Accel World: Return of Princess Snow Black

by Reki Kawahara

  - For all the remaining time, continue to dodge.

  Even though she said that.

  While Haruyuki was in despair, he checked out the size of the building rooftop.

  The length and width was under 20 meters. Kuroyukihime’s dodge battle plan was probably made for fighting in the empty Seven Road, she probably never thought that the bike could climb walls. The end result was, Haruyuki fled to a place where he was at a disadvantage.

  With the bike’s charge, it’s probably impossible to run and escape to the emergency stairs. How about jumping off the roof knowing that he would take damage? However, if that made him more damaged than Ash Roller is now, there would be no turning back.

  To Haruyuki who stood there without a fighting plan, the rider on the metallic horse released a victorious laugh.

  “Hyahahaha! No way to fight back huh, you bald shiny boy! Then I will start!!”

  Dorooo!! The internal combustion engine roared, and the free wheeling rear tire put out blue smoke.

  The front tire hit the ground with a thump, and the huge bike charged straight at Haruyuki.

  “Uwaaa!!”

  With a scream he jumped right, but the distance was way too short. The tip of his foot was scratched by the tire, and his health gauge decreased. At the same time, with the paralyzing hit, an instant of pain rushed through Haruyuki’s nerves.

  In virtual games, the «Sensation of Pain» being used was long ago forbidden by law. This really isn’t just a game. Even though virtual, at the same time it is a real fight.

  After the bike moved just 3 meters past him, it made a huge skid sound then did a spin turn, putting it again in a charge position.

  Is there anything? A secret move that will turn the tide in one go, saving him -

  That’s right, the special attack!

  Even though the name is just «Head Butt», maybe it has the power to crush rocks.

  Gambling on this one chance, Haruyuki followed the install silhouette's display, and crossed both arms in front. Next, he leaned his upper body forward, and opened his arms.

  With a humming sound effect, he noticed that his bald and shiny head was starting to be surrounded by a white aura. The people in the surrounding gallery put out a surprised sound.

  ...This can work!!

  With deep belief, Haruyuki stared at the huge bike in front of him.

  “Uoooo!”

  With that shout, he aimed his shinning head at the bike’s headlights and charged - .

  Long before his head hit, he was run over by the front tire and fell backward, making a human-shaped hole in the concrete. The effect light on his head dispersed into space, and his special attack gauge emptied and disappeared.

  The gallery’s roar of laughter shook the stage. Mixed in that, one person’s whisper reached his ears.

  “Unfortunately, it looks like the end.”

  Haruyuki’s whole body was covered by a familiar heat of humiliation.

  ‘Damn. Damn. Inside virtual games, I should be the hero. My character is way too weak. What is this special attack Head Butt that won’t even hit, I can’t take this.’

  He stood up, but in a rotten mood sat back down, in Haruyuki’s view was - .

  Far away, on top of a tall building, a lonely standing silhouette was there.

  The rolled hair waving in the night wind. The softly moving dress. See-through looking butterfly wings.

  The shape smaller than a rice grain, it’s expression can not be seen. However, it’s stern look going his way, Haruyuki felt it fully.

  Can’t - can’t give up.

  Even if losing, stand up again and again, lose ungracefully. If he can't do at least that, he can’t even be a pawn for that person.

  Pushing down his humiliation, Haruyuki desperately thought about his various knowledge and experiences.

  Virtual but real. That is this game, «Brain Burst» biggest specialty. Overwhelming detail and reality. Then, that Ash Roller’s bike too, should not be just polygons made for looks. Delicately recreated means it should have weakness too.

  Bike - that is the previous era gasoline engine type’s feature, what is it?

  Noisy. Stinks of gas. Those are weaknesses before meeting it, so they don’t matter to the current situation.

  It can’t move without gasoline. Then make a hole in the tank - no, this kind of pinpoint attack is impossible.

  Is there anything else. Anything - .

  With its rear tire making tracks while the bike turned, the single bright yellow eye faced Haruyuki for the 3rd time.

  At that instant, Haruyuki swallowed a sharp breath.

  There is. That. Internal combustion bike’s feature, and its weakness.

  “Hya - hahahhaa!! Dance more - !!”

  With that shout, the iron horse galloped.

  Just once is fine. Move, Silver Crow. Faster than that person.

  Biting his teeth, Haruyuki stared at the bike rushing at him.

  That’s right - even though that person is fast, it’s not beyond his vision. Instead of a showy dodge, a bare minimum of movement should avoid it.

  “...!!”

  Taking his full concentration, just before he was bashed flying, Haruyuki slid only 50cm to the right.

  The tip of the handle brushed his body a bit, then Ash Roller passed by his eyes.

  At that instant, Haruyuki extended both hands, knowing that he would get damaged, he grabbed the edge of the black fender above the rear tire. With shock that almost ripped his fingers off, sparks flew off from the joints in his hands, and his health gauge lightly dropped.

  The bike’s speed dropped slightly. Not missing this chance, Haruyuki put his feet on the ground hard, and leaned his body back as far as possible. Crackle, the steel feet broke the concrete, and his gauge continue to drop.

  “Hyaahaa - !!”

  Ash Roller looked back and released a high pitched laughter.

  “Idi - ot!! A gully small fry like you wants to try and stop my monster machine!!”

  The rider boots stepped on the foot pedal with a crunch. Black leather gloves opened the throttle.

  The engine roared, and the muffler put out flames. Right after, the American bike put out fearsome torque, it sped up again while pulling Haruyuki.

  Crackle crackle!! He heard his feet release an incredible friction sound - at the same time.

  “Oucccchhhh - !!”

  It’s like his feet are being scraped away, no, the heat and pain of that hit him, Haruyuki screamed.

  “Kihyahyahya! If you don’t let go in a hurry, you will get shorter - !!”

  Ash Roller’s sure win voice was mixed with ear splitting metallic sound. His silver legs became red due to overheat, and his health gauge dropped at a fearful speed.

  However, Haruyuki did not let go of his hands. He bit his teeth under the silver mask, frantically endured the heat and pain, and simply continued to drag behind the bike.

  If this was the Seven Road under them, then Silver Crow’s small body would be like Ash Roller said, it might eventually become a small piece of metal and disappear. But the ruin building roof top has limited space, there should be no way to continue dashing forward.

  The low fence slowly approached, the skeletal rider made a strange ‘Hyoo-’ sound and started to bend his bike for a spin turn. The brake rotors spewed out sparks, and white smoke raised from the huge tire.

  “Kuuuu!”

  Haruyuki desperately resisted being blown away by the centripetal force.

  Soon. In half a second, the first and last chance will come.

  The engine rotation dropped, the bike finished its turn, it was going to start its violent dash again -

  Just before that. For one instant, Silver Crow’s feet was firmly on the ground.

  “- Ooooo!!”

  Haruyuki shouted.

  At the same time, summoning all his strength, he raised the fender in his two hands straight up. Sparks flew from his knee, elbow and shoulder, he lost another 10% of his rema
ining 20% of health gauge, his two small legs endured the huge weight, standing straight.

  0.1 second after, the huge tire fiercely spun. But that movement energy did not change to forward momentum. Just barely, the treads were above the ground.

  “O...oo?”

  Right in front of Haruyuki’s eyes, Ash Roller yelled while still sitting facing forward. He frantically moved his hand two or three times more.

  With that the engine roared, and the rear tire spun like crazy. However, the steel bike body did not move at all.

  This is the «Weakness» that Haruyuki noticed. Different from the in wheel front and back electric motor bikes, the previous era internal combustion bike’s engine links to the rear tire with a chain for movement. It’s absolutely impossible to lift the whole bike, but with the steel robot avatar, even with reality details, he can keep it up for one hour.

  “Damn... you! Hey!! Let me down, baldy!!”

  Ash Roller looked back at Haruyuki while shouting. Seeing that, he grinned even though his opponent could not see it.

  “No way, if you don’t like it, try turning the front wheel.”

  After returning from the accelerated world, Haruyuki took a huge breath of the afternoon sunlight, and blew out a long breath.

  The fight concluded at the count of 600, that is about one second of real time. However his palms were soaked with sweat, and a paralyzing cold.

  His tense finger reached for the Neuro Linker’s Global Net disconnect button, suddenly his back was hit with a Bam!

  “Oh, you did it, Silver Crow! I truly thought you would lose like that.”

  Turning around, he saw Kuroyukihime’s small face with a rare real smile. Both of them accelerated after leaving the school ground, this is of course why she is here, but inside the stage with her viewing the battle from the top of a far building, gave him some confusion.

  ‘That, is the real distance between her and me. Don’t be mistaken.’

  Listening to his own words, Haruyuki returned an awkward smile.

  “I... I too thought I was going to lose.”

  “Don’t be so humble, that was a superb victory. I too, never thought about Ash Roller’s bike’s internal makeup... It’s a weakness that your avatar’s instantaneous strength can handle. Anyway, you took back your points.”

  “No, more than that. It was 20 points added, that person became level 2.”

  Kuroyukihime blinked, then gave a huge smile, and hit Haruyuki’s shoulder again.

  “Hahaha, I see, that was the reason he can climb walls.”

  “It’s no laughing matter, I was shocked.”

  “Fufufu, ah sorry. Due to that, it was an interesting way to win, right? I heard from the gallery, you are the first one to fight Ash Roller that way. A splendid victory.”

  “Ah, ha...”

  With the movement wheel lifted up and unable to go anywhere, Ash Roller stubbornly continued to rev the bike for 5 minutes before he got off it.

  For Haruyuki who was just running away or getting blown away, he was just waiting for a fistfight, of course he won easily with steel fists.

  “Even your «Punch» and «Kick» became useful. As for «Head Butt», that might be fine with orthodox fighting type opponent. ...Ah, we can’t just stand here and talk.”

  Hearing Kuroyukihime’s words, Haruyuki looked around. With them standing right in front of the school gate, the students leaving school while they walked, or just stood there staring at them with obvious curiosity.

  Haruyuki shrunk himself to make him look smaller, and his breath stopped when he saw Chiyuri’s face in the crowd. He turned his face away in reaction.

  Yesterday, him running away to escape in front of Chiyuri and Takumu was still fresh in his memory. He had not apologized for the sandwich incident either, then he did that, now he does not know how or where to start repairing their relationship.

  ‘No - it’s not my fault. I had told her many times to keep quiet, it was her fault for telling Takumu about Araya’s group. I don’t want to be shown mercy and pity.’

  To Haruyuki who was hunching down like a rock, Kuroyukihime sort of asked him.

  “What happened, if we are changing locations, how about that shop there... Hmm? You are...”

  “What are you trying to do with Haru?”

  Chiyuri’s sudden close range voice made Haruyuki jump.

  Looking up, he saw his childhood friend’s slender body stiffen up fully to go against Kuroyukihime.

  Only Haruyuki understood, that was Chiyuri’s biggest not-wanting-to-lose pose, she stiffened her big eyebrows, and again spoke in a low tone.

  “The violence on Haru yesterday was due to some trick by senpai right? Then you expose Haru like this again, what are you trying to do? Are you getting enjoyment from this?”

  Hiii - .

  What is this what is this situation what should I do.

  Completely over his capacity, while his body is fully shrunk down, he somehow managed to move his tense mouth.

  “H, hey, Chiyu...”

  “Haru, you shut up!!”

  Having been hit with the stare that was carved in him while he was still a kid, all he could do was stand still and be quiet.

  While being hit with that super powered Chiyuri Beam, Kuroyukihime showed her dignity, with a cool smile and small tilt of her head, said.

  “Hmm... I don’t really understand what you mean. Are you accusing me of enjoying myself by staining Arita-kun's will somehow?”

  “Isn’t that right? Haru hates this kind of thing, standing out and being stared at. Hasn’t he been really troubled since earlier? Although senpai would not understand.”

  “Ah. It is true that I might have put Arita-kun in a situation that he is uncomfortable with. However, I think it is his choice to accept it or not. Do you have any right to say it?”

  “I have. In this school, I've been friends with Haru for the longest time.”

  “Oh, friend... huh.”

  Upon hearing Chiyuri’s announcement, on the white beautiful face, a super cold Kuroyukihime smile appeared.

  “Then, I have higher priority. You have heard the rumors right, I confessed to him and am currently waiting for a reply. We are going on a small date.”

  Gyaaa - .

  Oh no this is it the world is ending I have to transfer schools tomorrow.

  It was like when he was accelerating, Chiyuri and the surrounding people froze instantly. Haruyuki too froze in an unnatural pose, only sweat continued to pour from his face.

  In the silence, Kuroyukihime took out a pure white handkerchief from her uniform’s pocket.

  “It’s almost winter, what a strange person.”

  While wiping off Haruyuki’s sweat, she took his right arm in her own.

  “See you later then, friend-kun.”

  Then, going in the center of the walkway lined by students on the left and right, Kuroyukihime pulled Haruyuki’s huge body along as she moved forward.

  While being pulled forward, he looked back and saw his childhood friend’s face, changing from dumbfounded to shock then to something just short of an angry explosion.

  “G, going back to before... What were you thinking!!”

  After entering the brick paved ally from the main road, Haruyuki finally pulled his arm from Kuroyukihime and shouted.

  “I, I have to say it, in this world there are things that can not be solved with «Acceleration»!!”

  “Ahahahaha.”

  Kuroyukihime laughed from the bottom of her heart.

  “Hahaha... You reach this main point about Burst Linkers so quickly, that is great.”

  “That is not great at all! It is senpai’s fault if I can’t go to school tomorrow!”

  “Hey, your face did not look altogether bad this time either. I took a field of view screen shot this time too, want to see?”

  “I don’t want to see it! Rather, throw it away!!”

  “Fufufu...”

  With clop clop sounds as her loafers bit i
nto the pavement, Kuroyukihime’s shoulders shook as she continued to laugh for a while. Eventually, letting out a small breath, she continued with an ‘oh, about that’.

  “There is something I wonder about... that is, I want to make sure.”

  “Oh? Wonder about... you mean Chiyuri?”

  “Ah, close enough to use just first name?”

  “Ah, no, well, she is Kurashima, Kurashima Chiyuri from first year class one.”

  “I know. It's just that it's the first time I heard of her being your best friend. On the other hand, is she really just a friend?”

  While being showered with looks of doubt, Haruyuki nodded a few times.

  “That’s right. Old childhood ties...since she has a boyfriend.”

  “Oh? That means... no... Hmm, hum.”

  “...What’s that hum about?”

  “No, nothing, I just again realized the depth of the real world.”

  “Ah, ha...”

  Sighing while not knowing what’s going on, Haruyuki asked about something that tickled him earlier.

  “Ah... earlier, you said you know Chiyuri’s name?”

  “That’s right. It was purely incidental, I noticed her with a meaning different from noticing you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It can not be easily explained. It is connected to the reason I found and invited you to the accelerated world. Well, let’s drink some tea while we slowly talk. As a victory celebration, my treat.”

  Saying so, Kuroyukihime changed direction, heading to the coffee shop chain store that seemed to be her original destination.

  Maybe it was still early in the afternoon, there were not too many people in the store, but as Kuroyukihime stepped in, Haruyuki felt some gazes concentrating on them. Just that, it’s scary to follow behind her.

  Just going home from school - no, doesn’t matter what time in his life, Haruyuki who had no experience drinking tea with a girl, his brain was in overload mode, so he automatically ordered a huge sweet drink and let Kuroyukihime pay for him, then sunk into the seat of a table far inside the store. Right after, he took the cable offered and plugged it into his Neuro Linker, while thinking.

  ‘Uwaa what is this, this is like a real date...’