"Big sis, done!?"
"Wait, don't rush me! Just this last input!"
"Two minutes left!"
"92 seconds now…"
"Okay, done! Stop stressing me!"
Midori's urgency pushed Momoi to frantically work the computer. Today was the Millennium Prize entry deadline, with only 90 seconds left, as Alice noted.
"Here, quick test… No errors, Momoi!"
"Okay! Uploading… 15 seconds! Alice, time!?"
"19 seconds!"
"Please…!"
Debugging done, final checks complete. Momoi slammed the enter key—
[Millennium Prize entry accepted.]
Relief washed over them, followed by joy.
"Made it!"
"Barely… My heart nearly stopped."
"Good job, everyone."
"Thanks, Sensei! Now… we wait three days."
"Yeah. Three days decide if we keep this clubroom."
"Suddenly so tense…"
Winning a prize was the goal, not just entering. Amid the tension, Momoi proposed:
"Three days is long, right? How about uploading Tales Saga Chronicle 2's web version first?"
"What!?"
"Why?"
"I can't wait! Plus, don't you want user feedback before judges?"
"Low ratings scare me…"
Negative comments were inevitable, and Midori feared them.
"What're you saying? Be confident! We gave our all!"
"Y-Yeah, but…"
"Let's do it."
"Huh?"
"I want people to play it. Low ratings are scary, but… with everyone, I'm okay."
"Yuzu-chan…"
"Upload now!"
"Wait, I'm not ready!"
"Done! It'll take hours for feedback. Let's rest."
"Time for cream puffs, then. I brought some."
"Sweet!"
Mash handed out cream puffs, but Alice stayed glued to the computer.
"Alice? Why sit there?"
"Waiting. Downloads started. Curious."
"It'll take time for feedback. Eat something."
"Thanks, Sensei… Pampakapaan! Alice got a cream puff!"
Alice munched happily, but Momoi, Midori, and Yuzu were too nervous to eat.
Ping.
A notification startled them.
"First comment!"
"What's it say!?"
The comment stung, nearly bringing the Saiba sisters to tears.
"…Contacting Maki. I'll blast that IP with a max-output beam cannon."
"Assault? I'm in." Dual-wielding cream puffs.
"No, no, no!"
"Alice, Sensei, that's not funny!"
"It's fine. They didn't play it. Ignore them."
Ping. Ping, ping-ping.
More comments flooded in.
"I hoped for interest, but this many so fast? Scary!"
Momoi had wanted attention, but the volume overwhelmed her.
"…Heart's pounding."
"Expectation and fear—I'm gonna explode!"
"I'm nervous too… Time for push-ups."
"Why!?"
"Mission: Start muscle training!"
"Don't!"
"Really gonna explode, like—BOOM!"
As Momoi jinxed it—
"Everyone, to me!"
"Huh?"
BOOM!
The Game Dev Club was under attack.
Bullets—anti-materiel rounds—struck the clubroom.
"What!?"
"Another's coming!"
BOOM!
Mash timed it, deflecting a bullet with his fist.
"Long-range attack, 11 o'clock, one kilometer!"
"Revenge for last time!?"
"Counterattack initiated!"
"No, Alice, let's go! Fighting here'll wreck our clubroom!"
"Student Council's outside… Retaliation for the mirror!?"
"I felt a little bad, but…"
"Let's move."
"Okay!"
They fled, dodging drones that posed no threat to Mash and Alice.
"Blocking snipers while guarding is tough."
"Deflecting bullets is already insane."
"Yuzu, you okay?"
"Y-Yes."
Evading Seminar and C&C's fierce drone attacks, they reached the old school's corridor.
"Hey, Sensei!"
"Yo."
"C&C!? Why here?"
"Sorry, our leader…"
"Leader?"
"Didn't want this, but…"
"Who ordered this?"
Waiting were C&C members, led by a girl in a dragon-patterned jacket over a maid outfit, wielding dual SMGs—Millennium's strongest, Neru Mikamo.
"You…"
"First time, Sensei. C&C leader, Neru Mikamo."
"Hey, Mash Burnedead, 16."
"This time—Wait, 16?"
"Yup."
"A younger Sensei…?"
"Same age?"
"Didn't know…"
"Kinda had a feeling!"
"Say that earlier!"
"Sorry!"
Neru muttered, "What're the higher-ups thinking?" but Mash's physique and gaze told her he was no ordinary foe.
"Sensei? Why clutch your chest?"
"Mike says she's no joke."
"Mike… your pecs?"
"Don't react calmly!"
"Ignore it, or I lose!"
"What's with this vibe? Shouldn't it be tense?"
"With Sensei, serious turns comedic!"
"Huh?"
Neru, thrown off by Mash's aura, sighed but refocused.
"What's your deal? The Council's request was canceled."
"Not here for you. The one with the giant weapon and Sensei."
"Alice and me?"
"Yup. You gave C&C a beating, huh? Let's talk."
Neru raised her weapons, targeting them. Tension spiked—or so they thought.
"Alice knows. This is a confession event. Short Maid-sama loves Alice and Sensei."
"What!?"
"Huh? Sorry, I can't date someone I just met…" Bow.
"Don't mess with me! Who's Short Maid-sama!? Wanna die!?"
"Eek…"
"And Sensei, don't apologize!"
"First, let's be friends, get close, then maybe lovers."
"I said it's not that! I'll shoot for real!"
"Calm down, senpai."
Mash and Alice turned tension into comedy, leaving Neru flustered.
Calmed, Neru exhaled and spoke seriously.
"Might be a misunderstanding, but this isn't revenge for C&C's loss."
"It's not?"
"I'm not thrilled, but it was a legit job. No grudges… just curious."
"So, challenging me and Alice-chan?"
"Exactly. Who's first?"
"Got it."
"Ready to go? I like quick talkers."
"Like a one-on-one event battle. Understood."
"Event what?"
"Last time was cramped, with a mission. Now…"
"Alice-chan, but—"
"This is my fight, Sensei. No help needed!"
"…Good luck."
"Yes!"
"Done talking? Let's go!"
Neru grinned, and Alice deployed her railgun with a heavy thud, its anti-ship output aimed at Neru.
"Whoa…"
"Magic charge, 100%! Light!"
A blue blast erupted, wreaking havoc. The shockwave nearly staggered Mash.
"One-shot kill!"
"Amazing, Alice!"
"Nobody but Sensei could survive that…"
"Not over."
"What?"
Alice panted, tension easing.
"Did I… get her?"
"Nope."
"!?"
Neru's voice cut through. She crouched, unscathed, gun ready.
"Charge!"
"Too slow!"
Neru attacked before Alice could recharge, who blocked bullets with Supernova. But Neru was gone.
"Side!"
"!"
Neru slid beside Alice, landing a kick. Alice blocked with her railgun but—
"Guh!"
"Alice-chan!"
"Impressive firepower, but that's it."
Neru kicked Alice and her 140kg railgun into the wall.
"Your weapon's top-tier, but too strong. Get close, and you can't shoot without blowing yourself up."
Neru aimed at Alice's face.
"At this range, few in Kivotos can beat me. Remember that."
"Alice… lost?"
"Millennium's strongest…"
"W-W-What do we do!?"
"You're not weak. Just less experienced."
"My muscles… weren't enough…"
"Not about muscles! And your tricks are obvious."
"Ugh…"
Alice looked down, defeated. Neru turned to Mash.
"Your turn, Sensei."
"Toughest since Tsurugi… but I have to win."
Mash shed his jacket, revealing his black training wear, and raised his fists.
Mash bounced lightly, warming up. Neru reloaded, ready.
Mash tensed his legs. Neru aimed her SMGs. Then—
Whoosh!
Mash launched a flying kick. Neru dropped her guns, dodging.
(Dodged.)Spin.
"Spinning to recover… and—"
"Hmph!" Whoosh!
Mash aimed a heel drop at Neru's head. She dodged back, aiming both SMGs.
"Dodge and counter. Simple, right?"
As Neru fired, Mash's heel smashed the ground, throwing her off balance.
"What!?"
"He broke the floor to disrupt her!"
Spin.
(Spinning off that foot for another kick!)
"Hmph!" Whoosh!
Neru blocked but was blown back, stopping just before the wall, firing at Mash.
"Hmph, hmph!"
(Bullets from afar are useless…)
"Then I get close!"
Neru fired while moving, disrupting Mash's timing. She leaped—
"Bullet payback!"
"That's bad!"
She fired above Mash's head. He dodged, but—
"Oh!"
"Neru-senpai fired, then hooked a chain around Sensei's neck as he dodged!"
Neru, predicting Mash's side dodge, snagged his neck with her gun's chain.
"Take this!"
"Ugh!"
"The chain's tight around Sensei's neck!"
Neru pulled, compressing Mash's carotid.
"Sorry, Sensei, you're done—Huh?"
"Hngh…"
"No change in his face!?"
"How!? It's a chain!"
"Maybe… Mash-sensei's neck—"
"Is harder than iron!"
"No way!"
Mash, unfazed, yanked his neck back, pulling Neru toward his head.
"My neck's tough, huh?"
"No—"
THUD!
Mash headbutted Neru, sending her reeling.
"Eek!? That sounded bad!"
"Senpai, you okay!?"
"That was a solid hit… Leader, your tiny head okay?"
"Who's got a tiny head!? …Ow, like hitting iron."
"Damaging Neru-senpai… Amazing!"
"Right, Yuzu?"
"Sensei's a cheat character!"
"But… that sound came from Sensei too. Is he okay?"
"All good!"
They looked at Mash, who raised his head confidently.
"Of cour—"
Drip.
Blood trickled from his forehead.
"Not okay!"
"I'm fine."
"Really!?"
"Not dead. Just bleeding."
"Head bleeding's bad!"
"Still hurt more than breaking a bank wall."
"You broke what!?"
Mash wiped the blood, grinning at Neru.
"Nice hard head."
"Don't wanna hear that from you! …Ugh, yelling's making me dizzy."
"You okay?"
"Don't underestimate me. This won't stop me."
"Good."
"Hey, Sensei, one question."
"Sure."
"Why protect Game Dev? Just 'cause you're Sensei?"
Mash answered casually.
"That's part of it, but it's simpler."
"What?"
"They asked for help. So I'll protect them. And their game, too."
"That's it?"
"Yup. Ignoring someone asking for help or refusing without hearing them out… feels wrong."
"…Got it. Haha! Got it!"
Neru laughed, understanding Mash's character.
"You're a goody-two-shoes, huh?"
"Am I?"
"But you said you'd protect their game too. Why care about some game?"
"Some game? Games are amazing. They gave me strength."
"Strength from a game? Pfft, show me!"
Neru's eyes gleamed, her grin wide.
"Show me what power a mere game gave you!"
"No choice if you say that…"
Mash's face sharpened as he reached into his pocket—
"…A red… headband?"
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