Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 5: My Avatar and The Real Me

Translator: Skythewood

Editor: Deus ex-Machina, Ruzenor

<tl: was=”” sick,=”” so=”” posted=”” this=”” a=”” day=”” late.=”” i=”” guess=”” no=”” one=”” noticed=”” the=”” post=”” wasn't=”” up. =”” ¯_(ツ)_=”” ¯=””>

It was time for the second period. The third period was biology, and we need to s.h.i.+ft to a different cla.s.sroom. I arrived at the biology lab very early. I checked my watch and there was still 7 minutes before cla.s.s begin. Most of my cla.s.smates weren’t coming. Gon-chan and Kazuya both chose the Physics elective, but there was a reason why I came to the laboratory so early. No one else was around.

［Sigh…］

【You are sighing a lot.】

Pandora’s voice came from my earpiece. Pandora sat on a seat opposite me. She wasn’t really sitting there, and was only appearing to. She acted just as if she was really there.

【Itsuki, nine more seconds before you can resume the game.】

After she finished, the numbers dropped down to 2, 1, then 0. Last night, I only played until the scene with Rika-sama and Amamiya. This time I got to proceed with the next preview earlier than usual.

However, I didn’t think any happy development with Rika-sama and Nakajima would be waiting for me… My avatar… but if I give up here, all of my encounters would be for nought, and I would need to experience forced reparation.

I was supposed to meet Rika-sama, and if the game continues, it should cover that period.

I tapped on the phone and the lesson continued, and skipped to the important parts. I hope the situation of the preview becoming a review would not happen again.

However, the situation was out of our expectations! I continued the game quickly with a speed that I had never used before while surprised.

Soon, the bell indicating the start of cla.s.s rang. The biology teacher walked to the laboratory, and all the students were present. As if she was asking me to act now, Pandora stood up.

［Teacher! ］

I pulled out my earpiece and stood up. I put one hand on my abdomen and held the textbook on my desk with the other. The biology teacher with round gla.s.ses said with a troubled tone.

［Erm...?］

［Tosa ! I’m Tosa ! I have a sudden stomache, please let me use the toilet and visit the infirmary!］

［Ah, ahh… Tosa huh, go then.］

After receiving permission, I slipped to the entrance where Pandora was.

I proceeded with the game as I ran. The earphone connected to my phone swayed in the air with a purappura sound. It was annoying, so I pulled it out. Sound came out from my phone as I continued. And so I switched the phone to vibration mode.

This time, the game and reality had almost zero time difference. If I dally just one bit, I wouldn’t make it in time for the preview. But——

［What the h.e.l.l is this! ］

I was dumbfounded. According to the results from the choices—— This might be the only way to open up the situation—— My avatar deviated from reality, and went into dynasty warrior mode.

Specifically speaking, I got into a fight with multiple male students and knocked them all down.

—— Well, I do have experience in beating down my enemies mercilessly, and wiping them out. I did that plenty of times with heavy firearms. The advent in technology was such a great thing. Even a game you have gotten sick of playing could be challenged again by setting your own handicap, such as limiting yourself to the default equipment or something… That’s right, my experience in being OP was only limited to FPS games!

My avatar performed combos like a fighting game character, moved and jumped speedily like a ninja, and fought as if he had 3 heads and 6 arms.

［W-W-Whaaaa...］

What the h.e.l.l was this!?

The place before me—— Was where I met Rika-sama, the deserted Second Courtyard where I picked up the tail plushy. No one was here. Timing wise, I made it here in time. But… Where should I hide. No, instead of that…

［Pandora! ］

【Please calm down Itsuki, getting anxious will just lead to failure.】

Pandora was calm and expressionless as always.

［How can I calm down!? I was, no, my avatar was too overpowered, I couldn’t do that in real life!］

Human could become very strong through hard work or under dangerous circ.u.mstances, but this was already beyond that extreme. If I had experience as a delinquent, street fighter or learned self defense, I should be able to handle this. However, my past didn’t have anything to do with all that.

【You chose 【Rescue Rika, get into the fray（Requirement: Physical 100）】 correct…? Strange, did Itsuki really chose this?】

Because the other two were;

【Wait for someone else to come to her rescue.】

【Pretend I never saw anything.】

And so, the more logical option would be 【Rescue Rika, get into the fray（Requirement: Physical 100）】. Be it on thinking on the spot or after careful consideration, this was the correct answer.

【I’m sorry, my question was inadequate—— Is that your preferred choice?】

［Yes, I want to choose that!］

【Well, this is an option available for players if they expend Sols to receive a stimulant. In reality, the potency of the stimulant would be reflected too. Didn’t it say (Requirement: Physical: 100)?】

I nodded, and wondered what all this was about.

【In comparison, the physical abilities of Itsuki right now would be (Physical: 10)】

I was so weak!

【Usually, it is possible to achieve (Physical: 100) by expending Sols.】

［Expend Sols huh…］

【As Itsuki is still in the early stage of the games… You can’t access this function yet. Also… even if you want to use it...】

Pandora was hesitant to speak.

［Even if I want to use it?］

【In order to reach (Physical 100), you need to purchase 【Smart Drink】 from the game and use it to increase your stats, however,】

［… However?］

【It cost 30,000 Sols.】

It was impossible in all sorts of way, I finally understand.

【I think that this was the effect of the Error Code, which allowed you to choose an option that shouldn’t be available to you. However, it won’t be a good prediction of what is to come...】

［Hey, that pervert over there—— h.e.l.lo, I don’t know who you are chatting with, but cla.s.s has already started.］

This voice… Nakajima Konoha? In her wolf in sheep skin mode.

I turned back and our eyes locked.

W-Why was she here?

Even though she didn’t… appear in the game? Wait, when I was talking to Pandora just now, I must look like a strange guy from a third person perspective. Could it be, Nakajima was also on scene, but she was just hiding and my avatar didn’t notice? Was this the influence of Pandora’s visualization?

Footsteps and voices came from the direction of the school building.

Oh no, I have to hide—— I looked around the courtyard. There was two places covered with shrubs. I should be able to hide there. I ran that way, and Pandora followed me too. For some reason, Nakajima came with me too.

［Wait, why are you following me too?］

［Sorry, I have some circ.u.mstances… ——— Huh!? This voice—— And that crude att.i.tude towards me, could be be, you are generic face Ito?］

［Right! Ito! ］

［Really now, apologizing to you is such a waste. By the way, Ito, staying there and acting as if you are talking to someone is creepy, alright? Thanks to you, I spoke in my real tone for a moment.］

［Ugh.］

Because no one was around, that’s why…

［Also, didn’t you have a recycling bag over your head the other time? That is...］

［——! ］

［W-What is it now?］

Oh s.h.i.+t ahhhh! I forgot!

I didn’t have a recycling bag on me! R-Recycling bag… Without my recycling bag…

Even though my avatar prepared it in the game!

Why did I forget about it? Ahh!

… Trash can. There’s a trash can in the courtyard, right? There might be a recycling bag in there… I stood up, but squat down immediately.

Because Rika-sama’s figure appeared. She looked depressed, and was holding a tail plushy in her right hand. She did say it was something like an amulet to her.

Behind her were several male students. I saw one of them before this morning, he was the student council president candidate. The one with the diagonal sash and spoke with Amamiya.

But now… I would be seen if I search for a recycling bag in the trash can now…

Nakajima put her index finger onto her chin.

［Mochizuki Rika?］

She gave the feeling of being disappointed.

［Why isn’t it Amamiya-san?］

［……Amamiya?］

［I heard that Amamiya will skip cla.s.s and come here. I will ignore the curse of the Second Courtyard for now. With just the two of us in the courtyard while cla.s.s is in session, isn’t that the perfect chance to confess?］

［The Student council president candidate is skipping cla.s.s…］

［You skipped cla.s.s too, right? And I have never been late or absent before. I have never skipped cla.s.ses either. But in order to achieve my goal, I wouldn’t mind sacrificing my lesson time… By the way, what’s going on there?］

I couldn’t hear what the male student and Rika-sama were saying. It was the same in the game, but my avatar would charge out a while later —— What about me? What should I do? Should I charge out? Even though I knew I couldn’t rescue Rika-sama like a cool hero? And I didn’t have a recycling bag. Other options flashed through my head.

Should I choose a different option? I tried that before. Back then, I managed to pull it off. Would it work this time too?

［… regret…］

［… tarded… huh.］

［We are doing this on our own…］

I could tell a little from the bits and pieces of their conversation. Nakajima nodded and commented:

［This appears to be a rendezvous. But the face value of the one meeting Mochizuki Rika is… I couldn’t tell who they are… Except for one guy… My opponent in the election,  Kiritani who is sort of a hottie depending on the angle.］

Nakajima could remember his name, which means—— the best looking guy in that group was Kiritani, who was also the male student I saw wearing a diagonal sash this morning.

［——No!］

Rika-sama’s shrill and strong voice rang out. She held on to her tail plushy tightly.

And now—— The male student’s att.i.tude changed. Rika-sama backed away, but another male student was behind her, as if he was stopping her from escaping.

Pandora stood before me and pointed to the phone I was holding in my hand. She wants me to look at the phone…?

【It will probably—— be fine even if you don’t go.】

That was the text shown on it. Even though Pandora’s voice was set to be on, it had turn off now. Pandora could change that by herself? No, instead of that, the content of the message was more important.

I looked up at Pandora confused. Pandora conveyed her thoughts to me via the phone again.

【Itsuki can’t do anything even if you go, even I can tell you will just be injured for nothing. The results will be the same, no matter whether you go or not.】

What Pandora said was correct. But… But…

As expected, I hate this. Be it pretending to not see anything, or waiting for events to take their natural course. Even if I didn’t go, Rika-sama would probably be safe.

However, I learned through the preview that when the Recycling bag guy charged in, Rika-sama would go:

【Regist-san! 】

And call out to me in relief. That showed how uneasy Rika-sama felt before all this. I could tell from the game. In real life, it was clear to me by the way she was desperately clutching that tail plushy.

If Regist-san was there, Rika would be at ease. The Regist she was ‘acquainted with’, but had never seen his face before, an ent.i.ty that was me but also wasn’t me.

［Ito?］

I didn’t react to Nakajima’s call and charged out.

［Mochizuki-senpai! ］

There wasn’t any Recycling bags. So I had to cover my face with something else as I ran to Rika-sama’s side. All the boys took a step back because of the strange way I appeared. Thanks to that, I could stand in front of Rika-sama as if I was protecting her.

The 1cm thick policy booklet I got from Nakajima. It was thick and A4 sized, if I held it with in vertically with my left hand, it could cover my face just right, and serviceable as a mask. Not being able to use my left hand was an inconvenience, but it pa.s.sed as a subst.i.tute for a Recycling bag. However, I couldn’t see the front at all!

［This voice… Regist-san?］

A moment later, Rika-sama’s baffled voice sounded out softly.

［Sorry for the strange way I came, I was still watching quietly from the side just now.］

I felt a warm sensation on my back as she held onto my s.h.i.+rt. As if she was holding onto another amulet aside from the tail plushy.

However—— If I couldn’t see anything, that means I wouldn’t be able to see what the other party was doing.

I s.h.i.+fted the booklet I was using as a s.h.i.+eld away a little. There were about 4 male students. What should we do now, they were asking each other with their eyes. Kiritani who was speaking with Rika-sama observed me cautiously.

［Who are you? Don’t get in our way.］

［A group of men ganging up on a girl is definitely a problem.］

［… We are just chatting, and have a request. ］

［A request?］

［——Mochizuki-san, please.］

Ignoring my question, Kiritani said to Rika. However, Rika-sama didn’t say a word.

［This is such a pain, let’s just beat this fellow up and take Mochizuki with us.］

A burly male student suggested with a snap of his fingers. This line was just like the game.

［… Let’s do that then.］

Kiritani agreed with him. The heavy punch of the burly male student landed on my abdomen.

［Regist-san! ］

A gasp came out from my throat. That was how a punch felt… I nursed my stomach with my right hand while covering my face with the booklet with my other hand. The presence behind me vanished as I was staggering.

［Stop it!］

Our position changed. Rika-sama stood before me with her hands outstretched. Rika-sama’s wrist was grabbed tightly by another student. I tried to stop them, but was. .h.i.t by a second blow.

［Unhand me!］

Even though Rika-sama resisted, she was getting further and further from me.

I thought I would be hit several more times, but thankfully, he stopped his beating. It already took all I had to cover my face with the booklet and my knees on the ground.

［Hit his face with your next shot.］

I braced myself for the impact—— and the sound of something slas.h.i.+ng through the wind echoed out.

［Uwah!］

That burly student yelled.

［Are you a r.e.t.a.r.d who will challenge a fight you have no hope of winning, generic face? Things like the courage of the weak needs to be dumped down the drain.］

……Nakajima ?

［But being brave isn’t a bad thing. Much better than those guys who bullies the weak.］

［You are… Nakajima Konoha?］

Kiritani said in surprise.

［That’s me… You are Kiritani from cla.s.s 4, right? My opponent in the student council president election is actually such a guy, how deflating. Well, what do you all want to do? If you want to fight, I don’t mind taking you on. You saw how I sent that big guy flying with my kick right…? Get up generic face, it’s tough if I don’t have any support.］

I then whispered to her:

［Thank you.］

After saying that, I got up and stood beside Nakajima.

Rika-sama, was seized by Kiritani’s side. On the other side were Nakajima and me.

［What… are the lot of you doing!? ］

Here comes a new challenger. I s.h.i.+fted the book slightly —— it was Amamiya Keisuke. He held his breath and glared at Kiritani’s gang.

［Amamiya-san...］

Kiritani’s expression turned awkward.

［What are you trying to do to Rika?］

As if his courage waned after hearing that forceful tone, the male student grabbing Rika-sama let go of her wrist.

［We are not trying to do anything violent… A r.e.t.a.r.d just happened to get in our way...］

［Is that so? I heard you guys called Rika out, but I have been searching for you because I didn’t know exactly where that is—— stop it right now.］

［We are just trying to create a chance for the two of you to speak...］

［Are you planning to drag Rika to me forcefully? Don’t do such things… Rika, are you hurt?］

However, the first to answer Amamiya’s question was Nakajima .

［It hurts! I’m almost at my limits…］

She cried suddenly and collapsed onto the floor.

［Because of them… My leg...］

Nakajima looked up at Amamiya with moist eyes. He couldn’t leave her like this, so as he kept one eye on Rika-sama he extended a hand out to Nakajima.

［Thank you very much, Amamiya-senpai.］

Nakajima held Amamiya’s outreached hand firmly..

［Just to be safe, I want to visit the infirmary...］

I felt deep grat.i.tude towards Nakajima for lending me a hand in my time of need. But at this instant, I felt the same as Kiritani who was looking at Nakajima dumbfoundedly.

He was probably thinking: No, you aren’t hurt at all,