Chapter 65

"Is it dinnertime in Japan right now?"

"That's right. It's probably around 18:00. I'd like to log out once."

The time density in this world is three times that of reality. And right now it's just before 54:00. So that makes it 18:00.

"Got it. Then log back in at 57:00—19:00 Japan time. Sorry to rush you, but we're scheduled to deliver the goods at noon today (60:00)."

"Understood!"

"Feel free to use any bed you find lying around. Don't worry. I won't play any pranks while you're sleeping. If you're concerned, you can link the room's camera to your phone and monitor it; I don't mind."

You sure are thorough.

Noticing my worries on this side, you cover every detail.

"No, I'm not worried. Even if you took me down, Ms. Eve wouldn't gain anything."

"Is that so? Then sleep easy."

Taking you at your word, I log out.

---

"Whew!"

I remove the full-dive device and sit up.

"Nnngh...! Nguh!!"

I stretch as hard as I can, getting the blood flowing.

"All right!"

I head to the kitchen, put chocolate, sugar, and milk in a small pot, warm it while stirring, and pour the finished hot milk chocolate into a large cup. Then I add a swirl of strawberry syrup, and it's done.

My special brain-revival drink—its name is 'Sugar Bullet'! Pump a sugar slug into your brain!

"Sugar recharge♪ Sugar recharge♪"

"...Drinking that super-sweet stuff again. You never get sick of it."

Azusa-chan comes into the kitchen.

"Fuffuffu~. After full-diving nonstop, jamming this into my sugar-starved brain feels the best!"

"That definitely falls into the 'bad-for-you' category of 'pleasure'."

I take a sip of Sugar Bullet.

There it is! The creaminess of the milk, the sweetness of the chocolate, and the tartness of the strawberry blend together—an achingly sweet pleasure climbs from my tongue to the top of my head!!!

It's the best... I'm addicted.

"I'm diving again at 19:00. Sorry, but could you wrap up dinner by then?"

"If I can finish eating by 19:00, that's fine. I'll start now. Pasta okay?"

"As expected of Azusa-chan! Pasta's the best! Especially peperoncino with spinach and thick-cut bacon—big sis might want some!"

"Yeah, yeah. I bought the ingredients properly."

Too cute and too capable, this little sister.

"Oh, right. During summer break, come with me to get used to full-diving."

"Eh!? Azusa-chan, you're actually going to play a game!?"

Could Azusa-chan actually be joining Infinity Space too!?

"Nope, not playing. After summer break there's an AR (virtual space) aptitude test."

"Ah~"

Virtual space is now inseparable from society. There are tons of jobs that use AR, and many companies basically hold meetings remotely in AR. So schools treat AR ability as part of your grades, and it affects your future path. They also hold regular tests to measure AR aptitude.

In the test you run around inside AR, solve puzzles, do computer input, and all sorts of things.

"But Azusa-chan, you'd breeze through without practice, right?"

"I can clear the baseline easily, but thanks to someone they're expecting a high score."

Azusa-chan stares hard at my face.

"Eh? Me?"

"I heard you set the all-time high score."

"Did I? Sorry, I erased about 80% of my middle-school memories, so I don't remember any scores."

Trauma sleeps in that middle school.

Because of the model gun I brought, a certain teacher targeted me and kept me an outcast until graduation day. Thanks to that, test results and trivial things like that—I don't remember. I only vaguely recall taking the AR aptitude test. I think I couldn't concentrate at all, but if that got the highest score, then my middle school must've been pretty low level...

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. Sugiura, the teacher who harassed you, quit."

"Eh!? Really!?" –"Why?"

"Who knows, why do you think?"

"Kusu." Azusa-chan shows a little-devil smile.

"...Azusa-chan, did you do something?"

"Not really. I just removed someone who got in the way while rehabilitating a delinquent student."

"You totally did something!"

My little sister might be a little scary.

"Hurry up and get out of the kitchen with that sugar lump."

"O-kay."

I leave the kitchen with my cup and retreat to my room.

A message is displayed on the phone on my bed. It's from Tsukinami-san.

(Tsukinami-san...!)

I set the cup on my desk, sit on the bed, and pick up my phone.

The message said:

"There's a festival on August 20. I want to walk around together ( *´muwa`)"

Along with that simple message was a link to the festival's homepage.

"Of course I'll go!"

I start to reply right away, but my hand stops.

"...A festival, huh."

I really want to go... but crowds are tough for me.

I'll definitely make a fool of myself in front of Tsukinami-san.

Tsukinami-san is perfect. Is it right for a disgrace like me to stand next to her?

"M-maybe I should mention it...!"

I send: "I get nervous in crowds, so I might show you an embarrassing side, but is that still okay?" A reply comes:

"The very idea that you're worried makes me mad (ha zeD) My feelings for you won't change even if I see you mess up once or twice. (`Д´)hmph"

Ouch... I might have made her a little mad.

Another message arrives.

"Besides, I want to see Ray's embarrassing side (*nuwu*)"

"Tsukinami-san..."

But Tsukinami-san adds emoticons at the end of messages. And her texts are so high-tension.

(Kinda like an old man...)

I laugh at this unexpected side of Tsukinami-san.

Normally she's expressionless, but in messages she's expressive.

"'Sorry. I said something silly. I'm looking forward to the festival!'"

Sent.

"August 20... I have to get even closer to Tsukinami-san by then! All right! Let's do this, Infinity Space!!!"

I stand on the bed and declare loudly, and my stomach growls.

"...Right, gotta fuel up first."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.