Chapter 1012 - 12/26
【Daily Tree-Climbing Acrobat: 80th Floor Clear Footage】
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'LMAO, starts with a face-pummeling and then just does whatever he wants the whole time.'
'Seriously, encountering the Acrobat must be terrifying from the enemy's POV.'
'A killing machine that just rushes at you with a smile, no hesitation whatsoever…'
'Lady Sora is as cute as ever today. She's the reason I live.'
'The daily supply of Acrobat vids, or rather, daily Sora-chan, is a real lifesaver.'
'The daily Saintess is a blessing too.'
'The guys look like they're having fun too, which is nice.'
'Seeing Shoh-sama and Ren-sama all hyped up is kinda rare…!'
'Well, yeah… I bet it's fun… being in the Acrobat's party.'
'That guy's brand of insane chaos just knows no bounds.'
'I'm eagerly awaiting the day his rampage in the selection matches is made public.'
'People are talking about his luck of the draw in the tournament, but a win is a win.'
'Knowing him, he was probably thinking, "My luck with the brackets is the worst."'
'He probably wanted to fight Irori-kun, right?'
'As a fan, I wanted to see that too. The revenge for the revenge.'
'Well, my condolences to Irori-kun…'
'Even the great Peerless couldn't handle three back-to-back fights against fellow rankers. Of course he'd run out of stamina.'
'The handsome blond samurai was taken down by big sis Hinayo yet again.'
'And then the Acrobat blows that very same big sis Hinayo away without a shred of hesitation or mercy.'
'The Acrobat is a true acrobat.'
'I love how he becomes a completely gender-equal, smiling slaughter-clown when it's a match.'
'Isn't it against the rules to talk about the selection matches outside? Is that okay, you Istia folks?'
'Even if you know it's a game, it's hard to be that ruthless…'
'There are no restrictions on the match results. What's not allowed are the details.'
'The General Commander said even that's basically okay as long as you don't leak specifics.'
'I mean, Mi-na-chan herself tweeted, "lol irorin got rekt."'
'And now the Mina-Iro shippers are thrilled while the Minalina faction is furious.'
'I just like the friendship vibe between Irori-kun and Mi-na-chan.'
'Mi-na-chan getting constantly brushed off is so sad it's infinitely amusing.'
'What's with his self-control, staying so cool while a top idol gives him attention?'
'Well, Irori-kun is a super handsome model himself…'
'The lack of comments about the actual video is hilarious as always.'
'The usual "nothing to talk about."'
'All I can say is, uh, he was amazing again today, I guess…'
'All I can say is I'm sad Haru-chan's screen time has plummeted since they joined up…'
'Are you blind? He's on screen the whole time.'
'That's the Acrobat. Where's Haru-chan…? Is this… him…?'
'Yes, that's correct. The one right there is Haru-chan.'
'Haru-chan-kun-san-sama: "I told you I'm a guy."'
'I love how his eyes get slightly cold when he says that catchphrase. Gives me chills.'
'This guy is pretty much a bundle of contradictions.'
'Less contradictions and more like a hodgepodge of attributes…'
'Too many faces. A true trickster and acrobat.'
'DAAAAAAAAAAMN, I wanted to go so bad, I even won the invitation!!!'
'Didn't they announce they'd be re-inviting people in batches to make up for it?'
'They did, but my turn is in the third batch after next!!! It's so far away!!!!!'
'You should be happy you get to go at all. Some of us can't even win the lottery, you punk.'
'In fact, getting to go to the Forest of Crystal Source twice is actually a win, isn't it?? Huh????? '
'I apologize.'
'You guys, comment on the video.'
'The usual "nothing to talk about."'
'Sora-chan is cute.'
'Sora-cute.'
'I love Sayaka-sama.'
'Sora-chan is adorbz.'
'Genkotsu-san is cute.'
'Aah, Sora-chan's healing presence will get me through tomorrow.'
'Yes, yes, Sora-cute, Sora-cute (worship).'
'Sora-cuuute~'
'You guys are genuinely creepy.'
'What is this, hell?'
'If Sora-chan ever saw this, you'd all be found guilty and thrown in the pig pen, no escape.'
'The Crown is gonna come for all your heads.'
'Looking forward to the Four Pillar War~'
◇◆◇◆◇
It was December 26th.
The weather was firmly in the midst of winter. A few days ago, it had snowed, filling the world with a mix of excitement and screams. I watched it all from the sidelines, my life currently weighted a bit more towards the virtual world.
On the grounds that I was busy with my duties as the ranker [Haru the Acrobat] in the virtual world, I was encouraged to take an early winter break from university. My break, which was originally just over a week, was extended to a little over two weeks, and I was gratefully making a manageable schedule for myself.
I know the twelfth Four Pillar War, now just around the corner, is a globally anticipated event, but to me, Arcadia is ultimately just a 'game.'
Skipping school for it is something I don't think I'll ever stop feeling guilty about… but oh well. If this is what the world wants, then this is how it shall be.
"────Whoops, there we go."
In the kitchen of my room at the Yotsuya dormitory, I tended to a pot that had nearly boiled over while I was lost in thought. A glance at the clock showed less than thirty minutes until the scheduled time.
Food is good. Dessert is good. Everything else I could think of is also good.
I can't say I don't feel a little guilty about using my time off from school for this either… but well, it's probably, most likely, an event that many people, if not the whole world, would say takes precedence over Arcadia. Maybe.
Putting aside what others think, for me right now, this is a day I want to cherish far more than any other run-of-the-mill anniversary. It's December 26th—
A day so important that it makes even Christmas a mere opening act.
Speaking of which, that opening act, the 24th and 25th, passed by with surprising quickness. With the Four Pillar War so close, my friends and acquaintances were all busy, so I'd already been invited to a combined Merry Christmas & Happy New Year party after the new year, which was a big part of it.
And most importantly, Sora-san had caught a cold.
Her maid and she herself had contacted me to say it was nothing serious, but having a party while Sora was sick in bed just didn't feel right, so the Yotsuya dorm ended up skipping Christmas.
Over the phone, her voice sounded so apologetic, pained, and on the verge of tears that it really stabbed me in the heart, in various ways. I got a report this morning that her fever had broken, so I know I don't need to worry, but I've resolved to spoil her rotten once she's fully recovered.
But… well, even so, today of all days is different.
I can't skip it, and I have no intention of doing so. I got permission from both Sora and Nia, and was even made to recite a firm 'vow,' so everything is proceeding without a hitch.
Therefore, all that's left is to wait for my guest to arrive at the appointed time—and then,
"…Yeah, I had a feeling this would happen."
Just as I was about to put the finishing touches on my welcoming preparations, twenty minutes before the scheduled time, the doorbell rang. The chime's tune confirmed my suspicions, and I let out a wry smile.
Turning off the stove, I left the kitchen and bypassed the door phone monitor, my certainty making it redundant. I crossed the hallway, and when I opened the front door, knowing a familiar presence was waiting on the other side—
"Is it not a bit much to be twenty minutes early when you're a five-second walk away?"
"It felt silly to wait just for the time when I'm a five-second walk away."
Standing there was a single, snow-white princess.
No less celebrated than a major global holiday. A person who, I'm sure, is receiving more 'words of blessing' today than anyone else in the entire world…
""……………………""
That was that, and this was this.
As if to say this was something else entirely, she had a rare expression on her face, unable to hide her fidgety anticipation of something 'special' from me. And so… faced with such a sight, there was only one thing for me to say.
"──────Happy birthday, Ashe."
Just one thing. I uttered the words without hesitation, filled with a blessing I'd declare was greater than anyone else's in the world. And in response, my 'princess' smiled in satisfaction.
"Mm… It smells good."
Was she truly just being uncharacteristically shy, I wonder?
As if to hide her face, she gave me a light, adorable headbutt right in my solar plexus.