TRILLION GAME (トリリオンゲーム)

Google, Amazon, Microsoft.

It's true that the world's largest corporations

are all in the Trillion Dollar Club.

And just what have I learned from their example?

If you have that kind of cash...

...you can acquire all you desire in this world,

wherever, whenever, and with whoever you want.

Yeah, but does anyone really need quite that much money

to live the good life?

I don't think so.

You bet we do.

So, how'd I end up here anyway?

I first met Haru in my last year of middle school,

but we were in different classes.

We weren't even casual acquaintances

when we were that young...

let alone friends.

So, why did things change?

Oh, right...I remember.

That was the day,

we first began playing our own Trillion Game.

How will you pay?

Oh, just with cash.

It was the most expensive purchase

I'd ever made in my entire life, hands down.

I must've had "I just bought

the coolest gadget in the world"

written all over my stupid face.

W-wait.

No way! I won't give this up.

I've saved so long.

All my New Year's gift money. All of it.

Did you now?

Y-yes, for ten years!

Great, then we'll get a lot at resale.

Yeah, buddy, thanks a bunch.

We'll help ourselves to that.

- Oh? -Huh?

The hell you want?

Your name's Gaku, right?

You're in the class next to mine?

What? Oh yeah, you're...

-Hey, get outta here! -You sure?

Now, isn't there a chance I could just bring

the police back here with me?

Who the hell are you?

Ah?

Ah?

You'll pay--

Why don't you watch where you're going?

-But I was almost robbed! -We need to run, Gaku!

Hey, wait! You cowards!, get back here!

Oh, man, that sucks.

I really screwed myself this time.

It's Haru, right? Thank you so much.

But what do you mean, you "screwed yourself?"

Wait, you seriously have to ask?

- The security camera. -Huh?

Did you not notice it?

We were in a blind spot.

The delivery truck was blocking the camera,

so no matter how badly I beat 'em up,

the camera couldn't see me or capture my face.

Ugh, or it wasn't supposed to!

If only that guy hadn't driven away.

Oh, that's the part he's upset over?

So, he wasn't lamenting the fact that he beat them up,

and quite possibly shattered a few jaws in the bloodbath,

but instead that the truck driver drove off?

He's calculating and clever and has no qualms

about doing bad things.

This is someone who's dangerous to be around.

I need to stay far away from this guy,

or he might lead me astray.

Well, I guess I'd better be on my way now.

Thank you, though.

I don't know why you helped me, but I'm grateful.

Huh?

Who sees a classmate getting ganged up on

by some street thugs and doesn't run to help them

before they're beaten to a pulp?

It's faster than calling the cops, at least.

Aw, man, my life is over.

The high school I got into is super strict

about this sorta thing.

I'll be kicked out before my first day there.

Oh, thank goodness, I'm just the victim.

If I leave right now, I shouldn't be

in any kind of trouble.

I'll be fine, no one else saw.

But just me.

Well, I guess it's all right.

No, it's not! Getting expelled can't be good!

Huh? A laptop?

I just bought it.

Took me ten years to save up my New Year's money for it.

And they immediately tried to jack it from you, bro?

Man, talk about unlucky, huh.

Should I do this?

It would actually make me a criminal, too.

Yeah...

but what if my obsession with computers

was leading up to this very moment?

Now, I don't know much about tech stuff,

but I always thought all you PC geeks were more like,

"Clickety-clack" and "tappity tap,"

and stuff like that.

I wish, it's much more boring than that.

If I can get in with a PTW attack,

I might reach the control screen with a port scan.

It is an old parking lot, so they might still use wi-fi.

All right, it's a WEP.

I didn't understand a word you said.

Ah?

We're good now.

I deleted all the security footage.

What? Dude, no way!

That was crazy fast.

You are a freakin' miracle worker, man!

Why don't you just try to hack into the bank's data

and put a 100 trillion yen in your account then?

Yeah, that's not happening because it's not possible.

For one thing, it's a closed network,

and the SOC would find me immediately.

I didn't get any of that,

but I'm guessing the only way to make a trillion yen

is to do it the old-fashioned way, huh?

Well, um...maybe not a hundred trillion.

Gaku, hold up.

You're sure to be, like, a total tech bro, dude.

All the big companies will fight to hire you.

Well, I don't know about that.

I guess it'd pretty much be a dream come true

if that ever happened.

Fight over me?

Seems like a stretch.

I had an outdated computer and a PC magazine

for everyone from amateurs to enthusiasts.

Even with that cruddy computer and old hard drive,

I was able to teach myself some tricks.

It's more like a puzzle or a game for me

than hard work.

But I know...

I can't keep playing around like this forever.

Hey, there, Haru!

Hm?

We heard you've nailed every interview you've had so far.

Let me clarify one thing about those rumors.

They're all true.

-Wow, and he's humble too. -

Why'd you just put your glasses on?

Hm?

- Hey, Haru. -Ah?

Do you have any plans this Sunday yet?

Sorry, Gotta go.

OOOO Company Recruiting Department

To: Taira Manabu.

We regret to inform you that

we cannot offer you a job at this time.

We appreciate your understanding.

We wish you the best in your future endeavors.

-Huh? -

All rejection letters, huh?

Come on, it's not funny, so please don't laugh.

I get all the way to the interview,

and that's where I fail every time.

I'm the problem.

I'm nothing like you and I'm really just terrible