Chapter 3 | Are You Charged Up?

 

With the sole intention of enjoying an online game together, I head to Risuzu’s room and rap lightly on her door. After a brief pause, the door creaks open just a sliver, and Risuzu peeks out, her expression tinged with irritation, brows furrowed as she sizes me up.

“…Onii? What’s the deal?”

“Wanna play the online game together now?”

“…With Rinka-san too?”

“Yeah, Nonoa-chan’s joining us as well. Let’s all play. Your account suspension’s lifted, right?”

“…It’s lifted, but… facing Rinka-san feels kinda awkward…”

“It’s fine. Rinka went back home.”

“…Huh?”

It’s just the three of us here: me, Risuzu, and Nonoa-chan. Rinka’s set to log into [Black Plains] from her home computer, and Nonoa-chan will use the laptop Rinka bought her a while back.

“With online games, we can play together without being in the same place, so there’s no need to meet face-to-face. In the game world, we can just have fun without worrying about real-life stuff.”

“…Even so, real-life stuff does weigh on my mind a little…”

Fair point. I nod inwardly but press on. “Of course, I’m not forcing you. This time, it’s just about having fun, pure and simple. No need to worry about agreeing with Rinka’s way of thinking or anything like that. We all just want to play together, including you, Risuzu. I think Rinka feels the same—she probably sees this as a chance to patch things up too.”

I choose my words carefully, trying to convey my sincerity. But, as expected, Risuzu doesn’t immediately agree. That’s only natural. I’ve only spouted idealistic words, and if that were enough to sway her, she’d have said yes long ago. Risuzu’s reluctance isn’t because she hates Rinka—it’s likely just simple awkwardness, nothing more complex than that.

I understand her hesitation. But sometimes, sitting down and talking things out face-to-face—or in this case, in-game—can melt away those awkward feelings surprisingly easily. That’s just how human connections work sometimes. Even if people think differently, they can still get along; most understand that instinctively.

“…I-I mean, I’ve been rejecting Rinka-san’s way of thinking this whole time… It’s kinda late to change now…”

Maybe they’ve had some exchanges when I wasn’t around? Risuzu mumbles, eyes fixed on the floor, a hint of stubbornness in her tone. If there’s something that could motivate Risuzu, who’s always true to her desires and honest with herself—

“Risuzu-oneechan, let’s play the game together!”

The gentle plea comes from Nonoa-chan, her expression soft and earnest. She’d been waiting in my room but slipped over just now, her timing impeccable. It’s a small part of my strategy—Risuzu adores Nonoa-chan and can’t easily turn down her invitation. In other words, I’m letting someone else do the convincing!

“…Nonoa-chan… B-but I…”

“It’s fun when we all play together, right?”

Nonoa-chan’s pure, sparkling eyes, free of any ulterior motives, reflect Risuzu’s conflicted expression. She’s so close to giving in—just a tiny bit more courage is all it’ll take.

All I need is a small spark. “Hey, Nonoa-chan. If I do really well in the game today, can I get a cheek-rub as a reward?”

“Sure!”

“…Ugh… There’s a total pervert right in front of me…”

Risuzu’s eyes narrow, her disgust genuine. …I’m about to cry. Obviously, I don’t actually want that—it never even crossed my mind. I just recalled something Risuzu said before and used it to create an opening.

“…If it’s a guy like Onii, I’d rather you ask me for a cheek-rub…”

“Okay! So that means Risuzu-oneechan’s playing with us, right?”

“…Y-yeah, I guess it does… Ugh… I feel like I got played…”

Risuzu spits out the words with frustration, shooting me a glare. I look away, feigning innocence. Knowing Risuzu loves Nonoa-chan and gets competitive with me over her, I figured this would work—and it went even better than I expected. A restless, jittery feeling stirs in my chest, like the first time I skipped school to play an online game. I might’ve awakened a tiny bit to the dark side.

“Alright, let’s head to my room, Risuzu.”

“…U-uh, yeah… Let me grab my laptop…”

Risuzu turns to head back into her room but freezes mid-step. Just as I’m about to call out, she speaks without turning around. “…Onii, um… thanks for everything.”

“Huh?”

“…N-nothing!”

Blurting it out as if to cover her embarrassment, Risuzu scurries back into her room. Was that her trying to hide her feelings? For the first time, I think I understand why Rinka tries to dote on Risuzu, even when her approach to gaming gets shot down.

☆

Before Rinka came over, my room was a chaotic mess of entertainment—books, games, clothes strewn everywhere. Now, it looks like a typical high school guy’s room at a glance. What catches my eye are the Rinka poster on the wall and the Rinka-chan doll perched proudly beside my computer desk.

At the table in the middle of the room, Risuzu and Nonoa-chan sit across from each other, laptops open, headsets with mics in place. The little girl beams with pure excitement, radiating enthusiasm, while the popular idol sits tense, her body curled as if shielding herself, her face stiff.

“Risuzu, you okay? Rinka’s not here, you know.”

“…That Rinka-san on the poster… she’s staring at me…!”

“…That’s just your imagination.”

Is it nerves or pressure? She’s been playing the game alone, trying to accept Rinka’s perspective, and as a result, got her account suspended…!

I settle at my computer, boot [Black Plains], and log in. My avatar, Kazu, spawns in the capital’s bustling fountain plaza, the usual player meetup spot, saving me the trouble of moving. I check the voice chat room in the game’s chat app. Three people are in: Kazu, Nonoa, and Kurotsuki Ruseze.

“Oh!”

The chat log shows ‘Rin-san has logged in.’ A ping♪ signals someone joining the voice chat. It’s Rin.

“Sorry, am I late?”

“No worries. We just logged in too.”

“…U-um… Rinka-san… I, uh…”

“Call me Rin right now, Kurotsuki Ruseze.”

“…Oh… okay, Rin-san…”

To ease the real-life awkwardness, we’re deliberately using our in-game names—a very Rinka-like consideration. Soon, Nonoa appears in front of Kazu, a cute girl in a black robe. Maybe she modeled her avatar after herself? The hairstyle’s the same, and the bright vibe of her face is spot-on.

“Wah! Kazu-oniichan, you’re all sparkly!”

Nonoa-chan’s voice brims with awe and excitement as she eyes my avatar, Kazu, decked out in sleek, silvery armor. It’s not gear beginners or mid-tier players could get, enhanced through mind-numbingly tedious grinding. If Kazu’s equipment got lost to some bug, I’d probably go berserk, swinging my keyboard and smashing my computer to bits (just a figure of speech, but I’d lose it that badly).

‘…………’

“Oh, Risuzu…? Why’re you behind the fountain?”

A sudden ‘…………’ pops up in the chat, so I check the minimap and spot a green dot behind the fountain. I move over and find Kurotsuki Ruseze, dressed in black like an assassin, hiding her form. Is she trying to stay out of sight?

“Sorry for the wait. Is everyone here now?”

Rinka’s voice comes through, and Rin appears before Kazu—a blonde elf girl I’ve seen countless times, her text chat always super cheerful.

“Alright, I’ll invite everyone to the party.”

I’m usually the one getting invited, but this time, I’ll take the lead to keep things moving. I send party invites to each person. Rin and Nonoa accept right away, but Kurotsuki Ruseze doesn’t.

“Risuzu?”

“…………”

I glance at her in person. She’s gripping her mouse, frozen, her face tense. Is she still hesitating, even now? This is bad… I thought not meeting face-to-face would help, but it’s not that simple. Her lips are sealed tight, barely able to speak.

Rinka, picking up on Risuzu’s statetoxic, switches from voice to text chat. ‘Hurry up and join the party, Kurotsuki Ruseze! We’ve been waiting forever!’

“…Uh, huh?”

‘Come on, quick quick~’

The bubbly chat from Rin, who’s jumping with a smile, is so lively it’s hard to believe she’s the cool-type idol. Risuzu blinks rapidly, thrown off by the personality shift.

“…Th-this… is Rinka-san? The vibe’s totally different…”

“Oh, it’s just the usual me.”

“…No way, it’s definitely different…!”

‘Not true! This is totally normal me!’

“Kurotsuki Ruseze, stop saying weird stuff and join our party already. You’re the last one.”

‘I wanna play with Kurotsuki Ruseze already~’

“…I-I don’t get it…!”

Bombarded by both cheerful Rin and cool Rinka,

Risuzu clutches her head in confusion. This is practically bullying… Nonoa-chan tilts her head with a “Nnh?” completely oblivious to the situation. Rin and Rinka’s double assault works, though, as the chat shows ‘Kurotsuki Ruseze has joined the party.’

“Hey, Kurotsuki Ruseze,” I say gently, “you don’t need to overthink this. When you were a kid, didn’t you just play with friends for the fun of it, without worrying about anything?”

 

“…Yeah, thinking too much in this situation… it just makes my head spin…”

“I totally get that, Risuzu. Sometimes you just have to let go and dive in.”

Risuzu dipped her head slightly, a wry smile tugging at her lips. “…Rinka-san’s so over-the-top, it’s like she’s blasting away all my hang-ups…”

“That’s the spirit,” I said, chuckling at her hesitant nod. Maybe Rinka had planned this all along, nudging Risuzu to this point by being her unapologetic self—Rin.

“Let me join the guild too! A guild with just Kazu and Kurotsuki Ruseze… I won’t forgive you!” Rin’s voice burst through the headset.

Nope, guess not. For better or worse, Rin was just being her authentic self. Nonoa-chan, catching the oddity in Rin’s words, piped up. “Hey, hey! What’s this ‘Raven’s Perch’ thing under Kazu-oniichan and Risuzu-oneechan’s names?”

“It’s the guild’s name,” I explained.

“Guild?”

“Think of it as a group of buddies. We share adventures together.”

“Oh, cool! I wanna be buddies too!”

“Of course,” I said, sending Nonoa a guild invite. The chat pinged: Nonoa has joined Raven’s Perch.

“Raven’s Perch… I don’t really get it, but it sounds awesome!” Nonoa’s voice sparkled with excitement.

“…Heh. I came up with that name,” Risuzu muttered.

“Really?! Risuzu-oneechan, you’re amazing!”

“…I’m amazing? Dyufufufu.” Risuzu’s strange laugh made me cringe slightly as I sent Rin a guild invite. She accepted instantly, bringing Raven’s Perch to four members.

“Kazu’s the leader, right?” Rin asked.

“Yeah. Wanna take over?”

“No, Kazu’s perfect.”

“…No objections here,” Risuzu added. “Means I can dump all the annoying stuff on him.”

I ignored the extra jab. Leadership wasn’t my thing, honestly. It never had been. But with this group, I felt a spark of optimism. Probably because of who was in it.

“…This moment, Raven’s Perch is truly born,” I said.

“We technically formed it a while ago, but we haven’t done anything with it,” Rin pointed out.

“So, Kazu-leader, what’s Raven’s Perch’s first activity?” Risuzu asked.

“…Onii, first impressions matter,” Nonoa chimed in.

“Yay! I’m so excited!”

Their expectations crackled through the headsets, loud and clear. I couldn’t mess this up. Even dense as I was, I got that much. Alright, only one choice!

“Let’s go! First, we’ll all do some mining—”

“Vetoed,” Rin cut in.

“…No way,” Risuzu echoed.

“Nuh-uh!” Nonoa added.

I slumped. Please, just let me quit being leader…

☆

Sunlight streamed from above, glinting off the rippling sea, making it sparkle like a jewel. As expected of Black Plains, the graphics were breathtaking. The view from the ship’s bow left me in awe once again. The larger ship size made everything feel grander, more epic.

Until now, we’d only sailed on Rin’s small boat. But after we discussed, “Why not go for a bigger ship?” we crafted the max-rank ship in Black Plains. It was the kind of vessel a pirate game’s protagonist would command—small boats didn’t stand a chance. Even with just the two of us, Rin and I, veteran players, had pulled it off. A ship that usually took a dozen people months to build, with massive funds and materials, was ours.

“Fishing at sea’s the best, right, everyone?” Rin’s refreshing voice rang out.

“…Yeah. Better than mining…” Risuzu muttered.

“Wow, it’s so pretty!” Nonoa squealed.

Since mining got shot down, I’d suggested fishing as a test, and we ended up heading out to sea on our ship. To my surprise, it was unanimously approved—except by me. I wasn’t fully sold, but seeing everyone’s enthusiasm, I couldn’t complain. Fishing was fun too.

With Rin at the helm, our ship sped away from land. The shore vanished, leaving nothing but endless ocean. If we ventured farther, we might find scattered islands. Sailing was one of Black Plains’ thrilling features. The downside? The risk of giant monsters or pirates attacking. But that was part of the fun.

“We can’t go to the sea together in real life, but in the game, we can,” Rin said.

“Yeah,” I nodded. She was so right. Taking a popular idol like Rinka to the beach in real life would spark a riot. This was only possible in-game.

“At the pool, didn’t some women talk to you?” Rin asked.

“Yeah, they did. But they were talking to Nonoa-chan.”

“I see… And after that, didn’t they show any interest in you, Kazuto?”

“They asked my name, I think.”

I answered without thinking. A brief silence followed before Rin’s voice dropped, quiet and sharp. “They didn’t invite you to hang out or anything… right?”

“They did.”

“Tch…! Thieving cats are everywhere…!”

“Uh, I didn’t hang out with them… I’m all about Rinka…”

“Kazuto—I love you!”

“I-I love you too, Rinka—”

“…Can you two not go into your own world? It makes me feel empty…” Risuzu grumbled.

We bantered as the ship glided to a good spot and stopped. Time to fish. The four of us grabbed rods, lined up, and cast our lines. Nothing special happened—just peaceful time passing as we reeled in fish.

“…Is this fun?” Risuzu’s blunt question broke the silence.

No one answered right away. Naturally, Rin, the cool-type idol, pushed back. “It’s fun. Obviously, it’s fun.”

“…I prefer thrilling stuff. Like brutal battles where blood washes away blood…!”

“Risuzu’s happiest when she’s making her opponents suffer, huh,” I teased.

“…Call me Kurotsuki Ruseze, newbie.”

“Oh, uh, sorry…”

I had years more experience than her—and I was older in real life—but Risuzu was already mastering combos even beginners struggled to notice. Her personality screamed combat-focused content.

“I’m enjoying this peaceful time,” Rin said softly. “Spending it with people I care about… isn’t that wonderful?”

“…Yeah. Plus, I get to stare at Rin-san’s body…” Risuzu mumbled.

That was way too impure, kid. But I got it. Black Plains’s graphics were stunning, and the avatar designs were top-notch. You could create characters so beautiful they’d rarely exist in real life.

“—Ah!” Nonoa’s brief scream cut through, followed by a heavy splash! as something hit the sea. Oh no—Nonoa fell in…!

“Uh, uh… oh, my stamina gauge? It’s dropping fast!” she cried.

“This is bad, Nonoa-chan! Get back on the ship quick!” I shouted.

“Huh?”

“If your stamina gauge runs out, your HP gauge starts draining!”

That was the penalty for falling into the sea. You’d die without reaching land.

“…Nonoa-chan! I, Kurotsuki Ruseze, will save you—!” Risuzu declared, diving into the sea. She circled Nonoa but froze. “…How do I rescue someone? Wait, how do I even get back on the ship?”

“Don’t jump in without knowing! There’s no way to rescue someone! You climb up yourself!” I yelled.

“…Climb up…?”

Kurotsuki Ruseze and Nonoa flailed against the ship’s side, unable to board. Their stamina gauges dwindled, and Nonoa, being low-level, started losing HP.

“K-Kazu-oniichan! Help!”

“Press the space key!”

“Space key? W-which one…?”

“Calm down, Nonoa. It’s the long horizontal key at the bottom,” Rin said calmly.

Following her instructions, Nonoa climbed up, with Kurotsuki Ruseze close behind. What a chaotic duo…

“…Thought I was gonna die,” Risuzu muttered.

“You act too impulsively…” I sighed.

The chaos settled, and a calm vibe returned. But then, a deafening BOOM! shook the ship violently. A cannonball!

“Kazu! Pirates! Pirates are here!” Rin’s frantic voice rang out.

I swung my mouse to scan the surroundings. A pirate ship, as large as ours, loomed right in our faces.

“What—?! This area isn’t supposed to have pirates!” I exclaimed.

“…Onii, the patch notes said the pirate spawn range got expanded,” Risuzu said.

“Seriously?! I didn’t check…!”

“At this rate, they’ll destroy the ship! I’m getting us out of here!” Rin called, steering the ship at full speed.

But the enemy ship kept pace, sticking close—perfect range for their cannons. Relentless shots roared, shaking our vessel. If this kept up, Rin’s ship, which took forever to build, would sink. Our ship—Raven’s Perch’s ship! If it went down, all four of us would drown. Hopeless.

The pirates didn’t stop at cannons. Enemy crew aimed guns and fired. Kazu, a frontline fighter, took minimal damage, but Rin, the helmsman, was losing HP bit by bit. Nonoa, down to half HP, ran around the deck in a cute panic, shouting, “Wawawa!” Kurotsuki Ruseze, hiding behind me, was unscathed. Times like this really showed people’s true colors.

“I’ll draw their attention! Rin, keep steering! Kurotsuki Ruseze and Nonoa-chan, attack from behind me!” I ordered.

“Got it!” Rin replied.

“Okay!” Nonoa squeaked.

“…In this crisis, Kurotsuki Ruseze’s hidden powers awaken—” Risuzu started.

“Enough of that!” I snapped.

As leader, I moved Kazu to the ship’s edge, activating a defensive skill to boost my defense and draw enemy aggro. I’d done this countless times. While I tanked, my teammates struck from behind—

BOOM! A massive explosion erupted at Kazu’s back, shaking the screen. The shockwave blasted Kazu toward the pirate ship—and into the sea.

“Wha—why?! Why’d a cannon hit me from behind…?” I stammered.

“…Sorry. I tried using the portable cannon and accidentally hit you,” Risuzu admitted.

“What have you done—?!”

Friendly fire from behind? Never saw that coming. Portable cannons, mobile weapons for naval battles, spiced things up—but this was a first.

“Wah! Kazu-oniichan! Y-you’re gonna die…!” Nonoa cried.

“…Nonoa-chan, get behind me… Ugh, I’m in trouble too…” Risuzu muttered.

With me off the ship, enemies focused on the others, damage piling up fast. We were in deep trouble. (Kurotsuki Ruseze’s HP was still full. What was tough for her?) Raven’s Perch’s first voyage, ending like this?

No way. Kazu, once called a guardian deity for protecting allies, wouldn’t give up. For the first time in years, I focused with everything I had. Mouse and keyboard became extensions of my body. Kazu moved with perfect efficiency, swimming to the pirate ship and climbing aboard. Countless enemy crew aimed guns and charged with swords. Dodging their blades, I slipped into the crowd and activated an attack skill. White sword-like beams radiated from Kazu, obliterating the surrounding crew. The skill’s long cooldown meant I couldn’t spam it.

Surviving enemies swarmed me. Tough, but I’d been in worse. Before meeting Rin, I was in a top combat guild, somewhat famous in certain circles. I had confidence in my skills. Lose to mob enemies? Not a chance.

As leader, I’d protect everyone—

BOOM! A black projectile slammed into Kazu’s back, triggering a massive explosion that blew me and the enemies away.

“Why again?!” I shouted.

“…Heh, filthy fireworks,” Risuzu said.

“Wait, on purpose? You did that on purpose?”

“…Not on purpose. Really, just a fluke… Cannons are hard…”

I could only muster a “Well, guess it happens” to her flat tone. Blasted by Kurotsuki Ruseze’s cannon a few more times, I still took down the pirates single-handedly with the pride of a gaming addict. Our ship teetered on the brink, but we avoided total destruction. Nonoa’s HP was a sliver, but she survived, panicking and teary-eyed in real life, unsure what to do.

All four of us made it through the pirate attack, but—

“…This is teamwork. We survived thanks to everyone’s strength…” Risuzu said.

“Wonderful. I couldn’t track the battle while steering, but… if Kurotsuki Ruseze says so, it must’ve been great teamwork,” Rin added, smiling.

“…Heh. This team revolves around me…”

Rin patted Kurotsuki Ruseze’s head, still at full HP. I was at a loss for words.

“What’s wrong, Kazu?” Rin asked.

“…Nothing.”

No need to ruin the good vibe. But man, this made me uneasy…

☆

Having survived the pirate battle, we arrived at a dungeon Nonoa-chan wanted to try—Raven’s Perch’s first dungeon run. Standing before a massive underground chasm, I explained, “This dungeon’s set in an underground forest. Despite being underground, there’s sunlight, so it’s bright.”

“…Sunlight underground?” Risuzu asked skeptically.

“Yeah, classic game logic, right? It’s full of plant and insect-type monsters. Everyone’s levels are equalized, so we challenge it with the same strength.”

“Gear differences still matter,” Rin noted.

I nodded. But as a team, gear gaps wouldn’t be an issue. Since we needed a healer, Rin switched to her alt, a priest named Karin, in navy robes resembling a nun’s habit. Her appearance was identical to Rin’s blonde elf, though her chest seemed slightly bigger. The name came from combining Rin with the “Ka” from Kazu. Kinda embarrassing.

“…Don’t people usually change their alt’s appearance…?” Risuzu muttered.

“I live true to myself always. No pretense, just me. No matter the class, my look stays the same. Keep calling me Rin,” she replied.

“…True to yourself… this bubbly-looking elf is Rinka-san’s true self…” Risuzu murmured, skeptical.

I moved on to explain the boss. “It’s a giant tree called Devil Tree. Normal difficulty, but players say the boss is tough. Even mid-tier groups can fail if they’re careless. Nonoa-chan, you good?”

“Yup! I’ll do my best!” Her enthusiastic voice rang through the headset.

We’d probably manage. With Rin and me, plus Risuzu’s instincts, we could play it straight and clear it with a good challenge. Time to rally as leader. “Alright! Raven’s Perch, our first dungeon run! Let’s do this!”

“““…………”””

“Say something! I’m the only one hyped up here, and it’s embarrassing!” I protested.

“Sorry, Kazu. I’ve never heard you give a pep talk like that… I was shocked,” Rin said.

“…We’re not the type to get all fired up like that…” Risuzu added.

“Nnh?” Nonoa tilted her head.

Their cold response doused my enthusiasm like ice water. Please, just let me quit being leader…

☆

We progressed through the dungeon steadily, taking down monsters without issues. Kazu drew aggro and fought upfront; Nonoa and Kurotsuki Ruseze dealt damage; Rin healed. No problems, thanks to Rin and me having cleared this dungeon before. Even with two beginners, we could cover slip-ups.

Halfway through, we fought human-sized insect monsters resembling praying mantises. We were handling them fine—until Nonoa shouted, “Ah! There’s a treasure chest over there!”

“Huh, Nonoa-chan!?” I called.

She darted through the trees toward the chest, some monsters chasing her.

“…I’ll save the angel…!” Kurotsuki Ruseze followed, but there were too many enemies—seven or more. Their high-attack, low-defense classes would melt if focused.

“Kazu! I can’t handle all these monsters!” Rin shouted.

“Tch! Both our damage dealers ran off…!” I cursed.

I could fight, but taking them all out alone was tough. Some monsters targeted Rin, her priest’s paper-thin armor losing HP fast. Party Member: Karin-san has been defeated flashed in the chat. Then, the two surrounded by monsters—

Party Member: Nonoa has been defeated

Party Member: Kurotsuki Ruseze has been defeated

No choice but to surrender. I shook my head, raised both hands, and watched distantly as the mantis swarm tore Kazu apart.

☆

“I’m sorry…” Nonoa’s frail voice came through, full of regret.

“It’s okay, Nonoa-chan. Treasure chests have a weird allure, don’t they?” Rin said gently.

“It’s my fault…” Nonoa murmured, her real-life self staring down at her laptop.

“Nonoa, it was a good lesson, right?” Rin asked.

“Lesson?”

“This dungeon can’t be cleared alone. We all need to work together. Your strength is vital to us.”

“My strength is needed… Okay, I’ll try hard!”

“…The angel’s made up her mind… which means—” Risuzu started.

“It’s cute, right?” I finished.

“…Exactly.”

“You two have this weird synergy sometimes…” Rin noted.

Risuzu and I shared a mysterious bond, shaking hands in-game. On our second run, familiarity made progress smoother. When someone’s mistake causes a wipe, the mood can sour—I’d seen it plenty in text chats. But not with us. Rin framed the failure positively, encouraging Nonoa and boosting everyone’s motivation. That was Rinka Mizuki of Star☆Mines—pulling it off so naturally.

“…Um, Rin-san… can you stop healing just Onii all the time?” Risuzu asked.

“Kazu’s the frontline and gets hurt a lot. Can’t help it,” Rin replied.

“…You were healing him earlier when he was at full HP…”

“That’s my love.”

“…………”

Risuzu went silent. This healer might be doomed. As leader, I’d have to nudge Rin to focus on her duties. After that, we reached the boss room without incident. A massive tree loomed, so tall I had to tilt the camera up.

“It’s so big… Wah!” Nonoa squealed as a yellowed, bulging eye appeared in the tree’s trunk, creepy enough to startle her.

“K-Kazu-oniichan! That thing’s scary!”

“It’s okay! I’ll protect you, Nonoa-chan!”

“Kazu-oniichan…!”

“Hey, Kazu. I’m scared too. Protect me,” Rin teased.

“That’s such a lie,” I shot back. Rin had seen this boss plenty, charging it fearlessly on her first run.

“…Onii, the ground under me turned red,” Risuzu said.

“That’s the boss’s attack!”

“…Huh—ah!”

A spear-like root shot up, launching Kurotsuki Ruseze into the air, slashing her HP to less than half. “The signaled attacks are especially strong, so watch out!” I warned.

“Ah—!” Nonoa, near the boss, took a whip-like branch hit, flung to the field’s edge. Mantis-like mobs poured from the trees.

“Nonoa-chan, run! Run fast!” I shouted.

“Uh, ei!” Nonoa hurled a fireball at the mobs, drawing their aggro. They swarmed her.

“Nonoa-chan, come to me!” I called.

“…Crap, I can’t dodge—ah, I’m dead,” Risuzu groaned.

“It’s been a while since I fought. My skills have dulled… I can’t dodge these attacks,” Rin admitted.

Kurotsuki Ruseze was too focused on attacking, neglecting dodges. Nonoa panicked, half-committing to both. Rin healed diligently, keeping everyone alive in a razor-thin battle. I drew aggro, dodging avoidable attacks. With experienced players, we’d repeat actions like clockwork, but this frantic vibe was fun.

“Impressive, Kazu. You’re always positioning so monsters don’t come after us…!” Rin said.

“Once you’re used to it, anyone can probably do this—but uh, this might be bad.”

Red dots speckled the field—a full-field attack. Rin and I dodged to safe zones, but Nonoa and Kurotsuki Ruseze didn’t make it. Roots pierced them, wiping their HP instantly.

“Kazu…” Rin sighed.

“Yeah… gotta surrender.”

Losing both damage dealers sealed Raven’s Perch’s second defeat.

☆

“Sorry, you two… I threw you into a tough boss fight out of nowhere,” I said. My sense of balance was off—I hadn’t run dungeons with beginners lately. Taking newbies to a mid-tier dungeon was reckless, like asking someone new to gymnastics to try a backflip.

“Kazu-oniichan, it’s not your fault! I got taken out so fast…” Nonoa said.

“…I got too aggressive and attacked recklessly… That wasn’t good,” Risuzu added.

“Let’s practice a bit more and try again later—”

“One more time! Please, Kazu-oniichan!” Nonoa pleaded.

“…Kurotsuki Ruseze savors her first defeat. But the genius of the dark world is about to show her true potential—!” Risuzu declared.

“What’s with the monologue…? But, uh, yeah…”

“Come on, Kazu. Let’s do it,” Rin urged gently.

Her persuasion stopped my objections. If they wanted to try, we should. As leader, I’d do my best. “Alright, everyone!! This time, we’ll win!!”

“““…………”””

“Say something! This was the vibe, wasn’t it?!”

I wanna quit being leader…

☆

We kept challenging the dungeon—second try, third, fourth, fifth…

“…Tch! Again… same mistake…!” Risuzu muttered.

“Nnh… I can’t dodge this—!” Nonoa cried.

We were improving. First try, we shaved off 30% of the boss’s HP. By the fifth, 60%. Clear progress.

“You two are amazing! You’re growing so fast!” I said brightly.

“…But we’re not winning,” Risuzu replied.

“I’m sorry…” Nonoa murmured.

Mental fatigue was kicking in. It was 11 p.m., and Nonoa-chan’s battery was low. “If we try again, it’ll be the last one,” Rin said, echoing my thoughts.

“…Last one, huh. Then we have to win,” Risuzu said.

“I’ll try my best too!” Nonoa added.

The sixth run started smoothly, the path to the boss trouble-free. A relaxed vibe settled in, and Risuzu spoke quietly. “…Rinka-san, thank you.”

Despite being told to call her Rin, she used her real name intentionally. Rin listened without interrupting.

“…You always heal me at just the right moment to ease my nerves… At first, you were only healing Onii, though.”

“Heh, true…” Rin chuckled.

“…You also keep track of everything. It’s the same when you’re being an idol. You’ve been helping me since way back.”

“I get strength from you too, Risuzu.”

“…I get way more from you. If I hadn’t met you, Rinka-san, I wouldn’t go to school… I’d just stay home sleeping all day…”

Sounded like a shut-in. With Risuzu’s vibe, it was plausible. How did they meet? I was curious but held off asking.

“…But back when the group was formed, I was really scared…”

“I’m so sorry about that. I was overly panicked back then. All I can do is apologize.”

“…I was at fault too. I was cocky and skipped practice… But then, you started shining, Rinka-san… and things turned around fast.”

“Shining… Oh, you mean after I met Kazu in the game. That takes me back. If I hadn’t met Kazu, I’d probably still be living selfishly. I might’ve torn the group apart.”

Rinka laughed playfully, treating me like a savior. “…That much…?” Risuzu asked, falling silent.

They were hyping me up too much. Rin and Nana said I indirectly saved Star☆Mines, but all I did was play the game with Rin.

☆

We reached the boss room—a vast space, trees blocking escape, a towering giant tree before us. By the sixth run, it was familiar. “This is… our final challenge. Let’s win, everyone,” I said quietly.

No one responded, but I felt them nod through the headsets. The boss’s eye appeared, signaling the fight. It swung fan-like branches, slammed them down, or thrust roots from the ground, tormenting us. Periodic mob spawns were a pain. Nonoa and Kurotsuki Ruseze, frantic on the first try, were now calm, dodging attacks, avoiding mob aggro, and handling both boss and mobs steadily.

“…Nonoa-chan, over here!” Risuzu called.

“Yup! Oh, monsters coming from that side!” Nonoa replied.

Their teamwork shone, voices boosting morale through voice chat. Kurotsuki Ruseze’s HP nearly hit zero after consecutive boss attacks, but Rin healed her just in time. “Don’t worry, Kurotsuki Ruseze. I’ve got your HP covered. Focus on fighting,” Rin said.

“…Rin-san—you’re so cool!” Risuzu exclaimed.

Too cool, cool-type idol. It gave me chills. Could we win like this? The chaotic vibe was gone, our movements routine. Ideal conditions. But the real challenge began as the boss’s HP dropped below 30%. The tree turned pitch black, its eye a sinister blood-red—Devil Tree’s second phase.

“…S-second phase?! No one told me…!” Risuzu gasped.

“…This is mean. Onii and Rinka-san, you kept it quiet on purpose,” she accused.

“It’s no fun if we tell you, right?” I teased.

“Experiencing it blind is what makes it shocking,” Rin added.

Risuzu groaned, “…Ugh.” We hadn’t kept quiet out of malice—the second phase’s surprise was the thrill. The boss’s attacks sped up, throwing off our rhythm. The beginners took more hits, and Rin’s healing lagged.

“Rin! Hold off on healing me!” I called.

“But! If the frontline falls, we’re done!”

“I’m fine. I won’t mess up.”

Some attacks were unavoidable, but I’d never take unnecessary hits. The beginners were giving their all. Another me whispered we could try again later, but I ignored it. This fight, this moment, was unique. Risuzu and Nonoa wanted to win now. As a gaming addict, I’d show my honed skills.

My hands sweated, sticking to the mouse, my body heating up. Kazu moved instinctively, drawing aggro while minimizing hits. The boss’s area attacks hit the others—roots thrusting, branches swinging. Rin kept her HP safe, but the beginners struggled with the faster tempo.

Nonoa fell first. “Ah!” Her deflated cry broke the moment. Our damage output dropped, mobs slowed, and Kazu took more hits, surrounded. The ground under me glowed red, the boss’s eye crimson—a simultaneous combo. Death in three seconds. My experience told me instantly.

Kazu’s HP was under 10%. Kurotsuki Ruseze was at 10%, in the boss’s attack range—she’d die with me. The boss had 10% HP left. One push. Rin’s MP—barely enough for one heal.

“Kazuto!” Rin shouted.

“Risuzu!” I called.

Rin healed Kurotsuki Ruseze, ensuring her survival. Before dying, I activated Kazu’s attack skill, a white blade chipping the boss’s HP. If my math was right, Kurotsuki Ruseze could finish it.

A massive branch swept, hitting us both, followed by a root piercing Kazu. Party Member: Kazu-san has been defeated flashed. “I’m counting on you… Risuzu,” I said.

“…Onii…!” she replied.

Mobs swarmed her, but Rin attacked them, drawing aggro and running the opposite way—a decoy. She’d be caught in seconds, buying Kurotsuki Ruseze a fleeting moment. “It’s up to you now, Risuzu,” Rin said.

“…Rinka-san…!”

The boss’s HP was low—one strong skill would end it. A pitch-black aura poured from Kurotsuki Ruseze, her assassin’s ultra-powerful skill charging. She crouched, locking onto the boss.

“We can win, we can win… Go—!” I urged.

They must’ve seen it too—the future where Kurotsuki Ruseze slayed the boss. But reality—

Kurotsuki Ruseze-san has logged out

“Uh… huh? Logged… out? Huh?” I stammered, blinking at the chat. She vanished, followed by Party Member: Karin-san has been defeated and The party has been wiped out. My thoughts couldn’t catch up. None of us spoke, frozen.

Risuzu’s trembling voice broke the silence. “…My laptop’s battery died…!”

☆

Ten minutes after Risuzu’s bombshell, we were still stunned. I noticed Nonoa-chan had fallen asleep, snapping me back. I took off my headset, gently lifted her from her laptop, and laid her on my bed. Her “munya munya” mouth movements were adorable. For fun, I slipped the Rinka-chan doll into her arms. She hugged it tightly, her angel levels soaring.

I checked on Risuzu, sitting motionless before her dead laptop, eyes unfocused, soul seemingly gone. “Risuzu, you awake? Or sleeping with your eyes open…?” I asked, shaking her shoulder.

She jolted, blinking. “…Hah…! O-Onii…?”

“Yeah, it’s me. It’s late, wanna sleep?”

“…S-sorry. This isn’t something an apology can fix…!” She bit her lip, staring at the blacked-out screen.

“Don’t worry about it, Risuzu,” I said softly.

“…But—!”

“That ending? Kinda fits us, don’t you think?”

“…We’re a bunch of clowns…?”

“Call it unique or one-of-a-kind.”

“…No matter how you spin it, we lost because of me… It’s my fault for not charging…”

“Well, yeah.”

“—!”

No point twisting the truth, but… “Seeing you so down about it, Risuzu, makes me kinda happy.”

“…You’re happy about my misery?”

“Not like that. It shows how much you got into the game.”

“…Nnh…”

“Let’s play again sometime, okay?”

Having someone enjoy something you love warmed my heart more than expected. I gently patted Risuzu’s lowered head, like you’d pat a kid. “Ah—!” A small sound escaped her lips, her cheeks flushing. Was she surprised, or did my feelings get through? It felt like having a sibling.

“…Onii, harder… You’re patting too softly,” she mumbled.

“Haha, getting cocky now, huh?” This cheeky vibe suited her best.

My phone pinged—a message from Rin: You asleep already~?

“Oh, I forgot about Rinka,” I said.

“…I need to apologize to Rinka-san too,” Risuzu added.

“Why not talk from Nonoa-chan’s laptop?”

Risuzu nodded, sitting at Nonoa’s laptop and explaining she was using her account. I put my headset back on, catching their conversation.

“Risuzu, you don’t need to apologize. If I, the experienced one, had been sharper, we’d have beaten the boss sooner… before your laptop ran out,” Rin said.

“…That’s putting too much blame on yourself… You didn’t do anything wrong, Rinka-san.”

“Then you’re feeling too guilty too, Risuzu. If we dig into why we lost, there are tons of reasons. Your mistake was just the most obvious. We all share the blame.”

Risuzu couldn’t argue, and I was convinced too. I was at fault for bringing beginners to that dungeon. Rin’s logical comfort eased Risuzu’s guilt in a way I couldn’t. “…That’s the usual Rinka-san. Cool but warm…” Risuzu said.

“I’m just stating facts… Anyway, I want to hear your thoughts.”

“…Thoughts?”

“Yes, your thoughts. We played together today, right? What did you feel, Risuzu?”

“…It was insanely fun,” she said, voice brightening. “It felt like another world, different from real life… The visuals were like a movie… Doing things we can’t in real life, playing with everyone—it was fun…”

“Right?” Rin replied.

“…Especially Onii getting all hyped up on his own. That was hilarious.”

“True. His overeagerness was kinda cute. That’s part of my husband’s charm, isn’t it?”

This was embarrassing. I couldn’t rein in my excitement for gaming. “…But because Onii was leading the charge and having fun, I could go all out too,” Risuzu added.

“Same here. That’s probably part of why I fell for him,” Rin said.

“…Can you stop slipping in lovey-dovey stuff every chance you get?” Risuzu groaned.

They reminisced about forming the guild, sailing, fighting pirates, and the dungeon run. The conversation slowed, a quiet pause settling in. Then Risuzu spoke. “…In real life, I couldn’t just let go and play with Rinka-san like this.”

“In the game, real-life baggage doesn’t matter, and we don’t have to meet face-to-face. It’s hard to ignore real-life ties completely… But the game lets your true heart show. When you’re immersed, real-life constraints fade away,” Rin said.

“…It’s like kids who were fighting one day, playing happily together the next…”

“That’s a close analogy. Strip away pointless information and desires, and you return to a childlike state.”

Rinka’s perspective resonated with me as a gamer. “…I still don’t get the whole ‘in-game marriage equals real-life spouses’ thing,” Risuzu said bluntly.

“I see…” Rin’s voice tinged with sadness.

“…But it got me fired up. Like remembering my first live performance… I started thinking, maybe… the kind of bond you feel with family, that level of connection, could come from gaming.”

“Risuzu…” Rin said softly.

“…Um, well… Playing with this group was super fun. That’s my biggest takeaway…”

Spilling her thoughts, Risuzu fell silent, waiting. As Rin once said, some people date in-game, marry in real life, and build happy families. Risuzu enjoyed the game enough to imagine that possibility.

“That’s perfect, Risuzu. It took me months to grasp the game’s charm. Honestly, it wasn’t fun at first,” Rin admitted.

“…Really…?”

“That’s why I’m reflecting. I was pushing my views on you, trying to get you to see the game’s appeal faster.”

“…I’m sorry too. I shot you down right away. I was a bit stubborn.”

“True… But even if we don’t fully understand each other, we can try, and we can meet halfway… I’m so glad we realized that again.”

Their bond was an ideal—clashing perspectives didn’t break it. They’d have sorted it out without me. All I did was play the game.

“Kazuto, thank you for thinking of us and trying so hard,” Rin said.

“I’m the one who should thank you. It was an amazing experience… I’ll have sweet dreams tonight.”

Experiencing things you can’t in real life—that was gaming’s essence. I noticed Risuzu had gone quiet. “Risuzu?” I asked.

No response. In real life, she was faceplanted on the keyboard, asleep. “Oh, Risuzu’s out cold,” I said.

“I see… Actually, I’m… at my limit too—!” Rin’s voice cut off.

“Rinka?”

Silence. She’d fallen asleep too, the tension snapping, exhaustion hitting hard. Alone now, sleepiness hit me fast, my eyes stinging. “All of us crashing out together… not bad,” I murmured.

With my last strength, I scooped Risuzu up in a princess carry and laid her next to Nonoa-chan. My arms screamed—she was heavier than a first-grader, a high school freshman despite her small frame. “I’m done…” I collapsed on the spot, letting sleep take over.

An indescribable fulfillment warmed my chest. We didn’t clear the dungeon, but I could proudly say it was the best night ever. …Gaming, man. It’s the best. Smiling, I let consciousness slip away—.