Post-Game: The Meaning of Life

Takeshi Ishida would never amount to much.

The same shtick, the same schedule every single day.

“All pointless”, he would think to himself. “All of it, pointless.”

School? Pointless.

Work? Pointless.

Hobbies? Pointless.

And the days go on and on, seemingly directionless, perfectly average, numbingly mundane.

Or at least… that's what he thought…

What happened when he took the opportunity he could not afford to pass up?

•

Six months had passed since the end of The Game. As far as everyone knew, The Game had been completely shut down, and nobody could be harmed by it ever again. The realization that he had purpose in life had greatly boosted Takeshi Ishida’s confidence and self-image. For all the bad things that had been caused by The Game, it had also sparked at least some good.

7:00 am. Time for Takeshi Ishida to get ready for another day of school. Another day of the good old routine. But these days, Takeshi didn't mind it at all. Nine months ago? He would have thought all of this was pointless. He would have had trouble even getting out of bed. But now?

“Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!” Takeshi said as he left for school.

Takeshi was now well on his way to entering college. Prior to The Game, he had wanted to be a game designer, but would have lacked the confidence to make it all the way. Now, he's determined more than ever to get there.

He would occasionally wonder what happened to the others. He remembered reading something about how Eileen Stewart became an advocate for people who had been harmed (directly or otherwise) by The Game. But not a peep from the others.

The bell rang at 3:30; another school day had come and gone. As with every other day, Takeshi Ishida, a very average third-year high school student, headed off on his own path, away from the other students. In his hands were the results from his annual admissions test. One of the highest scores in the nation. Mom and Dad would be very proud to see how far he had come. He was feeling a lot more confident about the test this year, so he decided to take it a bit early.

After a while, he made it to the city park. Same time, same destination, every day. By this time, a light mist had filled the area. Takeshi didn't mind, however; he much preferred to keep to himself. Here, he would be alone with just his thoughts. The thoughts used to be very intrusive, contributing much to Takeshi's issues with purpose and self-worth. Now, the thoughts were considerably more positive. He was feeling quite pleased with all of the progress he had been making since the end of The Game.

But today was a very different day.

Takeshi sat under the same tree as he always would, reading his books.

“What's up, you big dummy?” a very familiar voice said to him.

Takeshi looked up from his books to see Rita standing over him.

“Rita?!” Takeshi was shocked to see her again after all this time. “What - what are you doing here? How are you here?”

“I'm taking a tour of Tokyo, you silly. Come September, I'll be studying here.”

“Studying… here?! Don't you need to win some high level scholarship to study here from abroad?”

“Why do you think I'm here?” Rita asked. “You don't think I'm an idiot, do you?”

“Of course not,” Takeshi answered. “I'm just saying that's a lot of hoops to jump through just to see me again.”

“Somehow, I knew I'd see the two of you again,” another voice told them. “Fate has a very interesting sense of humor.”

“Makoto! What brings you out here?” Takeshi asked.

“I came all the way from Susaki to visit my aunt,” Makoto answered. “Haven't been in Tokyo since The Game ended. I was a bit too scared to see this place again, I must admit.”

“What are the odds that the three of us are here again?” Takeshi asked. “It really is just like old times.”

“I think you're forgetting someone,” another voice called out to them.

“Proteus?!” Rita was shocked to see him. “Not you again!”

“Wow! All four of us!” Proteus said excitedly. “The gang is back together and ready to conquer the world!”

“Proteus, where are your parents?” Makoto asked him. “Don't you know it's not good to talk to strangers?”

“They're just right over there…” Proteus answered. “Besides, they know you're my friends from The Game.”

“So what brings you all the way out here from Germany?” Rita asked him. “Or was it Greece?”

“Parents took a two-week vacation and decided to bring me along for the ride,” Proteus explained.

“You haven't turned into a rat in front of your parents, have you?” Takeshi jokingly asked.

“Very funny,” Proteus said. “But since you mentioned that whole shapeshifting thing, I do have something to tell you all. I'm going to study to be a veterinarian!”

“Ooo…”

“Nice, nice.”

“Being stuck in the form of an animal for most of three years, even if it was virtual,” Proteus explained, “gave me more of an appreciation for the struggles of animals. So I figured the least I could do is give them a helping hand… the way you gave me a helping hand.”

“So, Rita, what will you be studying here in Tokyo?” Makoto asked.

“I'm not saying!” Rita said, arms crossed, with a huff and a puff. “Besides, I don't want to ruin the surprise.”

“Well, then, fine!” Takeshi told her. “Don't ruin the surprise!” Everyone began laughing. The whole gang was thoroughly enjoying this surprise meeting. They began to reminisce on the time they spent in The Game together, all of the good and all of the bad.

“Alright, everyone,” Takeshi then said to the others. “How about we go on one last adventure, for old times’ sake?”

Meanwhile, in a high rise apartment overlooking the park, someone was busy watching them.

Studying them…

For what reason they were doing so, only they would know.

“So, Takeshi Ishida, you think you know games? There is always another to play…”

The mystery person then closed the blinds on their window.

“Let the games begin…”