kscans

Chapter 689 - Entry

And so, with only five days left until the main event—that much of a grace period vanishes in a flash when you’re constantly jumping between the real and virtual worlds, becoming nothing but dust in the wind.

If anything, having a major event on the horizon, combined with the long-vacation magic where a single blink can make a day disappear, made time feel like it was accelerating beyond all reason.

In other words, before I knew it…

"…You okay?"

"W-Well, I’m fine, probably, I think, maybe…"

"You don't sound fine."

Mid-September. It was just before ten o'clock on a Sunday morning, a perfect day for the end of the world.

Less than ten minutes remained until the assembly time. Alicia, who had come to my room to check on me, had a keen eye as always. Just as she’d guessed, I was a complete mess, my nerves shot right before the main event.

The moment I opened the door, she gave me a little smile, but I was in no mood to laugh.

I mean, it was inevitable. I knew this was coming. I’d been pushing it to the back of my mind until today, but this time was different.

In a moment, I would be heading out—not in the flesh, but as a projection of my consciousness—onto a real-world stage where tens of thousands of people were waiting… Just thinking about it… really.

How could I not be nervous?

"It might not be much of a comfort, but it’s like that for everyone. Even among the oddballs in the Title Holders, there’s no one who can step onto a grand stage for the first time without fear."

"…Do you get nervous too, Alicia? Like a normal person?"

"Of course. Before a big event, I’m always trembling."

Want to find out? she asked, spreading her arms playfully. I returned the gesture with a wry smile.

"And you're sure more than half of that isn't just a warrior's thrill?"

"Pretending it is should be your specialty—here."

As I resigned myself to just brushing things off and letting time take its course, Alicia’s arms captured me. To my dismay, in my weakened state, I had no option to evade.

She firmly pulled my head in.

"I can't lie next to you, but I'll be right beside you the whole time. Doesn't that make you feel stronger?"

A gentle warmth whispered in my ear, as if to soothe me.

"My mind’s on an away field, but my body’s at home, huh? I guess that’s true, but still…"

Her heartfelt encouragement, coupled with a mounting sense of embarrassment, helped me find at least a sliver of resolve, even if it was born of desperation.

I was teetering on the edge of a mental state that could be described as either resolute or just plain high, but at this point, maybe letting go would be easier.

"Besides, on my other side, I’ll have a cheering squad of a lively shut-in and her guardian."

I forced out a lighthearted remark. A strained smile formed on my face, while a faint, expressionless one appeared on Alicia's. Even now, my mental state was far from stable…

"It’s almost time—if you’re still feeling anxious, I can give you a little good luck charm."

"…I’m terrified of what might come flying my way, so I’ll pass."

"Hehe, a shame."

As much as I wanted to procrastinate forever, time, unfortunately, waits for no one.

It was impossible to calm a heart that I hadn’t been able to settle for days, weeks, or even months, in just a few minutes at the last second.

So, I just had to brace myself.

"Well then, I’ll see you over there, Haru."

"Yeah, see you there."

I saw Alicia off as she returned to her room. The moment I closed the door, I slapped both my cheeks with all my might—ow, I put too much force into that. It really hurts.

Aware of my extremely fuzzy mental state, I cursed myself as a fool, crossed the living room, walked down the hall, and arrived at the bedroom. I snatched my phone from the bed.

`Good luck.`

With a single word of encouragement from my partner, who was staying home, tucked away in my heart,

"Huuuuuh—haaaaaah… Personal Sequence."

Lying down in the mechanical ark, I whispered the activation key for the special mode.

Thus, as the lid of the Arcadia pod closed without a sound, a familiar string of text flickered to life.

"Drive On."

My consciousness fell asleep in the real world, my home.

—And the place where I awoke was,

"Haven't seen this in half a year…"

A world of pure white, as far as the eye could see.

It was an even starker white than the training rooms at the war bases. The sight would have instantly hurt my eyes if I were in my physical body. It was the same scene I saw when I first dived into the virtual world.

This was a virtual space like a waystation, accessible only by using the key phrase during startup, a place one normally had no business visiting. Looking down, I saw the clothes I was wearing in the real world before I went to sleep. I was here as Haru Kasuga, not Haru.

And besides me, who had arrived in this space between dreams, there was one other thing in the white void.

It wasn't the large full-length mirror from the initial startup… but a small, elegantly designed envelope, floating in the air before me.

Well now, just as I’d been told.

If that’s the case… then that’s the case!

"Bring it on, you pumpkins, potatoes, and what have you…!"

Steeling my resolve, hyping myself up, I grabbed the envelope with enough force to crush it. As I did, it unsealed itself, and a light, serving as a letter, spilled forth—

A tickling sensation at my neck clearly told me that I had changed from myself into Haru.

And then, I glanced down at my own “attire” and muttered a single thought.

"—…Hah, this… looks absolutely ridiculous on me, doesn't it?"

The next moment, the white filling the space broke open, and,

"—Welcome! To the stage where reality and the virtual world intersect!!!"

As countless presences appeared nearby, and a vast number more in the distance, a familiar, high-energy voice announced my “welcome” and the “opening.”

Fighting back the urge to stop breathing, I bathed in the dazzling lights and the thunderous cheers. As I awkwardly looked around… I found myself at the center of the stage.

I, along with the other men in suits and women in dresses, all dolled up for the real world, were surrounded by a giant stadium and a great wave of people.

"—…"

Wait, not just about to stop breathing, I actually, seriously, can't—

"—Hey, youngster. Even you're trembling, huh?"

"—Stand up straight. Don’t make a fool of yourself right at the start."

"Oof?!"

—The instant I started to break out in a cold sweat, thinking I couldn’t breathe, WHAM! BAM! My back was slapped and punched from both sides, forcing the air back into my lungs.

As for who was responsible… there was no need to ask.

"Cough… Hey, you...! Why did you have to punch me instead of just slapping…!"

"I figured it wouldn’t be balanced with just Goldow and me."

"Your STR is over 500, higher than the General Commander's, you bastard!!!"

Two men, both with golden hair of different shades. One was a strapping man with a lion's mane of golden hair, and the other a young man with impeccably styled blond hair so silky it was annoying.

They were my fellow Eastern Faction members, the General Commander and Peerless—two seniors who somehow managed to look impossibly good in suits.

"Ahaha, the boys are being dumb again. Never gets old."

"They’re so close."

Next, the tiny duo of the Left Wing and Right Wing appeared from nowhere and delivered a series of gut punches that didn’t hurt in the slightest.

"I was like that last year, too. But you're a senpai, so you'll get used to it in no time."

My junior, Undying, appeared without a sound and patted my shoulder. His nonchalant demeanor made me want to retort, Are you sure about that?

"Hehe… That kind of reaction is actually seen more favorably, you know."

"…Well, all we have to do is fight. Don’t worry so much."

As always, the older sister figure, Scorching Gaze, exuded an exemplary adult composure. And from the martial arts instructor, Twin Fists, who was unusually wide-eyed, I received their support as well.

With heartfelt encouragement from my seniors—everyone except for Screen, who stood aloof in the distance, and the Sword Saint, who had yet to appear on stage.

The friendship and concern they showed me was enough to bring a tear to my eye. And…

And, more than that… what is this feeling?

The cheers, which had grown exponentially in pressure and heat since my seniors started interacting with me, were now starting to sound like a grand chorus from an army of hardcore fans, which was just confusing.

"…Ah, well, I guess so. It’s like that, huh…"

Maybe I don’t need to think of this as a “different world” more than necessary.

Like watching a sports game, or attending a concert, the people gathered at this chaotic stage, though not all of them, are… at least the vast majority are,

"The virtual world and the real world… they’re not so different, are they…"

At least, here in this place.

They’re all just like me, having pushed aside all the boring stuff to gather for the single purpose of having a blast.