Work Text:
“You’re playing that game again?”
Yoo Joonghyuk ignored his best friend Kim Dokja. He was indeed playing the game again. Since he wasn’t good at interacting with people in real life, Yoo Joonghyuk found he surprisingly had a penchant for dating games as he secretly tried out in the app store when it was recommended to him out of curiosity. He had surprisingly enjoyed it more than he thought he would and that had led him to being invested in dating games and buying dating games to play on his Playstation.
When Kim Dokja his best friend found out, he had laughed at Yoo Joonghyuk. And mocked Yoo Joonghyuk. But he had come over to Yoo Joonghyuk’s apartment to watch him play. Kim Dokja made fun of him and the game a little, but he was interested. And eventually, he stopped making fun of Yoo Joonghyuk playing dating games meant for girls. He just watched, interested like Yoo Joonghyuk, as Yoo Joonghyuk played the dating game meant for girls.
His best friend was open-minded like that. So Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t know why Kim Dokja complained about his latest favourite dating game. Now this dating game was different. The main character, the heroine had to find her destined man in a Magic Academy. It was said by a prophecy that the people in the Magic Academy were special, when the heroine, a female who could wield the Element of Light found her destined man to accompany her on her journey, the Magic Academy would collapse, the world would be overrun with Darkness, and the students would have to fight monsters and protect the world. And the heroine would leave with her destined man on a journey to save the world.
The heroine had 2 months, if she didn’t find her destined man in the Magic Academy by then, he would become evil and turn into the villain, and she would have to fight him to save the world.
This would be simple enough but the game had a unique mechanic. The dating game had a total of 20 men, and the player character had a total of 4 Lives. If 4 Lives were lost and the player made another mistake on who her destined man was, she would die and it would be game over, the game would show the world overrun by Darkness and people dying by fearsome monsters and at the end it would show Game Over in big letters.
And when the player tried to start the game again, they would be faced with, ‘Your player character is dead. You cannot play anymore.’
Thus the player would be forced to buy another copy of the game if they wanted to continue to play.
So far, Yoo Joonghyuk had lost 3 Lives. One of them had been lost by kissing a woman turned into a man by the darkness.
That was another unique feature of the game, some guys in the Magic Academy were originally women, but fortunately the game let the player know how many, only 7 guys in the Magic Academy were originally women.
If the player character kissed a man who was actually a woman, they would faint and lose a Life like if they kissed a man, and the man would turn back to his or rather her female body. And of course at the end of everything when the main character found her destined man the 7 girls would have their female bodies back.
Right, so he had been a little surprised the guy Judgment turned out to be a woman, he was masculine, had a masculine name, and acted naturally male enough.
He tried to cross out the men who were women but it was confusing, he only got the nice too polite guy String as confirmed. That guy, Anna Croft, he didn’t know if the female name was a red herring or the cold guy was actually a girl. He was popular with the female students, so he really could be a guy.
[Thanks, you helped me turn back. Haha, you look a little surprised that I’m a woman! I guess I’m a little masculine…Anyway, although I’m not your destined man, if you need help with anything feel free to call me! I’ll do my best to help. Damn, I haven’t been in my body for ages…]
On the screen, the character Judgment who had turned from male to female was speaking.
“Oh, so he was a woman…”
For some reason, his best friend Kim Dokja sounded oddly relieved.
The heroine had kissed Judgment, one of the guys, and Judgment turned out to not be the Male Lead. Thus it was time for the heroine to faint and lose one of her Lives.
[H-Hey are you okay? You don't look so well. It isn't that much of a surprise, is it? Wait why would it be a problem even if it was...sorry, I can be a bit silly.]
The now female Judgment said with a sheepish smile on her woman's face. She had black hair which was slightly brown and reached past her shoulders, in a similar style as her male appearance with short black slightly brown hair. Yoo Joonghyuk pushed the button on his controller. A slightly faded look appeared on the screen. Judgment's expression was concerned.
[Hey, what's wrong? You look - hey! Are you okay?! Jonghyue!]
The screen faded to black.
“Since his name is Judgment, I thought he was definitely a guy.”
Yoo Joonghyuk put down the game for a while. He had made 3 mistakes, there were 17 people left. Lee Hakhyun, Build, Judgment were out. Some people had strange names, he didn’t know why. String was a girl likely but Yoo Joonghyuk found his character a little interesting and wanted to play him anyway. Anyway, he already planned to buy another copy of the game, so he might as well play String’s route.
There was also the option of declaring a guy to be a girl, if it was right, the guy would turn into their original female form, only there was a penalty of losing a Life if it was wrong.
Bisexual people would like this, Yoo Joonghyuk thought idly and continued looking through the characters.
“Yoo Joonghyuk. You’re going to continue to play the game? Why not we talk about school…..or stuff.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“We didn’t manage to get into the same university because I’m stupid. There’s stuff to talk about!”
Kim Dokja was whining. He was leaning over the sofa. Yoo Joonghyuk idly patted his head and continued reading.
“Seriously, I’ve missed you so much…”
Now Kim Dokja was nuzzling his head. Kim Dokja had decided to nuzzle his head.
Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t mind, he knew Kim Dokja could get clingy at times. Probably from his lack of friends when he was young…
Yoo Joonghyuk let Kim Dokja nuzzle his head, he was still looking through the male characters.
He looked through them. Then he looked through them again.
In the end, he decided to focus on character design. Which guy looked the most like he could be the male lead for the Heroine?
Well this guy, Golden. His name, and his looks. He had long blond hair, but it was tied in a ponytail and didn’t look feminine. He had on a cocky smirk, this guy had more than enough confidence to be the Male Lead. Yoo Joonghyuk could already imagine him sweeping the heroine up in his arms.
Golden was his next choice then.
[I fainted again...]
The player character said.
Yoo Joonghyuk clicked and the slightly faded depiction of the room scene like the person had just woken up disappeared and the scene became clear. He pressed the button one more time and a speech box appeared.
[I can’t believe Judgment was a girl! Hey, are you alright?]
The flying white cat said.
[I'm fine. I just fainted again.]
The player character was slightly sarcastic. The flying white cat responded.
[Yeah and...yikes, you only have 1 Life left! Why weren't you more careful?!]
The flying white cat scolded. The player character replied.
[Shut up. I was careful enough. Judgment was so cool, I thought he was my destined man. He was a cool and courteous guy. I can't believe he's a girl. My head hurts...]
[Hey, don't tell your flying cat companion to shut up! Anyway, rest for a while. Judgment must be worried about you...]
[...]
The next moment there was a sound, a short image of a door opening then the scene switched to Judgment in his original female form.
[Hey Jonghyue you're awake! I was so worried. I'm glad you're alright.]
[I'm alright. Don't worry.]
Judgment continued looking relieved, a little more relieved than before.
[Yeah. You're fine. Since you're fine, do you mind coming with me for a bit?]
[I don't mind. Let's go.]
The scene changed. The scene showed the school grounds.
This was the after scene for each character who turned out to not be the Male Lead. The guy would come and find the heroine after she had woken up and take her somewhere.
[...]
Judgment was quiet with a slight smile on her face.
Then the next speech bubble appeared.
[...You're kinda cool. Were you originally a guy?]
[...No, I'm a girl.]
Judgment's laughing expression appeared.
[Haha, I was joking. It's just that, I...]
[...I sort of thought you were cool.]
[I'm cool? I thought you were cool.]
[Why?]
Yoo Joonghyuk clicked the first option.
[I'm cool? I thought you were cool.]
Judgment was grinning slightly playfully. Even though he turned out to be a girl, it was still Judgment. She still had Judgment's mannerisms.
[Me, cool? Haha, I'll take that as a compliment.]
Then Judgment's expression turned slightly serious.
[Thanks, really. For listening to me. About my brother...]
Judgment had her hand on the back of her neck, looking sheepishly to the side.
[It was the first time I talked to someone about that.]
Then Judgment gave a teasing grin.
[And for turning me back into a girl even though you didn't intend it. But I thanked you already, didn't I?]
[Though, as a guy I got to experience some interesting things...]
Judgment's expression turned slightly fond and bemused.
[...It helped with talking to my father too.]
Judgment had a wry smile on her face.
Then her attention turned to the player character again.
The scene completely changed, and it was a scenic scene of a close up of Judgment and the female player character who looked slightly surprised.
[Thank you.]
Judgment was smiling sightly as she was near the female player character.
Then her smile changed, to something more sincere that could touch the viewer's heart.
"...For being you."
Yoo Joonghyuk lingered on that scene with those words for a few seconds longer before he pressed the button.
The girl looked surprised. She just stared at Judgment and the sincere smile on his face.
Judgment grinned. Another push of the button and the masculine woman was doing a different action.
Judgment was suddenly nearer, close enough to the female player to almost kiss.
Judgment's hand gripped the female player character's chin gently and pushed it up to meet her amused eyes, as the girl stared in slight shock.
Then Judgment gave a playfully masculine grin, meeting the girl's eyes.
[I hope I was worth one of your Lives? Fated maiden.]
Yoo Joonghyuk was slightly surprised. He had not expected Judgment to do that.
This scene would surely be in the Gallery.
[...]
The female player character also looked surprised. Judgment grinned and her hand lowered, eventually reaching to hang at her side. She retreated slightly from the female player.
[Haha.]
Yoo Joonghyuk clicked and the close up scene of Judgment and the female player was gone. Instead it was the customary figure of Judgment only now in a female form with the text box below, still [Haha.].
A press, Judgment grinned slightly, and the words changed.
[Let's keep in touch.]
Then Judgment smiled honestly, the smile spreading across her handsomely beautiful face.
[Thank you.]
Yoo Joonghyuk clicked.
A mini message icon popped up, and was flown to the upper left of the screen, which had three lines situated on top of each other and a red circle with a white exclamation mark.
There was another scene of the player reflecting on her time with Judgment but the player had to buy the DLC to see it. Yoo Joonghyuk wasn't interested in those extra scenes to be added to the Gallery now so he had no plans to purchase it.
Yoo Joonghyuk clicked again, the scene with Judgment faded, and he was back to the character selection scene.
[Which guy will you choose this time? Oh I hope you get it correct this time! You only have 1 Life left. Make a mistake with 0 Lives and you’re dead! Be careful.]
Yoo Joonghyuk scrolled to Golden.
[I’m Golden. I don’t think a self-introduction is needed. Just follow me.]
‘Just follow me’ What a male lead line.
Yoo Joonghyuk selected.
[Are you sure you want to choose this guy as your male companion?]
The magical flying white cat named Bihyun asked him.
Yoo Joonghyuk clicked [Yes.].
The character Golden smirked even more and pushed his hair back.
[You think I’m your destined man, Jonghyue? Well, let’s see.]
“Jooonghyuuuuukkk why did you use a feminine version of your name?”
Kim Dokja complained to him, nuzzling then resting on his head. Yoo Joonghyuk blinked.
“Because I’m the player but the player is female, so I used a feminine version of my name.”
“But like that it’s like it’s really you!”
Kim Dokja complained more, Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t get his problem.
“So? It’s just a game, and why would it be a problem if it’s like it’s really me?”
“Because…”
Kim Dokja grumbled and nuzzled his hair unhappily.
“…The guys are all so cheesy, how can you stand it?”
“Says the guy who is nuzzling my hair.” Yoo Joonghyuk carelessly said, not expecting Kim Dokja to stop a while.
“…Hmph.”
Kim Dokja did not stop nuzzling his hair.