The day after the shopping date with the Abydos crew.
"Sensei! A request from Millennium!" Arona says.
"Millennium… the Engineer Department's place?" Mash asks, lifting a gravity dumbbell.
"Yes, from the Game Development Department, it seems. I'll read it."
"Go ahead."
"O brave hero, the Game Development Department faces extinction. The student council's disbandment order looms. You're our only hope. Please save us!"
Mash senses their desperation but has a question.
"Games… like board games?"
"No, digital games," Arona clarifies.
"Digital?"
"Computer games."
"Never seen one."
Mash's world has board games—sugoroku that predicts the future—but no computers.
"Might as well hear them out."
"Also, another letter from the Engineer Department!" Arona adds.
"Oh?"
"Sensei, it's finally done—your weapon! Can't wait for you to try it. Drop by when you can."
"My weapon? Was there one?"
"Remember the checkup? They said they'd make it as thanks."
"Oh, yeah. The auto-cream puff machine and gravity dumbbell were too exciting to remember."
"You loved those… What's the plan?"
"Game Development first, then Engineer Department."
"Got it!"
"Let's go, Game Development."
Mash heads to Millennium to save the department.
At Millennium, Mash rummages through his bag. Arona stopped him from bringing workout gear, but he's got cream puffs. Munching a strawberry cream puff, he checks a map.
"Up here, turn there… got it."
"Games, huh? Only played cards or sugoroku with Grandpa. Can I help?"
Mash, unfamiliar with computer games, worries about fitting in. "It'll work out."
Eating a rich strawberry cream puff (270 yen, very red), he hears shouting from above—arguing.
"I lost again! This game sucks!" a voice yells.
"You called it a god-tier game last week… Flip-flopping much? I won, so ice cream's on you," another replies.
"Ugh—it's all the game's fault!" CRASH!
"Stop, Sis! Stop!"
SMASH!
Something falls, hitting Mash's head. SPLAT! Red cream splatters his clothes. No damage.
"Ouch. Cream's everywhere… Laundry's gonna suck. Is this… a club?"
Mash pops the cream puff in his mouth, holding the shattered object. Footsteps approach.
"Is the PlayStation okay!?" a girl yells.
"That's not the issue! What if it hit someone!?" another scolds.
"It's fine! Kivotos folk would just say 'ow'—eek!"
A girl rounds the corner, collides with Mash, and tumbles.
"Sis!?"
"Oww! What was that, a wall!?" She sees Mash. "?!"
"Twins with the same face," Mash observes, crouching.
The girls, staring at Mash holding their broken console, red liquid on his clothes, think they've injured him.
"A-awawawa…"
"Sis, we hurt him!" one panics.
"B-but—!"
"Not 'but'! Apologize!" "Hey, you two—" They flinch.
"Is this yours?" Mash asks, meaning, "Sorry, my head broke it."
They hear, "You threw this? How you gonna make this right?"
Terrified, they sob, "We're so sorry!"
"It was that important? My bad…" Mash feels guilty for breaking something precious, visibly bummed.
Game Development Department
Mash calms the twins and is led to their clubroom. The object was a game console, thrown out a window in a rage after one twin lost.
"Sorry, really!" one says.
"I'm sorry, I swear!" the other adds, bowing deeply.
"No harm done. Sorry I broke your stuff," Mash replies.
He feels bad, but the twins, sensing his sincerity, get cocky.
"For real!" one says.
"Sis?" the other growls.
"Kidding! Not mad!"
"Good."
(He bounced back fast!?) they think.
"I'm Mash Burnedead, Sensei from Schale."
"Sensei?" they gasp.
"Yup."
"How old?"
"16."
"16!? One year older!?"
Mash mutters, "Déjà vu," and asks their names.
"I'm Momo Saiba, first-year, Game Development Department. This is my twin sister—"
"Midori Saiba, first-year, Game Development Department."
Mash offers a handshake. "Momo-chan, Midori-chan, nice to meet you."
They shake, Mash thinking, "Small hands," but keeps quiet.
"Now that Sensei's here, let's hit the ruins!" Momo says.
"Wait, explain first," Midori urges.
"Nice! 300-yen snack limit?" Mash asks.
"Listen to the reason, Sensei! It's not a field trip!" Midori pleads.
"500 yen, then," Mash says.
"Sweet!" Momo cheers.
"Listen!" Midori shouts.
Thus begins Mash's grand adventure with the Game Development Department.
But this is just the prelude. Challenges await. Can they overcome and save the world? Become true heroes?
No one knows yet.
One thing's clear: no bad ending for Mash and his crew.
Next Chapter Preview
"This game club—no, we're done for!"
"Shall I explain?"
"That voice! Yuuka, the ruthless accountant of the student council's Four Heavenly Kings!"
"Ruin exploration sounds fun."
"Alice… that's my name."
Fanfare! Alice got a cream puff!
"It's… over…"
"Don't give up! Heroes never do, right?"
"I was asked to save the game club… so I will."
"Let's show them—the power from games."
Full Muscles Magic: Gaming Power Mode
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