Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan - Volume Zero - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: A Princess's Foreign Culture Experience 

Part 1 

War was originally unrefined. As the crossing of fists, it was quite far from beautiful, instead taking the form of overpowering violence. Put simply, it was merely attacking and defeating an enemy with no elegance, a graphic reality born from competing to survive. But through millennia of history, humanity refined war with beauty and elegance through something called "the way of the warrior", crystallizing honed principles and accumulated wisdom into a human philosophy backed by reason and discipline. 

Indeed, the sword skill of Ikki Kurogane, currently swinging his blade in the courtyard of Hagun Academy, could be called beautiful and elegant. He was, at the moment, using one of his swordsmanship forms to improvise a martial arts demonstration for the opponents he was facing. Except he had five of them. 

"Take thiiiiisss!" 

"Have at youuu!" 

In the courtyard, all five raised a unified shout and attacked Ikki with the weapons in their hands. Sword and spear and even hatchet, with fire and lightning and other elements dwelling within, these were no ordinary weapons wielded by ordinary people. The opponents were Blazers, modern-day magic users who shaped their souls into armaments. Their flame and lightning had the power to burn with a touch. 

But even a touch was not to be had. Ikki Kurogane handled all the attackers together, armed with a single sword. 

What kind of sorcery was this, one attacker wondered. His spear that had been thrusted full force was now stabbed into the ground. With no sensation of being parried, his strike was turned aside as if he had been aiming toward the earth from the beginning, as if it was all a bad dream. 

But what was true for the five of them was seen differently by the people gathered around watching the demonstration. Amid the unending rain of weapons, Ikki's dancing sword motions displayed an unmistakable elegance and beauty, handling them with calm and easy movements. Even those who were only walking past the courtyard found their feet stopping so that they could get a look. 

"Tch… how's this possible!!" 

"No way, there's no way this'll work! Haa… haa… Can't get a hit!" 

Before long, the five attacking students cried out, and fell down onto the courtyard grass. 

"Well, let's end it here then. Thanks for following along with me." 

"Ugh, no, that's fine. But to think even five people together can't touch you." 

"Gha… ha… and you ain't sweatin' at all. Are you a monster…?" 

In fact, while the five did have ineffective movements, Ikki himself had dealt with the attacks almost entirely with footwork, dodging their blades with ten centimeters to spare. He hardly used any strength or endurance, and had no reason to sweat. 

With the demonstration over, around ten boys and girls rushed up to Ikki. These were Ikki's classmates. 

"Wow, amazing! You're not even breathing hard!" 

"Who knew a martial arts demonstration would be so artistic!" 

"It really looked like dancing. Even though those guys were so exhausted." 

"Oh no, I was watching and forgot to take pictures! What a lifelong regret this'll be for Kagami Kusakabe, president of the Hagun Academy Newspaper Club! Senpai~ do it again! One more! Photo op please!" 

"Even though I asked you not to…. It's too embarrassing to see my own face on newspaper articles plastered across the school." 

"That's fine! It won't be a school article! I'll only sell it outside!" 

"Err… that's not what I thought 'fine' means…." 

Now, his reason for presenting a martial arts demonstration was that while he was relaxing in the courtyard during lunch break, his classmates came begging him for some sword techniques they could use. For a school of Blazers who aimed to become mage-knights, it was very unusual. His classmates had naturally different talents and no need for martial arts. As common thinking goes, they could use the time for such practice on broadening the scope of their individual powers instead. The only ones who set about like Ikki were similarly inferior students with few accomplishments… or the truly powerful who understood the truth. Given this, Ikki was quite happy that his Blazer classmates had come with interest in martial arts, so he answered their request and gave the demonstration, but… 

"Now as I told everyone, this was the most orthodox and least showy form I know, so that should do as a model?" 

"Uhh, no, frankly all we got out of it was that it's pretty awesome." 

I thought so… 

Combat was not so simple that it could be learned by sight. Even Ikki's Blade Steal took heaps of bloody effort. This reaction was entirely expected. 

"It's not like I can just see it and remember it the way Kurogane-kun can, huh?" 

"But in Ikki-kun's case, he could steal the secrets of a style that he hasn't been shown before just by observing it in the middle of a fight. That's not a human ability, right?" 

"Which means, Senpai, you remember every single sword technique that you've ever seen?" 

"Of course. That's basically been my lifeline." 

"Huh. How many different kinds would that be in total?" 

"Including Stella's Imperial Arts recently, it would be a hundred and twenty six, I guess." 

"H-Hundred!?" 

"I'm surprised that you picked up this many, but it's also surprising that so many sword styles still survive." 

"There are schools without a proper dojo, and those that only exist in documents. When I was in middle school, I wanted to become strong somehow, and whenever I had the time I'd hunt for all the dojos in the area to challenge them, or bounce around libraries and museums studying sword techniques that stopped being taught long ago, stuff like that." 

At those words, the classmates around Ikki took a collective breath. 

"…If that's how you got so skilled, I can believe it." 

"A regular old special technique would've been cheating." 

"I guess martial arts is also a road to a different kind of talent." 

"In the end, it looks impossible for people like us to become like Kurogane-kun, huh?" 

The classmates were depressed at the difficulty of becoming another Ikki. His sword skill already transcended common sense, so awe towards it was understandable, and they decided to again give up on gaining a new kind of talent. With their existing ones, they did not need the same level of commitment. 

"You don't have to concentrate on swordsmanship so much. You all have proper abilities, unlike me, so you don't have to go as far as I do. By using your own extraordinary Devices, you can fight with greater range, and I don't think there's any disadvantage in trying to learn just a little. So if you feel like it, I can give you some advice." 

"…Yeah, if we can add this to our abilities, we could do a lot more." 

"Yes yes! I'll work hard if Kurogane-kun teaches me!" 

"In that case, you need to train your core and your inner muscles, since firm stability is important no matter what you do. Let's talk about the kind of training needed for that. First—" 

The ones who asked for the training were the cute younger boys and girls, firing Ikki up about it too, and his lecture lasted for half an hour. 

"Whew… doing things you're not used to is tiring, huh…?" 

Ikki sat down on a bench in the courtyard and let out a breath, where a female student approached him. 

"You're so diligent, Ikki. Not just your own practice, but watching over your underclassmen too." 

"Stella…" 

Stella Vermillion, a crimson-haired girl with radiant eyes, stood holding her hands behind her as if hiding something. She was Ikki's roommate who had come from a distant country to study abroad, and since just a few days ago, his girlfriend. Stella gazed at the classmates in the courtyard who were immediately putting what Ikki taught them into practice. 

"All I see is them standing on one leg wriggling. Is there meaning to that? It's funny that they look like badly made scarecrows, but… oops, someone fell over. How clumsy. It's not even thirty seconds yet." 

"Ha ha ha. Well, they can't help it when they're just starting out. It's more like an exercise than a form of training." 

"Huh? So you're not going to train them?" 

"Don't say that. At this stage, I can't have them do too much. I just thought I'd have them learn the importance of core and inner muscles first. It's always more common in a fight to push with one foot than to stand evenly on both feet. You constantly go from one foot to the other when moving, shifting center of gravity, so not being able to keep balanced on one foot is a bad thing for combatants. You already know that without me saying it, right Stella?" 

"Well, that's true." 

In Chinese boxing, it was warned of as the "twin illnesses". Illness was an exaggeration, but in truth, standing with center of gravity spread evenly across both feet was dangerous enough to be worth calling a sickness, since if something happened suddenly, it would not be possible to switch into movement. It was a stance full of weaknesses, and weakness leads directly to death. This was why martial artists warn against it, an understanding common to all sorts of martial and swordsmanship styles. Among combat arts, no stance involved settling one's weight evenly between both feet, and so Ikki had everyone learn this first. 

"You really do want everyone to become stronger." 

"That depends on their willingness, but I'll help them with anything they want to achieve." 

"Huh. But is it alright? If there's someone more skillful with the sword, you'd be making an unbelievable rival? Not all of them, but some of them might appear in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival representative selection battles." 

The Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival. It was where all the student knights of Japan fought for the unique title of Seven Stars Sword King. Both Ikki and Stella were aiming for that summit. And since the summit had only room for one, everyone else was a rival. Stella pointed this out, and Ikki smiled as if he was having fun. 

"Actually, I'd welcome it. That would let me both teach and fight…. Besides, someday we'll be forced to fight with our lives on the line." 

Not even someday. As student knights, they had responsibilities. For example, in the event that a Blazer conducts terrorism inside the city, student knights would be tasked with protecting citizens in danger, and in fact Ikki and Stella had already been in such a situation, fighting against a terrorist from Rebellion in real combat. Ikki and the others had prevailed because of their strength, but there were occasions where student knights gave their lives on duty. Such tragedies exist. 

"Wouldn't you want to avoid that? If anyone was ever in a predicament and my advice can help things even a little, nothing would make me happier." 

The words of response to Stella's question were not at all a bluff. They were obviously Ikki's true feelings. Hearing them, Stella's faint pink lips broke into a small smile. 

"That does sound like you." 

"Like me?" 

"That soft-heartedness." 

Because he had no superlative talent, his parents and the adults around him disdained him, dealt with him harshly, and ultimately even held him back a school year for absurd reasons, but Ikki's heart did not falter. That made Stella happy and proud. It was what made him the knight she loved. And it was why Stella wanted to become more intimate with Ikki, so she moved closer. 

"…Well, hey Ikki, you were doing a lot of talking and moving just now, right?" 

"Yeah, that's true. I'm pretty thirsty thanks to all that." 

At Ikki's reply, Stella's face lit up. 

"Th-Then—" 

But in the moment Stella brought out the thing she was hiding behind her back… 

"Onii-sama~?" 

…a sweet and playful voice interrupted, and another girl slid into the space between her and Ikki. 

"Whoa!" 

Ikki let out a surprised voice at the sudden embrace from the side, and turned to look at the new girl of silver hair and light skin, a girl whose entire body was as pale as ephemera. She was— 

"Shizuku? You surprised me…." 

Ikki Kurogane's sole younger sister, Shizuku Kurogane. Catching Ikki's right hand in her embrace, Shizuku brought her face closer like a spoiled kitten. 

"Hehe, what's surprising? Who else would share such intimate touches with you, Onii-sama~?" 

"No, lately the girls have been pretty bold, so…." 

For example, even his classmate Kagami Kusakabe had hugged him on their first meeting. He still remembered that sensation vividly. 

"…Huh. Such people exist, do they? Could you tell me their names?" 

Shizuku pulled out a black notebook from somewhere and opened it up. With a smile that seemed too stiff to come from the heart, she gazed at him with eyes that devoured light. It was very frightening. Ikki knew instinctively that he must not give Kagami's name, so he bluntly changed the subject. 

"B-By the way, Shizuku, won't you move away a bit? I smell of sweat right now." 

"Oh, that's why I'm sticking so close. Don't you get it, Onii-sama?" 

"I don't." 

Ikki could only feel troubled by Shizuku, who was pressing her body even more strongly on him with eyes narrowing in a coquettish smile. She was his little sister that he reunited with after four years apart, but Ikki could no longer comprehend what she was thinking. 

"Well, that's enough of skinship. Here you go, Onii-sama." 

Saying so, Shizuku presented a cold can of sports drink to Ikki. 

"Since you've been teaching your classmates those sword basics, I brought you something to fill up your energy again." 

"Ah, that's a big help. Just when I was getting parched." 

"Yes, I thought you'd be. Onii-sama, you must be happy to have such an attentive and wonderful little sister." 

"Haha, I'm grateful." 

Expressing his thanks at Shizuku's goodwill, Ikki popped the can's pull tab and quenched his thirst. 

"Is it refreshing?" 

"Yeah, it helps a lot." 

"Does it taste like me?" 

Beverage spewed from his nose. 

"What does that mean!?" 

"Hehe, it was a joke. I haven't done anything like kiss the opening of the can. No, not at all." 

"What an awfully specific denial…." 

"You're easy to tease, Onii-sama, so how could anyone help but bully you?" 

"Don't look at me like you're waiting for agreement." 

"Well, putting it aside, there's something I've been worried about…." 

With those words, Shizuku's turned her head, and her face full goodwill toward Ikki changed into an entirely scornful one. 

"I wonder why Stella-san is standing like a statue there with two cans of juice?" 

She directed her statement to Stella, now standing stock-still with a can in each hand after having the conversation snatched away from her. At Shizuku's question, Stella went red and her gaze wobbled uncomfortably. 

"Uh, th-this is…." 

"Oh my. Did you want to give Onii-sama some refreshment?" 

"Huh? Is that so, Stella?" 

"N-No way! Why do I have to do something like that for someone like Ikki!?" 

It was a very ordinary thing for sweethearts to do, but Stella could not say it, because she was the second imperial princess of the Vermillion Empire, and finding a lover while studying abroad would cause a scandal. Such a rumor must not spread on mass media, so Ikki and Stella both agreed that their new relationship must be kept secret. She could not say it. Even if she wanted to say it, it would not leave her mouth. 

"Then why do you have two cans of juice?" 

"Th-This… right! So I can drink both!" 

"I see. What a misunderstanding I've made. Since you've lost to Onii-sama in a match, how unfortunate that you two must be together, right? Since you're not a couple, there's no chance you'd be doing such things, hmm?" 

"Of course not! Ahh, so thirsty. So thirsty I might die! Even two cans aren't enough!" 

In this desperate situation, Stella opened the pull tabs on both cans. Even though she bought an extra for Ikki, it was too late to say it. With tears in the corner of her eyes, Stella downed the juices in one swig each herself. 

"…No backbone." 

Staring with half-lidded eyes at Stella gulping the beverages down, Shizuku murmured that short statement. 

"Shizuku?" 

"It's nothing… by the way, Onii-sama, if you wouldn't mind then could you teach me swordsmanship?" 

Ikki blinked in confusion at Shizuku's request, which seemed intended to change the subject. 

"Huh? But doesn't the head branch have sword instructors? My specialty is katana, so I think learning kodachi techniques from them would be better." 

The Kurogane house they belonged to was famous for its mage-knights, a lineage that has produced many strong, world-renowned fighters. Unlike those who depended entirely on supernatural abilities, as was common across the world, the Kurogane understood the importance of martial arts and their children were all trained in martial arts with their Devices. This should include Shizuku, who must have been taught the Kurogane style's kodachi techniques. Why would she ask him for help? 

Shizuku replied with frank repugnance on her face. 

"After you left the house, Onii-sama, I stopped taking their instruction at once. I won't learn from that lot who drove you away." 

Ahh, I see. 

Ikki understood from her reply. 

If we produce a failure, the family's status will fall.? 

Four years ago, Ikki left the Kurogane house because it locked him away and refused him even a single bit of sword training for the reason stated above. Ikki had no regrets about leaving, but causing a rift between Shizuku and the house did leave him guilty. With that the case, it was his duty as her brother to watching over Shizuku's martial arts training. 

"Okay. I remember the basics of the Kurogane kodachi technique, so if you're fine with it, you can depend on me." 

"Thank you." 

Shizuku expressed her gratitude with a shining smile, and Ikki's lips also curled upward despite himself. What brother would feel bad being trusted so by a cute little sister? 

"Ikki! If you're training Shizuku, then train me too!" 

Stella barked out those words suddenly, having finished her drinks. 

"Huh? O-Okay…." 

But… Ikki's face scrunched up at that request. 

"W-What, you… don't want to?" 

"It's not that, I… just don't think there's anything I could teach you." 

"Th-That's not true. I lost in our duel, didn't I?" 

"But still…." 

Apparently Ikki could not muster up enthusiasm for teaching Stella swordsmanship at all. Seeing this, Stella's eyebrows bristled upward. 

"…Whyyyyy do you only paying attention to Shizuku…!?" 

"Huh? N-No, that's not what I'm trying to—" 

"Fine, fine! It's not like I need you to teach me! Actually, I don't want you teaching me at all! I was just saying it! Watch, next time we fight I'll beat you up! As if a perverted sis-con who skimps on training is a match for me! Idiot!" 

Stella ran away with tears in her eyes and tongue sticking out from her lips. 

Ah… what a completely contrary person. 

But it was his fault. Ikki had a reason for making that face, but if he pointed it out with a half-hearted attitude, Stella would be justified thinking she was being left out. 

"I'll have to apologize later…." 

"Onii-sama." 

"Hmm?" 

"Onii-sama, do you really not want to teach Stella-san?" 

"Not one bit." 

Since there was no one left to make a fuss, Ikki said so plainly. 

"Because that's not for me to do." 

"What do you mean?" 

"For example, both you and my classmates have obvious points of inexperience. I can see what you need to be taught. But Stella's different. She's gone beyond the level of someone like me a long time ago. And more than anything else, our sword styles are rooted in different things." 

"Rooted?" 

"My swordsmanship is fundamentally about technique. My sword cuts with skill. But Stella's sword is the blade of someone truly powerful, able to crush the opponent with a wave of her hand. That's the foundation she already builds on, so her sword doesn't need the kind of little tricks and fragmented styles I use. If I introduce those things in her carelessly, I might be a bad influence. Since I'm not responsible for teaching her, I won't… and anyway, even if for argument's sake I did so, what would be the point?" 

In short, Ikki's growth depended entirely on his scope of knowledge, but that had no meaning for Stella, a true prodigy. Compared to one with ordinary ability like Ikki, she had immeasurable hidden potential. Because of that, he would rather she always stayed something beyond his imagination. 

"Because Stella is my one true rival." 

He wanted her to stay his dearest and highest rival, and so Ikki balked at her request. Shizuku, hearing this reason, became a bit sulky. 

"…What, then we're the ones who didn't really understand?" 

"Hmm? Shizuku, what did you say?" 

"Nothing. Nothing at all. I just thought that the sow sure was taking things for granted." 

"What?" 

Part 2 

What the heck, what the heck, what the heck is with that sis-con!? Only favoring Shizuku! Even though he said he loves me! Even though he said that! Why can't he stand up to her!? I'm your girlfriend so pay attention to me! Stupid Ikki! 

Flaring up and scattering embers, Stella stalked down the dormitory hallway with her shoulders quivering in anger. On the way, the bright voice of a tall man whose face was beautiful enough to tremble at called out to her. 

"Oh my, hello Stella-chan." 

There stood Nagi Arisuin, and with him was Kagami Kusakabe who had left the courtyard at some point. 

"You're sure throwing out a ton of sparks. Did something happen~?" 

"Not really…. And it's rare to see you in this dorm, Alice. Did you come for something?" 

"Just to return a game I borrowed from Kagamin." 

"Tadaa! It's Private Prince Academy, the top romance game for girls today! I went to Akiba[1] last week and waited in line all night for it!" 

Kagami happily held up the package whose cover depicted boys with long eyelashes. It was a romance simulation game targeted towards young women. Even Stella knew of them, but she lacked deeper knowledge and held a dim view toward such topics. When Stella saw the box, her brows furrowed. 

"That's for lonely women, right? Are you two… like enthusiasts for that kind of thing?" 

"Oh my, an imperial princess with such prejudice. What do you think, Kagamin?" 

"That's right, Stella-chan. In the last hundred years, Japan's visual novels have been our top cultural export. If you come to Japan without experiencing our romance games, it's like going to France without sampling their cheese! According to one theory, it played a role in the eradication of the South American drug trade! It's that amazing!" 

"I-Is it really…? Not just a bit of lazy entertainment?" 

How simple. 

Indeed, simple. 

These two were actually bad friends. 

"So how about you try it yourself?" 

"No, I'm not really interested… and I've never played one before either." 

"And that's why you should. You have a boy you need advice on, right? What do you think, Alice-chan?" 

"Yes, and look at the black-haired boy on this cover. Doesn't he look like someone we know?" 

The game package was thrust before Stella's face, and what she saw among the punk-like boy characters with variously colored hair was indeed a face that resembled a certain someone. 

"Ikki…." 

"Has the resemblance, huh? That one's name is Issei-kun, and his voice is really similar too, enough where it's a topic among the Worst One's hidden fans, you know." 

"That's part of why I went and bought it, since if I actually tried to make a move on Ikki, Shizuku would kill me. Anyway, play it with headphones on, and it's like Ikki whispering sweet words in your ears… ahh, it's glorious~" 

"Ikki… in my ears…." 

Like Ikki whispering sweet words. Stella gulped audibly as she imagined it. Being Ikki's sweetheart, she could get that from the source, but with them both novices at being a couple, it did not happen easily. They were too bashful to do anything, and in fact they had not even managed to hold hands yet. When the two were alone, they were especially somber and could not have a conversation. And so, Stella was very interested in the idea. 

"…How about it? Wanna try?" 

"Huh!? It's not like I'm interested just because it… looks like…." 

Stella's wavering gaze darted helplessly toward and away from the game Kagami held, and Kagami smiled teasingly. 

"I see… well, I shouldn't force you~?" 

She started to pull the game back, but found Stella suddenly gripping Private Princess Academy with amazing strength, preventing the motion. 

"Well, umm, I definitely don't have any personal interest or anything, but… but you see, just now I said something unfair about these works, and that's not dignified for an international celebrity, right? So given this opportunity, I should study Japanese culture… is what I think." 

She really is simple, huh~? 

And naive. But that's Stella-chan for you. 

"Okay then, here. You and Kurogane-senpai don't have a console, right? I'll bring one later, and you can return it whenever." 

"Th-Thanks…." 

"And I'll tell you how to get to the Issei route, since you're probably not interested in the other characters." 

"Yeah, not at all… b-because it's too much work, okay!? Not because he looks like Ikki, got it!?" 

"Yes, yes. I know, I know~?" 

"Kagamin and I both know that veeeeery well. Stella-chan's acting very much like a girl of Vegeta's[2] lineage~?" 

"D-Don't call it acting!" 

And so the Vermillion Empire's princess was enticed into her first time playing a romance video game by her evil friends. 

Part 3 

Private Prince Academy was set in a boys' school for rich sons of government officials that had just become co-ed, into which the girl protagonist had entered. It was a harem story of enjoying the springtime of life with elegant, clear-headed, handsome young men of good pedigree. Having few adventure elements, it was an orthodox visual novel with branching points based on user choices and the rest of the content entirely text. Stella, who was not familiar with video games outside of first-person shooters and racing simulations, could not help but find the introduction boring. 

"Hey… when's this going to start?" 

"It's already started though?" 

"Huh? But there's no enemy." 

"Th-This isn't that kind of game. Well, depending on how things play out, going on dates can turn into giant messes where fights happen, but… anyway, Issei-kun's about to appear." 

And the scene indeed unfolded like Arisuin claimed, with Stella the school protagonist and the boy pictured on the package that greatly resembled Ikki—Issei Washimine—crashing into each other as they turned the same corner. 

With a voice that greatly resembled Ikki's, the new arrival said… 

Watch where you're goin', ugly. What's gonna happen if you put a scar on me, the next head of the Washimine Zaibatsu!?? 

Apologize sincerely.

Look away and retort.

 Say nothing and German suplex. No mercy. 

Stella chose the third option almost by reflex. The screen displayed the digital art image of the protagonist performing a manly suplex. It was a beautiful wrestler's bridge. 

"Hehe~? Well done, my other self. A flawless execution!" 

"…Wow. Throwing out a suplex in that situation. You don't have any intention of capturing his heart, do you!?" 

"But he was so irritating. And first of all, what was that!? His face and voice do resemble Ikki's, but his personality's completely different!? It's a scam, a scam! The creators don't know Ikki at all!" 

"Err, it's not like they used Ikki as a model. It's just resemblance. …But, well, doing the suplex is actually the right choice." 

"Huh?" 

Stella blinked at Arisuin's words, and at the same time on the screen, Issei slowly got up. 

I've been searching so long… for someone who would correct my crooked self with a German suplex…. Please… go out with me!? 

A hot-blooded love confession was uttered. 

"P-Pervert!?" 

"You'd think it was a joke option, but it's actually the way to the Issei route, apparently. I was completely fooled at first." 

"What a complicated setup, falling in love because of getting German suplexed!" 

"It seems his mother, who passed away long ago, used to scold him with that when he misbehaved." 

"Isn't that just child abuse!?" 

"But how amazing, you got into the route with one try. I didn't need to be here at all." 

"…So you're saying that I'm already following this guy's story?" 

"Yes. From now on, you're following a set path, so there won't be more difficulties." 

Saying so, Arisuin got up and turned toward the door. 

"Well, I'm off. The game's best enjoyed alone, after all." 

And he left. Seeing him go, Stella sighed. Honestly, it would be better if he took this thing back with him. No matter how much face and voice may match, such a different personality made the character uninteresting. Or rather, whether or not there was a resemblance to Ikki, who would want a pervert like this in the first place? 

I should go give this back to Kagami. 

Thinking so, Stella stretched out her hand toward the Playstation's power button…. 

I can't look at anyone but you!? 

The voice, so very similar, shot from speakers to Stella's eardrums. Her head sprang up, and she saw the sad face of Issei looking like an abandoned puppy, an expression entirely like Ikki's. 

Stella wordlessly plugged in headphones. 

https://www.baka-tsuki.org/project/index.php?title=File:Rakudai_V0_031.jpg 

As the game progressed, it became quickly apparent why Issei had his attitude. He was the child of the Washimine Zaibatsu's head, who had eloped with a common girl. After his father died of illness, his grandfather, who wanted an heir, took him from his mother against his will. His mother also died of illness without him by her side, so in resentment he paraded around arrogantly, sullying the Washimine name. 

"*Sob*… you had it hard too, right…?" 

At first she had been offended by Issei's behavior, but after finding out the cause, Stella could not blame him for what felt very much like Ikki's own circumstances. She had been unbearably bored by the intro, but once she started playing she became more and more absorbed in the game. Even in the narrative's slow pacing there were bright points to be found. Walking together on the way to school. Going to an amusement park for a day off. Secretly heading out to the beach at night during the school trip. Neither zombies nor Soviet soldiers popped out, but boredom was far away, and instead every moment was heart-pounding. Indeed, if happiness was having days filled with love, then spending time with one's sweetheart was delightful. But this Ikki was at every single moment gazing straightforwardly at Stella. His attention never pulled away no matter who else might be nearby. His gaze was always aimed at the person in front of the screen. (? This is convention for visual novels.) His sweet whispers were always at her ears. He was never talking about sister this, sister that. 

He's always ready for me…. 

How wonderful it was. 

Three years passed, and graduation day arrived. In a deserted classroom, "Ikki" proposed to Stella with the most earnest expression she had ever seen. 

I love you, Stella. I want you to be with me after graduation, keeping a sleeper hold on my heart.? 

"Ah…." 

Hearing the romantic words from a voice like Ikki's made her cheeks grow hot. 

No, she knew. Stella knew this was only a game, and what she saw was just a character who resembled Ikki. But… but… if it was just a game, could she not be honest now? Stella was frankly a little dissatisfied with the current stalemate where they could not even hold hands. They had gone through so much to become a couple. No, not just holding hands—she wanted to touch Ikki much more than that, to do things with Ikki that only couples would do. 

…But she could not say that herself. She could not stand the possibility that he might dislike her for being lewd. It was why she was left waiting for Ikki to take the next step. But if Ikki did take that step, could she gave an honest reply? No. Stella was aware of her own vain and contrary nature. There was no doubt she would find some reason to escape. 

Yes, like how she was a princess. 

I… would definitely say that. 

She was such a troublesome woman. Not cute at all. Even Ikki would disapprove. 

But if I practice using this game…. 

Then would she not be able to answer him honestly? Would Ikki not be even more in love with her? 

Many seconds passed in hesitation. Stella steeled her resolve, and spoke as she pressed the button. 

"I love you too, Ikki! Marry me, and stay with me forever!" 

*Slam* 

She heard a loud sound through her earphones, and her eyes widened as she looked behind her to the door and saw… Ikki collapsed there. 

"S-Sorry! Umm, I wasn't trying to peek. It's just… I heard noises in here but you didn't answer no matter how much I knocked…. E-Err… is that a girls' romance sim? A…Ahaha, what a surprise. When I heard 'marry me', my legs went out. But it was just a line from the game, right? What an amazing coincidence that there's a character with my name." 

Ikki's flustered explanation continued when Stella made no response. 

"But for you to be so passionate about it that you'd say it out loud. It's like I'm seeing a whole new side of you. Ah, don't mind me. I'll just get out of here. Sorry for interrupting at the good bit." 

"……N-NOOOOOOO!!!" 

Dusk fell over the school dormitory, and Stella's scream filled every corner. 

Dear reader: if you are playing a naughty romance sim in your room with headphones on, you must always keep an eye on the door. Never, ever forget this. 

References 

1 Akiba: Akihabara, a shopping district in Tokyo famous for anime and computer games. 

2 Vegeta: A character from Dragon Ball Z by Akira Toriyama. He is the prince of the warmongering Saiyan race.