Ch. 0 - Prologue

"It's gacha time!"

I tapped on the newly updated app, and switched to gacha screen in excitement.

"Please, god and all the holy spirits, let it be an even limited new character!"

I had already top-up as much as I could to roll on gacha once the maintenance ended. My preparations were perfect.

"Last time was truly hectic. I could’ve saved even more gems if I’d spent more than 10,000 yen. Alas, so many new year events completely dried my wallet. Oh well, this should make up for that, hopefully. Time to show the power of 50,000 yen!"

It was all of my part-time job's savings from this month. I might have to live on beans for now, but I have no regrets!

"As the famous saying goes, never stop pulling. Let's go—!"

I tapped on the «10 Pull» icon.

"Oh, it's gold—(゜∀゜)—!! ...Ah. Damnit, it's just 4☆!"

"Grgh, curse you low probability"

"Oh for the heaven’s sake, stop dropping event skin only!  ...C'mon, I am not asking for much, just a character is fine!!"

——*Beep* «You have Learned a Skill.»

"Aah, it's the rainbow glow!! Yesss, I wo—shit!! Grh-mhnn...! No, next time is definitely going to be it!”

"Grr...no, wait a minute. Maybe, after getting so many event skins, I might get lucky now?. Alright, once more. Third time is the charm!!"

Eventually, I kept rolling until I had no gems left. 

"Gaahhh... I bombed!!"

All the gems from 50,000 yen and not a single copy of the character I wanted. The shock was so great it made me fall to my knees. And since this game had no hard pity, gacha was the only means to get them......

"N-no, hold on a second. I, I should be able to scrap 10,000 yen more atleast......"

I would've to sacrifice on other essential living expenses, but that's definitely possible... I think.

"Worst comes to worst, if I am unable to live on rest, I will kneel to my friends and borrow from them."

It wouldn’t be the first time, so the second time matters the less. Yes, that should do. I couldn't ask my parents after all. They would simply forfeit my allowance if they learned of it.

"Anyway, being able to pay from a smartphone sure is convenient. All hail technology!"

Deciding on to give gacha another try, I promptly switched to the game's store screen, and tapped on the purchase option. But—

"Huh?"

It popped an error. No matter how many times I tried, it returned an error to me. Given how many times I have done that, it was strange. It shouldn't be occurring at the first place. 

"So weird... is my smartphone malfunctioning?"

Perhaps my smartphone got a bug or something. Thinking that, I fiddled with my smartphone, but everything worked perfectly—saving the purchase part.

"Are you kidding me? What the hell!" 

It was so incomprehensible I was confused.

"...Haa. What a pain. I guess convenience store it is, than. Gotta get that Tune Card (※Prepaid Card)."

There was no way I was going to quit there. Quitting here means all the spending would be for naught. What I spent earlier was a sacrifice—a sacrifice to guarantee my character in next rolls.

I made my way to the convenience store while thinking about what I would do in the game later;  like strategy to clear event if I pulled my wanted character, how much resources I had, what character will synergise well with existing characters for easy loop. 

The flow of time completely went past me and soon, I was at my destination.

It wasn't the first time I was purchasing a Tune Card. I promptly aimed for my target, and reached to grab it or, what I am sure I did, but somehow it bounced off.

......Huh?

Were my eyes playing tricks on me?

It was getting too weird. Not sure exactly what was happening, I tried to reach out again, and again, as if repelled by an invisible barrier, my hand bounced off. Even when I tried to use some strength, my hands were forced back even more. I couldn't touch a single one. 

Geez, what the hell was going on... it was just right before me, but I couldn't buy it. And no pay, no gacha. Wait, did I somehow lose my way in hell?

"Excuse me, Ms. Shopkeeper—"

Regardless, no way I was giving up here! I was going to get it whether by hook or crook!!

"How may I help you?"

"Sorry for being a bother. I want to buy the Tune Card, but I don't know why, I am unable to touch it."

"Come again??"

"See for yourself."

I said, and showed her the inexplicable phenomenon that was occurring.

"—? Let me see it......"

Then Shopkeeper-san tried to grab one, and... she effortlessly picked it.

......Eh?

"Er, what now..."

"Ah, yes. I will purchase that."

"Understood."

I hope it was just my imagination, but I felt as if the look in her eyes was saying "What a weirdo. Is he doing some one-man comedy skit?". If it was possible, I would've crawled into a hole, so embarrassing.

"What should I set the value to?"

"10,000."

Whatever. Nothing's beyond if I could just purchase it.

—*Beep*. *Buzz*.

"Huh?"

—*Beep*. *Buzz*.

"That's strange. Why?"

However, Shopkeeper-san tried to scan the barcode but the machine returned an error.

"Please give me a second. I will check the other."

Shopkeeper-san remarked, and came back holding multiple tune cards this time. And yet, no matter which she tried, everyone returned an error.

—*Pling!*

Hmm, what's that?

Suddenly, while Shopkeeper-san was at her wit's end, a translucent screen popped up before my eyes. 

There was something written on it. I ran my gaze throu—

"GAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

—*Thud*!

"S-Sir?!"

Flustered, Shopkeeper-san skirted around the cash register and closed up to me. The situation seemed to have picked the attention of other customers as well as they hurled confused glances. Albeit, I noticed nothing but a spinning world in my vision. The shock had  floored me, literally.

M, My life. It's over......

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