The Last Treasure Chest

I really am like this by nature…

“I’m sorry…”

[…It’s fine.]

─She doesn’t look fine at all

…No. Could you really call it a mistake to spot a treasure chest and go check what’s inside?

Yeah. I don’t want to admit it, but this really was just a pure skill issue on my part. On top of that, there were plenty of times I almost fell in the middle and Tyuni saved me. If not for her, we definitely would’ve fallen at least twice as much.

Still, for some reason the Pudding viewers seemed to be having more fun than when I streamed Jumping Up before… Even so, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for Tyuni.

“Should we stop here…?”

[…Let’s do just one more run. But Lene. There’s one condition.]

“Yes…?”

[No matter what happens, just listen to what I say. Is that okay?]

“Yes…!”

That much I could do easily.

We Chained is a platformer where the goal is to step on platforms and reach the top. Its unique feature is that the characters of players are connected by chains, and you can use those chains to help teammates who can’t reach a platform and are about to fall.

But that’s the nice way of putting it. To be precise, We Chained was a game that forced you to help people who were falling. If you didn’t help the falling person, you’d fall to the bottom with them and have to start over.

In other words, no matter how good you were, one mistake from your teammate could send you straight back to the tutorial area. On top of that, because the players were chained together, you couldn’t move freely, and even the slightest mismatch in timing would lead to total disaster.

Put nicely, it meant that even if you messed up, someone could help you. Put bluntly, it was a game you couldn’t clear with your own skill alone.

“Huu…”

Tyuni slowly steadied her breathing. Honestly, Lene was being frustrating in this situation, but she couldn’t get angry. After all, she was the one who suggested playing this game even though she knew Lene was terrible at this genre.

And… more than anything, the reaction from the fans—the Puddings—watching the stream wasn’t bad.

No matter how frustrating it got, as long as the fans were enjoying it, a streamer had to keep going without crossing the line. Tyuni understood that fact very well.

“Lene. Are you ready?”

“Yes…”

The one saving grace was that because Lene was following Tyuni’s instructions exactly, there had been almost no mistakes. Of course there were a few, but Tyuni’s skill was more than enough to cover for them. Thanks to that, they easily reached the spot they had been at right before trying to get the treasure chest earlier.

But from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠here on it was unknown territory. They had no idea what would happen on the way. Still, the fact that the unpredictable Lene was actually listening properly left Tyuni feeling calmer than she had all day.

“Here I go…!”

Tyuni’s character walked forward with heavy footsteps. The footsteps following behind her proved that Lene wasn’t wandering off somewhere weird.

After walking like that for about ten seconds, multiple railroad tracks appeared in front of Tyuni and Lene. The gaps ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠between the tracks were just wide enough that a maximum jump would barely make it. But that also meant they had to jump almost at the exact same time or one of them would fall. If one jumped first, the person behind would get yanked by the chain and fall.

“Let’s go right away, Lene. We have to jump at the same time. I’ll count to three.”

One, two… Just as Tyuni was about to shout three—

[…Wait a second.]

Lene stopped her. At the same time, a train shot past at incredible speed.

“Wow, that was really lucky. Thank you, Lene.”

[It’s fine.]

“Um…. Honestly, I admit it! Lene, that was incredibly cool just now!”

[…Huh?]

“When I was about to jump, you stopped me with ‘wait a second…’”

[That was cool…?]

“Yeah. If you were a guy I would’ve fallen for you. Everyone agree?”

“The Puddings all say it was cool too?”

[…Pffuuu. Th-thank you. Ahem. I really am like this by nature….]

“…I must have lost my mind for a second.”

For a moment Tyuni really had thought Lene was cool. But the instant she heard that laugh, just like the chat said, that feeling instantly cooled off. To be exact, the feeling of “cool” had changed into the feeling of “cute.”

‘How can a person be like that?’

She definitely seemed cool just now. Swallowing that thought, Tyuni started playing the game again. Lene followed behind her, and even though Lene made a few mistakes, the two of them steadily made progress.

And so they finally reached the last area of the game.

“We’ve already fallen that many times! Why would we fall again here?!”

[Yes?]

“Ah, some of the Puddings are saying it’s not fun because we’re not falling.”

[…Sh-should I fall then?]

“No no no no no! If you do that I might actually cry.”

That was half sincere. She had dragged Lene all the way here with so much effort only for them to start over from the beginning? Her spirit would definitely break the moment that happened.

“Shut up!!!”

[Hiiik….]

“Ah, sorry. I forgot I was supposed to turn the mic off…. That wasn’t for you, Lene. It was for the Puddings.”

[Yes….]

“Sigh, seriously…. Anyway, we’re almost at the end so let’s do our best, Lene!”

[…Yes.]

Anyway, Tyuni and Lene stepped forward again to clear the game.

“One, two, three!”

[Three…!]

Jumping over infrared detectors.

“Smiling side! Angry side! Crying side! Angry side!”

[Yes…!]

Solving puzzles.

“Inertial drift!!!”

[Yes…?]

Driving a carriage while avoiding obstacles.

After overcoming countless hardships like that, Tyuni and Lene were finally standing before the end of the game. What greeted them last was a huge, majestic temple. As if praising their long journey, the gentle voice of an old grandfather NPC began to flow out.

Step. Step. Even as they walked forward, no strange gimmicks appeared. Only giant statues and beautiful decorations welcomed them from all around. And far ahead, a massive door slowly opened.

Beyond the open door floated a golden glowing orb. Anyone could tell it was the end of the game.

[Wow…!]

Tyuni and Lene both dashed madly toward it without needing to say who would go first. And right in front of the giant door, there was one treasure chest.

[Oh.]

Up until now, whenever they saw a treasure chest on the way they had completely ignored them and continued. No matter how much Lene wanted one, they wanted to avoid taking unnecessary detours that could cause problems. Lene understood Tyuni’s feelings well and hadn’t complained, but she still felt a little regret.

And now, right in front of her, the last treasure chest had appeared.

“It must be the final gift of the game for you, Lene.”

Tyuni smiled as she spoke, knowing how much Lene had wanted one. Lene smiled back and answered.

[You’ve suffered so much because of me until now, Tyuni… I think you should open this one.]

“Lene…. Thank you…”

Moved by Lene’s words, Tyuni opened the treasure chest while cherishing that kind gesture in her heart.

[…Huh?]

“Wait what?!”

The floor collapsed and the two of them were sent back to the mid-to-late area.

“…Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

Just as the chat said, it was a very common first-time-kill pattern and trap in platformer games. And honestly Tyuni had felt a slight sense of unease about it too. But the guilt from ignoring every treasure chest until now, combined with the heartwarming moment of Lene giving up the last one, had clouded that unease.

In the end, Tyuni fell for the obvious trap.

[…S-sorry.]

“Ah, no! I kind of expected it, I should’ve just said let’s keep going…. This game is really too much, right?”

[Yeah….]

And so, after investing another forty minutes, the two of them were finally able to clear We Chained.