Defense-oriented and good friends.

Typo corrected.

"Then... I'm off!"

Wearing her uniform, she walks toward school.

The sunlight has grown stronger over these past few days, the warmth pleasant against the skin. Spring has finally arrived.

Maple sits by the window. She could easily fall asleep if she lets her guard down. At this rate, the girl two seats over, Risaki, is certain to nap through the afternoon class.

She walks along the path, thinking this. Maple's home is close enough to the school that she walks each day. Just five minutes on foot.

A pleasant breeze blows. Walking feels effortless.

Maple does not suffer from pollen allergies. She likes this season.

"Right! Let's give it our all today."

She passes through the school gate and walks to her classroom, taking her seat. Before, she had spent time reading. Now, since starting NewWorld Online, she finds herself thinking about skills. Just imagining what she might do if a certain skill existed—this alone is enough to bring pleasure.

“What’s with the smirking, Maple?”

A sharp poke lands on Maple’s head.

The offender is Risa.

“N-Nothing at all!”

“Really now? Oh, wait—no, that’s not why I came. Hmm… huff… fufu… listen, Maple. Today, there’s something important to announce.”

Risa bends her waist and leans in close. She clears her throat and deliberately repeats herself, crafting an air of mystery. Maple plays along.

“Hmph… What is it, Risa? You’re unusually energetic today.”

That’s it—what is it, what is it! I’ve finally been granted permission to play the game!

Maple claps her hands softly, once, twice.

She looks genuinely thrilled. One can see the effort she must have put in. Just looking at her face makes one feel happy too.

“So, I’ve been pushing the game onto Maple all along—but today, finally, we can play.”

“Then we can form a party!”

“Yeah, that’s right. A party… Wait, Maple, you’ve already started?!”

Risa speaks with surprise, her voice rising.

Both girls arrive early, so the classroom is empty save for them. There is no need to mind the surroundings.

“Eh… hehe…”

“That Maple, who I thought was reluctantly playing along with me… who I thought was just tolerating me…”

“You actually knew you were pushing it on me?!”

“Nah… I’m just so happy… I thought it’d be impossible to play together, but I never thought Maple would be eager…”

And so, Risa continued the conversation.

"What level have you reached? Or did you just create the account?"

"Eh, um... well... I'm at level twenty."

Risa paused, eyes wide for a moment. Then she understood. A slow grin spread across her face.

"Oh ho... Looks like Maple's really into this game, huh."

"Mmmph..."

Maple flushed, glaring at Risa. Risa still smiled faintly, but without malice. Maple said nothing in return.

"Haha, sorry, sorry, just kidding. But if you're this far, you must have a clear plan for your character, right?"

"Yeah! I'm a defense-focused shield user! Hey... can I tell you something, Risa?"

Maple shared every detail about her own skills and stats.

"What kind of monster character is that! No surprise, Maple—off the usual path, just like always."

"Eh... really?!"

Yes… but the thing I found after straying off course is too strong. Ah… this is going to be tough to catch up to Maple…

But if I do it the same way as you…

Maple says this, and Risa crosses her arms over her chest, shaking her head with a mark of refusal.

Maple is Maple. I am I. I don’t want to steal the skill Maple found—just because I’m a friend. Well… I did get a lead on an abnormal skill, but that’s unavoidable.

Then, what will you do, Risa?

Maple is a defense-focused tank. A mage might work, but that’s too ordinary for a party with Maple. If that’s all I am, then I’d be unnecessary.

Risa grunts, lost in thought. Then, a smile tugs at her lips.

Good. Decided. I’ll be… a dodge shield.

A dodge shield?

Yes! By drawing enemy attacks and dodging them, we neutralize the offense.

Oh! That’s impressive… but I’ll handle the shield, shall I?

Maple speaks, her voice laced with doubt. A shield, after all, would be useless if only shield-wielders gathered.

Maple and I—our party never takes damage. Always unharmed. Isn’t that impressive?

Maple nods vigorously, her head bobbing. She even swings her hands in excitement.

That’s the idea. I want a party built around evasion shields.

Do your best. I’ll boost my defense further.

They agree to play together tonight. The conversation ends. Risa returns to her seat.

Evasion shield… hardest difficulty? But that’s exactly why it excites me…!

A quiet whisper. Maple does not hear.

Perhaps it is the nature of a gamer.

Risa tends to choose objectives with difficult conditions.

To achieve the flawless invincible party she mentioned just now, avoiding enemy attacks without fail is the essential requirement.

Dozens of magical projectiles fired.

Rapid successive assaults.

Simply imagining herself dodging them by a hair's breadth and defeating the enemy.

"Thrilling…!"

Risa could not wait for today’s lesson to end.