kscans

Chapter 747 - The Plan is Set

──────────…

I awoke from the dream, opened my eyes, and took one long, deep breath. Lying there on the mechanical bed, I performed a slow, unhurried self-check of both mind and body.

All things considered, I was a little less exhausted than I’d expected.

Maybe those breaks I took in the middle of it all really helped, I thought… which only deepened the realization that, once again, I’d been completely supported by others, just like always.

I was tired. Utterly, bone-deep exhausted. And yet…

"Alright, up we go."

Detecting the slight movement, the lid of the bed opened. I still had enough energy left to sit up without waiting for the seat to recline.

I wonder if my real body is getting stronger, not just my virtual avatar—

Well, that aside.

The current time was just past six in the evening. In other words, I had just logged out after the finale of the tournament, having exchanged a few quick greetings with various friends and acquaintances before promptly leaving the venue.

We had a pre-arranged plan, sure, but who rings the doorbell less than a minute after someone logs out? A wry smile on my face, I headed for the entrance. When I opened the door…

"—Welcome back. You did well."

"Yeah, you too… Um, even for just being inside the dorm, isn't that outfit a little too casual?"

"May I come in?"

"…I'll lend you something, so please put on a jacket or something."

Naturally, there stood a single, pure-white princess.

Ashe, dressed in the shockingly comfortable-looking attire of a button-down shirt and shorts, stood there radiating a faint trace of the heat from just moments before, casually searing my eyes.

"—So, what's this about? A 'congratulatory party'? Or is there something else you wanted to talk about?"

"Is it not enough that I simply wanted to see you?"

"Nice try, but that won't work. I'm not going to be fazed by something like that anymore."

"Fufu… a shame."

And so we fell into our usual routine—for better or worse.

Ashe on the sofa, and me on a chair a little ways away. In her hand, a sophisticated black coffee; in mine, a sweet cafe au lait loved by adults and children alike.

Unlike me, who had somehow fought my way to the finals, Ashe had only drawn her sword twice—during the opening and closing ceremonies.

But in exchange, she’d been constantly busy as a guest on the commentator's panel and what not… If we were to quantify our exhaustion, there probably wasn’t much difference between us.

However…

"…Figured as much, but you look completely fine."

"I am properly tired, you know."

I couldn't see a hint of fatigue on Ashe's face as she elegantly enjoyed her coffee, having donned the hoodie I’d handed her with a warning of, 'You'll catch a cold,' for the sake of my own sanity. She looked quite satisfied.

I'm sure she wasn't lying about being tired, but… her fundamental physical and mental strength were on a completely different level from ordinary people, and her efficiency was extraordinary. It would be foolish to compare myself to her and get depressed—

Anyway…

"So? What did you need?"

"Mm."

Even if we were to savor a quiet moment after a job well done, it’s best to be refreshed for it. She wasn't the type who couldn't grasp such intentions, nor did she have a hobby of teasing someone twice for no reason.

"The raid on Green Connect is one week from now, this time next week. There are no changes to the schedule."

"Yep, got it."

I nodded with a slight laugh at her typically direct approach. …Then, her garnet eyes, just like their counterparts in the virtual world, stared intently at me.

"Do you have any plans until then?"

"Hmm… Well, I figured I'd keep strengthening myself like usual, just enough not to get worn out—…huh?"

As I answered her question, she responded with a gesture of denial. Ashe shook her head, as if to cut me off.

"It isn't necessary. What you need now, Haru, is plenty of rest."

She said it as if making a declaration. It was less a suggestion and more of a command… No, it was as if she were issuing a directive, and all I could do was return a blank question mark.

"Uh, well… I mean, I'm exhausted, sure, but for a whole week…"

"It's not just about today. The Four Pillar War was part of it, but lately… or rather, for the past two months, you've been pushing yourself too hard. It's your bad habit."

"A habit…?"

I was still trying to grasp what she was suddenly talking about, but Ashe gave me a rare, half-lidded look, as if to say, 'That right there,' and let out a sigh.

"Your motivation is too high. You're always, always unaware of how tired you are. To be precise, you tend to accumulate unseen fatigue because you start running again before you've fully rested."

"That's—"

"That's what happens. I know it better than anyone—your strength when you unleash your best performance after having taken a truly sufficient rest."

"…"

Is she talking about that? The time I went from our trip straight into conquering the [Shadow-Infested Arena].

It's true that when I look back on it, I was on a rampage that even I found shocking… I'm proud to say I fought with a ferocity that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ashe, who fought beside me.

"So, from now on, make a conscious effort to take regular breaks. The Haru I saw today was wonderful, but… I know a Haru who is even more captivating."

"…So you weren't satisfied."

"Just a little."

She was likely referring to my overall performance throughout the day, not just the fatigue accumulated on the day itself, and not just our 'play-fight' in the finale.

As far as I was concerned, I could confidently say I had gone all out at one hundred percent in today's Triangle Duo… but she remains, as ever, one incredible princess.

So she's always demanding more than one hundred percent, is that it?

"—I'm sorry, for being so selfish."

"Could you please not use `Shukuchi` in the real world? Hey, sto—"

And just like that, she had left her cup on the table. I tried to voice a complaint to the not-so-ordinary young lady of the White family who was now standing behind me, but it was already too late to even attempt an escape.

Even in the latter half of September, the city was sweltering at night, but the Yotsuya dormitory, masquerading as a luxury apartment, was unaffected. The space was comfortable at any time, and the warmth of another person held no discomfort.

With her arms wrapped around my neck, all that arose were a multitude of emotions that I couldn't put into words in time.

"Lastly. It's true that I was happy, and that I had fun."

"…Well then, that's… good to hear."

"Your temperature is rising."

"Don't read it, you idiot, stop it."

"There aren't many people who would call me an idiot."

"Don't say that with such a happy look on your face, you little…"

I was glad I'd made her wear the hoodie; the familiar texture was the only thing keeping me sane.

Meanwhile, I was currently receiving the full force of her breathing directly on my neck. Since I was in perfectly good danger of losing my mind, I decided to try and escape reality—a futile struggle—by recalling the shocking experience of being crushed by a 'castle' I had just recently experienced, invoking an echo of terror and astonishment.

"—Hah, so…! What's the final order, anyway…!"

"…Mm."

I understood that she wanted me to rest properly, but what did that actually mean? Given that she'd brought it up like this, there was no way she didn't have a plan.

Which means, it's probably…

"During our trip, you mentioned it, didn't you? That you were invited to go on a trip with them during summer vacation—with your friends from the real world."

See, just as I thought.

"Given the time we have, two or three nights. To rest your body and mind… In that case, let's see."

"Um, Ashe-san."

"It might not be very typical for university students, but how about a hot spring trip?"

"Um…"

"You can leave all the necessary arrangements to me. What do you say?"

"What… do I… say…………………… By the way, is there a Plan B?"

"Until a week from now, I will personally heal y—"

"RIGHT, TIME TO PACK MY BAGS!"

In the end, I'm always just dancing in the palm of someone's hand.

---

◇Talk Room◇

N: `Hey everyone, sorry to cut to the chase but I've got something to ask.` 19:02

N: `Would you laugh if I suggested we go on a trip starting tomorrow or the day after?` 19:02

S: `I'M IN!!!` 19:02

T: `You know it.` 19:03

M: `I can go. No problem at all.` 19:03

K: `wha` 19:03

K: `Wait a sec! Let me check` 19:03

K: `It's fine! I want to go!!` 19:07

N: `Seriously...?` 19:08

N: `Is this the vitality of a university student...?` 19:08

T: `We're the ones freaked out by the Acrobat's vitality, dude.` 19:08

S: `For real. What's up all of a sudden, you okay?` 19:09

────────…

──────…

────…

──…

And so on and so forth, one thing led to another. I guess suggesting a trip starting tomorrow is just a normal, everyday thing for university students.