Accel World Vol 4 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2

So terrible had happened at school, and he returned ho knocked down

Such an experience was an everyday thing for Haruyuki During the time he had been severely bullied by class the tiles on the sidewalk beneath him almost every day

However, for Taku next to hi his feet just like Haruyuki, thisthis in his life

After silently walking along the path to their apartside Takumu, who had skipped out on kendo club practice on the pretense of being sick, Haruyuki spoke in a whisper when they passed through the apartates

“Come inside my place”

“……Sure”

He got on the elevator with Takuot off on the twenty-third floor After opening the door of his e onto the floor and sat down on a chair at the dining table

Takumu sat down on the other side as well, and the two of them remained silent like that for a while

—We sat down opposite each other like this before as well

Di that, Haruyuki finally recalled that that incident that occurred only twenty-four hours ago—in other words, on Monday after school

During the recess yesterday, Haruyuki had dueled Nous on his back taken away by his special technique

Takue state of Haruyuki and Chiyuri, who had been present there, and had visited Haruyuki after club activities had ended and sat down in the exact same place That time, Haruyuki had showered Taku self-torturous, and had been severely hit Afterwards, he had gone out to shi+njuku to challenge anyone to an accelerated duel in despair, had had his lethargic attitude scolded by the faht by him to the Old Tokyo Tower in the Unlimited Neutral Field

There, he had been introduced to Ash Roller’s Parent and forht Haruyuki about the existence of the ultiiven hi to make him learn it

Though Haruyuki had mastered the first step of the first step of Mind Power, he had actually needed one week in that world that was accelerated by one thousand times

That’s why, in a sense, it was natural for hi Taku time since the last time

Unconsciously raising his right hand, Haruyuki traced in his jahere he had been hit by Nouht cheek where Takumu had hit him after school Almost no marks were left anymore more on either of them, but he could still keenly feel the pain as it stiffened stingingly

…No matter much I accelerate my minds and shut myself in a different world, the wounds of the flesh…in other words, real pain can’t be healed

While he thought that, Takuave a self-deprecatory smile and muttered

“Haru When I hit you, I said that I said that was fine with Chii-chan beco happy no matter who her partner was, but…I take that back I can’t accept it at all That…Chii-chan would become that Noumi Seiji’s partner”

Dropping his hands on the table, Haruyuki also responded back with a hollow voice

“Before accepting it…I can’t believe it Certainly, there are no rules in Brain Burst that say that real-world friends have to enter the same team, but…For that Chiyu to betray us and join Nou points is…”

“Well, if you just think about earning points, it certainly is more efficient to join up with Nous, Dusk Taker’s battle power is already at a foul play-like level…If he debuts in duels with that while paired with the «healer» Lime Bell, there would be no Burst Linkers within the ainst them”

“What a cal depressed, professor”

This tiave a wry sh

“But still, Taku…It’s Chiyu we’re talking about Do you think Chiyu, who lacks any game sense and who is always useless in RPG event battles where she gets annihilated, wouldlike point efficiency?”

“T-That’s…I don’t think so, indeed…”

It was in a subdued tone, but Haruyuki’s shock fro finally eased down a little fro with his best friend, and he stood up slowly and headed toward the kitchen

He took out a box of frozen pizza froe freezer and simply threw it into thetea and prepared two glasses After the pizza finished thawing and heating in only a few dozen seconds, he carried it all to the table and properly placed them down

“…Thanks”

After pouring tea into Takulass as he muttered that, Haruyuki opened the box and picked out a piece of sea-food pizza Just as he pulled at the thin strands of cheese, he suddenly heard a voice in the back of his ear as he tried to take a bite

‘Aah, you’re eating soain!’

‘No other choice, I’ll have to get Ma’

But, of course, that was neither a real voice nor a PCM[1] file played by his Neuro Linker Beginning to recall the taste of the lasagna that Chiyuri had brought over just a few days ago, Haruyuki emphatically bit at the mass-produced-type pizza in over to overwrite that taste

Casting his eyes down, he chewed the strangely salty pizza, and heard a sniffling sound all the while as he did so When he quietly raised only his gaze, he saw Taku with the same downturned face as him

Suddenly, a different pain than that until now pierced his chest throbbingly

—Taku, he’s always so calm and so clever that I’m no match for hi in the face of all adversity

—When I lost s and becath Then, it’s e him and support his back

Muttering that within his mind, Haruyuki closed both his eyes, and quicklyHe drank his entire glass of oolong tea, and returned it to the table with a bang

“Taku!”

As he shouted that out, Takumu’s shoulder’s shook, and he lifted up his reddened eyes to look at hi

“Taku, I believe in Chiyu! That’s why, I don’t believe what she said!”

“Eh…?”

“I said it before Joining up with Noumi because she wants points? That’s not like Chiyu at all So that possibility is completed eliuess was correct Chiyuri was threatened by Nouive that explanation to us You can understand and agree with that ht?”

While tightly grasping his glasses, Takuorously lined up for a short while

Eventually, he slowly responded with some calmness returned to his voice

“Yeah…Certainly, that may be But Haru, your explanation has a small inconsistency You say «completely eli 10 is that the possibility that Chii-chan voluntarily joined Nouht?”

“Yeah…but, for a different reason”

“Reason…? You mean there’s some reason other than points that Chii-chan would become our enemy?”

After looking with upturned eyes at Takumu who titled his head, Haruyuki spoke in a whisper while instinctively shrinking his shoulders

“In other words, ua Nebulas…that person…”

Takuuard Soon, the sa on his face appeared on his own face as well

“I-I see…—A situation where Chii-chan is thinking ‘No way!’ to beco master’s…Kuroyukihime-senpai’s (Black Lotus) subordinate…”

“Can we absolutely say that she would never do that?’

At Haruyuki’s question, Takuht with a coh, he then added with a groan

“But, in that case, that’s all the most reason not to tell master about this and seek her assistance…If master found out that Chii-chan had betrayed us because of her…”

“She would take down both Dusk Taker and Lile stroke…”

They didn’t need to be reminded now of the severe nature of Kuroyukihia Nebulas» and the one that controlled the Level 9 duel avatar «Black Lotus» Once she determined someone as an enemy, she would mercilessly cut them doith the swords on both her hands It was very difficult—no, impossible to think that she wouldn’t apply that principle on only Chiyuri

Haruyuki te down at the table with a jerk, and though he looked at Taku himself as well

“Senpai will return froht, so we have four s in that time”

“Settle things, you say…how…?”

“Whether Chiyu is being threatened or is acting of her own volition, if we can defeat Noumi…if we can corner hiht?”

After letting out a big breath at Haruyuki’s words, Takuave a faint smile

“You say it so easily, Haru Even if we expose thelist, just how many times e have to win in order to make that Dusk Taker lose all his points?”

“I wonder about that”

Muttering a little, Haruyuki spoke the continuation of all his thinking

“Right now Noumi, who has just entered U points at an incredible pace in order to build up his position through the ability tests and kendo matches In particular, he uses that Physical Burst command which costs five points each time in kendo matches Do you really think that he, a Level 5, still has that much accumulated points to spare?”

“…I see…Especially since right now he’s not participating in ordinary duels either The sources for supplying himself with points should be limited”

Takuained just a little of their sharpness behind his glasses and nodded as well Then he suddenly looked back at Haruyuki and continued speaking quickly

“But, Haru In that case, it’s a battle with a different time limit that has no relation to when master returns to Tokyo Noumi, who has now obtained an exclusive «healer» in addition to «flight ability», should be debuting in duels which he has bided his tiht that -matches, but even so he’ll still win in almost all duels…”

“In other words, we have to sever his neck before he begins saving up points”

After exchanging a short gaze with Takumu, Haruyuki spoke decisively

“Alright I’ll soate the means he uses to block himself from duels by myself”

“W-What are you saying? I’ll also investigate with you…”

“No, there’s so you have to do while I do that”

Tightly gripping both hands over the table, Haruyuki then lowered his voice a little—

“Taku, you reht? That technique of Dusk Taker that let hi with his hands”

“Ah…yeah I can’t believe it even now”

As if doubting his memory, Takumu shook his head a little

“The fact that his special technique gauge didn’t decrease even though he was e aside punches and kicks, he even sucked inCyan Spike» Such an iree of relative priority, just what on earth kind of ability was that…?”

“Umm…it’s neither an ability prescribed by the system nor a special technique How should I say it…I also can’t explain it very well, but…”

While frowning and strenuously looking for the right words, Haruyuki tried to sootten just yesterday to Takumu