-3- Back to the Game Part 3

The meeting yesterday continued with Haruno explaining the team dynamics and composition, along with the respective VR pods we would use over the next ten weeks.

I had to leave early because I needed to attend a celebration for the successful passers of the cram school I used to attend. It ended late, and I was grateful that I had already completed my assignment yesterday at the VR Sports Club lounge.

Even though today was supposed to be the first day of the 8th International Cup of Dungeon and Hunters Online, it was a miracle that I slept peacefully last night. Because of that, I ended up being late to class.

I was panting when I arrived at the lounge of the VR Sports Club again. "Finally... I made it..." My heart was racing just like I had been racing to get here. When I checked my phone, there were 15 missed calls from Tsukishima-san.

I noticed a girl with short black hair and goddess beauty eyeglasses. It was Tsukishima-san.

She was watching live gameplay on the LED screen in the lounge. The team's uniform resembled our school colors, so it must have been footage of our team's live gameplay—probably one of the senpai's teams.

"Uozumi-kun!" Tsukishima called out, sounding worried. "Why are you only here now? The other teams have already started their runs."

"Sorry, sorry. I overslept and got late this morning. They sent me to clean the garden as punishment," I replied, wiping away the sweat as Tsukishima began to lead the way.

"What time is it, anyway?"

"4:05 PM. You’re more than an hour late for our call time." Her tone was more serious than usual, making me feel guilty. Maybe she got scolded by the other club members for not being able to reach me.

"Sorry, my phone was confiscated earlier while I was doing my task."

"Oh..." she paused, seeming to think. "Okay, I understand. But more importantly, we need to start now, or the coach will get mad again."

So it was the coach who got upset. Poor Tsukishima. I’ll treat her to some delicious snacks tomorrow to make up for it. And I really need to get myself some extra alarm clocks, for goodness' sake.

"Okay, okay," I said, continuing to follow her.

"Oh, right," she stopped as we reached the second floor. "This is our team’s uniform."

Tsukishima handed me a maroon and grey polo shirt and matching pants. There was also a varsity jacket. It was the same uniform I’d seen earlier on the players in the footage.

It felt like I was a true member of a sports club when Tsukishima-san gave it to me.

There was a merchant-class logo embroidered on the front pocket.

I flipped it over to see what was written on the back.

[ Poseidon ]

[ Merchant ]

[ Team 16 ]

It that was the IGN I filled out on my application form. It felt a little strange to see my in-game name outside of the VR world.

"Don’t managers have uniforms?" I asked Tsukishima, who I notice that was still in her regular school clothes.

She seemed surprised by the question and looked away awkwardly. "We do..."

Hmm? So they do have their own. "Aren't you going to change?"

Her eyes flicked between my uniform and her bag a couple of times. She seemed reluctant about changing into the uniform.

I thought it looked pretty cool, though.

"I'll change too," Tsukishima said, as if she had no choice.

Not sure why she hesitated, but I wasn't forcing her or anything.

I changed into my uniform first in the locker room.

After stowing my things in my locker, I met up with Tsukishima in the hallway once again. She was holding her tablet and a folder full of papers.

She was now dressed in the team’s maroon and grey polo shirt, but paired it with a crisp white skirt. The jersey was casually tied around her waist, and the white skirt complemented her glasses perfectly. It gave her a tidy, effortless look that I couldn’t help but smile at.

“What are you smiling at? Does it look strange?” she asked, sounding a little self-conscious.

I flashed her a thumbs up. “Nope. It suits you.”

“Okay…” she muttered, still looking a bit unsure. She held onto her tablet and led the way forward. “We’re really late... Should we even bother showing up?”

As she walked ahead of me, I noticed the lettering on the back of her shirt.

[ Tsukishima ]

[ Junior Manager ]

[ Team 16 ]

Seeing her in the same team uniform made me feel oddly strange. I’ve always been a solo player, so being on a team was a refreshing change of pace.

I caught up to her. “Why? Is the coach that mad?”

She gave me a quick glance, hesitating before answering. “It’s not just about the coach...”

There was something bothering her. “Sorry I bailed on you last night. But seriously, if you need help with anything, feel free to ask me, alright?”

“No, Uozumi-kun, I get it. You had your celebration last night,” she replied, her voice quieter. “I’m just not sure if I can handle being your manager properly.”

I chuckled softly, trying to ease her concerns. I quickened my step to walk alongside her and gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. “Hey, no worries. Like I said yesterday, let’s just enjoy the game, okay?”

She still looked a little tense but nodded, even if it was just to appease me.

We soon arrived at the third floor, where the VR pods were set up. The space was massive, with rows of pods neatly aligned, and the room was buzzing with the hum of voices and game instructions. Players were immersed inside their pods, while their managers were stationed at tables nearby, tablets and laptop in hand, headsets on, providing guidance.

It was an incredible sight—so different from the casual gaming I was used to. Seeing the game taken this seriously made my heart race. I couldn't wait to dive in.

“Ah, right,” I said, remembering. “Did you check out what I asked about? You know, the live streaming stuff?”

I glanced around but realized Tsukishima wasn’t walking beside me anymore. Looking back, I found her standing slightly behind me, as if she was trying to stay out of sight, using me as a shield.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“Our pod is over there, at the farthest left,” she said softly. “Let’s hurry over before we get noticed. We shouldn’t disturb the other teams.”

Her cautious tone made me curious, but I decided not to push it. “Alright,” I agreed, following her lead.

I glanced at the teams that were playing, each group deeply immersed in their respective dungeons. They moved cautiously down a passage with towering stone walls on both sides. The architecture was ancient, like something straight out of a ruined temple or an abandoned castle. I couldn’t quite tell what kind of dungeon it was, but the tension in the air was thick enough to feel.

As we passed by Team 3’s area, the atmosphere changed. Panic hung in the air. I could hear their managers frantically issuing orders from behind their screens, their voices strained.

"Mashima-kun and Aiko-san are down! They’ve been killed!" one manager exclaimed, their hands shaking as they tapped on their laptop.

"That ‘Pharaoh’ boss is summoning hands from every surface—walls, floor, even the ceiling! They appear at random! It's impossible to dodge them all!" another manager's voice cracked under the pressure, eyes glued to the screen.

"Those cursed hands! If they grab you, you're slammed to the ground and instantly killed. It’s a one-hit K.O. for anyone without a high Vit build!" a third manager added, slamming a fist on the desk in frustration.

"How’s the shaman NPC holding up? Is it still alive?" the lead manager barked out, her tone urgent but calculated.

"Yes, the shaman’s still up, but the only ones left standing are the assassin and healer. We’re barely holding on!" The desperation was clear in their voice.

"Retreat! Pull them back, NOW! Protect the healer and the shaman NPC at all costs. As long as the healer stays alive, we can revive the entire party!" the lead manager shouted, gripping her headset as if her life depended on it.

"Protect the shaman at all cost also! We can’t lose it too!" another manager echoed, scrambling to send instructions to the team inside the dungeon.

"Get this info to the other teams! They need to know about the Pharaoh’s random attack patterns before it’s too late!" the coach finally intervened, his voice steady despite the chaos. He leaned in, assessing the battlefield with eyes hardened by years of experience.

"Team 6 is close by! Backup is on the way, just hang in there!" one of the managers shouted. A flicker of hope flashed across their faces.

"Team 1 is also moving in! They already mapped this area earlier, they’ll arrive in ten minutes!" another chimed in.

The chaos surrounding Team 3 was what I was expecting on a sports club during tournaments.

I watched as their managers scrambled like battlefield commanders, shouting strategies, desperate to hold the line. It was fascinating to watch, even if I didn't want to focus on it for too long.

I don't want to be spoiled that much, but their panic felt contagious. I could almost feel the weight of the battle pressing down on them, their futures in the game hanging in the balance. It felt like a real tournament.

Well, this is a tournament at the end.

We moved past the seniors, their section a storm of frantic voices, and approached the first-year freshmen team. It was quieter here, but there was still tension.

Since the freshmen teams gets only one manager per team, I noticed how focused each one of them are. It felt like one wrong move from them will cost too much.

Their managers were huddled together, eyes darting between screens, whispering strategies to the players. Maybe they haven't encountered any bosses yet because the air was still normally tense.

"It's a trap door, the risk is too much to try," one of the freshmen managers murmured through her headset, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she were afraid of tempting fate.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Unlike Team 3, there was no screaming, no visible signs of disaster, but the silence was eerie. It was the kind of calm that made you expect something terrible was just around the corner. Everyone in the room seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for the inevitable clash.

"Ah!" I heard Tsukishima startled cry behind me.

When I looked back, I saw her on the floor, papers scattered all around as she frantically picked them up. Did she trip?

"Hey, are you alright?" I asked, kneeling down to help her gather the papers.

Her face looked pale and tense, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched the papers.

Speaking of the papers, I noticed they were notes and information about Dungeon and Hunters Online. It was the beginner's guide from the developers, but it was full of scribbles and personal notes.

I smiled at the thought of her putting in so much effort for this event, even though she had no background in the game at all.

"Tsk. They're already late, too..." I heard one of the managers mutter under his breath. When I looked over, some of the freshmen managers were staring at us with disdain.

At the far end of the room, I spotted my mother, Uozumi-sensei. She shook her head in disappointment and walked away.

"I... I can't do this after all," Tsukishima whispered, her voice trembling.

The pressure from everyone around her was clearly getting to her.

"Look, they're even wearing the team's uniform. Don’t they have any shame?" I heard someone whisper again. It was the female manager with "Team 14" printed on her back.

"Hey, focus. Don't waste time on other things. We're here taking this seriously," another manager added, irritation in their tone.

Okay, okay, I’m sorry we’re late. Even if I apologized, it wouldn’t matter, so I kept my mouth shut. Instead, I looked back at Tsukishima, who was hanging her head low.

"Hey, are you okay? Did you hurt your feet?" I gently pushed her forehead up to make her look at me.

Our eyes met. I smiled, hoping to ease her tension. Slowly, her tight expression softened, and she shook her head in response to my question.

"I'm glad you're not hurt." I grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet. "Come on, let’s go play, shall we?"

Her eyes remained locked on mine, but she shook her head again. Does she not want to continue?

What a waste! This game is too fun to miss!

I placed my hand on her head to stop her from shaking it again. "Say, Tsukishima-san, did you gather all this information by yourself?" I asked, waving the papers I had picked up.

She nodded slightly in response. I chuckled and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, gently guiding her forward. "Hey, hey, this is a great start! There are so many details written here. And your handwriting is beautiful!"

"S-Stop it..." she muttered, her head lowering again. "It's embarrassing..."

We passed by the other first-year freshmen managers and their team’s VR pods, pretending not to notice the glares they were throwing our way.

"No, don’t be embarrassed. You worked hard on this. You’re doing great," I said, still holding her close, trying to raise her spirits. "So don’t feel ashamed of it at all."

"B-But I..." she whispered. "Maybe I can't support you like they do..."

I looked at her again, surprised by her words.

"W-What? Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, flustered.

"Nothing. I was just wondering what the problem was."

"H-Huh? That's a big problem, isn’t it?"

"Oh, it’s alright, it’s alright. Hahaha." I chuckled, though I felt a little bad for laughing at her concerns.

I sighed and patted her shoulder. "I think we were destined to meet, Tsukishima-san."

"D-Destined?!" she blushed a little.

"Don’t you want to have the most fun run of the International Cup with me?"

"Huh? Fun? But like I’ve been saying, Uozumi-kun... I’m incompetent, and we don’t even have a team. Everyone’s already convinced we’ll be eliminated this week."

"Yes, you might be inexperienced, but it looks like you’ve got the heart to learn about this game. And you’re serious about doing your work correctly, unlike me. You’re also so organized, unlike me. We make the perfect team for this event!"

"H-Huh? Us? Perfect team? How did you even come to that conclusion?! Can we even make it through the first week without being eliminated?"

"Like I said yesterday, let’s just have fun playing the game, Tsukishima-san." I smiled to wrap up the argument.

I didn’t realize it, but we had already arrived at my designated VR pod. On the table, there was a paper stand with our team number printed on it.

Tsukishima-san settled her tablet and papers in place, booting up the laptop that had been prepared at the table.

With no other choice, she seemed to silently agree with me.

"Don’t worry too much, okay?" I said, opening a bottle of water and handing it to her. I opened one for myself and started hydrating.

"What choice do I have?" she sighed. "This is ridiculous. My nervousness is completely gone thanks to your stupid talk..."

Stupid talk, she says. But I’m glad she’s continuing. It would’ve been a real problem if she’d backed out now because…

"Ahh, like I was asking earlier, have you looked into that stuff I was telling you about yesterday? You know, about livestreaming?" I asked, checking the VR pods for initial inspection

Tsukishima-san, who had just finished setting up her equipment, blinked at me, momentarily confused before realization dawned on her face. "Oh! Yeah, I actually did some research on that."

"Really?" I perked up, interested. "I’ve been wanting to try livestreaming, but I barely have the time to study it. I can’t wrap my head around the basics."

She nodded, tapping on her tablet and pulling up some notes. "This is a first for me also but I have a brother that does livestreaming also. I asked him for the basics last night. First off, the best platform to stream on, based on reach and features, is... StreamHub."

"StreamHub?" I tilted my head. "Is that the one that's kind of like... TubeYou or Glitch?"

Tsukishima-san smiled. "Exactly. It’s kind of a middle ground between both. It has the user base of TubeYou but with more interactive features like Glitch. Plus, it’s less saturated, so new streamers have a better chance of getting noticed."

“Less saturated?” I mused, scratching my chin. "That sounds promising."

She leaned forward, excited to explain holding her notes. “Yeah, because TubeYou is so crowded, it’s hard to stand out unless you already have a huge following. And while Glitch is great for professional gamers, it’s a bit more niche. But StreamHub has this perfect newbie spot where it's still growing, and they offer features like integrated chatrooms, customizable overlays, and real-time donation alerts.”

"Wait—customizable overlays?" I asked, imagining our 'Team 16' banner design with our IGN's. Oh wait, Tsukishima-san doesn't have an IGN yet.

"That sounds pretty high-tech. And donations?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yup, you can set up donation goals, and it shows up on your stream when people contribute. It’s really cool, actually. Plus, StreamHub is less focused on just hardcore gamers. You can stream casual playthroughs, events, even just chatting streams."

It's the perfect platform I'm looking for! Away from competitive stuff and is just focused at enjoying the game!

I was impressed. “Wow, you’ve really done your homework.”

“Well, you were talking about it so seriously yesterday, so I thought it’d be good to be prepared. I’m still not sure if I could help you stream myself properly.” She shifted a little, looking a bit shy.

I chuckled. “You? Not sure? I think you’d be great. You already have this super organized and detail-oriented notes. I think you'll be fine.”

“Actually…” Tsukishima-san hesitated for a moment before pulling out her tablet again. “I already set up an account for you on StreamHub. While I was waiting earlier, I’ve also connected it to your VR Pod. Don't worry, I was guided by my brother all the way. He said, all you have to do is log in, and you’ll be livestreaming.”

I blinked in surprise. “Wait, you already did all that?”

She gave a small, modest nod. “Well, you’ve been busy sweeping the leaves at the garden... just kidding. It’s the least I can do as your manager. Besides, I thought it would save you some time.”

I raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Wow, I don't know what to say...”

“It’s my job to help you with this stuff, right?” She tapped on her tablet, bringing up the account details. "Here’s your username and password. I’ve already connected the gameplay feed to the stream, so once you enter the VR pod, it'll automatically go live. Ah, I also added a basic overlay for the stream… nothing too fancy, but it works."

“Seriously, you’re awesome,” I said with a grin, still processing the fact that Tsukishima had set everything up so quickly.

She quickly looked away, trying to hide the faint blush on her cheeks. “I-I’m just doing what a manager should do. Just log in when you’re ready, and I’ll handle the rest.”

As I grabbed my VR headset, I noticed a preview of the stream overlay on her tablet. It was clean but had a subtle aquatic vibe that caught my attention.

“Wait, is this the overlay?” I asked, pointing to the screen.

“Yeah,” Tsukishima-san nodded. “Since your IGN is Poseidon, I thought something water-themed would fit. The background is a gradient of deep blue to light turquoise, like ocean waves. At the top, I added a small trident icon next to your username. It kind of hovers over the gameplay feed like a crest.”

I leaned in to get a better look. The trident was golden, gleaming with a soft shimmer, and it had animated water droplets trailing down its edges. Beneath the gameplay feed was a sleek, semi-transparent bar displaying current viewers, chat messages, and donation alerts. Little ripples of water would occasionally spread across the bar whenever someone interacted with the stream.

“This is incredible,” I said, genuinely impressed. “You even added water effects to the chat bar?”

Tsukishima nodded shyly. “I thought it would suit the Poseidon theme. Plus, it’s not too distracting. It gives the stream a clean, immersive feel.”

“Man, I didn’t expect it to look this professional!” I couldn’t help but smile, feeling more hyped about the stream than ever. “You really nailed the vibe.”

“I’m glad you like it,” she said, her confidence returning. “It’s the least I can do as your manager. Now you just need to focus on playing. Leave the stream to me.”

I grabbed my VR headset again, the reality setting in. “This is really happening, huh? Our first livestream.”

Tsukishima-san smiled slightly. “Yep. And don’t worry about the technical stuff. I’ll be monitoring the chat and managing everything. You just focus on playing.”

I stepped into the VR Pod, feeling the familiar soft hum of the machine as it powered up. The cushioned seat adjusted slightly to my weight as I leaned back, resting comfortably. I pulled the visor down over my eyes, blocking out the room as the immersive display flickered to life.

With a quick tap on the armrest, I activated the interface. A low beep echoed inside the pod, and the game’s logo, Dungeon and Hunters Online, appeared before me in a swirl of light. The graphics were crisp, as if I were staring into another world.

“Alright, time to dive in,” I muttered, feeling the tightening of the straps around my arms and legs. The sensors began syncing with my body, and I felt a slight tingle as the pod calibrated to my movements.

It showed my customized game’s loading screen—a dark, stormy ocean with lightning striking in the distance—flashed in front of me. The waves churned violently on the screen, as if preparing me for the battle ahead. In the bottom corner, a progress bar slowly filled up.

As soon as it hit 100%, the world around me shifted. The stormy ocean dissolved into pixels, and I was transported straight into the heart of a dungeon, surrounded by stone walls and eerie flickering torches.

"Let’s do this," I whispered as the game fully booted up.

As I readied myself, a flood of notification messages appeared in front of me.

[ Player ID: 1111201615452 ]

[ Player Name: Poseidon ]

[ Welcome to the Dungeon and Hunter 8th International Cup! ]

[ You will be transferred to your respective server. ]

[ You are now transferred to Server: Japan 00U-146UT ]

[ You are in the correct channel! You can start the event now. ]

[ To get the details of the 'First Week Event,' please interact with the NPC assigned to you. ]

Suddenly, I was moved to another area. The environment hadn’t changed much—stone walls, a stone ceiling, and a long, straight stone hallway stretched before me.

I checked my avatar and saw I was still wearing my previous gear. I quickly accessed the 'Fashion Setting' and scanned my team uniform.

After confirming there were no errors in the scan on the preview model, I clicked the 'Apply' button. In an instant, my old armor was replaced by a sleek maroon and greyish polo shirt with matching pants. I kept the white cape draped over my shoulders—it just looked too cool to take off.

Satisfied with the changes, I gave a small nod of approval at my reflection.

"Hello, Uozumi-kun? Can you hear me?" Tsukishima-san's voice chimed in through my headset. "I've connected your account and set up a voice channel for us in disqword."

"Yeah, I can hear you loud and clear. Thanks a ton for the help!" I replied. To be honest, I didn’t know much about setting up team communications and livestreams, so I was relieved to have her on board.

Playing solo for years definitely made me overlook the technical side of things.

"Uozumi-kun... the stream has already started. I'll link the chatbox for you now."

I heard the sound of rapid keyboard clicks, and moments later, a floating interface appeared on the left side of my view.

The overlay was designed with a deep oceanic blue, the edges framed by flowing waves and trident symbols. At the top, a stylized logo of a trident pierced through a crest of water, symbolizing Poseidon’s power. The chatbox window had translucent, swirling water effects as a backdrop, with text appearing in clean, white font that looked as if it was bubbling up from the depths. Each message was separated by sleek lines resembling ripples in the ocean.

"Oh, I can see it now, Tsukishima-san."

[ -Streamhub-

Stream title: 8th Hunter and Dungeon International Cup Day 1

Streamer: Poseidon ]

[ -Chatbox- 7 Viewers

lotus: hello :)

onioni: I'm here for my lil' sister! Hi sis!

NaOH: got invited to watch this :)

NaOH: oh, a fresh account?

NaOH: good luck!

winterbell: good luck! ]

"Holy sh-... I already have seven viewers?!" I blurted out before quickly catching myself. "I mean, wait—what should I do again?"

"Uozumi-kun, relax a little," Tsukishima-san reassured me with a calm voice. "You can start by introducing yourself."

I exhaled deeply, calming my nerves. I’m really lucky to have her as my manager.

"R-Right," I stammered. I took another breath to steady myself before giving it a shot. "H-HELLO EVERYONE! MY NAME IS POSEI—ouch!—PON."

What the heck?! I bit my tongue!

[ -Chatbox- 7 viewers

onioni: I heard my sister's voice!

onioni: Hi sis!

winterbell: you're way too tense, host

winterbell: relax a little

lotus: yep :)

NaOH: you can do it! ]

Thank goodness the viewers were kind.

Wait! I just had an idea on how to introduce myself better.

I turned around, flipping my cape dramatically to reveal the large, bold letters printed on the back of my uniform.

"I'm Poseidon, representing Team 16 of the VR Sports Club!" I announced with a proud grin.

[ -Chatbox- 7 viewers

winterbell: 'team' 16?

winterbell: only you?

onioni: and my sister as well ]

"Yeah, it’s just me and my manager, Tsukishima-san in Team 16! We’re counting on your support!" I said with a deep bow, genuinely appreciating their presence.

It felt amazing to finally get started with something I had always wanted to try—interacting with the chat.

I had thought it would take months to get this far, but here I was, already diving into it!

"Hello." I heard a small voice and felt a tug on my cape. "Are you a hunter?"

It was a small child, probably around eight or nine years old. What is a child doing here?

She looked peculiar though. She was wearing golden headwear with a sphinx design, and her clothes resembled an Egyptian style. She even had a long staff with a snake carved at the end.

Maybe this is just some side quest? I wonder what reward items she will give!

"Yes, I'm a hunter." I crouched down to meet her eye level. "Are you lost?"

"Mister, if you are a hunter, can you do something about that?"

"That?" I followed the direction she pointed with her snake-headed staff.

It was toward the long hallway.

But when I turned to look, I saw a lot of gigantic hands wrapped in bandages, springing out of the walls, floor, and ceiling.

"Uozumi-kun! Watch out!" I heard Tsukishima-san frantically shout as I stared at the approaching giant hands above me.

"Mister, you are a hunter... right?" I heard the child mutter beside me.