Game Market 1983

Chapter: "Valentine's Day in Uchimura"

Gunpei, the head of the second development team at Pentagon Soft, pondered while slipping his business card into his bag on the subway.

Though he had handed Miyuki's figure to a guy named Kang Junhyuk, he had no regrets. After all, he was sure this guy would pass it on to Yuki.

On his way back home...

His bag might have felt empty, but for some reason, his wallet was pleasantly plump. Could it be that one figure he made was generating more income than a month of part-time work at a rice bowl restaurant?

And on top of that, he had a new game cartridge from that guy, an unreleased masterpiece from Pentagon Soft, titled "Valentine's Day." Just imagining the beautiful girls holding chocolates made him smile.

The Super Family cartridge had a much more luxurious feel compared to the previous Family Cartridge. The gray cartridge's front had graceful curves, and even with the Super Family cartridge attached, the title sticker on the front was still visible, making it look pleasing.

A little while later, after getting off the subway, he stopped by the usual bento shop before heading home.

Should he splurge a bit today, considering the plump wallet?

"Oh, Uchimura-kun, long time no see. Another tonkatsu bento today?"

He usually got the cheapest tonkatsu bento, so they didn't even need to ask, but today, he felt like ordering something different.

"No, please give me the smoked salmon and beef steak bento."

"Is it payday today? Well, sometimes you should have some meat and fish instead of just tonkatsu. I'll load up on side dishes for you."

"Thank you."

With the sound of sizzling, the rich aroma of beef steak started to tickle his nose. But all he could think about was returning home quickly to play "Valentine's Day."

"Okay, that'll be 1,480 yen."

He felt a strange sensation when paying that extra 480 yen on top of the usual tonkatsu bento price. But it was a minor luxury, considering his current wallet.

He paid with a crisp 10,000-yen note, picked up the bento wrapped in a thick plastic bag, and headed home.

"Hey, Uchimura-hyung!"

Yoda, who was playing with friends in the playground in front of his house, ran up to Kang Junhyuk and excitedly began to chit-chat.

"Hyung, hyung! I used the Bahamut you gave me to battle with the kids in this neighborhood and won! Isn't that awesome?"

"Oh, really? Impressive."

Kang Junhyuk, who just wanted to get home, replied dryly to Yoda's excitement and turned away.

"Hey, why are you so cold today?"

"I'm a bit busy today."

"Last time, when I asked you to battle, you said you were making some weird doll clothes and couldn't play!"

"To be honest, I've outgrown the age to play with you."

Kang Junhyuk gently patted Yoda's forehead, who was clinging to his arm, and answered with the softest voice he could muster.

"I'll play with you next time."

Kang Junhyuk felt quite cool, even if he had to admit it himself. Tap, tap, tap...

With a proud stride, he walked past Yoda and headed home, but he heard Yoda's muttered voice from behind.

"Lately, Hyung has been acting strange."

In the evening, if he wanted to go to work, he had to keep his eyes glued to the screen, but leaving the new game unplayed was nothing short of a "sin." So, Kang Junhyuk quickly turned on the TV and inserted "Valentine's Day" into the Super Family cartridge.

"Oops... The game is great, but if the beef steak gets cold, it won't taste good. I'm already so hungry; let's eat first."

Deciding to have dinner first, Kang Junhyuk took out a small, one-person table and unfolded it.

"You know, I should really tidy up... Since I started making figures, my place has become a complete mess."

No wonder, with various Nanase figure parts waiting for painting on the floor since yesterday. He had to start working on the Nanase figure too.

Thinking back to the feeling of exhilaration when the first figure he ever made, "Hasegawa Miyuki," sold for an incredible price at an auction, the figures in front of him suddenly began to look like bundles of cash.

"If I do it well, I might make more money than working night shifts at the rice bowl restaurant. But to do that, I need to complete the next figure quickly."

Kang Junhyuk began working on Nanase's painting, all while humming the theme song of "The Streets I'm Not On."

Just as he was painting her eyebrows, he blew gently to dry the enamel.

Then... A tiny voice whispered near his ear.

"What are you doing there...?"

Huh... What was that? Whose voice was that?

"Look over here..."

Kang Junhyuk turned his head slowly and saw something strange on the TV screen.

And the moment he recognized it, his heart froze.

"Kyaaaaaaaah!"

He dropped his brush, spewing out the mouthful of food he had in his mouth.

"Mom! Mooooooooom!"

The phrase '????' - is this what it meant?

Screams echoed in response to the ghostly figure on the TV screen, while next door, a pounding reverberated against the walls.

Caught in bewilderment, I reached for the TV's power cord, yanking it out. Instantly, the screen went black, quiet settling in.

"Heh, heh... What just happened?"

Had a ghost possessed the TV? It felt like a trauma that would haunt me for life.

Surveying the scene, I noticed a green light emanating from the power unit of the Super Family, which was supposed to be switched off.

"Why is this on? Is it broken?"

Tilting my head, I flicked the power button up and down, only to witness the green light shift to red.

Concerned it might be a malfunction, I reinserted the TV's power cord, flipping the switch again. Soon, an eerie BGM emanated from the TV speakers.

Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding...

"Could this be a horror game?"

But why this title!?

In an instant, the room's air turned chilly. I hurriedly powered off the console and ejected the game cartridge.

My colleague, Kang Junhyuk, who handed me this, chuckling, flashed into my mind. When I asked if this was a romance game just by its 'Valentine Day' title, he said 'No.' Unforgivable!

I can't even enter a haunted house at an amusement park!!!

Curiosity is a remarkable thing. Sometimes, it surpasses fear and dread.

After tidying the room hastily and cleaning Nanase's face with acetone, I took a deep breath and reinserted the game cartridge into the Super Family.

"Alright, it's just a game. A demo at that."

Slapping my cheeks a few times, I powered it up.

Soon, with a chilling BGM mixed with static, I embarked on my first foray into the 'horror' genre.

Sure, I've rented scary movies at video stores, but games and movies are vastly different.

Movies, you 'watch' a predetermined story. Games demand direct 'interaction' to follow that story.

To reach the 'ending,' you must endure all the horror elements the creator has prepared.

"Alright, a run button, a hold breath feature, and an 'use' button... Movement keys, hiding... Let's go."

I thought I was prepared, but this game immediately gripped my heart from the start.

An upside-down, head-banging ghost walking in an eerie manner was avoidable by hiding behind desks. But that was just the beginning.

Inside the dimly lit school, an array of ghosts roamed in grotesque angles. The scariest among them was the ghost that had fallen from the rooftop.

Approaching it elicited a specific sound...

Thump-thump-thump-thump.

At first, I wondered about the noise until I discovered its horrific reality.

This ghost, walking with its body flipped, head bashed against the ground, struck sheer terror. As it got closer, the sound quickened, making me feel on the brink of madness.

After roughly 20 minutes, finally escaping the school, I spotted a flickering light in the distance.

"A person?"

Assured it was a regular civilian, I hastened towards the light.

In games, would companionship lessen fear? I hoped. Approaching, I realized it was a security guard in blue attire.

As I approached, ready to converse, the guard turned and, with a 180-degree twist of his neck, faced me directly.

"Here...?"

"Why are you doing this to me?"

The next day, returning home at dawn, I retrieved the 'Valentine Day' cartridge from a drawer. Recalling Kang Junhyuk's request.

"Try playing and give me a call?" It was a terrifying experience that would linger, but an incredible game nonetheless. The company, Pentagon Soft, that created this felt remarkable.

Recently, friends mentioned Pentagon Soft was hiring in large numbers...

Maybe, through yesterday's encounter, I could land a job there?

Plus, my idol, Mr. Morita, works there.

"Should I give them a call...?"

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