do you remember the last time I wrote here?
I sure don't!
HISTORY'S STRONGEST SCORE-RUNNER DONUT
PROLOGUE - Spark that sets Change! Ignition!
Meet Donut. He's an ordinary kid going to college at his freshman year. He also loves to play video games. Especially shoot-em-ups. Not first person shooters, but shoot-em-ups. 'Round these parts, we call them
shmups. Remember that. Now, at this here college, shmups are law. Alongside the regular classes, almost everyone who attends cannot be seen NOT doing something shmup-related. Even the faculty are shmup players to some degree, not that all of them are
good. Anyways, Donut figured he could deal with this thing, being a pretty solid shmup player himself... Right? There was this one fateful day that changed everything... And it happened in such an instant.
**********
"One of these days, I'm going to perfect
Apollo 13!" yelled the voice of a young boy as he was mashing on his laptop's keyboard. He appeared to be playing a
Touhou game, alone. Well, as alone as you could get it. Everyone else in the room appeared to be doing there own thing, but there was a green-haired girl who spectated behind this boy. She smiled and looked down at him.
"'Perfect' it? Haven't you already done that?" the girl said.
"OH GOD WHAT!" the boy yelled out loud as he was startled by the girl's sudden question, he turned around and saw her. "Oh, it's just you."
"Just me, Donut? What am I to you?" she said, stomping her feet on the ground.
"Ohhh, damnit, Ruro... Just, you know, I want to be the very best I can here, see, my professor offered some special treatment if I could show her a video of an
Apollo 13 perfect! But I haven't mastered it yet!!"
"You did pretty well to me," Ruro said, clearly unimpressed. "But if you want to get better, I think I know just the people for you."
"You do?" the freshman student could only ask in amazement. Ruro's eyes were fair and true, she was definitely not lying. However, just how good were these people? How badly would Donut's sanity be affected by this new development?!
**********
Ruro led Donut to the residential part of the campus. Apparently, most of the big names around the college lived on campus and roomed in instead of living in their homes. They made their pay in the nicer suites by doing super-play demonstrations. Donut decided not to ask anything about it yet, but eventually, Ruro led him to a strangely large suite... One person definitely didn't live in it alone.
"Heeeey! It's me!!" Ruro called out to the large, oak door that was presumably the gateway to this hallowed house. The doors opened wide, it seemed the person behind it was... a maid?
"Hiyas, Matsuri!" Ruro greeted cheerfully as the maid, donning a traditional uniform in blue, curtseyed and smiled back. "I've got a visitor! I think the guys will enjoy to have him around!" Matsuri blinked, but smiled again.
"I think so too," Matsuri said. "Just be careful, okay? Don't want your friend to come out with a broken mind!"
Donut could hear the words 'broken mind' and immediately his psyche went into a frenzy.
Broken mind?! Who are these people?! Are they seriously gonna help me get better?! What is this Ruro getting me into this time?! I've never said no to her, even!! Damnit!!! But alas, his thoughts were needless, as just like that, Ruro had already taken Donut to a conference room where several figures sat, different shapes and sizes.
"Hi guys!!" Ruro said cheerfully. "There's someone I'd like you all to meet!! A friend of mine!! He wants to get better in the Shmup world! His name is Donut, say hi!" And at the words 'get better in the Shmup world,' everyone turned and looked at Donut. He looked very nervous. No normal human being wouldn't look nervous in this situation. He simply stared at the visages of each person. Some unassuming, some scary, some oddly soft... He was confused, feeling a conflict of emotions! Who were these people!?
**********
The first person to look at Donut was quite a large fellow, you wouldn't think he was a very good shmup player... But he was. Ohhh, was he. His name is Sapz, and he is known in the world as the
Unparalleled Bee Hunter, acclaimed as one of the only non-Japanese people to ever 2-All Dodonpachi DaiOuJou without losing any lives to Hibachi, the True Last Boss!!! He has spent months and years to perfect the technique, studying the moves and abilities of runs of many Japanese superplayers, and those who have also done the amazing feat of doing the "2-All Hibachi No-Miss Attack!!!" Surely, he will be a good match for Donut?! "Hibaaaaachi~ Oh, is that a new guy? Hi! If you're a friend of Ruro, you're a friend of mine!" Donut simply scratched his head while saying a 'hi' back in response.
The second was a rather unassuming man, he appeared to be part of the faculty. Well, Donut doesn't know him. He's not a tall fellow, and he appears to be on the short side for his age. Nevertheless, he is a reputable figure in his trade - Khoa, the
Internet Shmup Star, has taken many records for his amazing scores in many, MANY shmup titles that are well known in the world!! His technique is one of the strongest, and is an idol of many students and faculty who go to the college. He is also rumoured to hold annual seminars for faculty and visiting members as well! Beside him, is his colleague, Baity, his 'partner-in-crime,' called the
Underground Smasher, for his renowned skill in the his area of expertise, doujin and indie shmups!! Together, they are an excellent player force that should not be underestimated!
"Hello, Donut," Khoa said simply. "Maybe if I teach you in college, you'll get extra credit."
"Sup." was all Baity could muster, despite being faculty himself. Donut remained silent, he just stared in awe.
Matsuri walked in from behind Donut and Ruro before walking over to the side of the mysterious man in black who was at the end of the room. This Matsuri, seeming like a maid, was no slouch at shmups herself. She is not just Matsuri, she is the
Ace of Spades, responsible for holding many of the shmup challenges in the college, and being able to "1cc" (that is, to complete a shmup game on one credit or continue) almost any shmup thrown at her within a few hours!! "I was your welcoming committee! Sort of... Yawn."
A lone man... person... thing was also standing in the corner. Certainly, he didn't seem out of place in the corner, but Donut couldn't really tell whether he was male or female. This was Mesarthim, known in the college as "Trance," he is not a student, but rather, a part of the administration staff of the college itself, he does not meddle in anyone's affairs... But what is he here for? He is not as skilled in shmups as everyone else in the room was... But he has one ace up his sleeve - he is responsible for getting almost every obscure piece of shmup-ware available in this suite! The
Collector in Japanese Saga! He is like an old man in terms of shmup skill - he was reputed to 1cc shmups like
R-Type Delta and
Raiden DX at the age of 8, moving on to even beat the renowned Sapz in completing a 1cc of
DoDonPachi, even outdoing his 2-All score!!
"Hello Donut. I hope we get along." he said, before turning to his laptop and completing what was assumably another order.
At last, the mysterious man whom Matsuri was standing next to made his appearance. His eyes were serious, and he looked almost demonic.
"Hi grandpa!" Ruro greeted, smiling at the figure, who was smiling back, almost like a gremlin.
This was Kefit, Ruro's grandfather, one of the best shmup players in the college, hell, no, perhaps the entire country - the
Western God of the East!! He is one of the first non-Japanese to attain insane scores in various shmups, as well as pioneer tricks that the Japanese use here on Western soil, being somewhat of a GIL-figure!! His skill in the area is amazing!!
"This whelp? You promised to bring someone with lots of potential."
"But he does!"
Mesarthim turned again to look at Donut's face. "Sir Kefit, with all due respect." Kefit sat there for a moment. He looked at Sapz, Khoa, Baity, and then Matsuri, each of them nodded. It seemed they were planning something. Ruro could tell, but Donut was oblivious. Kefit cleared his throat loudly.
"Very well! We shall try and educate you in our ways! You will become our...
Disciple!"
"D, d, disciple?! Ruro, what's the meaning of this?!" Donut asked, exasperated.
"You'll find out eventually!"
Everyone simply stared at Donut.
He could feel their killing intent, for it was strong.
Donut was probably dead.
"OH GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!"
