The boy was lighter than he expected, his body limp and fragile in his arms. Navigating through the wreckage, Ryoshu felt a fierce protectiveness surge within him. No matter what it took, he was going to save Alan.The room around them was a scene of devastation. Broken furniture lay strewn about, and the walls were marked with deep gashes from the teacher's sword. The air was thick with dust and the lingering scent of blood and sweat. Ryoshu stepped carefully over the debris, each movement calculated to avoid jostling Alan too much. His muscles ached from the strain, but he pushed forward, driven by sheer willpower.They made their way through the devastation. Ryoshu's thoughts were a whirlwind of fear and resolve. He couldn't help but think of Charlotte and how devastated she would be if anything happened to her brother. This gave him the strength to push forward, step by painstaking step, towards safety.Seeing the large wound, Ryoshu couldn't help but blurt out, "Are you okay?"A
"This might sting a bit," Ryoshu warned as he cleaned the wound. Alan winced but didn't complain, his jaw set in determination. Ryoshu worked quickly, wrapping the wound tightly with fresh bandages. He could see the relief on Alan's face as the bleeding was brought under control."Thank you," Alan said again, his voice even softer now but filled with sincere gratitude.Ryoshu smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "You're welcome. Now, we just need to wait for help to arrive." He sat down next to Alan, taking a moment to breathe and recover from the ordeal.They sat in the relative safety of the room. Ryoshu realized that despite the chaos and danger, they had managed to find a moment of peace. And in that moment, he felt a bond forming between them, forged through shared adversity and mutual determination.Ryoshu took a moment to take in their surroundings. Although small and sparsely furnished, the room felt like a sanctuary compared to the destruction outside. A small window
A familiar voice suddenly echoed behind him, "Alan, are you okay?"Startled, Alan instinctively turned around. There, rushing toward him in a fluster, was a pretty girl with hair the same color as his. Her face was etched with worry and concern, and she moved quickly, her eyes searching his for any sign of distress. This was Esther, always attentive and kind-hearted, her presence a comforting beacon in moments of uncertainty.Esther approached, her breath coming in quick gasps from her hurried pace. Her eyes scanned Alan from head to toe, seeking any signs of injury or distress. "Are you hurt? What happened?" she asked, her voice tinged with anxiety. Behind her, more familiar faces appeared, each bringing comfort and camaraderie. Haruki, the confident and charismatic male protagonist, exuded a calm authority. Among them, His sharp eyes assessed the situation quickly, taking in every detail with practiced ease. His presence was commanding, and his concern for Alan was evident in his
"Idiot."A cold, piercing voice suddenly broke the silence, sending a chill downEsther's spine. She spun around, her eyes wide with surprise and a hint of fear, to see who had uttered those harsh, unfamiliar words.The Russian princess Katia Volkov was standing there, exuding an aura of regal authority and disdain. In the gaming world of Rainfall Disorder, Katia was not just another character; she was your in-game crush, a figure of both admiration and intimidation.Esther's heart pounded as she saw Katia, whose icy blue eyes seemed to pierce right through her.
"Why is it that every time I see you... Do you always cover your face so thoroughly? I know it's ugly... covering it up won't help anyway."A mischievous smile slowly spread across the plump lips of the playful girl, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Her words, laced with mockery, grated on Ryoshu's nerves. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows on the walls, and her taunting voice seemed to echo in the enclosed space. Ryoshu could feel a surge of irritation rising within him, his hands clenching into fists under his cloak. However, he managed to suppress his anger, knowing lashing out would do no good. The memories of past confrontations where he had let his temper get the better of him flashed briefly in his mind, reminding him of the importance of control.Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he responded, his voice measured and even, "Sensei Kenzo accidentally cut off one of my ears."As soon as those words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramaticall
'She looks quite sleepy, doesn't she...? Some things never change, even in this virtual reality version,' Ryoshu thought, noticing Katia's drowsy expression. Her eyelids drooped slightly, and she leaned against the wall with a languid grace as if the day's weight was finally catching up with her. Her serene beauty seemed almost out of place in the tense atmosphere of the room, a stark contrast to the urgency surrounding them.Meanwhile, Alan and Esther were engrossed in a hushed conversation in a dimly lit corner. Alan's posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp and calculating, darting occasionally toward the rest of the group to ensure their privacy. Esther, on the other hand, looked anxious. Her brow was furrowed, and she kept glancing at Alan's bandaged arm, the concern in her eyes deepening with every passing moment."Alan, with your injury like this, can we still proceed with the original plan—?" Esther's voice, though soft, was tinged with worry. She bit her lip, her finge
"Please, Esther. Ryoshu also has quite good reasoning skills. Who knows, he could do something.Esther's expression shifted slightly. The confident and somewhat haughty demeanor she usually carried wavered for a moment. This subtle change did not go unnoticed. It wasn't merely the logical appeal of the request that caused her to pause. The actual influence came from the one making the plea. Esther highly regarded Charlotte, valuing her opinions and respecting her deeply. This respect was coupled with a strong belief in Charlotte's intuition, which had proven reliable on many occasions.Charlotte's request carried weight, not just because of her logical argument but because of the bond they shared. Esther contemplated the situation, her mind racing through past experiences where Charlotte's instincts had been spot on. She let out a long, resigned sigh, an audible sign of her internal struggle, and finally responded, her tone laced with reluctance:"Fine, I agree because you asked, bu
She could only let out a weary sigh, feeling the weight of the situation settle heavily on her shoulders before she spoke again. "Alright, let me repeat the plan again for the group. This is especially important for you, Haruki, and Charlotte. Please make an effort to remember it this time."Haruki, always the one to lighten the mood, chuckled nervously, "Hehe. Sorry about that..."On the other hand, Charlotte felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. "I'll try my best to remember..." she added softly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.The mention of their names jolted Haruki and Charlotte, causing them to sit up straighter and exchange sheepish glances. They realized they needed to pay better attention. The gravity of their task was starting to sink in. Despite their initial reactions, they quickly refocused, understanding the critical nature of the plan. They leaned in closer, eyes fixed on her, as she meticulously went over every detail, ensuring no one missed anything. He
Charlotte's sigh was heavy with the weight of her disappointment. Her eyes locked onto the paper she held, searching for hidden meaning in the inked numbers. The quiet room seemed to echo with her despondence. Her brows knitted together, and her lips pursed in a faint frown. "I only got 200 points... so I'm ranked 13th," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, each word laced with a palpable sense of frustration and regret. "Katia got 235 points and is ranked 11th."Ever attentive to his friend's emotions, Haruki moved closer, his expression softening with empathy. His blue hair fell into his eyes as he leaned in, a small, comforting smile on his lips. "You both were so close, weren't you?" he said, his tone gentle and encouraging. "If it hadn't been for those demon worshippers at the end, our whole group would have made it into the top 10.Charlotte's gaze shifted from the paper to Haruki, her mind replaying the chaotic events of the competition's final moments. Her brow f
"What on earth is going on?" he muttered, utterly bewildered by the sight before him. The scene was so unexpected that it left him momentarily stunned. Although he lacked the courage to step inside, his curiosity got the better of him, and he cautiously peered in. Just at the entrance of the dormitory, Haruki and Charlotte were deeply engrossed in an unusually intimate conversation, their heads close together, sharing words he couldn't quite hear."They look so close... why does this scene seem so familiar?" he thought, a profound sense of déjà vu washing over him. The familiarity was unsettling. "This is the scene right after that cold, unfeeling guy Midnight—supposed to be a Star student—challenges the academy."Reflecting further, he realized, "Because I've temporarily taken his place, now everything is unfolding as it should... according to the script of the game Rainfall Disorder."As he stood there, lost in his thoughts and trying to piece everything together, a group of other
"See you later... but... next time, please don't pull on someone else's shirt like that..."At that precise moment, it seemed that the petite angelic girl had just realized she was clutching the hem of Ryoshu's shirt. Her eyes widened in sudden awareness, and she quickly let go as if the fabric had burned her fingers. What stood out most in this scene was the incredible proximity of their heads. Their faces were so close that even the slightest movement could have resulted in an undeniably awkward situation, almost as if the air between them had thickened with tension.Ryoshu's mind raced, struggling to process the sudden nearness. The image of a tomato was the only thing he could conjure to describe Luna's face, which had flushed a vibrant, almost luminous shade of red. Her cheeks seemed to glow with embarrassment, and he could practically feel the heat radiating from her skin.This moment was incredibly challenging for someone like Ryoshu, who was acutely sensitive and easily flust
"Instead of paying for tuition right away, I'll invest in the shares of potential guilds with promising futures," he mused aloud, his eyes shimmering with a glint of ambition. Securing financial growth through guild investments excited him; it seemed a wise move in a world where connections and wealth often determined one's success. "And if I gather enough goods, I might even consider starting a small business in the Trading Guild."The thought filled him with a sense of purpose and hope. He could already see the possibilities unfold before him—ventures that would bring wealth and establish his reputation in the bustling city. Money, he understood, was not merely a tool for survival but a powerful key to opening doors to numerous opportunities and connections.In the quieter corners of his mind, the stark reality of his ambitions loomed large. "In the future, the amount of money I'll need is no small sum," he murmured, his tone shifting to one of sober reflection. Supporting the ta
Upon hearing the alarming beep of the error sound, the saleswoman immediately hurried over. Her steps were quick and purposeful, a clear indication of her concern. As she approached, she leaned closer to the counter, her eyes searching for the source of the problem, and asked, "Are you out of money, dear?"The young man, visibly flustered, responded with a slight tremble, "No... please wait a moment. It seems there might be an error." His fingers moved swiftly over the device, trying to troubleshoot the issue with an almost palpable urgency. Sweat began to form on his brow as he frantically tried to resolve the situation.Standing right beside Ryoshu, the saleswoman scrutinized him with a look that betrayed her suspicion. Her eyebrows knitted together, and her lips pressed into a thin line as she tried to decipher what was going wrong. Her eyes darted between Ryoshu and the device, seeking any clue that might explain the unexpected error.Ryoshu felt the weight of her gaze bearing do
"Ryoshu... What are you looking at out there?" Charlotte called out to him, her voice tinged with concern after he had been silent for an unusually long time.Startled from his thoughts, Ryoshu turned towards them, his face pale and eyes wide as if he had just seen a ghost. The unsettling expression made both Charlotte and Haruki exchange worried glances.'Could it be... these two?' Ryoshu wondered internally, his mind racing. 'Is it because they know me or because they are actively engaging with me? If that's the case... I need to come up with a plan quickly. These scenes are making me sick!!!'Desperately trying to compose himself, Ryoshu quickly blurted out, "Oh, um... I saw a white cat passing by, but it's nothing special." He cringed inwardly, realizing it was one of the lamest excuses he had ever concocted.Charlotte raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued but not fully satisfied. "A white cat, you say?""Yeah," Ryoshu stammered, nodding a bit too vigorously. "It just caught my
"Wow, looking over this list again, it's clear just how impressive Amemura is. He scored an incredible 600 points, outpacing Midnight by a substantial margin of 100 points!"Ryoshu'sRyoshu's friend exclaimed, eyes wide with amazement as they reviewed the freshly printed results. The numbers were still crisp on the page, highlighting Amemura's name at the top with a bold score beside it. Ryoshu, however, seemed preoccupied as he fumbled with a newspaper he had just picked up."This... just came out... I didn't have a chance to hear the scores earlier, but... it doesn't," Ryoshu muttered, his voice trailing off as he opened the newspaper. He was soon engrossed, his eyes moving methodically across the columns of text. Despite his initial nonchalance, he found himself compelled to read each word meticulously. A sense of helplessness washed over him as he realized he had no choice but to absorb every detail. The weight of the information bore down on him, making him feel like he was being
"Well, I only got 200 points, so I'm ranked 13th. But Katia got 235 points and is ranked 11th," Charlotte sighed, her eyes scanning the paper in her hand with a mix of disappointment and resignation.Seeing the sadness on his friend's face, Haruki felt a pang of empathy and immediately sought to comfort her. His voice was gentle yet filled with a determination to lift her spirits."Both of you were so close, weren't you? If it hadn't been for those demon worshippers causing trouble at the end, our whole group might have made it into the top 10," he said, trying to inject positivity into the situation.Charlotte nodded slightly, appreciating his effort but still feeling the sting of their narrow miss. "I'm not so sure about that... but we should still celebrate the 2... no, now 3 of us who made it into the top 10! Maybe we could go out for dinner tonight... have a little party or something?"As she spoke, Charlotte absentmindedly twirled a lock of her shiny golden hair around her finge
They walked through it unharmed, and not only that, they managed to carry on a lively conversation, smiling as if they were taking a casual stroll. The air was filled with their laughter and light-hearted banter, starkly contrasting the tense situation at hand. "Do you think we'll be alright?" one of them asked, their voice tinged with curiosity and concern.Ryoshu's mind was racing. He vividly remembered the second scene, every detail etched into his memory, and knew he had to act swiftly. The weight of urgency pressed down on him, his thoughts a chaotic whirl as he considered the implications. "I hope the scene hasn't progressed too far… I need to hurry…" he muttered under his breath, feeling the pressure mount. Without wasting another moment, he took a deep breath and plunged into the invisible curtain that separated him from his goal.The instant he entered, an eerie sensation washed over him. Once responsive and under his control, his body began to betray him. It was as if an u