Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 119: The Greatest Gift

"RPG Creator"... It's a program that lets you make pixel-art RPGs through simple coding and pre-installed assets. It's an old series of programs that remains popular in the 2050s. Many streamers and Vtubers play horror and standard RPGs made from it. The latest version is a mixed bag during its release and the next one isn't going to be released until next Spring, but the most popular must be the RPG Creator MX which was released in 2046.

So I'm surprised Dad was willing to buy the latest one for Kazuki. And for his 13th birthday, to be exact. So when he unwraps both of our presents, Kazuki's eyes widen to see what is underneath the wrappers.

"An "RPG Creator EX"?! B-But how in the world did you get this, Dad?!" Kazuki asks in shock.

"I saved up my paychecks and found a special program that is perfect for your fantasy dreams," Dad explains. "Hope you like it."

"Like it? I love it!" Kazuki quickly raises his new RPG Creator up in the air like a trophy. "I heard you can make RPGs and make some awesome cutscenes through pixel art! I saw them in videos and I wonder if I can make them. But now... I... I..."

Of course. Kazuki has to start hyperventilating. I should stop him before he starts to faint in front of the audience.

"Hey! Calm down, Kaz. Breathe!" I say. "We don't want to lose you on your special day."

Thankfully, it's enough for him to stop panicking and take a deep breath. "T-Thanks, Hayate. But I'm still shocked about this," Kazuki says before he stares at the program cover. "An RPG Creator in my hands? I didn't wish for it, but got it anyway! Not only that..." He turned his attention to the other gift, which is a book called "RPG Creator 101: A Guide to RPG Creating". "You also gave me a guide for it as well! Thanks, Dad!"

"You're welcome, Kazuki," Dad says with a smile. "But you have to thank Hayate for that guidebook. He worked hard finding it, you know?"

"Really?"

As expected, Kazuki turns to me once Dad adds me to the mix.

"Yeah, it was Dad's idea," I admit. "But if there is a credit, you can thank Zac and Damon for finding it for us. It was really hard to find a good guidebook that won't give you bad advice and info about the program."

I turn around to see Zac and Damon waving at us from the crowd. I wasn't lying. If it wasn't for their connections, I wouldn't have been able to find this good book. It has been well-received on Jungle and has some info that can't be found on the official guide on the net. So I'm grateful for their efforts in the end.

"Hayate... You didn't need to do all of that for my birthday."

I chuckle sheepishly as I turn to Kazuki next. "It's not just your birthday, Kaz. Ever since I came back into your life after the incident, you've been my beacon without me knowing. It's given me a purpose, a chance to be the proper big brother to you that I never was in your elementary school days. It's given me the motivation to start taking my studies seriously. And after playing <Isekai Online> with you, it's also given me a reason to start finding my own path in life. You're not just my little brother. You're a guardian angel getting me out of my monotonous life. So thanks a billion, Kaz. And happy birthday."

With that, I take a deep breath after that long speech. I said my piece and I'm glad I finally let out what I want to say to Kaz...

Huh?

Before I knew it, Kazuki quickly rushed to me and hugged me very tightly.

"It's more than all you said, Hayate. It's because of you that I made new friends both offline and online. You help me travel and discover new things about the game. If it wasn't for you, I would still be stuck at school rereading all of those fantasy novels while wondering if I can do all of that in real life, too," Kazuki says. "You have made my playthrough the very best it was. So thank you for being my partner and big brother."