[01 — New Game Plus?]

The glow from my computer screen was the only thing standing out in the darkness of my room.

My cat, curled up on my blanket, stared at me with a confused look, as if trying to figure out why I was making so much noise in the middle of a Thursday night.

TAP. TAP. TAP. TAP.

I was typing like crazy with a Pocky stick clenched between my teeth.

“Freaking devs... how the hell did they manage to make something this perfect?” I sniffled

On my screen was the game’s official page, and in the comment section, my eighth review. Fifteen thousand characters of pure love poured into those lines.

“Sigh… That makes eight times now…”

Time really flies when you’re doing something that matters.

With my feet propped up on the desk, I pushed my chair back. My messy hair covered my eyes, but it didn’t stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks.

“Sniff... damn it. How can this game hit differently every single time I finish it?”

Nyan—

My cat jumped onto my lap.

I grabbed my shirt and wiped my wet face.

“What is it, Abobora-kun?”

He stared straight into my eyes.

“You think I should DM the devs?”

Purr…

Abobora-kun purred and rubbed his head against my hand.

“Hm… you really think so?”

Purr…

He was right. Good things deserve to be said.

Even if I know they probably won’t reply.

“Alright, let’s do it!” I said, stretching my arms.

I pulled the chair back to the desk and clicked the direct message field.

What kind of message do you even write to the creators of your favorite game?

I’ve beaten this game so many times it feels like those guys are part of my family, but this is the first time I’ve ever reached out.

Before I realized it, I’d already typed:

[To be fair, I’m speechless. There’s so much I want to say, but I can’t find the right way to express it. I’ve played tons of games in this genre, but nothing ever touched me quite like >Vinsatsu Legends<. I’ll admit the title isn’t the flashiest (honestly, I’d love to know where the name 'Vinsatsu' even came from), but just a few minutes into the game and you can feel all the care your team poured into it. Thank you so much for creating this universe and giving me the chance to experience it.]

[If I had just one wish to ask the gods, it would be to go back in time and forget everything about the game... just to relive that first-time experience again.]

[But I guess it’s like the saying goes: you never forget your first time.]

[With love…]

[Murakami Katou]

Nyan?

Abobora-kun looked up at me, slightly weirded out.

“… Too cheesy?”

“...”

Sure, that was disgusting. It read like a love confession.

Abobora-kun raised an eyebrow. He looked genuinely offended.

“Sigh… well, whatever. It’s not like they’re gonna read it anyway.”

In the bottom corner of the screen, the clock read 3:58 AM.

Way past bedtime.

Just as I was about to shut off the PC and go to bed, a notification icon popped up:

[Are you serious? — ID: VINDT#01]

“... Serious? What do you mean?”

Maybe it was just the sleepiness, but that ID felt familiar.

“Wait… isn’t that the developer’s ID?”

Nya!—

I dashed back to the desk.

SLAM! I stubbed my pinky toe on the edge of the bed.

“ITAI! Who the hell put this bed here?!”

If it weren’t for the apartment’s soundproofing, I’m pretty sure the neighbors would’ve called the cops on me.

Abobora-kun looked at me like I was an idiot.

But none of that mattered now.

Like… did I just get a reply from the dev?

“I don’t believe it…”

But what the hell did they mean by 'Are you serious?'

I scratched my head.

“Well, if you mean what I said about loving the game, then yeah, I was serious…”

[Ridiculously serious.]

Before I could even hit ENTER on my keyboard, a white light pierced my vision.

Everything around me began to spin.

A swirling storm of glowing colors latched onto my body, and a wave of nausea hit me like a truck.

*

What... was that?

... Suddenly I remembered the last time I’d been out at sea.

It felt exactly like this…

GWAH!—

I threw up all the snacks and junk food I’d eaten earlier that day.

“Um... are you <KATOU DESTROYER 9000>?”

A sweet, soft voice echoed in my left ear.

Didn’t sound like anyone I knew. But if she knew my war name, there was no way she was up to anything good.

“Who dares speak my name in vain?”

“Hmm?” She tilted her head like a curious puppy.

She really thought she could make me drop my guard with that cutesy, innocent face?

Well, too bad for her… I’m not that easy.

... Hoh? Looking more closely, she’s actually kinda cute.

I mean, it’s not like I have a thing for angel wings and pointy ears or anything, but still…

Wait.

"Angel wings?!"

“Eh… Destroyer-kun?”

Ahem, ahem. “Yes... that’s me.”

She looked a little relieved.

“Phew… glad I didn’t mess it up this time, hehe.”

“…This time?!”

"Hihi~"

Something about her told me she wasn’t exactly trustworthy.

“But putting that aside—”

Don’t skip over the important parts!!

“My name is Vindt.”

Vindt… VINDT#01?

“Wait! does that mean... you’re the game dev?”

“De...bu?” She poked her cheek. “Something like that…?”

“…Eh… Vindt-san, could you please explain what’s going on?”

“Destroyer-kun... I brought you here because I read your message. I must say I was really touched. I received your 'love' with great affection.”

I didn’t understand why she made air quotes around the word 'love,' but something in her eyes sent a chill down my spine.

“Vindt-san, I don’t get what you’re trying to say.”

“Fufu… What I’m trying to say is…”

She paused dramatically, like she was about to announce something huge.

“I’m going to grant your wish, hehe~”

My wish? What’s she talking about?

“I…” I tried to ask, but before the words could leave my mouth, the nausea returned even stronger than before.

The space around me began to spin again.

"Memories… world… real… first time…"

I’m sorry, Vindt-san… What are you even—

And then…

Everything turned white.