puzzling. They go to different schools, I haven't heard about them being friends from way back, and neither of them seems like the type to look for encounters at mixers or on matching apps. Basically, I can't imagine the crucial "first point of contact."
So, my question was purely out of curiosity within the realm of small talk.
But for some reason, Takanashi-san remained frozen, staring at her smartphone. I tilted my head and continued.
"Ah, I'm not prompting you to tell me embarrassing stories or anything, okay? Just simple curiosity. I mean, it's not like a relationship just sprouts out of nowhere."
"Tch!"
"?"
For some reason, Takanashi-san's eyes started darting around. ...What is this reaction? It's almost as if the relationship did sprout out of nowhere... ...Ah.
"Wait, maybe via some super underground matching app that's hard to talk about?"
"N-No way. How rude."
"Right? Um, so, how then?"
"...Conversely, how do you think it happened, Banjō?"
"No, I don't get the point of asking me conversely."
Why do I have to deduce the origin story of my unrequited crush and her boyfriend? Isn't this bullying? But since Takanashi-san seemed unwilling to budge, I thought about it a little. Hmm, Usa-kun doesn't seem like the type to pick up girls either...
"Ah, maybe Takanashi-san was in trouble in the city, and Usa-kun dashed in and saved you?"
"I'll take that."
"T-Take it?"
"Sorry, sorry, mistake. Kee-rect. I meant to say, 'Correct!'"
"I-Is that so."
I don't know why, but even though she says it's a fact, I feel strangely unconvinced.
As I felt a lingering doubt, Takanashi-san asked me a question as if to change the subject.
"Anyway, ignoring that. Board game questiooon. What's this 'Draft' thing?"
"What is it, you ask..."
That was a question I had answered I-don't-know-how-many times before.
Feeling somewhat ridiculous, I peered into her smartphone with a mix of exasperation.
"I mean, what video have you been watching this whole time?"
"Hmm. ...An explanation video for a board game called '7 Wonders'."
"Wait, isn't that a classic of classics? We've played it here tons of times, right?"
As I spoke, I checked the content of the video. Since it was from a content creator I knew well, my excitement spiked, and I instinctively leaned in closer to her.
"Ah, Gori-Gentleman's videos are great, aren't they! There's love in them, love!"
"Nah, I dunno about good or bad board game vids. It just came up top in search..."
Takanashi-san's energy was low. However, pushed by the joy of having her watch a video by my favorite creator, I continued.
"This video is from his Babiniku VTuber era."
"Babi... what?"
"Wait, you don't know 'Babiniku'? It's a slightly older term, but it stands for 'Virtual Bishoujo Juniku'—incarnating as a beautiful girl in the virtual world."
"Ah, so like a cute girl VTuber with an old guy inside?"
"Exactly, exactly. So in his case, partly because he didn't reveal he was a Babiniku type at first, there was a bit of trouble when it was discovered. Looking at this, it's another great example of how preconceptions and assumptions are the great enemy in the board game commu—"
"Ah, can you go ahead and skip that kind of 'Learning from Board Games' part from now on?"
"You're going to get hurt later if you say things like that. Actually, even in board games, preconceptions are—"
"I said skip it."
Guh. Well, fine. It's true that I went off on a tangent. Let's return to the main topic.
"In the end, this Babiniku poster eventually moves toward showing his real face after this."
"Oh, brave. So, did viewers stick with him?"
"Surprisingly, quite a few did. It's probably due to his natural character. Ah, look, look, check out the current subscriber count and the activity in the comments."
Since it was a topic I loved, I ended up leaning forward, explaining while peering into her smartphone. Then...
"H-Hmm."
"?"
Takanashi-san reacted rarely by lightly averting her gaze from me and the smartphone. I tilted my head involuntarily.
"What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing. Just 'cause you got close doesn't mean I'm flustered or anything. Not at all."
"? Well, okay. Ah, so, you wanted me to explain Draft, right?"
"Yeah. Just so you know, I do know it's the thing used when turning curves in Mario K○rt."
Takanashi-san puffed out her chest proudly. In response, I flashed a gentle, smiling face.
"I'll explain from zero."
Being able to completely forget the rules and terms of board games we've played countless times might be a special ability at this point. She could probably play a single Murder Mystery game for her entire life.
As Takanashi-san closed the video, I prepared my explanation. In cases like this, it's usually best to use an orthodox drafting game—like 7 Wonders—but with Takanashi-san, a much simpler example would be smoother.
For now, I lined up the dice-shaped candies we offer for free in the cafe on the table.
"Here we have Lemon, Cola, and Cider flavored candies, plus a regular die."
"Right."
The gal repeated. I wonder if she really gets it, but she's cute, so it's fine.
"Now, let's say we divide these four items fairly between me and you, Takanashi-san."
"I'll take three candies."
"I said fairly, didn't I?"
What do I do? Teaching rules to a barbarian is seriously tough. I feel like crying.
However, this gal apparently had some reason, as she conceded with a "Yeah, yeah."
"We just split 'em two each, right? I seriously don't need the normal die though."
"Is that so? Conversely, which one do you want the most?"
"Obviously, the Lemon candy. As you know, it's my fave."
"Then second place?"
"Hmm... Cola flavor, maybe?"
"I see. The one I want most is the Cola flavor. Second is the die. So in this situation, let's say we play Rock-Paper-Scissors, and the winner gets to pick a flavor they like one by one."
"K. Wait, isn't this like that event where they pick pro baseball players?"
"Hey, so you do know the Draft system!"
This gal basically has knowledge. It's just not connected to board games.
Anyway, we continued with the explanation and played Rock-Paper-Scissors. Naturally, Takanashi-san won.
"Yay. So, starting with me—"
Saying that, Takanashi-san reached for the Lemon flavor. But I put a stop to it.
"Hold on. Are you really okay taking the Lemon flavor first there?"
"Eh? Well, you take the thing you want most first, obviously."
"Right. But try considering the 'next thing you want' just a little bit."
"Eh, that's the Cola flavor. Since it's my second favorite."
"Exactly. Meaning, for you, Takanashi-san, the 'best result' in this game is obtaining the Lemon and the Cola."
"Yeah. But Banjō, you'll definitely take the Cola next, right? Since it's your favorite."
"Yes. As you say, if you take the Lemon this time, I will take the Cola. ...But what if you took the Cola instead of the Lemon on your first turn?"
"Eh? If I did that, then the Cola you like best wouldn't be on the table, so..."
"So?"
"You'd have to take the normal die you said was your second favorite?"
"Meaning?"
"...Ah! On my next turn, there's a huge chance the Lemon flavor is still left! Whoa, am I a genius?! Alright then, I'm securing the Cola first move! Turn end!"
"Is that so. Then I'll take the Lemon just to spite you. Turn end."
"I'll kill you."
Her eyes had gone dead. I never expected to have such killing intent directed at me over a single piece of candy.
I smiled wryly and continued.
"Since that risk exists, the strategy of securing the Lemon first is valid after all."
"But then I definitely can't get the Cola. If it goes like this, I end up with my favorite Lemon and my third favorite Cider, right?"
"Correct. Conversely, if we look at it from my perspective, I end up with the best result: getting both the Cola I wanted most and the die I wanted second most."
"Eh, what's that? Only Banjō wins! So annoying! Then, I'll take the die for my second pick instead of the Cider!"
"Even though you don't need the normal die at all, Takanashi-san?"
"Yeah, but inside me right now, the feeling of wanting to get in your way won out!"
"I see, so that's how it goes. But if you think like that, taking the Cola first is also valid."
"Oh, true. Then I'm taking Cola first!"
"Then I'll take the Lemon."
"Murder! Ah, but that's the only way to trouble Banjō...! Ugh...!"
The gal held her head in stress. Yeah, it's really great how she agonizes over this dilemma with fresh eyes every time. In a sense, she's a model board game player.
Having reached this point, I summarized the talk.
"So, enjoying these kinds of tactics is the real thrill of games that use a Draft."
"Hmm. Roger."
As usual, showing a reaction where it was unclear if she understood or not, Takanashi-san unwrapped the Lemon candy and popped it into her mouth.
She continued, rolling the candy around in her mouth somewhat sensually.
"Getting hurt just 'cause you wanted what you wanted... somehow, I just can't deal with that."
"......Ah. Indeed. Fufu."
"Eh, creep. What are you laughing at, Banjō?"
"No, just now, that reminded me a little of a friend from high school."
"Ah, that 'imaginary' whatever thing?"
"Don't just assume things with such confidence."
"...... ......Eh, for real? Physical?"
"That reaction is for a plot twist in a mystery novel."
I pushed up the bridge of my glasses and retorted.
"I'll be troubled if you underestimate me too much, Takanashi-san."
"Sorry, sorry. I mean, 'cause the punchline of your high school life was 'expulsion,' it just left a strong impression that it was totally doomed."
"Well, that is true. But even I had a close friend... or one."
"Just one."
"I-It's fine, isn't it? Even if it's just one. As long as we were close."
"True. So? Why recall that guy now?"
"Ah, right. You said earlier, 'Getting hurt just 'cause you wanted what you wanted,' didn't you? That was exactly the nature of that guy—Takeshi."
Saying that much, I slightly opened the lid of my high school memories that I had intentionally avoided touching recently. And so, touching the warmth of "memories with a friend" that still shone brilliantly even in that "All's well that ends well? No, everything ended badly" high school era, I inadvertently smiled a little and continued.
Noticing this, Takanashi-san was looking at me with a gentle gaze.
"Sounds like he was a pretty good friend, this Takeshi."
"Yes. Specifically from the perspective of 'matching tastes and hobbies,' I didn't have a friend better than Takeshi. Really, he was a good friend."
I spoke nostalgically of good memories. However, Takanashi-san seemed to feel a snag at my behavior.
"...Hey, why have you been talking about that friend in the past tense this whole time?"
"Eh? Ah, no..."
Instantly, a pricking pain in my chest. Memories of a "Draft" that might have actually been a failure.
As I wondered how to explain this, the door bell rang with a clatter, announcing a customer. Even if we were rotten, as part-time staff, the two of us stood up reflexively and started to call out, "Welco—"
But the person standing there was—a blond young man with frustratingly perfect features whom I knew well.
"Hellooo—wait, what's up with you two?"
"Usa-kun!"
Takanashi-san's face instantly lit up with a smile. And rightfully so. After all—her beloved boyfriend had come to pick her up today as well.
Takanashi-san approached him in high spirits; if she had a tail, it would surely be wagging furiously. In contrast, Usa-kun—or rather, Itsuki Usa—was glaring at me with a sharp gaze for some reason.
As I grew flustered, he threw a question at me that, as always, blurred the line between joke and seriousness.
"Were you perhaps in the middle of committing an act of infidelity with Mifuru—my girlfriend?"
"Gh."
My heart jumped at his words. In reality, I was completely innocent, but when he pressed me, I felt like surrendering regardless.
However, his girlfriend, Takanashi-san, didn't seem to feel that pressure at all and simply gave a normal reaction.
"No way. I'm devoted to Usa-kun 24/7."
"Thank you. But there's a possibility he was forcing himself on you, right?"
Usa-kun calmly stacked up deductions with a smile. A handsome young man with a quick mind is, just by existing, an object of awe. I could only shrink back.
But still, Takanashi-san wrapped herself around his arm at her own pace and laughed back.
"I said absolutely not, lol. You think my physical stats are lower than Banjō's?"
"...True. That is also a valid point."
Surprisingly, he seemed convinced and backed down easily.
"Sorry, Tokiwa-kun. Telling a weird joke like that."
"N-No, don't worry about it..."
I responded while breaking into a cold sweat down my back. W-What is this? The way he can apologize immediately once he's convinced by our defense is conversely scary. It's like an aura of competence is leaking from his entire body. Well, I guess that's why Takanashi-san fell for him.
While dragging Takanashi-san along like a pet as she clung to his arm, the hostility from earlier vanished like a lie, and he asked with his "friend" face.
"But in that case, why was the atmosphere like that?"
"Ah, simply because Usa-kun arrived while I was talking about a friend from my high school days."
"Tokiwa-kun's... high school days..."
Usa-kun frowned slightly. I wondered what it was for a moment, but then I remembered that he had just recently learned the details of my high school expulsion... the cringey, muddy episode.
I hurriedly added a follow-up.
"Ah, we weren't talking about anything serious. Just normally talking about a board game buddy who was close to me in high school... A friend named 'Takeshi', written as 'Samurai' (Bushi)."
"Apparently he was the friend Banjō vibed with the most in his life."
"...Hmm."
Hearing that, Usa-kun looked at me provocatively with a gaze that was somewhat bewitching.
"The friend you vibe with the most, putting me aside, huh?"
"Ah, um, that's, well."
I started to stumble over my words. Then, suddenly, Usa-kun traced my jawline with his long fingertips. ...Yeah, if we were alone, this would completely be the flow where I get embraced, and frankly, I'm in a state of mind where I'd be okay with that. However, unfortunately, his partner is right here.
"Geez, why does Usa-kun always flirt with Banjō immediately?"
"Sorry, sorry. Unlike you, Mifuru, I don't get to spend much time with him. So when I do, I tend to interact a bit intensely."
"Moo."
Usa-kun patted the pouting Takanashi-san's head there, there. ...Yeah, I wish you'd do that somewhere I'm not present. Unfortunately, my NTR attribute is zero. No, wait, if anything, I'm the one doing the unrequited pining here! It's a harsh world!
While soothing Takanashi-san, Usa-kun continued.
"But, why did just talking about a friend create such a weird atmosphere?"
Takanashi-san, who had reluctantly separated from him, answered Usa-kun's question.
"I asked Banjō why he talks about that friend in the 'past tense'."
"Ah..."
Usa-kun started giggling.
"Cutting sharply into those kinds of parts without caution... that's so Mifuru."
"Tell me about it."
I agreed deeply. As the two men laughed, Takanashi-san puffed out her cheeks and urged us on.
"So? Seriously, why the past tense? Did Takeshi die?"
"That's an incredible fastball of a question. What would you do if he was actually dead?"
"F."
"This gal is surprisingly proper."
I felt a bit embarrassed for trying to lecture her on delicacy. Besides...
"No, actually, Takeshi isn't dead."
"Really? Then why use..."
"Mifuru."
Naturally, Usa-kun admonished Takanashi-san's indelicate question. But I continued, "It's fine."
"Originally, it's not really a story I need to hide, and it's easy to explain to people who know the circumstances around my expulsion."
"Meaning?"
At Usa-kun's return question, I paused for a beat, then continued with a wry smile.
"Just that since my expulsion, Takeshi has left me on 'Read' forever."
Please guess the rest from that, I implored with my eyes. Usa-kun seemed to receive the message fully, but the problem was the gal.
"Why tho?"
"'Why tho,' she says."
Coming this far, her lack of delicacy has circled back to being refreshing. I shrugged my shoulders and responded.
"I mean, the reason for my expulsion was what it was."
"Banjō's expulsion reason was, if I recall..."
Takanashi-san muttered, then poked her temple as if recalling something and continued.
"You forced a partner to play strip board games at a mixer set up by a junior comedian, got shameful LINEs leaked by Bunshun, and also had possession of drugs, right?"
"You've mixed a lot of stuff in there. Well, the level of grimness is generally like that."
I responded with a silly grin. In reality, it really is something like that.
But for some reason, regarding this, Takanashi-san—the one who said it—averted her gaze from me abruptly and muttered sulkily.
"That's totally wrong, idiot."
I don't know why, but I got additionally exasperated by the gal. What is this?
While Usa-kun smiled gently, Takanashi-san pulled herself together and continued with "But like."
"Doesn't that guy Takeshi know the real reason you got expelled, Banjō?"
"I wonder. At least I haven't explained it to him in detail myself, but..."
"What's that? You should properly—"
I cut off Takanashi-san, who was getting angry and about to stand up, with a "But."
Recalling the smile of Takeshi—my only friend in high school—I stated clearly.
"Takeshi isn't the type of guy to swallow rumors about a friend whole."
"......"
At my words spoken with conviction, Takanashi-san sat back down with a plop. But for some reason, she continued looking slightly displeased.
"...You trust him a lot, that Takeshi."
"Yes. After all, he was the best friend who got along even with someone like me."
"Hmm."
"Same as you, Takanashi-san, and Usa-kun."
"......Ah, k."
Though her words were curt, Takanashi-san looked up at me with glancing eyes. Was it my wishful thinking that she looked somewhat happy? For now, the only thing I can say for sure is that this creature is super cute.
Looking over, Usa-kun was also averting his gaze as if to hide his embarrassment. ...What is this couple? Are you both cute or what?
Then, Usa-kun raised a natural question.
"Hm? But in that case, why is that friend ignoring you? It makes it even stranger."
"That's the point. Actually, I have absolutely no idea either."
"Maybe Takeshi is dead..."
"Mifuru, please."
Usa-kun scolded her. ...In reality, the possibility isn't strictly zero. Even if he's not dead, there's plenty of chance he's seriously ill. After all, I can't contact him.
However, if something that big happened to Takeshi himself, "She" would probably contact me, no matter how tense my relationship with her is. ...Would she? No, I feel like she wouldn't.
I moved the conversation forward to distract from my anxiety.
"Well, originally our association was strictly within school, so it's unavoidable that we'd drift apart with my expulsion as the trigger."
"What's that? You're okay with that, Banjō? Just go crash at his place IRL."
"No, I don't know Takeshi's address."
"Wooow, Gen Z moment."
I never thought the day would come when a gal would hit me with that line. I'm kinda moved.
"You guys were close enough to crowd around board games, but there was no 'Go to Takeshi's house' event?"
"Nope. You know, board games basically need a large table to play. So rather than each other's houses, our hangouts were school, cafes, or rental spaces."
"No, the board games were too central. What kind of distorted friendship is that?"
"Ah, in that sense, maybe rephrasing it as 'Playful Relationship' works."
"Hmm, can you like, stop that?"
For some reason, Takanashi-san said that. ...? I wonder, did she have some attachment to the phrase "Playful Relationship"?
As I tilted my head, Usa-kun brought the conversation back to the main topic with "In that case."
"If you can't go to see him directly at his house, at least ambush him in front of the school gate during the commute... ...No, that's actually a bad move."
As expected of the quick-witted Usa-kun. He realized the circumstances preventing me from doing that as he said it. I continued, "Exactly."
"My reason for expulsion is what it is. I have a terribly bad reputation not just with students but with school officials. For someone like me to ambush a friend at the school gate or on the commute route is a bit..."
Takanashi-san dug in against my logic with "But like."
"If it's that, couldn't you manage a one-chan with a disguise?"
"No, a disguise? There aren't many people who can boldly show their face to an acquaintance while doing that."
"Cough, cough."
For some reason, Usa-kun suddenly choked next to me. Is it a cold? Well, the seasons are changing.
Takanashi-san continued further.
"I'm not asking for cosplay level. A mask and a hat should be enough. Can't you just do a quick 'Call out & Withdraw' as soon as you spot Takeshi?"
"Ah, that's certainly a realistic idea, but unfortunately even that is impossible."
"Why?"
"Takeshi is basically never alone during his commute. He's been stuck with a girl who's a bit troublesome to explain for a long time."
As I said it, I remembered her—Hankui—along with a faint bitterness.
"What do you mean, troublesome to explain? What kind of girl?"
At Takanashi-san's question, I lifted the bridge of my glasses with my fingertip, took a pause, and slowly explained to sort out my own complicated feelings toward her.
"Hankui is a so-called sports girl. Ace of the track and field club, always healthily tanned, had blonde hair at the time, caring, active, smart, high social skills..."
"Hm? Hearing just the specs, she sounds like a super breezy girl. ...Hm? Wait? Talking about a sporty tanned girl... I feel like this is the second time today..."
I responded with a cold "Sun."
"Well, practically speaking, I guess she's a good person to the world. —Except toward me and Takeshi."
"Just the two board game otaku were hated?"
"No, the one who was 'hated' was just me. Takeshi was actually liked."
Saying it made me sad. I let out an involuntary melancholic sigh. Really, compared to that sharp, insidious look of naked hostility she had, the contempt Takanashi-san directs at me now is cute. It's late to ask, but was Takeshi's high school life okay after I was expelled? I intend to have given the maximum "consideration I could at that time," but...
As I made a bitter face, Takanashi-san frowned and asked.
"Eh, what? Is she that dangerous of a woman, Hankui-chan?"
I didn't mean it in that sense just now, but it's true that she is dangerous. I nodded.
"Hankui is, how do I put it... To be blunt, she's Takeshi's ex-girlfriend. And the type who firmly keeps the 'best friend' slot even after breaking up."
"Ah..."
I smiled wryly at the two showing consecutive reactions of understanding and continued.
"So, in high school, it was basically like I dragged Takeshi into the board game swamp..."
"Ah, then naturally Hankui-chan wouldn't have good feelings toward you, Banjō."
"Yes. And since I think Hankui is always by Takeshi's side even now—"
Usa-kun took over my explanation.
"If you do a half-hearted disguise, you'll definitely be seen through."
"Yeah, Hankui has amazing eyes in various meanings. Even if I appeared in a full-body mascot suit, she'd probably smirk and talk to me like, 'Oh, wearing nice clothes, aren't you, Tokiwa?'"
"Scary."
The two of them trembled. As I shrugged my shoulders, Takanashi-san muttered with a convinced look.
"Meaning, Banjō, you're checkmated."
"Meaning, Banjō, I'm checkmated."
I intended to reply with a bit of self-deprecation, but since the two of them put out an unexpectedly somber atmosphere, I hurriedly tried to smooth it over.
"Ah, no, no, I mean, Takeshi isn't the kind of guy who suits that kind of seriousness anyway."
"Hah? What's that? There's no person who doesn't suit serious—"
Against Takanashi-san who started to argue, I operated my smartphone to show the LINE screen with Takeshi—a chat with a photo icon of a chubby man and me—as an example, in order to convey the nature of the human known as Takeshi as simply as possible. Then, I voiced Feature No. 1 of my best friend.
"First, Takeshi's first-person pronoun is ‘Shosei' (This Humble Self)."
"Oops, I see."
For some reason, the two were convinced with straight faces. I continued to announce Takeshi's Feature No. 2.
"Also, his honorific for me is 'Tokiwa-shi'."
"Ah, okay, okay."
The couple emitted a "Got it" vibe regarding my best friend with straight faces. Rude people. No, well, I feel like my explanation is also bad, but it's the truth, so it can't be helped.
As a finishing blow, I scrolled back through the album on my smartphone and showed them a photo where Takeshi was featured most prominently, taken when we accompanied him to his idol fan event.
"Also this... It's a photo taken when we tagged along to Takeshi's 'Oshi-katsu' event. Does his character kinda come across from this?"
"Ah..."
Immediately, the two of them reacted as if they had completely grasped the persona of "Takeshi." Well, that stands to reason.
The photo showed a slightly chubby man with a beaming, overjoyed smile standing next to a girl with tanned skin in somewhat revealing clothing, who wore a strangely deep scowl.
Yeah... setting aside the quality of the two-shot, it perfectly captured Takeshi's inability to read the room. And the fact that Takeshi actually cropped this image and used it as his own icon because he liked it so much really shows you can never understand some people.
In any case, I’ll take it as a win that they vaguely understood Takeshi's personality and the nuance behind my statement that "this isn't a story with a serious vibe." While Takeshi and I are certainly friends, our category is strictly "comrades with shared interests."
So, even if there's a long period where we don't hang out, it’s just a matter of "Well, that happens sometimes." ......
...N-No, well, if I said I wasn't lonely at all, that would be a lie.
Then, as if remembering something, Takanashi-san continued with an "Oh, by the way."
"We took a totally massive detour. Didn't this convo start from the part about 'getting hurt 'cause you wanted what you wanted'?"
"Ah, now that you mention it, yes."
I had completely forgotten. Right, right, the explanation of the Draft eventually reminded me of Takeshi, leading to this. I added a supplementary explanation.
"See, this guy Takeshi has a stereotypical otaku temperament and finds a new 'Oshi' (favorite/bias) immediately, but he has this disposition where his 'Oshis' tend to go down in flames and vanish from the public stage across the board..."
"Ah, so Takeshi is the type who gets burned when he reaches for what he wants."
Takanashi-san nodded in understanding. However, Usa-kun, who didn't know the context, asked Takanashi-san, "What are you talking about?"
"Ummm, so like, Banjō was explaining the Drift? Or whatever. And then..."
Takanashi-san clumsily explained the concept of "Draft" she had just learned to Usa-kun. I found myself watching them with a strangely warm and fuzzy feeling.
You only truly possess what you strive for. Usa-kun told me something like that once.
I think that's certainly true. Even in a pro baseball draft, naturally, it's best if your team can acquire the player they want most.
However.
"So, so, um, I want to take the Cola to spite Banjō."
"Even if there's a possibility that you, yourself, won't be able to get the Lemon?"
"Yup. The vibes of wanting to make Banjō say 'Gah!' barely win out!"
"Ahaha, Mifuru really loves Tokiwa-kun, doesn't she?"
"D-Don't say stuff like that, B-Boyfie..."
"Sorry, sorry. So, continue the explanation of the draft system—"
The couple flirted and frolicked using board games as a pretext. Watching this scene, the thought suddenly crossed my mind.
(Even if you don't get the thing you want the most, there are times when that's okay too, right?)
...It's not that those words didn't contain any sour grapes.
Still, this happy scene of two friends enjoying talking about board games... if I had forcibly moved to take "Takanashi Mifuru," I probably wouldn't be seeing this right now.
Just as a team that doesn't get their first-round pick doesn't necessarily lose out. The result of a draft depends entirely on "what comes after," on how you make use of it.
Even if my feelings of love aren't requited, I should still be able to look forward.
Just like my friend Takeshi, who was absolutely top-tier only when it came to "looking forward."
And just as I was thinking that—I felt a vibration from the smartphone in my hand.
Assuming it was just a stamina notification for a social game, I cast my eyes down at the screen.
—In that instant, my pupils dilated violently.
"Eh!?"
I stood up, letting out the loudest voice I'd used recently. Takanashi-san and Usa-kun were startled and stopped their conversation completely, but I didn't have the composure to worry about that right now. I just read and reread the notification message over and over, my hands trembling slightly.
Seeing my extraordinary state, Takanashi-san asked.
"W-What's wrong, Banjō?"
Usually, she would protest with something like, "Geez Banjō, don't scare me like that," but rarely enough, she seemed genuinely worried. ...It's unfair how glimpses of her natural kindness peek through like this.
And Usa-kun, setting aside his usual coolness, sent me a gaze that seemed to consider my feelings. They really are good friends. Which makes pining for his girlfriend weigh even heavier on my conscience.
In any case, I couldn't hide the situation from these two.
Above all, "this development" was too timely—I couldn't not tell them.
"It's just... well, it came at the most unbelievable timing."
"What did?"
Takanashi-san tilted her head blankly. With a trembling hand, I tapped the smartphone notification and pulled up the screen—the chat screen with the slightly annoying icon of a chubby man smiling excessively.
I turned it toward the two of them and made my report.
"Contact from Takeshi. For the first time in about a year."
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