Accel World Vol 1 Chapter 3 (2/2)

“...U, well, that’s it exactly. A perfect loss.”

“The result display after the fight, did you properly see it?”

Haruyuki unwillingly remembered the «Fighting Stage» he had been in before coming to school. In that dark ruin, a skeleton helmet rider on a vulgar bike hit and bashed him flying, his HP gauge disappeared very quickly.

With a pathetic sound effect, the words [YOU LOSE] appeared in front of him, then -.

“I am pretty sure... My name and Level 1 was shown, and then a strange number came out. Burst... Point, maybe. That decreased from 99 to 89.”

“Good, you remembered well. Burst Points! That is why we go stand on the ruthless battle field.”

Kuroyukihime said that like a shout, she walked a few steps toward the gla.s.s window, then turned around. The parasol held in her two hands went ‘thud’! She stabbed it into the floor, small broken pieces of flagstone flew up.

“Burst Points, namely, are the number of times we can «Accelerate». One Acceleration will decrease your points by 1. Right after installation the starting point is 100, but yesterday in the lounge you Accelerated once, so your points decreased by 1. And earlier, you used another 1 point.”

“Arg... How do you charge that up? Don’t tell me it use real money to charge?”

“Wrong.”

Kuroyukihime drastically denied.

“There is only one way to increase Burst Point, winning a «Fight». When you win, if it was the same level fight, you gain 10 points. However losing means lose 10 points. Like what happened to you this morning.”

Kuroyukihime turned her face to look at the evening sky past the window, and continued to whisper.

“«Accelerate» is very powerful. Winning at fights is a simple matter of course, getting full marks on a test, a big win in some kind of gamble or sports is easy too. That last summer Kous.h.i.+en[2], the new record holder for home runs, a first year high school student, is a high level Burst Linker.”

“...Wha...”

To the dumbfounded Haruyuki, she threw a somewhat sad look.

“Thus, once we tasted the forbidden nectar, we can only forever continue to «Accelerate». For that we need Burst Points, so we can only continue to fight forever.”

“...Wa ...Wait a minute please.”

What, that genius power hitter is a Burst Linker.

No that’s not it - Kuroyukihime’s speech, isn’t there something strange about it?

Haruyuki desperately thought, then opened his mouth.

“Ah... well, earlier you said fighting win is 10 up and lose is 10 down. That means... there is also point decrease from «Accelerate», so the total points from all Burst Linkers can only decrease. That means, the points of people weak at fights will certainly become zero... What happens when they became like that...?”

“You are certainly quick at comprehension. It’s simple. «Brain Burst» will be lost.”

Kuroyukihime’s dark eyes that had a burning like color looked straight at Haruyuki.

“The program will automatically uninstall, and it cannot be installed a second time. Even changing the Neuro Linker is useless, since the program knows the specific brain waves of each Burst Linker. The people who lost all their points, will not «Accelerate» anymore.”

The cold feeling voice told him that, and she added.

“New people like you enter the battle, so the pie won’t just decrease. Even though now, the trend seems to be on slight decline.”

However Haruyuki almost did not hear a single word of the added speech.

“Brain Burst will be... lost.”

Having just tasted the power of «Accelerate» two or three times, Haruyuki’s back froze just thinking about it. It was not from not being able to Accelerate anymore. For Haruyuki, it meant losing his only connection to Kuroyukihime who was originally living in another world.

Once again, he realized how heavy that 10 points hunted by the skull rider was.

“Then... what will you do, Haruyuki-kun.”

Haruyuki raised his face at this whispered question.

“Will I do...?”

“You can still go back now. To the normal world without «Accelerate» or «Fighting». The idiots who bullied you won’t appear again, this I guarantee as a student council member.”

“...I ...I...”

‘- Accelerate or Brain Burst does not matter. Just, I don’t want to be separated from you.’

Of course he could not say that. In exchange, he held his silver fists tight and answered.

“...I, still have things I need to pay back to senpai.”

“Oh?”

“You gave me Brain Burst, and pulled me out of that h.e.l.l. The reason for that is not to steal my starting 100 points, I understand that at least. If it is like this, there isn’t a really good way to say this. ...Then, you should want me for something. Checking my squash game high score, going to the trouble of lecturing me on Accelerate from the beginning, there is a goal. Isn’t that right?”

“...Hmm. Accurate reasoning.”

The lightly smiling, beautiful avatar looked straight at Haruyuki’s silver face.

“I... I am truly not someone who should talk to senpai like this. I am uncool, fat, a crybaby, have a grudge against my only two friends and am jealous of them, run and escape quickly, a really no-good person. The lowest.”

‘What am I saying’, while thinking that, Haruyuki could not stop the words flowing out. He was saved by the fact that his avatar’s face is like a mirror without expressions.

“Even so, that Kuroyukihime-senpai talked to me and Direct Connected with me, that I understand was because I am somewhat good with games, and there should not be any other reason, I would not be unhappy with just that, that is.”

‘What am I really trying to say, I should sort it better then say it, ah now is the time to use Accelerate, no, I am already in Accelerate mode.’

Already falling into panic mode, Haruyuki could only expose what’s inside of him.

“That’s why... why I want to answer senpai’s expectations. Your... mercy, I want to fully repay that. I don’t know what I can do, if you are in need now, I will do whatever I can. That’s why I... will not uninstall Brain Burst. I will fight... as a Burst Linker.”

‘What’s that, I should have just said the last part! What did I say anyway.’

After he finished spilling out all the words, Haruyuki felt embarra.s.sed and shrunk his slender avatar body, cowering.

‘Anyway, aren’t you mistaken about something, you self-conscious guy.’ He was prepared for her to think like that, right after, a simply released speech shook his hearing.

“Mercy... don’t use this kind of word.”

He looked up slightly and saw the most feeling expressed in a face he'd seen in the past few days.

“I am only a foolish and powerless middle school student. Standing in the same place as you, a human breathing the same air. In this stage, we are equal Burst Linkers. You are the one who is making the distance. These mere two virtual meters, does it seem that far to you?”

She silently extended her white right hand.

It’s far.

The inside of Haruyuki’s chest murmured.

‘To be in the view of someone like you who has everything, you won’t understand how dreadful it is for someone like me. I am willing to be a servant. To move as a piece under your command, just that is unexpected happiness for me. If I take your hand here, I would have expectations that I am not allowed to have. Later certainly, it will be double the regret paid for that poisonous expectation.’

Same for Chiyuri and Tak.u.mu. With those two, he is satisfied with being happy bosom friends. Just without pity and sympathy, he absolutely did not wish for a position beyond that, but...

The sound leaked from his mouth, was as dry as the wilted tree in the virtual twilight.

“...Senpai saved me from h.e.l.l. That... is my whole life worth of happiness. I do not wish for anything beyond, absolutely.”

“...I see.”

As she murmured, Kuroyukihime lowered her hand.

A hard and heavy silence took over the stage. What broke that, was a sound he thought had not changed from before.

“I gladly accept your determination. It is true right now I have a bit of a troublesome problem. I need your help to resolve that.”

Haruyuki took a small breath and nodded.

“Sure, if it’s something I can do, anything. What should I do?”

“First, learn the way to «Fight». Click your name displayed below your life gauge. Open the «Install», you can view all the commands for your Duel Avatar’s set of normal and special skills.”

“Sp... special skill?”

He stopped his extending hand and asked while repeating.

“Yes. When the Duel Avatar is created, the program will spread a certain number to different parameters according to the potential avatar’s attributes. The superior attack type, the hard defense type, and the one special skill make a turning point kind of peak type too. But, the golden rule is that Duel Avatars of the same level have about the same total potential. Your first fight was a crus.h.i.+ng defeat, that does not mean your opponent was too strong. Just that you don’t know how to fight.”

That bike person, «Ash Roller», was the same level 1 as Haruyuki. He thought that was an overwhelming opponent, but in truth, he has the same fighting power as «Silver Crow»?

If that is the case, then this small and slender robot avatar should certainly have a tremendous special skill. Haruyuki excitedly extended his silver finger, and pressed his own name.

With a sound effect, a half transparent window opened.

A simple humanoid animation showed the movements, to the right is shown skill names.

First one, lower the waist and make a fist, do a thrust motion. Normal skill «Punch».

Second one. Pull back right leg, do a kick in front motion. Normal skill «Kick».

And lastly, special skill - cross both arms, open them wide left and right, thrust the head out with a swing, the name is «Headb.u.t.t».

Just those. Nothing else.

“...Err.”

Haruyuki murmured while dumbfounded.

“Normal skill Punch and Kick... and special skill is just Head thrust.”

“Oh?”

Kuroyukihime who heard that, put her right index finger to her chin, and tilted her neck. He thought that her expression did not change, but he could not keep watching, so he cowered. Just thinking of the disappointment flowing in her dark eyes, made his whole body heat up.

He unconsciously moved his mouth.

“No, that’s fine. This is within expectations. This avatar looks like it is full of uselessness. I am sorry it’s not what you hope for. It’s ok, you can just leave me alone. Just think of it as a missed lottery.”

“You... fool!!”

That shook his body, Haruyuki raised his face. Unknown since when, Kuroyukihime was right in front of him, her eyebrows raised, and her burning eyes looked down at him.

“I won’t say anything about your way of living, since I am just a similar middle school student. However in regards to Brain Burst, I am over six years your senpai. I already said it before, different Duel Avatars have equal potentials. Have you already forgotten?”

“B... but, my only skills are Punch, Kick, and Head thrust...”

“Then, there is a strength to supplement that somewhere for sure.”

Her stare softened a bit, Kuroyukihime continued like admonis.h.i.+ng him.

“That Duel Avatar was born from your heart. What happens if you don’t believe in it?”

‘The person I do not believe in the most, is myself.’

While he murmured in his chest, Haruyuki nodded.

“...I am sorry. I will believe... not sure about myself, just your words.”

Hearing that, Kuroyukihime’s face twisted slightly - maybe it was just a bitter smile - Haruyuki’s shoulder relaxed slightly.

“For you, before learning how to fight, there is something else you must learn. Strength is...”

For a little while. Her slight bitter smile was mixed with some pathetic expression.

“Strength is, not just a word meaning the result of a victory. I wasted a lot of time to learn that. And when I learned it, it was much too late.”

The true meaning of her quietly whispered words, Haruyuki could not comprehend. When he tilted his head about to ask, without giving him the time to do it, Kuroyukihime suddenly turned around.

“Hmm, it’s almost time.”

When he looked, the 1800 second time count only had 20 second left.

“Then, the next lecture will be a practice lesson.”

“Huh... what...? What does that mean...?”

At the puzzled Haruyuki, Kuroyukihime showed an fearless smile.

“Of course, you are going to get it back. Your 10 points.”

Right after, the Draw result displayed, then the «Fight» ended, and «Accelerate» canceled.

At the moment they returned to the real lounge, without giving him a chance to speak, Kuroyukihime pulled out the Direct Connect cable and took it back.

“Well! Let’s eat, Arita-kun. The food is getting cold.”

With a smile, she picked up a small spoon from the table. Without any choice, Haruyuki too pulled the curry rice plate in front of him close. Even though he experienced over 30 minutes of time since he took it from the counter, it still had warm steam rising, his stomach growled.

From the surrounding tables, the same displeased stares like yesterday focused on him, he thought about bringing it to the cafeteria corner to eat, but lost to his empty stomach. After he ate three big mouthfuls, he heard an uppercla.s.sman at the same table talking to Kuroyukihime, that made his throat tighten.

“Hime[3], isn’t it about time you tell us? We are about to die from curiosity. How should we comprehend your relations.h.i.+p with this person?”

He looked up, and saw that the one who spoke was the fluffy hair student council member he saw yesterday. She should be the 2nd year secretary.

“Hmm.”

Kuroyukihime put her spoon on the side of the gratin plate, elegantly held up her tea cup, and looked like she thought for a bit. The surrounding students all quieted down.

“Bluntly speaking, I confessed, and he rejected me.”

Screams and shouts of consternation filled the world.

Haruyuki held the spoon in his mouth, took his curry, and escaped by running.

“Y... you there!!”

The afternoon next two hours, Haruyuki pa.s.sed them while being showered with needle like stares, he went behind the right side of Kuroyukihime who was heading to the school gate and complained in a low voice.

“What were you thinking!! I will be bullied again!! I will absolutely be bullied again!!”

“That was a majestic proclamation.”

While laughing, Kuroyukihime continued with a wise look.

“I only said the truth. Also, you were not altogether bad yourself.”

While saying so she manipulated her virtual desktop, and made a flipping her finger tip motion. From the local net he instantly received a file, an icon lit up in his view. When he clicked it, a large picture opened up in front of his eyes.

It’s a picture of him with curry spoon in his mouth, a blankly stupid expression shown on his face.

When he saw that, Haruyuki shouted.

“Ugyaa!!”

He instantly threw the file into the trash can.

“Wh, when did you take this field of view screen shot! Even sleight of hand has a limit!!”

“What, just a souvenir.”

While bantering like that, the surrounding stares with real killing power was focused on Haruyuki. He shrunk his neck like usual, but after all he could not hide behind Kuroyukihime’s slender body.

“Hold your chest a bit higher. In this school, there are not many males that rejected me, on the other hand you were the only one.”

“So, when did I do that!”

“Saying it like that is so mean. I might get hurt again. ...Well, instead of that.”

With ‘instead of that’ words Kuroyukihime put the question on pending, she changed her expression and said in a low voice.

“When we leave the front gate, your Neuro Linker will connect to the Global Net. Any Burst Linker in this «Suginami 3rd Battle Area» can force you into a fight. Before you are challenged, Accelerate, look for «Ash Roller» in the matching list and challenge him.”

“What... area? Is there a limit in the area where fighting is possible?”

To Haruyuki’s question, Kuroyukihime made a small nod.

“That’s right. Even if you fight someone on the other side of Tokyo, 30 minutes will pa.s.s before you can meet. ...Eventually, you can go to a multi-person, unlimited connection, group-use battle field, but that is something beyond level 4. Right now just concentrate on the fight in front of you.”

With a slightly sharper sound, the lecture is nearing end.

“I will tell you now, if you lose you can not instantly re-match, you can only challenge the same person once a day. I will go in the gallery, unfortunately I can not help you. ...Don’t make such a dejected face, if you fight like I wrote in the mail, you won’t lose.”

“O... ok.”

He swallowed while nodding. He copied and pasted the text mail he received during the sixth period into his brain.

“This is your real debut fight, «Silver Crow». Good Luck.”

With a push at his back, Haruyuki stepped into the walkway blowing with the dust of battle.

References

↑ Non-Player Character

↑ j.a.panese national baseball tournament

↑ Princess, the ‘hime’ from the end of Kuroyukihime

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