I couldn't dodge the dangerous attack.
I knew I had to get out of there right away, but by the time I moved, it was already over.
'I knew it was coming...!'
I had the opponent's skills and tactics down perfectly.
But the moment I saw an attack come one beat faster than I expected, my mind went completely blank.
All my plans, from dodging that attack to counterattacking afterward, became useless in an instant.
The ground beneath my feet exploded.
Boom!
[B]□□□□□□□□□□
My game avatar's vitality was completely drained and it died.
Meanwhile,
[A]■■■□□□□□□□
My opponent's avatar, who'd been confident since before the match started, still had about 30% vitality left.
I'd lost.
"Good game."
"Good game."
My opponent climbed out of the gaming rig and walked over with a smile, offering a handshake first.
He was young enough to still be called a kid.
'Maybe 17?'
Not that he was weird or anything. Over half the players in this tournament were minors under 19.
I was the weird one here.
"You're really good, though, you know?"
At your age.
I could guess what he left unsaid.
I hadn't expected much from the start anyway. An amateur who half-assed his prep while working a full-time job would be greedy to hope for the main tournament.
'That's good enough.'
I'd competed in a VR game tournament I loved and gave it my all. That alone meant something.
"Hope you win it all."
"Thanks."
We exchanged formal compliments and parted ways.
Knocked out in the preliminaries, I packed up my meager belongings.
"Phew..."
No time to dwell on a match that was already over.
I was so tired. If I lay down, I'd be out like a light. Back in the day, I could game all night and not feel it...
'Gotta get going though.'
I needed to rest properly at home if I wanted to make it to work on time tomorrow.
"David!"
"Hm?"
So tired I'm hearing things now...
"David! Over here!"
I turned toward the familiar voice and saw my boss waving at me.
"Oh no!"
Any trace of sleepiness vanished instantly.
I rushed over and stood at attention in a polite greeting. Even though I hadn't done anything wrong, cold sweat broke out on my back.
"Haha! Easy there... it's the weekend, you know."
"Boss! What are you doing here...?"
"Came to cheer you on, of course! And to kill some time. My son's a huge fan of this game."
The boss jerked his thumb behind him.
A guy who looked like him, but much thinner and younger, was getting an autograph from the player who'd just eliminated me.
"Must be tough for you too, boss."
"Not at all. I'm happy as can be. You'll understand when you get married."
"Yes, boss."
I had no plans to get married.
These days there were plenty of games that felt more real than reality. I'd saved up on food expenses and bought over ten palace-like honeymoon homes.
"But man, the pro gamer wall is high. I thought our company's ace, David, would breeze through the preliminaries."
"Yeah, kinda bummed about it."
"Age is the enemy, right?"
"That's for sure."
The older I got, the harder games became. Even games I used to be good at.
Games evolved and changed by the day, while I just kept getting worse.
'It's fine.'
That's why I'd challenged myself before it was too late. I'd prepared hard and entered the tournament.
No regrets now.
"David. Get home safe."
"Yes, boss. See you tomorrow."
Time to fully let go of the dream and focus on reality.
***
I left the stadium feeling lonely, just as the main tournament was starting.
I looked around, trying to remember.
'Ugh. Am I getting dementia already? Where's the subway station... huh?'
My gaze froze.
A beautiful girl was staring straight at me from across the crosswalk.
'At me? Why?'
Her slightly youthful face and clothes suggested she was a high school student.
If that was all, I would've just glanced once and moved on, but her vibe was mysterious, like the elves that always show up in fantasy stories.
Was I the only one looking at her?
Like she wasn't even there, nobody else paid her any attention.
"..."
"Excuse me!"
Right then, a man's voice came from behind as he put his hand on my shoulder, making me reflexively turn around.
"Oh, yes. What can I do for you?"
A suspicious man in a black tuxedo and sunglasses smiled as he answered.
"I've been watching your matches. You lost, unfortunately, but it was quite impressive."
"Thanks."
"If you're not busy, could we talk at a cafe?"
"Sorry. I've got something after this."
"I see. Then I'll make this quick. I'm looking for a coach to lead a pro team that'll be founded next year."
"A coach?"
"Yes. How about it? Join me in creating a legend..."
"Hold on."
"Yes?"
I looked back across the crosswalk where the girl had been. But she was already gone.
"..."
"I understand. You'll need time to think. Here's my card. I'll be waiting for your call."
"Do you happen to know where the nearest subway station is?"
"Just head straight that way."
"Thanks."
And then 40 years passed.
A wife appeared, a son appeared, a granddaughter appeared, arthritis appeared...
There were no tragic incidents to tug at people's heartstrings like in some novel protagonist's life.
'Oh! There is one.'
I'm still going to work to pay off the apartment loan!
I think about it every day on my commute.
'If only I were 10 years younger...!'
This game is our story.