kscans

Chapter 151 - Family

A week had passed since the commotion at the Dragon's Grave.

Although there had been various incidents in that week, such as the matter with Demon Lord Lunaria, it could be said that the world of Another Frontier Online had returned to normal.

However, Ash and the others had not logged in at all since then. According to what he heard from Diite, they had decided not to erase their memories.

And Pat and the other members of the Genesis Dragons had also regained their memories and were currently logged out. Hayato didn't know how that had happened, but according to Diite, it wasn't for a bad reason.

As for the in-game Genesis Dragons, they were now moving like ordinary monsters with a simple AI. It seemed they were causing Stampedes with that, but the difficulty was no longer as high as before, which left the players puzzled.

Diite had apparently spread a rumor in the game that a certain player had defeated the Shadow Dragon Veru Brandle, causing the dragons to weaken, and that was gradually taking hold.

That certain player remained a secret, but some players suspected it might be Hayato. Among them, the leader of the Bandit clan, Jolth, was particularly intense with his questions, which had become quite troublesome. Hayato himself said it wasn't him, but Jolth, as if certain of something, wouldn't let up on his pursuit.

I already taught him the manufacturing method for the Dragon Eater replica, so I wish he'd just let it go…

With that thought, Hayato began preparations for the cafe.

It was afternoon, lunchtime, but the doorbell didn't ring at all. The only thing entering the shop was artificial sunlight.

Hayato told himself it was just a weekday, so as not to lose heart.

"No customers are coming."

"Don’t say it out loud."

"I don’t think it makes a difference whether I say it or not. Well then, shall I start cleaning… though there’s nowhere left to clean."

Even as Esha said that, she seemed to be enjoying her cleaning quite a bit.

She had never cleaned in virtual reality, but that wasn't the case in the real world. However, perhaps because she was a person from the age of resource depletion, she couldn't cook at all. Back then, they ate nutritional supplements while deceiving their sense of taste, so Esha had never even prepared a simple meal.

Now, Hayato was teaching her little by little, but she was mostly making chocolate parfaits. Her goal, it seemed, was to make the perfect chocolate parfait for herself.

Hayato looked at Esha.

Esha was not in a maid outfit, but a man's white shirt, black slacks, a black vest, and a black, knee-length half-apron. They were originally Hayato's, so they didn't fit right and were a bit large, but Hayato didn't think it looked bad.

In Hayato's opinion, Esha was beautiful. Perhaps because of that, it felt like the number of male customers had increased. However, it was sad that none of them ordered coffee. First-time customers would order it once, but there was never a second time.

What’s the difference, I wonder. If I can't at least get it to the game's four-star level, no one will drink it…

He had been trying various things, but he just couldn't achieve the ideal taste. He was about to prepare to practice brewing coffee again today.

But just then, the doorbell rang.

"Welcome… oh."

Hayato and Esha were surprised by the customers who came in. There stood Ash, Ren, and Veru.

"Yo, Hayato. It’s been a week."

"It’s been a while, Hayato-san!"

"Not a bad shop."

The three of them spoke in turn. Veru had a slight smile, but Ash and Ren were beaming.

"Welcome, customers. Please have a seat over here."

"Wow, Esha-san! You look so cool!"

"Thank you. Your modern clothes are quite cute too, Ren-san. Ash-san and Veru-san’s style is a bit disheveled, but they have an aura of handsome men. I’m impressed that women are peeking inside from in front of the shop. You should learn from them, Hayato."

"There are things people can and cannot do. More importantly, welcome everyone. I didn’t expect you to come here. Sit down and wait. I’ll get you some water and a menu now."

As Hayato said that, Ren shot her hand up energetically.

"Pudding! A bucket pudding, please! As soon as possible!"

"I mean, I could probably make one if I tried, but we don’t serve that kind of fantasy dessert. You’ll have to make do with regular pudding."

"That’s a shame… then, I’ll have the regular pudding, please. Enough to build a house with. You said that, right?"

"That was in virtual reality, wasn’t it? In reality, you’ll have to make do with one. As for you, Ash…"

"My dad and I will have a cup of coffee each. I heard from Diite. You’re trying to make the perfect cup, right? I’d love to try it."

"Yeah, I’d like to try it too."

"Alright. One pudding and two coffees then. Esha, I know what you want to say, but I feel like I can do it today."

"It’s just your imagination. In that case, I shall make a chocolate parfait for Ren-san. It’s a competition to see which is more delicious, pudding or parfait."

Hayato and Esha went to prepare their respective dishes.

Two cups of coffee, one pudding, and two chocolate parfaits were placed on the table.

"Esha? I was wondering while you were making it, but why are there two chocolate parfaits?"

"One is a spare. I made it in case I failed. Thanks to that, I can give the delicious one to Ren-san. I will dispose of the one that tastes questionable."

"They look the same to me. And you just smoothly sat down next to Ren-chan, didn't you?"

"You could say I am half a customer right now."

"Which means you’re half an employee, right?"

Ash laughed out loud at their exchange.

"I was surprised when I heard it from Diite, but are you two always like this in the real world too?"

"That’s right! And to think you two were living together! Oh, this pudding is delicious!"

"Ren-chan, you’re a little too hyper, so calm down. And eat the pudding more slowly. This isn't virtual reality, so it might shock your stomach."

Ren was eating her pudding happily, and next to her, Esha was eating the chocolate parfait she had made herself. Their clothes were different, but it was a sight he had seen many times in virtual reality.

Leaving the two of them to happily eat their sweets, Hayato looked at Ash and Veru.

"We haven’t seen each other in a week, but since you came here, does that mean…"

"I’m sure you heard from Diite, but we’ve decided to live in the real world without erasing our memories. Not just us, but Pat-san and the others too."

"I see."

"But that doesn’t mean our virtual reality characters will disappear, you know? I think we’ll have fewer opportunities to log in, though."

"I get it. I can only log in in the morning and at night myself. But what will you guys do in the real world?"

Inside the cryosleep pods on the Interstellar Spaceship Aphrodite, they would receive nutrition, so they wouldn't die. But to live in the real world, they would need to eat. For that, they needed money. They would have to work.

"I’ll answer that."

Veru spoke up and began to explain to Hayato.

Veru said he was going to make a movie. That was why he had, albeit forcefully, made Pat and the others regain their memories. Of course, if they had wanted to live in virtual reality again, he had planned to erase their memories, but they all wanted to work as actors.

Though a hundred years had passed since their time, thanks to that, the Earth had a decent amount of resources. The profession of acting had fallen out of fashion, and most people lived in colonies, but the environment was far more conducive to being an actor than it was back then.

They would also need a script, direction, and a director, but it seemed they were eager to build everything from scratch.

Their initial funds would be paid by Diite. Part of it was compensation for the trouble during the Stampede incident, but it was also a test case to see if people could live in the real world after leaving virtual reality.

Diite had also hacked their family registers, and their information had already been added.

Come to think of it, Esha said Diite-chan did a lot of things for her too. The Interstellar Spaceship Aphrodite exists in a stealth state in Earth's orbit. Even though it was built a hundred years ago, that technology has since been lost, and it's impossible to find with current technology. If they have that level of technology, hacking must be easy too.

Though it was a criminal act, it was likely so advanced that it would never be discovered. Hayato wasn't an expert, but that was his conclusion.

Listening to the story so far, Hayato had something on his mind.

"Are you and Ren-chan going to be actors too? Just like Kilka-san wanted in that video?"

"That’s my intention. As for Ren…"

"I’ll do it too. I’m my mother’s daughter, after all. I plan to become a woman who charms all sorts of men."

"…It’s hard to take you seriously when you say that with pudding on your mouth, but I’m happy for you. Then let’s do our best together. But, before that…"

Ash stood up from his chair and looked at Veru. Veru looked a little surprised.

"Is something wrong?"

When Veru asked that, Ash bowed his head to him.

"Dad, I want you to give me acting lessons… no, please give me acting lessons. I want to become a first-rate actor like you and Mom. I want to become an actor who can entertain everyone, who can give them hope. So, please."

Ren, Esha, and Hayato all silently waited for Veru’s answer.

Veru closed his eyes for a short time, then immediately opened them.

"I’m a third-rate actor. I couldn't even act well enough to put the woman I loved at ease, nor could I play the part of a good father in front of you. And I haven't been able to work properly since the shock of losing my wife. Do you want acting lessons from someone like that?"

"I wouldn't want lessons from someone who could act unfazed in that situation. And you were always at home to be by our side, weren't you? It’s not that you couldn't work, I know you were turning down all your jobs. And the acting I saw in your room long ago, I want to learn that skill, the one that could create a small world, from you, Dad."

Ash said this while bowing his head.

Then, Ren also stood up and bowed her head just like Ash.

"I… I would also like acting lessons, please!"

Veru closed his eyes again, but after taking a slightly deep breath, he opened his mouth.

"My lessons are strict. If you’re okay with that, then I’ll teach you."

At those words, Ash and Ren raised their heads with smiles. Then the two of them high-fived.

Veru smiled at their actions and brought the coffee to his lips.

"Ah."

Hayato and Esha both exclaimed at the same time. In such a nice moment, he had drunk the coffee Hayato had made. Hayato himself thought it was more than just a little problematic.

Veru’s face twitched for a moment, but then he drank it all down in one go.

"Ve… Veru-san, um, are you okay?"

"…I’m fine. But it doesn't taste good."

"I… I see…"

"But it was the best coffee I’ve ever had. I probably won’t forget this taste for a long time. And I mean that in a good way, of course."

"Um, yes. Thank you very much."

If only I could have served the perfect cup here, it would have been an even better scene.

Hayato felt regretful. A cup that was perfect because of the situation, not the taste, was meaningless.

"That aside, I have a favor to ask of you, Hayato."

"What is it? If it’s something I can do to apologize for the poor coffee, I’ll do it."

"I want you to let us stay here for a while. And could you let Ash and Ren work here?"

Everyone was surprised by Veru's words. Putting aside staying here, he had just said he would give Ash and the others acting lessons. So to have them work here didn't make sense.

"Aren’t you going to give Ash and the others acting lessons? I don’t think they’ll have time to work here."

"It’s not like I’ll be giving them acting lessons all day. Ash, Ren, while you work here, observe the customers closely. It would be rude to eavesdrop on their actions, gestures, expressions, and conversations, so you should avoid that, but watch and learn from their natural movements. That’s where you’ll start."

Hayato didn't really understand, but he forced himself to accept that this was how it was. But there was a problem.

"Um, this place only has this cafe and a room upstairs. And in our current state, I can’t pay Ash and the others, and we don’t get many customers anyway."

It was sad to say, but it was the truth. A cafe that barely got any customers couldn't possibly hire three people, including Esha.

"Even so, we can’t find a place to live right away. We’ll be using this as a base for our various activities, so I’d like you to let us stay for just a little while. Ash and the others can work for free during that time."

Ash and Ren were nodding.

"In that case… no, but, hmmm…"

Honestly, it was cramped with just him and Esha. Besides the cafe space, there was only one room. It might work if Esha and Ren stayed in Hayato’s room, and the three men slept in the cafe space, but he had a feeling it would be inconvenient in many ways.

"Please, Hayato-san. Aren’t we like family, Hayato-san? So please help us!"

"When you say it like that, Ren-chan, I can’t exactly refuse… but family? Not friends or best friends?"

"Yes! I mean, you saw me in my birth suit, right? And you held me in a very strong embrace. I think it’s safe to say we’re family now!"

Silence dominated the area. It was as if time had stopped.

"Whoa! Ren-chan, what are you talking about!? I never did that, did I!?"

"Ehh…?"

"No, I’m the one who should be saying ‘ehh’! How did it come to this!?"

Hayato had absolutely no memory of such a thing. But there were two people who believed Ren over Hayato.

"Hayato, we need to talk. Let’s go outside for a bit. You don’t have the right to refuse."

"I, like Ash, have something to talk to you about, Hayato. From the context, it must have been in virtual reality, but I want you to explain exactly what happened. Depending on your answer… well, who knows what will happen."

"This is a false accusation! Um, it was, uh, someone trying to frame me! It was a backup that looks just like me that did it!"

Hayato, his incoherent excuses and resistance futile, was dragged outside by Ash and Veru.

Esha and Ren were left behind. Esha, having finished her parfait, looked at Ren.

"Ren-san, was what you said just now true?"

"Are you curious?"

"Well, a little. It would be a problem if Hayato were arrested as a criminal."

"Is that all? You don’t feel any of that jealousy stuff?"

"Not particularly."

"Heeh… You’re quite an actress yourself, aren’t you, Esha-san?"

"You think so? So, was it the truth?"

Ren grinned at Esha.

"It’s true. The only people who saw my dragon form were those who were there, and Hayato-san got a good look too. Before that, Hayato-san held my head in a tight hug. It was just to keep me from seeing Mom's video, though. Were you surprised?"

"Ah, there was that setting, wasn’t there? That the dragon form is naked. But you’ve done something quite mean. Those three might not be back for a while, you know?"

"That’s the plan. I actually thought I’d declare war when I was alone with you, Esha-san."

"Declare war?"

"Yes. In three years, I plan to make a move on Hayato-san. If you don’t do something by then, I’ll steal him away, you know?"

Ren said this with a smile.

Esha frowned slightly.

"You’re very confident. But, are you serious? Or is this an act? If it’s an act, you’re a great actress. You don’t need any acting lessons."

"Now, which could it be? The answer will be clear in three years… But if I may say so, Hayato-san isn’t the type of hero who dashes in to save the day, but there’s a sense of security around him. He’s reliable in a different way from my brother."

"…Well, I can’t say I don’t understand."

Just as Esha said that, the cafe’s doorbell rang.

"H-hey, Ren-chan! Explain properly to Ash and Veru-san! I didn't do anything like that, did I!?"

"I guess I have no choice. Alright, I’ll explain properly."

Ren said that and walked toward Hayato.

Esha, left behind, cleared the dishes with a slightly complicated expression on her face.