Paying the Friend Fee

Maybe it's because I didn't pay the friend fee. Anime adaptation games are mostly shit. Not just some baseless prejudice—this is a conclusion drawn from a decade of data I've built up. Weirdly enough, every game company riding the wave of an anime's popularity is just the type to bank on that hype for a quick cash grab. Back when I was a guy, and even after becoming a girl. Of course, the word "always" doesn't hold up easily in this world, so naturally, there are exceptions that don't fit this theory. But the game I brought today wasn't one of those exceptions.

"Ah, I downloaded this from the Japanese store."

I say that while showing my Japanese store account to the viewers.

"What're you on about? This is basic equipment for any otaku gamer, duh?"

Once otaku culture became mainstream, any decently popular overseas otaku game gets published locally within a year. No exaggeration. So no real need to make a Japanese store account these days. But I lived in a world where otaku were called weebs, where it was all subculture. A world where even popular games sometimes never got localized. And in that world, having a JP account made or broke your cultural life. So of course I made one back then, and now as a girl, it's still kicking around and super useful.

Our viewers probably can't relate at all, of course.

"Here's what I think: the moment they just screenshot scenes straight from the anime and slap 'em in, it's guaranteed shit."

And the game I'm playing right now, I Want to Swing a Sword in the Magical Girl World, was exactly that.

"That's just zero effort. Feels like they cheaped out on budget by recycling assets—who'd wanna play that crap?"

And if the gacha character art is ripped straight from the anime? That's the pinnacle of shitgame territory.

"Whoa... seriously wanna skip the story. Chopping the anime plot in half kills all the fun."

Plus, these games usually scrape some dub lines at minimum, but this one couldn't even bother. Hasn't even properly started, and it's already this bad. Guess digging up a low-rated game paid off? If it was outright broken, it'd be so absurd it'd be funny, but this one's just competently shit—no laughs. A game I'd normally ignore.

"Picked a good one, at least."

Considering today's goal, it fit perfectly. Already missing yesterday's games. Bet I won't last 10 minutes?

...I had no idea back then. That I'd end up playing this for so long.

It was pure coincidence.

"Huh? Isn't this Tomoe from Can the Bombardment Girl Fall in Love??"

The timing of me starting lined up exactly with a collab event from an anime I loved back in the day. Of course it'd catch my eye.

"Mmm... wanna pull for her."

Of course I do. I was obsessed with her once. Even if I drop the game right after.

That's... love.

Problem: Starter gacha currency? A measly 5 pulls.

Tomoe's gacha rate: 0.5%.

Odds of getting her in 5 pulls: about 2.47%.

No clue how much currency ongoing play gives... but they sure as hell won't hand out enough for pity. Ceiling's 300 pulls—they ain't giving that much free.

My choices: Dump cash into a game I'll drop soon. Or—

"...Reroll?"

No hesitation. Hate spending money. But really wanna try Tomoe. Otaku game means voice lines, right? Gotta hear her.

Only option left: No money, but plenty of time.

"Reroll."

Delete account. Make new one. Rush through prologue to first pulls. Try for Tomoe. Success? Keep it. Fail? Trash and repeat.

That's reroll.

"Time to shine, my max-spec PC!"

And I knew the most efficient way.

Run 9 accounts at once. Play all 9 simultaneously. Boom—9x efficiency over single reroll.

"That's right. You all said max specs were a waste, but I pushed through for this moment...!!! Now do you get it? My grand vision?!!"

"Way too harsh. Cool off for 10 minutes!"

I move the mouse. Smooth as butter. PC handling 9x reroll no sweat.

Good. After all the cash I dumped in it.

"Anyway, now one reroll cycle = 45 pulls. x5 = 225. x10 = ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠450. x100 = 4500. Think you can dodge her now? Huh? At a measly 0.5%?!"

I breathe in deep. Breathe out. Gacha stance ready.

"Just one. One pull. Easy peasy. You got this, Merhen!"

"Let's goooo!! Reroll time!!!"

One I Want to Swing a Sword in the Magical Girl World reroll takes ~20 minutes. So 9 cycles = 405 pulls.

And I failed.

Didn't even greed for meta chars. Didn't want anyone else. Just her. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Even if she's trash tier, if she showed up, it'd be enough.

Enough... but

"86% chance of at least one Tomoe in 405 pulls. So why not...? Tomoe, you hate me? Huh? That's why? Hate F2P parasites mooching off no-spend servers? I'm trying so hard! I love you so much—why?!"

I slam the desk—bang bang bang.

"...Whale?"

"Just a lil, for real. Maybe it's the friend fee."

Viewers frantically try to stop me, but I've decided.

"Just showing sincerity. Starter bait, y'know."

Buy 990 yen monthly pack on my best account. Gacha currency: 3 pulls.

"Pls pls pls pls... I'll work hard. Like a dog. So take my 990 yen and gimme Tomoe pls!!"

First: Miss.

"For real? 990 yen gone? No way. Gimme now. C'mon, no pranks."

Second: Miss.

That moment, I knew. She's not coming. 990 yen down the drain. Swore frugality this month, tossed it in trash.

"What kinda shitgame is this fuuuuuck."

But seeing myself keep rerolling for her? Even sadder. Shake off the regret, burn remaining currency.

And.

"To... moe?"

"Why... why now, you naughty girl......"

And so, I had my dramatic reunion with Tomoe.

I Want to Swing a Sword in the Magical Girl World lasted four days, then only logged in occasionally for her voice lines.

...990 yen for all her lines? Worth it, right? Take it or leave it!