Chapter EXTRA – Thanks for 500(ish) Chapters and five years |
Flashing lights. Neon signs. And a cityscape illuminated despite the night time.
Tokyo. Specifically, Roppongi Hills.
Tucking my hand into my pocket, I idly walked along the streets and looked around.
Hana Homura, scrolling past on an LED screen advertising some orange soda.
Shops with Alfi and Aoko merch, along with some bootleg wedding merch already.
A storefront with Rhea advertising the latest drawing tablet from Wacom- No, in this world I guess it was 'Wacum'?
Probably why she took the sponsorship to be honest.
Running my hand through my black hair, I swept my gaze around the place and murmured, "How nostalgic."
When I began the story, 2025 seemed so far away. It started as a story set in the future, extending the current landscape of VTubers to what could be.
2025 had become history. And along with it, a lot of what had inspired this story.
VTuber Talents that graduated. Some that got reincarnated. Others that vanished entirely.
Once trusted corporations and companies revealed to be frauds.
"It's funny." I pulled out a pack of Pocky and took one out, nibbling on it as I walked. "The 'me' who envisioned this is completely different from the me right now."
Taking a look through what he created, what he tried to capture in written form. The light-hearted cheer that those digital divas gave to their fans...
"You certainly were ambitious, huh?"
I chuckled and kept walking along the streets.
As I did, I saw it. Myth Inc.
A tall glass building with a golden logo up front saying [Myth Inc] in English, with the characters for [Legendary Story] in Chinese underneath it.
Or was it Japanese? Maybe just kanji, but I didn't know.
"Hm..." I stared at a certain level in the towering building and murmured, "I'm not sure having apartments in this is up to code... but I guess money goes where money goes."
Considering that this had all been a grimdark yakuza hellscape until John got here, it probably was whatever they wanted.
"Eh?"
An unfamiliar female voice echoed from behind me.
But when I turned to look, the face wasn't unfamiliar.
Light brown hair held in a ponytail with a hairtie that had an orange flower. Light brown eyes, a young but bright face.
Rin Hibana.
She was looking at me with a strange expression. Half-recognition, but also confusion. "You are...?" She furrowed her brow. "Do I... know you, Mister?"
I chuckled and said, "Not really. You must be mistaking me for someone else."
"No. I...?" Rin frowned, as if trying to peer into my soul. "...I know you. I should? You *feel* like Mister John. But you aren't him...?"
I walked past her and said, "I'm glad you're living well now. I couldn't quite grant your with for you mother to recover swiftly and quickly without complications... after all, her life was complicated. But I hope you're fine with the compromise of her living well."
Rin's eyes widened.
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I wasn't surprised.
After all, that was a wish that even John never knew.
"W-Wait!" Rin chased after me, but in the next step I was gone.
===
Akiba. Or Akihabara. The name shifted around a lot. I still wasn't sure if they were synonyms or not, but at least in this world, they were.
"Mm... this is the Akiba I remembered."
I looked around at the maid cafes still open and the tons of people in cosplay.
None of the anime were familiar to me. But that made sense. After all, this wasn't the Earth I came from, but something similar.
"I swear to god, Tsuki! Why are you always following me around!"
"Because I'm making sure you aren't sneaking off with Emma!"
"Even if I was, which I'm not, why do you care- W-Wait, don't answer-"
"Because I like you, stupid!"
I chuckled, watching the drama unfold in front of a nearby arcade.
A young teenaged girl in a black hoodie with 'CapsuMon' printed on it. One with golden eyes and green hair with blonde highlights.
And standing next to her, another teenaged girl, but in pastel pink clothes, all frills and fluff. One with ambiguous blonde or light brown hair and blue eyes.
Meggie and Tsuki.
Was this in the future? They seemed a bit older. Or maybe that was because the last time 'I' had been here it was years ago?
Meggie blushed and said, "Th-That's...!"
"Well?!" Tsuki pursed her lips, her face a deep red. "A-Are you going to answer me?"
"I can't-" Meggie's golden eyes scanned the surroundings and then locked onto me. She blinked, genuinely confused. Then her eyes lit up and she pointed at me. "You! HVG!"
Spoiler
"Eh?" Tsuki blinked at the sudden movement from Meggie. "What do you mean, HVG...? Oh! Hello, Mister!"
Meggie gave me a once over. "...Hm. You look different than I thought."
I smiled. "Well. When I make an appearance, the way I look is a bit dated."
A plain black shirt and jeans...
I used to walk around with a suit and a briefcase, but things were different these days. Now I just walked around in casual clothes.
Well, that plus a fedora. Had to rock the fit.
Meggie huffed and said, "Whatever! I don't know 'when' you're from, but!" She gave me a thumbs up. "Keep sending me booster boxes! It makes people envious! ...Though Mom is out to get you, so be careful."
I chuckled. "Don't worry about that. Yue's someone I know very well."
"...Huh?"
I ruffled her hair. "Don't cause too much trouble. I'll try to keep you out of it, but I can only do so much, you know?"
"H-Hey! I didn't say you... could...?" Meggie trailed off and really looked at me. Then her eyes widened. "...Dad? No, you're not dad. But you're..."
I placed a finger over my lips and winked. "Don't speak things that shouldn't exist into being, Meggie."
Meggie stared at me. Then she clicked her tongue. "...Weirdo. No wonder Dad's weird. You're not him. He's not you. But you can 'be' him if you want."
Tsuki finally walked over and said, "Meggie? Who's this?"
Meggie rolled her eyes. "A weirdo who keeps giving me gifts." A faint smile crossed her face. "And family, I guess?"
"You guess?"
I chuckled. "Something like that." I waved. "Keep an eye on your baby sister for me. And your baby brother, whenever he shows up."
"Sure- Wait. Baby brother?! Hold on-!"
I took another step and vanished before she could react.
===
"Yokozo~" A man with a snake-skin suit and an eyepatch greeted me when I walked into the udon restaurant. "Sit wherever you want, dear customer."
I nodded at him. "Thanks, Maji."
Maji paused, giving me a suddenly serious look. "...Boss? No. You're not him."
I smiled. "Don't worry about it. I'm just visiting for a day." I took a look around the udon restaurant.
Photos of Miya hung up on the wall. A flier for merchandise after buying a combo special. Pictures of Yuri too, along with her grandfather, Kai, and some others.
Then, framed at the back, an old picture of a younger Maji with a woman who looked like Yuri, but with black hair.
Maji stared at me a bit more. Then he nodded. "Alright. As long as you don't cause any trouble, you can have that booth over there." He nodded with his head.
I set down a stack of 10K yen bills on the counter and said, "Just get me whatever you want to make. I'm just here for the vibes."
Maji raised an eyebrow. "...You are absolutely trouble. But fine. Oi, Kiri, Saji. A special udon with everything."
After that, he handed me a bottle of sake and a cup. "Take a load off."
I nodded to him and poured myself a cup of sake.
As I did, the door opened and a group of girls walked in.
The first was a beautiful young woman with sky blue hair and matching eyes who looked around the restaurant with a hesitant gaze. "Is this the place...?"
"I'm telling you, Hope, you HAVE to try some real udon." A beautiful teenaged girl with blonde hair and... blue eyes? Green? Brown? It was hard to tell.
Next to her was a girl in gyaru make up, rolling her eyes hard as she adjusted her leopard print blouse. "It's just udon."
Another girl walked in, one with red hair the color of autumn leaves. "The udon is symbolic, Chi-chan..."
Behind that girl, another walked in. She had red hair as well, except darker, more like blood. Her emerald eyes scanned the surroundings and said, "A real life udon restaurant...!"
Tailing up the group was a tomboyish girl with short hair and a croptop sweatshirt, revealing a clear sixpack. "That's right, Erie-chan! Let's celebrate properly tonight! Maji-san! Table for six!"
I sipped on my sake, smiling as I watched them all filter in.
Prodigy, and then two of three from Protest.
As they did, I realized I didn't actually know much about Prodigy... they kind of got shafted along the line.
Sadly, the downside of writing too many characters... but they were definitely living their best lives. Just like Bai, Qing, Eri, and Sitri in America, along with Toby Reaper and his friends.
Kiri, a stern man in a white apron, set down a loaded udon bowl as well as black chopsticks on my table. "Enjoy."
I nodded. "Thanks, Kiri-san."
He paused and gave me an assessing look. Then he nodded back and left.
I took the chopsticks and started eating the udon, just enjoying the atmosphere and listening to the girls banter a bit.
"I still think that we should go with the goddess theme." Erie spoke up and said, "And then I'm definitely running with a bit of being sent to heaven after unaliving myself."
Yuri chuckled. "That's terrible... I love it."
Chihiro laughed and said, "Oh, I'm drawing a full doujin about that. The fall of Meryl Kodomo... literally. And then the rise of... whoever your new avatar is."
Suzume shifted, glancing over at me. "...Should we talk about this with someone else here?"
The girls all glanced over at me.
I just smiled and adjusted my hat. "Don't worry, I'm in the know-"
"Mister Happy?"
Hope tilted her head to look at me.
I paused and glanced back.
Those sky blue eyes of hers were looking at me, confused. "...I know you, right? Mister Happy?"
...Ah. Right.
Since I was 'here' properly right now, things got mixed up a bit.
But I just smiled and said, "Maybe in another life. You're Hope 'Valentia' right? Not Hope Everheart."
Hope paused. "That's...?" She paused, and then soft understanding filled her eyes. After that, she gave me a soft smile, nostalgia in her eyes. "...Oh. I see."
Spoiler
Yuri looked over at me, concerned. "Hey. Who are you?"
"Mm... It's complicated, Yuri. But." I pulled out a tupperware container to store the udon and then got up, leaving a two dollar bill on the table.
A strange tip for a strange event.
"...Don't worry. Just passing through." I smiled at them and said, "It's good to see you all in person. And that you're all happy."
"...Huh?" Yuri paused and stared at me.
The other girls did too.
But before they could say anything else, I took another step and vanished.
===
The top of Tokyo Tower, my feet dangling over the edge of the balcony. Sitting there, I twirled some noodles from the self-made to-go udon. After blowing on them a bit, I took a bite.
And behind me...
"Asako! You have to frame it properly!"
"I-It's embarrassing, okay! You're just too pretty like this- I mean... Argh!"
...A pair of lovebirds were taking a picture.
Alphy and Asako.
Alphy was in a beautiful white lace dress, smiling as fireworks bloomed over the glowing cityscape.
Meanwhile, Asako was in a sleek black suit and holding a ring box. She sighed and said, "I don't get why we have to take a photo of this anyway... Didn't I already propose?"
"It's for the memories! And the wedding album!"
"Well, even if it is, how are we going to get a picture or video of us when I have to propose, huh?"
Alphy hummed and then looked over at me. "We can ask that mister there?"
"Huh? Who are you-?" Asako turned around and noticed me. Then her eyes widened. "O-Oi! You can't just sit like that! What if you fall?!"
I smiled. "I don't think that'd be a problem... but alright." I swung myself around off the balcony and stood back on the observation deck. Then I set my tupperware of udon noodles to the side and said, "You girls wanted to take some photos and videos?"
Alphy nodded. "That's right! Could you take it for us?"
Asako looked suspicious of me. But she nodded and said, "...It'd be good if you could do that." She pointed to her phone, set up on a nearby table. "I was trying to use set it up, but I forgot a selfie stick."
Alphy giggled and said, "I told you that you forgot something, Asako."
"You always say that! And then you say, 'it's me' after!"
Alphy smiled. "Isn't it true?"
"Ugh..." Asako looked exasperated. But she couldn't hide the smile on her face.
I picked up their phone and said, "Alright then. Why don't you just stand there and do whatever. I'll frame it properly."
"Okay! Then..." Alphy leaned against the balcony, looking out at the fireworks.
Asako took a deep breath.
A picturesque proposal. An aesthetic turn around. The genuine love and surprise in Alphy's eyes after Asako knelt before her with the ring. Fireworks blooming just in time to highlight it, giving cinematic lighting...
Spoiler
I captured it all and handed the phone back to Alphy.
"...It's beautiful." Alphy whispered.
Asako's eyes softened too and she said, "...Yeah." She looked up at me and said, "Thanks."
I chuckled. "It's weird hearing thanks from you two when I'm the one who set you two up as rivals from the start... but sure."
Alphy's eyes widened, realization suddenly filling her face.
Asako's eyes widened too, though in shock and confusion. "What the heck?"
Alphy pointed at me and said, "You're-!"
I saluted them and said, "Have a blessed life, you two. I'm rooting for you." After that, for laughs, I jumped off the balcony.
"HEY! YOU CRAZY-!"
"Mister Happy! Come back!"
I laughed and then stepped into the next scene.
===
Betty, sitting at her desk late at night, working through new game ideas and reviewing scripts.
Kai, on another late night date with both Elise and Sakura, sorting out their issues.
Titor and Amadeus, struggling as Christina continued being a fussy baby, keeping them up at night.
Xuannu, Zhaojun, Daji, and both Little Xuan and Little Wu having a sleepover party watching and making fun of old Wuxia films.
The Hoshino expies, Peri, Emma, and their mother Koi going over her old idol videos and relaxing for the evening.
Jenny, introducing herself to Gray and his family while the latter had a mild panic attack trying to explain the complicated family tree.
The trash trio and Alfi's support staff having a strategy meeting to prepare for Project MirAIs EN with LoreOwl...
And finally...
"So it was you, huh?" John called out to me from a familiar alleyway as I walked past. The place where all of this began.
I smiled at him and said, "Yeah. Thought I'd take a look at this place with my own eyes... or as close to it as I can get." I turned to face him properly and said, "You seem pretty happy."
"I am." John nodded. "Things are going well. No crazy drama or anything. The girls are all happy. It's nice."
I shifted my gaze towards the middle of the alleyway. The place where John had first appeared in this world.
It seemed like he remembered too. But he chuckled and said, "You know. I forgot about this place until now. But I guess it's where it started, right? Popped up here, bumped into Asako, and then all of that..."
"Yeah." I smiled. "For me, it's been over five years. But for you, it's not even been two, right?"
"Time is relative. Especially for someone like 'you' who is seeing this world in an asynchronous way, right?" John looked at me and said, "You're a lot different from the last time. And you aren't in a 'bubble' like last time either. This is passing normally, isn't it?"
"Mm. It's a bit ahead of where 'your' story should be. Erie isn't in Japan yet where I'm 'reading' things, you know?"
"...Ah. Then I shouldn't spoil things, huh?" John looked amused. "That's interesting. Knowing the future for once instead."
"Fits with your whole facade of being a timetraveler, right?"
"Guess so." John smiled.
I stared at him.
He was definitely calm now. And in full dad mode too.
Neon green flipflops, hair roughly slicked to the side with gel, an oversized black shirt, blue jorts... jean shorts.
A guy who had thrown away any sense of fashion for pure comfort.
John looked smug and said, "Jealous?"
"Nah. Just nostalgic."
An alarm echoed.
The music from the other side, coming to an end.
I pulled out my phone, a Google Pixel 8 Pro that was already close to three years old. "...Time really is an illusion, huh?"
"You could say that. Or you could say that time is the reality we write every day." John smiled.
"...Yeah." I looked up at the starry sky. "Something that we need to keep writing or else it vanishes in an instant. What we need to pay attention to or else it might as well not exist."
"Mmhm." John nodded. "I'm the most qualified to speak on that, and I say that's 100% accurate."
A comfortable silence filled the air.
Then John said, "You're heading out then?"
"Yeah. I don't want to overstay my welcome."
"Alright. Then..." John turned around and waved his hand. "Don't send more crazy things my way, Author."
I smiled.
And as I turned my back on him, everything faded to black.
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