Sixth Curse

[bondsofsuffering]

[Video/Action for Cancer Ward Arcade]

[Hey guess who's calling during work at a game center? If you guess Hizumi, you are 100% correct. He's got an extremely excited!!! expression as he talks, having clearly made the most wonderful of discoveries and being eager to share them with the world.]

Great news Hinoto-Ri! According to studies, playing video games can reduce stress-- going off of that, if you happen to be suffering from stress due to unexpected demonic kidnappings, playing some video games to let off some steam is a fantastic solution. And it just so happens, the arcade is pretty much empty right now, so what better time to drop by and try to heal some of that trauma?

...Also, if anyone brings me snacks, I'll seriously owe you one.

[Please. He's hungry and bored and desperately needs someone to pester.]

Comments

[bondsofsuffering]

We can start with something easy...

How about Sandstorm?

[He's already scanned his card and is getting through the set up.]

[otakuro]

[Atsuro has never heard of this song.
It sounds like something that involves a lot of hectic motion though.
After a few moments of consideration, he gives a shrug and steps forward.

CHALLENGER ATSURO would like to battle!]

Bring it on.

[bondsofsuffering]

You asked for it!

[He's long since perfected this song, so he'll go ahead and challenge it at the highest setting. Hopefully Atsuro can keep up!]

[otakuro]

[They are exactly 32 notes in when Atsuro stops and gives Hizumi the stink-eye.]

You cheater you've played this song before.

Like a million times.

[bondsofsuffering]

I work here. What did you expect?

[Even speaking up like that, he keeps up with the song just fine.]

[otakuro]

You work here! You're not supposed to spend all your time playing, sheesh.

[bondsofsuffering]

You're the one who agreed to come play even though I'm in the middle of work!

[Video]

[capitalbackup]

It does seem like it. Her requests became new experiences for myself to do.

[She can't speak for other. They probably love it from the start.]

I do wonder if she chose them deliberately or bestow them on whoever happens to talk to her.

[otakuro]

This is a special occasion because you have a special guest. Sheesh.

...The special guest is me, by the way. In case it wasn't clear.

[Video]

[bondsofsuffering]

Who knows?

Anyway, were you planning to come over or not?

[He's hungryyyyy!]

[bondsofsuffering]

Haa, really? I thought it was one of the other customers.

[Especially since the arcade is currently empty save for Atsuro and Hizumi.]

[otakuro]

The amoeba on the pad you were just using? Yeah, I thought it was a special one. It was actually pressing the buttons for you, right?

[bondsofsuffering]

Darn. You catch on quick, don't you?

[otakuro]

Cheating is no way to go about life, you know.

OK, let's play again with a handicap, then! You can only use one foot, how about that?

[bondsofsuffering]

So everything else would have to be one of my hands, huh...

That sounds way too troublesome!

[otakuro]

...Not that I'm disparaging my own abilities or anything, but I'm pretty sure you'd still manage to beat me, anyway.

[bondsofsuffering]

Probably!

[He may not have tried it with only one foot before, but... You gotta mix up the game a little to keep it interesting, right?]

[Video]

[capitalbackup]

No.

[Well, that's fast.]

[otakuro]

So? Are you ready to be a real dance master?

[Atsuro smiles in a not-at-all challenging manner.]

[Video]

[bondsofsuffering]

[Weeeh.]

Y'know, why'd you even bother asking if you weren't planning to come?

[Stop leading him on like this gosh!!]

[bondsofsuffering]

Well, I suppose there's no harm in adding to my repertoire...!

[otakuro]

[Atsuro regrets not having brought a video camera with him now as he -- Oh wait yes he does. Surreptitiously, he turns to the arcade machine and pretends to be fiddling around with the buttons while turning on his COMP.]

...OK.

Three. Two. One. ...Go!

[bondsofsuffering]

[It looked like he was doing something a little more than just fiddling with song selection there, but...

Well, not like it could be anything that bad, right?

Hizumi begins the song in a near-crab walk position, his left leg on the middle panel to keep himself balanced. It's not exactly graceful, but between the limbs he's allowed to use, he's still managing to keep up, his eyes watching the screen intently.]

[otakuro]

[Atsuro makes a token effort for the first twenty five steps or so before he gives up any pretense of actually playing this game and focuses on getting decent footage.

Later it will be uploaded to MooTube where it will get 2000 likes.]

[Video]

[capitalbackup]

[Oh, fine.]

Idle amusement.

...But I'll come and bring food if you are willing to go for a round on DDR.