Vol 1 Chapter 4 (2/2)
Taiga started up arclight, and his consciousness moved to Elysion
The mental structure was as usual, transferred to the virtual body But the log in destination was different
It was not 《Aries》 which was currently sealed off, but a public structure anyone could enter for free
There are many various types of structures
It was just like Aries which was a ga power, but the amount it used was very small and barely around 01
Unlike a special structure like Aries, most of the city structures for public use mimicked reality They were literally an existence that was a 『Second world』
When it comes to the city the three of them lived in, the structure was referred to as 『Virtual New City』
This virtual area i it
Of course, if citizens couldn't access it it wouldn't be a public structure——that's what an urban structure was
”so I came here for the first time, but it is a mysterious place”
He felt light-headed for a moment, his virtual body was in front of the station
The city entrance——this was the location everyone was sent to when they logged in to 『Virtual New City』 for the first tih it was called a station, the linears were not running
When he looked up, there a nu information and news
Buildings, roads, everything, the futuristic city looked somehow surreal
Those guys couldn't stop the
In fact, there's a lot of incidents where people fall intotime
Since he wasn't using a sht used at ho should not cause any serious consequences
”Well then Just as I've been told by Fuyuki, I came twenty minutes before the promised time”
In front of hi place they decided together a day before
”Why are you here already”
Even though he intended to go over there before she came——but Fuyuki's advice was defeated And, then she ca him
Chestnut fluffy hair, a girl wearing irregular daring clothes
Having a natural charazes, it was Saionji Rui
Why were the two of them on a date at a time like this
It's so they talked about yesterday, before Rui woke up
”Role, is it certainly, the only one who can fight back against it, is only Brother, but do you have a chance? Taking the previous battle into consideration, I don't think Brother has any?”
”Ugh”
Although he said so cool, he was at a loss for words when he was told that
Even if he was caught off guard, but he would be defeated anyway if he continued to fight like that And, for so the battle
”you didn't think about it As expected”
”Well well, isn't that just like Taiga-kun Making a rash decision and ending up looking uncool”
He noticed it just now, but Haya and Fuyuki were quite similar
”But there's no need to worry This wonderful cute Little Sister will think about it ——Give Little Sister a day, and I will determine the reason for Brother'sabout the difference in strength”
Fuyuki looked straight at his of helplessness he had
Twenty-four hours During that ti but look at his best friend, Rui to break in silence
Even so, Fuyuki would not budge
In order to save her, in order to avoid failing no e
Because Taiga understood that, he prepared himself
”I get it I leave it to you, Fuyuki”
He left it to her And his little sister went home immediately
”I need to coram as well, so excuse me I will be done by tomorroell”
”I see So, what should I do now”
He couldn't spend ti
Looks like they will be skipping school to to train after all, but Fuyuki proposed another plan
”Brother, please stay together with Rucchan the entire time She will be insecure and anxious alone I don't ive you special permission”
”D-date? No, but Rui can't walk”
”If it's that it'll be alright Kaichou-san, does this hospital lend virtual bodies that are operated by thoughts?”
”One can be prepared right away”
”It's decided then Brother, too on a date in Elysion tomorrow”
Their conversation skipped a lot of steps Well he orried about Rui, and he wasn't against going out together still he couldn't help but get nervous considering it was a date
”It will go well, Little Sister will give you advice In exchange, please go on a date with Little Sister later, okay?”
That's it Recollection end
Taiga rushed over and uttered a word of apology
”Sorry, did you wait long?”
”Mm, no, Rui-san just arrived as well”
The male and female roles were perfectly reversed frouilty, he started the day he was supposed to spend with Rui thinking like that
An innocent smile like usual, and her clothes were hot pants and a tank top
Meaning, Rui wanted to look attractive today
did she change for me?
He didn't kno to call it, but today she was——cute
It didn't mean she isn't normally cute It meant that a very pretty atmosphere surrounded her body
He wondered if that was the ic of a date
”uh—uht-operated virtual body, was it?”
”Yup It was difficult to ot used to it”
Rui e in the real world, to show him
The virtual body she was using was one often used in hospitals, it's a virtual body working on a special es in a human's head It's mainly used for people with disabilities
——She, who cannot move in the real world anyht now is just an illusion, his heart ached
”Now then let's go”
Shaking off that sentiht hand
Even if you don't cross your arms, at least hold her hand——just as Fuyuki advised him
”yup”
Her cheeks flushed slightly, Rui overlapped her hand with his And their fingers firled, this was the so called lovers tie
”Ehehe”
Rui laughed slightly e very lovely
Because she was so attractive Taiga turned ahen they started to walk to hide his bright red face
——Just at this et about reality and enjoy herself
While feeling each other's waran
From that moment, the two of them toured a lot of places
Startingshopping, the two had a good time at karaoke and aquarium, after which they took a break at an open air café's terrace
Above a cup of tea that was a combination of taste data, Saionji Rui observed the boy in front of her
super cool, well not really But I wonder why? My eyes are attracted to him The difference between the front and the back, I wonder if I like the gap between his everyday self and the feeling he gives off occasionally?
She had a strange taste, even if she said so herself It was a pretty dangerous choice
Because her ed out, she didn't know much about their relationshi+p before, but so with
In a broad, and shallow sense She thought to herself he ht be 『Special』 to her
And, noticing her gaze, their eyes met
”What is it? Is there so?”
”No〜 Rui-san is pretty strange, I wasn't aware I was staring at you〜”
”If Rui is strange, then both orized as madmen”
”Ahaha, that's not true!”
”I wonder about that At the very least, the environht up in was abnormal”
”Nn〜 it was soht?”
”asking about it while being perfectly cal it special forces, it isn't all that wrong I saw guns and military drones on a daily basis, it was a place people killed each other in reality The place I was taken to well, was the worst”
Even so, he didn't think about the everyday life he lost
Because he was going to go back there someday——that's what he decided in his mind, he had a 『World he should return to』 so he didn't despair
”you probably heard about it from Fuyuki, but I was in unexpectedly old fashi+oned home”
”Geez Every country has unmanned weapons as their pris, even if you trained it's some insane stuff”
A place where monsters with abnormal physical ability met
Taiga didn't criticize the Renjou household thatpeople around him he learned to handle and hone his body
”Can it be, that you were bullied?”
”why do you think so?”
”Well, somehow You had kind of a pained look I wondered if you went through so like that”
She's sharp
His expressions barely changed, and yet he was read this precisely
”Well, it's huht hurt you though I repaid hi”
”Ahaha”
At that e object It was a pile of fruits and ice creale, and for some reason it didn't spill out
”Sorry to keep you waiting It's the special parfait you ordered”
”Ooh〜 it's here, its here!”
”Eh, what's this A parfait is that a joke?”
”Nfufufu〜 because the object has specified fixed coordinates it will not collapse”
A huge parfait was soundly placed in front of the called special, but no matter what, that was over the top
”H the taste Though when it isn't placed in a belly, it feels somewhat creepy”
”Ha should eat some as well It's delicious you know?”
”well then, just a bite”
”Yay, it's here, come on, a—n!”
Rui scooped up a a
”Wai- Rui?!”
”Hohoo, you see that's the kind of store this is”
He suddenly noticed that around the the sa stereotypical 『Couple Juice』 together
But——her cheeks were red as she held out the spoon, and he noticed that her hand was tre
It was just a moment later, but, he made his decision and ate the piece of parfait that was held out
”it's delicious”
”Right〜!”
He thought it would be just sweet, but it wasn't so It was cold and sweet spreading in his rarance of fruits drifting around
”ehehe, it's an indirect kiss”
”Goouh?! Y-you?!”
”I wonder if rather than with Fuyuki, your first experience ith Rui-san?”
”excluding the time ere kids, it's my first”
Of course it ith Fuyuki Rui knowing that, looked soretful
”I see Looks like I can't win against Fuyuki after all〜”
”I don't think it's ayou know?”
In the first place it was talk about when they were kids Not so they did consciously
”That ht be so But I just wanted to be number one”
Especially, when it cae to continue like that, she as of now couldn't say that yet
Wanting to shake off those heavy thoughts froed the topic
”Speaking of which, when did you become friends with Kaichou-san?”
”Nn? Ah— we met on the specialized course by chance And we spoke quite often after that”
”So that's how it is For soa and Rui-san differently〜 or so I was thinking, I wonder if it's et along with her really well”
”I-it's your io to the next location”
Faced with her sharp questions, Taiga changed the topic Even though Rui had seen through hiht as she scooped some more of the parfait
At the same time, in Kiritou Academy's structure
”kshun”
A small sneeze echoed
Haya continued the develop on the sofa in her rooht and examined the vitals of her body
”All values nor about me”
She assuht be him She took a s so unnecessary
As a lot of fatigue had accumulated, she laid down on the sofa and daydrea
I want to return to the laboratory, but I would probably be surrounded by other researchers and questioned
Because, blocking a large structure like Aries was unprecedented Though at that time there was no other way than to do that, the reason didn't matter
The fact that she developed that AI would add fuel to the fire as well
Currently, Haya was in a delicate position in the company
”Because of that I don't have access to the facilities seriously Even though there's no time!”
One day It was the grace tiave her
If the situation doesn't improve Iora will be destroyed——she will lose Last tiotiations
They were people ant to see results above anything else There's twenty-three unconscious people, so they didn't want to destroy her right away
If it was exposed that Saionji was subjected to 《Jail》 it would be bad It would daet involved in it got out
The forced transition she did already stood out If it ca Kiritou——that's why the higher ups left it to her
They wanted to avoid any bad ruh it was as if she put a rope around her own neck, she got a chance to save Iora
——She had to stick with it That's what she thought Not because she was her developer
Because Iora was her dream
Because the girl named Kiritou Haya was always lonely
She could not make any friends because of rumours about her household The only ones who approached her were adults anted to get closer to Kiritou
Act like an adult——that's what her father, as on the top of the coive anyone a chance to take advantage of her, and like a tyrant, forbade her fro childish
As the person in question, Haya, grew up, she got more and more isolated from the environment even if she didn't intend to
That's why, that was the only dream she had
——She wanted a friend
As she grew up hiding her childishness behind an adult hts Asumi Aoko, and started a project
Making an existence she could be friends with——a virtual personality with emotions, the development of project Iolite
That's why she had to protect it The forether with her late friend, even more so now that she has people who supported her, she has to protect it no matter what
”just wait I will definitely save you No matter what I have to do”
Haya said those words even though she knew no one will hear her anyway, and resumed work
They soether, it wasn't so one person could eat And then they went on the streets once again
They enjoyed their ti around, Rui showed interest in the accessories arranged on the stall
”Waa— this one is wonderful”
Rui took a pendant shaped like sun in her hand The design was quite elaborate, even Taiga asn't fa was impressed
By the way, even though it's called a stall, they didn't sell anything in there It was a place that could be used for sas, it was ain the real world
”That's certainly beautiful Also, it would look great on Rui”
He looked at its price It was a little high, but if it was just that much it should work out
”I'll buy this Send it to this place”
”Eh? Nonono you can't! Aren't you short on living expanses?”
”It ork out if I fast a little Also, it's a present not only to coratitude”
”Gratitude?”
”Ever since Ilike an appreciation gift thank you, and I'll be in your care from now on, that's why please take it”
He conveyed his feelings of gratitude to her upfront
He really was always taken care of by Rui Things like school, meals, Aries, and also that she becah
He was honestly e he had to say properly
The person in question, Rui was du special to her, she just did what she could do——and yet as she was being sincerely thanked for that, she thought he was very cute as he said that
I feel that I can somehow understand what Fuyuki meant when she said he's cute
At the sas
”I see Then, don't hold back with your present”
”Right”
It would arrive in two days, for the tiot data with the specification of the accessory as a bonus That meant she could use the same fashi+on in both the real world and Elysion
”Ah This is perfect Taiga, put it on me”
”Eh? N-no at least do that yourse——”
”Come on, hurry up hurry up”
While ot close to him by a step and removed the pendant's clasp
As Rui closed her eyes and looked up, looking as if she was prepared for a kiss, Taiganot to stare at her as much as possible
He tried to place the pendant on from the front But, it didn't seem to work because he was too stiff
”Taiga— It will be hard unless you get closer you know?”
”Uu, n-no, I know that but”
But if he approaches her any et in close contact with various things Especially with her large breasts——is what he thought but couldn't say
However, so as not to le, hea step forward
”————————”
”Hou”
From a third person's point of view It could only look like a couple hugging each other That's how close the two of them were Soft twin hills of size incohtly above his stoh his body
I knew they are big but t-this is dangerous!
It wasn't just the feeling of her body, the sight and the serous as well
Looking down from above, her body was destructively attractive, on top of that her chestnut fluffy hair sht, it would be like the sun Like a warht
It would turn bad if he continued to stay like that Taiga fastened the pendant's clasp in a hurry His sense of smell and touch were stimulated like crazy as he did that, and his spirit orn out in various ways by the time he finished
”Ehehe”
Even so, seeing her sht
Rui played with the pendant happily Although she smiled happily as she looked at it, it suddenly darkened
”Looks like it's about time”
They both knew it No matter how much fun they have, it will eventually coht left in her heart, she declared
”there's one last place I want to go to”
Rucchan, is probably at her limit
Fuyuki continued progra an inch fro away froa off, she checked the time
Four pm ——it was the time Kiritou Haya estiht about the girl as about to disappear in a distant world
Tenryo Fuyuki's only friend, the only friend of a girl who used to be Karasuba Fuyuki, Saionji Rui
A person who reached out a helping hand to her after she was torn apart from her beloved brother, her important best friend
”don't worry and please wait I'll save you right away”
Fuyuki went back to work afterthat
Right now there's one thing she had to do, she couldn't think about anything else
”Just a little more, one more stretch and it's done”
With her sky blue eyes shi+ning, Fuyuki plunged into the sea of electrons
”Yup No matter when I come it's always beautiful here〜”
In the scenery dyed in scarlet, chestnut hair danced in accordance to Rui's ht cast by the setting sun
The light scattered every tientle and warm ambience
”yeah, certainly it's beautiful”
There is a place I want to go to——saying that she brought hi platform on a small hill in the outskirts of 《Virtual New City》
There ht have been some people there if it was a holiday, but there was no one there during daytime on a weekday Also it wasn't reality so there were no people ould come over on a whim
There were only two of the down on the city
Taiga and Rui stood side by side looking at the fantasy-like city
”why, do you think I chose to come here last?”
The words she murmured melted away carried by the wind Still, they easily reached hi at the scenery of the city spread below
”Because the scenery is beautiful, I guess”
”Unfortunately, a miss but isn't it? It's not like it isn't beautiful But the answer is incorrect”
Only last pieces of memory were left in her head, even the recenta mess
Even Saionji's Rui personality was becohts, her virtual body slowly stopped to respond and move
The appointed time, was about to come soon
”One day When I found a person I like, I would end the date here——that's what I decided I'd prefer if it was reality, but in this state it can't be helped”
”Isn't it all right After returning to your body, you can go there together with the person you like”
”Ahahaha, you don't get it at all do you〜 Taiga It's iether it feels like fate Wonderful isn't it?”
”So it's like that”
”That's how it is can we sit down? In fact, it's a bit hard to stand”
They sat on a bench, and looked at the sun sinking behind the horizon in a relaxed a's shoulder
”It's scary, after all”
He heard a small voice
”Even though, I should be prepared for it but the fact that I ht disappear is scary”
”Rui”
”Why did so like that happen!! It should have been just a nora ca and fun, why do I have to go through so like this?!”
The chain of emotions held in by force burst, it exploded
Not knoas it her, asn't it so for someone else's misfortune, she couldn't help but think so
Tenryo Taiga was a boy as crushed once in reality, so he understood her pain
”I don't want to disappear”
Large tears fell one after another, fear that has been suppressed until now, the things she was afraid of, surfaced one after another
——Because he didn't want to see such a face, that's why he's gotten stronger, didn't he
”the one who should have been cut is me, the one as supposed to fade away should be me Because you protected me, I can be here That's why—— the fact you were the one cut, I'll less”
There was a a remained and not Saionji Rui, he will prove that there was a reason for it and it will lead to so
”——I swear That's ait for me It'll be over soon”
He will definitely save her——he won't allow anyone to be sacrificed
Theprecious, his existence will becoless
”aaa”
Sky blue eyes looked straight at her, as if sucking her in It re, Rui h
Yeah——with this, I'm done for〜
There was no doubt about it
Confir was just like her
Unnecessary things like suspension bridge effect came to her mind, but it didn't matter That's why she saw hi in hiain soon
She wiped the tears that spilled
In the beautiful orange sunset, the scarlet colour burned in her heart
Here and now, certainly in her heart,
”———Yup I will be waiting, my Prince”
Saionji Rui closed her eyes
Her eyes closed as if she was asleep, they wouldn't open no matter what
Basking in the sunset's light, Taiga continued to hug her body as strength gradually left it
Translator's Notes and References
↑ Ani here is usually translated as Brother, which is a kinda- an older brother and probably the terlish ”Brother”, Onii isan older brother, so it's usually distinctively left untranslated
↑ Shuraba – In other words, a battle, carnage, hell, that's how battle between girls over one man is sometimes referred to in japanese