kscans

Chapter 294 - Nice to Meet You, A Single Voice

—Three days left, two days left, one day left.

The ample time I thought I had steadily ticked away each time I counted. As if mocking my still-inadequate resolve, 'that day' arrived without mercy.

If you were to ask what I'd been doing for the three days since Wednesday night… in the virtual world, I was looking ahead to an adventure with Sora, who wasn't available this week, so I visited my master's dojo and worked on fixing my build's issues.

In the real world, I was kept busy by the 'Princess,' an experience that felt, in some ways, more surreal than the virtual world—so I spent my time in a reasonably busy and lively manner.

Honestly, I can't say my memories of it are particularly vivid. The reason, of course, is that the 'plan' for today never once left my mind.

—Current location, near the entrance of a massive theme park I'm visiting for the first time.

In other words, the meeting spot.

—Current time, one P.M. sharp.

In other words, the meeting time.

"…………………………"

And, just as we'd arranged.

Mingling with the crowd at a shop that offered a one-sided view of the designated plaza in front of the entrance, I counted prime numbers to soothe my stomach, which felt like it was about to do a backflip from nerves.

It can't be helped—this is, genuinely, my first ever date of that kind. And when the person I'm meeting is both 'someone I know well' and 'someone I'm meeting for the first time,' it's a bizarre situation that would make anyone tense up.

"…………Stay calm."

I let out a thin breath, telling myself to get it together.

I decided to see this through, so I have no intention of running away now. I won't cause unnecessary embarrassment to the woman who mustered the courage to ask a man out.

Right—I get it. That's why I can't run away.

Just like with Arshe, if someone shares their feelings with me, I have no choice but to face them. Whatever comes of it, I can't allow myself to look away.

My resolve may be lacking, but my awareness is there. All that's left is to see this escort mission through with a man's pride—so it's about time I found my 'date.'

Forcing myself to calm down, I raised my head and saw a mountain of people. For one of the country's leading theme parks on a weekend, the crowd, thick enough to make one feel dizzy, was to be expected…

And among them, I searched for the figure of 'her,' who had declared, 'You'll know when you see me.'

"————……………………Huh?"

Searching—

Searching————

Searching——————

My eyes landed on a single girl, and after a faint whisper, I was rendered speechless.

I blinked twice, three times, looked again, rubbed my eyes, and looked again… Still unable to process it, I sent a message to the contact info I'd been given beforehand: 'Are you here?'

Then, in my line of sight—the 'her' who had captured my eyes and wouldn't let go took a smartphone out of her handbag and began to fiddle with it.

And, a few seconds later.

"You've gotta be kidding me…"

When my own device buzzed at the exact same moment, my certainty was swallowed by shock. Of course she'd say it so confidently… You'll know when you see me.

To be honest, my legs were frozen from a pressure I hadn't anticipated—but kicking that feeling away was a foregone conclusion.

Come on, what's wrong? You're not going to embarrass her, are you?

Then get going, you Japanese man—a literal aquamarine 'fairy' awaits.

I left the shop and wove through the crowd, which was flowing strangely for a place that should just be bustling. They had all stopped, their eyes captivated by something.

Weaving, slipping through—I walked up to 'her' and first fulfilled one duty.

Standing in front of someone who was looking down, mercilessly bathed in attention, I acted as if to say, 'I'm with her,' and defiantly returned the gazes of the crowd.

When met with a direct challenge to their impolite stares, most people, perhaps due to our national character, pretended they hadn't been looking in the first place.

As for the remaining stares… well, I guess I'll have to resign myself to the fact that it's because of my company.

Now then—

"………………"

After looking around, I turned back, and my eyes naturally met with a pair of translucent green ones.

Soft, fluffy-looking, caramel-blonde long hair.

Though the details were different, her large eyes and well-proportioned features were strongly reminiscent of her in that world—no, if this was the real world, her appearance wasn't just 'well-proportioned.'

She was of the same ilk as that 'Princess' Arshe—a princess from a faraway land stood before me.

"…Hk, …………"

For a moment, I almost spoke in English instead of Japanese and had to clamp my mouth shut.

My brain seems to be bugging out, enough to forget that we could communicate just fine with casual words in the virtual world. And because of that state—

"Uh… Nice to… meet you?"

—my first words were, by my own admission, utterly pathetic, but it couldn't be helped.

Her looks were one thing, her outfit another. A sky-blue blouse that revealed her pure white shoulders, and a knee-length white flared skirt—according to a friend, I have no fashion sense, but even I can tell the quality of clothes and whether they suit someone.

Let me be blunt: she doesn't look like an 'ordinary person.' To put it mildly, she looks like the 'daughter of an overseas celebrity'… no wonder she's attracting attention.

"I'm not mistaken, right…?"

I'm sure—but I can't be at ease until I get an answer. So I desperately held the girl's gaze, scratching my cheek as I asked again.

"——————"

For a moment, her small mouth opened slightly, then closed without a word.

She broke eye contact and began to earnestly type something on the smartphone she was clutching—having been told of her 'situation' beforehand, I wasn't surprised by this.

Therefore, I felt I had already received my answer… but it's proper to exchange 'nice to meet yous,' no matter the form.

`You're not mistaken. Nice to meet you.`

The words spelled out on the proffered screen were her 'voice.'

`You're just the same. Knew you would be.`

I had been told… but even so, there was a certain shock.

But—upon seeing that familiar smile, I cast aside any unnecessary feelings without a trace of regret and returned her smile.

"…You're the same, too. Though my heart almost stopped."

Hmph—I can practically hear her say it in my head.

With a triumphant look… but perhaps unable to hide her embarrassment, her cheeks were faintly flushed.

`Did you fall in love at first sight?`

"Tough luck. Three months ago, there might have been a chance."

I snorted theatrically at her teasing words—and offered a service I had decided on for this date, up to this point.

"We're a spectacle here. Let's get going for now, uh… ah… Do you prefer being called 'Milady' or 'Princess'?"

`You flirt.`

With masterful high-speed typing on her left hand, she returned a painful counter to my shy joke—and she, Nia, with her free hand, took the one I offered without hesitation.

…Don't you run, me.

The 'warmth' coming from this hand is the responsibility you, as a man, must face.

"Alright—we've got these premium tickets, and I've done my homework. What's first?"

`The roller coaster!!`

"Are you serious? Didn't you pass out when I carried you while running full tilt?"

Even if the words only flowed one way, our exchange was no different. If she could smile so confidently, then there was nothing for me to worry about.

We both knew we were putting on a brave face.

In that case, let's do as we always do and put in our all to have the best time—whether that resolve got through to her or not.

My friend, my personal artisan of both metal and cloth. In the virtual world, the much-admired [Milmarinus, the Aquamarine Fairy]—and in reality, the fairy-like, lovely girl with aphonia,

—smiled, pulling my hand cheerfully as if to hide her crimson-dyed cheeks.