Accel World Vol 6 Chapter 4 (2/2)

“I... I see...”

Haruyuki who finally understood the situation, said with his real voice that was three times slower than Utai’s typing.

“With that, the group’s Umesato middle school’s unused rearing pen was provided, and started a caretaker committee here also, but with main work being cleaning instead of caring, only three people were gathered... that, is how it is?”

[UI> Exactly as you said. Sorry to have troubled you.]

“No, not really, not that... But, I am surprised that my school amenably cooperated. This is just me saying, but our management department is pretty unfriendly... or I feel that they won’t do any extra work...”

‘Even though it is the same corporation, if it is willing to take care of other school’s raised animals, then shouldn’t it take more care of me when I was being severely bullied in my first year?’, when that which he could not say repeated in his mind, as if reading that, Utai said —— no, wrote.

[UI> Sorry, actually there is a situation related to that... I, know someone in the student council here, and got a little convenience.]

“Ah, I see.”

No wonder, he was convinced. Matsunogi elementary branch’s students mostly went escalator style to their middle and high branch, but for homes that are enthusiastic in exams, he heard before that their children could have gone to Umesato middle school. Then, it would not be strange for Utai to know someone who was enrolled in this school.

After hearing the explanation up to this point —— no, read, Haruyuki finally understood why he suddenly became a caretaker. Most of the reasons were, the same corporation’s Matsunogi school’s caretaker committee was abolished, and the reason for that was to streamline management, furthermore the reason for that is the could not be stopped low birth rate, which meant it was «Society’s fault». Of course, becoming a caretaker and cleaning by himself was Haruyuki’s own fault.

“I see..., that’s impressive, s.h.i.+nomiya-san. For animals that lost their home, you protested to the company, searched for adopters, and came all the way to another school like this. When I was in elementary fourth year, all I thought about everyday were things like games, manga, anime, and snacks...”

After Haruyuki earnestly whispered that, Utai shook her head seriously, then as she took her leather bag down from her back, she skillfully tapped on her keyboard.

[UI> I also play games at least. ...With that, Arita-san should have understood the situation, then I want to help with cleaning of the pen...]

“Ah, is, is that so.”

He finally remembered that he was in the middle of his committee activities, so he hurriedly picked up the hose and deck brush at his feet.

He could not see a goal while he was cleaning by himself, but with various situations explained to him, and furthermore understanding that there was an actual animal moving in, meant that he should get into fighting spirit for this work. ‘Allright, I will do it!’, with that to reaffirm his decision, he looked towards the animal pen a bit away.

The cleaning, would be finished with light water flow cleaning of remaining leaves and dirt stuck to the floor, but he was troubled over how to open and close the faucet at the base. He was very thankful for a helper appearing at this timing.

“Then, can I leave it to you to open and close that valve?”

After Haruyuki pointed to the base of the hose, Utai tilted her head as if confused.

[UI> Should I be doing that job? In the first place, I came wearing exercise clothes that can get dirty.]

—— Right after reading those sentences, Haruyuki once again turned towards Utai’s appearance —— pure white half sleeves s.h.i.+rt with school badge on chest, and same white half pants that tightly covered her slim legs —— and stared, then hurriedly averted his eyes.

Other than Umesato middle school’s exercise cloth and pants being navy blue, they were about the same manufacture, and he should be used to seeing regular female students wearing those in school every day, but when the opponent was a Matsunogi’s rich girl, he somehow felt that it was bad to look. —— If those kind of thoughts were found out by Chiyuri, she would fire super powered beams from her eyes continuously without doubt.

“Ye, yea, all that is left is to scrub the floor with brus.h.!.+ So, when I give the word, please turn that valve three quarters of the way!”

After conveying that with somewhat raised sounds, Haruyuki jumped into the rearing pen with a heavy run. Think of starting the wash flow from farthest in, he held the hose and brush ready, then gave another shout.

“Go, go ahead!”

[UI> Opening.]

The response came by text instantly, and right after, somewhat controlled water was released from tip of the hose. While checking the remaining water meter at the edge of his view, he thoroughly wetted about one meter square area, then indicated with “Stop it!”. In exchange of a reply, he heard the valve’s screech from behind.

As he strongly scrubbed with the deck brush, stuck fallen leaves and dirt were easily removed, and ceramic tiles showed their faces on the floor. Fortunately, they seem to have a proper anti-corrosion coating, so there was no hole or crack even after long years of being covered by fallen leaves. If that was the case, then one day of drying should return its original shape.

Haruyuki skillfully repeated the work of soaking with water and scrubbing with brush. If he was opening and closing the valve by himself, then his work efficiency would be much lower, and before that, just thinking of working with someone who had the same seriousness mysteriously raised his motivation. While he was working with Hamajima and Izeki who showed a bothered expression in their whole body, Haruyuki also could not help but being fatigued.

“...Allright! With this, only finis.h.i.+ng it is left...”

Twenty minutes later, Haruyuki who finished scrubbing all of the floor, made a big stretch and said that. He turned around, and said to s.h.i.+nomiya Utai who was crouched near the valve.

“And then, was.h.i.+ng the floor is last, so open the valve all the way!”

Hearing that, instead of nodding, Utai’s hands rapidly tapped in the air. Pink letters in his view, were spelled out somewhat reservedly.

[UI> Umm, if it’s not a bother, can I also help? It will be more efficient to wash and brush at the same time, and I also, feel like wanting to work a little...”

“Na, no way, you have already worked a lot... but, if s.h.i.+nomiya-san said so, then...”

After Haruyuki mumbled a response, he raised his right hand brush to show her. Utai made a just little joyful expression, and nodded, then as her right hand held the valve, she skillfully typed with her left hand.

[UI> Well then, going.]

“Please!”

‘Screech screech’, the valve was fully opened, and base of the hose largely shook. As if to chase the water flowing inside, Utai earnestly came running.

The little girl that flew into the pen a few seconds after high pressure water vigorously spurted, accepted the brush from Haruyuki’s hand, then started single mindedly pus.h.i.+ng water soaking the floor outside the wire screen. Matching the rhythm of that movement, as Haruyuki held the trying to rampage hose with both hands, he started was.h.i.+ng the pen from inside towards the front. The remaining about 20% water meter was slowly closing in to zero, but as the deck brush moved vigorously with ‘Shaa Shaa’ sounds, ceramic tiles on the floor also returned to their beautiful light brown color.

Utai’s brush handling, was with her back to it, and was a sight to see. She was probably used this kind of major cleaning. As expected of a rich girls’ school, and even as he had that strange kind of admiration, Haruyuki also moved the hose around to push garbage flowing on the floor so he would not fall behind.

With just a few minutes, the floor surface became s.h.i.+ny beyond recognition, and at the same time, the system allowed water usage was almost used up. ‘Perfect allocation for me!’, with that kind of inner satisfaction, Haruyuki looked at Utai with a smile, and “Then the valve...” words he was going to say stopped still.

His comrade that was doing the open and close job, was inside the pen right now so could not reach the valve. And then on the other hand, even if the meter was used up, the valve was not on automatic control so water would not stop. That meant, if it remained like that, a few tens of seconds later they would be over their allowed water usage.

Of course, if that happened he would not be arrested or forcefully sent to a detention center, but in the local net for Haruyuki’s student data a «Minor Violation» would be recorded, and later a small talk from teacher degree of trouble would happen.

“Oh no...”

Haruyuki instantly held the hose tightly. The blocked water flow shook as if dissatisfied, but somehow the meter almost stopped. Utai who sensitively detected the situation from that appearance, without even typing she dropped the brush, then turned around and ran towards the valve.

A tremendous disaster happened, at that moment.

Haruyuki’s thumb that was putting force on the hose slipped, and the charged up water erupted with overwhelming power like a long range type acc.u.mulated attack ——

Towards exercise clothed Utai’s right shoulder to stomach with a ‘Splas.h.!.+’ kind of direct hit.

Compare to Haruyuki whose brain overloaded due to enormity of the catastrophe he caused that stopped his whole body, the way younger elementary student stood still with a moment of surprised expression, then soon dashed outside. She bended down to the main valve three meters away at the school building’s side, and quickly closed it.

The water meter at the right side of his view, escaped over usage by having 0.2% remaining, but without noticing that, Haruyuki continued to be frozen while holding up the hose with his right hand.

In front of him, Utai returned with a small trot, and typed as numerous water drops fell from her upper body.

[UI> Please don’t worry about it. To prepare for this kind of situation, I changed to exercise clothes before coming.]

And then without changing her expression, she held up the hem of her s.h.i.+rt that sucked in a lot of water and was sticking to her skin, then wrung it with both hands.

With that defenseless gesture, he could not avoid seeing her bare skin’s whiteness, which gave Haruyuki’s idle thought transmission a hit that returned it to it’s proper position. Its revolution counter charged into red zone at once, and finally with increased perspiration, face becoming red, and heart palpitation kinds of normal reactions recovered, Haruyuki stood straight with a jerk and shouted in a turned over sound.

“So, sorry, sorry, I am sorry!! I, I am vevery sosorry!! Ababsolutely that was not on purpose my hahand slipped and then water, water splashed.”

Hearing that, Utai blinked a few times and tilted her head, then her fingers flashed once more.

[UI> I am fine? I also brought a change of clothes, so there is no problem.]

“Bububut, a direct hit with that force of water, Ne... Ne...”

Neuro Linker water immersion.

He was going to say that, as Haruyuki looked at Utai’s slim neck.

The Neuro Linker that is a usually worn type of device, no matter which model has wash and bath possible level of waterproof capability. However the direct connect terminal and camera len spin were always weak points, so being sunk in deep water or hit by high pressure water, it will have water immersion incident. Haruyuki was worried about that —— but.

Utai’s neck that was covered by wide hem ponytail, no matter how many times he looked, nothing was there. With only small water drops s.h.i.+ning on tips of very fine loose hair, there was absolutely no existence of any kind of device.

“Wha...”

A different kind of shock from the previous one hit him, and Haruyuki leaked out a small sound.

s.h.i.+nomiya Utai, was not wearing a Neuro Linker. But that was not possible. A few tens of minutes ago, she Ad Hoc connected to Haruyuki’s Neuro Linker, and they continued conversation through a chat tool right?

As he thought of that, Haruyuki finally arrived at a question that he should have had way earlier.

Why chat? The fearsome typing speed allowed for no lag conversation so he accepted it as it was, but thinking about it, after Utai appeared, she did not use her real voice even once. That should be, having some kind of reason or circ.u.mstance...

The meaning of Haruyuki’s stare, seemed to be sensitively guessed by Utai.

Looking straight at them, iris with slight red mixed in eyes looked right at Haruyuki, and the little girl’s right hand fingertip slid. At that moment, a vertical rectangle floated up in his view.

It was a name tag. Top center was the name [s.h.i.+nomiya Utai], and a little smaller [Matsunogi school elementary branch fourth year violet group], [Born 2037 September 15] were displayed. However, the normally horizontal length residence net authentication name tag being vertical length was because of an unexpected reason.

Under the name display field, an unfamiliar certificate was included. Letters recorded in stern Mingcho font were —— [Medical use intradural indwelling type communications device usage permit]. Furthermore to the lower right, was the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare certification mark.

The line of kanji that was hard to understand at once, Haruyuki squinted his eyes and tried to grasp it from the tail end by going backwards.

Indwelling type communications device, is the type of microchip that is buried inside the body. And then intradural is probably, inside the skull, that is the membrane that covered the brain. Communications chip that is buried in the brain type... that is, that meant ——.

Brain Implant Chip. «BIC» in short.

“A...”

Haruyuki desperately resisted a whole body jerk to lean backwards.

Just two months ago, appearing in front of Haruyuki right at the start of new school term, was a first year student that took a lot of things from Haruyuki through fearsome scheming. He also, had a BIC in his brain. After long and painful fights, he —— «Dusk Taker» forever left the accelerated world, but the organization that he belonged to still remains today. In fact, during the previous week’s Hermes Code Traverse Race, the second would be a.s.sa.s.sin «Rust Jigsaw» abruptly intruded, and unleased BIC’s force boosted area type mind power attack, destroying the race itself.

The organization that Jigsaw belonged to, «Acceleration Research Society», would be increasing their attack on the accelerated world from now on, which was not hard to imagine. That was why Haruyuki could not help but be cautious against the first met BIC user, s.h.i.+nomiya Utai. However, right before he showed that expression, his eyes finally rested on words at the head of the sentence recorded in the permit.

«Medical Use», was recorded there.

Dusk Taker, Rust Jigsaw, and then Black Vice group of Acceleration Research Society members, had their BIC illegally implanted through shady surgery. Of course, they should not have any permit from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Even if counterfit, the complex certification mark s.h.i.+ning on surface of the tag could not be recreated by any cracker. In the past Kuroyukihime showed a name tag with changed name, but that was not creating a tag from zero, it was only rewriting coded name data. Just that, without doubt required extremely high degree of skill though.

That meant, according to the permit shown by Utai, she legally own a BIC for medical reason.

So then, what would that «Medical» thing be —— ?

As he thought of that, Utai sensitively read it from Haruyuki’s eyes, and touched her holo keyboard while maintaining a calm expression.

[UI> Sorry for the late explanation. Since Arita-san chatted so naturally with me, the timing for that escaped me... I, because of mobility type aphasia[2], cannot have a conversation with my mouth. That is why it is like this, using BIC for chat conversation.]

“Mo... mobility type?”

He mostly understood what «Aphasia» is, but could not scoop out the meaning of words before it, so Haruyuki muttered. Immediately, Utai’s familiar typed explanation flowed.

[UI> Aphasia, broadly speaking is divided into mobility type and sensory type categories. Sensory type aphasia is the condition of difficulty comprehending language itself, so in that case communication through chat won’t work either. On the other hand, mobility type aphasia is the condition of vocal organ movement to speak language being inhibited. Since language is understood, reading and writing words is possible.]

After reading the displayed text many times, Haruyuki finally understood the difference between those two conditions, then hesitatingly voiced a sudden thought.

“Let’s see... then, instead of BIC, with Neuro Linker direct connect thought voice, how... about that?”

Hearing that, as if Utai already expected that question, she immediately input her answer.

[UI> Thought voice from the Neuro Linker is actually not thought itself, instead mouth, tongue and face would be movement signals are read to reconstruct the voice. For people with light mobility type aphasia condition that is a possible situation, but for my brain, the signal for voice is totally cut off somewhere in neurons. Like this.”

At that point Utai’s typing stopped, then she moved her right index finger towards her mouth.

As Haruyuki stared intently, small pink lips softly opened. In between small drops of teeth s.h.i.+ning like pearls, the tip of tongue slightly peaked out. A big breath was sucked in, that was going to be released as sound, right before that.

‘Crunch!’ kind of hard and sharp sound came up, as top and bottom teeth vigorously bit together. Small throat tendons floated up and shook in small steps, showing that tremendous force was applied to the jaw. Inner teeth that were clenched together contrary to her intent creaked, and color of pain floated up on Utai’s neat and clean face.

“So... sorry, enough, that’s enough!!”

Haruyuki unconsciously shouted, and took a step forward. He extended a hand towards her hard stiffen small shoulder, but hesitated to touch her, so stopped in a halfway position.

However fortunately, just a few seconds released Utai from her tense condition. After a moment of unsteadiness, she blew out a large breath, then the little girl lifted up her head and typed in just a slight halting manner.

[UI> Sorry, to have worried you. I was not seriously trying to speak, but maybe, I thought maybe I could speak, so... There is no way I could, and I did something stupid. I am very sorry.]

“No, you don’t have to apologize.”

Haruyuki fiercely shook his head. Just one minute earlier, he had doubted Utai for having a BIC, which he strongly regret, so he desperately continued to speak.

“I... I am the one who is really sorry for asking that question for interest purpose. Everyone should have known how thought voice worked... and I should have understood if I thought about it, so the stupid one should be me...”

Unable to look at the opponent’s face anymore, he deeply bowed down, and with evening light s.h.i.+ning on the rearing pen floor tiles as a background, pink words gently flowed.

[UI> Thank you very much. I don’t mind anything, so Arita-san don’t need to worry about it either. Well, let’s put away tools. With it becoming this beautiful, the rearing pen cleaning is plenty. That child will for sure be happy.]

Haruyuki fearfully lifted his head up, and looked at Utai’s small face. There was, according to speech —— no, letters, at least no sign of unhappiness, so Haruyuki finally relaxed his shoulders and nodded.

“...Un. But, I will do the tidying up, you should quickly change. There is an emergency exit on that side of the school building, enter the hallway from there and a little ahead to the left is a toilet...”

After quickly saying that, he picked up the brush, and there was a somewhat swift refute.

[UI> I am fine. Please let me help till the end. I will the hose] <--t :=”” last=”” part=”” is=”” supposed=”” to=”” be=”” incomplete,=”” and=”” it’s=”” sort=”” of=”” hard=”” to=”” do=”” in=”” english.=”” --=””>

The letters cut off there, and Utai suddenly inhaled sharply ——.

Then a ‘Hekuchii’ kind of cute sneeze.

That, was the first flesh sound Haruyuki heard from s.h.i.+nomiya Utai.

At afternoon 5:45, with the rearing pen’s cleaning and tools return kind of mission completely finished, Haruyuki opened the caretaker committee’s activity diary file, and behind the already two people’s saved authentication marks, he added his own name, then sent it to the school system.

“Fuu...”

After blowing out a big breath, he once more looked at the animal pen that was finished cleaning.

There were small water puddles remaining here and there, but the ceramic floor tiles with light brown color returned to them, was beyond recognition compared to the dirt covered floor before work started. The stainless mesh and board walls were still dusty, but tomorrow with brush scrub it will soon become beautiful.

Of course as the interior became empty, fallen leaves and dirt made a small mountain in front of the pen, but after that dried up, it could be stuffed into garbage bags to throw away. Fortunately from tonight to a few days, it was forecasted to not have much rain, so it would not take too long to dry.

“When I get to it, I can do it...”

After Haruyuki’s murmur, s.h.i.+nomiya Utai who finished changing quickly typed.

[UI> Actually, I was shown this pen yesterday. At that time, I predicted that it would take three or four days for it to be useable, but with this degree, tomorrow I should be able to bring the child that was going to be raised here. The management section was in quite a hurry so this really helped. Thank you very much, Arita-san.]

“No, not really... If I had been more firm...”

—— And not let those two fellow members leave early, which he left those words out, as Haruyuki continued to mumble.

“...It would have finished a bit earlier. Setting that aside... what is the animal that is going to be raised here, I am very curious about it...”

When he glanced to his side, Utai who stood beside him, her big eyes with faint red mixed iris flashed roundly, and only her right hand index finger moved rhythmically.

[UI> It’s a Se, cre, t.]

“Is, is that so... then, I will enjoy it tomorrow...”

After the mumbled answer, he once more looked right beside.

Matsunogi school’s elementary brance summer uniform, was a white sailor collar, plump lined one piece. At a very high position on the waist, were two lines of wide tacks, giving it a somewhat old style hakama kind of look. The uniform that he had never seen so close up before, made his eyes involuntarily remained on it for a few seconds, before Haruyuki hurriedly looked forward and said.

“A, about ten more minutes will be forced leaving school time, so we should leave the school soon... Thank you for your help today.”

[UI> For me too. I look forward to working with you tomorrow also.]

That reply followed, however Utai typed another line of unexpected words.

[I need to go for a greeting at the student council room, so Arita-san please leave school first.]

“Wha...”

His body immediately turned right, and Haruyuki intently looked at Utai.

To be sure, earlier she said that she had an acquaintance in the student council here, but that was still going to a different middle school’s student council room alone, which was surprising courage for an elementary fourth year student. Utai who returned a rather unbelievable look at the round eyed Haruyuki, naturally typed then nodded.

[UI> So then, excuse me. Farewell, Arita-san.]

And then she turned around, and briskly walked towards the main entrance, so Haruyuki shouted towards that back half on reaction.

“U, umm, I will also go! I also, have an acquaintance in the student council...”

He did not know how many members remain in the student council room deep in the first floor of first school building, but there was a very high chance that Kuroyukihime would also be there. Just in case, against the BIC that Utai owned, Kuroyukihime might also have the same doubt that Haruyuki had. Utai who was not even wearing a Neuro Linker could not be something like an a.s.sa.s.sin from «Acceleration Research Society», and it was necessary for him to quickly convey that to her.

Looking at Haruyuki who lined up to her side after a small jog, Utai had a glimpse of strange expression floating up, but without saying anything, no, typing anything, nodded.

After he entered the school building from front stairs, and was changing his muddy sneakers, a warning announcement from the school system flowed into his sight and hearing. Within just five minutes if he did not leave school then a third degree school rules violation will be recorded in his personal file was mentioned, and that synthesized voice made him frown. Even a president’s authority, could not resist this violation. The only ones who could request leaving school time extension, are student council members.

He would have to somehow beg Kuroyukihime for the extension, but would she allow for this mix of public and private, as Haruyuki nervously walked in the first school building hallway, he looked beside and saw that s.h.i.+nomiya Utai had her usual cool face.

‘—— When I was in elementary fourth year, I could not help but faint after taking one step into an unknown middle school site.’

With that kind of somewhat miserable thoughts going through his head, he saw the west side dead end. The door set into right wall was the student council room. Thinking about it, in one year and three months since entering school, he had not enter it even once.

After Haruyuki arrived in front of the closed white slide door and hesitated, Utai raised her right hand without any hesitation, and tapped a point in the air. She had displayed a holo window, and pressed the entry b.u.t.ton.

Two seconds later, the door lock released click sound echoed. Utai’s expression remained the same as she pulled the door open, and entered after a slight bow.

‘—— Um, umm, what should I do...’

Even at that point, Haruyuki was still thinking of those fretting thoughts as he remained standing in the hallway, then that person’s familiar sound reached his ears.

“Sorry, Utai. There is bit of lingering work here. The pen cleaning isn’t finished right? I will go help right now...”

—— What?

That sound right now, was without doubt Kuroyukihime’s. In her speech, she very naturally used «Utai» as a calling. That would mean —— the «Umesato middle school student council acquaintance» that s.h.i.+nomiya Utai said, is the vice president Kuroyukihime herself... would that be it? However, what would these two people’s contact point be?

As the great confusion staggered his head and he stood still, in the chat tool that was still displayed in his view, new lines of words flowed. Somehow Utai seemed to have also Ad Hoc connected to Kuroyukihime.

[UI> Cleaning is finished. This person worked hard by himself to finish it.]

“...This person? Where is he?”

With Kuroyukihime’s doubtful sound, he thought that he could no longer hide in the hallway, so Haruyuki left the wall’s side in awkward steps and entered the room. He closed the door with his hand behind him while looking down, then fearfully lifted up his head.

The Umesato middle school student council room that he saw for the first time, was a lot wider than he expected. In center was an oval conference table, beside the inner window was placed an elongated office desk, and all of left and right walls surfaces were furnished with a lattice of wood racks.

All sorts of furnis.h.i.+ngs were of comfortable dark brown natural wood, a thick beige carpet covered the floor, and a large sofa set was just to the left of the entrance, which made it seem unlikely that it was a room in a middle school. In fact, this was a higher rank s.p.a.ce than the school princ.i.p.al room that he peeked in once.

Utai stood beside the conference table at the front, while Kuroyukihime was near the sofa set. There was no sign of other people here. Somehow Kuroyukihime remained to work overtime by herself, but the unexpected thing was how she was dressed.

“Se..., senpai, why are you in that appearance?”

Instantly forgetting the question about her relations.h.i.+p with Utai, Haruyuki raised that sound, then Kuroyukihime quickly moved both arms to cover the front of her body, in tight fitting black half sleeve T-s.h.i.+rt and navy blue half pants —— that was, hiding her exercise clothed shape. With her face becoming slightly red and sharp lips, she released louder sound.

“N, no, this is, well... I thought this would be a good appearance that can get dirty while cleaning that animal pen... or rather, before that, why are you here, Haruyuki-kun?”

“Why, you said... that is... let’s see... what was it again?”

With a moment of seriously could not remember, Haruyuki mumbled, then somewhat amazed words from Utai lined

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