031 Idol Arc 7 Simulation Tournament 3

Semifinal match, Beginner Class: 3-ship fleet. (Technically, it's the second round, but whatever.)

My turn comes after advancing to the second match.

The opposing fleet goes by the name "Bamboo Shoot."

Guess registering a fleet name is the default setting.

Our forces: the familiar trio—'AKIRA,' 'RIO (Rio),' and 'NPC Ship Type D.'

No ammo resupply until the tournament ends, so our remaining ammo is dwindling.

If any damage was sustained, it carries over.

For example, if a weapon or shield is broken, it becomes inoperable. If the Stasis Field took damage, that damage persists.

That’s what the bottom entry—'Status'—shows.

'AKIRA'

Ship Type: Fleet Command Ship (Flagship)

Hull Length: 212m, High-Speed Cruiser Class, Two Arms

Main Reactor — Annihilation Reaction Unit G Type, High-Speed Propulsion Unit D Type

Armament Main Gun Long Barrel 5cm Railgun Single Mount 1 Unit 1 Barrel Standard Ammo 50 (Ammo Remaining) / 50 (Maximum) Special Ammo (G-Bullet) 20 (Ammo Remaining) / 20 (Maximum)

Secondary Gun none

Anti-Space Cannon 10cm Laser Single Mount 4 Units 4 Guns

Missile Launcher Pod Type D Standard x2, 2 mounts, max ammo 4×2, missile count remaining: 8

Defense Beam-Resistant Coating Special Steel Armor Plate

Type E Beam-Resistant Shield, Anti-Physical Projectile Model 1

Stasis Field (Barrier) Type D

Electronic Equipment, Anti-Ship Radar S-Type, Wide-Area Communication Device S-Type, Tactical Weapon Integration Control System S-Type

Empty Energy Slot 6

Status Good

『Rio』

Class: Assault Ship

Hull Length: 230m, Cruiser Class, Two Arms

Main Engine: Type D Thermonuclear Reactor, Type F High-Speed Propulsion

Armament: Main Gun: 20cm Long Barrel Railgun, Single Mount, 1 Barrel, Standard Ammunition: 73 (Remaining) / 80 (Maximum)

Secondary Gun: 15cm Particle Beam Cannon, Twin Mount, 4 Barrels

Anti-Space Cannon: 10cm Laser, Single Mount, 6 Pods, 6 Barrels

Missile Launcher Pod: Standard Type E, 4 Pods, 4 Barrels, Max Ammo: 2×4, Missile Remaining: 8

Defense: Beam-Resistant Coating, Special Steel Armor Plating

Kinetic-Damage Resistant Shield Type D, 1 Unit

Stasis Field (Barrier) Type E

Electronic Equipment: Anti-Ship Radar Type E, Communication Device Type E

Empty Energy Slot: 0

Status: Good

『NPC Ship Type D』

Class: Destroyer

Hull Length: 100m, Destroyer Class, Two Arms

Main Engine: Fusion Reactor Type G, Standard Propulsion Unit Type B

Armament: Main Gun 12cm Railgun Single Mount x1, 1 Barrel — Standard Ammunition: 40 (Remaining) / 40 (Max)

Secondary Gun 10cm Particle Beam Cannon Single Mount x2, 2 Barrels

Anti-Space Cannon 5cm Laser Single Mount x2, 2 Barrels

Missile Launcher Pod Type D Standard x3, 3 Barrels — Max Ammo: 4×3 — Missile Remaining: 9

Defense: Anti-Projectile Special Steel Armor Plate

Anti-Projectile Beam Shield Type E x1

Stasis Field (Barrier) Type G

Electronic Equipment: Anti-Ship Radar Type G, Communication Device Type G

Empty Energy Slot: 0

Status: Good

Semi-Final Match, Game 1 and Game 2 will be held simultaneously.

I grab the icons for 'AKIRA', 'RIO (Rio)', and 'NPC Ship Type D' and toss them into the VR screen's selection menu.

The combat zone is randomly set to "Gravitational Anomaly Zone."

Long-range firing is tough here.

Ready. Waiting for match time.

Numbers appear before me. Countdown begins.

At zero, the scene in front of me shifts completely—space unfolds before my eyes.

Match starts.

Radar search initiated.

Activate Tactical Weapon Integration Control System. Establish data link with support ships.

Enemy ship positions are detected by radar, but due to the gravitational anomaly, neither side can fire long-range.

NPC Ship Type D and Rio both lack targeting correction systems.

My Personal Ship is equipped with a mere 5cm Railgun—more like a pea shooter.

Enemy ship fires. Railgun rounds bend from gravitational anomalies—no longer effective.

The bamboo spear fleet, fed up, charges in.

They must figure if they can't hit us, we can't hit them either.

Radar and optical scans confirm: three enemy vessels, cruiser-class.

Looks like missile ships, packed with missiles.

Missiles sprouting from hulls like bamboo shoots.

(Oh—so that's why they're called the "bamboo spear" fleet.)

With that many missiles closing in, saturation attack at point-blank range—inevitably lethal.

I feel the urgency. Need to shoot them down before they fire all at once.

I pause. Think.

Bamboo fleet fires a distracting Railgun volley—close-range detonations deflected by shields, no damage.

Then—lightbulb moment.

Rio’s got no gunnery correction system, so hitting with a big 20cm Railgun’s a long shot.

But my Personal Ship’s got the Anti-Ship Radar S-type—top-tier gear, all options included.

Naturally, it’s got a gunnery correction system too. Problem is, its main gun’s only a 5cm Railgun, basically a pea shooter.

Still… if I use the Tactical Weapon Integration Control System, can’t I just fire Rio’s Railgun through my Personal Ship’s targeting?

I activate the gunnery correction system and overlay a gravity anomaly graphic on the VR display.

Focus on Rio’s Railgun—suddenly, my Personal Ship’s armament list gains ‘Rio Long Barrel 20cm Railgun.’

I switch the main gun setting with the mental image of connecting it to my right arm.

Lock on from Rio’s perspective.

The bamboo fleet’s lined up in a single row.

Pick the cruiser in the center—the one least affected by the gravitational anomaly.

(Railgun fired!) I register it in my mind.

Then Rio fired the 20cm Railgun.

Direct hit on the enemy flagship! Imagine firing again, and the Railgun unleashes a volley.

A sudden explosion tears through the air. The missile detonated—its chain reaction swallowed the enemy flagship whole.

Aiming through the Personal Ship's targeting system and firing the Railgun via RIO—this idea is a success.

I tried to target the enemy ships on both sides next, but suddenly both vessels erupted in massive explosions.

This one hasn’t been fired yet.

The missile's enemy is a missile. Probably tried to concentrate lasers on missile defense.

The tight formation backfired—seemed to trigger a chain reaction, detonating the central ship.

"All ships destroyed. Match over. Victory for Akira's fleet."

System chime echoed, the screen before me snapping back to the entry hall.

Missile coordination's scary, isn't it?

Not just three missile ships—those护卫 ships guarding them would've been a real threat.

"Good. But two wins, twenty thousand G earned! Next up—finals!"

At the same moment. Inside the station's interview room.

President Kamizawa and Tanpopo, otherwise known as Naho, spoke while watching a VR feed.

"Another day, no real candidates, huh?"

"True. If they've got skill and looks, there's always another gig at SFO."

"Actually, it'd've been easier to turn idols into pro gamers, like us."

"Yeah. We should probably wrap up recruitment soon."

"But you're the only one I recommended... and yet they hired someone else?"

"Let's start with the original three—Naho, Sayaka, and Miyu—and that one other person. Four total. The last one we'll find and raise on Earth, maybe in three months."

The VR match on screen ends.

Semifinals of the beginner class tournament, three ships division.

"This one, good enough?"

"Yeah. Settled."

Plans had been moving forward on their own, unbeknownst to Akira.

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