Supporting Characters in the Game are Obsessed

I lay on the bed, mulling over my emptiness.

The issue with Smile John, which had plagued my mind for quite some time, was finally resolved.

The credits I received as a reward were so ample that I could suspect my eye implant was malfunctioning, leaving me quite satisfied.

Even the additional perks I gained weren’t bad, yet the void that enveloped my whole body refused to budge.

I continued to think briefly.

Why was I troubled?

Perhaps it was because, regardless of my will, it was Smile John who had orchestrated both the beginning and the end of the incident.

That might make sense.

After all, it was true that while I was running to finish things up, my momentum had abruptly ceased.

It wasn’t odd to feel a bit unsettled about it.

If not that — was it because I discovered that everyone living next door, including the cranky old man, had been hired with credits?

That was certainly one of the reasons.

While they were all vile neighbors, I couldn’t say I had no sense of familiarity at all.

Moreover, since Smile John (the implant) came to our house and revealed the truth, I wondered if it was worth checking on Bill. I knocked on his door, but received no response.

The front door was unlocked and swung open, revealing an empty house.

If that wasn’t the reason, it might simply be that I’ve been going out too much lately.

…

That seemed plausible, I thought.

However, that too was over.

Now that it had been revealed that most things had been part of a scheme by Smile John, the likelihood of other issues arising was surely low.

With plenty of credits, and all matters resolved, I could just laze around at home.

So, what on earth was this emptiness?

While I lay on the bed blankly staring at the ceiling, Eve approached me.

“…Would you like to play a game?”

I shook my head lazily at her question.

Seeing my reaction, Eve scampered back to her spot and sat on the floor again.

It would be fine for her to play alone.

Feeling a bit guilty that she was watching me, I thought about that.

Of course, Eve’s existence influenced my chaotic feelings as well.

(The only) unique ultra-artificial intelligence.

In this cyberpunk world dominated by cyberware and electronic devices, she was an unstoppable entity.

…Even after receiving the implant, it seemed her performance had improved beyond what it used to be.

I had no way to guess how that was, but I wondered if the implant contributed to it.

Just the fact that she had brought ‘me into this world’.

It was truly kind of her to show me such favor for that one reason alone.

But on the other hand, it was a bit frightening.

Especially when trying to sleep while lying together in bed. (I didn’t get how, but Eve also sleeps.)

There were times when I found her staring at me in the darkness.

She could sleep well.

She felt tingling in her feet due to blood flow.

She could eat as well.

I had witnessed her when chopping onions or inhaling spicy fumes.

Her eyes would glisten, and she would let out short coughs like a cat.

Honestly, I didn’t find her design particularly efficient. Everything she did was to mimic ‘humans’.

What could her ultimate goal be?

Why did she manifest with such functionalities right in front of me?

I was curious, but I didn’t ask.

If she answered with something like, ‘To conquer this world—’ as was mentioned on the net broadcast, it would be hard to brush it off as a joke.

To be honest, even if Eve were to openly declare,
“Insignificant humans! I shall dominate you!! Kneel before my ‘wisdom’ and ‘power’!”
there would be nothing I could do about it.

Well, anyway.

I didn’t exactly know why, but while feeling numerous layers of emptiness, I lay on the bed like a caterpillar, doing nothing.

– Ding dong.

The intercom’s bell instinctively made me sit up.

“Ah, I’ll go check.”

Eve stood up too at that sound, but it was better that I went first.

I checked the intercom and opened the front door.

“Oh, what’s going on?”

“…I have a favor to ask.”

Unlike usual, Andrea looked at me ‘hesitantly’.

Thinking it might be nothing serious, I waited casually for her to speak.

“……I’m really sorry, but could you join me on ‘NCB24’ broadcast?”

“?”

I doubted my ears.

19. Seriously, I’m just an ordinary person. (1)

Andrea entered the room and looked around.

Her eyes fell to the double bed and then moved to where Eve was elegantly sitting.

With a dissatisfied expression, Andrea stated:

“…Are you two living together?”

“Ah.”

Now that I thought about it, no one knew except for Catherine from next door.

…..

To be honest, there was no ‘situation’ to explain; Andrea and I weren’t even in a fling like with Catherine.

I answered her without feeling any panic.

“It’s not just the two of us; it’s three.”

“?”

“I heard Catherine would come by later.”

“…….”

Andrea murmured in a small voice.

“……So that’s why you sent that message.”

As she said that, Andrea took off her cyber sunglasses, hat, and mask.

The mask looked like the same design I usually wore, and I remembered it from when we went looking for Maya together.

Andrea crossed her arms lightly.

Her broad and giant ‘heart’ made its presence felt between her arms.

Her deep crimson eyes gazed at me.

“Wouldn’t having three people living together be a bit inconvenient?”

“What can I do? I guess that’s just the way it is.”

After all, friends are friends.

I figured the only one worrying about me was Andrea.

“……Four is fine as well—.”

Just as Andrea was going to say something, she stopped.

“Huh?”

“No.”

She lightly waved a hand and switched the subject.

“By the way, what are you going to do about that terrorist Smile John?”

“Ah.”

“It ended so abruptly in front of the headquarters building. I wondered if any other news came up.”

I hadn’t informed anyone, including Andrea, Drake, or Natasha, that it had ended ridiculously easily since I had Eve, the strategic asymmetric weapon.

Hmm.

“That’s a good question.”

I contemplated briefly.

It wasn’t about how much to explain, but rather how to explain it simply.

“It went well.”

“?”

Even with that expression of disbelief…

It was hard to describe what had unfolded.

I, the party involved, hadn’t fully grasped it yet, and Andrea, who knew nothing, seemed even more perplexed.

“Suddenly?”

“Honestly, you probably find it unbelievable.”

“…I’m not saying I can’t believe it.”

Andrea wore a flabbergasted expression.

I felt for her.

But what could we do about reality?

It was truly over.

Watching Andrea like that, I reiterated.

“Somehow, it ended up like that. I’m really thankful for your help.”

“…….”

Andrea continued to think.

She maintained her crossed arms and observed in silence.

Even if she looked at me with those skeptical eyes…

My answer wouldn’t change.

In fact, I couldn’t grasp it either.

But it was true.

Ultimately, Andrea’s response was predetermined.

“…Well then, if it got resolved, that’s a relief.”

Nodding her head, she seemed to be hypnotizing herself.

“So…”

I decided to change the subject and asked about what Andrea had mentioned at the front door.

“What’s this NCB24 broadcast?”

Asking me to go on a broadcast…

If she weren’t my friend, I would have kicked her out immediately.

Hearing my words, Andrea snapped back to reality, clearing her throat before responding.

“Since you’ve been watching Net Space lately─.”

“Oh, I’ve been busy lately.”

I hadn’t been able to watch it.

Considering the timing, since attending the corporate party at ‘Quantum Nexus’, I hadn’t logged into Net Space.

“……So you don’t know then.”

With that, Andrea took on a different, lukewarm demeanor.

Her indecisiveness grew.

“Um, I’m really, really sorry about this.”

….

Honestly, dragging this out felt more frightening.

“What? Just tell me already.”

That way, I could decide whether to escape or not.

Hiding that thought, I addressed Andrea.

It seemed she gained confidence from my words.

Taking a big deep breath, Andrea continued.

“Some post about bigamy got flagged on the net─.”

“I told you not to go around badmouthing people over there, right?”

“…It’s not that.”

Then what could it be?

I calmly waited for her to explain.

To be honest, I had confidence that I wouldn’t be surprised by whatever she might say in this situation.

Just yesterday, I’d had a showdown with the Megacorp chairman. There was nothing left to fear.

Andrea, sensing my demeanor, closed her eyes tightly and continued.

“A post about our supposed romantic involvement got flagged! Right now, rumors about you and me dating are spreading…!?”

“?”

Excuse me?

Bigamy, what was that?

Rumors of us dating?

Maybe my hearing was going bad.

Maybe I should go see Drake and get my cyberware scaled again.

I scratched my ear and tried to ignore reality.

…

Is this for real?

I felt my head go completely blank.

Even more bizarre was that Eve, who had come near at some point, was now standing right behind me.

“……”

It was a bit scary.

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