Chapter 20: Hypocritical Greeting

“Morning, Yoruichi!”

“Oh, morning, Heita.”

In a state where I’d slept less than three hours, I still mustered my energy to greet Makura Heita, who was blocking the door of the rental apartment early in the morning.

Sleep deprivation itself wasn’t much of a problem.

What really concerned me was Heita’s expression at the moment.

I subconsciously heightened my alertness, my gaze lingering on his face for a few seconds until I confirmed it was still his usual straightforward, carefree look, before relaxing a bit.

The result proved my worry was unnecessary.

—At least with him.

The high-spec AR system provided by The Earth Ring indeed didn’t disappoint me.

After downloading the plugin attached to that apology letter, a large number of semi-transparent particle cubes immediately appeared in my vision, as if drawn by some rule, slowly swimming and assembling around my body.

Like a swarm of ants attempting to gnaw at fruit.

Once these cubes completely covered me, my original body outline was thoroughly obscured, replaced by a layer of one-way projected virtual image.

In other words—

This was a disguise that only took effect on “others.”

It wouldn’t affect my actions, nor interfere with real-world touch and perception, yet it could perfectly conceal my current “Night Witch” form in the eyes of bystanders.

“Phew—”

I let out a soft breath.

Forcibly maintaining vigilance in an extremely fatigued state consumed far more mental energy than imagined. At least now, that taut string could finally relax a little.

…Of course, I soon realized I was happy too soon.

“Morning, little Yoru~”

Accompanying that deliberately softened ending tone, a streak of silver intruded into my vision before the voice.

From behind Heita’s golden short hair, a girl slowly emerged.

Smooth silver hair, proper features, a perfectly timed smile—

If judging by appearance alone, she was undoubtedly the type that made one think of a “girl next door.”

However.

What floated in those eyes wasn’t gentleness.

But a meticulously polished, ice-cold calculation.

“Did you not sleep well last night?”

Her tone was concerned, as if truly worried about me.

I didn’t even need to think to know who she was.

“Ah, it’s Mayne, huh.”

I responded in as steady a tone as possible to her greeting.

By the way, the AR plugin’s voice restoration was ridiculously high, really making one unsure whether to praise The Earth Ring’s technical prowess.

“Oh dear, little Yoru is so cold~”

Mayne immediately showed a hurt expression. “We’re still childhood friends, after all.”

If that face were seen by others right now, someone would probably already start defending her.

—Girl next door, gentle, understanding.

—Plus, she was the KING ruling the entire Blue Sea Academy, controlling the N2 district.

Being “cared for” by her was probably an honor in others’ eyes.

Honestly, I almost got fooled by her acting.

Really, almost.

“That’s just talk from peaceful times, Mayne.”

I also showed a faint smile, my tone deliberately keeping distance.

“The current you is the student council president of Blue Sea Academy.”

“And I’m just a bottom-ranker in BHAO, unable to even advance my character’s tier.”

This wasn’t self-deprecation.

It was fact.

“Yoruichi…”

She slightly lowered her gaze, her tone becoming soft. “That matter was really just an accident.”

“Ah, haha.”

I dry-laughed. “An accident, huh.”

It was words like this.

This kind of painless, yet precisely hitting the vital point rhetoric.

As if everything was just bad luck, as if the responsibility was never on her.

But that nerve buried deep in my heart, named “anger,” was still easily stirred by her.

“An accident that made me lose everything?”

“An accident that announced my character’s inability to advance tiers to the whole school?”

“Even needing to do it through the academy broadcast?”

I almost roared these words out.

The instant the words fell, that turbid air accumulated in my chest was finally exhaled.

—Refreshing enough to make one want to laugh.

That’s right.

Blaming the cause of my bullying, exclusion, and complete isolation on Mayne wasn’t unfair.

Originally, I could have concealed it.

By taking leave, evading exams, avoiding external interactions, forever hiding the fact that UNKNOWN NAME WARRIOR couldn’t advance tiers.

But back then, I chose to believe her.

That silver-haired girl had once said to me in an utterly certain tone:

“Don’t worry, little Yoru~ I’ll definitely handle everything for you.”

And the result?

That day’s broadcast still lingered in my mind.

In a tone cheerful to the point of delight, she announced to the whole school:

“Everyone, treat Yae Yoruichi well~ His character can’t advance tiers, so no discriminating against him~”

—What a “considerate” way of handling it.

I couldn’t help but show a self-mocking smile, then simply ignored Mayne, walking straight past her.

“Let’s go, Heita. We should leave.”

“Oh, oh…”

Heita obviously hadn’t figured out the situation yet, only able to blink while following.

“Yoruichi, wait!”

I stopped my steps but didn’t turn back.

The summer morning air should have carried a slight warmth, but at this moment, it felt uncomfortably cold.

“This afternoon is Blue Sea Academy’s BHAO KNOCK OUT.”

Mayne’s voice came from behind. “This is one of the academy’s most important events. Students who don’t advance will be expelled.”

She paused, then added:

“Yoruichi, please believe me. This time, I’ll definitely help you.”

“Hm, no need.”

I answered calmly. “I’ll handle it myself.”

“Yoruichi…”

Her call was swallowed by the gradually distancing footsteps.

“If we don’t go, we’ll be late, Heita.”

“Ah, okay.”

The farther from the rental apartment, the heavy feeling pressing on my chest gradually lightened a bit.

However, I still knew clearly in my heart.

What I did just now was an extremely dangerous thing.

—Openly defying a KING.

Moreover, a KING who knew my real identity.

In BHAO’s world, this behavior was almost equivalent to suicide.

“What a terrible morning today…”

I muttered lowly in my heart.

“Is this really okay, Yoruichi?”

Heita asked cautiously.

“It’s fine.”

I forced a smile. “She’s a KING after all, probably won’t care about a small fry like me.”

“Y-yeah, that makes sense.”

Just then, Heita seemed to remember something.

“Right, Yoruichi, you used the AR device too, right?”

“Eh?!”

“It’s that apology letter, the apology letter!”

“…You used it too?”

“Of course!”

He showed a proud expression. “How could I miss out on something so COOL!”

This guy, what exactly does he think AR is…

“Then your reality… was affected by the game?”

“Affected? What effect?”

Ah, so you don’t know anything.

The corner of my mouth twitched slightly.

While feeling a headache from his denseness, I couldn’t help but think—

This apology letter was probably distributed globally.

“It’s nothing.”

I waved my hand. “Let’s go, we’ll talk at the academy.”

“Hm.”

I looked up at the gradually brightening sky.

For some reason, a premonition was slowly forming in my heart.

From today onward, BHAO’s world probably couldn’t go back to how it was before.