All in all, the rest of the evening didn't turn out to be as bad as Minako had feared. Artemis helped her by 'convincing' her that doing her homework would actually be a good idea, and during dinner, her father held a little, compassionate speech about several things.
Minako only listened with one ear, and the only thing she managed to keep in mind before going to bed was that her father forbade her to ever go at his computer again.
The next morning, Minako didn't wake up to her alarm clock.
"If you ask me, it's because you have been sitting at that computer all day long, yesterday," Artemis scolded her while she hurried to get ready for school.
"I didn't ask for your opinion, furball!" Minako hissed. "Now turn around, pervert!" she added while putting on her bra.
For once, her mother agreed to take her to school today, as Minako wouldn't be able to catch the bus in time. But she should realize that there was another reason why her mother wanted to talk to her privately.
"So, what happened yesterday?" she asked her daughter while they were driving.
"Oh, nothing..." Minako muttered. "I just played a computer game..."
"I already noticed as much," her mother said with a frown.
"On HIS computer," Minako added with a sigh.
"But don't you have your own?" her mother asked.
Minako grimaced. "Oh, that old thing... it's just enough to play the games I own. But I'm telling you, within months, it's gonna be a piece for the museum. Daddy's computer is capable of much, much more than my own."
"And you need a good computer to play GAMES?" her mother wondered.
Minako rolled her eyes. Her mother really knew nothing about computers...
"Well, whatever the reason, please make sure not to upset your father like that again," her mother insisted. "He's already agitated enough as he is."
"Why?" Minako wanted to know. "Did something happen?"
"Oh, there was some trouble within his company," her mother shrugged. "He tried to explain it to me, but I couldn't quite understand him. I think one or two of the central computers have collided."
"Crashed," Minako corrected.
"Beg your pardon?"
"You mean the computers have CRASHED, not collided."
"Well, whatever. According to him, someone 'hacked' his way into the company's database and did quite some damage. That's why he's so nervous. So you better make sure he doesn't get too upset, all right?"
----
After school, Minako went to the Crown Game Center to meet with her friends.
When she arrived, Makoto and Usagi were already there.
"Hey there, girl!" Makoto waved. "What took you so long?"
"Sorry," Minako panted as she came to a stop. "But my stupid teacher decided to let me stay extra long today... Anyways, have you guys taken a look at the new game I told you about?"
"Oh, you mean this 'Warcraft Makers'?" Makoto asked. "Well, I don't have much time between learning for school and doing my housework, so I don't think I would be able to play it very often..."
"I already own it," Usagi said proudly. "My parents gave me one for my birthday two weeks ago. The only downside to that..."
She looked over to where two young boys were standing in front of an arcade game and hammering on the buttons. One of them looked pretty familiar to Minako.
"I have to share it with Shingo," Usagi grumbled. "And that boy plays it the whole time, so I never get a chance to try it out myself."
"Hey, where are Ami and Rei?" Minako asked as she looked around the game center.
"They excused themselves," Makoto explained. "Rei has to help her grandfather at the shrine, and Ami..."
"Lemme guess," Minako interrupted her pony-tailed friend. "She's at home, buried under a pile of books, am I right?"
"You're right," Makoto nodded with a sigh. "She is studying..."
"Really, that girl needs to take her nose out of those books for once," Minako huffed.
"Says the right person," Usagi grinned. "Is it not true that you spend all your free time with playing computer and video games?"
"Not true," Minako defended herself. "I also play volleyball..."
"Hey sis!" Shingo said as he suddenly appeared next to his big sister. "Throw me some money, will ya? We're outta coins."
"Well, too bad! I'm out of money as well. Mom told you not to waste it, right?"
"And what about that money in your right pocket?" Shingo grinned as he slipped his hand right into Usagi's pocket and pulled out a few coins.
"What? How did you...? You little tyke! How did you know that?"
Shingo grinned. "Shingo of Shingonia knows about everything that happens within his kingdom." He stuck out his tongue and ran back to his friend, with the coins he snatched from his sister.
"That little brat!" Usagi grumbled. "Why did Mom have to order me to watch him today? I really have better things to do..."
"What did he just say?" Makoto wondered. "Shingonia?"
"Yeah, that's the name he's giving the kingdom he created with the game's Map Maker," Usagi sighed. "And he's supposed its king or something like that. I swear, he now just talks about that game. I'm telling you, it's driving me MAD!"
"Are you sure it's not just the fact that he didn't let you play it yet?" Makoto asked with amusement.
"Ha ha, very funny, Mako-chan!" Usagi grumbled.
The three of them were spending the rest of the afternoon at the game arcade, talking about school and their hobbies, every now and then trying one of the games, and they even managed to speak with Motoki for a short time.
"Hey, meatball head, it's time to go!" Shingo said impatiently. His friend had left some time ago, and he was getting bored. He had no money left, and he really didn't want to his sister and her friends' endless prattle.
"Now wait just a minute there, Shingo!" Usagi snapped. "We're just about done!"
"So, what d'you say about that cute new guy at the bookshop?" Minako asked.
"Hmmmmm..." Makoto said dreamily. "He just looks like my old sempai..."
"Now why doesn't that surprise me?" Usagi said. She and Minako giggled. "But if you like him so much, Mina-chan, why don't you ask him out for lunch?"
Upon hearing that, Shingo had to snort.
"Hey, what's so funny, brat?" Minako snapped angrily.
"Oh nothing," Shingo chuckled. "I mean, it's just that I can't imagine you with a boyfriend, Minako. I mean, is there actually a guy who is willing to spend half of his life in front of your computer?"
"You're one to talk!" Usagi intervened. "Thanks to you, I can't even try out the new game Mom and Dad gave us as a present."
Shingo shrugged. "Maybe, but I still think that her own computer is the next best thing Minako can have close to a boyfriend."
Minako fumed. How dared that little brat? Why, if he was her own brother... she would pull him over her lap and give him a firm spanking.
"Well, I really have to go now or else I'll miss the bus home," Makoto said as she turned to leave. "It has been fun, girls! See you tomorrow!"
"Bye, Mako-chan!" Usagi waved before turning back to Minako. "Well, as I was saying..."
"Usagi! Shingo!" a loud voice suddenly came from the entrance. "I thought I told you two to get home by six."
"Oh shit, that's my Mom," Usagi hissed. "Sorry, Minako, I gotta run."
"See, what did I tell ya?" Shingo grumbled as they ran to their mother. "But nooo, you had to stay and chitchat with your friends..."
"One more word and it's gonna be your last one, tyke!" Usagi hissed before they both left the arcade.
Minako was still angry at Shingo. She didn't know how Usagi was able to put up with a brother like himself. She always knew he was a little pest, but what he did today was the last straw.
Then she got an idea and grinned evilly. "Just you wait, 'Shingo of Shingonia'... Let's see how smug you are after I am finished with your precious kingdom..."
And with a diabolical plan on her mind, she went back home.
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:36)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.