My Reality is a Romance Game Chapter 8

However, I was really sleepy. Am I mentally exhausted?

This was a very un-game-like feeling. I'd say it's pretty much impossible to continue capturing forever even whilst being tired. Hunger, the need for sleep, physical needs, everything was exactly like reality. The feeling of being so sleepy that one can't even turn their head came over me. It can't be helped. Guess I'll take a long slumber for the sake of continuing on in this game. Thinking so, I lay down on the bed. And then wrapping myself in the futon, I closed my eyes.

By the time my eyes reopened, 6 hours had already pa.s.sed. Confirming the time on my phone, I tried moving my groggy body. Let alone feeling refreshed after a long sleep, instead, my head felt insanely heavy. I went to the washroom and filled the basin with water, plunging my head into it.

Thanks to the cold water, the sleepiness died down. Lifting my head up, I looked at myself in the mirror. Despite having increased my Charm by 10 points, I felt like there was no change to my looks. Just what part of me became more charming? I wonder if it's that I look different for other people. As if by magic.

Wiping my face with a towel, I returned to my room. The game system gave off its presence with its windows folder-like icon at the corner of my vision. Pulling open the refrigerator, I adequately quelled my hunger. And then I did some stretches.

— Hnnn—gh!

Getting an adequate change of clothes, I put the clothes I took off in the laundry basket and left my house. No matter what, I have to find a capture target soon. This time, my intentions were to scout further away. There's downtown if I use the bus. For today, that's where my intended destination was. You know, since the furthest I've ever gone after entering this game was but a distance of 5 minutes away to the convenience store.

I also had this weird anxiety of whether the game had only manifested itself in my neighbourhood or not.

Haha. There's no way that's the case.

While I waited at the bus stop, one arrived very quickly. And within 10 minutes, I arrived at my destination. Somehow, I had this uneasy feeling. Even though I said I'm in a game, literally everything in here looked completely the same as real life. The bustling crowd walking here and there made me think it was the end of office hours. Even the streets of neon signs were like that of reality.

The only thing different was the «Game System» flickering in front of my eyes.

On the large electronic signboard atop the plaza was the dancing figure of popular idols.

I got a foreboding feeling, looking at her.

Let's see, shall we try using the scouter?

I was suddenly curious to see if it could lock onto a capture target even though I was looking at a video and not the real thing.

I entered my «Owned Items».

«Owned Items»

«LV 2 Scouter»
«Master Key»
«Sleep Spray»
«Camera»
«Morph Potion»
«Telescope»

«LV 1 Scouter» had automatically disappeared. Might as well let the scouter be enhanced too, why don't ya? Would've been better that way. Why is this the only one that has to be bought separately? It's nonsensical. Does it plan to bankrupt me like this? This game is seriously on drugs. While grumbling, I clicked on the scouter. To others, I probably look like a weirdo grumbling on his own whilst moving his fingers in the air.

«Would you like to use LV 2 Scouter?»

And thus, the all too familiar message came out. Upon the electronic billboard, I looked at the idol standing in the center.

Yos.h.i.+saki Nika
Age: 21 years
Relations.h.i.+p Status: Single
Occupation: Idol
Capture Difficulty: B
Residence: Inaccessible at current level
Phone Number: Inaccessible at current level
Capture Information: Inaccessible at current level
Affection Points[1]: 0

The capture information didn't appear. The difficulty was surprisingly B. Affection points was an entry that didn't exist back in level 1. It must be the addition that comes with «LV 2 Scouter». Affection points were 0. I wasn't even acquainted with her, so of course.

Anyhow, I didn't even think it would be possible to capture her. And just then, someone b.u.mped into my shoulder making me lose my balance. The culprit was a rather pretty woman. How to say this, let's say she looked really refined. That's the image she gave off.

Leaning her head down, she apologized to me. Like a G.o.ddess. And afterwards, she went along her way. Hurriedly, I used the scouter.

Kitagata Hikaru
Age: 24 years
Relations.h.i.+p Status: Single
Occupation: University Student
Capture Difficulty: None
Residence: 00 District 00 Street
Phone Number: 080-2452-1111
Capture Information: None
Affection Points: -100

Hm? Capture Difficulty is None?

So it means she wasn't a capture target. All her information showed up, but there was no capture difficulty nor capture information.

At that instant, it occured to me.

Just how those words implied, since she didn't have any secrets worth making her a capture target, she was just a woman pa.s.sing by. Meaning, it's fine if I don't bother with her.

This would mean that the idol just a while ago had some kind of secret worth making her a capture target.

My interest was piqued. However, her difficulty of B makes it impossible to approach her by any means. That is, if I don't level up beforehand. Since no capture information appeared, it's a given that it would be impossible to capture her.

More importantly, that other woman really made me feel hurt. We simply b.u.mped into each other and her affection points were already at -100? That's too much! Even though I added 10 points to Charm, my initial values were lower to begin with so it seems getting a good impression was still very hard.

At least in movies, even after one apologizes, the narration would let you know about their inner grudges. Swinging my head from side to side, going ‘Oh, dear,' in my head, I set off for the station. Too many people had gathered around here.

Having to skip going for a woman whose capture difficulty didn't exist, I also had to skip over women whose difficulty was high enough for their capture information to not even be inaccessible.

Searching for a proper capture target turned out to be harder than I thought. While I was in the middle of slouching, a rather charming woman pa.s.sed by beside me. Just as I was about to light my cigarette, I ended up dropping my lighter right there. Even forgetting to pick it back up, I started to go after her as if I was possessed.

Her face bloomed with innocence. How to put this, you could say she fit my ideals. The pure and innocent types were what men yearned for after all. So when a girl possessed exactly those qualities, of course it'd hook me in. Furthermore, the style she adorned unbefitting of her pure and innocent face really stood out. In particular, her pelvis was really dazzling.

Since she wore tight jeans, her b.u.t.t swaying with every step she took was a sight I couldn't take my eyes off of. I'm not a pervert, okay? I'd like to say it's a part of a man's instinct. If a body like that happened to pa.s.s by your way, of course you'd like to take a glance at the very least.

The beige that went perfectly with the knitted fabric[2] really emphasized her waist. And that's when I used the scouter. I didn't have any expectations since I was already aware of her high cla.s.s, but it never hurts to be sure.

Akemine Miyuki
Age: 23 years
Relations.h.i.+p Status: Polyamorous[3]
Occupation: Broker
Capture Difficulty: D
Residence: Inaccessible at current level
Phone Number: Inaccessible at current level
Capture Information: Manages a lot of men.[4] Personally acts as a host in social parties. Suspicious social parties, approaching from here is your hint to capture her.
Affection Points: 0

And so, I was lucky enough to have the capture information appear. After spending just a few hours in downtown. I finally found a capture target. Luckily, she was also my type. However, I can't look at her like a normal woman. Because of these suspicious social parties. If you're going to tell me, then explain properly. It's too vague!

Translator: AngryMidget

[1]好感度 (Koukando): Favorable impression points.

[2]ベージュ系のぴったりしたニット (beeji kei no pittaris.h.i.+ta nitto): beige group that went perfectly with the knit.

[3]彼氏 : 多数 (Kares.h.i.+: Tasuu) “Boyfriend: Many” Yes, had changed ‘Boyfriend' to ‘Relations.h.i.+p Status' from the very beginning, because it didn't make sense to say ‘Boyfriend: Married' in Sakurai's case. And now it has come back to bite me in the neck. The internet says polyamory involves romantic feelings, but I doubt there are any such feelings involved in her case, given the type of novel this is.

[4]You thought I was just another pure maiden, but it was me, a nympho!

・・・・・