A Never-ending Rivalry… Or Is It? Part 1
1621 Words
Soren Orr's story sure was a ride.
How should I describe it... it was a roller-coaster of emotions.
There are definite peaks and valleys, the highs and lows.
But nevertheless, they consist the short yet meaningful life of his childhood friend, Lianna Riversdale.
Looking back at it now, it seems Harumi's credibility as Noemi's reincarnation has shot up the roof.
After all, if a soul can possess a digital avatar, what more the same on an actual, flesh-and-blood human being?
I don't know yet the whole mechanics of the latter, despite all the myths, beliefs, and fairy tales about it; but I will eventually find that out for myself one day.
The next day. Tuesday.
I always keep tabs on what's the current day on the week.
Most of the time, I always check my phone.
Sometimes, I check my day planner, calendar, PC, or laptop.
There's no excuse for forgetting which day of the week it is.
And nope, I ain't buying the “I'm always busy, so I forgot it” excuse.
Once we're prepared to leave towards our own schools...
Soren finally packs up his things, which makes Harumi and I ask...
“Will you leave that early?”
“Of course. My tour of duty here in Sango-minato is over. I'll hop on to a nearby town to get my fill of great deals I can take back home.”
He then hands us two calling cards, which we then graciously accept according to Japanese etiquette rules.
“Well then... take care, Soren. We'll never forget you and your story!”
“Thanks, Gunpei and Harumi. I hope we can meet one another in different pages someday.”
“We sure hope so!”
“Until then, bye.”
And thus, the American named Soren Orr has finished his brief stay in Sango-minato.
We're sure he will find other great deals here in Japan that will help his job – and his dreams, too.
As he boards a bus, we wave him goodbye.
Now then... we need to huff it to our own schools... or maybe not.
Because the time now is thirty minutes before school starts.
As we walk along the waterway pavement like we always do for the past few weeks...
“Gunpei... I think I've remembered Noemi looking at another lewd thing ever since the day of the 'swimsuit discovery'...”
“Aw, that again? Why bring it up now, right when we're within hearing distance of others?”
“Don't force yourself to forget it, perv! But of course, you? A typical Japanese youngster owning a stash of pornographic stuff? That's normal.”
“Yeah, I agree. To be honest, I don't delve into stuff such as... uh... pee, poop, and even farts! Like... how sick can you be to get turned on or even touch yourself to those kinds of stuff?! It's freaking disgusting!”
“I've learned from psychology class a few days ago that specific people have specific turn-ons. Getting turned on by girls in swimsuits, bikinis, and lingerie? Pretty normal. Getting turned on by girls in glasses? Yup, it's within the bounds of decency. But getting turned on by getting hurt? Uh... that's best left for a certain blonde crusader.”
“Yeah. Pretty much. So far, my collection of lewds consists of girls in revealing outfits, getting all stimulated by the good-looking men they fancy. Two of them? Three of them? I don't mind, as long as the entire act is consensual to all parties involved. And before you ask... I really loathe those 'ugly bastards' having their way with the girls.”
“I agree. Like... who would want to get their way with someone who's grotesque in both appearance and behavior? I bet those who create these types of stuff are just sick in the head.”
“Haha. I'm just glad you share my beliefs. And Noemi pretty much thought the same way as you do.”
We eventually end up at the fork in the road that leads to our own schools.
“Now then... since we're now at the crossroads... we'll get back to that 'Noemi looks at another lewd thing' after school! Later, Harumi!”
“L-Later, Gunpei! ...Y-Yeah.”
We eventually arrive on time separately, with faint blushes on our faces.
Once the school day ends and we cross paths once again as we go home towards our apartment...
“Yeah. I'm ready for another story. A story of the lewd, yet still wholesome, kind.”
I giggle at her statement.
Once more, it's the six o'clock storytelling power hour, this time brought to us by...
All Creme Coffee Creamer. “Not just for coffee, mind you.”
The chocolate drink Harumi graciously prepared beforehand has a generous amount of the creamer mixed in.
Harumi starts the “Noemi looks at another lewd thing” story as I start to sip on the glass she gave me.
***
I, Noemi Kuroyanagi, am gifted with an average figure.
Average-sized breasts, an insignificant waistline, and an average-sized and average-shaped posterior.
Even though other girls were given more gracious... blessings... I never once felt jealous of them.
I was happy with my figure, nothing more.
After all, different people have different preferences – bodily shapes and sizes included.
Variety is the spice of life, so to speak.
But then... one day...
I had an awakening.
And it all happened right in the town's only department store.
While I was out shopping for clothes (specifically, a blazer), I was so focused on getting to the corner where I should get one.
And thus, I unknowingly bumped into a woman who's a few inches higher than me.
Her chest... was significantly bigger than mine, and my face was briefly buried in it.
It did not help that seductive trumpet music was playing in the store when this accident happened.
“Hey, lady. You look like your head's in the clouds.”
These were the woman's only words to me, as she immediately left the store post-haste.
“S-Sorry.”
Even though she didn't her my apology, I knew in my heart that she accepted it.
But then.. that chest...
It... it made me jealous for the first time.
I even rushed to the dressing room just to double-check my own.
And I was right.
That jealousy... that envy... surprisingly didn't make me earn outright hatred for more-endowed fellow members of the race of Eve.
Instead... I was indeed... turned on.
I didn't aim to undergo a breast enhancement operation, mind you.
I just... had a fascination with.... these womanly mounds.
Real or fictional, I didn't mind them.
I could just stare at a picture of a well-endowed girl in a bikini – which is more often than not the cover of the issues of a certain magazine I encounter in several stores – and my day would be complete.
I even took a peek at your collection while you were out several times so far – and you didn't mind.
I'm glad I was born a woman. Because... I can talk about the wonders of breasts without looking like a lecherous p*****t with uncontrollable urges.
***
“And ever since that day... I've discovered some other decent turn-ons. Like... pajamas, for example. They're simply cute and fun to wear.”
“Yup. Fun to wear... but only in appropriate places. Yeah, I mean, everyone will bat an eye if you don pajamas inside a train station!”
Now this is the shortest story Harumi has shared so far. It took only around... seven minutes.
Seven minutes was all she took to get all the exact details right.
Then again, Noemi told the story as is, with no embellishments; and it seems Harumi didn't add any.
“So then. We've talked enough about these lady parts. Let's go to another story.”
“Yes, Gunpei. The next story I'll tell... is somehow a continuation of the first.”
“Hmm... yeah. In that story, I don't recall any mentions of those... unmentionables. Instead, the topic diverted into the talk of the town: Pirates versus ninjas.”
***
Pirates versus ninjas. Two cool groups of people slugging out against each other. The question is – who would win?
This question was but one of the internet's hottest and fiercest debates that showed no signs of stoppage anytime soon.
Anytime, anywhere, this question will pop up, even in unexpected circumstances.
Even in this quaint little town – which has spilled over real life – as even ordinary, non-internet savvy citizens began to take sides in this debate.
It all began when I was simply sick and tired of playing the rhythm game several times at DazzleWorks Game Center, and thus I wanted to try something different.
So, I observed the other arcade machines and the patrons who occupied them.
I appreciated how the players employed their own strategies to win, as long as they played fair, and they weren't under the influence.
And yes, I saw some retro machines in the arcade that were imported from America and thus carried the constant reminder that winners don't use drugs.
And what is this?
All those shouts of fireballs, flaming uppercuts, and spinning kicks?
And the people who push those buttons and turn those joysticks with quick precision timing?
Ah, I see. These are called fighting games.
The main objective is to reduce the opponent's health bar to zero using ordinary moves, special moves, and combos.
The objective, controls, and basic mechanics may be simple, but some of these fighting games have way more advanced mechanics, which can be difficult for a complete beginner like me to learn.
But despite the potentially high learning curve, I wanted to prove that I'm more than just an innocent girl.
I can be... more daring, not afraid to enter new horizons.
And thus, coupled with the time I have for school, I started to study the art of the fighting game.
Whether it's on the arcade or on a home console, my goal was the same: To get better, and to aim higher.
***
“And that's all the time we have for today. So, then, Gunpei, you want to know how Noemi trained herself to become the town's first female fighting game prodigy?”
“To be honest, I never saw her doing so with my own eyes. But... seeing as I once saw her with a portable console, and she was most likely playing a fighting game...“
“Alright, you've come to the right place. Therefore, you'll learn what Noemi's training montage was like.”
“That gets me pumped, to be honest. So then... see you tomorrow.”
“Yup. See ya tomorrow.”
- Writer
