Chapter 32: TS Girl Plays at the Beach

Dragged along by Kisa, I’m forced to step into the ocean. A cool chill spreads gradually from my feet upward.

Since we were going into the water, I took off my rash guard. I’m basically showing off my swimsuit, but honestly… I’ve stopped caring. Splash—a burst of seawater jumps into my mouth. Salty.

Looks like Kisa splashed me.

“Ik, Kisa, don’t just splash me out of nowhere.”

“You were spacing out, Sora-chan.”

“…I was just thinking, I haven’t really gone into the ocean much.”

“Me neither.”

Back in middle school, things were… like that, so we never really went out and did stuff like this.

Maybe these seasonal events in Ranheri are chances to make those kinds of memories.

…Well, I did go to the beach in my past life, though.

…Come to think of it, earlier Reina was practically flaunting her body at Nagisa-kun. What was that about? Did she not like being ignored or something?

Still, that was way too bold. I don’t know… it’s bothering me.

“Sora-chan, what are you thinking about?”

“Hey, you’re splashing too much! It’s salty!”

“You were zoning out again.”

This is no good. If I stay here, I’ll just keep getting attacked by Kisa while I think. Might as well just swim quietly.

I move a little farther out and let the seawater take me. I float there, drifting.

“Akegami Sora, don’t go too far out.”

“Hey, Akegami—don’t drown on us.”

At some point, Honoka and Reina, who had been resting under the parasol, come over too. Nagisa-kun is watching from a little distance away.

Oh right, I haven’t done today’s Connect Link yet. I’ll need to do that later.

Just as I think that, something passes by me.

“《Magic Word》—‘Ice.’”

Sharp, blade-like ice slices past me again. Looking closely, several fish-shaped Shin-ka have appeared behind us, and it seems Reina is attacking them.

Shin-ka are usually pretty large, but these fish types seem no different from normal fish.

“《Slash Territory》—Switch, semi-auto.”

This time, Honoka’s slashes cut through the water.

I’m not great at using skills, and Kisa isn’t good at long-range attacks. Maybe we’ll just leave it to those two.

“We’ve got this, so you two can just have fun.”

…That’s what she said, but playing around while attacks are flying everywhere feels a bit too dangerous.

Way too thrilling.

So we head back to the beach.

“Sora-chaaan.”

“Hey, Kisa—don’t cling to me.”

“But the other day you said it made you feel safe when someone hugged you.”

“Ugh… drop that topic!”

Seriously… she keeps teasing me like this. My emotional weakness is really becoming a problem.

But I really do need to get my mental state together. When I’m feeling weak, I end up relying on people too much.

…And the fact that everyone would probably accept that is even worse.

I sit down in the shade. After a conversation like that, running into Nagisa-kun would just make me overly conscious of things.

“…Sigh, I’m kind of hopeless.”

The words slip out under my breath.

“Are you?”

“…Huh?”

I turn my head.

—There’s a face so close it’s practically pressed against mine.

A girl wearing her hat low and a choker around her neck. Her yellow eyes stare straight at me.

“Hey there.”

“No, that’s terrifying.”

“Eh, ugh… was it scary?”

“You’re way too close.”

“S-sorry…”

That startled me. She was far too close. What kind of personal space is that?

She tries to smile awkwardly, then quickly backs away.

…Wait, it’s her. The one from when I bought my swimsuit. The black-and-gray mixed hair peeking out from under her hat is the same.

Looks like she took off the ear cuff, though.

She wasn’t here a moment ago. Maybe I should ask what she needs.

“Do you need something?”

“Uh, well… um… Akegami Sora, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I knew it!”

Her eyes suddenly sparkle, and she grabs my hand.

…She knows me?

“I’m a fan!”

“Why?”

“Eh? Because you’re cute and I like you?”

“…I see.”

She’s shy, but oddly pushy.

I don’t remember a character like her in Ranheri, yet she knows Akegami Sora? …She’s not exactly normal.

If she knew me from the start, she’d probably comment on my unusual hair color or something.

“S-so, um… my name is Nishizono Mahiro.”

“Got it. Since you already know my name, I guess I don’t need to introduce myself.”

“Yeah. And, um… would you connect with me?”

“Huh?”

“—‘Connect Link.’”

A sudden force flows through the hand she’s holding.

The violent current swirling inside me reverses—flowing into her instead. Into Nishizono Mahiro.

Mahiro sways unsteadily.

At the same time, my vision shakes. The Connect Link is deeply engaged.

Then—

Everything goes dark.

What I see is a smartphone screen. Someone is silently playing a game.

It’s clearly Last Inheritance.

The scene shifts.

Now she’s at school. A uniform.

Standing in front of a mirror is a girl with yellow eyes and black-and-gray mixed hair. She fiddles with her hair ends, looking at herself with irritation.

I see.

This is… a reverse flow of memories through Connect Link.

In other words, these are her memories.

…So she’s a reincarnator too.

My vision returns.

Mahiro, standing before me, has tears welling up in her eyes. A few fall to the ground.

“Waaah! You did your best—you really did!”

“Whoa!?”

She suddenly hugs me tightly, burying her face in my chest and sobbing loudly.

…Sorry, what is going on?

Okay, wait.

First, she’s someone who reincarnated here, with memories of playing Ranheri.

And that’s probably why she knew about Akegami Sora.

Wait—earlier, we were deeply connected through Connect Link.

Does that mean… she saw my memories?

And more importantly, why can she use Connect Link? She looks completely female.

From her memories, she wasn’t male either.

Maybe she’s a Curse Seeker who can use Connect Link… like in some kind of “if route”?

While I’m thinking, a sudden impact hits my back. Blue sky fills my vision.

…She’s pushed me down.

Mahiro peers down at me. Her hair brushes against my cheek, tickling slightly.

She’s pinning me down as she looks at me.

“…That hurts.”

“S-sorry… it was kind of impulsive.”

“Can you get off me?”

“U-um… I don’t want to… I wanted to try catching you like this, Akegami-san.”

“…Excuse me?”

Did I mishear that?

“You went through so much, so someone has to protect you properly, right? So I’ll protect you forever. You don’t have to go outside. I’ll always stay with you.”

“…Yeah, that’s a bit much.”

“I-is that no good?”

“No, not really.”

“…Can I keep you with me by force if I have to?”

…She’s a yandere!?

Seriously, can we not skip all the steps? Don’t just drop a character like that at full bad-ending speed!

What am I supposed to do…

I mean, since I’m Abaddon, I could probably blow her away if I pushed back seriously.

But… her eyes are serious. There’s something thick and dark lurking behind them.

As I hesitate, confusion slowly spreads across her face as she looks down at me.

“…Wait, but in your memories, Akegami-san—you were playing Ranheri?”

“Bit late to notice, isn’t it?”

“Huh? Sora-chan, you’re reincarnated too…?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Whaaat!?”

Ah—this might be my chance.

If she likes the original Akegami Sora, maybe this will make her lose interest.

“We’re the same! S-sorry… for doing something like that.”

Mahiro slowly gets off me. Then she pulls my hand and helps me up.

—And for some reason, hugs me again.

“Let’s do our best together, okay!”

…Was that the right outcome?

I don’t really get it, but… I guess it’s fine if she’s grown attached.

Somewhere in the distance, I think I hear a beast howling.

And Nagisa-kun’s voice too.

…Wait, did something happen over there while I was here?