Let Me Go Gravity - The Reaper's Game CYOA

C

Mike shook his head. "Whatever's going on inside, there are players are handling it. If it's the mission they've got it. If it's a trap then we stay out of it."

Zachi shrugged, "Ok. Where then?"

Mike thought for a bit, "The mall. Might pick something up, and we should fill CC and Spencer in if we meet them."

"Ok."

---

Pacific Center isn't the largest mall in the City, but it's the only one downtown and it's definitely aiming to be the fanciest. It's connected to a luxury hotel, if that gives you any idea about its usual patronage. Still, it's not a snob-fest in there and the atmosphere isn't bad at all. It's a transit cornerstone and there's enough young people around to keep the shops selling more than jewelry and fur coats. As usual in this city, bike racks are everywhere. Mike locked his up before heading inside.

Mike didn't notice any red marks at the mall entrance, but there weren't any walls keeping them out. Once inside, he did notice the marks next to specific stores. So it seems their choice of retailers was limited after all.

"You come here often?" Mike asked Zachi.

"Sometimes. For the station mostly. I prefer Metro." Zachi replied, surprising Mike who wasn't expecting her to say anything. He was about to continue their conversation when she seemed to suddenly notice something and headed further in.

"Hey, wait up!"

Mike followed her towards a rather large crowd in the middle of an atrium. It was mostly made of kids, but there was a decent amount of teens that looked his age as well. There were a bunch of what looked like fancy air-hockey tables set up, extending into the nearby video game store.

SLAM ON!!

"What the-?"

A nearby screen blared out an advertisement.

The NEXT EVOLUTION of Tin Pin is here...and it's OUT. OF. THIS. WORLD!

The screen showed an anime boy with insanely spiky brown hair strike a pose and hold a pin into the air. He yelled with a dubbed fiery enthusiasm that the localisation team obviously considered a priority over proper lip-syncing.

"My DREAM is to be the next TIN PIN MASTER! And NOBODY is going to stand in my way!"

"Not so fast Shuuto!"

An overly dramatic split screen brought another character on. This one had orange hair that was still spiky but less so than the previous. The collar of his hoodie covered his mouth, obviously making the lip syncing easier.

"Your TIN PIN SPIRIT is strong! But they're NO MATCH for my EMO URGES!"

"I'll TAKE YOU ON! BRING IT!"

Mike stared on, wondering what he was watching.

Oh my god...this can't be a real thing.

He peeled his eyes off the advertisement and looked for Zachi. She was watching what was going on at the tables intently. It looked like some sort of holographic arcade machine. There were four controllers, for four players, and each one was apparently controlling one of the holographic creatures fighting on the main table. Zachi was currently watching a match between a very stylized penguin, mole, kangaroo, and rhinoceros.

"Zachi," Mike called to her over the noise of the crowd, "Do you know this game?"

"..." Zachi looked distracted.

"Well?"

"Um" she said, her attention broken, "A friend of mine worked on this. I helped test it out one time. It uses NFC in the pins to...never mind, it's complicated."

He looked again at the advertisement. There was a girl with sparkly pink hair shouting "You're FINISHED!" while a black...piggie(?) beat up some dragon.

I'm guessing Zachi didn't test out the tie-in anime...

"Hey! Mike! Zachi!"

They both turned to see CC making her way over to them.

"You came here after all. I knew you guys were cool!"

She had her usual smile on. "Over here!" she continued, "Spencer's about to qualify."

Mike looked over at the table she was gesturing towards. Spencer was there at one of the controls, playing against a few others. Apparently they were visible around here. On the table was a gorilla, anteater, bunny, and tiger.

I'm going to guess Spence is...

"He's using Mega-Thumper!" CC interrupted, "It's the cute bunny one."

Of course.

Mike switched gears. "Hey uh...any leads on that mission CC?"

"Hm?" She replied, "Oh, Spencer's convinced the others will get it. We're just here to relax."

Mike twitched.

The advertisement blared out some supposed-to-be-black character shouting "YO HOMIES! Taste my FLAMING CURRY ATTACK!"

Mike turned around, clutched the sides of his head and took a deep breath. He could feel his sanity slipping. But it was then he saw the poster for the event. Typical marketing stuff, but at the bottom...

Don't miss the the Tin Pin Master Slam Off! It's a Colosseum Death Match to determine who is the true TIN PIN MASTER! 5:00 pm! Be there!

"Zachi!" Mike hissed. Zachi turned and read the sign.

"Could be a coincidence." She said after some thought.

"Hm?" CC turned too and took a look, "Oh hey! Colosseum! Sweet, if this is the mission then Spencer has got this. He's amazing at it."

A loud noise erupted from the table Spencer was at. They all turned back around to see his..."Mega-Thumper" standing victorious.

CC laughed, "Yep, he's in the finals. I think you guys could try if you want. It only took Spencer an hour."

He spent an hour here playing a children's video game?

A) Looks like fun. Sign me up.
B) Walk away from the insanity and go shopping.

A. We all knew this was coming sooner or later.

B we should pretend to be sane for the waifu.

A.

A.

Well...plenty of time in the day. Let's give it a shot.

"Where do I sign up?"

Spencer came over to their little group, having finished his match. "Hey," he said, "You guys made it!"

CC bounced to his side, "Yep! Mike's gonna try getting into the finals too!"

"Oh really?" Spencer said, looking Mike in the eye, "Well, I hope you enjoy yourself. Sign up is at the desk over there."

He turned to CC, "We've got some time to kill. Wanna go shop?"

CC nodded and they were both off. Mike and Zachi made their way over to the desk...and saw a generic looking guy in a red hoodie running it. The hood wasn't up, but still...

Coincidence?

"Hey guys", the guy said, "You interested in playing? Sign up is free if you buy a booster!"

Then he saw the pins already on Mike's blazer and Zachi's coat. mike looked at where he was looking and realized that his Game pins were, well, Game pins.

"Oh you already have some! Cool man. Come on over I'll set you up."

"Uh...right."

Mike went over to the desk and detached his pins. The guy brought out this scanner looking of device, and saw Mike holding out his set.

"Oh, we're only doing singles here. Just pick one out."

There are differences? They all seem to do the same thing in a fight...

A) Velocity Attack - Tigre Punks
B) Burnt Rubber - Jupiter of the Monkey
C) Rushdown - Wild Boar

I'm awesome at Tin Pin Slammer, so I will not.  B.

Tin Pin Slammer?????? I don't think I ever heard of it but I vote B because it has monkey in it.