kscans

Chapter 241 - Planned Harmony

—...Yeah.

I made the train, and at this rate, I'll barely make it to my afternoon lecture... but did I really need to go through such a desperate, life-or-death struggle for this?

I'm not a corporate drone, just a student going to class—and man, my head is killing me... I should have just calmly and quietly taken the day off.

Then, when I tried to look for my phone in my bag and pockets to send an apology for my absence, it was nowhere to be found. I haven't bought a ticket with cash in ages. What an idiot.

After a few train transfers, I finally arrived at my last stop and navigated through the lunchtime crowd to exit the ticket gates. I probably didn't need to run to make it on time, but getting worked up again would just be more tiring, so I picked up my pace and jogged toward the university.

—Ah, this feels weird.

It's like reality isn't quite real, or maybe it's all blended together... After spending all of last night throwing myself into the heart of that unreal festival of combat, I guess it can't be helped.

We'd been given orders beforehand to 'disband immediately after the war ends, and if you get taken out, just log off and rest for the day.' So, after self-destructing in my fight with Iris, I pulled off an instant-death-to-sleep combo.

Or rather, the feedback from my exhaustion was so intense that I just passed out as if I'd stopped breathing... In any case, the post-mortem and the 'after-party' are all scheduled for tonight.

—Right, so for now, I should just... try not to think about anything.

About what I did last night in that virtual world... Even I, of all people, understand the full extent of it. I also have to face that certain notification I saw right before logging out from the Tenth Seat's Round Table where I respawned—

"..."

Jogging through the city streets is pretty conspicuous, and while I can feel glances being thrown my way, I don't sense any actual interest.

Different clothes, different hair, different eyes. The little tricks for manipulating one's impression that Nia suggested seem to be working, somehow.

...Well, the me here and the me there probably have completely different expressions, so our overall auras are likely worlds apart—oh?

Thanks to the stamina I'd built up on my part-time job circuit, I finished the run without even getting out of breath. Up ahead, I spotted a group of familiar faces gathered in front of the gate.

It was the usual group of four. None other than my new friends in the real world—

"Morn—"

I was just within earshot and about to offer a self-deprecating, joking greeting... at that very moment.

Four pairs of eyes found me, widening with a mixture of emotions—

""—Got him!!""

"Whoa-whoa-whoa-WHOA?!"

Suddenly, the pair of Toshiki and Shoko lunged at me.

Maybe I was still reeling from yesterday's endless string of battles, because I instinctively tried to activate an evasion skill, but of course, the real me doesn't have anything like that installed. I froze up as they pinned both of my arms—

"Mizuki, get the door!"

"Right, hurry."

After witnessing Shoko and Mizuki's impressive teamwork, I was shoved into an unfamiliar car parked nearby. What the hell are you doing?!

"—Hey, what the—?! A kidnapping?! Hold on, calm down, we can talk about this—"

"Just shut up and get in, you idiot! This is one hundred percent for your own good, now get in!"

"No, this is scary, this is scary! Hey, stop—... Kae, Kaede!"

I called out for help to the friend standing behind them, the one who I've labeled in my mind as 'basically on my side'—only to get a push on my back, sending me diving into the car.

My resistance was futile. Shoko dragged me into the vehicle, and I was sandwiched between her and Kaede, who climbed in after me, trapping me in an ironclad prison where 'any touch is sexual harassment.'

And while I was still trying to process the chaos, my eyes wide and my mouth agape...

"Alright, go."

"Roger."

At Toshiki's command from the passenger seat, Mizuki, who was behind the wheel, started the car. Okay, I don't even know where to begin with my complaints, but...

Alright, let's start with—

"...M-Mizuki-san, you have a driver's license?"

"Got it at a driving camp before starting school."

—...Ah, yeah, I see...