Accel World Vol 1 Chapter 6 (2/2)

Slowly—Slowly, the white hand left his shoulder.

‘That’s fine.’

‘Without touching me, nor meet my eyes again.’

‘Without even facing me in the real world, just make me into an ordinary tool.’

Haruyuki didn't know whether those feelings reached her as thought.

‘Goodbye.’

Just as he murmured that at the end.

Slap!!

A sharp sensation hit his left cheek.

Feeling a burning heat, Haruyuki raised his face in astonishment.

”…Idiot!!”

That word came from her pale lips as real sound.

Dumbfounded, Haruyuki watched as tears poured out like a waterfall on that face that was twisted to its limits, yet was still extremely beautiful.

While still in the stance of having waved her left hand in a big way, Kuroyukihime’s face and entire body became crumpled and disheveled like an infant, and she kept shedding tears without interruption.

”Idiot…Idiot…”

The sound of that repeated word seemed different from the «idiot»[1] with a mature and wry smile he had heard up until now.

As a single girl of suitable age—of 14-year-old, Kuroyukihime had abused Haruyuki so, so many times.

And Haruyuki, without even some responses that a 13-year-old boy should be able to do coming to mind, just stood there stock-still and wide-eyed.

The words he spoke had deeply injured the person in front of him. He understood that.

However, Haruyuki had thought that, if it’s Kuroyukihime—if it’s this person, who is perfect in everything and possesses a reasoning and ability to think beyond that of adults, she would simply hate Haruyuki, be disgusted with him and separate her heart from him.

To think that she would cry so much. That she would have such a fragile face. Such a—such a possibility was…

Haruyuki opened his mouth as he tried to say something.

Kuroyukihime covered her flowing tears with both hands.

Only a momentary breeze pa.s.sed by them as they stood on the sidewalk as it sunk into the color of dusk.

Immediately after that—

The dreadful sound of metal striking metal hit Haruyuki’s ears.

At first, he thought that it was quantum noise that originated from the Neuro Linker.

As Haruyuki was shocked and his heart jumped, he turned his neck and upper body to the right.

What burst into his field of vision was—a terrible sight.

A white car, as it cut down the guardrail that separated the road and the sidewalk with its left front fender, was hurtling straight towards him.

An accident!? No! He couldn’t hear the sound of brakes.

Those four thoughts flashed through Haruyuki’s mind in less than 0.1 seconds.

His mouth moved almost automatically and sent out one word. And at the same time, the same words sounded in his mind through the direct connect cable with a voice completely different from his own

””Burst-Link!””

Bas.h.i.+!!

Along with a sound similar to thunder, the world stopped.

Blue.

A frozen scene, that was transparently blue as far as one could see.

But, Haruyuki was immediately conscious of that fact that it wasn’t completely stopped.

The tires of the large sedan that was driving right before his eyes, as if resisting the freeze, were turning little by little, little by little, gnawing on the road surface and decreasing the distance between them

…Uwaaah!?

Though a little late, Haruyuki screamed and sprang back. Instantly, the form of the car vanished. Hiding it from view was his—roundish back, wearing the Umesato middle school uniform.

This blue world wasn’t simply a scene of reality. The Brain Burst program was hacking the images from the countless Social Security cameras installed in the surroundings streets and reconfiguring them as a polygon-made pseudo-reality.

Turning his gaze down a little, he saw that his body had changed into a pink pig. Moving his familiar virtual avatar, Haruyuki went around the back of his real self and saw the white sedan once more.

There was only three meters of distance between Haruyuki and the car, which had slantingly gone outside of the road and crashed through the gap between guardrails. Also, judging from its speed as it gradually but steadily advanced forward, it would come into contact with the two of them in less than ten minutes within this accelerated world.

For such a thing to happen—Why!?

Haruyuki thought desperately within his confused mind.

It was normally impossible for a car to deviate away from the road. Because the instant an abnormal course was detected, the control AI of the car would take the driving authority away from the driver and automatically perform a course correction, deceleration and stop.

In other words, this car’s control AI must have been broken, or temporarily stopped by the driver's manipulation.

Most likely the latter, as Haruyuki quickly surmised. Because his ears couldn’t hear the screeching sound of the tires chafing against the road surface due to full braking at all.

The driver wasn’t stepping on the brakes. Rather, he was plunging forward by accelerating full throttle.

This was an intentional attack. Kuroyukihime had hinted at it before, about «attacks» on the side of reality by Burst Linkers.

Was the attacker an unknown Burst Linker belonging to the legion of a «King»? Or was the person at Umesato middle school, «Cyan Pile»?

Most of the surrounding social security cameras didn’t seem to catch the image of the car’s interior, and the window couldn’t be seen through easily. Haruyuki changed angles, strained his eyes and finally found a position where he could peek into the interior.

After raising the short pig avatar to its full height, he saw that the driver, who had almost collided with the car hood, was—

“Wha…!?”

The instant he saw, Haruyuki once again let out an astonished cry that was similar to a scream.

The one inside there was the face of a cla.s.smate that he recognized completely and had never wanted to see again.

“A…Araya…!? Wh…Why…”

Why was this guy here.

Because of the a.s.sault event he had caused inside school and the things that had been discovered in his Neuro Linker as a result, including the game of illegally copying the social security camera-avoidance application, images and even virtual drugs, he had simply been arrested without any question. Like that, he had been thrown into the juvenile inst.i.tution of the Discrimination Office for the time being—at the very least, he shouldn’t be returning to our school.

Not believing his eyes, Haruyuki blinked several times and stared at the icy blue face of the attacker.

However, that needle-like hair that stood up on end, those raised-up thin eyebrows, those lips that were twisted in cruel excitement—and the feeling of fear that all those features forcibly created inside Haruyuki, all these things told him that the person in front of him really was Araya.

“This morning—he was given bail.”

A said voice spoke out suddenly next to him, and Haruyuki quickly turned his face.

Kuroyukihime, wearing the body of her black swallowtail b.u.t.terfly-like fairy princess avatar, stood there biting her lip.

“…I’d hear that he was going to have a trial in family court next week and would be imprisoned for one year at least…That’s why I that it was no long necessary to worry about this man anymore. But…to think he would do such a…”

After murmuring that with a stifled voice, Kuroyukihime hid her long eyelashes and shook her head.

“No—I should have antic.i.p.ated and watched out for this. One doesn’t need the power of «acceleration» to attack someone…I should have known that a knife or car is more than enough, but…it seems I didn’t truly understand that…”

As she said that in her usual tone, any lingering of the childish crying from before couldn’t be seen on Kuroyukihime’s face.

‘No, that’s simply what I want to believe’ is what Haruyuki immediately rethought.

In the eyes of her avatar, of what should have just been a constructed image, a keen regret and something like resolution could be clearly seen.

Kuroyukihime slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then spoke in a whisper.

“This…is something like a punishment. For me, who didn’t understand the hearts of people, nor tried to understand them, and yet still kept toying with them for amus.e.m.e.nt.”

“…Wh…What…What are you saying?”

Haruyuki barely managed to say just those words. Kuroyukihime didn’t responded immediately, and instead turned towards Haruyuki and quietly kneeled her avatar, whose height was double his own.

Spreading her black dress on the ground, she went down to the same height as Haruyuki and gazed straight at him.

“Arita-kun…Haruyuki-kun.”

Her voice now was kinder than any other moment in his memory, gently stroking Haruyuki’s hearing.

“I’m sorry. The one who caused this situation was me. But, I won’t let you get hurt. I’ll definitely protect you.”

“…Eh…Wh…What…”

Dumbfounded, Haruyuki repeated the same words as before.

Even if they undid the acceleration now, there should be nothing they could do.

The instant they returned to reality, the sedan before them would cross the distance between them with dreadful speed and would splatter first Haruyuki, and then Kuroyukihime from behind.

Good thing that it was in that order. If he became a cus.h.i.+on, there was the slight possibility that it would end without Kuroyukihime being greatly injured. Haruyuki had already thought of that.

But, Kuroyukihime said something shocking with a tone that hid a strong resolution.

“I can definitely save just you. I haven’t told you yet, the greatest and final power of Burst Linkers…of «acceleration».”

“Eh…!?”

Save me…? You, my master, save me, a mere tool…?

Haruyuki held his breath and vehemently shook his head left and right.

“Y…You can’t!! You can’t do that!! If there’s such a power, I’ll use it! And I’ll protect you!! Because I’m your chess piece…it’s only natural that I have to protect you!!”

He stretched out his short arms and desperately cried out.

“Please teach it to me…What is this final power!? With what kind of command is it used!?”

“It’s no good. This command can’t be used if one isn’t Level 9 or above, and it consumes 99% of one’s acc.u.mulated points. And before that—I am your «parent». How could a parent not protect its «child»?”

“Bu…But…But, but!!”

“Don’t make that kind of face. Because to me as well…in this situation, there is just one saving grace.”

“Eh…s-saving grace…?”

“Yes. In this moment, and as my last words, you’ll believe what I say, right?”

Kuroyukihime quietly lifted both of her hands, overlapped her open palms together, and put them against her chest.

Closing her eyes, a smile like a blossoming flower bud appeared on her lips, and—

She slowly said a single sentence, a single sentence, like a falling jewel.

“Haruyuki-kun. I love you.”

From within her lifted eyebrows, those black pupils looked at Haruyuki while giving off an infinite radiance.

“It’s the first time I’ve felt this way in my life. I just feel so confused without being able to really control myself. Even when I’m at school or lying down in bed at home, I’m always thinking of you, becoming happy, and becoming sad. This is the thing called love, huh…How wonderful this is. It’s like miracle.”

Clenching both hands in front of her chest, Kuroyukihime smiled.

That smile was warm, kind, and pleasant, but it pierce through Haruyuki’s chest with a splitting pain.

I want to believe. I want to believe.

I want to believe—

The tears which overflowed from his avatar’s eyes distorted Haruyuki’s vision with too strong of an effect.

With a jerk, Haruyuki wiped them away and looked at the two eyes that were so close, and then asked with a blurred voice.

“Why…Why me? Why someone…someone like me?”

“Hmm, a reason, huh. There are an uncountable number of reasons, but…No, I don’t think a reason is needed for love, but alright. Then, I’ll just tell you the trigger.”

Smiling Kuroyukihime stretched out her hands and put them on Haruyuki’s shoulders.

“Haruyuki-kun. Do you remember our first meeting?”

“Yes…of course, of course I remember it. In the local net…in the Virtual Squash room, you said it to me. ‘Do want to accelerate further ahead?’”

“That’s right. The high score I made in that game…”

Her smile changed and became just a little mischievous.

“I used «acceleration» to achieve that.”

“Eh…Eh!?”

“If I didn’t use it, I wouldn’t be able to achieve that kind of score at all. I did it thinking to attract your interest and easily persuade you, because you would want to improve yourself at any cost…I…”

There, Kuroyukihime paused in her speech a little, and turned her gaze towards the sky of the accelerated world.

“I became a Burst Linker only six years ago at eight years-old. Since then, I craved for only strength and speed and became Level 9 by cutting down so many enemies it can’t be counted, and yet even so I dyed these hands in the blood of friends without being satisfied. There is no way that someone like me could possibly achieve the high score you carved out.”

Changing her expression and looking straight at Haruyuki with strong eyes, Kuroyukihime continued speaking.

“Listen well, Haruyuki-kun. You are fast. You can become faster than anyone. Faster than me—than the other Kings. Speed is a Burst Linker’s greatest power. One day, you’ll become known far and wide as Accel World’s fastest Linker. You’ll take down the Kings, cross beyond even the surface of the earth, and reach the origin of Brain Burst. And I know. That you’ll reach the ultimate potential hidden within people…within our minds and souls.”

Nodding slowly just once, Kuroyukihime continued further.

“I…When I saw your figure as you play that game, I trembled. I s.h.i.+vered as I never had before, and was moved. Inside my heart, I cried out, ‘To think a person could be this fast. Eureka…Finally I had found the true King, who will once more accelerate this stagnant world.’”

Haruyuki could only listen dumbfoundedly to her words now.

‘I’m, faster than anyone…?’

He couldn’t just suddenly believe that. But, in this situation right now, he didn’t allow himself to doubt even a piece of the words that Kuroyukihime told him. That was the only thing he absolutely could not do.

“But, while you possess such strong power and potential, the real you is very fragile…so painfully so that it’s heartrending, and seemed to tear up my chest. I want to kneel before the future king. But, at the same time, I want to protect you and wrap you in my arms. Those contradicting feelings steadily swelled up inside me…and before I noticed, I only saw you. I was in love. I finally realized it yesterday.”

“Yester…day?”

“Yes. When you were talking about Kuras.h.i.+ma-kun. How should I say it…By experiencing the thing known as jealously for the first time in my life, I couldn’t control myself. I got that kind of att.i.tude because of that. This morning too. I was too slow to notice…No, I was slow, but it’s not too late. Like this…”

Putting a bit more strength into her hands on Haruyuki’s shoulders and bringing her face close, Kuroyukihime smiled.

“Because I was able to confess. If could have a wish, I would have wanted to face you in reality and properly say it, but.”

Jewel-like tears suddenly welled up in her glistening jet-black eyes, and collected into drops on the corners of her eyes.

“Now then…It’s time to say farewell.”

“What…what do you intend to do? No…saying farewell, that’s just…”

As Haruyuki felt his breath catch and shook his head, she left her last words like an instruction.

“Please. Become stronger…And become faster. Beat the other «Kings» in my place, climb to the top and see what I wanted to see.”

“No…No!!”

Haruyuki gave out a cry similar to a scream.

“I can’t do that!! That’s too…it’s no good if only you leave! I’ll protect you…If I can’t do that, I’ll go with you!! Please don’t leave me…I’ve, I’ve still done nothing for you…not a thing…”

As Haruyuki spoke with a voice mixed with sobbing—

Kuroyukihime’s lips quietly approached and closed up his mouth.

It was between virtual avatars, but that sensation was above all soft, warm, and gentle.

After that kiss that was a thousandth of a second in the real world, and also like an eternity in Haruyuki’s perspective, their lips slowly separated and Kuroyukihime whispered.

“Someday…we will surely meet again.”

On the track where she stood up, the drops of the tears she had spilled lined up in a silver radiance.

As Kuroyukihime faced the approaching car and blocked its path resolutely, an aura of incredible willpower rose from her back, while Haruyuki couldn’t move or even speak.

She spread both her hands wide. Her back tightly straightened and—

Kuroyukihime spoke out in a dignified voice.

“Physical Full Burst!!”

Paaah…!

Kuroyukihime’s avatar was wrapped in dazzling white light, and then disappeared.

What? What had happened?

Exploding with confusion, uneasiness and a unnameable feeling that overwhelmed those other emotions, Haruyuki strained his voice and cried out.

“Senpai!!”

Br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears again, he lost his sense of balance with his distorted vision and staggered back several steps.

And then, Haruyuki saw something he couldn’t believe.

Kuroyukihime—the body of the real Kuroyukihime, while still under the blue permeation effect, was moving.

Kuroyukihime, who should have been standing in the back with the real Haruyuki interposed between her and the approaching car, put her foot forward at about 10% the speed of running in the real world but still definitely in a continuous movement, kicked off the ground and moved forward.

Such a thing—shouldn’t be possible!!

The Brain Burst program overclocked the quantum signal by a thousand times using the heartbeat as its source and accelerated only the user’s consciousness.

Conversely speaking, the effect of that didn’t extend to the entire body. Therefore, even if one accelerated, it wasn’t possible to move the body, let alone one’s gaze. That why’s the program, at the same time as one accelerated, separated the user’s consciousness from their body by using Full Dive, and connected it with a pseudo-reality generated from the Social Security cameras.

Yet right now, the flesh and blood Kuroyukihime was moving her body at a speed which was so fast it could be clearly seen and confirmed by the accelerated Haruyuki. Her ice-colored body sometimes blurred here and there as if flowing, perhaps because she had exceeded the photographing speed rate of the Social Security cameras.

In other words—her real-world self was das.h.i.+ng at a super-speed one hundred times that of an ordinary person!

So this was the greatest and final power of Brain Burst. Overclocking not only the consciousness, but the entire body, truly a forbidden command.

Doing such a thing, the body couldn’t possibly finish it safely.

On the expression of the charging Kuroyukihime’s face, along with resolved determination, there was stiffening as if she was mustering all her force of will to endure something.

That was most likely intense pain.

Her muscles and joints, which were being driven at an original impossible speed, must all be screaming simultaneously.

However, Kuroyukihime didn’t stop.

With one, two, three steps, she lined up with the real Haruyuki’s left side.

The front b.u.mper of the Araya’s car was now not even eighty centimeters away from Haruyuki.

Kuroyukihime lifted up both her hands and gently drew Haruyuki’s body close to her, as if embracing him.

Putting in a little strength, she started to move Haruyuki’s body as she pushed it to the side.

At the same time.

He felt a terrible impact through his whole body and his vision blacked out.

Kuroyukihime’s movements were graceful, but in the real world it was equivalent to a body blow with that extreme speed. The safety mechanism of his Neuro Linker had activated from that shock, and automatically released the Full Dive.

In an instant, from the center of his darkened vision, the reality of regular colors returned as if enlarging outwards.

Haruyuki returned to his living body from his avatar in an instant, and right away he hit the pavement on his back, his breath stopping.

As Haruyuki forgot to even breathe again and opened his eyes wide, immediately in front of him was—

With both hands still extended forward, Kuroyukihime seemed to be smiling.

Immediately after, the white car which had fiercely crashed into the sidewalk collided with Kuroyukihime’s slender body.

She was sent flying as if both her legs were scooped up by the b.u.mper, then crashed against the front window and was thrown up even higher.

Her black hair flowed in the air while drawing an arc.

It caught the light of the sunset and s.h.i.+ned orange.

Next to her, the pulled-out direct connect cabled danced and fluttered white.

References

↑ Kuroyukihime usually uses the word ”bakemono”, which is a more refined way of saying ”idiot”, while right now she is saying ”baka”, the simpler and more widely known phrase for ”idiot”.

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