Chapter 747 - The Plan is Set
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Waking from the dream, I opened my eyes and took a single, long, deep breath. Lying there on the mechanical bed, I slowly conducted a self-check of both mind and body, with no one rushing me.
Overall, my level of exhaustion was somewhat better than I had anticipated.
The breaks I took in between must have worked well… In the end, just like always, the realization that I am constantly being supported by someone deepened.
I was tired. Utterly, bone-deep exhausted. And yet…
"Alright, up we go."
Detecting my slight movement, the lid of the bed opened, and I had enough energy left to think about sitting up without waiting for the seat to recline.
Maybe it's not just my virtual avatar; maybe the real me is getting stronger too—
Well, that aside.
The current time is just past six in the evening. This is right after logging out, having left the venue promptly after the post-finals finale and a brief exchange of greetings with various friends and acquaintances.
We did have a prior arrangement, but who rings the doorbell less than a minute after you log out? I thought with a wry smile as I headed to the entrance. I opened the door to find…
"—Welcome back. Good work today."
"Yeah, you too. …………Uhm, even if we're in the same dorm, isn't that a little too casual?"
"May I come in?"
"…I'll lend you something, so please put on a jacket or something."
Naturally, there stood a single, pure white princess.
Ashe, dressed in a truly at-home style of a button-up shirt and shorts, casually searing my eyes, stood there, carrying with her just a hint of the heat from a little while ago.
"—So, what's the occasion? A 'Good Work' party? Or is there something else you wanted to talk about?"
"Is it not enough that I just wanted to see you?"
"Nice try. I'm not going to be flustered by something like that anymore."
"Fufu… a shame."
And so, for better or worse, we fell into our usual, familiar pattern.
Ashe on the sofa, me on a chair a little distance away. In her hand, a sophisticated black coffee; in mine, a sweet café au lait loved by adults and children alike.
Unlike me, who had fought my way to the finals, Ashe had only brandished her sword twice, during the opening and the ending.
However, she had been busy with guest appearances in the broadcast booth and other things… If we were to quantify and compare our spent stamina, there probably wouldn't be much difference between us.
Although,
"…Figured as much, but you're full of energy, aren't you?"
"Even I am properly tired."
I had handed her a hoodie, telling her she'd catch a cold, considering the effect she had on my psyche. But as she wore it, elegantly and contentedly enjoying her coffee, there was no sign of fatigue on Ashe's face.
I'm sure she wasn't lying about being tired, but… her fundamental physical and mental strength are on a different level from ordinary people, and her efficiency is also extraordinary.
It would be ridiculous to feel down by comparison—now then,
"So? What's the business?"
"Mm."
Even if we were to enjoy a peaceful moment after a long day's work, we should get straight to the point. She isn't one to miss such an intention, nor does she have a hobby of teasing me twice for no reason.
"The [Green Connect] raid is one week from now, this time next week. No change in plans."
"Yep, got it."
And so, I returned a nod with a slight laugh at her very Ashe-like, straight-to-the-point manner. …Then, her garnet eyes, the same as in the virtual world, stared intently at me.
"Do you have any plans until then?"
"Hmm… Well, I'll continue to strengthen myself as I have been, to an extent that I don't get exhausted—…huh?"
As I was answering her question, she returned a gesture of negation. That is, Ashe shook her head, interrupting me.
"It's not necessary. What you need right now, Haru, is plenty of rest."
It was as if she was making a judgment. More of an order than a suggestion… no, her tone was almost as if she were issuing a directive, leaving me to just return a blank question mark.
"No, um… I am thoroughly exhausted, but for a whole week…"
"It's not just about today. The Four Pillar War too, but you've been pushing yourself too hard recently… or rather, for the past two months. It's your bad habit."
"A habit…?"
I was still trying to grasp what she was suddenly talking about, but Ashe gave me a rare half-lidded look, as if to say 'that's exactly it,' and sighed.
"Your motivation is too high. You're always, always unaware of how tired you are. To be precise, you have a tendency to start running again before you're fully rested, accumulating unseen fatigue."
"That's—"
"That is a fact. I know it better than anyone—your strength when you unleash your best performance after having taken a truly sufficient rest."
"…………"
Is that, is she talking about that time?
The sequence of events after our trip, leading to the capture of the [Shadow-Infested Arena].
It's true that when I look back on it now, I was on a rampage that even I find unnerving… I'm confident I could proudly say my performance was on par with Ashe, who fought by my side.
"So, from now on, make a conscious effort to take regular rests. The Haru of today was wonderful, but… I know an even more captivating Haru."
"…………So you weren't satisfied?"
"Just a little."
She's probably talking about my overall performance throughout the day, not just the fatigue accumulated on the day itself.
She's likely referring not just to the 'bout' in the finale, but to my entire performance throughout the day.
As for me, I'm confident I gave it 100% and went wild in today's `Triangle Duo`… but as always, she's one incredible princess.
So you always demand more than 100 percent, huh?
"—I'm sorry, for being selfish."
"Could you please not use 'Shukuchi' in the real world? Hey, sto—"
And then, at some point, she had left her cup on the table. As I voiced my complaint to the extraordinary young lady of the White family standing behind me, my attempt to evade was already too late.
Even in the latter half of September, the city is hot and stuffy at night, but the Yotsuya dormitory, acting like a high-class apartment, is unaffected. The space is comfortable at any time, and there's no discomfort from another person's warmth.
With an arm wrapped around my neck, all that arose were a multitude of emotions that I couldn't put into words in time.
"Lastly. It's true that I was happy, and I had fun."
"……………………………………………………Well, that's great."
"Your body temperature is rising."
"Don't read that, you idiot, stop it."
"There aren't many people who call me an idiot."
"Don't say that so happily, you jerk…"
I'm glad I made her wear the hoodie; the familiar texture is keeping me sane.
Meanwhile, I'm currently receiving her breaths directly on my neck. Since I'm on the verge of losing my mind without any issue, for now, I'll try to escape reality (a futile struggle) by recalling the shocking experience of being crushed by a 'castle' that I just recently experienced, using the echo of fear and astonishment.
"—Ugh, and…! In the end, what is your order…!"
"…Mm."
I understood she wanted me to rest well, but what did that mean I should do? Now that she's brought it up like this, it's impossible that she has no plan.
Which means, as usual…
"During our trip, you mentioned it, didn't you? That you were invited to go on a trip with them during summer break—by your friends here, in the real world."
See? Just like that.
"Given the time we have, a two or three-night trip. To rest your body and mind… let's see."
"Uhm, Ashe-san."
"It might not be very typical for university students, but how about a hot spring trip?"
"Uhm."
"You can leave all the necessary arrangements to me. What will you do?"
"What… will… I… do……………………Incidentally, what's Plan B?"
"Until one week from now, I will personally heal y—"
"RIGHT, TIME TO PACK MY BAGS!!!!!"
I suppose I'm always just dancing in the palm of someone's hand.
◇Talk Room◇
N: `Hey everyone, skipping the pleasantries and getting straight to the point.` 19:02
N: `Would you laugh if I suggested we go on a trip starting tomorrow or the day after?` 19:02
S: `I'M IN!!!` 19:02
T: `I'm down.` 19:03
M: `I can go. No problem at all.` 19:03
K: `Wa` 19:03
K: `Hold on! I'll go check!` 19:03
K: `I'm good! I want to go!!` 19:07
N: `Huh…` 19:08
N: `Is this the vitality of university students…` 19:08
T: `We're the ones surprised by the Acrobat's vitality, though?` 19:08
S: `For real. What's up all of a sudden, you okay?` 19:09
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And so on and so forth. Well, suggesting a trip starting tomorrow is just a typical part of university life, right?