I stood in front of a house with a nameplate that read “Hoshi.” It was Minami’s home, just a stone’s throw from mine. I pressed the doorbell and waited for her to come out.
The front door opened slowly, and Minami peeked out. In the two years since I last saw her, she had matured a lot. Her hair, which was once black in high school, had lightened, and she had the aura of a college student, giving me the impression that she had moved on without me. Yet, there was still a lingering childlike innocence in her features, making her look like the type that would appeal to guys.
Minami looked at me hesitantly, with an upward gaze. When she realized it was me, her face lit up instantly, and she opened the door wide.
“Eito! You finally came outside!”
“Yeah…”
“You’ve lost so much weight… You haven’t been eating properly, have you?”
“I don’t have much of an appetite.”
I really had been eating only the bare minimum. Despite staying indoors all the time without exercising, I hadn’t gained weight, which even I found surprising. I thought I would gain weight from being a shut-in, but instead, my cheeks had sunken in.
“You can’t do that! You need to eat properly! If you don’t have anything to eat, I’ll cook for you!”
“No, it’s not like I’m living in poverty or anything.”
“Oh, right…”
“More importantly, the issue is Sakiya. He said he wanted to become a dungeon streamer, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right. For now, come inside.”
I stepped into Minami’s house. How many years had it been since I last visited here? I think I used to come by until around seventh grade. As we grew older, we became more conscious of each other as the opposite sex, and it felt awkward to visit each other’s homes frequently without being in a relationship.
Inside, Minami’s house was neatly organized, a stark contrast to the mess I lived in. I didn’t have the energy to clean, so my place was a bit of a disaster. Even though I took out the trash regularly, it seemed to accumulate endlessly.
“Hey, Eito! Long time no see!”
Sakiya greeted me when he saw me. He had grown taller than I remembered, almost the same height as me. He had been small before, but in the few years we hadn’t seen each other, he’d grown a lot, and it felt strange.
His pale skin was a bit tanned now, and his build was stronger than my skinny frame. I probably wouldn’t win if we fought.
“Yeah. Sakiya. It’s been a while.”
“Minami told me you were looking rough, but you seem better than I expected. That’s a relief.”
“Better than expected, huh? I wonder how bad she thought I was… Well, I’m not exactly in good shape, though.”
“By the way, Sakiya. Minami mentioned it. Why do you want to become a dungeon streamer?”
“Huh? Well, if it takes off, it’s a big deal, right?”
“If it takes off, sure… But just because you enter a dungeon doesn’t mean you’ll find valuable materials. The prices have stabilized now, unlike the early days when any dungeon material would sell.”
“Even so, if I can get my hands on rare materials, it’s still worth it—that’s what the streamers say.”
This guy… he hasn’t changed one bit. Minami and I were reasonably good students, but Sakiya, despite struggling with studies, always had lofty ambitions. He used to talk about becoming a professional baseball player even though he was a benchwarmer on the team, or about becoming a manga artist just from reading comics without actually drawing anything. He’s always been someone driven by the desire to earn easy money and admiration.
“Hey, Eito, you’re probably thinking I haven’t changed, right? But it’s different this time. I’m serious about becoming a dungeon streamer. That’s why I’ve been working out.”
Sakiya struck a muscle pose. Looking at his build, I could tell he wasn’t lying about that. Maybe he’d grown not just physically but mentally too—no longer just a dreamer who didn’t follow through.
“Listen, Sakiya. Being a dungeon streamer is dangerous—”
“But it’s a necessary job, isn’t it? Dungeons have materials essential for humanity’s progress. Someone has to do it. So why not me?”
“It doesn’t have to be you, though. I’m worried about you. And you have a family to think about. Did you ever consider how Minami feels? How can she stay calm knowing her brother might be putting himself in danger?”
“Eito! Everyone is someone’s loved one. If we think that way, no one would take the risk to go on adventures.”
That’s true… but why did he have to choose this path when I, someone who lost my parents to a dungeon, am right here?
“Anyway, there’s no point in trying to stop me. I’ve already quit my part-time job to focus on becoming a dungeon streamer!”
“Your part-time job?”
“Huh? Oh, didn’t I tell you? I’m a freeter now.”
Sakiya was 18, the age when most graduate high school. Instead of going to college or becoming a full-time employee, he chose to be a freeter. Not that I’m in any position to criticize as a shut-in NEET myself.
“In today’s world, being a freeter means you can’t even dream. It’s like slowly wasting away!”
“I don’t know… I think that’s a bit harsh. Some freeters are chasing their dreams, so it’s not always that bleak.”
Given my own situation, I couldn’t help but defend them.
“Then wouldn’t it be normal to want to achieve something big, even if it means risking your life?”
This is no good. He’s got that look in his eyes—one that won’t listen to reason.
“Alright… Sakiya. If you’re that determined, I won’t stop you anymore.”
“Wait, really? Yes!”
“Eito! Weren’t you supposed to talk him out of it!?”
“I know…”
“Huh?”
Minami tilted her head, confused.
“I know that trying to change someone’s mind is futile. Like when I couldn’t stop my parents from going into that dungeon…”
“Eito… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s time I stopped dwelling on their deaths.”
It had been weighing on me all this time. Maybe if I had been more adamant, my parents wouldn’t have died. But they wouldn’t listen—they believed it was their responsibility to do what others couldn’t.
You can’t change the mind of someone who’s already made up their mind. So there’s only one thing left for me to do.
“The one who needs to change is me. Sakiya. How about we team up?”
“Huh? You’re saying you’ll become a dungeon streamer too, Eito?”
“Wait, what? Eito, what are you saying!? You’ve never been in a fight, how do you expect to battle monsters?”
“Well, true… I can’t beat monsters myself. But I do have money. And I’ll use that money to support you, Sakiya!”
“Support?”
“Yeah. You’re still a novice who’s never entered a dungeon, right?”
“Yeah.”
“If you go in alone, you’ll just get yourself killed. So, first, I’ll use my money to hire dungeon streamers.”
“Hire them? But most dungeon streamers work independently, don’t they?”
His question made sense. Most dungeon streamers operate solo. Even I wasn’t sure if my plan would work.
“I’ll start a dungeon streaming agency and gather streamers to form a team.”
“A team… I’ve seen streamers work in small teams before.”
“No, Sakiya. Not just a few people. Eventually, we’ll gather dozens, even hundreds!”
