kscans

Chapter 147 - Example Reaction of a Person Meeting Their Idol

A few errands later, including a visit to Kagura-san's workshop and a message to another certain individual, my time limit was fast approaching. I hurriedly logged out, ate lunch, met up with Sora again to resume our tour—and three real-world hours passed.

"The passage of time feels broken..."

"Ahaha..."

We met up at 13:00—around 19:30 virtual time—which feels like just moments ago, but more than four hours have already passed since then? Seriously?

We had finished gathering the materials for the [Meteor Serpent (Stake)] series, so after that, we just retraced the path I had taken in the past, with me providing commentary... and wow, the time just flies when you're talking.

Just a moment ago, we were in the middle of a spring, locked in a battle to the death (a one-sided twenty-minute beatdown) with a 'Moonlight Turtle'—a massive turtle over three meters long with a silver-blue shell boasting demonic physical defense and magic reflection abilities.

Now, the sun I saw when I looked up, while not setting, had already begun to dip quite low in the sky.

...I don't know, it just feels right, adventuring with Sora like this. I lose track of time... To think this has become my new normal. I've become quite the spoiled one.

"You're still good on time for today, right?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I managed to free up yesterday's time, so I've secured plenty for today."

Sora usually logs in for about six hours a day at most. By that standard, we're already running over, but she told me beforehand that she could stay on for longer today.

So continuing our adventure wouldn't be a problem, but—

"In that case... Sora-san."

"Yes?"

In the shallows, standing thigh-deep in the water with me, she had been intently gazing at the spring, which was so clear you could see every pebble and grain of sand on the bottom. She had become engrossed in observing a school of mysterious small fish, but at my voice, she looked up with a start.

All those fish have unique names and flavor text if you catch them, you know—anyway.

"This is sudden, but there's someone I want you to meet. I contacted them to get their permission... or rather, I intended to, but when I mentioned you, they got really excited and said they'd 'love for me to bring you along.'"

"Th-That is sudden, isn't it...?"

Well, of course she'd be bewildered if I brought something like this up without any warning.

But it's a surprise, so that reaction is exactly what I was hoping for.

"What kind of person are they?"

"Hmm... let's see."

A natural question in response to my sudden proposal.

I pondered for a moment what to say to the tilting head of Sora, and then—

"Someone like a god, maybe?"

Borrowing the words of a certain Sword Saint fanboy, I declared with a bit of flourish. My partner blinked her large eyes,

"...Pardon?"

and, as expected, raised a voice of confusion.

And that was about ten minutes ago.

"—..."

"Is she going to be okay...?"

"She'll be fine. This is a normal fan reaction."

Here we were, back at the Sword Saint's (Ui-san's) dojo (home) for the first time since yesterday. Faced with the person she apparently 'adored,' Sora had ceased all activity and turned into a beautiful statue.

I hadn't heard the details, as it only came up briefly in conversation, but seeing her like this... I guess the feelings she held for Ui-san were much stronger than I had imagined.

She must have known something about this place. The moment we stepped into the bamboo grove that was the final transfer destination, she seemed to sense something and entered her first freeze.

When the dojo's outer wall came into view, she entered a slightly longer second freeze.

And upon passing through the magnificent gate—and seeing Ui-san holding a broom, perhaps as part of her daily routine, just like yesterday—her third freeze had now lasted for over a minute.

I wouldn't mind just watching this forever, but Sora herself must be in a state of utter confusion, and Ui-san was looking worried, so I decided to step in.

"Sora... Sora? Hey, Sora-san, you there?"

Calling her name, tapping her shoulder, waving my hand in front of her face—no reaction to any of it.

Uh-oh...? This is more serious than I thought—

"...—...uh, um."

Just as I was wondering what to do about this unexpected reaction, Sora rebooted. With stiff, robotic movements that seemed to creak, she barely managed to turn her head and meet Ui-san's gaze.

"Um... I, I—... I, um...!"

...Ah, she really does harbor feelings of a magnitude I couldn't have imagined.

Seeing Sora glitching out in a way I'd never seen before, I briefly regretted not explaining things beforehand and just springing this on her as a surprise—

"It's alright."

Seeing the girl frozen in tension and confusion, the Sword Saint closed the distance with a soft smile.

Standing side by side, Sora is still slightly taller—but for some reason, when I look at Ui-san, I don't really get the impression that she's short.

It's probably because... she has this overwhelming older sister aura.

—Just look. The way she gently takes Sora's hand and smiles calmly is a picture so perfect you could frame it and label it 'Sisters,' and hold on, the sheer preciousness is off the charts.

Eh? What is this space, is this heaven?

If I begged on my hands and knees, could I please get a screenshot???

"Breathe out slowly... Yes. A deep breath in, and out... That's it."

Her voice was as gentle as her hands, calming the girl down. She was like the embodiment of gentleness, the personification of warmth... Thank you for the endless feast for the eyes—

While I was lost in my stupid thoughts, with me as a bystander, Sora gradually regained her composure under Ui-san's guidance.

After a few deep breaths, the excessive tension that had rendered her unable to speak seemed to have been successfully eased.

"—...The [Sword Saint], Ui-san."

Her voice still trembled, but she managed to form the words clearly. Ui-san smiled in relief and gave a small nod.

"Yes, my name is Ui—I've heard about you from Haru-kun. I was looking forward to meeting you."

"...! Um, my name is Sora...! I—... I...!"

"—Huh, what? Hey, Sora-san...?"

Confusion, tension—and tears.

She could speak now, but tears started to fall from her eyes. Seeing my partner like this, I couldn't just stand by and watch anymore.

I rushed over and instinctively placed a hand on her back—wait, what? Is this okay???

Ui-san must have read Sora's movements in an instant with her sharp observational skills, because she smoothly released her hand... and the girl fell forward as if collapsing, right into my chest—

...Wait, um, what?

..................What?

"Haru..."

"Hey, uh... um, Sora-san? This is, you know..."

"Oh, my..."

Ahhh, the Sword Saint is watching...! And she's looking at us with such a warm, amused smile...!!

"I... I... I could die happy today..."

"Please don't die?"

What do you mean, 'today'? Do you respawn daily?

Once again, my partner was glitching out in a way I'd never seen before, and there I was, a useless idiot just flailing in panic.

As for the Sword Saint watching over us—

"Fufu..."

She was laughing more joyfully than I had seen her laugh in the past two days.