Chapter 992 - The Curtain Rises
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For the first time in three days, I awoke.
After transferring from the bullet train to a Chitose taxi and finally arriving home from my trip, I haphazardly tossed my travel bags aside────and my soul returned to my second home, the virtual world of Arcadia.
In our clan home.
"............"
I meaninglessly reached a hand toward the ceiling. I raised my right, then my left, watching the light from the magical lamp high on the wall filter through my fingers as I opened and closed them.
I was still lying on the bed where I'd logged in. A truly meaningless action.
Yes...────doing this won't help me grasp anything.
"................Well then."
I didn't spring up or leap out of bed. I simply, quietly, lowered my feet from the bedside.
"Time to go."
With my feet planted on the ground, I left the room.
◇◆◇◆◇
For some reason, I walked instead of flying through the air, taking my time to reach my destination. I gave a careful knock so as not to be scolded, and the one who greeted me from beyond the door was────
"Coming~. What's up? Welcome!"
In this virtual world, she was a girl of true indigo.
"Well, it's just—whoa, hey, don't pull me! Don't pull!"
But this place was her home ground, her personal workshop.
And within her primary territory, Nia-chan tends to be more assertive than she is "outside." Before I could even finish explaining my reason for being there, she grabbed my sleeve and dragged me into her atelier.
"Here."
"Yep."
It was a completely familiar ritual by now.
I handed her the magic mug that had, at some point, become a permanent fixture 'out' rather than in my inventory. Nia took her own and settled into the single-person sofa.
Whether she settles in herself or shoves me into it depends on her mood for the day.
Nia sat while I stood, and we both tapped the rims of our cups.
"You're not tired?"
"Hmm... not as much as I expected, not at all. I was nervous the whole time, but..."
The magic that produces any drink one desires had served us both hot cocoa today.
We laughed at the coincidence, which may or may not have been all that rare. As the sweet aroma rose into the air, our eyes met, and she offered another relaxed smile.
"They were your parents, after all. I came to like them both right away, so I really, truly wasn't as tired as I thought I'd be. ...If anything, I feel a little lonely now."
"Glad to hear it."
And so, in a moment of profound peace.
Now that one act of our journey had concluded, seeing Nia looking so utterly relaxed... I, too, was receiving a genuine sense of calm and comfort from her. It was right at that moment.
Knock, knock. A rap on the atelier door.
Naturally, we both turned our eyes toward the sound.
"Coming~."
"Wha—hey, wait, wait, wait! Wh-why are you answering the door?!"
Nia's shoulders jumped as the idiot beside her answered without a moment's hesitation. She reflexively clapped a hand over my mouth, knowing full well it was too late, and rattled on.
────It's an undeniable fact that she is my 'exclusive' artisan by contract, but that's mostly a formality and a turn of phrase.
For me alone to monopolize the skills of the renowned Milmarinus would be a great loss to the entire virtual world. I'm well aware of this, so she continues to accept requests from players other than me. That's old news. Of course she has visitors other than me.
That must be why she wanted to avoid a chaotic situation where a player I didn't know would suddenly bump into Haru the Acrobat—me. She shot the idiot—me—who had just committed what, from her perspective, was a truly foolish act a look that was half exasperation, half panic... but, well, yeah.
"────Ah... I see."
As it turns out, I'm not quite that much of a fool or an idiot.
Without giving me a chance to object, Nia retrieved her own authority from the Aquamarine Rabbit Heart on the back of my neck. As her 'eyes' glowed, wondering what to do, she let out a sigh of relief.
The reason for that was,
"It's the Princess..."
"────? Excuse me, am I interrupting...?"
The blue-silver beauty, drawn by the commotion, opened the door and peeked inside.
"Huh, what? You knew?"
"More like, I'm the one who called her."
I had also 'memorized' the sound of her knock, which is why I answered with such confidence. When I replied with a perfectly carefree expression, she gave me a deadpan stare and delivered her divine punishment. "You didn't tell me!"
Nia-chan's punch, today as ever, had lost none of its power. It landed with a light pefu sound against my chest, and my HP bar continued to shine, still completely full.
"Huh? Wait. So, why? What's going on...?"
In any case, that didn't clear up her questions.
Why had I come to visit her? Why had I called for Ashe? Nia, who truly knew nothing, tilted her head endlessly and piled on questions... but, well, just wait.
There's one more person, who I haven't told anything, who's about to arrive.
See. Because I just called for her now.
"────............Um, uh...?"
The partner skill that forges a path between bonds. I had confirmed my partner's login notification just a few dozen seconds ago.
Thus, the partner skill that spins a connection across any distance or space delivered the message without issue, and my partner, who responded without a moment's hesitation, was brought here.
A light of teleportation. Along with a slightly bewildered voice, Sora appeared.
""............?""
The homecoming trip group, which had disbanded only a short while ago, had now had a lightning-fast reunion in the virtual world.
However, only Sora and Nia were tilting their heads in confusion. I had no doubt that each of them would think, 'I'll just log in for a bit since it's been a while' upon returning home, and my prediction was correct. But there was one person among the three who required special consideration.
As for the incredibly busy Ashe, I had made a reservation for her time in advance.
────So, for what purpose did I do all that?
"""............"""
I hadn't told Ashe the reason for asking for her time, either.
And so, while receiving the questioning gazes of three people with my eyes, my body, and my very consciousness... I relied on my sturdy avatar and downed the steaming sweet cocoa in one go.
A bit of liquid courage... not that it would change a thing.
But,
"...Six months."
Nevertheless,
"Yeah, it's been about six months, hasn't it?"
I decided not to run away on a day in the distant, yet recent past.
"I don't think... it was a short time."
Because we spent so much rich, vivid time together, it truly felt as though many years had passed.
Because I came to believe in myself, that my heart would no longer waver.
"My 'answer'... is decided."
"""————————......"""
I can see their hearts.
There are too many colors to list them one by one. Surprise, agitation, confusion, bewilderment... all of it is something I must accept, something I must bear.
The human heart, a thing heavier and more precious than anything else.
────And so, here and now, there is no hesitation.
I will not forgive myself for such a thing.
"Sorry this is so sudden... but I guess, in that regard, we're even."
The fact that I could say that and even smile slightly feels foolish. It feels foolish, so incredibly foolish────that my virtual heart has begun to pound so fast it feels like it might burst.
I guess I finally, truly understand now.
I understand how much courage it took for all of you, when you confessed your 'love' to me.
Well then... now, after all this time.
"I want you to listen."
Before me, as I continued to face them, stood three girls.
One unconsciously clutched the front of her clothes, another had an undisguisable look of fear in her eyes, another's blank expression was clearly wavering... each of them in their own way... and yet,
Not one of them ran away.