Erjiang's Handheld Game Console

His name is Hagiwara Kenji. He's currently in Class 1-A at Tongyin Elementary School, and his greatest wish is to own a handheld game console.

So on his birthday, he spent all the pocket money he'd saved up over the years to buy one at a street stall.

But...why is his game console different from everyone else's?

[Please read the care manual carefully]

1. You are his best friend. Please take good care of him and spend lots of time with him. If your companionship level gets too low, he might disappear.

2. He has a bad temper and often ignores you, but please believe that you matter most to him.

3. Maybe...you can try chatting with him to raise your companionship level, but he may not reply.

4. This is a virtual game. Please do not take it seriously.

[Name]: Mazda

Press [B] to interact

Press [Y] to drag

Press [X] to open the chat window

Looking at all that text and the pixelated little figure that had suddenly appeared on the screen, Hagiwara Kenji didn't know what to do.

Oh no, the teacher hasn't taught us some of these words yet!

Ever since his friend Hagiwara Kenji died in the line of duty, Matsuda Jinpei had kept encountering strange things.

He clearly went to sleep without a blanket, yet woke up with one draped over him. Even the beer bottles he'd left on the floor the night before would disappear overnight.

He had to leave the light on whenever he took a nap, but lately it kept getting switched off behind his back. Even when he was resting, he could feel someone watching him.

It was so strange.

Still, nothing could stop him from wanting to avenge his friend. Four years later, he finally managed to transfer to the Criminal Investigation Division's First Investigation Section. On November 7, a fax arrived from the bomber who had struck four years ago.

Suppressing his excitement, his hand trembling uncontrollably, he sent a text to the person named [Hagiwara Kenji].

[I'm finally going to avenge you, Hagi.]

But the person who could never possibly reply suddenly responded.

[Hagiwara Kenji]: ?

Hagiwara Kenji discovered that the little figure he cared for so diligently had a habit of keeping a diary. Day after day, without fail, he recorded what had happened.

[Today I went to the restaurant you recommended. It really was delicious.]

[I told Zero and Hiro about you...]

[Nothing much happened today. I lay around at home all day.]

[Strange...why was the light in my room switched off? Was that you, Hagi?]

[I wish you were here, Hagi.]

[Today I went to the park to feed the cats again. That white cat was just like before. When you didn't come, it kept meowing anxiously. Too bad it probably couldn't understand what I was saying.]

[I'm a little tired.]

For some reason, the more he read this "diary," the more miserable he felt. He wanted to reply but didn't know what to say, until he saw the little figure say he wanted to avenge Hagi.

He found it amusing. He had a friend named Matsuda Jinpei who liked to call him Hagi, so on a whim, he replied with a question mark.

Avenge me? What are you avenging?

A short story, updated irregularly. A friendship story about elementary-school-aged Hagi and adult Matsuda.

Theme: A story of redemption through friendship