Post by Prince~Of~Light on Jan 11, 2011 13:52:20 GMT -5
This story was made for a fanfiction contest at N5Star-site. I dominated the first round with this chapter, and am working for another one to the next round this week.
First of all, I want to thank Parrothead, for introducing the Game Tengoku-series for me. I love every bit of it. This is particularly for him, as Jaleco had changed up a lot recent years.
And this is for BooDestroyer particularly as well. He enjoys Puyo Puyo-series a lot, just to add. Wonder if you have played Puyo Puyo 7. I wish you all enjoy this chapter, though.
1- Reliving Memories
June 6 2009.
Sun was setting down at the end of the clear day, letting the glittering starry sky night to take over the dark blue sky over a quiet urban area of Setagaya, the busiest city of Tokyo.
Many do wish good thing about summer... Some dreaming about refreshing days of recharging yourself, albeit very lazily, but with total freedom to do what they liked. The care-free mood keeps them relaxed, and maybeeven inspired to do something new for the rest of holidays filled with sun and occassional rainpours.
Some though do keep themselves working even at summer... And not just for part-time jobs: commonly it was about keeping your own firms or enterprises live, for the folks which do have free time in summer, maybe to take a closer look at them...
Soon twilight faded away the colors of the buildings: slowly they started to take in more shades of dark for the rest of that clear day. But suddenly, the darkness was interrupted.
All of the lights were turned on in that urban area of that street, making it run away to much better place to keep itself scary. The people walked over those streets about, minding their own business, as well as hurrying their destinations. But who knows? The folk around here don't talk much at each other.
This street was just becoming soon busy and crowdy, and due to it's linearity, it would much harder to maneuver it later.
Stars were now visible in the sky, motionless, but comfortable for the eye. The moon was just trying to get into it's crescent shape, much harder to be seen, since it just came from the left corner in the sky.
The people ignored them. They kept going in and out from the buildings crafted in a never ending line, drawing so long as to arcily disappear to the sloping road leading to the downtown of the city.
"Reactions on the radar!"
Even that none didn't take even a tiniest peek at it by all the busy walking, one could manage to witness lights being on in one window at the right side of a peculiar station building. Something that appeared to be a arcade game center.
As one could creep up to look at the other side of the window, it led into a staff room, where seemed to some more arcade machines stacked side to side.
"Recognised code CC30."
Oddly enough, one arcade machine was still being on! In fact, at it's seat, there a sat a young, cheerful woman. Probably decided to kill her free time after her working in the game center.
"Distance 12000 Dal!"
She was frowning in determination, rapidly pressing machine's buttons, as she had nailed her eyes on very narrow game screen, controlling a space ship, shooting many formation of mechanical spaceship-like beings over at sun's flaming orbit. The mechanical things flew together now in circly trails, making them little harder to shoot.
The spaceship was very well-constructed, by having giant cutter-looking wings at top and at bottom: also it was colored in silver and red. (Oh, the game screen consisted about three small windows being sticked together,making the game look pretty narrow, and thus, quite awesome.)
"3rd & 4th thrust engine, ignition!
Main engine energy level, 20%!"
As she continued playing, the ship had made the formations bite the dust: shooting down certain formations were rewarded by shields, which could give different upgrades, depending on the color of the gems.
"I've always wanted a thing called tuna sashimi!"
"That part never seases to amuse me- Yay, got now the blue powerup! Aww, how come Taito, make sucha hard, but addictive games? Of course I know about the titles like Space Invadersor Bubble Bobble, but none told about this series! Last game took forever to clear, but glad they decided to modify up the hard parts to much more comfortable pace. I'm so glad..." the woman mumbled, making a sigh of relief- even though she was playing. Right now more enemy ships came out to attack the spaceship.
"Three, Two... One!"
As the womanly voice ended, quite a number of hot meteors started to kick in, trying to collide at the ship. Even though that sounded dangerous, they could be shot at ease. The player did it quickly.
"Darius II, sucha great example of a sequel. But wait, I haven't cleared the game yet! Shouldn't try to expect too muuch~" she thought astonishedly.
As she played on, she shouted some lines, like "Is that King Fossil?!", but overally was keeping quiet. From her (and many others from the past and onwards), shooting down mechanical marine creatures wasn't never been so fun before... yet so difficult.
Back at the streets. More people started to gather in, many cars trying to get out of the traffic at the downtown. It was now evening, and people now to tried to hurry at their places. The crowdiness was quite tight, that there needed to be few police officers to keep the people from not getting lost.
These people didn't look anything out of ordinary- it was quite easy to get lost on that crowd, if you also looked very ordinary and not fashioned in the way to make yourself stand from others.
But a teenager girl tried to make her way through the crowd. Obviously she didn't live in that city, as she was looking for a particular place in that area.
"This was much harder than I could expect. I've looked over many arcade centers so far, but none of them did have that evidence I was looking for... But could this next game center have it? I doubt it. " she said, pondering as she tried to not run at other crowd again.
Occasionally she asked for way from the people: quite easy it was to get their attention, since this teenager looked so different. Her hair was red, having curly pigtails at the back. There was even a cowlick that was quite peculiar: it sometimes moved by it's own! (It seemed that it moved according to her feelings, since now it was calmly pointing up) Moreover, she seemed cultured.
The girl wore light clothes due to the warm weather despite being an evening, consisting of white and pink T-shirt having a star pattern on the center, and pair of jeans.You could tell also she was intelligent by how thoughtful she looked: she calmly kept her vision at the passenger's eyes, as she asked for directions.
Gladly the passanger helped her, even though he mentioned that most of the people ignored that game center a lot. Many have been saying it's being outdated at these days, not having much new hits of arcade games being brought in there.
The girl didn't care though. In fact, she brightened up.
"I was getting so bored by all those hi-tech electronic arcade machines other hosts of the game centers tried to entertain me with. They sure are quite spactacular, but they were slowing me down for looking that evidence about..." the girl thought.
Just then she stopped in front of the game center, after taking the way from crossroad. A huge sign hanged above the doors, reading Game Stage: You & Me. Outside of the glass doors of that game center were few machines, nearest being a plush toy crane, and next to it was a old-looking red slot-machine. The arcade hall looked quite promising, since it seemed to have so many machines and even the stairs leading to the next floor.
The place seemed silent, though: the lights were turned off, as well as none did seem inside.
"Oh no... I should've come here much earlier. That train came so late back there, though. At least it's not too far away from home..." she thought in a sad tone. People kept going near her all the time.
She walked at left direction from that game center. Curiously she took a quick peek at the alley between the two buildings. Nothing, only two walls and accessories that seemed to belong at that near haircut next to the game center.
Suddenly she noticed that one of the game center's windows were lit above her. How come? The intelligent teenager wondered. Was someone actually still inside?
"I won't be really trying to get their attention at this time of evening, but those details that man told me about the game center and it's owner...” the teenager remembered.
Her soul felt ballooning warmly with new hope. No doubt. She could solve this- without getting in trouble as well.
The girl looked around the alley, noticing pair of broken scissors lying at the ground. She quickly took them, and aimed.
Back at the entrance of the game center, the girl was talking to the woman. The game center's lights were turned on, drawing people's sceptical, curious attention.
"I'm very sorry for interrupting you at this time of evening! I don't have any intentions you have to get suspicious about. Just one question to ask.”
”It's okay! You don't look like a dishonest person to me, more like very polite. Why don't you come in?”
As they entered in the main hall of the game center, the teenager looked around it. The main hall looked quite wide, since there were many different kinds of arcade cabinets, from old coctails to fewer touch-screen operating hi-tech machines. There were few cranes, and even one huge pinball machine as well at back in the center. At left end of the hall was few doors that let to toilets for different genders, even the invalid, as well as stairs leading to the second floor...
Suddenly she was interrupted. (Her cowlick jumped up a bit)
”And you're name is?”
”Oh yes--- I-I'm Ringo Andou.” teenager replied very awkwardly. She embarrassedly regretted her sincere curiousness. Luckily the woman smiled very comfortingly as to message there was no need for an apology.
”I am Yuki Itou, the host and owner of this game center- pleased to meet you!” the young woman introduced herself. Ringo calmly smirked back.
Yuki looked bright from her eyes, was quite slender and had turqoise-green long hair, knotted in to a ponytail. She wore a red cap, having smoothly sewn white borders.'Also she had a orange jersey shirt on, which was little covered by a grey puffy waistcoat: lastly she wore a black skirt, completed with brown pantyhose. As Ringo could guess, Yuki seemed to be a very cheerful, optimistic person. Additionally being always glad to serve and help her customers at her best: as being the only one to run the arcade center , she must be knowing every corner of it.
Indeed... she was much different than the last game center's hosts.
They walked at the desk near the entrance. Yuki told Ringo to sit down on one of the chairs in front, as she walked behind the desk and sitted down as well.
”Your game center is quite interesting, I don't understand how come people ignore this place so much,” Ringo remarked. She looked at the hall again, curiously eyeing at the machines.
”Well, people have said I have outdated selection... kids go so far as to call me old as a hag, probably playing just Commodore 64 these days. These arcade cabinets are though something I won't give away though...” Yuki replied, closing her eyes while smiling sheepishly at subject's troublesomeness. ”Luckily I was able to get some new arcade machines here by some cash I saved up about. Otherwise it's been little quiet here at start of this summer. (But maybe I have too much treasure to keep with me at here...)”
”She sure has a lot of valuable things to keep with her here...” Ringo thought uneasily.
Both turned back to each other.
”So Ringo, you wanted to ask me something?”
”Um, I doubt it though if I can find it here, but the chances are looking much bigger than in last game centers I've visited, since you have old games in here.”
”You're looking for something?”
”Yes- shortly, I'm looking for a Puyo Puyo arcade cabinet.”
Yuki gasped in astonishment. For her, it sounded really odd: this girl has been searching for one rare game cabinet, even though there are quite a lot of Puyo Puyo-game merhandise out there.
But it got her interested about Ringo's ambition.
”Why you're looking for it?”
”To examine it, and if there's an opportunity, I'd like to play it.” Ringo replied.
”Are you a huge Puyo Puyo-fan? I don't see people like you every day. It must be quite fun.” Yuki said.
Ringo felt now quite awkward inside, so awkward that Yuki could see it. (Ringo's cowlick was trembling a little.) She started to fear that she had struck Ringo at somewhere unpleasant: quickly she apologised, even though very worriedly.
”No, it's nothing... ” Ringo said soothingly.
Yuki started to think: did she have the cabinet? Of course she has been collecting up old arcade cabinets, since she couldn't find much compilation games for the arcade games she was looking for. There were quite many in the staff room's storage.
”Why don't you come with me, Ringo. Let's see if we have that cabinet you're looking for.”
Both stood up. But suddenly, Ringo's apple dropped from her pocket. The owner noticed it quickly, and squatted to take it. Yuki looked at her curiously. Suddenly she started to giggle loudly.
''Looks like they didn't name you as Ringo for nothing!” Yuki remarked. Ringo first felt embarrassed, but then couldn't help but smile at Yuki's expression: she was holding her chest and even tearing a bit.
”I love apples, besides, an apple keeps me inspired on solving the problems and puzzles.” Ringo explained. Well, she knew she felt very attached at them. ”Anyway, let's go.”
As they travelled through the main hall, Ringo noticed one thing: Yuki seemed to have huge liking on games made by one particular game company: Jaleco Ltd. The titles scrolled about from the names like City Connection, Dream Audition, Suchie Pai and even Tuff E Nuff.
”You really seem to like Jaleco's games.” Ringo pointed out.
”Oh yes, I do! They usually make games with wierd or unique premises, but can keep them quite addictive. Or they used to... Now they sold their themselves for company called Game Yarou.” Yuki said. Then she sighed. ”Before that they just produced some mobile games, and tried their at DS-marketing.
”Maybe they couldn't keep with rest of the video game industries out there? It's very hard,” Ringo said. ”Considering many important factors that must be taken on consideration. Like support from the fans, for example. Sega at least-”
Ringo suddenly stopped there. She was frozen on her words, feeling now very uneasy: as if she had remembered something very disturbing.
Yuki noticed that Ringo was lackind behind her, and turned back to see where she was. Just then she got alarmed: Ringo was holding her stomach and had crouched to the ground, trembling weakly.
”Ringo! Are you okay!? What happened to you!?” Yuki asked very worriedly. She tried her best to help Ringo up.
”It's that... tummy ache... again...” Ringo mumbled weakly. Yuki asked was she sick, but Ringo said it was something personal.
”Just try to forget it... It's alright.” Ringo convinced. But even she knew that this situation looked much worse than she said: she had noticed Yuki couldn't help but look at her suspiciously now a bit.
But the truth was just senseless as she could think it to be...
Her memories rose again inside her mind.
Then she remembered... that unexpected realisation. That disturbing fact.
The distress struck her again. Much worse than before. Slowly and painfully hurting her...
She was in state of den- Tummy ache!
”Ow...” she exclaimed weakly. How come she felt much better now?
Then she saw the answer: Yuki had wrapped her arm around her back, trying to keep her up as they walked up stairs. Ringo felt embarrassed. Even though she couldn't tell the truth the host, she felt much comfortable now, and thus, was more couraged to forget what she remembered.
Yuki sighed uncomfortably. How worried was she about her new friend. What could have possibly made Ringo feel so mentally ill... yet she didn't want talk about it? She must've been through something very unfortunate... that is for sure!
Just then Yuki realised she already had wrapped another arm around Ringo. Embarrassed, she exclaimed something quickly and jerked the arms away.
”Sorry, I didn't mean to be wierd... or anything worse!”
”Yuki...” Ringo said soothingly, ”It's okay. I feel much better now.”
They had already arrived at the second floor. It seemed much smaller version of the first floor,
by having fewer arcade machines, and some more different cranes. Three huge windows were at the opposite of the hall, giving nice view for the rest of the busy city of Setagaya, with all the colorful skycrapers in many different heights rising quite far. Even the city's tallest building, Carrot Tower, could be seen behind them.
The people walked around the streets in much more wilder rate than before: the noise had filled the city entirely, a mix of horns and and people's voices. Luckily they were just sounding little faint right now at the room. The evening looked gorgeous: the glittering star were advancing at the sky, as well as the moon being almost visible.
Yuki walked at the left, Ringo following: they came into a huge door, a sign over it boldly readIng ”STAFF ONLY”.
As the door was opened and lights were put on, Ringo observed the room. It was brown all the way, from the marmor floor, bricky walls and the roof also dyed in those colors. There seemed to be arcade cabinets side to side at left wall: Maybe they were malfunctioning, or were discarded. At the left corner of the room, there were some boxes unopened, and near was a wooden, dusty old table having a tabletop computer on it. A cracked mug standed alone on the table, probably discarded a long time ago.
There was also Darius II.cabinet, all there functioning and on: there was a seat for two players to play with, and under the game screen (which was displaying the high score) was the joystick and buttons, along with the instructions of the game printed near them. Ringo was sure the host was playing it some moments ago.
By that time Yuki had unlocked the door to the storage room. She asked Ringo to come to see, if there was the cabinet she was looking for.
”Too bad... it's not even here.” Ringo said disappointedly.
”I'm sorry Ringo. I really should bring up some more interesting games,” Yuki said regretfully.
”Well, at least you helped me much better than the rest of those marketing guys in game centers. They didn't have any manners when I visited them...” Ringo said. Her expression seemed disgusted.
Yuki got a brilliant idea.
”Hey Ringo, what if... I'll get that Puyo Puyo-cabinet for you? That's if only you like to, of course!” she suggested optimistically. ” I've been getting some old cabinets these days from some retailer. That fellow seems to have a lots of unmodified arcade game classics. If I remember right, he has Puyo Puyo as well.”
Ringo felt how a huge boulder dropped from her heart. She turned at Yuki, having a mixed expression of huge relieved happiness with little embarrassment.
She closed her eyes and smiled awkwardly at her, sweating now a bit.
”But Yuki... you don't really need to. My common sense says it isn't that easy to get any cabinet you like.
”It's no trouble at all! Besides, you said about those not so generous guys in the other game centers. Don't be ridiculous!” Yuki pointed out.
The teenager girl took a deep sigh. She smiled much brightly now, the smile looking as calm as before. She then took her apple from her pocket.
”Fine, if you're so sure about it.So when you can get it?”
”I'll be sending the request today: that retailer man comes about soon this evening,since it's again the day I have to pay him. It should coming tomorrow then.” Yuki said.
”Okay... Yuki. Thank you so much. Honestly, you deserve more than just being ignored. You at least make a valuable friend. I'm glad about it,” Ringo said.
Yuki blushed a bit. ”Well... thank you at least taking a visit to here.You were very nice...customer.” she said, sputtering.
Ringo turned at the door. Then, something peculiar caught her eye.
”Yuki, what's that?”
The host took a look at the direction Ringo was pointing: to the right wall of the room.
There stood a lonely arcade cabinet, painted in many shades blue. It was dusty, maybe not being able to function ever... but it had a peculiar figure emblazoned on top of it. It looked like stylish, triangular pointed sunglasses, colored yellow as a base and having red borders.
As Ringo looked straight at them... her body itched. She could feel them glaring back at her in a menacing, evil manner.
Yuki suddenly did go nervous as she saw the same sight.
”Um... it'sjust an old cabinet I'mkeeping with. N-Nothing much- Eat-s not working anymore.” Yuki explained quickly.
”Really? But that logo looks very intimating. In fact, I feel like watching straight to an eyes of a severe pervert.
Now Yuki started to lose it. She felt tingled and hot, sweating as she anxiously tried to think the ways to change the subject.
”Maybe it's better you don't look at it Ringo. 'kay?” she suggested.
Ringo turned at the woman.
”Yuki, you look little pale. Is something wrong? She asked innocently. Yuki replied there was nothing to get worried about: she just didn't like to look at that cabinet, because of the menacing logo mentioned moment ago. The teenager understood it .
”Well then, I'll be coming tomorrow. And thanks for everything again.” Ringo said, ”See you.”
Yuki waved happily at her, thanking her once more for visiting, as she, somewhat nervously, bowed down.
[align=center]****[/align]
Back at the entrance, the glass doors closed behind the girl. It hadn't gone much time though.
”I should head at hometown now- But at least I solved this issue of mine, particularly though. Yuki is such a kind person. Can't wait to get back to this game center,” she thought.
The next second she suddenly felt a cold chill going through her.
Someone had touched her shoulder.
”Wha!” she exlaimed. Quickly she turned at the person. The next sight was little intriguing, though.
The person who touched was much, MUCH taller than she was, and, while wearing a working overalls, had just a huge white robe, even covering his head. Oddly enough he just wore slippers. The worker carried another cabinet with him, using... a yellow barrow. (By the way, the cabinet read ”Bust-A Move Again” on it.)
”Um... is she here?” he asked. He sounded somewhat like a middle-aged man, trying to hide his annoying voice, maybe because he was ashamed about it.
”You mean Yuki Itou?” Ringo corrected.
”Uh- Yes, her. Is she here? I'd have to deliver this cabinet.” the man said. He crouched his legs a bit.
”She's in the staffroom, if you're looking for her,” Ringo said. But she was staring at the legs. Clearly, they were barely showing, (”Yuck, even all the hair are visible! Eww. This warm weather really makes people's mind get dizzy.)
Ringo looked at the face of that man next: suddenly she caught something.Was that man smirking just now at her? But he had already turned his face away from the teenager.
”Thanks then, kid. I'll be delivering this thing then. Have a nice day!”
The man entered the game center: But Ringo couldn't help it. She felt very suspicious.
Unlike last times, she didn't even need to summarise the problem.
”Pervert.”
But she started to wonder. What would she do? She wasn't sure about her skills to stop that man, if in case he was up to no good.
Just then she remembered... those painful memories again.
”You now have been exposed to the light...
so now you have the power to pop four connected Puyo.”
As she thought about it, she wondered did could she still use those magical powers she got in that time. Since the day she realised that truth... she couldnt use her powers anymore. But maybe now she could, maybe. There just had to be found a way.
”Popping four connected Puyo... Wait... what if...”
Ringo looked around quickly. There was a shop just behind her! Just right in time.
Quickly she ran in there. There was no time to lose. Anything could happen.
”Quite polite she was...But I guess I shouldn't be playing now, must clean the arcade machines up for the next day. Aww, phooey,” Yuki thought.
Just when she was taking a tissue, a door behind her opened in the staff room... a voice chilling her instantly.
”Good evening.”
Yuki luckily regained her cool imperceptibly, after she got struck by unsettling aura of that retailer.
"Your delivery just came in.” the man announced. Yuki looked at the door. She felt little nervous now.
”Oh, that one? Just put it near that Darius-one, thank you,” Yuki prompted briefly.
The man did as she said, and then started to walk at the door. Yuki made a quick sigh of relief.
Then the retailer.... closed the door. He was now coming towards Yuki. The host was quite been puzzled about by the appearance of the retailer.The bare legs, him trying to crouch just to fit in the room, even though looked very large...
It all felt quite awkward with the fact he brung all kinds of arcade cabinets she liked.
”Now, what about the payment?” he asked sternly.
”What do you mean by a payment? I paid the money for you for that game yesterday. Can you please go?”
”Not until you we're done talking about that,” the man said, annoyed.
”That!?"
"Yes. I've been waiting for it."
Yuki raised her eyebrow.
"But our contract said about me giving it for you after I've made it function. Now go,” she commanded.
Suddenly, Yuki could hear a blood vessel snapping, so loudly she could hear it.
But it was something much worse. At the next moment she heard a loud, familiar cackling.
After recognising it, she started to tremble.
The man took off his robe from his head. What was behind it was a face of of mad scientist, which had pointed moustache and spiky hair, divided stylishly in four on his head. He didn't seem to wear anything else aside from his robe, thus explaining the bare legs. Terrifyingly, in fact, he was naked. One could see he was as skinny as a skeleton.
The unexplainable height made him reach the roof of that room, making him quite intimdating as well. (Even the head had to be tilted to make him fit in the room)
But the most peculiar detail about him was those glasses, the same as that dreadful cabinet near him.
”Yamada...Genius?!?! It can't be!”
”So you just are using me get some more games!? I should've known you're still sucha annoying pesk like back those days.But now using me for your own profit... I should've done something to you earlier.” Yamada said, making Yuki get quite terrified.
”Where's your friends now? Not at least protecting you here, I'm afraid! Maybe gone at the mobile industry, if I'm correct... Hm?”
Yuki just realised what Yamada meant, feeling she got struck painfully to her heart by mad scientist's last sentence. She was alone!
Just then the man charged forward at her. Yuki quickly jumped away from him, making his open hand hit the Darius II cabinet. Oddly he force was so bad that the screen broke to pieces!
Unfortunately the man grabbed the woman's hand just as swiftly. Yuki trembled now in fear.What could that perverted scientist do to her now!?
”First of all, I break every finger from both of your hands, and then amputate your arms as well, for how much trouble they have caused me back those times. Then...”
”Eeeeh?!”
”I take my cabinet back for the right person it belongs to... But first...”
He struck her straight at the Darius-cabinet, holding her against it. Yuki remembered how strong he could grasp he hand, as it felt very dry and gripped around her. Not mention it hurt.
Yamada touched her first finger, stronglyf bending it forward. Yuki screamed in pain. She didn't want to hear the snap...
Suddenly, the door was opened loudly.From there came a familiar redhaired girl, holding what appeared to be four different-colored balloons.
She seemed to have drewn on them: each balloon had shapes of blobs stacked together in groups of three. The expressions also varied by the color of the balloons: the red one had angry blobs with the angry eyes angled near the side, while blue had sad, shaped like a upside down teardrop, yellow again contained happy blobs shaped as a raindrop, and green were regular round blobs looking expressionless, eyes wide open.
Balloons, however, had also one different blob along with the same blobs drawn on them, not being thus able to collide with the other same colored blobs in other balloons. But why Ringo did all of this, wasting her time earlier to just draw on balloons instead of going after the baddy?
"Ringo!" Yuki cried, relieved. Yamada looked at Ringo, very puzzled. It seemed this teenager wanted to save her friend, but it was very unpredictable, how.
Ringo quickly tried to summarise what she remembered, and thus, planned to do:
"I never expected the garbage system being so easy to understand how it works! Simply, it's just a potency calculation converted as a multiplier system to work with sending the nuisance.
Depending how much Puyo I pop, it multiplies the nuisance puyo with that number. And the four same colored puyo corresponded as one nuisance, if I remember right...So popping with six Puyo per chain after the first, I should easily make that pervert pass away soon. Sadly I can't use anything more than simple chains here I'm not much good at drawing...'"
"Who's that, another those darned game characters you've sended at me?" Yamada asked, enraged. He quickly forgot his moment-ago intention. Yuki, even though still scared, also wondered what Ringo was up to: despite that, she knew Ringo must have planned something intelligent, and wished the best for it.
"Hey, you pervert. Leave her alone now. I already can assume you were up to no good back there," Ringo said, bravely trying to get a good stance. "This is why..."
She turned her open hand at that peculiar evil machine. Yamada raised his eyebrow. But then he snickered.
"You even try to touch that... and I'll deal with you first!!!" he screamed. But Ringo taunted him with one more stance. She started to get nervous, however.
Another bloodvessel snapped: Now Yamada dropped Yuki on the ground, and started to come at Ringo. He was intimidatingly enormous. But the teenager tried her best to not lose her cool. "Come on... I can do this."
Soon Yamada was as right front of her: grabbing her from the back, he rose her right on front of his face. No stench, luckily.
Ringo quickly looked at Yuki, who was trying to get up, and as she expected, worried about her. Suddenly, she just ran at the evil arcade machine, and quickly opened it.
Yuki looked back, since she heard a loud grumbling, banging noises, along with alarming screaming: Yamada tried to slam Ringo at the wall, trying to pass her out. Ringo almost was losing her balloons, as she weakly tried to fight back by escaping from his grasp. Yuki shouted through the noise at her.
"Ringo!!! Over here! Whatever you try to do, make him go here!" she waved near at the arcade machine: the screen was on, but just showing the palette test.
Now Ringo took action: she took the red balloon, and weakly slammed it at blue one. Odd things started to happen: the red balloon popped up, releasing odd light flying wavely on Ringo's hand. What was much odder, the blue balloon was seemed to be cut in half in the air, but stayed in there motionless, looking like a regular balloon with the other half gone.
"Let's... get started!" Ringo exclaimed, even though she started to lose conciousness: the blue balloon popped now as well, the light homing again at the teenager's hand and building up in there.The chain continued as the both yellow balloon and finally the green balloon, bursted into light.
Ringo aimed her glowing, constantly sparkling hand over Yamada, and quickly yelled: "Sine!"
At the next moment, the host just couldn't believe what she saw then: Suddenly over thirty grey round blobs with expressionless face rained down all over at Yamada. The painfully hard impact made him wobble dangerously.
Because of the constant teetering, he hammered Ringo right at the wall again.The girl slowly blackened out. Before then she could feel the motion of Yamada teetering randomly about, and then... it sounded like lots of huge lamps were turned on at the same time, and her eyes were filled with white light.
" R...o..... .p......e..."
She could someone shaking her. But where could she have been now? Maybe at the hospital? Also.. back there when facing the mad scientist, he said: "- another those darned game characters you've sended at me?"
It hurt her again back there. How dare he talk about them like that. Even though she wasn't a game geek, but anyway: she had her own reasons! Maybe... she had to talk about them now at her. Why to hide anymore? She seemed to realise something just as disturbing as some months ago: Could Yuki have been through something...
It seemed like a new puzzle. But maybe if she talked about it... It would make sense then, anyway whatsoever.
Oh no- the hammering sensation started to come back to her head. It irritated her very painfully.
Suddenly it felt much weaker. Much like the moment with that tummy ache...she wondered quickly: Was Yuki with her?
Ringo slowly tried to open her eyes. Her back hurt a lot, and she seemed to suffer from a severe headache, making her quite weak to move up.
No change of a location. She was back at the staff room again. Just then Ringo realised she was just staring at Yuki's tearful, worried eyes. She must've been desperately trying to wake her up. (Even though shaking her helplessly) The host helped the teenager quickly to get up at least to sit on the floor.
Now Yuki bursted into tears. She quickly took Ringo and embraced her tightly, much to signify how worried she was about her fate.
"I'm so sorry Ringooo!!! It's all my fault to get you dragged at this!" she cried, as she pressed Ringo against her chest, trying to embarrassingly comfort her again.
Ringo felt quite weak to make any motion, but at least was more than glad that Yuki was there for her- and fortunately didn't call the ambulance or anything. Soon the host stopped her crying, as she sighed in relieve.
" It's almost unbelievable that you survived from that bastardly Yamada's bangs back there.And what you did back there for me... I know! You really deserve an explanation for all of this. But first, I have to help you out." Yuki said. She slowly helped Ringo to get up, (even though her finger at the left hand was sore from that bending) and carried her at the seat of the broken Darius II-cabinet.
"Wait here, I'll get you the first aid kit and some ice as quickly as I can," Yuki said, as she ran off, mumbling something along the lines of getting Ringo food as well.
Ringo looked around, there was no sign of the nuisance puyo she created back there: the room was little damaged, by the wall at the opposite of the room and the roof.
Then she remembered that peculiar arcade cabinet. She looked at it's direction. Nothing out of ordinary. The arcade cabinet was turned off. Ringo tried to think about the attack some moments ago. The head though hurted so much she couldn't get any control of her mind. The pain banged her in the direction her head was hit, the upper back of the head. The cowlick was itself fallen over the forehead weakly.
Soon the door was opened- Yuki came back, carrying a first aid kit and kakigori-cup, along with some cup of flavoured noodle soup.She also brought an apple with her, considerately.
"There, this is all I can get for you now! All you alright, by any chance?" Yuki asked. She sitted next to Ringo, and took the bottle of aspirin powder.She also put ice on Ringo's head, as it had few bumps.
"I... think so, thank you. So... about... that." Ringo pointed out, as she drank the aspirin water mixture. She felt her stomach tingling again as she said it.
"Okay. But I must tell you... it's a secret that none average person would believe. But I'm sure you can keep it, right?"
"You know... I also have a secret. But I'm not afraid anymore to tell you about that... Gee... ”
Ringo started to giggle herself: her laugh sounded wierd though, maybe she wasn't use to laugh often.
"What is it?" Yuki wondered.
"I feel like fate has brought us together for good. What could have happened if I didn't come here this day?" Ringo said.
"You're right...Does that secret of your have to do with your magical powers you unleashed back there? I recognised those rocks being nuisance puyo you created back there...!”
Yuki stared at the teenager, startled, then suspiciously.
”Don't tell me... you're a Puyo Puyo-character?" Yuki asked questionably. Ringo was disturbed- she shook her head quickly.
"No. I'm not. But in fact... I've met them. And got these powers as well. But they haven't worked again until now." Ringo explained. Yuki now gasped in interest.
"Can you tell me more? I think... you've been through same as I am?"
Ringo's eyes widened instantly. Silence creeped through the room.
"You mean... Really?"
"Mmm."
Ringo felt now much more relieved, her soul warming much more than ever before! The person in fact was through the same she was, so...she must be able to understand her current problem.
"Yuki... Thank you... so much. I don't really know a way how to thank you enough. I must've been lucky to have met you!” Ringo smiled, her tone showing her newfound hope.
”Maybe... we could help each other." she suggested determinedly. She took the apple Yuki brought to her.
"I think... yes. This then is between you and me."
"I understood."
They shook hands, but as they both felt relieved about not needing to keep their similar, extraordinary secret with themselves anymore... they couldn't help but enjoy it much more.
The woman glomped the teenager quickly and shouted happily of joy.
The teenager didn't mind, as she grinned her best smile: she was now allowed to say her favorite saying, after all the hardships she has been through:
"Problem solved.”
- End Of The Prologue -
"Um Ringo, after you've recovered, maybe we could have a match at Bust-A-Move, okay?"
"But Yuki, it would take at least some days until I've recovered fully! What are you thinking?!"
"Can't you like... heal yourself or something?"
"Yuki... I already mentioned I'm not a videogame character. Besides, I don't if this "Bust-A-Move" sounds somehow anything competitive, more like a puzzle game*."
"..."
"You have anything else we can play?"
"I just remembered... I own Puyo Puyo Seven. Maybe we could play that instead."
"What The F*ctor!?"
_____________________
*Bust-A-Move is known as Puzzle Bobble in Japan.
(The ending joke doesn't relate to the story's plot, just to break it, ya know.)
First of all, I want to thank Parrothead, for introducing the Game Tengoku-series for me. I love every bit of it. This is particularly for him, as Jaleco had changed up a lot recent years.
And this is for BooDestroyer particularly as well. He enjoys Puyo Puyo-series a lot, just to add. Wonder if you have played Puyo Puyo 7. I wish you all enjoy this chapter, though.
1- Reliving Memories
June 6 2009.
Sun was setting down at the end of the clear day, letting the glittering starry sky night to take over the dark blue sky over a quiet urban area of Setagaya, the busiest city of Tokyo.
Many do wish good thing about summer... Some dreaming about refreshing days of recharging yourself, albeit very lazily, but with total freedom to do what they liked. The care-free mood keeps them relaxed, and maybeeven inspired to do something new for the rest of holidays filled with sun and occassional rainpours.
Some though do keep themselves working even at summer... And not just for part-time jobs: commonly it was about keeping your own firms or enterprises live, for the folks which do have free time in summer, maybe to take a closer look at them...
Soon twilight faded away the colors of the buildings: slowly they started to take in more shades of dark for the rest of that clear day. But suddenly, the darkness was interrupted.
All of the lights were turned on in that urban area of that street, making it run away to much better place to keep itself scary. The people walked over those streets about, minding their own business, as well as hurrying their destinations. But who knows? The folk around here don't talk much at each other.
This street was just becoming soon busy and crowdy, and due to it's linearity, it would much harder to maneuver it later.
Stars were now visible in the sky, motionless, but comfortable for the eye. The moon was just trying to get into it's crescent shape, much harder to be seen, since it just came from the left corner in the sky.
The people ignored them. They kept going in and out from the buildings crafted in a never ending line, drawing so long as to arcily disappear to the sloping road leading to the downtown of the city.
"Reactions on the radar!"
Even that none didn't take even a tiniest peek at it by all the busy walking, one could manage to witness lights being on in one window at the right side of a peculiar station building. Something that appeared to be a arcade game center.
As one could creep up to look at the other side of the window, it led into a staff room, where seemed to some more arcade machines stacked side to side.
"Recognised code CC30."
Oddly enough, one arcade machine was still being on! In fact, at it's seat, there a sat a young, cheerful woman. Probably decided to kill her free time after her working in the game center.
"Distance 12000 Dal!"
She was frowning in determination, rapidly pressing machine's buttons, as she had nailed her eyes on very narrow game screen, controlling a space ship, shooting many formation of mechanical spaceship-like beings over at sun's flaming orbit. The mechanical things flew together now in circly trails, making them little harder to shoot.
The spaceship was very well-constructed, by having giant cutter-looking wings at top and at bottom: also it was colored in silver and red. (Oh, the game screen consisted about three small windows being sticked together,making the game look pretty narrow, and thus, quite awesome.)
"3rd & 4th thrust engine, ignition!
Main engine energy level, 20%!"
As she continued playing, the ship had made the formations bite the dust: shooting down certain formations were rewarded by shields, which could give different upgrades, depending on the color of the gems.
"I've always wanted a thing called tuna sashimi!"
"That part never seases to amuse me- Yay, got now the blue powerup! Aww, how come Taito, make sucha hard, but addictive games? Of course I know about the titles like Space Invadersor Bubble Bobble, but none told about this series! Last game took forever to clear, but glad they decided to modify up the hard parts to much more comfortable pace. I'm so glad..." the woman mumbled, making a sigh of relief- even though she was playing. Right now more enemy ships came out to attack the spaceship.
"Three, Two... One!"
As the womanly voice ended, quite a number of hot meteors started to kick in, trying to collide at the ship. Even though that sounded dangerous, they could be shot at ease. The player did it quickly.
"Darius II, sucha great example of a sequel. But wait, I haven't cleared the game yet! Shouldn't try to expect too muuch~" she thought astonishedly.
As she played on, she shouted some lines, like "Is that King Fossil?!", but overally was keeping quiet. From her (and many others from the past and onwards), shooting down mechanical marine creatures wasn't never been so fun before... yet so difficult.
Back at the streets. More people started to gather in, many cars trying to get out of the traffic at the downtown. It was now evening, and people now to tried to hurry at their places. The crowdiness was quite tight, that there needed to be few police officers to keep the people from not getting lost.
These people didn't look anything out of ordinary- it was quite easy to get lost on that crowd, if you also looked very ordinary and not fashioned in the way to make yourself stand from others.
But a teenager girl tried to make her way through the crowd. Obviously she didn't live in that city, as she was looking for a particular place in that area.
"This was much harder than I could expect. I've looked over many arcade centers so far, but none of them did have that evidence I was looking for... But could this next game center have it? I doubt it. " she said, pondering as she tried to not run at other crowd again.
Occasionally she asked for way from the people: quite easy it was to get their attention, since this teenager looked so different. Her hair was red, having curly pigtails at the back. There was even a cowlick that was quite peculiar: it sometimes moved by it's own! (It seemed that it moved according to her feelings, since now it was calmly pointing up) Moreover, she seemed cultured.
The girl wore light clothes due to the warm weather despite being an evening, consisting of white and pink T-shirt having a star pattern on the center, and pair of jeans.You could tell also she was intelligent by how thoughtful she looked: she calmly kept her vision at the passenger's eyes, as she asked for directions.
Gladly the passanger helped her, even though he mentioned that most of the people ignored that game center a lot. Many have been saying it's being outdated at these days, not having much new hits of arcade games being brought in there.
The girl didn't care though. In fact, she brightened up.
"I was getting so bored by all those hi-tech electronic arcade machines other hosts of the game centers tried to entertain me with. They sure are quite spactacular, but they were slowing me down for looking that evidence about..." the girl thought.
Just then she stopped in front of the game center, after taking the way from crossroad. A huge sign hanged above the doors, reading Game Stage: You & Me. Outside of the glass doors of that game center were few machines, nearest being a plush toy crane, and next to it was a old-looking red slot-machine. The arcade hall looked quite promising, since it seemed to have so many machines and even the stairs leading to the next floor.
The place seemed silent, though: the lights were turned off, as well as none did seem inside.
"Oh no... I should've come here much earlier. That train came so late back there, though. At least it's not too far away from home..." she thought in a sad tone. People kept going near her all the time.
She walked at left direction from that game center. Curiously she took a quick peek at the alley between the two buildings. Nothing, only two walls and accessories that seemed to belong at that near haircut next to the game center.
Suddenly she noticed that one of the game center's windows were lit above her. How come? The intelligent teenager wondered. Was someone actually still inside?
"I won't be really trying to get their attention at this time of evening, but those details that man told me about the game center and it's owner...” the teenager remembered.
Her soul felt ballooning warmly with new hope. No doubt. She could solve this- without getting in trouble as well.
The girl looked around the alley, noticing pair of broken scissors lying at the ground. She quickly took them, and aimed.
****
Back at the entrance of the game center, the girl was talking to the woman. The game center's lights were turned on, drawing people's sceptical, curious attention.
"I'm very sorry for interrupting you at this time of evening! I don't have any intentions you have to get suspicious about. Just one question to ask.”
”It's okay! You don't look like a dishonest person to me, more like very polite. Why don't you come in?”
As they entered in the main hall of the game center, the teenager looked around it. The main hall looked quite wide, since there were many different kinds of arcade cabinets, from old coctails to fewer touch-screen operating hi-tech machines. There were few cranes, and even one huge pinball machine as well at back in the center. At left end of the hall was few doors that let to toilets for different genders, even the invalid, as well as stairs leading to the second floor...
Suddenly she was interrupted. (Her cowlick jumped up a bit)
”And you're name is?”
”Oh yes--- I-I'm Ringo Andou.” teenager replied very awkwardly. She embarrassedly regretted her sincere curiousness. Luckily the woman smiled very comfortingly as to message there was no need for an apology.
”I am Yuki Itou, the host and owner of this game center- pleased to meet you!” the young woman introduced herself. Ringo calmly smirked back.
Yuki looked bright from her eyes, was quite slender and had turqoise-green long hair, knotted in to a ponytail. She wore a red cap, having smoothly sewn white borders.'Also she had a orange jersey shirt on, which was little covered by a grey puffy waistcoat: lastly she wore a black skirt, completed with brown pantyhose. As Ringo could guess, Yuki seemed to be a very cheerful, optimistic person. Additionally being always glad to serve and help her customers at her best: as being the only one to run the arcade center , she must be knowing every corner of it.
Indeed... she was much different than the last game center's hosts.
They walked at the desk near the entrance. Yuki told Ringo to sit down on one of the chairs in front, as she walked behind the desk and sitted down as well.
”Your game center is quite interesting, I don't understand how come people ignore this place so much,” Ringo remarked. She looked at the hall again, curiously eyeing at the machines.
”Well, people have said I have outdated selection... kids go so far as to call me old as a hag, probably playing just Commodore 64 these days. These arcade cabinets are though something I won't give away though...” Yuki replied, closing her eyes while smiling sheepishly at subject's troublesomeness. ”Luckily I was able to get some new arcade machines here by some cash I saved up about. Otherwise it's been little quiet here at start of this summer. (But maybe I have too much treasure to keep with me at here...)”
”She sure has a lot of valuable things to keep with her here...” Ringo thought uneasily.
Both turned back to each other.
”So Ringo, you wanted to ask me something?”
”Um, I doubt it though if I can find it here, but the chances are looking much bigger than in last game centers I've visited, since you have old games in here.”
”You're looking for something?”
”Yes- shortly, I'm looking for a Puyo Puyo arcade cabinet.”
Yuki gasped in astonishment. For her, it sounded really odd: this girl has been searching for one rare game cabinet, even though there are quite a lot of Puyo Puyo-game merhandise out there.
But it got her interested about Ringo's ambition.
”Why you're looking for it?”
”To examine it, and if there's an opportunity, I'd like to play it.” Ringo replied.
”Are you a huge Puyo Puyo-fan? I don't see people like you every day. It must be quite fun.” Yuki said.
Ringo felt now quite awkward inside, so awkward that Yuki could see it. (Ringo's cowlick was trembling a little.) She started to fear that she had struck Ringo at somewhere unpleasant: quickly she apologised, even though very worriedly.
”No, it's nothing... ” Ringo said soothingly.
Yuki started to think: did she have the cabinet? Of course she has been collecting up old arcade cabinets, since she couldn't find much compilation games for the arcade games she was looking for. There were quite many in the staff room's storage.
”Why don't you come with me, Ringo. Let's see if we have that cabinet you're looking for.”
Both stood up. But suddenly, Ringo's apple dropped from her pocket. The owner noticed it quickly, and squatted to take it. Yuki looked at her curiously. Suddenly she started to giggle loudly.
''Looks like they didn't name you as Ringo for nothing!” Yuki remarked. Ringo first felt embarrassed, but then couldn't help but smile at Yuki's expression: she was holding her chest and even tearing a bit.
”I love apples, besides, an apple keeps me inspired on solving the problems and puzzles.” Ringo explained. Well, she knew she felt very attached at them. ”Anyway, let's go.”
As they travelled through the main hall, Ringo noticed one thing: Yuki seemed to have huge liking on games made by one particular game company: Jaleco Ltd. The titles scrolled about from the names like City Connection, Dream Audition, Suchie Pai and even Tuff E Nuff.
”You really seem to like Jaleco's games.” Ringo pointed out.
”Oh yes, I do! They usually make games with wierd or unique premises, but can keep them quite addictive. Or they used to... Now they sold their themselves for company called Game Yarou.” Yuki said. Then she sighed. ”Before that they just produced some mobile games, and tried their at DS-marketing.
”Maybe they couldn't keep with rest of the video game industries out there? It's very hard,” Ringo said. ”Considering many important factors that must be taken on consideration. Like support from the fans, for example. Sega at least-”
Ringo suddenly stopped there. She was frozen on her words, feeling now very uneasy: as if she had remembered something very disturbing.
Yuki noticed that Ringo was lackind behind her, and turned back to see where she was. Just then she got alarmed: Ringo was holding her stomach and had crouched to the ground, trembling weakly.
”Ringo! Are you okay!? What happened to you!?” Yuki asked very worriedly. She tried her best to help Ringo up.
”It's that... tummy ache... again...” Ringo mumbled weakly. Yuki asked was she sick, but Ringo said it was something personal.
”Just try to forget it... It's alright.” Ringo convinced. But even she knew that this situation looked much worse than she said: she had noticed Yuki couldn't help but look at her suspiciously now a bit.
But the truth was just senseless as she could think it to be...
Her memories rose again inside her mind.
Then she remembered... that unexpected realisation. That disturbing fact.
The distress struck her again. Much worse than before. Slowly and painfully hurting her...
She was in state of den- Tummy ache!
”Ow...” she exclaimed weakly. How come she felt much better now?
Then she saw the answer: Yuki had wrapped her arm around her back, trying to keep her up as they walked up stairs. Ringo felt embarrassed. Even though she couldn't tell the truth the host, she felt much comfortable now, and thus, was more couraged to forget what she remembered.
Yuki sighed uncomfortably. How worried was she about her new friend. What could have possibly made Ringo feel so mentally ill... yet she didn't want talk about it? She must've been through something very unfortunate... that is for sure!
Just then Yuki realised she already had wrapped another arm around Ringo. Embarrassed, she exclaimed something quickly and jerked the arms away.
”Sorry, I didn't mean to be wierd... or anything worse!”
”Yuki...” Ringo said soothingly, ”It's okay. I feel much better now.”
They had already arrived at the second floor. It seemed much smaller version of the first floor,
by having fewer arcade machines, and some more different cranes. Three huge windows were at the opposite of the hall, giving nice view for the rest of the busy city of Setagaya, with all the colorful skycrapers in many different heights rising quite far. Even the city's tallest building, Carrot Tower, could be seen behind them.
The people walked around the streets in much more wilder rate than before: the noise had filled the city entirely, a mix of horns and and people's voices. Luckily they were just sounding little faint right now at the room. The evening looked gorgeous: the glittering star were advancing at the sky, as well as the moon being almost visible.
Yuki walked at the left, Ringo following: they came into a huge door, a sign over it boldly readIng ”STAFF ONLY”.
As the door was opened and lights were put on, Ringo observed the room. It was brown all the way, from the marmor floor, bricky walls and the roof also dyed in those colors. There seemed to be arcade cabinets side to side at left wall: Maybe they were malfunctioning, or were discarded. At the left corner of the room, there were some boxes unopened, and near was a wooden, dusty old table having a tabletop computer on it. A cracked mug standed alone on the table, probably discarded a long time ago.
There was also Darius II.cabinet, all there functioning and on: there was a seat for two players to play with, and under the game screen (which was displaying the high score) was the joystick and buttons, along with the instructions of the game printed near them. Ringo was sure the host was playing it some moments ago.
By that time Yuki had unlocked the door to the storage room. She asked Ringo to come to see, if there was the cabinet she was looking for.
****
”Too bad... it's not even here.” Ringo said disappointedly.
”I'm sorry Ringo. I really should bring up some more interesting games,” Yuki said regretfully.
”Well, at least you helped me much better than the rest of those marketing guys in game centers. They didn't have any manners when I visited them...” Ringo said. Her expression seemed disgusted.
Yuki got a brilliant idea.
”Hey Ringo, what if... I'll get that Puyo Puyo-cabinet for you? That's if only you like to, of course!” she suggested optimistically. ” I've been getting some old cabinets these days from some retailer. That fellow seems to have a lots of unmodified arcade game classics. If I remember right, he has Puyo Puyo as well.”
Ringo felt how a huge boulder dropped from her heart. She turned at Yuki, having a mixed expression of huge relieved happiness with little embarrassment.
She closed her eyes and smiled awkwardly at her, sweating now a bit.
”But Yuki... you don't really need to. My common sense says it isn't that easy to get any cabinet you like.
”It's no trouble at all! Besides, you said about those not so generous guys in the other game centers. Don't be ridiculous!” Yuki pointed out.
The teenager girl took a deep sigh. She smiled much brightly now, the smile looking as calm as before. She then took her apple from her pocket.
”Fine, if you're so sure about it.So when you can get it?”
”I'll be sending the request today: that retailer man comes about soon this evening,since it's again the day I have to pay him. It should coming tomorrow then.” Yuki said.
”Okay... Yuki. Thank you so much. Honestly, you deserve more than just being ignored. You at least make a valuable friend. I'm glad about it,” Ringo said.
Yuki blushed a bit. ”Well... thank you at least taking a visit to here.You were very nice...customer.” she said, sputtering.
Ringo turned at the door. Then, something peculiar caught her eye.
”Yuki, what's that?”
The host took a look at the direction Ringo was pointing: to the right wall of the room.
There stood a lonely arcade cabinet, painted in many shades blue. It was dusty, maybe not being able to function ever... but it had a peculiar figure emblazoned on top of it. It looked like stylish, triangular pointed sunglasses, colored yellow as a base and having red borders.
As Ringo looked straight at them... her body itched. She could feel them glaring back at her in a menacing, evil manner.
Yuki suddenly did go nervous as she saw the same sight.
”Um... it'sjust an old cabinet I'mkeeping with. N-Nothing much- Eat-s not working anymore.” Yuki explained quickly.
”Really? But that logo looks very intimating. In fact, I feel like watching straight to an eyes of a severe pervert.
Now Yuki started to lose it. She felt tingled and hot, sweating as she anxiously tried to think the ways to change the subject.
”Maybe it's better you don't look at it Ringo. 'kay?” she suggested.
Ringo turned at the woman.
”Yuki, you look little pale. Is something wrong? She asked innocently. Yuki replied there was nothing to get worried about: she just didn't like to look at that cabinet, because of the menacing logo mentioned moment ago. The teenager understood it .
”Well then, I'll be coming tomorrow. And thanks for everything again.” Ringo said, ”See you.”
Yuki waved happily at her, thanking her once more for visiting, as she, somewhat nervously, bowed down.
[align=center]****[/align]
Back at the entrance, the glass doors closed behind the girl. It hadn't gone much time though.
”I should head at hometown now- But at least I solved this issue of mine, particularly though. Yuki is such a kind person. Can't wait to get back to this game center,” she thought.
The next second she suddenly felt a cold chill going through her.
Someone had touched her shoulder.
”Wha!” she exlaimed. Quickly she turned at the person. The next sight was little intriguing, though.
The person who touched was much, MUCH taller than she was, and, while wearing a working overalls, had just a huge white robe, even covering his head. Oddly enough he just wore slippers. The worker carried another cabinet with him, using... a yellow barrow. (By the way, the cabinet read ”Bust-A Move Again” on it.)
”Um... is she here?” he asked. He sounded somewhat like a middle-aged man, trying to hide his annoying voice, maybe because he was ashamed about it.
”You mean Yuki Itou?” Ringo corrected.
”Uh- Yes, her. Is she here? I'd have to deliver this cabinet.” the man said. He crouched his legs a bit.
”She's in the staffroom, if you're looking for her,” Ringo said. But she was staring at the legs. Clearly, they were barely showing, (”Yuck, even all the hair are visible! Eww. This warm weather really makes people's mind get dizzy.)
Ringo looked at the face of that man next: suddenly she caught something.Was that man smirking just now at her? But he had already turned his face away from the teenager.
”Thanks then, kid. I'll be delivering this thing then. Have a nice day!”
The man entered the game center: But Ringo couldn't help it. She felt very suspicious.
Unlike last times, she didn't even need to summarise the problem.
”Pervert.”
But she started to wonder. What would she do? She wasn't sure about her skills to stop that man, if in case he was up to no good.
Just then she remembered... those painful memories again.
”You now have been exposed to the light...
so now you have the power to pop four connected Puyo.”
As she thought about it, she wondered did could she still use those magical powers she got in that time. Since the day she realised that truth... she couldnt use her powers anymore. But maybe now she could, maybe. There just had to be found a way.
”Popping four connected Puyo... Wait... what if...”
Ringo looked around quickly. There was a shop just behind her! Just right in time.
Quickly she ran in there. There was no time to lose. Anything could happen.
****
”Quite polite she was...But I guess I shouldn't be playing now, must clean the arcade machines up for the next day. Aww, phooey,” Yuki thought.
Just when she was taking a tissue, a door behind her opened in the staff room... a voice chilling her instantly.
”Good evening.”
Yuki luckily regained her cool imperceptibly, after she got struck by unsettling aura of that retailer.
"Your delivery just came in.” the man announced. Yuki looked at the door. She felt little nervous now.
”Oh, that one? Just put it near that Darius-one, thank you,” Yuki prompted briefly.
The man did as she said, and then started to walk at the door. Yuki made a quick sigh of relief.
Then the retailer.... closed the door. He was now coming towards Yuki. The host was quite been puzzled about by the appearance of the retailer.The bare legs, him trying to crouch just to fit in the room, even though looked very large...
It all felt quite awkward with the fact he brung all kinds of arcade cabinets she liked.
”Now, what about the payment?” he asked sternly.
”What do you mean by a payment? I paid the money for you for that game yesterday. Can you please go?”
”Not until you we're done talking about that,” the man said, annoyed.
”That!?"
"Yes. I've been waiting for it."
Yuki raised her eyebrow.
"But our contract said about me giving it for you after I've made it function. Now go,” she commanded.
Suddenly, Yuki could hear a blood vessel snapping, so loudly she could hear it.
But it was something much worse. At the next moment she heard a loud, familiar cackling.
After recognising it, she started to tremble.
The man took off his robe from his head. What was behind it was a face of of mad scientist, which had pointed moustache and spiky hair, divided stylishly in four on his head. He didn't seem to wear anything else aside from his robe, thus explaining the bare legs. Terrifyingly, in fact, he was naked. One could see he was as skinny as a skeleton.
The unexplainable height made him reach the roof of that room, making him quite intimdating as well. (Even the head had to be tilted to make him fit in the room)
But the most peculiar detail about him was those glasses, the same as that dreadful cabinet near him.
”Yamada...Genius?!?! It can't be!”
”So you just are using me get some more games!? I should've known you're still sucha annoying pesk like back those days.But now using me for your own profit... I should've done something to you earlier.” Yamada said, making Yuki get quite terrified.
”Where's your friends now? Not at least protecting you here, I'm afraid! Maybe gone at the mobile industry, if I'm correct... Hm?”
Yuki just realised what Yamada meant, feeling she got struck painfully to her heart by mad scientist's last sentence. She was alone!
Just then the man charged forward at her. Yuki quickly jumped away from him, making his open hand hit the Darius II cabinet. Oddly he force was so bad that the screen broke to pieces!
Unfortunately the man grabbed the woman's hand just as swiftly. Yuki trembled now in fear.What could that perverted scientist do to her now!?
”First of all, I break every finger from both of your hands, and then amputate your arms as well, for how much trouble they have caused me back those times. Then...”
”Eeeeh?!”
”I take my cabinet back for the right person it belongs to... But first...”
He struck her straight at the Darius-cabinet, holding her against it. Yuki remembered how strong he could grasp he hand, as it felt very dry and gripped around her. Not mention it hurt.
Yamada touched her first finger, stronglyf bending it forward. Yuki screamed in pain. She didn't want to hear the snap...
Suddenly, the door was opened loudly.From there came a familiar redhaired girl, holding what appeared to be four different-colored balloons.
She seemed to have drewn on them: each balloon had shapes of blobs stacked together in groups of three. The expressions also varied by the color of the balloons: the red one had angry blobs with the angry eyes angled near the side, while blue had sad, shaped like a upside down teardrop, yellow again contained happy blobs shaped as a raindrop, and green were regular round blobs looking expressionless, eyes wide open.
Balloons, however, had also one different blob along with the same blobs drawn on them, not being thus able to collide with the other same colored blobs in other balloons. But why Ringo did all of this, wasting her time earlier to just draw on balloons instead of going after the baddy?
"Ringo!" Yuki cried, relieved. Yamada looked at Ringo, very puzzled. It seemed this teenager wanted to save her friend, but it was very unpredictable, how.
Ringo quickly tried to summarise what she remembered, and thus, planned to do:
"I never expected the garbage system being so easy to understand how it works! Simply, it's just a potency calculation converted as a multiplier system to work with sending the nuisance.
Depending how much Puyo I pop, it multiplies the nuisance puyo with that number. And the four same colored puyo corresponded as one nuisance, if I remember right...So popping with six Puyo per chain after the first, I should easily make that pervert pass away soon. Sadly I can't use anything more than simple chains here I'm not much good at drawing...'"
"Who's that, another those darned game characters you've sended at me?" Yamada asked, enraged. He quickly forgot his moment-ago intention. Yuki, even though still scared, also wondered what Ringo was up to: despite that, she knew Ringo must have planned something intelligent, and wished the best for it.
"Hey, you pervert. Leave her alone now. I already can assume you were up to no good back there," Ringo said, bravely trying to get a good stance. "This is why..."
She turned her open hand at that peculiar evil machine. Yamada raised his eyebrow. But then he snickered.
"You even try to touch that... and I'll deal with you first!!!" he screamed. But Ringo taunted him with one more stance. She started to get nervous, however.
Another bloodvessel snapped: Now Yamada dropped Yuki on the ground, and started to come at Ringo. He was intimidatingly enormous. But the teenager tried her best to not lose her cool. "Come on... I can do this."
Soon Yamada was as right front of her: grabbing her from the back, he rose her right on front of his face. No stench, luckily.
Ringo quickly looked at Yuki, who was trying to get up, and as she expected, worried about her. Suddenly, she just ran at the evil arcade machine, and quickly opened it.
Yuki looked back, since she heard a loud grumbling, banging noises, along with alarming screaming: Yamada tried to slam Ringo at the wall, trying to pass her out. Ringo almost was losing her balloons, as she weakly tried to fight back by escaping from his grasp. Yuki shouted through the noise at her.
"Ringo!!! Over here! Whatever you try to do, make him go here!" she waved near at the arcade machine: the screen was on, but just showing the palette test.
Now Ringo took action: she took the red balloon, and weakly slammed it at blue one. Odd things started to happen: the red balloon popped up, releasing odd light flying wavely on Ringo's hand. What was much odder, the blue balloon was seemed to be cut in half in the air, but stayed in there motionless, looking like a regular balloon with the other half gone.
"Let's... get started!" Ringo exclaimed, even though she started to lose conciousness: the blue balloon popped now as well, the light homing again at the teenager's hand and building up in there.The chain continued as the both yellow balloon and finally the green balloon, bursted into light.
Ringo aimed her glowing, constantly sparkling hand over Yamada, and quickly yelled: "Sine!"
At the next moment, the host just couldn't believe what she saw then: Suddenly over thirty grey round blobs with expressionless face rained down all over at Yamada. The painfully hard impact made him wobble dangerously.
Because of the constant teetering, he hammered Ringo right at the wall again.The girl slowly blackened out. Before then she could feel the motion of Yamada teetering randomly about, and then... it sounded like lots of huge lamps were turned on at the same time, and her eyes were filled with white light.
****
" R...o..... .p......e..."
She could someone shaking her. But where could she have been now? Maybe at the hospital? Also.. back there when facing the mad scientist, he said: "- another those darned game characters you've sended at me?"
It hurt her again back there. How dare he talk about them like that. Even though she wasn't a game geek, but anyway: she had her own reasons! Maybe... she had to talk about them now at her. Why to hide anymore? She seemed to realise something just as disturbing as some months ago: Could Yuki have been through something...
It seemed like a new puzzle. But maybe if she talked about it... It would make sense then, anyway whatsoever.
Oh no- the hammering sensation started to come back to her head. It irritated her very painfully.
Suddenly it felt much weaker. Much like the moment with that tummy ache...she wondered quickly: Was Yuki with her?
Ringo slowly tried to open her eyes. Her back hurt a lot, and she seemed to suffer from a severe headache, making her quite weak to move up.
No change of a location. She was back at the staff room again. Just then Ringo realised she was just staring at Yuki's tearful, worried eyes. She must've been desperately trying to wake her up. (Even though shaking her helplessly) The host helped the teenager quickly to get up at least to sit on the floor.
Now Yuki bursted into tears. She quickly took Ringo and embraced her tightly, much to signify how worried she was about her fate.
"I'm so sorry Ringooo!!! It's all my fault to get you dragged at this!" she cried, as she pressed Ringo against her chest, trying to embarrassingly comfort her again.
Ringo felt quite weak to make any motion, but at least was more than glad that Yuki was there for her- and fortunately didn't call the ambulance or anything. Soon the host stopped her crying, as she sighed in relieve.
" It's almost unbelievable that you survived from that bastardly Yamada's bangs back there.And what you did back there for me... I know! You really deserve an explanation for all of this. But first, I have to help you out." Yuki said. She slowly helped Ringo to get up, (even though her finger at the left hand was sore from that bending) and carried her at the seat of the broken Darius II-cabinet.
"Wait here, I'll get you the first aid kit and some ice as quickly as I can," Yuki said, as she ran off, mumbling something along the lines of getting Ringo food as well.
Ringo looked around, there was no sign of the nuisance puyo she created back there: the room was little damaged, by the wall at the opposite of the room and the roof.
Then she remembered that peculiar arcade cabinet. She looked at it's direction. Nothing out of ordinary. The arcade cabinet was turned off. Ringo tried to think about the attack some moments ago. The head though hurted so much she couldn't get any control of her mind. The pain banged her in the direction her head was hit, the upper back of the head. The cowlick was itself fallen over the forehead weakly.
Soon the door was opened- Yuki came back, carrying a first aid kit and kakigori-cup, along with some cup of flavoured noodle soup.She also brought an apple with her, considerately.
"There, this is all I can get for you now! All you alright, by any chance?" Yuki asked. She sitted next to Ringo, and took the bottle of aspirin powder.She also put ice on Ringo's head, as it had few bumps.
"I... think so, thank you. So... about... that." Ringo pointed out, as she drank the aspirin water mixture. She felt her stomach tingling again as she said it.
"Okay. But I must tell you... it's a secret that none average person would believe. But I'm sure you can keep it, right?"
"You know... I also have a secret. But I'm not afraid anymore to tell you about that... Gee... ”
Ringo started to giggle herself: her laugh sounded wierd though, maybe she wasn't use to laugh often.
"What is it?" Yuki wondered.
"I feel like fate has brought us together for good. What could have happened if I didn't come here this day?" Ringo said.
"You're right...Does that secret of your have to do with your magical powers you unleashed back there? I recognised those rocks being nuisance puyo you created back there...!”
Yuki stared at the teenager, startled, then suspiciously.
”Don't tell me... you're a Puyo Puyo-character?" Yuki asked questionably. Ringo was disturbed- she shook her head quickly.
"No. I'm not. But in fact... I've met them. And got these powers as well. But they haven't worked again until now." Ringo explained. Yuki now gasped in interest.
"Can you tell me more? I think... you've been through same as I am?"
Ringo's eyes widened instantly. Silence creeped through the room.
"You mean... Really?"
"Mmm."
Ringo felt now much more relieved, her soul warming much more than ever before! The person in fact was through the same she was, so...she must be able to understand her current problem.
"Yuki... Thank you... so much. I don't really know a way how to thank you enough. I must've been lucky to have met you!” Ringo smiled, her tone showing her newfound hope.
”Maybe... we could help each other." she suggested determinedly. She took the apple Yuki brought to her.
"I think... yes. This then is between you and me."
"I understood."
They shook hands, but as they both felt relieved about not needing to keep their similar, extraordinary secret with themselves anymore... they couldn't help but enjoy it much more.
The woman glomped the teenager quickly and shouted happily of joy.
The teenager didn't mind, as she grinned her best smile: she was now allowed to say her favorite saying, after all the hardships she has been through:
"Problem solved.”
- End Of The Prologue -
"Um Ringo, after you've recovered, maybe we could have a match at Bust-A-Move, okay?"
"But Yuki, it would take at least some days until I've recovered fully! What are you thinking?!"
"Can't you like... heal yourself or something?"
"Yuki... I already mentioned I'm not a videogame character. Besides, I don't if this "Bust-A-Move" sounds somehow anything competitive, more like a puzzle game*."
"..."
"You have anything else we can play?"
"I just remembered... I own Puyo Puyo Seven. Maybe we could play that instead."
"What The F*ctor!?"
_____________________
*Bust-A-Move is known as Puzzle Bobble in Japan.
(The ending joke doesn't relate to the story's plot, just to break it, ya know.)
