On the eastern side of the Suginami district, was the private Umesato middle school, with three classes for each grade, so its size couldn't be considered large.
Even so, as the school's total of 360 students lined up in the gym, the pressure from their looks should be considerable. If he himself was the target of that concentrated stare, Haruyuki believed that he would at least have a physical hole burnt into him.
However, standing on the podium at the school entrance ceremony, even without the help of the Neuro Linker, the dignified voice reached the back line of students, that person's face was so cool as if it did not feel a single milligram of pressure.
"...Many of you right now must have feelings of anticipation, unease, and things like that. For newly arrived students, seeing a new school, and new upperclassmen might result in great confusion. However, please think about it. Right now, those people with composed faces behind you, one or two years ago, were sitting where you were with unease exactly the same as yours..."
—Unbelievably, the person speaking those respectable words was, in the other world, a wanted destroyer, a ruthless killer, and above that a demonic trainer that would surprise even US marines.
While he grumbled in his chest, Haruyuki continued to look with unsuppressed longing, at the girl on the stage— with a black blouse and a dark red ribbon, slender long legs covered by black stockings, she was Kuroyukihime.
His relationship with that person was special— calling it like that did not convey its full meaning, and half a year later, they still had not reached the level of boyfriend and girlfriend. Inside school, the recognition from the surrounding students were similar, Kuroyukihime's sense of duty and pity saved a round underclassman, and kept him as a favorite pet to walk with, they thought of it like that.
And for Haruyuki, he was actually not dissatisfied with it. On the other hand, he thought it showed the truth. He would like to avoid being treated as a pet, instead as the knight of a princess— no, a squire, nono, a page, he would be well satisfied around there.
"...One year, is equal to 31,536,000 seconds, if that time is passed massively, then it is just an instant. I wish you all a fruitful year. And that ends my greeting."
She bowed, then turned around with her long black hair swaying, and returned to the line of student council members in the back.
While he was desperately clapping his hands along with all of the school's students, he went into idle thought.
Today, I will be in my 2nd year, and senpai will be in her 3rd year. That means in just one year— that person will graduate from Umesato middle school.
No, that does not mean their relationship would be broken. That person and him, other than upperclassman and lowerclassman in the same school, had a far stronger relationship— they had their Burst Linker «Parent Child» bond.
He closed his eyes tightly once, and when he opened them again, Haruyuki clapped his hands together hard.
At that time—
Haruyuki who was staring intently at Kuroyukihime on the stage, felt that he saw the detached beauty subtly move suddenly.
Her narrowed jet black pair of eyes, stopped at the foremost group of fresh first year students, and soon returned to looking in front. Haruyuki wrinkled his eyebrows, and straightened his back on the chair in an attempt to see who Kuroyukihime was staring at, but of course he could not find one person in the middle of everyone wearing the same uniform.
After the school's entrance ceremony had finished, Haruyuki, who returned to the school building, almost went to the 3rd floor in a daze, and hurriedly changed direction to his new classroom on the 2nd floor.
The class he was placed in was already announced through the Local Net, but other students' names would not be known to him till he entered the classroom. I beg you, please don't have anyone in class who will call me «Pig-kun» again, or make me buy buns and other things!, with that wish, Haruyuki passed through the 2nd year C class door—
"Haru, Hi!"
With that sound, his back was knocked on with full force, so his breath was stopped.
When he turned 90 degrees to the left at a high speed, what he saw was the cat type hairpin holding up the front bangs as usual, the face of his childhood friend with a smile showing her canine teeth.
"...Chi-Chiyu. You... here?"
"What? What's with that complex looking face?"
Seeing that pout, Haruyuki wondered in his heart if she really saw that «nightmare» last night, and answered.
"No, nothing."
That's right, even if he was in the same class as Chiyuri, if he did not get bullied again, then he did not need to fear. But, there was a problem aside that. With this, the triangle's side lengths would again become subtly—
"Hey, Haru. Chi-chan too."
His back was knocked on again, and this time Haruyuki turned 90 degrees to the right. When he looked up, he saw Takumu's smiling face behind blue glasses.
Somehow the three of them seemed to be placed in the same class. That meant the triangle shrunk while keeping the same size. While remembering Chiyuri last night saying, "We can return right, to that time", he realized there was some disturbance in his chest, and Haruyuki made the same smile while saying.
"Hi, Taku is also in C class huh. ...Let's see."
Faintly recalling the probability calculation for this situation, he mouthed the answer.
"The probability of the three of us being in the same class is... ⅓ over ⅓ over ⅓, that is 1/27 huh. This is an incredible coincidence."
Then, while walking towards the window, Takumu lightly shook his head.
"No, that is 1/9."
"Huh, why?"
"Why?"
Chiyuri who reached the same answer as Haruyuki, also asked in surprise at the same time. While leaning his smart tall body on the window ledge, Takumu explained after pushing his frameless glasses up.
"If it was «the probability of us three being in C class», then it would be 1/27 as Haru said. But, in this case where the class is does not matter. So it becomes «the three of us together in A class, B class, or C class», then the number is 3 times, and becomes1/9."
"Ah—!"
"I see!"
Again, he and Chiyuri nodded at the same time, and Haruyuki finally added with a smile.
"As expected from Taku, during Spring Break you sharpened the Professor character huh..."
"Haru, really stop that! If I am given a nickname as «Professor» or «Glasses guy», it will be Haru's fault."
While making a seriously unpleasant face, Takumu took a glance at the 2nd year C classroom increasingly filled with more students and said in a low voice.
"...Anyway, there are all sort of coincidences in the world, and if you calculate it, you can see that it is relatively higher probability than your impression, that is what it means. That's why I think we should be prepared just in case."
"Huh? For what?"
Takumu got close to Haruyuki's blank looking face, and whispered with a low sound—
"The new first years. In that 120 people, there is a possibility of unknown Burst Linkers mixed in it."
After hearing that, Haruyuki took a momentary sharp breath, then shook his head slightly.
"Th-That... possibility is not zero, but, would they go into a school other than their «Parent»'s school? If they transfer in like Taku then that is another story..."
"Yeah, normally, you don't make a «Child» of someone going to a different school than you. Because, if that school has another Burst Linker, there is a very high possibility that your «Child» will be taken into the fighting force of that side. The strongest relationship in the accelerated world is «Parent Child», but «Same School» is next to that..."
Like Takumu said, for Burst Linkers that are going to the same school, eventually they would unavoidably commit «Reality Intrusion» with each other. If they started fighting, then that fight would always be to the death with no game rules. In that situation, to protect their Brain Burst, they would have to cease fire and make up eventually.
That's why many Burst Linkers did not pick someone who had a possibility of going to a different school from theirs to be their «Child». That means, the Burst Linkers in Umesato middle school right now should be Kuroyukihime, Haruyuki, Takumu —and Chiyuri too— only those, in this situation, you could say there should be almost no unknown Burst Linker that would be a new first year student.
However, of course that did not mean they didn't have to check to make sure.
While trying to think back to when he was a new student last year, Haruyuki asked Takumu.
"Let's see... When would be the first time a new student connects to the Local Net?"
"It should be soon. If it is the same as the school I previously attended, certainly after the school entrance ceremony ends, while moving to the classroom, when the account is first given out."
With that answer, after thinking for a bit, Haruyuki said with a snicker.
"...Then, let's do this. Since checking will use up 1 Burst Point anyway, we might as well see what kind of Duel Avatar Chiyu obtained in the «Duel Field». When the homeroom that is next ends, I will «Accelerate» and challenge Chiyu, so Taku can join in the gallery."
Their new homeroom teacher was a young male teacher in charge of Japanese history. The teacher called Sugeno, as opposed to his age, was a very firm "Children don't need the Net" advocate, so Haruyuki did not feel close to him, but his hot blood fever got along with the other students.
If you search the Net for everything, then you will become an adult that cannot think with your head!, while ignoring that kind of expressed belief belonging to Sugeno, the student self introduction was somehow over, and right after the first period homeroom ended, Haruyuki sang the acceleration command in his mouth.
"Burst Link."
After the *Viiiii!* dry thunder like sound echoed all over inside his brain, the surrounding scene was all dyed blue.
At the same time, Sugeno who was stepping off the teacher's podium, and the other students who were going to stand up from their chairs, all suddenly stopped.
The time did not stop. The «Brain Burst» program that was hiding inside Haruyuki's Neuro Linker, only accelerated his consciousness 1000 times.
On the left side of his virtual desktop, he touched the burning «B» icon, and started the game console. While the matching list refreshed, he waited somewhat in anticipation.
On the very top of the list, soon «Silver Crow», that is Haruyuki's own Duel Avatar's name floated. The right side showed level 4.
Continuing was «Black Lotus», that is Kuroyukihime. Of course, level 9. Next, was at same level as Haruyuki, «Cyan Pile»— that is, Takumu's name appeared.
With a tiny delay, another line of letters popped up shining.
«Lime Bell». Level 1.
At that time, the list's 'Searching' display disappeared. That meant, at this moment, there were four Burst Linkers connected to the Umesato middle school Local Net. And then, «Lime Bell» without a doubt would be Chiyuri.
At this time, without exception, all 120 new first year students should have signed into the Local Net, so he could conclude that there really were no new Burst Linkers among those students.
However, there was one thing that nagged at him, if he really wanted to mention it.
During the school entrance ceremony, from the top of the stage, Kuroyukihime momentarily stared at the line of new students sharply. What did that mean?
I should send her an email to check, he thought that for an instant, but since Kuroyukihime who is the vice president of the student council should be swamped by a mountain of different tasks right now, he changed his mind.
As his avatar's finger extended towards the names of four Burst Linkers in Umesato middle school, Haruyuki had a quick thought.
Lime, that is probably a yellowish green color. A little close combat kind of indirect attack type. However what kind of ability she actually had, he would not know till he saw it in the duel.
Duel Avatar is a manifestation of its owner's sense of inferiority—. From half year ago, Kuroyukihime's words rang in his ears.
Of course, just by looking at the avatar's appearance, one could not instantly fathom the owner's «Emotional scars». Actually, right now Haruyuki still could not determine what was Takumu and Kuroyukihime's sense of inferiority that created such powerful avatars.
Even so, it was true that it exposed the «Hidden inside».
In his blue frozen view, Haruyuki glanced at the back of Chiyuri that was a bit away to his left side. Swallowing his slight hesitation, he touched the name «Lime Bell», and clicked «Duel» from the pop-up menu.
The field that appeared had huge gears and conveyors moving around in a rumble, the «Construction Site» stage.
While waiting for himself to be changed to the silver colored «Silver Crow», and the burning word 'FIGHT' to pop up, he slowly stood up.
He looked around the 2nd year C classroom where his classmates had disappeared, and in exchange were filled with mysterious machines, and first saw the large blue avatar, «Cyan Pile». After giving a quick nod to him, Haruyuki looked at the one standing opposite of him, a delicate avatar that was similar to his.
«Lime Bell» was covered in unexpectedly vivid lettuce green equipment.
The whole body's supple lines showed a clearly female shape. The limbs and body were mostly slender like Silver Crow's, and the waist was equipped with a tree leaf like armor.
The head was covered with a magic-user-like wide-brim pointed hat, and under that was a face mask with eyes that resembled a cat's.
However the most distinctive feature was, the huge bell-shaped equipment in her left hand, probably a hand bell. While thinking whether it was a weapon or a musical instrument, just as it looked like, Haruyuki walked towards her.
While looking at the bell connected to her left hand, «Lime Bell»— Chiyuri tilted her head and said.
"Somehow... isn't this color too flashy?"
"Don't complain, such high color saturation, even if you wanted it, doesn't show up often."
"On the other hand."
Under the hat, the orange colored eyes narrowed in doubt.
"...You, are Haru?"
"...Yes. I understand what you want to say, so you don't need to say it!"
He quickly added that, but Chiyuri shouted without mercy.
"No way! This game's avatar, is a representation of trauma... right? Hmm, hoo, I see."
"Leave it alone."
After taking a glance at the body that is over half more slender than his real body, he turned his head away.
Then, he saw that Cyan Pile had appeared there some time ago.
The blue avatar with a pile driver equipped on his right hand, was looking down at the yellowish green avatar with a somewhat tense look.
Chiyuri also accepted those eyes silently.
Once— half year ago, Takumu could not endure the fear of losing that avatar «Cyan Pile», and put a backdoor program into Chiyuri's Neuro Linker.
That virus's real objective was to use Chiyuri's Neuro Linker as a stage to connect to Umesato middle school's Local Net from the outside, and hunt the accelerated world's highest bounty, the «Black King», Black Lotus.
However as a side effect of the virus, it made it possible for Takumu to steal Chiyuri's sight and hearing information, and he put that to use to find out Chiyuri's real feelings.
Eventually he confessed, and Chiyuri who he apologized to went into a rage, of course. She announced the breaking of ties to both Haruyuki and Takumu, and it took a week before she talked to them again. To fulfill her presented «All she can eat of Enji shop's parfait» condition for settlement, the two of their Neuro Linker's charge limit easily dropped, but the three's relationship, was repaired to the same as before—
That, was what Haruyuki believed, and wished it to be, but.
The three sides of the triangle, the one connecting Chiyuri and Takumu, was still changing unstably right now, was what their looks at each other showed.
"...Well, it is about time we start the beginner lessons."
Trying to break through the tension, Haruyuki announced and turned towards the yellowish green avatar.
"Chiyu, you have already heard of most of this «Brain Burst» rules from Taku right?"
"Yeah. All I need to do is, win a lot of duels to earn points, then become level 10 to clear the game right?"
"...D-Don't say it so simply. Well, that is right though..."
If that person heard Chiyuri's indifferent words, what would she say, while Haruyuki shook his head thinking like that, he continued.
"An-Anyway, to win a duel, you have to see through the opponent's weakness and fight in a way that is advantageous to you. For that reason, you have to fully grasp your avatar's abilities."
—Unbelievable, that a day where I said such bossy words to someone would come.
While noticing that slight realization, he moved his right index finger.
"Around this part in your view, should be your own «Health Gauge» right? Touch that, and from the expanded window open the «Skill List»."
Normally this was the Parent's role for Takumu, but the flow of conversation somehow had Haruyuki pointing it out to her,
"O...Okay."
Chiyuri, who nodded, with somewhat awkward movements extended her finger, and tapped a point in the air. Continuing, she did a few more manipulations.
"Let's see... normal skills, three of them, and looks like one special skill. «Citron Call»...? Somehow, the left hand bell... like this..."
While murmuring, Chiyuri followed the skill list animation silhouette, spinning the huge bell that was in front of her left elbow around twice, and finally from above coming down with a snap. But of course, nothing happened.
"What is this, it didn't do anything."
"To use special skills, you have to fill the blue «Special Gauge» below the Health Gauge."
"That, how do I fill it?"
"Damage the opponent, take damage yourself, and..."
As he reached that point, Chiyuri lifted her heavy looking bell and raised it, aiming for Haruyuki's head, as he hurriedly added.
"Th-That and also, you can fill it by destroying the stage. The machines around there, any of them can be destroyed!"
"Ah, I see."
It might be his imagination that she nodded with some slight dissatisfaction, and walked towards the steam engine sitting where the teacher's podium was, then without any hesitation, she used her left hand to hit the machine that was putting out a lot of steam.
With a *Boom!* light explosion sound, sparks and white smoke spew out.
"Wow, feels great!"
With innocent sounds of joy, the pointed hat avatar started hitting and destroying one side of the gears turning the belt conveyor, as Haruyuki's back shivered while watching her. The realism of that explosion, and the stage's ultra high detail, not showing signs of being impressed even by a little, this is why girls are...
While Haruyuki grumbled in his heart, the silent till now Takumu whispered from beside him.
"Haru, did you notice it? Chi-chan's HP gauge, did not seem to drop at all. For the «Construction Site» machine objects, when you destroy it, you should take a little damage."
"Ah... that's right."
"Unlike her appearance, her defense is pretty high. «Green» is originally, the next below «Metal Color», a superior defense color..."
With Takumu's calm analysis, Haruyuki thought of the rumored «Green King»'s iron wall legend.
Lime Bell's armor, compared to the level 1 Silver Crow, was clearly harder. That means, Chiyuri is also a defensive type. That is completely opposite of the real person's personality, somehow.
While thinking about those things, Lime Bell's special gauge was filled to near half while shining blue.
"Hey Chiyu, that's plenty."
After being called out, the avatar that turned around came walking close—
And without a single hesitation, raised the huge bell in her left hand high.
"Higuu!?"
In front of Haruyuki, who screamed, and held both hands up to protect his head in reflex.
After two half clockwise spins, the bell was suddenly covered with a brilliant yellowish green shine.
"...«Citron Ca~ll»!!"
With the relatively proper skill name shout, from the bell that was swung straight down, with a *Rigorigoriin* kind of magnificent sound effect, light particles that covered Silver Crow's whole body spewed out.
"...!"
Unable to predict what kind of damage he would take, Haruyuki held his breath and closed his eyes. Heat, impact, or some unknown name acid dissolving attack might be possible—
"...Huh?"
"...Oh?"
From his left and right ear, Chiyuri and Takumu's quizzical sounds reached him, and Haruyuki opened his eyes slightly.
As he nervously looked down at his body, it still shone the same fresh white silver color. He did not feel any pain or heat, and his HP bar did not decrease at all.
"What is this! Nothing happened!!"
To Chiyuri's indignant shout, he shook his head on reaction.
"Th...That should not be it. Your skill, without a doubt hit me... your special skill gauge also decreased. Overtime damage... not that either. Delayed start damage, maybe...?"
As he mumbled, he waited for something to happen, but a few seconds, then a few tens of seconds later, Silver Crow's HP did not move at all.
"Hmm... this means, light and sound only, some kind of eye dazzling skill maybe. That is sort of yellow color type..."
Haruyuki's words did not seem to ease Chiyuri's dissatisfaction, and she put her right hand to her waist.
"That is boring! Haru, give me one of your special skills!!"
"What, that is impossible. Anyway, my special skill is just a Head Butt."
"At this point, I will take even that."
As this bargaining expanded to something that's no different from reality, suddenly Takumu said in a low murmur.
"No... for just a dazzle skill, the decrease in the special skill gauge is way too much. Even though it was half full, all of it was used up... some kind of, there should be a more practical effect..."
With his strong arms crossed, Cyan Pile lowered his small slits lined face.
"Not damage, not Debuff[1]... that means... ah... wait, just maybe...!!"
His sharp sound made both Haruyuki and Chiyuri turn their heads at the same time.
"What is it, Taku? Did you think of something?"
"...Well yeah, something with unbelievable feeling though... Chi-chan, with that bell, hit Haru normally."
"Okay, understood."
*Gochiri~n!!*
Before Takumu's words finished or not, Chiyuri without a single hint of holding back, swung the huge bell down, and Haruyuki who took that right on his head, saw numerous stars in his view.
"O-Ouch..."
As he moaned, the relentless directions continued.
"The gauge is still not enough. About three more times."
"Okay, understood."
*Zukazukazukari~n!!*
...Chiyu's bell is nice. When it hits, incredibly nice sounds come out.
While he was thinking that and other stuff, Haruyuki abruptly fainted while laying with his arms and legs spread apart.
For the duel fighting game that is Brain Burst, just leveling up would not majorly increase HP, Attack, and Defense. With new special skills and abilities obtained, tactics can be expanded, but if you get hit without defending like this, corresponding damage occurred. The result, after Haruyuki was hit for four times, his HP gauge decreased by about 30%, and in exchange, Chiyuri's special skill gauge again filled over half, shining blue.
While moaning, Haruyuki somehow managed to stand up, and in front of his eyes—
Again the bell was spun around, and yellowish green light effect shone.
—That's strange, when I was first lectured by senpai, this «Using the mentor's body to teach skill» scene never happened.
—Anyway, in the first place, why am I the duel opponent for Chiyu?
As he thought about that now too late, Chiyuri's second skill-name shout, louder than the earlier one, started.
"Citron Ca~~ll!!"
The clear sound of a bell. A lime green ribbon of light overflowed out. And then, lightly drifting by, was a fresh citrus scent.
That covered Silver Crow's body in layers. At that moment.
"Uaaa...!?"
Haruyuki experienced something which he had not experienced in the accelerated world for a few months, a shock to the bottom of his heart which made him shout out loud.
In his view's upper left corner, his HP bar that was decreased by about 30%—
Was slowly recovering!
HP recovery.
For duel fighting genre games, that is originally an impossible phenomenon. Actually, till now Haruyuki had not seen a single HP gauge recovery ability in «Brain Burst».
No, to be exact, there might be one exception that he had seen. Three months ago, after an incredible battle and destruction, the cursed enhanced armament, «Chrome Disaster» that was annihilated. That avatar had an ability that could «Drain» the opponent's health that he ate to heal his wounds.
However, since during the Disaster fight, they were in the «Unlimited Neutral Field» where other people's HP gauge could not be seen, this was the first time he actually saw a HP gauge recover.
Within just about 10 seconds, his HP was returned to full, and the yellowish green light disappeared at the same time.
However Haruyuki, and Takumu who was a bit further away, could not move or make a sound.
What released them from their paralysis, was the dissatisfied shout from Chiyuri.
"No way, what's that?! Your Hit Points were fully recovered!! No fair, that didn't count!!"
"No... it's not that I am not playing fair..."
With his raspy voice he said till that point, then looked at Takumu, begging for an explanation.
Cyan Pile opened his blue eyes inside the small slits wide, and eventually shook his head left and right as he whispered.
"Wh... what a thing... That right now was without a doubt, «Recovery Ability». Chi-chan's avatar is a «Healer»..."
"What? That means a priest? That is boring."
Continuing after the somewhat dissatisfied Chiyuri, Haruyuki who finally came out of his shock, gave his honest opinion.
"Healer... First time I heard of it. Brain Burst has this kind too."
However, on the other hand, Takumu whispered in a somehow fearful voice.
"Instead of boring... it's an outrageously rare avatar. With this, Chi-chan's «Duel» debut might become very serious... Just maybe, beyond the time when Silver Crow appeared..."
On the eastern side of the Suginami district, was the private Umesato middle school, with three classes for each grade, so its size couldn't be considered large.
Even so, as the school's total of 360 students lined up in the gym, the pressure from their looks should be considerable. If he himself was the target of that concentrated stare, Haruyuki believed that he would at least have a physical hole burnt into him.
However, standing on the podium at the school entrance ceremony, even without the help of the Neuro Linker, the dignified voice reached the back line of students, that person's face was so cool as if it did not feel a single milligram of pressure.
"...Many of you right now must have feelings of anticipation, unease, and things like that. For newly arrived students, seeing a new school, and new upperclassmen might result in great confusion. However, please think about it. Right now, those people with composed faces behind you, one or two years ago, were sitting where you were with unease exactly the same as yours..."
—Unbelievably, the person speaking those respectable words was, in the other world, a wanted destroyer, a ruthless killer, and above that a demonic trainer that would surprise even US marines.
While he grumbled in his chest, Haruyuki continued to look with unsuppressed longing, at the girl on the stage— with a black blouse and a dark red ribbon, slender long legs covered by black stockings, she was Kuroyukihime.
His relationship with that person was special— calling it like that did not convey its full meaning, and half a year later, they still had not reached the level of boyfriend and girlfriend. Inside school, the recognition from the surrounding students were similar, Kuroyukihime's sense of duty and pity saved a round underclassman, and kept him as a favorite pet to walk with, they thought of it like that.
And for Haruyuki, he was actually not dissatisfied with it. On the other hand, he thought it showed the truth. He would like to avoid being treated as a pet, instead as the knight of a princess— no, a squire, nono, a page, he would be well satisfied around there.
"...One year, is equal to 31,536,000 seconds, if that time is passed massively, then it is just an instant. I wish you all a fruitful year. And that ends my greeting."
She bowed, then turned around with her long black hair swaying, and returned to the line of student council members in the back.
While he was desperately clapping his hands along with all of the school's students, he went into idle thought.
Today, I will be in my 2nd year, and senpai will be in her 3rd year. That means in just one year— that person will graduate from Umesato middle school.
No, that does not mean their relationship would be broken. That person and him, other than upperclassman and lowerclassman in the same school, had a far stronger relationship— they had their Burst Linker «Parent Child» bond.
He closed his eyes tightly once, and when he opened them again, Haruyuki clapped his hands together hard.
At that time—
Haruyuki who was staring intently at Kuroyukihime on the stage, felt that he saw the detached beauty subtly move suddenly.
Her narrowed jet black pair of eyes, stopped at the foremost group of fresh first year students, and soon returned to looking in front. Haruyuki wrinkled his eyebrows, and straightened his back on the chair in an attempt to see who Kuroyukihime was staring at, but of course he could not find one person in the middle of everyone wearing the same uniform.
After the school's entrance ceremony had finished, Haruyuki, who returned to the school building, almost went to the 3rd floor in a daze, and hurriedly changed direction to his new classroom on the 2nd floor.
The class he was placed in was already announced through the Local Net, but other students' names would not be known to him till he entered the classroom. I beg you, please don't have anyone in class who will call me «Pig-kun» again, or make me buy buns and other things!, with that wish, Haruyuki passed through the 2nd year C class door—
"Haru, Hi!"
With that sound, his back was knocked on with full force, so his breath was stopped.
When he turned 90 degrees to the left at a high speed, what he saw was the cat type hairpin holding up the front bangs as usual, the face of his childhood friend with a smile showing her canine teeth.
"...Chi-Chiyu. You... here?"
"What? What's with that complex looking face?"
Seeing that pout, Haruyuki wondered in his heart if she really saw that «nightmare» last night, and answered.
"No, nothing."
That's right, even if he was in the same class as Chiyuri, if he did not get bullied again, then he did not need to fear. But, there was a problem aside that. With this, the triangle's side lengths would again become subtly—
"Hey, Haru. Chi-chan too."
His back was knocked on again, and this time Haruyuki turned 90 degrees to the right. When he looked up, he saw Takumu's smiling face behind blue glasses.
Somehow the three of them seemed to be placed in the same class. That meant the triangle shrunk while keeping the same size. While remembering Chiyuri last night saying, "We can return right, to that time", he realized there was some disturbance in his chest, and Haruyuki made the same smile while saying.
"Hi, Taku is also in C class huh. ...Let's see."
Faintly recalling the probability calculation for this situation, he mouthed the answer.
"The probability of the three of us being in the same class is... ⅓ over ⅓ over ⅓, that is 1/27 huh. This is an incredible coincidence."
Then, while walking towards the window, Takumu lightly shook his head.
"No, that is 1/9."
"Huh, why?"
"Why?"
Chiyuri who reached the same answer as Haruyuki, also asked in surprise at the same time. While leaning his smart tall body on the window ledge, Takumu explained after pushing his frameless glasses up.
"If it was «the probability of us three being in C class», then it would be 1/27 as Haru said. But, in this case where the class is does not matter. So it becomes «the three of us together in A class, B class, or C class», then the number is 3 times, and becomes1/9."
"Ah—!"
"I see!"
Again, he and Chiyuri nodded at the same time, and Haruyuki finally added with a smile.
"As expected from Taku, during Spring Break you sharpened the Professor character huh..."
"Haru, really stop that! If I am given a nickname as «Professor» or «Glasses guy», it will be Haru's fault."
While making a seriously unpleasant face, Takumu took a glance at the 2nd year C classroom increasingly filled with more students and said in a low voice.
"...Anyway, there are all sort of coincidences in the world, and if you calculate it, you can see that it is relatively higher probability than your impression, that is what it means. That's why I think we should be prepared just in case."
"Huh? For what?"
Takumu got close to Haruyuki's blank looking face, and whispered with a low sound—
"The new first years. In that 120 people, there is a possibility of unknown Burst Linkers mixed in it."
After hearing that, Haruyuki took a momentary sharp breath, then shook his head slightly.
"Th-That... possibility is not zero, but, would they go into a school other than their «Parent»'s school? If they transfer in like Taku then that is another story..."
"Yeah, normally, you don't make a «Child» of someone going to a different school than you. Because, if that school has another Burst Linker, there is a very high possibility that your «Child» will be taken into the fighting force of that side. The strongest relationship in the accelerated world is «Parent Child», but «Same School» is next to that..."
Like Takumu said, for Burst Linkers that are going to the same school, eventually they would unavoidably commit «Reality Intrusion» with each other. If they started fighting, then that fight would always be to the death with no game rules. In that situation, to protect their Brain Burst, they would have to cease fire and make up eventually.
That's why many Burst Linkers did not pick someone who had a possibility of going to a different school from theirs to be their «Child». That means, the Burst Linkers in Umesato middle school right now should be Kuroyukihime, Haruyuki, Takumu —and Chiyuri too— only those, in this situation, you could say there should be almost no unknown Burst Linker that would be a new first year student.
However, of course that did not mean they didn't have to check to make sure.
While trying to think back to when he was a new student last year, Haruyuki asked Takumu.
"Let's see... When would be the first time a new student connects to the Local Net?"
"It should be soon. If it is the same as the school I previously attended, certainly after the school entrance ceremony ends, while moving to the classroom, when the account is first given out."
With that answer, after thinking for a bit, Haruyuki said with a snicker.
"...Then, let's do this. Since checking will use up 1 Burst Point anyway, we might as well see what kind of Duel Avatar Chiyu obtained in the «Duel Field». When the homeroom that is next ends, I will «Accelerate» and challenge Chiyu, so Taku can join in the gallery."
Their new homeroom teacher was a young male teacher in charge of Japanese history. The teacher called Sugeno, as opposed to his age, was a very firm "Children don't need the Net" advocate, so Haruyuki did not feel close to him, but his hot blood fever got along with the other students.
If you search the Net for everything, then you will become an adult that cannot think with your head!, while ignoring that kind of expressed belief belonging to Sugeno, the student self introduction was somehow over, and right after the first period homeroom ended, Haruyuki sang the acceleration command in his mouth.
"Burst Link."
After the *Viiiii!* dry thunder like sound echoed all over inside his brain, the surrounding scene was all dyed blue.
At the same time, Sugeno who was stepping off the teacher's podium, and the other students who were going to stand up from their chairs, all suddenly stopped.
The time did not stop. The «Brain Burst» program that was hiding inside Haruyuki's Neuro Linker, only accelerated his consciousness 1000 times.
On the left side of his virtual desktop, he touched the burning «B» icon, and started the game console. While the matching list refreshed, he waited somewhat in anticipation.
On the very top of the list, soon «Silver Crow», that is Haruyuki's own Duel Avatar's name floated. The right side showed level 4.
Continuing was «Black Lotus», that is Kuroyukihime. Of course, level 9. Next, was at same level as Haruyuki, «Cyan Pile»— that is, Takumu's name appeared.
With a tiny delay, another line of letters popped up shining.
«Lime Bell». Level 1.
At that time, the list's 'Searching' display disappeared. That meant, at this moment, there were four Burst Linkers connected to the Umesato middle school Local Net. And then, «Lime Bell» without a doubt would be Chiyuri.
At this time, without exception, all 120 new first year students should have signed into the Local Net, so he could conclude that there really were no new Burst Linkers among those students.
However, there was one thing that nagged at him, if he really wanted to mention it.
During the school entrance ceremony, from the top of the stage, Kuroyukihime momentarily stared at the line of new students sharply. What did that mean?
I should send her an email to check, he thought that for an instant, but since Kuroyukihime who is the vice president of the student council should be swamped by a mountain of different tasks right now, he changed his mind.
As his avatar's finger extended towards the names of four Burst Linkers in Umesato middle school, Haruyuki had a quick thought.
Lime, that is probably a yellowish green color. A little close combat kind of indirect attack type. However what kind of ability she actually had, he would not know till he saw it in the duel.
Duel Avatar is a manifestation of its owner's sense of inferiority—. From half year ago, Kuroyukihime's words rang in his ears.
Of course, just by looking at the avatar's appearance, one could not instantly fathom the owner's «Emotional scars». Actually, right now Haruyuki still could not determine what was Takumu and Kuroyukihime's sense of inferiority that created such powerful avatars.
Even so, it was true that it exposed the «Hidden inside».
In his blue frozen view, Haruyuki glanced at the back of Chiyuri that was a bit away to his left side. Swallowing his slight hesitation, he touched the name «Lime Bell», and clicked «Duel» from the pop-up menu.
The field that appeared had huge gears and conveyors moving around in a rumble, the «Construction Site» stage.
While waiting for himself to be changed to the silver colored «Silver Crow», and the burning word 'FIGHT' to pop up, he slowly stood up.
He looked around the 2nd year C classroom where his classmates had disappeared, and in exchange were filled with mysterious machines, and first saw the large blue avatar, «Cyan Pile». After giving a quick nod to him, Haruyuki looked at the one standing opposite of him, a delicate avatar that was similar to his.
«Lime Bell» was covered in unexpectedly vivid lettuce green equipment.
The whole body's supple lines showed a clearly female shape. The limbs and body were mostly slender like Silver Crow's, and the waist was equipped with a tree leaf like armor.
The head was covered with a magic-user-like wide-brim pointed hat, and under that was a face mask with eyes that resembled a cat's.
However the most distinctive feature was, the huge bell-shaped equipment in her left hand, probably a hand bell. While thinking whether it was a weapon or a musical instrument, just as it looked like, Haruyuki walked towards her.
While looking at the bell connected to her left hand, «Lime Bell»— Chiyuri tilted her head and said.
"Somehow... isn't this color too flashy?"
"Don't complain, such high color saturation, even if you wanted it, doesn't show up often."
"On the other hand."
Under the hat, the orange colored eyes narrowed in doubt.
"...You, are Haru?"
"...Yes. I understand what you want to say, so you don't need to say it!"
He quickly added that, but Chiyuri shouted without mercy.
"No way! This game's avatar, is a representation of trauma... right? Hmm, hoo, I see."
"Leave it alone."
After taking a glance at the body that is over half more slender than his real body, he turned his head away.
Then, he saw that Cyan Pile had appeared there some time ago.
The blue avatar with a pile driver equipped on his right hand, was looking down at the yellowish green avatar with a somewhat tense look.
Chiyuri also accepted those eyes silently.
Once— half year ago, Takumu could not endure the fear of losing that avatar «Cyan Pile», and put a backdoor program into Chiyuri's Neuro Linker.
That virus's real objective was to use Chiyuri's Neuro Linker as a stage to connect to Umesato middle school's Local Net from the outside, and hunt the accelerated world's highest bounty, the «Black King», Black Lotus.
However as a side effect of the virus, it made it possible for Takumu to steal Chiyuri's sight and hearing information, and he put that to use to find out Chiyuri's real feelings.
Eventually he confessed, and Chiyuri who he apologized to went into a rage, of course. She announced the breaking of ties to both Haruyuki and Takumu, and it took a week before she talked to them again. To fulfill her presented «All she can eat of Enji shop's parfait» condition for settlement, the two of their Neuro Linker's charge limit easily dropped, but the three's relationship, was repaired to the same as before—
That, was what Haruyuki believed, and wished it to be, but.
The three sides of the triangle, the one connecting Chiyuri and Takumu, was still changing unstably right now, was what their looks at each other showed.
"...Well, it is about time we start the beginner lessons."
Trying to break through the tension, Haruyuki announced and turned towards the yellowish green avatar.
"Chiyu, you have already heard of most of this «Brain Burst» rules from Taku right?"
"Yeah. All I need to do is, win a lot of duels to earn points, then become level 10 to clear the game right?"
"...D-Don't say it so simply. Well, that is right though..."
If that person heard Chiyuri's indifferent words, what would she say, while Haruyuki shook his head thinking like that, he continued.
"An-Anyway, to win a duel, you have to see through the opponent's weakness and fight in a way that is advantageous to you. For that reason, you have to fully grasp your avatar's abilities."
—Unbelievable, that a day where I said such bossy words to someone would come.
While noticing that slight realization, he moved his right index finger.
"Around this part in your view, should be your own «Health Gauge» right? Touch that, and from the expanded window open the «Skill List»."
Normally this was the Parent's role for Takumu, but the flow of conversation somehow had Haruyuki pointing it out to her,
"O...Okay."
Chiyuri, who nodded, with somewhat awkward movements extended her finger, and tapped a point in the air. Continuing, she did a few more manipulations.
"Let's see... normal skills, three of them, and looks like one special skill. «Citron Call»...? Somehow, the left hand bell... like this..."
While murmuring, Chiyuri followed the skill list animation silhouette, spinning the huge bell that was in front of her left elbow around twice, and finally from above coming down with a snap. But of course, nothing happened.
"What is this, it didn't do anything."
"To use special skills, you have to fill the blue «Special Gauge» below the Health Gauge."
"That, how do I fill it?"
"Damage the opponent, take damage yourself, and..."
As he reached that point, Chiyuri lifted her heavy looking bell and raised it, aiming for Haruyuki's head, as he hurriedly added.
"Th-That and also, you can fill it by destroying the stage. The machines around there, any of them can be destroyed!"
"Ah, I see."
It might be his imagination that she nodded with some slight dissatisfaction, and walked towards the steam engine sitting where the teacher's podium was, then without any hesitation, she used her left hand to hit the machine that was putting out a lot of steam.
With a *Boom!* light explosion sound, sparks and white smoke spew out.
"Wow, feels great!"
With innocent sounds of joy, the pointed hat avatar started hitting and destroying one side of the gears turning the belt conveyor, as Haruyuki's back shivered while watching her. The realism of that explosion, and the stage's ultra high detail, not showing signs of being impressed even by a little, this is why girls are...
While Haruyuki grumbled in his heart, the silent till now Takumu whispered from beside him.
"Haru, did you notice it? Chi-chan's HP gauge, did not seem to drop at all. For the «Construction Site» machine objects, when you destroy it, you should take a little damage."
"Ah... that's right."
"Unlike her appearance, her defense is pretty high. «Green» is originally, the next below «Metal Color», a superior defense color..."
With Takumu's calm analysis, Haruyuki thought of the rumored «Green King»'s iron wall legend.
Lime Bell's armor, compared to the level 1 Silver Crow, was clearly harder. That means, Chiyuri is also a defensive type. That is completely opposite of the real person's personality, somehow.
While thinking about those things, Lime Bell's special gauge was filled to near half while shining blue.
"Hey Chiyu, that's plenty."
After being called out, the avatar that turned around came walking close—
And without a single hesitation, raised the huge bell in her left hand high.
"Higuu!?"
In front of Haruyuki, who screamed, and held both hands up to protect his head in reflex.
After two half clockwise spins, the bell was suddenly covered with a brilliant yellowish green shine.
"...«Citron Ca~ll»!!"
With the relatively proper skill name shout, from the bell that was swung straight down, with a *Rigorigoriin* kind of magnificent sound effect, light particles that covered Silver Crow's whole body spewed out.
"...!"
Unable to predict what kind of damage he would take, Haruyuki held his breath and closed his eyes. Heat, impact, or some unknown name acid dissolving attack might be possible—
"...Huh?"
"...Oh?"
From his left and right ear, Chiyuri and Takumu's quizzical sounds reached him, and Haruyuki opened his eyes slightly.
As he nervously looked down at his body, it still shone the same fresh white silver color. He did not feel any pain or heat, and his HP bar did not decrease at all.
"What is this! Nothing happened!!"
To Chiyuri's indignant shout, he shook his head on reaction.
"Th...That should not be it. Your skill, without a doubt hit me... your special skill gauge also decreased. Overtime damage... not that either. Delayed start damage, maybe...?"
As he mumbled, he waited for something to happen, but a few seconds, then a few tens of seconds later, Silver Crow's HP did not move at all.
"Hmm... this means, light and sound only, some kind of eye dazzling skill maybe. That is sort of yellow color type..."
Haruyuki's words did not seem to ease Chiyuri's dissatisfaction, and she put her right hand to her waist.
"That is boring! Haru, give me one of your special skills!!"
"What, that is impossible. Anyway, my special skill is just a Head Butt."
"At this point, I will take even that."
As this bargaining expanded to something that's no different from reality, suddenly Takumu said in a low murmur.
"No... for just a dazzle skill, the decrease in the special skill gauge is way too much. Even though it was half full, all of it was used up... some kind of, there should be a more practical effect..."
With his strong arms crossed, Cyan Pile lowered his small slits lined face.
"Not damage, not Debuff[1]... that means... ah... wait, just maybe...!!"
His sharp sound made both Haruyuki and Chiyuri turn their heads at the same time.
"What is it, Taku? Did you think of something?"
"...Well yeah, something with unbelievable feeling though... Chi-chan, with that bell, hit Haru normally."
"Okay, understood."
*Gochiri~n!!*
Before Takumu's words finished or not, Chiyuri without a single hint of holding back, swung the huge bell down, and Haruyuki who took that right on his head, saw numerous stars in his view.
"O-Ouch..."
As he moaned, the relentless directions continued.
"The gauge is still not enough. About three more times."
"Okay, understood."
*Zukazukazukari~n!!*
...Chiyu's bell is nice. When it hits, incredibly nice sounds come out.
While he was thinking that and other stuff, Haruyuki abruptly fainted while laying with his arms and legs spread apart.
For the duel fighting game that is Brain Burst, just leveling up would not majorly increase HP, Attack, and Defense. With new special skills and abilities obtained, tactics can be expanded, but if you get hit without defending like this, corresponding damage occurred. The result, after Haruyuki was hit for four times, his HP gauge decreased by about 30%, and in exchange, Chiyuri's special skill gauge again filled over half, shining blue.
While moaning, Haruyuki somehow managed to stand up, and in front of his eyes—
Again the bell was spun around, and yellowish green light effect shone.
—That's strange, when I was first lectured by senpai, this «Using the mentor's body to teach skill» scene never happened.
—Anyway, in the first place, why am I the duel opponent for Chiyu?
As he thought about that now too late, Chiyuri's second skill-name shout, louder than the earlier one, started.
"Citron Ca~~ll!!"
The clear sound of a bell. A lime green ribbon of light overflowed out. And then, lightly drifting by, was a fresh citrus scent.
That covered Silver Crow's body in layers. At that moment.
"Uaaa...!?"
Haruyuki experienced something which he had not experienced in the accelerated world for a few months, a shock to the bottom of his heart which made him shout out loud.
In his view's upper left corner, his HP bar that was decreased by about 30%—
Was slowly recovering!
HP recovery.
For duel fighting genre games, that is originally an impossible phenomenon. Actually, till now Haruyuki had not seen a single HP gauge recovery ability in «Brain Burst».
No, to be exact, there might be one exception that he had seen. Three months ago, after an incredible battle and destruction, the cursed enhanced armament, «Chrome Disaster» that was annihilated. That avatar had an ability that could «Drain» the opponent's health that he ate to heal his wounds.
However, since during the Disaster fight, they were in the «Unlimited Neutral Field» where other people's HP gauge could not be seen, this was the first time he actually saw a HP gauge recover.
Within just about 10 seconds, his HP was returned to full, and the yellowish green light disappeared at the same time.
However Haruyuki, and Takumu who was a bit further away, could not move or make a sound.
What released them from their paralysis, was the dissatisfied shout from Chiyuri.
"No way, what's that?! Your Hit Points were fully recovered!! No fair, that didn't count!!"
"No... it's not that I am not playing fair..."
With his raspy voice he said till that point, then looked at Takumu, begging for an explanation.
Cyan Pile opened his blue eyes inside the small slits wide, and eventually shook his head left and right as he whispered.
"Wh... what a thing... That right now was without a doubt, «Recovery Ability». Chi-chan's avatar is a «Healer»..."
"What? That means a priest? That is boring."
Continuing after the somewhat dissatisfied Chiyuri, Haruyuki who finally came out of his shock, gave his honest opinion.
"Healer... First time I heard of it. Brain Burst has this kind too."
However, on the other hand, Takumu whispered in a somehow fearful voice.
"Instead of boring... it's an outrageously rare avatar. With this, Chi-chan's «Duel» debut might become very serious... Just maybe, beyond the time when Silver Crow appeared..."
