Ch.9 Crushing Participation
Karen and Saki watched the girls studying as Y/N would help them when they needed it.
Karen:You're so diligent for wanting to have a study session.
Saki:Well,that's part of our club.
Karen: What?
The girls gathered around Karen and Y/N.
Saki: Around April of last year,we didn't get along at all.
Y/N: For real ?
Saki:It was awful. When we performed, we'd be totally out of sync and mess up.Do you know what a Full Dive Sport Simulator is?
Y/N:Nope.
Saki:You use avatars to practice all kinds of things.It's pretty popular these days. Of course, inthe end, your real physical strength means everything.
Karen:You're movements were incredible because you trained with that,right?
Saki nodded and continued.
Saki:But our coach was exasperated that we didn't get along and gave up.
Kana launched a marshmallow into Risa's mouth.
Saki:Hey! So our fed-up coach said,"You girls need to become a team first.We'll talk after that."So we talked about what to do and the answer was....
Karen:..A game.
Saki:Exactly! We figured that with party play, we could all work together towards one goal!
Kana:And if we became alternate world avatars,we would forget about our real-world disputes with each other.
Karen:It's kinda like my circumstances...
Saki:So we found out about GGO and thought,"Why don't we try this killing game,which is totally different from our reality?"
Y/N:And doing so....
Kana:Yep.We all got hooked on it.
Moe:We did fight sometimes.
Saki:But after going through the verge of death numerous times....
The girls all exchanged glances and smiled.
Saki:....we really get along now!
Karen:That's wonderful. Y/N and I were kind of the same.
Saki:What do you mean?
Karen looked to Y/N who nodded while smiling.
Karen: I met Y/N in GGO. We really clicked when we first met. But over the course of that time we began to get more and more distant. The last time we grouped ended up being really awkward and stale and we stopped talking to each other entirely. We were able to make it right during this SJ and I couldn't be happier.
Saki: I see. Very moving! You may have won this time Mr. Y/N but we're going to continue to do our best and aim for victory with the next possible SJ!
Karen:Too close......Not your club?
Saki:That too! But we really want to do our best with GGO! I'd like to ask you two frankly. If there's a second one, will you participate?
Karen:Uh...Not unless it's for something urgent.
Saki:Huh?
Karen:Although there are still tasks at hand,I can't deny that I feel the need to "complete" it. Also my team with M was just for that one time.
Saki:Oh,really? What about you,Mr.Y/N?
Y/N:It depends on my schedule.We're taking our time with the game but even I can't just go taking sick days to play games.
Saki:Huh...I'm half-elated and half-disappointed.The elation is from the confirmed and unconfirmed absence of strong enemies.The disappointment is because I thought,"We'll beat you next time!"
.....
Y/N and Karen saw the girls out their apartment complex.
Saki:Thank you for letting us come over today.
Kana:Thank you for the sweets!
Y/N:No problem.
Karen:It's fine. After all, I'm on spring break.
Moe:I envy you! You can dive all you want,right?
Karen:I'm going to my parents' house, so I can't do that while I'm there.
Moe:During that time,we'll be training and getting stronger!
Karen:Yeah. Knowing you guys,you'll have a good chance at winning next tine.
The girls had saddened expressions on their faces.
Saki:To be honest,I want you both to participate.....
.....
Karen and Y/N awaited the train to Hokkaido as Y/N stared at the departure times.
Karen:Thanks for seeing me off.I usually come early to make sure I don't miss it.It's nice to have someone to talk to.
Y/N:Ah it's cool. I only see my folk during Christmas time.
Karen:Ah,so you saw them recently?
Y/N:Yep. Those flights back here though are so goddamn expensive.I feel like i'm breaking the bank.
Y/N let out a relieved sigh, a mist from his breath visible in the cold air.
Y/N:Still, it's always great to see them.
Karen:Have they ever stayed out here?
Y/N:Yeah they....Right,they stayed when I was trapped in SAO.They visited around spring or so.
Karen:Oh cool.
The train came as Y/N asked her if she had everything to which she nodded.
Karen:I see you later,Y/N.
Y/N:Take care,Karen.
Karen was about to step on the train but she stepped back and hugged Y/N before stepping on the train.Karen faced Y/N as the train doors closed she smiled and waved at him as the train began to move.Y/N waved back a small blush on his face as the train rode off and Karen disappeared from view.Y/N smiled and left the train station.
.......
February 26,2026
Miyu:Oh yeah,I saw the SJ footage.Man,you fought like a demon. Killing everyone in sight!Marvelous!Too bad you lost to that dude in the blue shirt though. He and his sniper buddy went off.
Miyu leaned up to my face with a sly grin on her face.
Miyu:So why did you split up from M during the game?
I explained to Miyu what happened as she leaned back on her seat with her orange drink in hand.
Miyu:I see. As long as your name and address aren't known,it's fine.
Karen:You're right. It's not like we'll meet in real life.
Miyu:Exactly. Hardcore gamers are real weirdos. I play a lot too,though.The other day I lost to a player called Zekken.I mean,how fast is this person? He'd been logged in for thousands of hours. You could tell he's putting in way too many hours by how incredibly strong he is! Actually,he lost to player with only a couple hundred hours.This super cheery and cocky guy named Maverick.I was practically jumping up and down at how exciting the fight was!That being said...
Miyu leaned in with a cheeky grin.
Miyu:I saw you and that guy in blue had some back-and-forth dialogue.What was that all about?
Karen:O-oh it was nothing.Just a little gamer banter...ahahaha....
Miyu tilted her head to the side.She definitely sees right through me.
Miyu:That so? Nothing at all? You guys talked for quick minute.You sure you guys weren't doing any virtual dating?
Karen:Nah Azure's not like that........Uh!Crap!
Miyu:Oh,so his player name is Azure ey?That means you either introduced yourselves to one another before you fought or you knew him before the tourney.Come on! Give your best friends all the deets!
Karen:E-eh.....alright.....I do know him.
I began to tell Miyu about when I first met Azure, when I gained notoriety, and how we became friends and former ones before reforging our friendship in the SJ tournament. I've never talked about Azure to anyone before so it felt kinda refreshing to talk about him. Always so nice to me and let's me indulge in my short fantasies by letting me sit on his shoulders as he carries me around.
Miyu:Do my eyes deceive me? Karen,are you crushing on this guy?!
Karen:Huh?!
I didn't even notice how red my face was talking about him. I began to slouch in my seat.
Karen:I-I mean...I don't really uh know...He's.....h-he's cool, I guess....y-you..know...right?
I can't believe it.I'm really crushing on Y/N.
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