Awards and the Next Stage

Translated by NotBlueYet

Edited by Kingavent

In the Japan Competition, Rio and I were unbeatable.

We won the match and were the winners in the duo division of the Pro-hopple Japan Tournament.

“Yay!”

“Oh!”

We high-fived on the spot.

This was the first time we had both won in the duo division.

The audience was also very excited to see that the winning pair had been decided.

[As expected, it’s takamori and Rio!]

[Can a duo even win?]

[They’re too strong!]

The comments from the distributors were also flowing in at once.

I couldn’t follow them with my eyes anymore.

After returning to the waiting room, the next event was the awards ceremony.

As I recall, the fourth place finisher of this year’s tournament would get a ticket to the Asian Games.

The president of Luag, the development company, was present at the awards ceremony.

The awards were presented in order from the lowest to the highest.

Then it was our turn as first place winners.

President Otani stood in front of us.

“Congratulations on your victory. Thanks to the two of you, Pro-hopple has grown into a world-famous game. I hope you will continue to help us develop our game.”

He received a certificate, a commemorative gift, and a card with the prize money.

“Thank you very much.”

“We will continue to support you in the Asian Games.”

And so the curtain came down on the Japan Tournament.

I returned to the waiting room again.

The tournament was already over, so we could have left anytime we wanted, but there was a line of people greeting us.

There were many job offers among them, but we decided to have them all go through the office.

“Must be tough being popular.”

President Otani came in.

“Congratulations once again on your victory.”

“Thank you.”

“Now Pro-hopple will be in the limelight again. Thanks to you guys. Thank you so much.”

President Otani bowed his head.

“No, we’re just having fun playing.”

“That’s right!”

“You guys are not so professional, aren’t you?”

President Otani smiles as he says this.

“Take a good rest today, and we look forward to seeing you back in action at the Asian Games.”

“Yes, I will do my best.”

After Otani left, the greeting line finally disappeared.

“Now, let’s go home.”

We packed our bags and left the convention hall.

“I was wondering if we could have dinner at my place today. Yuzuki wants to have a party whether we win or lose.”

“Yuzuki is so cute, I want to see her again.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

I got on the train and headed to the nearest station to my apartment.

From there, we walked to our apartment.

I unlocked the door and went inside.

“Why is it so dark?”

The living room was usually brightly lit, but today the lights were off.

“Yuzuki, are you not here?

I turned on the light in the living room, thinking about that.

“Pow!”

I was a moment too late to realize that it was the sound of a cracker.

“Onii, Rio-san, congratulations on your victory!”

“Congratulations!”

Yuzuki and my father greeted me with crackers.