[Backstage Story] Chikage Utsuki - Our Big Spy Operation

[skipabeet]

Part 1

Sakuya: Speaking of which, I finally cleared Civil War V!
Itaru: Grats—.
Banri: I haven’t played V. Are you planning to finish all of Civil War series?
Sakuya: I still have some instalments left but, I’m thinking of playing other games once I finish all Civil War series.
Itaru: I’ll recommend some.
Chikage: Chigasaki is multiplying…
Citron: Chikage should play together too.
Izumi: Do you not play game at all, Chikage-san?
Chikage: I like playing games which is easy to clear in a short time, like virtual escape or time-based games.
Izumi: Heh~.
Itaru: Come to think of it, senpai, it seems you once overran a reality escape game with Banri, right.
Chikage: Ah, we broke the fastest record. It was fun.
Banri: Chikage-san is the strongest partner. He’s really fast.
Sakuya: What is reality escape game?
Citron: It’s a game where you have to solve puzzles in a set setting and stage.
There are also shooting and light actions.
Izumi: It feels like playing an escape game in real life.
Sakuya: It seems interesting!
Izumi: Yeah, I kinda want to go there.
Chikage: Let’s give it a try if we have the opportunity.

Izumi: Ah, Chikage-san!
Chikage: ?
Izumi: Um, can we go here together?
Chikage: “Big Spy Operation Game”?
Izumi: This attraction looks like a reality escape game. I got two tickets from Banri-kun….
Chikage: Oh—. So you don’t go with Banri?
Izumi: Banri-kun got these from his college friends, but I think he has stuff to do this weekend…
Besides, I’d like to go try it with Chikage-san who has experiences in this…
Chikage: Hmmm.
Izumi: If you don’t have any plan this weekend, can you go with me…?
Chikage: ….
Izumi: …Chikage-san?
Chikage: You still invite me to play this kind of game despite knowing my true identity…. You get some nerves, huh.
Izumi: Tha-that’s not what I mean…!
Chikage: Well, I’m also a little bit interested. I can accompany you.

Part 2

Izumi: Whoa, what a full-scale establishment.
Chikage: This is a permanent attraction after all. It’s more elaborate than a reality escape game venue.
Staff: We’ll be starting the game soon, spies.
You have to clear various missions according to the exclusive device that will be passed on. Your evaluation will be based on your result.
If you get excellent result, your class will rise and you’ll be given a medal. I wish you guys good luck!
Participant A: I’ll be promoted soon.
Participant B: Oh, you have a silver badge. Next one is gold?
Chikage: So that badge is the medal, huh….
Izumi: Everyone has a lot of badges. I wonder if they are regular.
Participant A: Is this your first time participating?
Izumi: Huh? Ah, yes.
Participant A: This game requires skill, mental strength and good physical condition. Good luck.
Izumi: Thank you.
Chikage: Is that class quite high in rank?
Participant A: Yeah. I finally went up here after playing many times and saving my evaluation points. People with good sense can go up here in no time, though.
Chikage: …Heh, I’m a little bit fired up.
Izumi: Eh, could it be that you plan to break the record again…?
Chikage: Now that we’ve come here, let’s get the highest rating badge.
Izumi: (I have to do my best not to become a burden…)
Participant A: Ah, that’s right. There’ll also be some shooting traps from different snipers on the way, so be careful.
You’ll lose once they hit your vital point.
Izumi: Eeh!? There’s that kind of trap too..?
Participant B: First timers usually don’t know this, that’s why they get hit quite often.
Izumi: We’ll be careful….

Izumi: We should proceed according to the instruction.
Chikage: Since our time will be included in the evaluation, shall we go?
Izumi: O-okay!
Terminal Message: “Mission: Pass through the infrared sensor! The alarm will go off once you touch the sensor. Proceed without getting noticed by enemies.”
Izumi: Ah! I’ve seen a lot of this infrared in spy movies!
Chikage: We don’t use this kind of old thing these days, though.
Izumi: (He’s the real deal…)
Chikage: Let’s go ahead.
Izumi: Yes!
(It’s noted that the sensors are placed quite near to each other. Okay, we have to do limbo dance here…)
….uh.
(I-I think I fail already…!?)
!!
(Hu… huh? The alarm didn’t go off?)
Chikage: What are you doing? I’ve already disabled the sensor. Let's go quickly.
Izumi: Eh!? When did you do that….!?
Chikage: When Director-san were trying to pass through it slowly.
Izumi: (As expected of Chikage-san…)
Terminal Message: “Mission: Solve the password! Find out what the password is and unlock the door.”
Izumi: This time is password…
Chikage: It’s lenient.
Izumi: Eh? We can’t just press the button as we——.
Chikage: Okay, unlocked.
Izumi: You’re fast….!
Chikage: ——.
Izumi: Okay, once we go pass through this door——.
Chikage: Come here——.
Izumi: !?
Chi, Chikage-san…!?

(He’s close….!)
Chikage: …There’s a guard.
Izumi: ——.
Chikage: …He’s gone. Shall we go?
Izumi: Haa….
Chikage: You must have held your breath while hiding, huh, Director-san.
Izumi: That’s because….!
Chikage: Ssh——.
Izumi: ——.
Chikage: We’ll get found out if you talk loudly. We almost reach the goal, so let’s go.
Izumi: O-okay.
(I’m not being useful at all…)

Part 3

Terminal Message: "Mission: Pass through the obstacles!”
Izumi: This one is an athletic element, huh.
(Good, I can do this much——.)
….uh, whoa.
Chikage: …What are you doing? Give me your hand.
Izumi: Eh? But——.
(Didn’t Chikage-san say he doesn’t want to hold hands with women?)
Chikage: It’s all right. Don’t think too much.
Izumi: ——.
Chikage: Watch your head there.
Izumi: Ye, yes!
Chikage: …Okay, we’ve arrived.
Izumi: Thank you.
Terminal Message: "Mission: Unlock the last gate! Unlock the gate using the password that you got.”
Izumi: Ah, I think this is the last one.
Chikage: ….
Izumi: (Hm? What’s that? There’s a red light on Chikage-san’s back——.)
(A sniper is aiming their gun at him!)
Watch out, Chikage-san!
——ugh.
Terminal Message: “The sniper’s bullet has pierced your heart. —— GAME OVER ——.”
Izumi: Aaaah!!
Chikage: *sigh*…. Did you think I wouldn’t notice that?
Izumi: Eh, you noticed?
Chikage: Of course.
Izumi: Sorry. I suddenly——.
Chikage: ….Even though I’ve already told you that I will protect you, I’m the one being protected, huh.
Oh my, my evaluation result will go down now that my teammate has lost.
Izumi: …Are you angry?
Chikage: I’m not, but doesn't this mean Director-san’s evaluation will be bad? You’ve already come far with a good time.
Izumi: (He’s… he’s right… I’m already dead…)

Izumi: It looks like the result is shown on this terminal.
Chikage: How did we do…
Terminal Message: “Spy rank: Class promotion from B to A.”
Izumi: Amazing! You got a silver badge!
Chikage: Well, I did what I can do.
Izumi: As expected of Chikage-san.
Chikage: It’s Director-san’s turn.
Terminal Message: “Spy rank: Special promotion from B to S. Skilled spy’s honorary death!”
Izumi: Eh? Eh?
Chikage: Gold badge…
Izumi: Eh, why…
Chikage: Pfft. That’s a miracle, Director-san…
Ah, since you have higher class than me, you’re going to be my boss, Director-san. Good job on your mission. As expected of you.
Izumi: ——Please don’t tease me!