kscans

Chapter 785 - Taking Turns to Invade

Night. My room.

Natsume-senpai and Nia are really something else... Wait, who am I to say that? No, seriously, they're amazing. I mean, even I get tired from flying nonstop for practically a whole day.

On my bed—the non-mechanical one.

Neither of them would ever whine about being 'tired~' or anything like that. They really are similar, those two. They'd probably become friends on their own even if I weren't around.

My words travel just a little bit farther.

It's past ten in the evening. For me, it's a bit too early to sleep. But on the other side of the device, the voice that's as ladylike and cheerful as ever, yet tinged with sleepiness, belongs to someone for whom it is late.

"Hm? Oh, yeah, things are going well. They're both making incredible progress for all their hard work. Natsume-senpai even went and acquired a new skill in just two days."

Words come back in reply. I can sense a hint of exhaustion in her voice, but she's been battling the formidable foe known as academics in the real world before diving into training in the virtual one. It's no wonder she's worn out.

"All the women I meet over there are way too tough. To the point where this guy watching gets worried... and that applies to you too, Sora-san."

Then again, it's not like I'm not tired myself. With the end of the day approaching, my brain isn't exactly firing on all cylinders; I'm just spouting whatever thoughts pop into my head.

"Haha, I'm one to talk, huh? True enough."

And so, as I check in on my partner, who I personally consider the number one hard worker, her sleepy voice immediately retorts, "You too." Well, I can't argue with that; I'm well aware.

As for me, I'm just enjoying this game to my heart's content, with my life on the line.

That fundamental stance of mine is unlikely to ever change, but just because I'm playing doesn't mean I don't get tired. On the contrary, 'playing seriously with all your might' is probably the most wholesome and fastest way to drain your stamina of anything in this world.

"Alright then, let's both try not to wear ourselves out so soon after our relaxing trip."

I savor this healthy and pleasant exhaustion... I thought I'd timed the end of our conversation perfectly, but as a matter of course, a lonely and dissatisfied sigh mixed with a "You're right" reaches my ears, and I can't help but give a wry smile.

"Yeah, good night, Sora. See you tomorrow."

We exchange our brief farewells for a short while.

As always, the call doesn't disconnect right away, and I listen to the utterly adorable and endearing breathing of my partner from the other side. I count the seconds—ten.

It's always my role to be the heartless one and bring down the curtain.

"Hnngh..."

Without so much as a thought for the device that had served its purpose, I toss it onto my pillow and let out a truly exhausted, mysterious sound that I would never let anyone else hear, then close my eyes.

I wasn't worried, but I was concerned. It's a relief that things on that side seem to be going well. It appears that Screen-dono has been surprisingly kind to her.

According to Sora, she's 'a cuter person than I imagined'... and I'm not sure whether I should laugh at Sora's immense generosity for calling that person cute, or at my partner's absolute angelic power that can transform that person into someone cute.

At any rate, I'm glad she seems to be having fun.

I was a little concerned that she might be sulking, since we hadn't met all day despite both being logged in—that was my pretext. The truth is, I just wanted to hear her voice.

But the very first thing I heard when we connected was her happy voice, so I'll just turn a blind eye to my own embarrassing heart for now.

"............"

—————...

————...

——...

...Something's off. My gut tells me it's about time...—

"...Yep, yep. Here she comes."

And then, right on cue, a doorbell with a cleverly designed chime that changes its tune depending on the time of day played a slow, elegant, and gentle melody throughout the room.

It was, I have to say, exactly as I had predicted. With a heave, I bounce up from the bed and head to the entrance to greet the sudden visitor, feeling not a shred of surprise.

I don't even need to check.

It's incredibly rude of me to assume, but when I open the door, standing there is—

"Good, your hair isn't wet. Excellent. You're so proper, as expected of you, Ashe."

"...What are you talking about?"

—a princess with unrealistically snow-white hair. It couldn't be anyone else; a strange intuition within me had declared it with absolute certainty.

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Keeping this one short since the next one is fairly long. Of course she wouldn't be satisfied with just one dinner and one lunch.