Gamers!

Volume 5 Afterword

Hello, I’m the author, Sekina Aoi. Thank you for buying < Gamers! 5 – Gamers and Annihilated Game Over >.

Well, we arrived at the 5th volume of the series. So, I guess we can take all the serious greetings away. Please allow me to get to the topic as soon as possible.

This afterword has 12 pages.

…Have anyone seen an author that wrote afterwords that exceed 10 pages like it’s nothing? At least I don’t…unless I’m facing a mirror.

Speaking of which, I feel like the author “Sekina Aoi” is a narcissist that loves to talk about himself. In reality, it’s because I have that “hey everyone come and listen to my story” side. That’s why I chose to be an author.

Even so, usually, I should be satisfied with a couple of 4-5 pages afterwords since my debut. Actually, I have already fulfilled my desire for afterwords in the 1st volume of the series. I should say the “talking about myself happily” part is already over long ago. From this perspective, the lowest amount of pages possible (around 2) is already enough for me to thank the readers and the people involved.

…Then, a few years passed.

Right now, even if I received a notification from my editor that said I need to write a 10-page afterword, I’m already trained to respond. “Oh, it’s finally time for a normal round?”

What is this?

…Ay, although I’ve always complained about the lengthy afterwords, I think it counts as self-inflicted damage this time.

The reason for that is just like what I’ve mentioned. When I received the afterword notification from the editor, I also received a passive suggestion. “Hey, do you want to adjust the pages for the main story a little bit?”

“No, the pages reserved for the afterword has been slacking off lately. I’ll keep it just the same this time.”

However, I immediately answered that. Recently, I can slightly get how those comedian feels when they ask to eat a boiling oden.

So, due to the situation, I’m still overwhelmed by my desire to “write” something. Right now, I can’t think of anything to write.

I’ve talked about the reason for this back when I’m grumbling. It’s because I’m a 100% indoor otaku. My life only consists of novels, meals, entertainment, and sleep.

Among them, the only hobby that I can chat about is gaming.

-Right here, perhaps all readers will feel that, “Then why don’t you just write about gaming, the theme of this series is based on that, anyway.”

However, there’s an enormous trap hidden within this.

That’s right. This series is supposed to be covering gaming topics in the main story.

Uh, in other words…

I can’t spend all my precious “gaming-related writing ideas” on the afterword, right!

If you took away all the gaming topics from me, what will even be remained in this afterword?

The kind editor and readers will laugh cheerfully and say, “Just talk about Aoi-sensei’s daily lives, and it’s alright.” However, can I really take this by it’s meaning? I’m going to try and talk about my “daily lives” seriously, alright? Are you ready?

My favorite t-shirt was stained by toothpaste a while ago. Ughhh, it struck me down hard.

…Don’t tell me there’s someone in this world that wants to read a “daily lives report” like this! Nowadays, no one will accept a dull slice of life report like this even if you’re a celebrity, do you guys really want to hear what I have to say! By the way, what’s with this report, it’s super disgusting! Do you know where the most surprising part is? Actually, my t-shirt wasn’t even stained by toothpaste! Annoying and fictional, jeez, what kind of crappy afterword is this! Quit being an author!

Sigh, readers, please don’t underestimate how hopeless I’m when it comes to chatting with other people. I’m the kind of guy that can’t even talk about the weather unless I know the person a lot. Moreover, even if the guy throws a topic at me, I’ll accidentally answer, “…Really.” I’m a guy that completely shatters all kinds of topics!

Then, you just say, “please write whatever you want” to a guy like this. After that, you hand a 12-page afterword for him to write. The content will even be on a commercial publication for everyone to read, what is this business model?

…Even so, … whenever I’m complaining about afterword in the afterword, I would often ask myself, “Then why I’m trying to be an author?” However, even I’m not sure about it.

Perhaps among the readers, someone may have seen the “fresh version of Sekina Aoi” that claims, “it’s fun to write!” But I’m sorry, that’s just the opinion of the surface and social part of Sekina Aoi. Although I’m definitely not lying, honestly, the “fun” that I mentioned there. In terms of gaming, it would be…

“Hehe, …even though there’s no enemy for me to fight already, …I really like wasting time on pointless training. …Hehe, …hehehe, …ah, my total playtime broke the record again…” This is also a part of the “fun” too! Instead of saying entertainment, it’s closer to being “sick.”

Moreover, the refreshing feeling you got from finish writing, I guess it’s like the warmth you get after a long bath.

The pleasure you got when a reader gave you positive feedback, perhaps it’s similar to being thanked when you healed or revived another player in an online game.

…Then, this is what I get from being addicted to those pleasures. The birth of an otaku writer that managed to churn all of this out with hard work, even though I’m not good at long afterwords.

…However, although I’m not Chiaki Hoshinomori, it can’t be helped if I’m addicted to it. In the future, I do hope to work harder for the main story and the afterword.

The end.

…………

The ending feels good, but how hopeless, this is just 1/3 of the required amount.

It can’t be helped. I need to think of more topics, let’s talk about the story (you should do that at the start)!

The subtitle of Volume 5 is extremely shocking. I don’t know what people will think after reading it.

Basically, I want the readers to think that “oh, that’s why the subtitle” when I designed the plot.

However, even the author didn’t expect the Earth to be blown up in the last chapter. I bet the readers who finished it already must be shocked. More importantly, people who read the afterword first should be even more surprised.

Let’s put the jokes aside first. Although the title looks like it’s going to be the last volume (and the bad ending type), of course, the story will continue. Even though it’s been like this every time, I’m just trying to match the subtitle with the content, hope you don’t mind.

As usual, this chapter ended with an atomic bomb (The Earth didn’t explode). It would be my honor if everyone can await the next volume excitedly. This is still a romantic comedy filled with misunderstandings, no matter what.

Hey, come to think of it, Uehara, who survived by hiding into a space shuttle alone, what will happen to him? The author is also looking forward to < Gamers! 6 – Tasuku Uehara and Space Reset >! I can’t wait to see what’s the story! I really hope that Amano and his friends can be revived!

…………

Yep, these made-up content could’ve been even more in the beginning, I should just add a couple of paragraphs in…

Alright, the author is already trying to fill the pages with his inner monologue that’s full of nasty ideas.

The discussion for Volume 5 ended quicker and cleaner than I’ve expected, I’m slightly freaking out now. Eh, it’s hard to discuss the content in < Gamers >! It’s because the relationships of the characters in the story keep changing. It’s very easy to leak the plot out, no matter which part I took.

Ah, why don’t we talk about the characters?

First of all, it’s the two Game Club members that often made quite a few appearances in these two volumes.

From the 1st volume in this story, initially, even the editor thought that they were just actual characters in the series. However, honestly, in the author’s mind, these people are supposed to be “small casts that show up in Volume 1.”

But recently, they appeared from time to time, even I was surprised by it. The characters are moving on their own. …Although this is such a cliché saying, as the author, I’m glad that everyone in the Game Club can still do things in this world actively.

By saying that, you would think I’m “an author that loves his characters.” However, I would also entirely forget the names of the characters that I came up with sometimes. So, it’s better for you to not praise me.

Also, if we’re talking about the characters, personally, I like Konoha’s viewpoint. After all, she’s the one with the most beef. She’s straightforward, which is precious to the author. …It’s hard to say for the readers, though! I’m sorry if she freaked everyone out! Konoha is just a bit hard for me to describe, but I bet she’s still a good girl! (A sudden and lazy way to smooth things over)

I guess that’s all.

…Well, we’re done talking about the characters. …At this point, I can only squeeze in some gaming (daily lives) topic.

Although I kept mentioning that my hobby is gaming, I’m not the type of guy that can spend his entire day on the same game. Instead, I’m living on a “wide but shallow” style. I read novels and manga. I watch movies and anime. (In the end, I’m still an introvert)

Among all of those hobbies, recently, I have a lot of chances to play board games that require me to use my brain. This is also very suited as a theme of < Gamers! >. So, I hope that the characters can play them too. Even if it’s not through a medium like a board game, they’re already doing a lot of unnecessary calculations in their daily lives. If I include the wit required for a board game, I feel like I can write a strategic novel that can compare to the best detective or military fictions. That’s why I restrained myself. I guess the Game of Life in Volume 3 is the limit.

This is cliché, but my favorite board game is Settlers of Catan. …The readers must be getting an Amano vibe from me since I only know the very basics of the game. I’m sorry. …Actually, I’ve played all kinds of games too, but a famous title is a famous title. This is the same for console games. (The feeling when you’ve played the mobile version of a classical RPG)

Ah, speaking of consoles, if we’re talking about something that I’ll never write in < Gamers! >, …I returned to console games after going around. Although I still like watching TV while playing on handheld consoles, I’ll immerse myself in that satisfaction whenever I can play a super famous title in consoles. Then, accidentally, I kept finishing game after game.

Conversely, no matter which type of consoles, as long as I haven’t played it in a while, I don’t feel like switching it on. I don’t know whether I’m the only person that feels like this. It feels troublesome when you need to update the system software and charge the console or the controllers…

For example, handheld consoles.

You turn on the thing after a while, then you’ll realize that the battery’s empty. After the charging’s over and finally turning on the console, the system needs to update again. Then, when you finally downloaded the update files, the console restarts, and it says the installation takes 10 minutes. …Has anyone experienced hell like this before? What is that? It feels so helpless when you’re just wasting time.

Well, …let’s talk about movies.

I’m the type that goes to the cinema once or twice per month. (I really don’t know this counts as a lot or not, the average?)

For the past couple of years, unbelievably, I feel the “oh that looks like a game” situation has increased.

Usually, it’s always the cutscenes in the game that looks like a particular movie.

There are a lot of places in movies that make people feel it’s copied from a game. In terms of the most explicit part, recent war movies will often use an FPS perspective in some scenes. Even if I don’t mention this, there’s an increase in the “sense of gaming” from subtle actions and plot structure.

However, I guess the part where I only reacted because of my love for gaming takes up 90% of the reason. Even so, I still feel like the entertainment brought by gaming is way more immersive nowadays, so I’m quite happy on my own. …Uh, even though I’m entirely irrelevant. I’m not a game developer! But, seeing the moment of your favorite element passing in front of your daily lives, isn’t it quite a blessing? It’s like your favorite game’s BGM was suddenly played out in the news.

Meal talk.

Authors that know how to cook will introduce tasty recipes in afterwords that put COOKPAD to shame, or they would give bits of advice. [Note: COOKPAD Inc, a recipe sharing platform.] About that, …I, Sekina Aoi, have heard about that.

So, …I, Sekina Aoi, the self-proclaimed culinary researcher, am going to share my information here.

I’m just telling everyone here, no one else.

The latest supermarket bento and desserts are super tasty.

…Hey, is everyone’s mind blown? It’s okay if you want to suggest, “I hope you can publish Aoi-sensei’s cooking books!” to the editors. I don’t dislike it.

In reality, the meals in convenience stores will sometimes be stunning, isn’t it?

I always feel that the noddles, soups, and desserts are “already better than those poor-quality stores…” Uh, usually, I would just go to cheap restaurants, right? I guess it’s right if you put it that way, but that’s not related.

Of course, I understand it makes more sense to cook yourself economically. Also, it’s overwhelmingly healthier and tastier. Yeah, you have to mention Sekina Aoi when it comes to cooking (still trying)!

Even so, what I want to say is that, don’t you think everyone will sometimes accidentally look down on supermarket bento? …Who even am I? Which company sent me here?

Actually, I’ve worked night shifts in supermarkets before, so I ate a lot of their products at the time. However, compared to the past, convenience store meals nowadays are significantly tastier. I bet there’s a lot of elite adults competing with each other to develop various products, perhaps it’s bound to happen.

Especially cakes and puddings, how could those be that good. I’m starting to feel terrible for those dessert shops.

Ay, although I don’t think that can rival the “dine-in” meals in restaurants, even so, the evolution of taste is still incredible when you consider the convenience.

Moreover, the standard for cold and packaged food are skyrocketing as well.

What should I do if the convenience stores begin to threaten light novels in the future? They’ll publish light novels with their own brand in a massive wave, and I feel like the content will be very interesting. That way, I’ll lose my job…

Sekina Aoi loves convenience stores! Long live, convenience store! Please give me a job!

Well, here’s the usual appreciation speech.

First of all, thanks to Cactus-sensei for embellishing the 5th volume with beautiful illustrations, as usual, I really appreciated you! Since the novel is based on conversations, there are not a lot of scenes for images to shine. Sometimes, when a critical scene is here, you added a finishing touch with your incredible illustrations. Thank you so much. I look forward to working with you.

Then, I have to thank the editor. Just as I’m having a hard time writing a particular part in this volume, you voiced your support, which really helped me. Thanks for your work. …Uh, even though I can’t still predict the development of the story! (because I don’t even know too)

Finally, the readers who picked this up despite the ominous subtitle, thank you.

I sincerely appreciate everyone’s support.

There are not a lot of things I can promise for this series. But like I’ve mentioned before, this story is still a romantic comedy. So, it would be my honor if you can read the next volume joyfully. I’m looking forward to that.

Well, see you in the next volume!

Sekina Aoi