"Got it," Neru muttered, leaning against a pillar. Before her stood all three agents of the Maid Club.
After a debrief on the Seminar mission, Neru's expression was unreadable.
"Game Dev Club, huh. Never heard of 'em, but they got us. And that Shalle Sensei too."
"Sorry. I planned this mission. I've tarnished C&C's reputation. I'll accept any punishment."
"Who cares?"
Neru dismissed Akane's failure, refusing to punish them.
"Rio contacted me when I got back."
"The President?"
"Yeah. Mission's canceled. Like it never happened."
"What!?"
Rio Tsukatsuki, Seminar's top, had personally revoked the mission. Akane was stunned.
"Why…?"
"Hell if I know. Probably Rio and Himari wanted to test 'em."
"Game Dev's strength?"
"Close. They wanted to gauge that Alice kid… and Shalle's Sensei."
"Mash-sensei?"
"His skills are unreal. Makes sense Rio's wary… but why Alice?"
"No clue. Don't care either."
Neru stepped away from the pillar, grinning at Akane.
"Akane, dig into Game Dev. Everyone involved. Sensei too."
"Why? Revenge?"
"That word stings, but… I'm curious. Once you've got the intel, we're paying them a visit."
"They're probably gloating now. Can't wait to see their faces next time."
"Rematch time! I'm prepping!"
"I failed last time. I won't again."
Unbeknownst to Mash, a rematch with the Maid Club—and Millennium's strongest—was set.
Meanwhile, at Game Dev Club, usually buzzing with energy, the mood was a funeral.
"Never been this down since… uploading Tales Saga Chronicle's prototype…"
Midori, Momoi, and Yuzu were in despair.
"Momoi…?"
"Heh… It's over! Done!"
Momoi rolled on the floor, raving.
"Midori? You okay?"
"Sorry, Alice-chan… I can't talk right now…"
Midori, slightly better off, was stuck replaying a failed game stage in her mind.
"Yuzu—"
"Rage, ruin, origin, decay, despair, collapse… The world's heading for destruction…"
"Yuzu!?"
Yuzu was the worst, muttering apocalyptic nonsense, her spirit crushed.
"Ugh, what do I do… If only Sensei were here…"
"Called?" Door opens.
Mash, fresh from a lecture about the mission, entered, clueless about the file.
"Sensei!"
"Whoa, what's wrong?"
"Everything's over!"
Their despair stemmed from sacrificing Momoi's game data for the G.Bible. Using Veritas' mirror, they'd cracked the password, only to find one line:
"Love the game."
That's it.
"Got it."
"Would've been better if it was a lie! We're done! Club's finished!"
"There, there."
Crushed by the anticlimax, Momoi sobbed into Mash's chest. Midori and Yuzu sniffled too. Alice, seeing their pain, steeled herself.
"Don't give up!"
"Sorry, Alice-chan… We can't make a good game alone…"
"No. Every time I play Tales Saga Chronicle, I feel it's amazing."
"Alice?"
"I feel how much Momoi, Midori, and Yuzu love it. Traveling that world, filled with your passion, makes my heart race. It taught me what dreaming feels like."
Silence.
"The closer I get to the ending, despite the pain, I think… I don't want this dream to end. That's how I feel."
Alice looked at Mash, who nodded, gently pulling the crying sisters back to meet their eyes.
"Don't give up. Heroes never do, right?"
"Heroes…"
"Like Alice loves this game, I love it too. Even if it's called trash, to us, it's a masterpiece."
"Sensei… Alice-chan…"
"Let's make it—our dream game. Never give up. I'll help with everything."
Mash extended his hand. Alice placed hers atop it.
"My dream is for everyone to love our game. It might be greedy, but I want this dream to last—for everyone who loves it!"
Yuzu's cry resonated. The Saiba sisters added their hands to the pile.
"There's still time. Let's do it—make what we love!"
"Yeah!"
"Yes!"
"Okay!"
"Game Dev Club… Tales Saga Chronicle 2 development begins! Fight, oh!"
"Oh!!"
Forming a huddle, they raised their hands, reigniting their spirit. The final battle to save their club began.
---------------------------------------------
🚀 Want more?
📖 On Patreon you can read 20+ chapters ahead, plus there will be exclusive stories available only there.
💖 If you'd like to support me, check it out: patreon.com/Greyhounds
🔓 Patreon will always stay ahead of the public release — and some stories won't be published anywhere else.
✨ All support is completely optional — even if you don't join, I'm still grateful to have you here reading!