Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 9:04:38 GMT -5
CAPITAIN’S LOG NUMBER 0008.
Another day, another entry in the log. Just like before, I don’t have anything interesting happening right now, so I’ll resume the story from the last log. Hmm… where was I? Oh yeah!
After being introduced to the secret otaku base bellow sergeant Pestos room, I was reassigned. From that moment on, I became the sergeant’s assistant. The change was made so that I could easily access the secret room, since my new duty would require me to go to his room frequently.
The following days were like a blessing. I worked together with Flam as the sergeant’s personal assistant. Of course, we still had our heavy training during the day. On the public eye, the sergeant was almost like a demon. The training regiments our platoon was forced to do was almost like a torture. Some of the guys were even feeling pity of me and Flam, since we had to work for him after the training was over. If only they knew the truth.
I mean, the training was rash and the work we had to do for the sergeant was tiring, but everything was worthy. After all, once the job was done for I could enjoy that small piece of heaven that existed hidden under the ground. There we could play some games and enjoy the company of each other. Having other people with the same interests with whom I could share those moments were enough to make the suffering from the day vanish.
That was a new experience to me. I do not mean to tell that I never found other people who liked figurines, animes or games. Those I could find every time I went to a shop to buy something, but the situation here forced us to stick together, and so, for the first time, I made friends with whom I could talk about the joys and hardships of being an otaku.
A few weeks passed when it came. After long days of hellish training, it was finally ahead of us! OUR FIRST DAY OFF! We were let off for a weekend, with the only condition that we could not left the city. In truth the day off was issued for everyone but me and Flam. We were supposed to keep working for the sergeant, since he had to travel for business. What no one suspected was that Pestos business were on the greatest paradise on this planet. Alienhabara!
Just as the name suggests, Alienhabara was made after the earthling district that originated all of our dreams, Akihabara. The travel there took only a few ours. As we got to the city, we went to the hotel we were going to stay and prepared to go out. We changed ourselves and put on our best garments. I choose to go with something I was comfortable with.
Flam went with a coat and a wig, it was actually a cosplay from a game we had played the week before.
Just like Flam, Pesto chose to go with a cosplay costume. He said he didn’t want to draw attention, since, if he was discovered our paradise could be endangered.
When he finished changing and stood there, it made me a little awkward that I was the only one not cosplaying. I still regret that I left all of my costumes back at home.
After we got to Alienhabara we were finally at our natural biome. Even the air there smelled different, or maybe it was just the perfume the sergeant was using. Someone needed to tell him to take it easy on it. Anyways, it was the beginning of the day and we had until tomorrow to enjoy our day off.
Luckily for us, our day off was on the same day that a new, limited edition, model of Konnani-chan was being released. I knew that I could not lose such an opportunity. The heavens were giving me this opportunity and I would seize it. Since each of us had our own plans, we went separately into the otaku jungle.
My first and main target was the store in which the new model would be sold. There was 30 minutes until the sale started and only 50 units were available, so the fight would be fierce, but I had no fear. It was for moments like this that I trained so hard. All the suffering I underwent in the army was so that I could be strong enough to protect Konnani-chan. I WOULD NOT FAIL NOW!
As I got to the store, the place was already filled up with the fans. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the opening of the doors, like a pack of wild beasts, just waiting for the moment their prey appeared. Analyzing the situation, I started to formulate an attack plan. Using my small size and my psychic powers, I would open up a path beneath those weaklings. It was a simple matter since I was now a trained warrior and they were just your ordinary otakus. They didn’t stand a chance.
It would be like taking candy from a baby. At least that was what I thought. As I finished making my plans I noticed a familiar face. Coming in my direction was Gook, my third degree cousin and my longtime rival. He despised me since the day I got the last unit from a model in a selling just like this one.
“Hey there Odrog. Thinking of getting this limited edition huh?”, he said to me. I could feel his despise in every word said. Even though we both wanted the same thing, there was a huge difference between us. I came here due to my love for Konnani-chan, while Gook came simply to add another piece to his collection. In his opinion, these models should be kept inside a controlled environment, behind glass panels, where no one could touch them. My belief was that they should be cherished for, cared for. What use was a model that did not bring joy to no one? I simply could not understand his line of thoughts.
“What do you want Gook?”, I responded. I didn’t want to talk to him if I could help it. “Why all the animosity? Chill man. We still got almost an hour until the fight starts. No need to go at each other throats right now”. As he said, I looked at my watch, 06:10am. I could’ve swear at the time that it was already later than that. Since there was still 20 min until the doors opening, I decided to take a quick trip to the bathroom. I could actually wait it out, but since it was a reason to get away from him I chose to go with it.
“Just stop. We don’t like each other, simple as that. Now excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom before the shop opens”. As I walked away from the crowd, I could feel his gaze on my back. Damn Gook, I was not going to let him take this model over me.
I made a quick travel to the bathroom while thinking of my approach on the crowd. My head was rushing through as many possible scenarios as it could. After just five minutes I was already back at the front of the store, but what I saw made my soul freeze for a moment. In front of me, the crowd that was just waiting to enter the shop was now fighting inside it.
How the hell did that happen? The shop was supposed to open in fifteen minutes only. They never open sooner than the announced. At that point, all my plans were useless. I tried my best to open a path through the disordered mob of otakus, but when I finally reached the counter, it was too late. They were sold out. I could feel the strength on my legs wane as the thought of having lost my dear Konnani-chan swept through my mind.
As I stood there, gazing at the empty shelf, a hand touched my shoulder. “What’s that? Did you get late? You really shouldn’t have left right before they opened”. I immediately recognized the voice, Gook. As I turned to see him, I was left speechless. On his hand was one of the models that just got sold out and on his face a grim that just confirmed that he was somehow responsible for what happened right now.
“What did you do?” I said, trying my best to control my anger. Looking down on me, he shrugged off with his shoulders and said in a conniving voice, “Did you really think you were the only one to train your psychic powers? You didn’t even notice when I messed with your clock. The hardest part was to get you away, but you did that on your own. Thanks for making it easier.”
Each word he said felt like a needle poking my brain. I was ready to jump at him and start a fight right there, but the risk that the model he had would be damaged was too great. And so, I held my anger inside. As I got up to leave, Gook stood in front of me, blocking my way out. “Not so fast, cousin. Don’t you want this?” He said pointing to the model. That was surely a provocation, but there was no way I would back out from it.
“As if you would give it to someone else. I know you’ll keep it in a glass pane, never to be loved by no one.” It pained me to say every word, but most of all, I felt pity for that model, which destiny was now to be alone forever.
“What if it can be yours?” His words froze me for a moment. What was Gook planning? I stopped to listen to what he had to say. “I am not giving it to you, obviously. What I am proposing is a bet! My model against yours! If I win you’ll have to give me the model you took from me back then! Odrog, I challenge you in a Otaku Showdown!” As Gook said those words, the rest of the shop feel silent. Every other costumer in the shop stopped to look at the one who just said those words.
Differently from the rest of the people who were just surprised by the challenge, I was now torn between this opportunity and the risk of losing. Were I to lose, my dear Konnani-chan would become his prisoner, but if I did nothing, the poor model in his hand would be the one to suffer that fate. Knowing myself, I looked right into his eyes, answering: “That Konnani will not become your prisoner. I accept your challenge.” Soon a chant started somewhere, “Showdown! Showdown! Showdown!”
The shop was quickly engulfed in the chant as me and Gook walked outside, the crowd following us while keeping us isolated at the center. As we got out, the crowd grew even bigger, attracted by the chants. And then, they all went silent.
From the middle of the crowd he appears. His face is well known by every single otaku on this place. He is revered as the elder of us all. A kind of guru that was born amid our culture. On moments like this, he shows up to use his immense wisdom and solve the conflicts among our people. He is the Elder Otaku!
“Silence my children! Silence! Is it true? Did the Otaku Showdown been invoked? Answer me my child!” He said. “Yes! I challenged this guy! My model against his!” Gook responded to the elder. Nodding as if to accept the answer, the elder snaps his finger. Soon the elder’s apprentices set a table and a chair in the place. After sitting down, two of his apprentices bring him his bag, from which he starts rummaging. After a moment, the elder pulls a deck of cards, raising it on his right hand. “Today’s match shall be decided by a card quiz!”
The crowd explodes in excitement, as the game is set. In a moment, the entire set of 100 cards is spread over the table. Once all the cards are set, the elder raises his hand, silencing the crowd before speaking: “Challenger, step forward and choose a card!”
I could feel the tension in the air as Gook stepped forward, handing one of the cards to the elder. Taking the card from Gook’s hand, the elder looks at it for a second before saying: “A question! How many girls live in the dormitory of Love Hina during the series?”
It was an easy question, Gook got lucky and answered quickly. Now it was my turn. Stepping towards the table I select one of the cards and hand it over, waiting to hear my challenge. “Make the pose from the original Sailor Moon when she confronts the bad guys!” It was also a simple one and I complete it without problems.
The showdown goes on with the both of us hitting the mark time after time. After each right answer, the crowd goes wild, only to become silent when it comes the time for the next card. It’s only on the eighth card that I get a hard one. “What is Yasuna looking through?”
I knew that I had already seen that image before. I go through my memory thinking back until it starts to become clear. Yes, I had seen that anime before. Now filter through the scenes. The object that she’s using is… “A ninja scroll!”
The silence looms for a moment, until the elder’s voice responds: “Correct!” My first hardship conquered, I look back at Gook, whose expression clearly shows his dissatisfaction. “Don’t get to happy. You just delayed the inevitable.” Gook said before going to the table once more.
The showdown went on. Some hard cards were picked, but neither of us backed down. Half an hour passed, then one hour. At some moment, I noticed Flam and Pesto in the crowd, cheering me on. They could not intervene, but just their presence was enough to boost my courage.
When the twenty seventh turn came, Gook slipped and did not sing the Evangelion opening song correctly. At that point, if I got the next challenge right, I would be declared the winner. All I needed was a good card. There were still forty seven cards on the table. I stopped as I stood in front of it. That was the moment of truth. I closed my eyes for a moment and thought: “Konnani-chan. If you can hear my voice, please, guide my hand.”
At that instant I could feel a presence among the cards. It was as if one of the cards was calling me out. It wanted to be chosen. It wanted me to pick it up. My hand inevitably went after it, lifting the paper from the table and delivering it to the elder. He took the card from my hand and looked at me before he read the card. I could see a small smile in his face, almost imperceptible, even from that distance. In a soft, almost inaudible voice, I heard he saying before the card was read: “Even I felt your devotion young man.”
Then his voice grew louder again. It seemed as if I was the only one to hear that first phrase. “A question! What is the name of this character?” As he finished reading, the elder turned the card, revealing the image. I will never forget that moment. The image in front of me was proof of my love. It was proof of my connection with Konnani-chan.
With a small tear running down my cheek, I answered: “Her name is Ruri Gokou, also known as Kuroneko, and whom I sweetly call Konnani-chan.” As I finished my answer, I could feel a lot of things at the same time. I could hear Gook punching the ground in anger as he lost the showdown, the crowd going wild as the elder confirmed my answer, but most of all, I could feel the bond between me and Konnani-chan.
The following moments were a mess. The crowd surrounded me, giving me congratulations for the performance. Gook disappeared in the commotion, leaving the model in the elder’s table. Flam and Pesto joined me, even going as far as to throw me in the air to celebrate.
That day was truly magical for me, and served to tighten even more my bonds with Konnani-chan. Wow, look at how long this entry went. I better finish this up. And thanks for everything Konnani-chan.
(I’ll have PL for this one please)
Another day, another entry in the log. Just like before, I don’t have anything interesting happening right now, so I’ll resume the story from the last log. Hmm… where was I? Oh yeah!
After being introduced to the secret otaku base bellow sergeant Pestos room, I was reassigned. From that moment on, I became the sergeant’s assistant. The change was made so that I could easily access the secret room, since my new duty would require me to go to his room frequently.
The following days were like a blessing. I worked together with Flam as the sergeant’s personal assistant. Of course, we still had our heavy training during the day. On the public eye, the sergeant was almost like a demon. The training regiments our platoon was forced to do was almost like a torture. Some of the guys were even feeling pity of me and Flam, since we had to work for him after the training was over. If only they knew the truth.
I mean, the training was rash and the work we had to do for the sergeant was tiring, but everything was worthy. After all, once the job was done for I could enjoy that small piece of heaven that existed hidden under the ground. There we could play some games and enjoy the company of each other. Having other people with the same interests with whom I could share those moments were enough to make the suffering from the day vanish.
That was a new experience to me. I do not mean to tell that I never found other people who liked figurines, animes or games. Those I could find every time I went to a shop to buy something, but the situation here forced us to stick together, and so, for the first time, I made friends with whom I could talk about the joys and hardships of being an otaku.
A few weeks passed when it came. After long days of hellish training, it was finally ahead of us! OUR FIRST DAY OFF! We were let off for a weekend, with the only condition that we could not left the city. In truth the day off was issued for everyone but me and Flam. We were supposed to keep working for the sergeant, since he had to travel for business. What no one suspected was that Pestos business were on the greatest paradise on this planet. Alienhabara!
Just as the name suggests, Alienhabara was made after the earthling district that originated all of our dreams, Akihabara. The travel there took only a few ours. As we got to the city, we went to the hotel we were going to stay and prepared to go out. We changed ourselves and put on our best garments. I choose to go with something I was comfortable with.
Flam went with a coat and a wig, it was actually a cosplay from a game we had played the week before.
Just like Flam, Pesto chose to go with a cosplay costume. He said he didn’t want to draw attention, since, if he was discovered our paradise could be endangered.
i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx168/henroy21/DBZ/Abo-Cado-LH.jpg + www.skycostume.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/d/a/danganronpa_dangan-ronpa_mondo_oowada_cosplay_costume-3.jpg
When he finished changing and stood there, it made me a little awkward that I was the only one not cosplaying. I still regret that I left all of my costumes back at home.
After we got to Alienhabara we were finally at our natural biome. Even the air there smelled different, or maybe it was just the perfume the sergeant was using. Someone needed to tell him to take it easy on it. Anyways, it was the beginning of the day and we had until tomorrow to enjoy our day off.
Luckily for us, our day off was on the same day that a new, limited edition, model of Konnani-chan was being released. I knew that I could not lose such an opportunity. The heavens were giving me this opportunity and I would seize it. Since each of us had our own plans, we went separately into the otaku jungle.
My first and main target was the store in which the new model would be sold. There was 30 minutes until the sale started and only 50 units were available, so the fight would be fierce, but I had no fear. It was for moments like this that I trained so hard. All the suffering I underwent in the army was so that I could be strong enough to protect Konnani-chan. I WOULD NOT FAIL NOW!
As I got to the store, the place was already filled up with the fans. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the opening of the doors, like a pack of wild beasts, just waiting for the moment their prey appeared. Analyzing the situation, I started to formulate an attack plan. Using my small size and my psychic powers, I would open up a path beneath those weaklings. It was a simple matter since I was now a trained warrior and they were just your ordinary otakus. They didn’t stand a chance.
It would be like taking candy from a baby. At least that was what I thought. As I finished making my plans I noticed a familiar face. Coming in my direction was Gook, my third degree cousin and my longtime rival. He despised me since the day I got the last unit from a model in a selling just like this one.
Gook
“Hey there Odrog. Thinking of getting this limited edition huh?”, he said to me. I could feel his despise in every word said. Even though we both wanted the same thing, there was a huge difference between us. I came here due to my love for Konnani-chan, while Gook came simply to add another piece to his collection. In his opinion, these models should be kept inside a controlled environment, behind glass panels, where no one could touch them. My belief was that they should be cherished for, cared for. What use was a model that did not bring joy to no one? I simply could not understand his line of thoughts.
“What do you want Gook?”, I responded. I didn’t want to talk to him if I could help it. “Why all the animosity? Chill man. We still got almost an hour until the fight starts. No need to go at each other throats right now”. As he said, I looked at my watch, 06:10am. I could’ve swear at the time that it was already later than that. Since there was still 20 min until the doors opening, I decided to take a quick trip to the bathroom. I could actually wait it out, but since it was a reason to get away from him I chose to go with it.
“Just stop. We don’t like each other, simple as that. Now excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom before the shop opens”. As I walked away from the crowd, I could feel his gaze on my back. Damn Gook, I was not going to let him take this model over me.
I made a quick travel to the bathroom while thinking of my approach on the crowd. My head was rushing through as many possible scenarios as it could. After just five minutes I was already back at the front of the store, but what I saw made my soul freeze for a moment. In front of me, the crowd that was just waiting to enter the shop was now fighting inside it.
How the hell did that happen? The shop was supposed to open in fifteen minutes only. They never open sooner than the announced. At that point, all my plans were useless. I tried my best to open a path through the disordered mob of otakus, but when I finally reached the counter, it was too late. They were sold out. I could feel the strength on my legs wane as the thought of having lost my dear Konnani-chan swept through my mind.
As I stood there, gazing at the empty shelf, a hand touched my shoulder. “What’s that? Did you get late? You really shouldn’t have left right before they opened”. I immediately recognized the voice, Gook. As I turned to see him, I was left speechless. On his hand was one of the models that just got sold out and on his face a grim that just confirmed that he was somehow responsible for what happened right now.
“What did you do?” I said, trying my best to control my anger. Looking down on me, he shrugged off with his shoulders and said in a conniving voice, “Did you really think you were the only one to train your psychic powers? You didn’t even notice when I messed with your clock. The hardest part was to get you away, but you did that on your own. Thanks for making it easier.”
Each word he said felt like a needle poking my brain. I was ready to jump at him and start a fight right there, but the risk that the model he had would be damaged was too great. And so, I held my anger inside. As I got up to leave, Gook stood in front of me, blocking my way out. “Not so fast, cousin. Don’t you want this?” He said pointing to the model. That was surely a provocation, but there was no way I would back out from it.
“As if you would give it to someone else. I know you’ll keep it in a glass pane, never to be loved by no one.” It pained me to say every word, but most of all, I felt pity for that model, which destiny was now to be alone forever.
“What if it can be yours?” His words froze me for a moment. What was Gook planning? I stopped to listen to what he had to say. “I am not giving it to you, obviously. What I am proposing is a bet! My model against yours! If I win you’ll have to give me the model you took from me back then! Odrog, I challenge you in a Otaku Showdown!” As Gook said those words, the rest of the shop feel silent. Every other costumer in the shop stopped to look at the one who just said those words.
Differently from the rest of the people who were just surprised by the challenge, I was now torn between this opportunity and the risk of losing. Were I to lose, my dear Konnani-chan would become his prisoner, but if I did nothing, the poor model in his hand would be the one to suffer that fate. Knowing myself, I looked right into his eyes, answering: “That Konnani will not become your prisoner. I accept your challenge.” Soon a chant started somewhere, “Showdown! Showdown! Showdown!”
The shop was quickly engulfed in the chant as me and Gook walked outside, the crowd following us while keeping us isolated at the center. As we got out, the crowd grew even bigger, attracted by the chants. And then, they all went silent.
From the middle of the crowd he appears. His face is well known by every single otaku on this place. He is revered as the elder of us all. A kind of guru that was born amid our culture. On moments like this, he shows up to use his immense wisdom and solve the conflicts among our people. He is the Elder Otaku!
“Silence my children! Silence! Is it true? Did the Otaku Showdown been invoked? Answer me my child!” He said. “Yes! I challenged this guy! My model against his!” Gook responded to the elder. Nodding as if to accept the answer, the elder snaps his finger. Soon the elder’s apprentices set a table and a chair in the place. After sitting down, two of his apprentices bring him his bag, from which he starts rummaging. After a moment, the elder pulls a deck of cards, raising it on his right hand. “Today’s match shall be decided by a card quiz!”
The crowd explodes in excitement, as the game is set. In a moment, the entire set of 100 cards is spread over the table. Once all the cards are set, the elder raises his hand, silencing the crowd before speaking: “Challenger, step forward and choose a card!”
I could feel the tension in the air as Gook stepped forward, handing one of the cards to the elder. Taking the card from Gook’s hand, the elder looks at it for a second before saying: “A question! How many girls live in the dormitory of Love Hina during the series?”
It was an easy question, Gook got lucky and answered quickly. Now it was my turn. Stepping towards the table I select one of the cards and hand it over, waiting to hear my challenge. “Make the pose from the original Sailor Moon when she confronts the bad guys!” It was also a simple one and I complete it without problems.
The showdown goes on with the both of us hitting the mark time after time. After each right answer, the crowd goes wild, only to become silent when it comes the time for the next card. It’s only on the eighth card that I get a hard one. “What is Yasuna looking through?”
I knew that I had already seen that image before. I go through my memory thinking back until it starts to become clear. Yes, I had seen that anime before. Now filter through the scenes. The object that she’s using is… “A ninja scroll!”
The silence looms for a moment, until the elder’s voice responds: “Correct!” My first hardship conquered, I look back at Gook, whose expression clearly shows his dissatisfaction. “Don’t get to happy. You just delayed the inevitable.” Gook said before going to the table once more.
The showdown went on. Some hard cards were picked, but neither of us backed down. Half an hour passed, then one hour. At some moment, I noticed Flam and Pesto in the crowd, cheering me on. They could not intervene, but just their presence was enough to boost my courage.
When the twenty seventh turn came, Gook slipped and did not sing the Evangelion opening song correctly. At that point, if I got the next challenge right, I would be declared the winner. All I needed was a good card. There were still forty seven cards on the table. I stopped as I stood in front of it. That was the moment of truth. I closed my eyes for a moment and thought: “Konnani-chan. If you can hear my voice, please, guide my hand.”
At that instant I could feel a presence among the cards. It was as if one of the cards was calling me out. It wanted to be chosen. It wanted me to pick it up. My hand inevitably went after it, lifting the paper from the table and delivering it to the elder. He took the card from my hand and looked at me before he read the card. I could see a small smile in his face, almost imperceptible, even from that distance. In a soft, almost inaudible voice, I heard he saying before the card was read: “Even I felt your devotion young man.”
Then his voice grew louder again. It seemed as if I was the only one to hear that first phrase. “A question! What is the name of this character?” As he finished reading, the elder turned the card, revealing the image. I will never forget that moment. The image in front of me was proof of my love. It was proof of my connection with Konnani-chan.
With a small tear running down my cheek, I answered: “Her name is Ruri Gokou, also known as Kuroneko, and whom I sweetly call Konnani-chan.” As I finished my answer, I could feel a lot of things at the same time. I could hear Gook punching the ground in anger as he lost the showdown, the crowd going wild as the elder confirmed my answer, but most of all, I could feel the bond between me and Konnani-chan.
The following moments were a mess. The crowd surrounded me, giving me congratulations for the performance. Gook disappeared in the commotion, leaving the model in the elder’s table. Flam and Pesto joined me, even going as far as to throw me in the air to celebrate.
That day was truly magical for me, and served to tighten even more my bonds with Konnani-chan. Wow, look at how long this entry went. I better finish this up. And thanks for everything Konnani-chan.
TO BE CONTINUED!
(I’ll have PL for this one please)
