Shota, Awakening? (1)
Anyway, we stuck to the original plan and hunted the nearby monsters. We had to thin out their numbers first if we wanted fewer humans getting caught up in accidents.
During a short break, Sashitsu set the mood and spoke up. "First off... everyone seen the news?"
Everyone shook their heads.
Well... among high schoolers, only a tiny fraction actually kept up with the news religiously.
"You know about that casualty from the monster attack last time," Sashitsu said.
Ah... the guy who died in my place.
"Ah... that unemployed guy? The NEET, right? I think," Umi said.
"Yeah. 39 years old. No friends at that age... total virgin. Pretty pitiful," Taiga chimed in.
His name was already forgotten by everyone. People only cared about the stories behind the perpetrator or victim. That was what made headlines—their backgrounds. All that was known about the dead guy was that he was a 39-year-old NEET and a notorious internet troll who lived online.
The neat kanji for 'unemployed' had way too much impact. I swore to myself I'd never die jobless.
"He got taken out by a monster and suffered the characteristic heart attack from monster attacks. But... not all monsters drive people to death, apparently. Some just mess with your mind," Sashitsu said.
"Ooh... scary stuff!" I threw in an immediate reaction.
The others were way too deadpan.
"Heh..." Sashitsu looked faintly pleased by my response.
This guy was so easy to read.
"But Sashitsu... you're all quiet at school, yet here you're chatty as hell. I'm seeing you in a new light," Umi blurted out her honest influencer take.
To an outcast like him, that was a lethal dose.
"Urk...!" Sashitsu suddenly crumpled like he'd taken mental damage.
Stop saying that! It's a forbidden word!!! I shot Umi a scolding glare.
"Ah, no... I just thought it was cool. Sorry." Umi looked down a bit.
Too late for apologies now. And the sorry just doubled the pathos.
"Come on, Sashitsu. Take a deep breath." I patted his back.
"Don't tell me what to do... Hooo... haaa..." Even as he caught his breath, Sashitsu somehow pulled his mentality together.
This guy... had zero talent for his cool guy persona. His mental game's too fragile.
"You know about those two recent traffic accidents? Cops are calling 'em drunk driving, but they didn't pull the investigation team. So I looked into it," Sashitsu said.
"Right before driving, they all zoned out. Then boom, accidents. Lots of similar cases around. People suddenly turning into shut-ins. Those crashes are just an extension of that."
Sashitsu laid out his findings.
As a third-playthrough vet, I knew it all already. But I poured on the reactions every time.
"You figured that out?! Awesome!!"
"You're the best!! Sashitsu!!"
Reaction machine—that's me in a nutshell.
"Shut up." Sashitsu tried for cool detachment but couldn't hide his grin.
Way different from his canon self.
"...Strictly speaking, that special monster rips out people's souls. Reason unknown. But I found where they're gathering."
Sashitsu pointed to a massive castle looming in the ordinary cityscape, radiating total otherworld vibes.
"Right there."
Yeah. The first dungeon you tackle in March in-game.
"Eek... that castle... it's not just for show, huh. Don't wanna go in," Umi grimaced.
"Diving into a nest of enemies? Sounds fun." Taiga flashed a feral grin instead.
"Clear out the monsters there, and the town's shut-ins go back to normal. Risky op, but... no choice. We in?" Sashitsu asked.
Umi and Taiga both turned to me.
No, in this setup, you look at the leader! Sashitsu wants that classic scene where everyone gazes trustingly at the leader!!! It's trope 101!!!
This is why normies suck. His eyes welled up...
Hey!! He's gonna cry again!!!
"I'll follow the leader's lead." I said it to boost Sashitsu's spirits.
Only then did he rein in the waterworks a bit.
Phew... fire's out.
"Fine. Let's do it."
"Yeah, sure."
Taiga and Umi answered super plainly.
Not the hot-blooded scene he wanted, but at least we checked the box.
"Let's go!!!" Sashitsu charged toward the castle like a hero.
"Hold up." I blocked him.
"That's a dungeon-type spot. Gear up with equipment and potions first."
"Ah... yeah, true."
"I got no weapon at all. And Sashitsu's just got that stick."
Taiga and Umi nodded.
Sashitsu's leadership got snatched again, leaving him all sulky.
This guy's... kinda high-maintenance.
Anyway, I'd come prepared with cash for this. It was supposed to be my New Year's money earmarked for dojo fees.
But Gonzaemon waived a month's fees and my scrub tax, so I had plenty left.
Time to gear up.
I headed straight for the tool shop. Sundries by day, monster-slaying weapons by night.
"Ah... you're back. The kid who bought that steel pipe last time? Already got a crew, huh?" The green-bearded guy smirked meaningfully.
"These weapons... what the?"
"They sell this stuff?"
Taiga and Umi eyed it suspiciously.
Yeah... it's illegal. Runs afoul of sword possession laws and all that hassle.
"Sketchy, sure, but it's the only shop selling anti-monster gear. Let's reinforce here."
"And I'll cover the bill!!" I declared proudly.
"Ooh... Shota! Big spender, huh?" Umi said, impressed.
"Gotta play sugar daddy here or get the boot. Guy can't handle Psychorobo anyway," Taiga snarked.
"What the hell kinda talk is that!!!" I shot back.
I glanced at Sashitsu.
"Sashitsu... you won't kick me out, right?"
Honestly, I was sweating it.
"Eh... you're a teammate. Won't ditch you lightly." Sashitsu played it cool.
"Sashitsu!!! I love you!!! Marry me!!" I hugged him tight.
Ooh... captain!! My captain!!!!
"G-get off!! What're you doing, guy-on-guy gross-out!!!" Sashitsu shoved desperately.
"........."
"........."
Taiga and Umi watched with complicated looks.
"Wha... I wasn't serious about kicking you out?" Taiga backpedaled.
"Right? Knew it. Taiga's a softie." I peeled off Sashitsu.
"I said I wouldn't kick you out too... why no hug for me?" Taiga grumbled, face red.
I heard that loud and clear. But I gritted my teeth and played dumb.
Taking Taiga's affection at face value right now felt like it'd lead to something real bad.
Anyway, we bought gear. RPGs are half gear-carry anyway. Get the equipment and levels, and you can clear no sweat.
Sashitsu equipped a shortsword, medieval one-hander style.
Taiga grabbed a carbon steel baseball bat. Her starter bat sucked.
I got Umi a staff—her dedicated gear. Kinda meh as a weapon, but boosted her spell power. She's a hybrid magic dealer/healer anyway; no big need for melee.
I splurged on a weapon too. A light, shortened Japanese sword. Could one-hand or two-hand it, and super lightweight.
"Hoo... found it. This is Yodo Hitokiri..." I muttered, holding the blade.
Some sinister magic aura leaked from it.
"Nah, that's mass-produced junk," the shopkeep deadpanned.
I ignored him, teeth clenched. Stumbling on a Yodo blade in a place like this? Total trope.
Gearing everyone up with weapons and recovery items burned through 500,000 yen in a blink.
Honestly... my hands were shaking. For adults, half a mil's just a stomachache expense. But I'm a student. That's huge money.
'Eh... it's to save the world.'
I swallowed tears and paid cash lump sum.
"Uh... cash payment? No discount? You dodge taxes anyway."
But I couldn't quit haggling. Final negotiation time.
Shwaaak!—The shopkeep flung salt right in my face.
No dice.
"UHAHAHAHA!!! Look at this salt-faced loser!!!"
"Shota... lemme pat your head... ehehehe!!"
Taiga and Umi burst out laughing.
Shopkeep... you're a bad man. You made me a punchline. Almost went full Joker there.
Anyway, geared up, we stood at the dungeon entrance.
"Structure that doesn't exist in reality. Vanishes by day, I guess," Sashitsu said, eyeing the door.
"Let's go. Clear it quick."
I grinned.
Dungeons like this? Prime leveling spots. Enemy density off the charts.
'Time to grind hard myself.'
Stagnate here, and it's no joke—real boot ending.
We stepped inside the castle.
Sashitsu's eyes widened.
In one corner: a suspicious green-glowing door.
Yeah. The Psychoroom—visible only to players. Where you power up, fuse, summon Psychorobo, all that.
'But... why can I see it?'
That was the question. Taiga and Umi chattered away, blind to it. They got along fine despite bad blood.
Sashitsu clocked it too—visible only to some. He noticed me staring at the same spot.
"You see it too?"
"Yeah..."
Hold up. Lightning bolt idea.
Players summon Psychorobo in there.
'Maybe scam a free one... awaken to Psychorobo?'
That hit me.
"Let's check it out together."
I said to Sashitsu.
"Huh...? Yeah, okay."
He tilted his head but headed for the door.
I followed him inside.