Episode 281: Two People with a Wall

"Yeah! And so, the top-ranked video today goes to anonymous JK with 'Tried to Save the World'!

A bizarre masterpiece that lets you experience missiles rushing straight at you from an FPS perspective!

No matter how many times you watch it, it's an incredibly powerful piece!

The scenes of everyone's princess in action are so emotional! So emotional, so emotional, so emotional!

By the way, even the missile itself doesn't know where it went! It's not here, but where exactly? Another world? A different dimension? Maybe it's just a missile base over there!

Well, personally, as long as it doesn't land here, anywhere's fine with me.

……Yes!

So, that's it for today!

Thank you all for watching, Vivian Girls!

Today was fun, wasn't it? But tomorrow will be even more fun, isn't that right, Hametarou?

"Hehehe... kushikushi!" (a mysterious deep male voice)

See you tomorrow then!

Shi-yu-nekusu to-a-taimu♪

▼

With Kudryavka's loud performance finally over, the employee cafeteria once again fell into the cheerful clamor of the girls.

I was sipping my vegetable juice for lunch, trying to ignore the hushed whispers of "Hey, that person..." nearby.

Sitting right next to me was Aizuki Miharu, slurping a chicken ramen piled high with an oddly mismatched assortment of fancy toppings—shrimp, scallops, and roast beef.

"…Tastes good? Miharu?"

"Uh-huh. Pretty okay. But the raw meat is awful."

This girl had recently managed to achieve a small breakthrough.

She had uncovered information—through her insatiable curiosity—about the existence of the hidden "Infinite Spring" gate beneath the city, a rough map of the sealed underground area, and a warehouse where part of the "achievement reward items" acquired by Shizukawa Reika were stored.

"Hey, Migen-chan."

"What?"

"Are you still hiding anything from me...?"

"Nothing like that?"

"Is that so?"

I let out a small sigh, looking at her calm expression.

It felt like there was a rigid wall, as hard as steel, between her and Migan-chan. Am I imagining it?

No, it's definitely not my imagination.

Hmm.

While I definitely need to give her a stern warning about her unilateral decisions—there's no law today that can actually stop her. And it's also true that she's managed to achieve results on par with an adult.

It's also true that Migan-chan might be more adept at the matter of "surviving" than we are.

The idea that only we, who have become "players," should risk our lives, while she—just an ordinary person—should stay safely hidden away, might be overly arrogant.

"We're partners, after all. If you ever have any troubles, we'll always be here to listen and help."

"Ah... okay, okay. Got it."

...Hmm. Seems like she's not quite getting it.

If you don't understand the value of comradeship, you must not read many shonen manga.

"Then, if another missile comes flying our way, count on us."

That said—about the nuclear missile incident a few days ago, she actually seemed fairly interested, and her attitude had warmed up a bit compared to before...

"...By the way."

"Hm?"

"What do you plan to do next?"

"What do you mean, 'what to do'?"

"My head's completely better now, and I've dealt with the missile. Is there still anything left to do here?"

"Of course there is. I'd ideally like to ask Ryka to reconsider how she handles the Soul Replicator..."

"But Asuka said that's unlikely, didn't she? Just a little while ago."

"Yes."

For Ryka, the Soul Replicator is an extremely important item that secures her position, and she won't relinquish it so easily.

In fact, she's reportedly even rigged the Soul Replicator so that she can destroy it with just a single switch, even from a remote location.

To be honest, I've tried plotting assassinations a few times, but it's just too heavily guarded. I'd like you, "Sensei," to proceed with caution regarding this matter.

These are the words of none other than Renkai Hyakka.

The Soul Replicator—Soul Replicator—was shattered to pieces by a nuclear missile in a past life, so she's determined to keep it within her own hands this time around.

"But well, I do have one truly powerful card here, so if I use it, maybe the deal isn't impossible after all."

Hmph.

In Akihabara, the achievement reward item I received from the trio of girls—“MacGuffin.”

So I've heard, this is...

It will seem incredibly appealing to the other party when offered during a barter. However, its effect vanishes the moment it's handed over.

so it is said.

Can't we make good use of this in a trade? Surely we can.

"Therefore, for the foreseeable future, meeting with Shizukawa Reika in an official capacity has become our goal."

"Ah... So it's not just Zuri, you're making videos too."

"That's right. I assure you, it's certainly not for the sake of that fancy ramen."

"Hmm."

And Mihiko slowly, steadily, slurped down every last bit of the chicken ramen, right down to the broth.

"Well then, I'll help you too, Tetsu. I'm bored anyway."

"That would be a big help. Much healthier than hunting 'zombies' down underground."

"What's that? Some kind of insult?"

"I'm just thinking of you."

"...Hmph."

"And please, call me 'onee-chan' or 'onee-san,' not 'you' or 'hey.'"

"No way."

"Aw, you're so cold."

How do I raise her好感度? I can't see any way to make progress with this girl.

"Seriously, don't use 'death match' when talking to kids. You'll just make them look down on you."

To top it off, she's lecturing me.

But arguing with her about her tone of speech now would be pointless.

We stand up, leaving things in that awkward atmosphere.

I can feel the attention of everyone around us shift.

...Hmm, this is uncomfortable. I'm not used to this kind of thing.

"So? What's the plan after this?"

"Um... I think we were supposed to film a collaboration video with 'Commentary Princess'... right?"

"Got it."

Miyako, always confident and composed, no matter the setting.

Maybe I should take a page from her book and learn a thing or two.