wait. did this whole "making the game real" thing happen before and Kobayashi's at the center of it? that would explain the expectations of the mystery guy... but why is he calling her eve? childhood nickname? is the guy a gaijin and that's why he gives her a european sounding name? i read too...
@Ohgodpleaseno They're not hiding it, but they're also not making it central to the story. There was also a few hints that she was alive during previous eras. I'm thinking she might be Kaguya-hime (moon rock and also everything about the first chapter).