Video Game Tycoon in Tokyo-Chapter 843: Heartstrings Touched

In an American city, on the day of the Switch release, an elderly man stood out in the crowd.

Most people who played video games were young—at most in their 50s. It was rare to see someone who looked to be in their 70s or 80s lining up to buy games.

"Hey, mister, are you here to buy a game too? Is it for your kid?"

The young man standing behind the elderly man finally gave in to his curiosity and asked.

The old man looked surprisingly energetic, not at all like someone approaching seventy. He stood tall and straight, without the frailty often associated with old age.

He turned back and smiled at the young man. "That's right. I'm buying it for my child."

"For your kid? They must be pretty grown up by now. Why didn't they come buy the game themselves?"

The old man paused for a moment, then said, "Actually, I want to play it too. My child used to love a game called Monster Hunter. This time, with a new Monster Hunter release, I want to give it a try—try to understand my child better. And... there's another reason, something else that matters to me."

...

...

"Something else that matters?"

The young man tilted his head, confused by the old man's words—but quickly latched onto something else he'd said.

"Wait... you like Monster Hunter too?"

"That's right. Because it was my child's favorite game, it became my favorite too. My child also liked Need for Speed and Mario Kart. So, I love all the games they loved."

"Wow, you're really open-minded, mister. My parents totally hate video games. I have to play in secret just to avoid getting chewed out."

As the young man complained about his parents, the old man's gaze softened.

"Listen, kid—your parents love you. Even if they can't understand what you love right now, that doesn't mean they don't care. I think you should try talking to them openly. Tell them why you love games. Share your deeper thoughts. Make it as logical and sincere as you can. I believe they'll come around. After all, you're an adult now—adults should be able to form their own judgments, not just be influenced by others. Use your independence to help them understand."

The old man said all of this in one breath, while the young man stared at him, dumbfounded.

Still, he figured the old man just had a habit of lecturing. He didn't take it too seriously.

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"If my parents were half as understanding as you, I wouldn't be so stressed out," he replied casually.

The old man simply smiled and turned his attention back to the storefront, eyes filled with quiet anticipation.

Only a few more minutes remained until the Switch release. He was determined to get the games he wanted most.

First, Monster Hunter—because it carried the memories of his child. Then, Need for Speed and Mario Kart—because those too might still hold traces of his child. He wanted to buy them all.

"Oh, right! Mister, what's your name? Maybe we can play Monster Hunter together sometime!"

Snapping out of his thoughts, the old man turned back to the young man and said, "I'm not very good at hunting, you know. I'm old, and my reflexes aren't what they used to be. You sure you won't mind playing with someone like me?"

The young man grinned. "Haha, trust me, I'm actually really good at games. I even won first place in the state Monster Hunter tournament a while back. I've got a bit of a reputation. Even if you're totally new, I can carry you all the way!"

The old man chuckled warmly. "In that case, sure. I'd love to play together sometime. My Facebook and Gamestar username is Anthony—that's also my real name."

"Anthony, got it! I'll add you when I get home!"

Just as their conversation wrapped up, the store's doors finally opened, and the eager crowd surged forward.

The young man stayed close to the old man and said, "Mister, stay safe—it's gonna be pretty packed in there. Stick with me, I'll keep an eye on you. If there's anything you want, I'll help you grab it."

Anthony shook his head. "Thank you, but I want to experience this myself. My child once told me what it felt like to line up for a game on launch day—I want to feel that too, firsthand."

"...Your child...?"

"He's no longer with us."

"...Oh... I'm so sorry..."

"It's okay. Life and death are natural. It's been years—I've come to terms with it," Anthony said calmly.

"Wait... Anthony? You said your name is Anthony?"

Something suddenly clicked for the young man.

The local gaming community wasn't that big. News involving games was rare around here—but whenever it did happen, it stuck in people's memories.

He remembered a story from three or four years ago.

A father had lost his son, a passionate gamer.

Back then, the father hadn't understood his son's love for games. They barely talked about it, and eventually, they stopped talking much at all. It wasn't until after the boy's death that the father began to understand.

It had become a well-known story—not just in the local community, but across the entire gaming scene.

"Mister... you wouldn't happen to be that Anthony, would you...?"

"What's that?"

"No, sorry—I didn't mean to bring up something painful. My apologies."

Anthony understood what the young man meant. But he'd already made peace with the past. He smiled and said gently, "It's alright. Don't worry about it. Right now, I'm just a fellow gamer—same as you. That's all you need to remember."

The young man was silent for a while, then looked around at the crowd still pouring into the store.

His gaze sharpened with resolve.

"Let's go, Anthony. Stick close to me. I'll protect you—it's the least I can do as a fellow gamer."

Anthony paused for a moment, his heart stirred by something deep inside.