6:00 PM. The time when the sun nearly set.
After they finished training themselves against the dummy (and fixing it up together, earning the [Friend with the Dummy] title), they decided to log out, as it was nearly time for dinner.
*Wiu*
Immediately after Yukari come out of her pod, Mani the jewelry jump out of her table, and landed back on her neck and ears, embracing her lovingly.
“Guess I have been keeping you waiting for long, Mani. My apology.”
Ignoring Rose’s apology, Mani just keep hugging her even tighter, as if saying that it’s fine-
(!)
Suddenly, Mani sensed something, and she began to spread itself from her neck to her right hand. Touching it all over as if sniffling it, the jewelry began to glow an ominous color.
“...Ah, Mani-chan can sense the presence of another weapon, even in another world, huh.”
“Kyu (Well, that sword also leave its scent all over Yukari's right arm as well, so makes sense that she would notice)"
“Blanc, you’re not helping…”
“Kyu (Who said I wanna?)”
Also just coming out as well, Maria looks on with a concerned face, while Blanc is already on the way to fan the flame with a cheeky smile (and earned her a relentless tickling).
Meanwhile, figuring out the truth, Mani began to freak out and glow even more brightly, as she panically covered her body all over to remove the scent, even fitting her hand with a jagged blade-like weapon that look more like an anime prop than an actual weapon…
“Mani, calm down. I know you want to join in, but we both know that it isn’t possible for you, for now. There just isn’t any console pod that would fit a weapon of your stature just yet.”
Hearing that, Mani immediately melted away from her, and turn into a dark puddle underneath her feet, undulating as if she began crying. Even her gem's color becomes much duller, reflecting her mood.
“Keep yourself up, Mani. Did you forget what I said already? You have a much more important mission to protect all three of us.”
Hearing that, Mani stopped quivering and slowly rose up to meet her in the eyes, the violet gem slowly regaining its color.
“After all, we wouldn't be able to enjoy ourselves at ease, without you watching over us and keeping us safe at all times. This is a job only you can do, for the time being.”
Listening to her heartfelt word, the gem that's slowly gaining color suddenly turns vibrant again, and glows brightly in excitement.
“You’re my Other Half, after all, and you’re the most reliable person I know of for this task. Until we’re sure that there wouldn’t be any more danger, and figuring out a way for you to join in as well...Can you hold on just a little bit longer for me, okay?"
Gently holding her by her arm, and whispering heartfelt words, Mani froze for a while, before jumping and bouncing all across the room in joy. The scene lasts for quite a while, before Mani neatly jumps back into her neck, and turns back into accessories, neatly adorning her chest.
“Well, now that is resolved...Maria, Blanc, let's go down and eat, Magi should have finished up with her preparation."
(...As expected, Big Sis is a goddamn killer.)
(Mass murderer, at that.)
Keeping their thought between themselves, they quickly run after her for dinner.
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The meal for tonight is particularly lavish. Because they have intentionally skipped lunch, Magi made sure to make double the amount of food to compensate.
Nevertheless, the food still disappear in the blink of an eye, as Maria and Blanc eagerly chowed down one giant bowl after another, as if their stomach is a literal black hole. Meanwhile, Yukari gently smiles at them, as she neatly eats one bowl after another.
“Oh yeah, I want to ask...Maria, do you want to tell us what happen to you today?”
“Sure! Well, after you go away, I then spotted…”
While they eat, they share with each other the story of what happened in the day.
“...And that’s how I got the title “Friend with the Dummy”! Oh, and also an ongoing quest, too.”
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“Oh? What is the quest then, Maria?”
“Well, it’s a secret...but I will tell ya! It involves a summoning…"
“...Oh, that sound like a wonderful story in the making! And we will all be there for it.”
“Kyu!”
“Oh, speaking of “story”, I also received a strange title along with it...It has something to do with you, Big Sis?”
“Oh, you mean “Interest of the Fairy”? Well, it all started with…”
Currently, the theme is "what they do alone". They trade with each other the stories of what happened to each of them, after they briefly split up. They also happily told each other what they have earned in the process.
“...And that’s how I got the title, along with many other things.”
“As expected, you’re overdoing it again, Big Sis.”
“Um...it all works out in the end, but such blunders of mine shouldn't be repeated. I will strive my best to do better, next time."
“Kyu...(...Well, with your personality, doubt you would ever be able to successfully pull that off soon.)”
“Well, at least we will soon get more powerful companions in the future!"
“Kyu (True that, what’s with Big Bossess’s natural tendency as a swooner of weapons, ordinance, and all assortment of armament…)”
“You girl…Am I really that bad at it?”
“Big sis, you're good at many things, truly…"
“Kyu! (Except holding back (LOL)!)”
With all the teasing and poking fun (and getting their cheek stretched in retaliation), they naturally laugh and converse with each other in harmony and happiness.
'It's how it should be, it's how it looks like all along', you can't help but think so. This ordinary and familiar scene…
“...We have come so far.”
“Hm?”
“I said, we have come so far.”
With eyes filled with sentimentality, reminding of a time long past, Yukari uttered.
For her in particular, this current scene isn’t something that’s typical for her at all, but instead the culmination of so many life-changing event.
“From the chance meeting of a lifetime, to countless adventures. Through countless encounters and unexpected reunions. Through many crises and triumphs, many challenges and accomplishments..."
“The countless miracle that I wouldn’t dream of, culminating in this simple, yet precious moment. The me at the beginning of the journey which change everything, would not be able to imagine the scene of this present day.”
“For all of that...truly, for all of that, I give thanks for our fated encounter, and for you two. Even if this moment happens only once, I will forever engrave it within my light."
Bowing deeply toward them, Yukari expressed her gratitude.
For all that she experienced, for all that she encountered, and for all the moments they spent together…, This gesture carries the weight of what has made her who she is today, thanks to them.
And seeing that sudden act of appreciation, the two of them feels themselves hot behind the ear, and began acting fidgety.
“Aw, shush~. We have a lot to thank Big Sis for as well~"
“Kyu~ (Besides, haven’t we been doing this for the past month already? It definitely happen more than once, and will be happening again and again in the future~)”
“You’re right...In fact, I would like to repeat this moment a trillion times, at least. I am allowed to be that greedy, am I?... Well, do you girls finished eating yet?”
“Yep!”
“Kyu!”
“Well, after cleaning up the dishes, we will do our reviewing session for the day. Remember that you two need to do an extensive review on that fight as well.”
“”Roger/Kyu!””
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Piling up all the dishes and washing them, going into their living room and extensively reviewing what happens for the day, writing tons and tons of notes…
“At 00:10:0001 I move to here, 00:10:0002 move to there, 00:10:0003 move to over there…”
Mumbling about the detail of the fights to herself at blistering speed, Maria return back to her room, while carrying a tower of notebooks in front of her, high enough to reach the ceiling.
“And this, and this, and this...and done!”
Slowly putting her note onto the bookshelf that never seems to be filled, she looks up in satisfaction, before walking toward her table, pulling out the drawer underneath, and taking out a notebook with an intricate lock on it.
“Let's see...guess I should keep it short today."
Opening her notebook, she jostles down on her diary her impression of the day.
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Dear Diary.
Today is a great day, because me, Blanc, and Big Sis have finally entered Isekai Online and begun our adventure! (FYI: The best part is how Blanc can join along with us, without her needing to transform into a human form. Guess people also like having their animal companion along with them, even into another world)
Right off the bat, we meet Tessa sis, a very helpful, if somewhat jaded guide, who both stuck up with us, and gave us many surprising tips and information.
(Even I think our testing fight is a bit much, so I’m glad Tessa sis doesn’t mind much)
Then, our adventure begins, and almost right at the beginning, things get very exciting! Looking at tourist destinations, trying out local food, beating up thugs and saving a jeweler's daughter, and getting many abilities and titles.
I even helped fix up a dummy to be better than new, and get a pretty awesome quest as well!
(Speaking of, is it normal to obtain this many things this early on? I guess it's on theme with the Isekai trend, but I feel like we're breaking something crucial...Especially with the Impossible Achiever title Big Sis obtain, I'm feeling a bit jealous~)
Well, I would say, the most noticeable thing for today, is how many new friends and acquaintances we met.
Tessa Sis, Little Terra, Dummy, a certain fairy-chan, etc...We encounter a lot of people so far, and all of them are pretty good people.
At dinner, Big Sis said that she would like to repeat the moment we shared together a trillion times, but I think she is holding back a lot.
...Nah, she is definitely holding back a lot. She actually wants to repeat this moment for eternity, but just isn't confident that she can be with everyone after infinity.
So, I guess all I, Blanc, Father, Soon-to-be Mother...all of us that’s around her can do, is to make her confident as it. To stay with her for as long as we can, perhaps to beyond the immemorial.
And then, I hope that we can have all of these new companions to be joining on this moment with us as well!
It would be fun. It definitely would be exciting!
P.S: The chocolate for today taste surprisingly delicious.
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“Well, that’s that with my diary...Now it’s time for my blog! After all, apparently it’s a trend to share your thought online for all to hear. Need to make sure to hide the important part though.”
Putting back her diary back into the drawer, she then began typing up her personal blog on her laptop, making a sort of virtual travel diary of her journey in Isekai Online.
And this, along with the diary she kept for the duration of her travel, will be part of the many records they will make on this world, as they turn it upside down.
The record of their adventure, starting with their first eventful day.