Chapter 2 (1/2)

Taking Flight in my Search for a Heroine

Translator: Skythewood

Editor: Deus ex-Machina, Ruzenor

It was Tuesday, an hour past midnight. The game countdown reached 0. It was time to play 【There are no heroines in my youth】. Up until just now, I received 【Smile】 messages from Gon-chan and Kazuya, but I replied them all with emoticons, and blocked off all distractions.

I sat on my bed cross legged, and held my phone in my hands tightly. Come on!

It started after my Grandpa and I finished playing 【h.e.l.l Scream 4】. After that, the narration stated I ［played a mobile game］ and my avatar went to bed. I already expected that… Nothing, nothing happened at all.

Which meant the outrageous event of meeting a heroine in the middle of the night didn't happen!

Which also meant I wasted one precious day!

The strength drained from me. The second day… I will work hard on the second day!

My avatar reached the school. Chatted idly with 【Friend A】 and 【Friend B】 in the cla.s.sroom. The cla.s.s schedule for Tuesday was exactly the same as mine in real life. The first to fourth period was described in narrative form. Nothing of note happened. Next was lunch break. Here it comes! The choice branch appeared.

【Buy bread at the snack shop.】

【Puppurapu?】

【Head to the second courtyard】

［Puppura……］

Instruction manual… Don’t this game have an instruction manual? There should be one, right?

In the end, that settings icon in the top right corner of the screen still couldn’t be used! Just why? Or will it remain locked if no heroine appears…? That might be the case.

Treating this as seriously as my final exams, I started working my brain. Buying bread at the snack shop… I want to choose this! Even so, probably nothing would change if I did! Which means this was a wrong choice. Just like the usual me!

I don’t get the Puppura thing at all… Was my avatar supposed to say that? Or would I hear it in the game? Wait, even though I would know what that was after choosing it, I didn’t have the option of saving and loading. I couldn’t retry my choices! Should I choose that Puppura thing in spite of all that? That was too risky…!

Next would be the second courtyard. At first glance, this seems like a normal option. But that wasn’t impossible, it’s a trap. Honami High School have two courtyards, one was grand, the other was deserted. During lunch, groups of friends and couples would spend their time there, building a nice atmosphere.

On the other hand, the furnis.h.i.+ng in the second courtyard seemed really haphazard, and it was also small. It was also related to the supernatural side of Honami High School, being part of the 7 school mysteries. It wasn’t popular, and the lighting was bad too.

The problem was the content of the mystery. Apparently, singles who visited the second courtyard during lunch break will remain a bachelor for all three years of high school. Just for visiting that place during lunch break! By the way, the same rumours said that couples would break up if they went there. This seemed to have originated from a curse by an unpopular male student a long time ago who ate in the second courtyard… For those who didn’t mind such things, this might be a nice quiet place. As for me, I didn’t really want to visit there…

Ah. But, I could only choose this…

Since it was a place I would never visit, maybe something would happen there…

I sent my avatar to the second courtyard. I chose the third option.

I was filled with doubt as I watch my avatar moved.

［Oohhhh!］

But I saw it.

Finally, it’s finally here! I 【Heroine A?】 appeared in the name slot of the dialogue box… Wait. Why was there a 【?】? What the h.e.l.l was that 【?】!

Hold on, a girl with a portrait appeared! The first one!

It was a bit late, but I was finally heading in the right track! And wasn’t that——.

［——Mochizuki Rika?］

Her long brown hair with a curl at the very tip that came right down to her chest. She had put in quite a bit of effort! The sway of her hair and b.r.e.a.s.t.s were well done. The colouring and air about her was great, an excellent portrait of the real life Rika-sama. The dialogue box—— also showed that Heroine A’s name was Mochizuki Rika.【Heroine A?Mochizuki Rika】.

This was the reflection of the result of the data I entered.

The reference for the first person was Rika-sama.…… in terms of her looks.

Rika-sama appeared with an unhappy expression. My avatar didn’t notice Rika-sama. Shortly later, my avatar picked up a lost item. Was it Rika-sama’s? It wasn’t stated what that item was, but my avatar spoke to Rika-sama. Go for it!

【E-E-E-Erm!】

I stared at the screen speechless. If I could only… But it was true that if I spoke to a girl, and Rika-sama on top of that, I would become like that. I would become like that! Yeah, I knew that!

My avatar offered the lost item to Rika-sama.

However, Rika-sama’s expression completely disappeared. I understand. She completely hates me now, right? Just why!?

Rika-sama quickly turned her back to me and left.

—— That was my meeting with 【Heroine A?】, the end.

［Eh—……Ehh?］

Wait a minute. But I couldn’t interfere with what was happening on the screen. I was moved to tears that someone that seemed to be a Heroine appeared. And that person was that Rika-sama! While it was true that we met, it was negative in nature…

My avatar didn’t give his name to Rika-sama. Rika-sama didn’t say anything either. Rika-sama’s portrait was wonderful, the swaying of her hair and b.r.e.a.s.t.s were so detailed.

But that was Rika-sama’s entire screen time? Really?

I should continue the game. I tapped it.

But Rika-sama’s debut ended just like that… My avatar brought the lost item to buy bread. After buying the bread scheduled for Tuesday, I had lunch in the cla.s.sroom. I then attended the fifth and sixth period.

—— And so, school was out for the second day.

I should make a move here! Just like lunch break… and pick an action where I could at least meet my heroine!

The choice branch’s here!

【Hurry home and play the new FPS 【h.e.l.l Scream 4】 with your grandfather, and chat with other players.】

【Head to the library.】

【Pull a recycle bag over your head and jump from the roof of one building to the next.】

There wasn’t any puppura thing this time… it was fine that the puppura stuff was gone… There was some slight changes with the first option, but it was basically the same thing as yesterday. My finger started hovering between the second and third options, unable to decide between the library and the roof top.

Should I head to the library… Well, compared to the first option, it wasn’t something I would usually do, but it appeared too reasonable. That might be so, but jumping from the roof top… that option was too ridiculous.

［… Isn’t this option too persistent?］

I suddenly realized that this option already appeared several times. That means something would happen if I select it, right? A heroine would appear!

［Wait… the problem is...］

Was the rooftop accessible? If yes, what about the distance to the next block? How far was it? Was it within jumping range?

［Hmmm……］

I crossed my arms as I listened to the game’s BGM. Wasn’t it still too early to make my decision? The game progressed all the way to the end of school on the second day. There was still plenty of time until then. It would be fine to make that choice after I go to school. Speaking of which, after meeting Rika-sama during lunch break, the game narrates me as playing a game as I ate bread in cla.s.s. It was mentioned off handedly, but I should have made my choice during that time, right?

That must be the case.

I nodded and decided to postpone the selection to later… And turned in.

I slept soundly until I woke by myself on Tuesday, 27th September. I spent the morning in school distractedly. Gon-chan and Kazuya chatted with me, but I didn’t remember the details. I think… Kazuya was complaining about me replying to his 【Smile】 messages with just emoticons. I used the excuse that I was engrossed with 【h.e.l.l Scream 4】 to fudge over it.

Gon-chan usually sends emoticons, so answering back with emoticons wasn’t a problem. When I conversed with Gon-chan through 【Smile】,  it had become common to respond to him with an emoticon. Kazuya will probably get used to it soon.

The bell signalling the end of the fourth period rang. I stood up abruptly.

The encounter with Rika-sama was waiting for me.

I headed for the second courtyard.

To think that Rika-sama would appear in that kind of place. If not for the help of 【There are no heroines in my youth】, I would never have thought of that.

There was a well-known rumour about Rika-sama heading to a secret location to have lunch. People who wanted to be her servants and flatter her would follow Rika-sama everywhere. But this probably crossed her limits of tolerance. She said: 【Annoying! Disappear!】

After that, no one knew where Rika-sama would go during lunch break—— that’s how the rumour goes. There were rumours saying that she would spend that time being lovey dovey with the guy she fancies, or discipline students she dislikes. That rumour was too much, and probably stem from the other legend about several female students who transferred fearfully after being glared at by Rika-sama. By the way, I couldn’t believe anyone would transfer just for that and dismiss it as just a rumour.

I walked down the stairs to the first floor. The second courtyard was a bit far from cla.s.sroom 2-2.

［……］

After reaching this place, I started to s.h.i.+ver. Now that I was here, it really felt like some strange things would pop out. It was a bit cold here. The leaves of the almond tree was still green at this season, and it felt a little gloomy.

It was great that I got here.

I s.h.i.+ft my gaze downwards, and searched the area. After all, my avatar picked something up here. How could I miss the chance to chat with Rika-sama, correct!?

Ah, that rock with a weird shape? It wasn’t a lost item, so that’s wrong. Oh, that chocolate snack packaging? How could it be. Don’t throw rubbish here, okay?

I picked up the packaging, and headed to the school trash bin located in a corner of the school courtyard. A trash bin was right here, yet this was still littered, really now… As a campus beautification committee member, I couldn’t turn a blind eye to this!

［Oh?］

My gaze stopped at the white object in the shadow of the trash bin… It was a small doll.

［…… Rubbish?］

That was hard to judge. It was a bit damaged as if it had been thrown away, but was that really so? However, I could feel the love its owner put into it, so what’s with that. I picked the palm sized tail-shaped doll up. It was fluffy and white, and appeared to be in too good a condition for something that was discarded. It also had signs of repair. There was also a pink lacy strap at the end, which was a little dirty… It smelled clean when I brought it near my nose… So it’s probably not trash.

I should send this to the teacher’s office as a lost item.

I turned around—— and opened my eyes wide.

Ri... it’s Rika-sama. Rika-sama’s here! d.a.m.n! I was distracted by the love being emitted by the tail doll! She had a 【?】, but this was still an encounter with a heroine!

Rika-sama in the flesh was just a few metres away…! Rika-sama in real life was different from the game after all!

She was searching for something with a serious face. Why was her frowning face so beautiful too. Not cute, but beautiful. Rika-sama seemed fl.u.s.tered as she brushed her hair up.

—— I finally came to my senses here.

W-W-W-What should I do?

I haven’t found the lost item my avatar picked up yet, right!? There was no way it could be this tail. It obviously didn’t belong to Rika-sama! Or rather, it seemed to be something she would throw away.

But, if I took this lost item, and ask her ［Does this belong to you?］, I should be able to chat with Rika-sama. There wasn’t any time for me to hesitate and pick something else.

Just treat this tail as the lost item my avatar found in the game, and proceed from here…!

However, I won’t yell 【A-Ahhhhhhh!】 like my avatar did! Absolutely not! The important thing was timing,

As I was thinking about that, Rika-sama walked closer. She was looking at the ground and seemed to be muttering something I couldn’t hear. W-Was this the right time? Should I start speaking here——?

I took a step forward. The sound of my foot stepping on the sandy ground echoed out.

Rika-sama lifted her head as if she was shocked. She looked at me with her determined eyes. This was the first time I saw Rika-sama’s face from so close. I should say she looked like a porcelain doll. A well proportioned face just like a doll. What was that called again, the right temperament? With a little icy air about her. Rika-sama’s eyes fell quickly onto the tail doll on my hand.

Rika-sama’s expression vanished completely. I understood what a horrifying thing it was for a beauty to become expressionless.

My mind turned blank and I ——

［A-Ahhhhhhh!］

Made the same mistake as my avatar! And offered the tail doll to Rika-sama meaninglessly.

And Rika-sama’s reaction?

She’s glaring at me ahhh!

Was this the eye power that made those students transfer?

Rika-sama then turned away immediately. I couldn’t do anything but watch Rika-sama’s back as she walked away.

Ahhhhhh. This was just like the game, but… this sensation of failure…

［Huhh…?］

I started sniffing. A nice fragrance was coming from the direction where Rika-sama had left. It was what I smelled earlier. I looked at the tail in my outstretched hand, and brought it to my nose.

［The same smell…?］

This was only speculation, but this belonged to Rika-sama?

Drop that at once plebeian! Was that what she meant? I turned around… Before I discarded it, should I ask Rika-sama one more time? If I want to ask…

［The next chance would be after school…］

I remembered that I haven’t decided on the choice branch yet. I looked up at the school building like I did this morning. It seemed possible to leap from one building to the next.

It might be a bit tight! Though, for people skilled in long jumping, it might be possible…

［Time for lunch.］

So I went to the snack shop. Going by my schedule for Tuesday, I bought chocolate croissant, prawn bun and b.u.t.ter sandwich. I returned to the cla.s.sroom and ate by myself today too.

But my eyes were glued to the phone on the table.

There were three choices, and I had to choose one…

I had gotten tired of the BGM now. Should I go to the library, or the rooftop… If I chose rooftop, not only do I have to do a long jump, I need to put a Recycling Bag over my head too.

［Recycling Bag……］

Coincidentally, I got a white Recycling bag of the right size when I bought bread just now.

Even after finis.h.i.+ng all the bread, I was still stuck there. As lunch break was finis.h.i.+ng soon, I felt it was time to end this and picked up the phone with my left hand.

My right index finger hovered hesitantly millimetres above the options. How troubling…

［What are you doing, Itsuki !］

Unfortunately, this was the moment I received a b.u.mp on the back. Someone slapped my back. But I knew who it was just from that voice.

［Woahh!］

My index finger.

Touched it.

Touched the screen.

［Aahhhhhh?］

［Ahaha, were you that surprised?］

I wasn’t surprised ahhhh! I turned my head and saw Kazuya. Kazuya didn’t realize the crime he committed and was still all smile. d.a.m.n it, instead of that, what I chose was more important!

—— Because of that accident, what I chose was 【visit the library.】

［Thank G.o.d!］

Safe! It was the the choice that was more typical for me. In that case… I could continue with ease. My avatar headed off to the library.

However… Nothing, happened. I didn’t borrow any books, and my avatar fell asleep in the library!

【Tosa Itsuki sleep very soundly. It had gotten dark outside. After leaving the school, he went home.】 That’s all.

It then returned to the familiar black countdown screen.

［W-Why...］

Didn’t the heroine appear? If I took the same actions that I just chose…

［……?］

Wait. No, because this was closely related to the heroine, I had been taking the same actions as the game. It had been confirmed that nothing would happen if I head to the library. By going through this game, I knew that was the wrong option. In that case, I just need to take the option which I didn’t select just now. The bad thing was, I wouldn’t know what the results would be, but something would definitely happen! Such as encountering a heroine, a heroine encountering me or something!

［……］

I grabbed the Recycling Bag, on my desk, seemed like I had to use it.

I turned to Kazuya.

［Kazuya… Thanks!］

I patted his shoulder.

［I don’t really get it, but I won’t reject any thanks directed at me!］

My plans after school was now clear.

.

It was 【Pull a recycle bag over your head and jump from the roof of one building to the next.】

When the last HR cla.s.s ended, the decisive after school time came and I headed for the rooftop. I left the cla.s.sroom early like my other friends, although they did so to walk home with their girlfriends. How envious. No, even if it was me, if I made good use of 【There are no heroines in my youth】... I could get a girlfriend!

Honami High School was divided to the east building and west building. Since cla.s.s 2-2 was in the east building, I headed for the roof here first… But the door was locked. I held onto a glimmer of hope and went to the west building—— And the door to the roof was actually open!

I glanced through the door, and stood in the stairwell instead of entering the roof.

The problem was the rain! It was raining! It was great that the door wasn’t locked, but I was pushed back to the stairwell by the rain blown in by the strong wind. I took out my phone and checked the weather app, and a storm had surrounded the area around school. The rain had the chance of turning into hail… Hail?

I have to complete the challenge of jumping from one rooftop to another under such weather?

［……］

I brought a Recycling Bag with me, the one that came along with my purchase of my bread… But…

I turned off the weather app, and found a notification waiting for me. It was sent by 【There are no heroines in my youth】. I opened the game, and it was still displaying the countdown——

Hold on! On a closer look, the icon that wouldn’t respond no matter how much I pressed it had changed. The colour was different. After tapping on it, a system notification appeared.

【This is a notification for Tosa Itsuki-san. You can install an a.s.sistance tool now. Would you like to install an AI?】

……AI? An AI would be Artificial Intelligence, right? Was it something that could be installed on a phone, depending on the phone model?

【Installation will require a payment of the in-app currency of 500,000 Sols. Tosa Itsuki-san has 0 Sols on hand right now. Insufficient funds, please proceed with a loan.】

I remember my total possible loan amount was… 1,000,000 Sols. I already borrowed 300,000 Sols to start this game, so this would cost an additional 500,000 Sols huh.

The AI actually cost more than the game itself! What in the world…

My debt would grow to 800,000 Sols if I install this AI… I already borrowed 300,000… If I add another 500,000, that would be——!

［Fine… That will be fine.］