kscans

Chapter 274 - The Heart's Scales

—, —, —, — —

"—...Yes, this is Kasuga."

"Hey, we just spoke. Have you got a moment?"

"I do, but... is something wrong?"

"Just a little something. It's about the other residents I mentioned... I was planning to introduce you tomorrow, but things have gotten a bit rushed."

"Huh... okay?"

"They want to meet you as soon as possible. So, sorry to ask, but could you spare some time later today?"

"Well... I... It's just, today's a bit... um, I'm supposed to meet up with Sora back in the virtual world again soon."

"Hmm... —Haru-kun. This is, for what it's worth, a piece of advice offered in good faith."

"Yes?"

"It would be best to meet them quickly. I might have underestimated the situation myself, I didn't think it would be like this... If we make them wait too long, I'm afraid the backlash could be severe."

"...Um, who exactly am I supposed to be meeting?"

"Sorry, it's a surp—confidentiality agreement. I can't say yet."

"Hey. You were about to say surprise."

"—In any case, I'd really like you to make time sometime today."

"...Well, I guess that's fine... but I'm going to prioritize my promise with Sora. There are things I need to talk to her about personally."

"That's fine. The other party said that 'anytime is fine,' so."

"The 'other party,' huh... Understood. In that case, it'll be late, but how about around eleven?"

"OK. I'll let them know."

"Ah, yes... please do. Um, well then."

"Yeah, sorry for the sudden call. I look forward to seeing you later as well."

Having successfully secured the appointment, I ended the call with a secret sigh of relief.

A few minutes ago, Chitose had no choice but to reply 'YES' to a certain 'request.' He now stared at his device with an indescribable expression—

"He's gotten himself into trouble again, hasn't he?"

He recalled the listless, somewhat exhausted tone of voice and gave a wry smile.

With a massive event now confirmed to befall him later, would he be able to greet tomorrow with his sanity intact—

'Probably not,' Chitose chuckled to himself as if it were someone else's problem, and picked up his device again to get back to 'work.' He quickly typed and sent a message… and a reply came back instantly.

Behind the seemingly curt text, which simply expressed agreement, he could see an irrepressible eagerness seeping through.

Reality, which was steadily descending into chaos, seemed to have no intention of letting Haru Kasuga escape.

◇◆◇◆◇

"—Are you okay…?"

Those were her first words after they met up, using the partner skill [Meltraction] to teleport.

Sora, having arrived in an unfamiliar forest, had reflexively asked the question upon seeing her partner's unexpected state.

All the greetings she had prepared were now forgotten, their chance to be spoken lost.

"…I didn't think you'd notice so quickly."

In response, Haru's perfect smile crumbled into a wry one. Caught having tried to feign composure in mere seconds, he scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

Because I'm your partner—after a moment of hesitation, she swallowed the lighthearted remark.

She could tell something was wrong, but she couldn't grasp the details. Was he troubled, or just worn out… Usually, she would know what he was thinking.

That telepathic connection, a source of both slight embarrassment and secret pride—Sora had a vague understanding of its mechanism. And Haru probably did too.

That's precisely why,

"Come on, let's go!"

"—Whoa…!?"

She took her partner's hand and, ignoring the unfamiliar forest scenery, started to run.

When she pulled him without hesitation, Haru let out a cry of surprise but followed. Leading him as he let himself be pulled, Sora ran through the trees, which were growing dim as the sun began to set.

"Hk… Sora, where are—"

"It doesn't matter where."

Even as she pulled him along without reservation, his movements were, as expected, nimble. He followed without difficulty, but when he opened his mouth with natural confusion, she cut him off.

She turned back and gave him a smile.

"I've had my fill of difficult conversations for today. So—"

A troubled face, a weary face, a face that seemed to be pondering something.

It's not that, I just want to see you smile all the time… but she had no intention of just forcing such a selfish feeling on him.

"I want to go on an adventure with you, Haru."

She would make every effort to draw out his smile.

—The mechanism of their telepathy worked because they never hesitated to convey themselves to each other.

Thrilled, heart-pounding—as they continued to adventure together, they had always bared their hearts.

Lost in the 'fun,'

stubborn about their 'frustrations,'

together, like children.

It was only natural that they knew what the other was thinking.

As [Sora], as [Haru], living in this virtual world—they had shared the raw emotions that surfaced in their hearts, time and time again.

That's why, even now, she understood that she didn't understand.

If she thought about it that way—

"Shall I be your escort today? Or maybe…"

—perhaps their telepathy was working just as it always had.

"Will you take me somewhere, like you always do, Haru?"

"…………Haa… You've gotten pretty formidable, Sora."

Though it was still a 'troubled' smile, the fact that she had managed to draw one out at all could be considered a passing grade.

And if that was the case… it was time for the lighthearted remark she had swallowed earlier.

"Ehehe… Because I'm your partner."

He took her outstretched hand and pulled her—into his arms, for what was now the umpteenth time.

"Alright then… it's a bit far, so be prepared for a full-speed dash."

"Your 'full speed' has too many variations for me to understand."

"You've got a point there—... I have something to talk to you about later, just for a bit."

"…Yes. We'll talk later, then."

So for now, it was off to an adventure, the first in a while.

Entrusting her body to her partner, who had begun a silent sprint, she held down her hair as it blew in the wind—

"—…………"

As she secretly looked up at his face, all she felt was an irreplaceable sense of security.