Press Start!

“PRESS START!”, those were the words that flashed on my monitor as the game returned to its title screen.

-PRESS START-

-PRESS START-

-PRESS START-

The OLED put up a stark contrast against my bedroom, lights off and all. A ring light embrightening my face allowed the camera to film my reactions as I played. My dark hair was barely visible, and my deep brownish eyes blended with the darkness. My tired posture reflected with extraordinary precision what had just happened there.

I let out a long sigh, then looked at the game’s menu, probably for what would come to be the last time. Finally, I averted my eyes to the scoreboard.

“Score: 999.999.999”, it read.

“Heck… YEAH!”, I yelled loudly, raising my fist in the air. Right after that, I could feel all the air leaving my lungs in another deep breath, and all the tension dissipated in that same instant. “And that, everyone, is going to be it for tonight. Thank you very much for watching!”, I said as I turned off the recording, and waited for the video to render.

The performative smile left my face immediately, as the camera’s blinking red light faded for the last time. In its place, a genuine grin of relief and superiority took over.

It sure was nice having such an excellent PC in my own bedroom. I could play any game, record, and play music all at the same time with zero performance drops.

After taking a breather from all the action I’d just endured, I then got my colorful keyboard ready for even more action. Not video-game action, though — it was time for review action.

“Another masterpiece. This just might be Soejima’s best game yet. I’m madly in love with their game design philosophy. It’s not meant for you, average N00bz, but it’s not even close to being a challenge for a Pro Gamer such as myself. As proof, hereby I submit the first ever 999.999.999 score ever registered. Good luck mastering the strats I created! Lol~”, I typed furiously. “PS: Soejima… When are you going to make a game that actually challenges me!? They’re too good to not have a hard mode!”, and, just like that, my review had been completed.

Finally, I attached the gameplay footage to the message, and posted it on the Indie Games board under the name “Toki² gets the first ever MAX Score on Soejima’s Dan-da-Dance Heroes”. Toki² was, of course, my online nickname, pronounced something like Tokitsu, like that famous magazine.

Anyway, it was quite late at night already. I couldn’t stay up any longer just to see what kinds of replies would pop up. Don’t get me wrong, though — normally, I would. It’s just… My body couldn’t handle one more second of being awake after the max score grind I’d just completed.

I’m a true video-game player. Anything from speedrunning, maxing out scores, winning tournaments… I’ve done it all, to the point a couple teams tried scouting me. Still, I promised my family I’d finish high-school before thinking about that sort of stuff.

And, yet… I can’t seem to let go of games. Especially Soejima’s.

I think I might be in love with their games.

No, no, that’s gross. They’re probably some dude in their 40’s who makes games in their mother’s basement. Still, he’s the best independent game developer in the world nowadays — can’t argue with that.

Regardless, I still felt an insurmountable need to sleep, so I crash-landed on my bed and passed out almost immediately. It seems the adrenaline from completing my mission on Dan-da-Dance Heroes had finally subsided.

That night, I had a dream about all the games I had some sort of record on. Supersonic Man, Expedition Terra, Last Quest, Cassiopeia… And, now, Dan-da-Dance Heroes.

I really felt like the protagonist of a story as I played them. Maybe that’s the source of my love for videogames and Soejima’s stories. My life was… Uninteresting at best, plain awful at worst. Lately, I’d been on the uninteresting side of it, so it was all good.

Upon waking up in the morning, I was met with an open window, and sunlight and warmth flowing towards my body like an angry river after a rainy night.

“Shigeo, wakey-wakey!”, my mother cheerfully exclaimed.

“Morning…”, I said, still half-asleep.

“Don’t be so grumpy! You’re the one who told me to wake you up early today…”, she pouted.

“That’s true. Thanks, ma”, I reluctantly got up as she left me in my room.

Not a moment to waste, I got ready for a day I hoped would be filled with adventure and surprises. Naturally, I had no idea what kind of surprises I would actually meet, but that’s part of their existence as surprises.

As I had breakfast, though, I made the terrible mistake of checking my phone.

“Huh!?!?!?”, I exclaimed, almost spitting out half of my toast.

My post had reached two-hundred thousand views overnight. That’s more than 100 times my usual view numbers. Was this my chance to become a sub-celebrity!?!?

… Just kidding.

Still, I wondered just what gods of RNG had blessed my account. So, I delved deep into the swarm of comments in my endless feed of content.

There, I found it. A repost by Soejima himself. Or herself.

“Thank you for playing my games, Toki²! I love the way you play! Keep on!”, the post read.

Well, that was cute. I nearly blushed. If only a girl would ever say that kind of thing to me…

Then, in the posts replies, there was one more comment. “Bring a poster with your score or something to the Indie Expo tomorrow. I’d love to sign it for you- that is, if you’re even planning on going”, they said.

“Wait, you’re going????”, I replied without a thought in my mind. Then, I investigated their account’s previous posts, in search of anything that would reveal the details of what I had just perceived as an unpredictable twist.

Soejima. The famous indie game developer. Just invited me — ME — to meet them at the Indie Expo. I could barely contain my excitement, even my mother must have noticed my feet dancing as I had my breakfast at the kitchen table.

“Now… When is the Indie Expo starting…?”, I mumbled to myself, looking up the answer on the internet. “It starts… TODAY!? TWO HOURS AGO!?”, I yelled, startling my mother as I got up and ran straight to my bedroom to change clothes.

The Indie Expo had started, and I couldn’t lose it for the world. Soejima would be there in-person, and I’d have them sign a printed copy of my 999.999.999 score, thus proving to the world that I’m the best there is. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

It would be quite a moment, since it’s Soejima’s first public appearance ever, and they’re the current hot topic in the independent games market. That’s why I’ve been playing all their arcade-style games, and they’re as good as they get.

“I’m going out!”, I said excitedly as I put on my shoes to leave the house.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated. It eas… A text message from Soejima!? Yeah, I’d already pestered them in their DMs, but that was new. They’d never messaged me unprompted before.

“Hey! Are you coming to the Indie Expo?”, they asked.

“I’m on my way. You’re there already?”, I replied.

“[...]”

They were typing back already!?

“Yes! I’ll be waiting for you”.

“Wait, what!?”, I was flabbergasted. Being directly contacted by a hit indie game developer like this… Maybe this really ought to be my subcelebrity arc.

I hastened my step and walked directly to the convention center. Never mind the sun, the birds, the cool cityscape… I was completely lost in thought. Soejima was waiting for me.