Game Over

STAGE THIRTY-ONE >> The Campaign Part Three

This is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this story are all products of the author's imagination used in fictitious manner. Any resemblance to an actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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[TW: This part contains content that some might find disturbing, reader's discretion is advised]

They say that the past was the place to learn from, not to live in.

And he did learn but he didn't move on either.

Through their avatars, they stared at each other and the reflection of their real selves mirrored right back at them.

My Yuki.

It has become Akihiro's favorite endearment and to hear this from his mouth despite wearing the avatar of the Wanderer lightens the burden in his heart, even for a second.

"Can I ask you something? I want you to be honest." The person in front of him was completely silent. Yuki continued, "How long have you known that it was me?"

Without reluctance, Akihiro answered, "I've felt it from the start of the game."

Strange emotion sprouted deep within and the once confused mind started seeing clarify. Still, his heart refused to just believe. The thing was, he loved and hated this man for so long, so very long...it was akin to a desire of wanting to stab him to death and yet he would rush just to save him from a bullet.

"Then, you also know that I..."

"That you're the same person who defeated me in the arcade competition?" Akihiro said, taking a step forward, and for the first time since Yuki didn't stop him. "I knew it when we fought in the Tower Arena. I remember that person so well because he was the only person who managed to defeat me."

"Did you know it was me? The boy you rejected?"

"Yes."

Aghast, Yuki held his breath, ignoring the fact that Akihiro was taking another step. So, all this time, Akihiro knew him. But he didn't seem to make a move nor did he show any signs of knowing this. The more Yuki ponders, the more he realized the reason.

Akihiro was guilt-ridden.

He was tormented by the past too, and Yuki tends to forget this out of respite. Akihiro kept him beside him, hiding the truth that he already knew who Yuki was, but instead chose to pretend like he didn't recognize him. It was only because Akihiro wanted to build new memories with him. Memories that don't involve pain.

"Which version of me did you really fall in love with?"

A deep and long exhalation followed, but there were things that needed to be said. He could no longer avoid this fact "I'm in love with you. In every version of you. Definitely, positively and unquestionably. Beyond any doubt, I'll choose you, over and over, without a pause, even in a heartbeat."

Yuki suddenly felt a huge lump in his throat making it difficult to swallow. The palpitations in his heart wouldn't settle too. Just between sentiment and the twisted knotting came a finger so tender grazing the side of his face, that Yuki was frozen on the spot. Even though that avatar, his touch was familiar that Wanderer dissipated right before his eyes. Frowning slightly, he noticed the sudden glitch as though he was really waning in front of him.

"Akihiro?"

The Wanderer looked around, curling his lips and knitting his brows. The whole surrounding was distorting, like watching a fuzzy screen with bars and lines. On the side, they both noticed their team who also stopped fighting, everyone was fixated on the world around them alternating between night and day.