Chapter 785 - Taking Turns to Invade
“—So yeah, that’s how things are over here.”
Night, in my room.
“Both Nacchan-senpai and Nia are amazing… though saying that makes me sound like I’m looking down on them. No, really, they’re incredible. Flying around nonstop for almost a whole day… even I get tired from that.”
On my bed, the one not made of machinery.
“Neither of them would ever complain about being tired. They really are similar, those two. They’ll probably become friends on their own even without me.”
The words I spoke traveled just a little farther.
It was past ten p.m. For me, it was a bit too early to go to bed. But on the other end of the line, the owner of the voice—as polite and cheerful as ever, yet tinged with sleepiness—was up late.
“Hm? Oh, yeah, things are going well. Both of them are growing by leaps and bounds for all the effort they’re putting in. Nacchan-senpai even ended up acquiring the skill in just two days.”
The words came back in reply. I could hear a hint of exhaustion in her voice, but she had to overcome the formidable enemy known as academics in the real world before diving into training in the virtual one. It was no wonder she was worn out.
“All the women I meet in the virtual world are just too tough. It’s enough to make a guy worry… —though that applies to you too, Sora-san.”
But then again, it wasn’t as if I wasn’t tired myself. With the end of the day approaching, my mind wasn’t working all that well, as evidenced by how I was just spouting whatever came to mind.
“Haha, you’re one to talk, huh? True.”
When I checked on my partner, who I personally considered the number one hardest worker, she immediately replied in a sleepy voice, “You too.” Well, I couldn’t argue with that; I was well aware.
As for me, I was just enjoying the game to my heart’s content, putting my life on the line to do so.
That fundamental stance probably wouldn’t change in the future, but just because I was playing didn’t mean I didn’t get tired. In fact, “playing seriously with all your might” is an activity that consumes stamina more healthily and rapidly than anything else in this world.
“Well then, let’s both be careful not to wear out the bodies we just rested on our trip so quickly.”
I was enjoying the fatigue, which was healthier and more pleasant than anything else in this world… and though I thought I’d found the perfect moment to wrap things up, I naturally heard a lonely and discontented sigh mixed in with her “You’re right.” I couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Yeah, good night, Sora. See you tomorrow.”
We exchanged our brief farewells for a short while.
As always, the call didn’t end right away. I listened to the utterly adorable and endearing breathing of my partner on the other end. I counted the seconds—ten.
It was always my role to steel my heart and bring down the curtain.
“Nhaah…”
Without a thought for the device that had served its purpose, I tossed it onto my pillow, letting out a truly exhausted, strange groan that I wouldn’t let anyone else hear, and closed my eyes.
I wasn’t worried, but I had been curious. It seemed things were going well over there(…) too, which was a relief. The honorable [Screen] seemed to be treating her surprisingly well.
According to Sora, she was “a cuter person than I imagined”… which left me wondering whether I should laugh at my partner’s generosity for calling that person cute, or at my partner’s absolute angelic power for transforming that person into someone cute.
In any case, I was glad she seemed to be having fun.
It was rare for us both to be logged in and not see each other for a whole day, so I was a little concerned she might be pouting—that was the pretext, anyway. The truth was, I just wanted to hear her voice, so I called her.
But the first thing I heard when we connected was her happy voice, so I decided to turn a blind eye to my own embarrassing feelings.
“…………”
──────────…
────────…
──────…
…Hmm, that’s odd. If my intuition is right, it should be about time—
“…Yep, here we go.”
And right on cue, the doorbell, whose chime cleverly changed with the time of day, played a slow, elegant, and calm melody in the room.
It was so predictable, I could only think, “as expected.” With a grunt, I hopped out of bed and, without a shred of surprise, headed to the entrance to greet my sudden visitor.
I didn't even need to check.
It would be rude to assume, but I knew who would be standing there when I opened the door—
“Good, your hair isn’t wet. Excellent job, very impressive, as expected of Ashe.”
“…What are you talking about?”
Unreal in the real world, the princess with hair as white as snow stood there, swaying. It couldn’t be anyone else, a strange intuition inside me had told me with absolute certainty.