It's been a few days since we began our temporary stay in the [Force Blade Guild House] in [Isekai Online]. It's not like the inn we usually stay at , but it gives us a little more privacy, which we need after that [Hidden Quest] news about us caused everyone in town to become paparazzi crazy regarding our recent achievements. So far, the members of the guild have been nice to us during our stay, and more, they go out of their way to inform us of the current state of the town to make sure it's safe to return there. Of course, I have to go to its entrance to give Arthur and Razul a piece of my mind and that's all I can say right now to save you the punishing details.

Now back in real life, after my classes let out for the day, I pick Kazuki up from his school as usual and we walk home together. We stop at a pedestrian lane and wait for the red traffic light above us to turn green.

"Looks like we're starting to run into each other more often, huh, Windy?"

Windy?

I turn around and to my surprise, I see Arin waving at me with a big grin on her face as usual.

"Huh? It's been a while, Arin. Um... How's life back home with... you-know-who?"

As soon as I say this, she sighs and rolls her eyes.

"If you're talking about that little argument with my cousin, I’ve cooled down a bit. But I'm still not talking to him neither in-game nor in real-life."

Guess she's still peeved at Alton... This could take a while.

"Hey... I know how you feel. But try to take it easy. I know he's a bit forgetful, but he means well to you and Annie. Besides, we're still staying there until the whole [Hidden Quest] news craze has died out and we don't want to see you get all mad back there."

I then see Arin sigh as she rubs the temples on her forehead.

"You're right. Ol' Wally's right. I guess I have to chill out for a while."

That's what I like to hear. I can't stop their sibling rivalry, but it's at least a first step towards her and Alton reconciling.

"Um... Hayate..."

Huh? Oh, yeah... I was so happy to see Arin in real life again that I almost forgot that Kazuki is still with me and as I turn around, I can see him hiding behind me.

"Oh, yeah. Arin, this is my brother, Kazuki. Kaz, this is Arin Maven. She's the player behind ."

"Speed...Star?" It only takes about a few seconds for him to stare at our online friend until it clicks in his head. "Oh, you mean Star! I didn't know you two know each other in RL.”

"Actually, we just met about a week or so. But I'm glad to meet the player behind the one who discovered the [Experienced Crafting] style for [Magecrafting]. Though, to be honest, I expected you to be a little… eccentric, even in real life."

I couldn't help but snicker at her comment as I watch him pout in response to it. Well, she is more or less correct.

"Hey... I'm not that eccentric... even though my brother's friends call me that sometimes."

And this is what happened when I introduce that word to him after Zac and Damon called him that before.

"Hey, I'm just joking. Besides, it's cool that you have a character with an awesome and mysterious race in the game. Just think of it as one of your [Isekai Online] achievements."

"Yeah, but still..."

Okay. I should try to change the subject before he gets too uncomfortable with it.

"Anyways, are you going back home as usual?"

"Yeah. I just finished the preparations for the pageant. And also, I have to pick up a certain someone from school."

She moves a bit to the right side, revealing a young girl with small blonde pigtails and brown eyes and wears a simple pink dress and yellow vest along with a light yellow backpack. She looks up to see our faces and blushes when she sees Kazuki's. Could she be...

"U-Um... Hi... I-It's nice to meet you... M-Mr. Wind."

I knew it.

"Nice to meet you, too. But you can just call me Hayate."

"O-Oh... Mr. Hayate, then..." The girl turns to Kazuki next and smiled. "And you're Kazu, right? It's me, Annie!"

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"Annie?" It only took him a few seconds until he realizes who she is. "Wait, you're Annie?! I-I didn't know your school is nearby."

"I can't say it's nearby. But Arin said we should try another route for a change. But when I saw you, I was very surprised she said we were "meeting someone familiar"."

"Oh, really?" I glanced at Arin and flash a small grin to her, knowing what she is trying to do.

"Well, I didn't know when I’d have a chance to see you again. But I guess fate intervenes again."

"You could say that. I wish we can talk more, but we should change the atmosphere a bit. I don't want to miss another green light again."

As I said this, I noticed that the lights already turn green, which give us the chance to cross the street.

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Eventually, we end up in the same cafe where Arin and I had our first chat in real life. Unlike before, we just ordered some ice cream parfaits for the kids while we take some latte. Of course, we combine some of our allowances to pay our orders as both of us began chatting among ourselves.

"Man, it's been a while since I've step foot in this cafe. Hope you two didn't get starstruck back in ."

"Hardy-har-har. Not funny, Arin. Although, your cousin's guildmates were very nice to both of us and Ol' Wally didn't waste any time teaching me more on the [Experienced Crafting] side of [Blacksmithing]. He was a bit strict at times, but he is a good teacher."

"Glad to hear that. He's not actually a VR gamer guy, but he's a go-to guy when it comes to weapons. He even made my dagger after I leveled my [Dagger] skill up to double digits."

"I see. And how's the school play?"

Arin gives me a thumbs-up as a response.

"A-okay! Everyone loved my designs and I'm currently tweaking them before the rehearsals for the pageant. Also, unlike before, I have time to log back in during my spare time."

"Same here. We're still waiting for the results of our midterms, but we're free to log in as well. Heck, we're planning to go back and make some new items for our next excursion with our friends."

"Glad to hear that. If you need some equipment maintenance afterward, just give us a holler."

I nod in approval, which reaffirms our trust in the girls when it comes to our gear. We want to keep chatting, but I think I hear something interesting on Kazuki and Annie's side.

"So you have the same name as your character's? Weird, I just shorten my name to hide my identity online," Kazuki says.

"U-Uh, yeah. I just added a plus symbol and the word "Luck" because of Arin's suggestion. I don't know if it's a bad name in that game."

I notice Annie start to fidget her fingers as she talks to my brother.

"No, no. I think it's a great name! It might fit with the game's setting! And speaking of names, I noticed that you stopped referring yourself in third-person."

"O-Oh, you noticed? A- I mean... I just got back from my midterms and... thanks to my older cousin, she helped me more about pronouns for my English exams, and ever since, I started to use it when I try to practice for it. Plus, I can talk to everyone in the game better."

Now that makes sense. Despite her age, she is a bit studious and determined than me and Kazuki.

"Wow, I never expect you learned all of that from your midterms. I wish I can say the same for me with PE."

Seriously, Kaz? You're just lucky you stretched your arms after a few hours of playing in a VR world.

"Don't worry. To tell you the truth, I like your mage character the way it is. If Kazu can play [Isekai], then I can do it, too!"

I can see Kazuki smile after Annie complimented him. If only he knew...

"If you say so... Though I do still need to keep up my studies if I want to continue playing."

"I agree," I spoke up as I lean my back onto my chair. "Otherwise, it might be a repeat of midterms again."

I then see my little brother flinch and glare at me.

"I know, I know! You don't have to remind me!"

I slightly chuckle after I mentioned this as I see him shiver and frown. I know it's a bit mean, but I think he has learned his lesson already.

"Well, since we're going home after we finish our ice cream, you're going back in that game, right?"

"Yeah. I still need to fix my staff and work on the last batch of potions for our next [Quest]. We're planning to take down a huge monster that my brother's friends are having trouble with."

"I see. Well, I wish you luck in your subjugation [Quest], you two."

I nodded in acknowledgment, happy to see the support from the girls. But just as we can move on to other topics and finish our drinks and desserts, my phone starts to ring in my pocket. As I pick it up, I noticed from the screen's caller ID that it's Zac. Geez, just when I thought that their antics are more annoying... I quickly answer it before my phone can go to voicemail,

"What is it, Zac? Can't you see I'm busy right now?! If it's about one of your crazy schemes on your flirting schemes..."

"Who cares about that now?! You two have to get into , stat! The whole town's gone nuts!"

Huh? The whole town?

"What do you mean, Osborne?! Is there some more earth-shattering [Isekai] news about us that you’re hiding from us again?!"

"Trust me, it's not! Just get in here before it's too late!"

With that, the call suddenly drops as I move my phone away from my right ear. That's not like him before. Does that mean that the game's world is really in trouble?

"Hayate, what was that?"

I broke out of my thoughts once I hear Arin's voice and turns to see her, Kazuki, and Annie.

"I just got a call from Zac. And he seemed to be in trouble of some sort. I don't know if this is one of his pranks, but I just can't let it slide after hear all of that from him."

The three then look at each other and turn to me with their eyes narrowed.

"If what Zac said is true, then we better finish up here and get back home as fast as we can."

"Well, don't eat too fast or you'll get a brain freeze," I said to Kazuki. "Arin, can I see any kind of recent news on the official site?"

"Yeah, but they mostly post news related to patch notes, updates, and events only. And even if the players can post on the forums, they need to log out from the game before they can post anything there. It might take a while for them to post anything new in the game's world."

Well, that's a bit of a bummer... Unless we have to log back in there, we don't know what's happening in [Isekai] then.

"Alright. After this, we'll head home and get to once we log back in."

"Same. But we have to be careful just in case. I don't think it might be an invasion, but we still need to stay cautious."

I nod in agreement. I still don't trust Zac after what happened last time. But it's better to check in before jumping to conclusions. Let's hope nothing's too crazy is happening in the game.