SWNOVELXO Chapter 21 - Hikaru is made to understand
“Do you have experience playing Mushroom Kart, big brother?”
While choosing characters, Hikari asked Haruya. Haruya, too, answered while choosing his character.
“Yeah, I’ve done it a few times at a friend’s house, even though I don’t own it.”
“So, you’ve played before. What about you, Akiha?”
“Well, I’ve played it a few times, too, but it was when I was very young, so I don’t really remember how it felt.”
“But you’ve still played before. So, it’s just me who’s playing for the first time.”
“Don’t cry if you get beaten up, okay?”
“I won’t get beaten up! I won’t cry! I’ll show you the ‘Beginner’s Luck’!”
In high spirits, Hikari chose a cute princess character and a pinkish car. The controller and everything else was a flood of pink. Haruya picked a lightweight character resembling a mushroom as in the name of Mushroom Kart, and Akiha chose a princess character different from Hikari’s.
“I won’t lose~”
As Hikari gripped the controller with determination, the screen switched to the race and the countdown to the start began.
“Hehehe… I’ll leave you guys behind by zooming off right from the start!”
Hikari, who had chosen the strategy of “Run Away,” pressed the button on the controller hard as soon as the countdown started.
“Let’s see… I seem to recall something about a rocket start when you press the button at 2…”
“I don’t remember exactly how it felt, but I do remember there was something called a rocket start! It was pressing at 2, wasn’t it?”
On the other hand, the two experienced players, Haruya and Akiha, remembered the rocket start procedure. The moment the screen number switched to “GO!!”, the characters of Haruya and Akiha took off. In contrast, Hikari’s car remained where it was, puffing out a showy cloud of smoke. It had stumbled at the start, just like a certain invincible grey battleship.
“Eh? Why, why?”
“Maybe you were pressing the button the whole time? If you don’t time it right, that’s what happens.”
“You should have told me earlier!”
Ignoring the flustered Hikari, the pink car with the princess slowly accelerated and finally crossed the start line. Since the CPUs were set to weak for the beginner Hikari, and the engine capacity was low for easier operation, she was able to gradually climb the ranks, despite her late start. The course was the simplest circuit, so there was no need to worry about falling off the course. However, Haruya and Akiha, who were not CPUs, were racing around the course, fighting fiercely for first and second place. The two college students showed no mercy, even against a grade-schooler.
“Here I come, Haruya! Red shell!”
“I’ll guard with a banana… and drop it!”
“Heh!? Ahh!”
Akiha’s car spun around as it stepped on the banana Haruya had dropped. Haruya tried to widen the gap in that moment, but of course, Akiha wasn’t quiet either.
“Hehe. I’ve got another red shell~”
“What!?”
“Go!”
“Ah!”
Akiha’s thrown red shell hit directly, and this time Haruya’s car spun. The gap created by the banana was instantly closed. The two entered the final lap side by side.
“Hmm… The two of them are getting all lovey-dovey and excited…”
Hikari, who had fallen to fourth place, touched a sparkling item box. The item she got was a blue shell with spikes.
“Go! Blue shell~”
“Eh…?”
“What…?”
At Hikari’s words, Haruya, who was a bit ahead, slowed down. However, Akiha didn’t move forward either and also slowed down slightly.
“Akiha, I’ll let you take first place. Please go ahead~”
“Is it… okay? Haruya, you should go first.”
“No, no, don’t say that.”
“You don’t have to suddenly give up.”
While the two were rubbing against each other, the spiky shell arrived and started to revolve overhead. Haruya, who was in the first place, was targeted, but because he slowed down, Akiha was inevitably caught in it too.
“Ah!”
“I’m caught in the blast!”
Suffering a massive explosion, Haruya and Akiha’s cars were blown away dramatically. Hikari, who had climbed up to third place, was gradually closing the gap. However, it seemed that the gap between the experienced and the beginner was too large.
“Yes, first place~”
“Ah~! I lost, second place!”
“Hmm… third place…”
Haruya was first, Akiha was second, and Hikari, despite being a beginner, squeezed into third place. Hikari, who had been showing off before the game started, was now completely overwhelmed and said, pouting her lips.
“Hmph! I’ll practice a lot and show you that I can win against big brother and Akiha!”
“Just don’t get it confiscated by mom for playing too much.”
“I’ll play it secretly.”
“Hey”
“But you know”
As the race replay played, Hikari’s expression changed from frustrated to a bright smile.
“It was really fun! Thank you for buying it, big brother!”
“Yes, yes, you’re welcome.”
“Thank you for coming to play, Akiha!”
“Thank you for inviting me.”
Haruya and Akiha smiled at each other and gently stroked Hikari’s head. Delighted by their attention, Hikari gripped the controller tightly and said,
“Let’s do it again! One more time! I won’t smoke next time!”
And so the Mushroom Kart tournament continued, with Haruya and Akiha holding back a little, until Hikari won.