✦ ✦ ✦
Time passed. The days grew colder, marking the changing of seasons. Their breaths visible, Kaede and Risa were on their way to school.
“It’s this weekend… You available?”
“I think so!”
“Great. Then we can all go together.”
Yes. This weekend, the tenth stratum was going online. Ideally, they’d get the whole guild together. If they could run the dungeon to the new map right away, that would give them much more time to explore.
“You’re already hitting the books, Kaede?”
“Yeah, but if I do well on this next test, they’ll up my gaming hours! I should be okay!”
“Never thought I’d hear you say that.”
“Argh. How are you holding up, Risa?”
“Getting grounded for a bit early on was motivating, and I’ve kept my grades up ever since.”
“Whew! Heh-heh-heh, when you apply yourself…”
“Yeah, well. Don’t want them taking my system away again…”
If they weren’t careful, they’d pay the price. The next few months were especially vital; for real life and their game life, they could not slack on their studies.
“You playing today, Risa?”
“Uh…I wanna play a lot this weekend, so I’d better get ahead in my work today.”
“Then let’s have a study session this evening.”
“Sounds good. Don’t you go getting sick this weekend!”
“Right, I’ll be careful!”
Chatting away, they hustled to school.
✦ ✦ ✦
The classroom was deserted, so they put their backpacks down, still talking.
“Any holiday plans, Risa?”
“Doesn’t sound like my family is going anywhere far. You?”
“Same. But our plans might not overlap with yours.”
They’d spent so much time together that it felt weird whenever they were apart.
“It doesn’t feel right. Do you remember when we first met?”
“Of course!” Kaede cried.
Grinning, Risa took a trip down memory lane.
“Didn’t think we’d be playing together for anything like this long.”
“Eh-heh-heh, true.”
“Lately we’ve been together in the game, too.”
“In the game, we can meet even if we’re far apart.”
“Yup, yup, the joys of online play.”
Physical distance was no barrier online. As long as they were both logged in, they could see each other anytime. It was that easy.
“Even if we’re not always together, we’re not that far away in real life. We can meet up a bit on weekends.”
“Yeah…and it’s still a long way off.”
“Mm-hmm. So Kaede, make sure you hit those books so you can go where you want.”
“Will do! Just don’t forget about the study session tonight.”
“I’ll be there.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Both girls were looking forward to it, and time flew by. Not long after they got home, they were on a voice chat.
“Until dinner, then?”
“Sounds like a plan!”
Both opened their books, ready to study.
“Risa, your grades really are steadily improving.”
“I’m treating it like a score attack. Really don’t want them taking this game away from me again…”
“Ah-ha-ha, that’s so you.”
If she was going to do it, she would try to get a good score. Risa’s core gamer mentality was working in her favor.
Her GPA had been steadily rising, all because she didn’t want to waste a moment of these happy times.
“Are you in the safety margin?”
“Nah, it’s a pretty tough requirement. And since I got my grades this high, it’ll be even more obvious if they drop.”
“That’s true.”
Kaede and Risa spent a few hours studying, closing their books just before dinner.
“I’m all tapped out! But I think I made good progress.”
“Nice work.”
“The tenth stratum’s almost here! There’s fun waiting for us after this hard work.”
“Good attitude. That’s my thinking, too.”
Kaede sure had changed. Not long ago, she’d never have been this excited. How many other games had they tried out? Risa was sure she’d never seen Kaede enjoy herself so much.
With a smile that was equally happy and sad, Risa suggested, “Let’s go around the tenth stratum together.”
“You and me? I assumed that was the plan!”
“We’ll find lots of hidden areas, take down powerful bosses, and see all sorts of beautiful sights.”
“They said the tenth stratum was super big. I bet it’s got all those things!”
“Looking forward to it.”
“Mm-hmm!”
Play while they were free to.
No telling if there’d be a next time.
Risa was pretty sure there wouldn’t be.
“……Let’s make the most of it.”
“I can’t wait!”
“Heh-heh, yeah, neither can I.”
Voices from downstairs called their names. Food was on the table, so they hung up and left their rooms.
✦ ✦ ✦
The day after their study session, with the tenth stratum looming—Maple Tree’s Training Room was bustling.
“Purple Bolt!”
“Oboro, Smog!”
Velvet and Sally were dueling. Sally effortlessly wove through Velvet’s rain of lightning, then hid herself in a smoke cloud that blanketed her foe. A second later, she reappeared right next to Velvet.
Velvet ignored this completely. She let Sally close in, taking no defensive maneuvers even as the daggers swung.
And Sally vanished as the daggers made contact.
“I ain’t falling for that trick forever!”
The smog cleared, and Sally backed away.
“If I can’t tell which is real, then to hell with it! There’s no point in reacting until after you do damage!”
“That approach does work for you, Velvet.”
Velvet had skills that let her move as fast as Sally—if not faster—but enough HP and defense to plunge straight into an enemy camp.
Sally used her tricks and illusions to ensure only she was doing damage, but with daggers, she had to be close to do any real harm.
Best for Velvet to wait patiently for her to make a move, striking back when she was sure it was the real Sally.
Lose a limb to win the battle—if that let her land a hit on Sally, whose minimal HP would bring her down first.
“How d’ya like them apples?!”
“Then I’ll just try another tactic.”
Sally sheathed one dagger and transformed the other. She now held a bow. If she couldn’t get close, she didn’t have to. Sally’s weapon selection was no longer limited.
“So you can make any weapons, then?”
“That I can. If you’re gonna wait, then I’m gonna shoot you down! Ice Pillar! Waterway!”
At her cry, several ice pillars appeared, and a path made of water wound through the air.
“Here I come!”
Webs shot out of Sally’s hand, and she moved from water to air to land, bounding all around Velvet.
“……!”
It was hard to believe, but Sally had yet to take a single hit from Velvet’s lightning. However, Velvet didn’t want to be the aggressor. Attacking left her exposed, and that’s what Sally wanted. Velvet dodged the incoming arrows and spells as best as she could, watching Sally closely.
“Sure does hurt!”
Dodging the lightning was strengthening Sally’s Sword Dance aura. Velvet didn’t know the exact effect, but judging from how hard the arrows were starting to hit, she couldn’t exactly let Sally run wild.
Sally wasn’t closing in. Velvet had to attack, so she charged her opponent.
“Polar Flash!”
If there was no way to avoid exposing herself, it would be best to minimize that exposure.
A blinding pillar of lightning centered on her, sending bolts in every direction.
No hits. But Velvet had a plan. Polar Flash was the kind of skill Sally struggled with the most: No matter how dodgy she was, there was no escaping a giant circular AOE. When it went on cooldown, that gave Sally a reason to get close.
Sally was cautious. Odds were high she’d stay back and keep firing arrows. But Velvet knew Polar Flash was grounds for a different choice.