Regarding Future City, Shu currently knew nothing.
Right now, he was busy trying to tame his disobedient fingers and defeat Kiana Kaslana in "Homu 97" [Parody of KOF '97].
He had just knocked out Bronya Zaychik, who had held the champion spot for a solid ten minutes, barely a minute ago. How was he now evenly matched with Kiana?!
He refused to believe it! He wouldn't accept it!
How could he possibly sink to this low-tier level of play?!
"Hehe! An opening!!" Kiana's eyes suddenly sharpened, a glint flashing within them. The next second, her fingers danced nimbly, rapidly and smoothly pressing several buttons!
It was the ABAB combo!! The ultimate technique that only Kiana had ever managed to pull off in the entire history of their gaming sessions!!
A terrifying sharpness flickered in the dead fish eyes of the blue Hori character on screen.
Then, to Shu's horror, Hori, gripping his parasol, leaped high into the air, aiming the tip of the umbrella straight down at the Homu character Shu controlled!
A fluid light effect shimmered around the umbrella tip, looking like it was about to pulverize Homu Brave into dust!
In this critical moment, Shu gritted his teeth. No more holding back! He put everything he had into it, his fingers blurring across the controller like lightning.
There it was!! The BACAB super combo!! A legendary technique requiring five consecutive button presses within a single second!!
A move that even Kiana hadn't fully mastered!!
Homu Brave's powerful aura instantly surged. Facing the diving Hori without fear, he swung his Holy Sword, meeting the attack head-on!!
Truly, a clash of titans atop the Forbidden City...
"Hey! Take this!"
"Ay ay ay! Can't hit me!!"
Crack—
Bronya bit through the straw in her mouth, leaving deep teeth marks on the metal.
Watching their "back and forth," she trembled with suppressed rage.
She had merely been careless for a moment, failing to notice Shu had picked a character that perfectly countered hers, and it was her first time encountering Shu's bizarre new playstyle. That's why she'd temporarily stepped down from the champion spot.
Her plan was to take a break, let the others have some game time too.
Since Shu could beat her, he clearly had some skill. He could hold the fort for a while until it was her turn again to exact her revenge...
But... but...
"Good chance! Watch my AAAAAA..." Kiana seized an operational error from Shu, her finger mashing the attack button at terrifying speed.
The keycap couldn't even rebound fast enough for Kiana's button mashing.
"No fighting spirit!"
Shu flailed frantically. After losing a massive tenth of his health bar, he finally managed to stabilize, gritting his teeth and forcing Homu Brave into a defensive crouch.
"As long as the enemy makes a mistake, it's this young lady's great success!" Kiana grinned triumphantly, continuing her relentless attack button assault.
She was finally going to win! Finally win through her own skill!! Not because Mei let her, or because she cheated!
This was a legitimate victory over Shu, who had defeated Bronya!!
This deserved to be recorded in the Key of Remembrance!!
"Beating you means this young lady has beaten Bronya!" Kiana's excitement was written all over her face. Shu, like Kiana often did, had resorted to just holding down the block button.
Meanwhile, Bronya's usual stoic, expressionless face was gone. Chewing on her metal straw, her face was filled with unwilling resignation as she watched Shu's health bar slowly deplete.
If this chip damage continued... Kiana was actually going to win!
The thought of someone opening the Key of Remembrance in the future and immediately seeing the entry: [Kiana defeated Shu, whom even Bronya could not overcome!] Where would she, the Ural Silver Wolf, hide her face?
How could she possibly face Seele back home? How could she face Mother Cocolia? How could she continue being friends with everyone from the orphanage?!
Shu! Do something!! Just use this simple combo (Up-Up-C-B-A-A-Down-C-Guard-A-Left-C-D-D-A-C) and you can completely turn the tables and crush Kiana!
[Bronya's Wish: Beat Kiana in the game.]
Shu paused, glancing back at Bronya in surprise. At the same time, his frantic blocking faltered for a split second, failing to keep up with Kiana's rhythm.
The last sliver of health vanished instantly. By the time Shu looked back in shock, the letters "K.O." were already displayed on the screen.
Shu's eyes widened. He sat frozen, unable to believe that he, who had just vanquished the great demon lord Bronya, had actually lost to Kiana.
Life's ups and downs couldn't be more dramatic. He had just reached the summit, only to plummet into the abyss within the span of a single game.
It was Kiana! How could he possibly...
Kiana leaped up from the floor, raising her hands high like an athlete who had just won a major championship, holding the controller aloft as if it were a trophy.
"I want to thank Mei, thank my stinky old Dad, thank..." Tears welling up, Kiana felt an immense sense of honor wash over her. At this moment, she felt like the center of the universe.
It was KIANA!! How could you lose, Shu!! You could have turned it all around with just that one simple combo (Up-Up-C-B-A-A-Down-C-Guard-A-Left-C-D-D-A-C), and you LOST?!
Bronya gently shattered.
She knew her infamy was now sealed within the Key of Remembrance. That book would faithfully record all data within a ten-kilometer radius, anytime, anywhere.
Including her defeat.
Clutching her cup, she found a corner and faded into grayscale.
Raiden Mei, having witnessed the dramatic rise and fall of all three: "..."
Another day of feeling completely out of sync with everyone else...
Awkwardly taking the controller from the still-questioning-his-existence Shu, Kiana finally sat down in front of the game console with her beloved Mei.
If Bronya and Shu were playing, Mei would definitely join in too!
So, as long as she knocked out Shu and Bronya, she could naturally play games with Mei, instead of doing that demonic contract known as the "Five-Three"! [A notoriously difficult series of Chinese supplementary workbooks]
Hehe... All according to Keikaku!
Kiana was already lost in a sweet fantasy of the moments to come.
[Key of Remembrance: Recording—Kiana Kaslana's Daydream. Subject of Daydream—Raiden Mei
Mei: "Ah! Kiana, you're so good! Go easy on me, okay~♪" [cutesy moe voice]
Self: "Hmph hmph hmph—Alright then... Of course, I can let you win with one hand. And this free hand of mine, naturally, must be wrapped around my beloved Mei~" [smug 'cool guy' voice]
Conclusion: Humans are indeed narcissistic creatures.]