Are you a guy pretending to be a girl?!
"Just so you know, I'm the one who looks more like a girl!"
When a guy in a crow mask and a two-block haircut claims to be female, it's hard to take seriously!
"So your avatar's gender is the opposite? Oh, so players can do that? That sounds fun!"
"So, brother, what are you up to now?"
"Uh, just checking out the school. I thought I'd take a look around, that's all."
I may have leveled up, but I'm still only at level 2. If this crowd gets involved… I'm done for.
"Haha, that's perfect! We were just free, so we'll show you around!"
"Alright, one guest coming right up!"
"Wait, um…"
"Huh? You don't want our tour?"
Oh no, if I refuse, I'm done for.
"Uh, how about we tag along because it seems fun?"
No, that's not what I meant! Help me, please!
"So, this is the music room."
"Wow, surprisingly decent introduction."
I half-expected to be dragged into some crazy situation, but these three were actually friendly, explaining everything about Anywhere and how to use it. Their looks were wild, but their kindness was astonishing.
"Of course! We're not delinquents, just having some delinquent fun!"
…Huh? Delinquents, fun?
"W-Wait, you're saying you look like that and you're normal people?!"
"Well, in this world, there's no need to stick to our usual personalities; we might as well enjoy some role-playing, right?"
"Hehe, I feel the same! I always wanted to be a guy, so experiencing the world in a male body is refreshing! Sure, I'm playing around a bit as a villain."
"Oh, but I'm just a regular former gang member. I didn't get much attention as myself, so I was curious about having a girl's body. But, you know, once you hit middle school, groping your own chest leads to warnings. So, here I am, stuck acting like an elementary schooler. Classes are so boring!"
"Wait, my chest!? It's almost completely flat, so don't press against it! I might get banned from my account!"
"Hey, Yuki, if you get that close, I could get banned for not having you on my friends list."
"Oh right, I was trying to confuse you like we were friends. Why isn't there a warning?"
Red-haired Yuki stepped back, looking flustered. I was a bit pleased to have her clinging to my arm... but wait!? No, no, Hannah, it's not what you think!
"Cheating? What are you talking about? We're not even dating!"
"Well, you're not 'cheating' if you're not together," came a voice.
Wait, was that true? If that's the case, then why is Hannah turning away from me? She has that sulky expression on her face! She's jealous, isn't she? Absolutely! If those two weren't here, I would've been begging for forgiveness already.
"By the way, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Yoshi."
"I'm Lark!"
"And I'm Yuki! Nice to meet you—oh, please send me a friend request!"
Suddenly, I got friend requests from all three of them. Wait, is this a must-do thing?
"Um, it's Henry."
I accepted their requests as I spoke.
"Wow, you're so serious! C'mon, lighten up... oh, whoops, guess I can't say certain words while trying to be rebellious."
What was he about to say, this pompadoured guy?
"Ah, by the way, just so you know, I'm a pompadour. Sometimes those clueless folks might call it a 'thing,' but I was raised as a pompadour. If anyone ever calls my hairstyle a pompadour, even if you're a brother, I won't hesitate to knock you out. Just a heads up!"
"Don't you want me to be nice to you!?"
"Ah, it's about lunchtime."
"Shall we head back to class? I've heard lunch is being served."
Lunch... well, since we're here, I might as well go back.
"By the way, what class are you in, Henry? I'm in second."
"What? No way, I'm in second too!"
"Hey, what are the odds? You two should just start dating already."
"Uh, not really into that whole guy-guy thing..."
"But you're an avatar girl!"
Um, what about my opinion?
The three of them chattered excitedly as they headed to their classroom.
"What a lively bunch," I thought.
"I'm sorry, Hannah. I was looking forward to exploring the school just the two of us."
"That's okay. In fact... why not explore the school at night? Sounds fun, right?"
A date with Hannah at night!?
Doesn't that imply we're like, officially a couple!?
"I don't know much about the other seven mysteries besides my own. Since we're at it, why not investigate that?"
"Hey, Henry, what are you doing?"
Not wanting to provoke them, I quickly joined the trio.
"Nobody talks to you here except Ray, huh?"
After parting from the other two, I returned to the classroom with Yuki, and Ray, the guide AI, waved at us. I waved back.
"He's the AI for explanations. He's designed to be friendly and helpful for beginners with guidance and Q&A," Yuki explained.
"Oh, I see. He came on so strong that I almost thought about hitting him, but if that's the case, I guess I'll let it slide."
"Active, huh?"
"Time for lunch! We'll be forming groups and pushing our desks together to eat. You two get along really well, right? Should we be in the same group?"
"Well, yeah. That other group is filled with NPCs, and I'd prefer to sit next to Henry."
So, could you not cling to me? Even knowing you're a guy online, I feel butterflies every time your arm brushes against mine! And aren't we a bit too close for comfort? This is way too intimate.
"Well, I've heard that boundaries are quite blurry among elementary school kids, so it's probably fine. But if an adult man or woman hugs a kid who isn't family, they might get in trouble."
I see, so the closeness is acceptable because we're both kids. But the situation feels so vague that I might end up getting banned without realizing it.
Lunch is served in the traditional style of forming groups of five or six to go and collect it ourselves.
Is that how school lunches are these days? Back in my elementary school days, it was just like this, which I can understand, but when I think about it, it's pretty rough to make kids haul those heavy pots back to their classrooms.
Sometimes, someone can't handle the weight and spills everything, ruining lunch for everyone in that class. If it's a delicious dessert, it's the worst! Suddenly, the lunch help gets blamed, and they might even have to face class changes.
That was terrifying. I couldn't overlook it either, but even so, throwing someone to the very bottom of the class hierarchy for that felt excessive to me.
The group that went to pick up lunch this time was composed entirely of NPCs. In Class 1-2, it's surprising how few familiar faces there are. Given the number of players in the game, it wouldn't be strange if all our classmates were players…
"Hey, Ray."
"Hmm? Got a question, Henry?"
"I mean, there are quite a few players in this world, but isn't elementary school not very popular? From what I've seen in our classroom, I only count about six of us."
"There are actually a few hundred elementary school players. It's so crowded that they separate classrooms and servers. Wait, what's a server again?"
Well, thanks for breaking the fourth wall there. I don't mind, but for someone who cares about the world-building, that's a real game over, isn't it, devs?
"So, they're separated by server? Does that mean mine and Henry's meeting was just a coincidence?"
"Looks like it. But Yuki-san, isn't this a bit too close?"
"Huh? Was that a problem?"
"It's not a problem, but…"
"Oh?"
No, it's not a problem, but still, you know, I'm worried about getting banned, and honestly, I'd rather be closer to Hannah-san; I might even appreciate a mature embrace or something…
— Warning: If you act on that thought, your account will be suspended —
"Whoa!? What's going on here?"
"Goodness, how silly..."
"Oh, that was intentional, wasn't it? You're giggling!"
"Alright, everyone! The school lunch is here!"
"Oh, let's line up, Henry."
"Hey, don't be so pushy! Whoa there!"
"Even while saying that, you look like you're having fun."
With a wry smile, Hannah follows along.
"So, Hannah, what are you going to do for lunch?"
"Oh, you don't need to take any. You're a ghost, after all."
"Should I offer incense or something? I've heard that ghosts have meals, but…"
"That would just be smoky, so I'll pass. If you insist, you could offer some sweet rice balls."
First, I grab a tray and place my plate on it.
From there, I move in order towards the lunch staff, collecting bread, milk, spaghetti, a mixed vegetable stir-fry, rice, and... today's soup is tonjiru.
I wonder if they come up with a new recipe each time? That sounds like a lot of work.
I carry my loaded tray back to my seat.
If I'm bullied here, someone might trip me, and if I fall, I'll lose my lunch for the day.
That used to happen sometimes. It was pretty obvious, though, and the teachers found out and punished the culprits.
But the punishments were so lenient, they didn't really feel like punishments at all to the kids.
So, the bullying continued.
In the end, the ones who were bullied developed a habit of being picked on after enduring it so many times.
I remember that guy—the one who stabbed the ringleader of the bullying at graduation and got sent to Boy's School. I wonder what he's up to now?
"What's up? You look kind of nostalgic while eating."
"Well, I was just reminiscing about the old school lunches."
"Oh, so you're feeling your age, huh? Oops, maybe that's bad manners to say."
"Haha, I won't deny it."
"Still, it's been a while since I had school lunch, but is this really what it was like? It's so bland. I prefer diner food or junk food, to be honest."
"Maybe young people don't feel that nostalgic about school lunches? For me, it brings back memories from long ago. Yeah, this is definitely a nice VR for anyone wanting to relive the past."
"Oh really? So Henry's the type who likes cozy vibes?"
"Nah, if that were the case, I wouldn't bother with combat skills. My goals are already achieved. Now I need to figure out what to do next. Ray, any recommendations?"
"Well, if you want to level up, just walk around town and wild animals will attack you. If you're heading to the forest, it's a good idea to have a hunting license and a shotgun."
"A shotgun? Can elementary school students even buy one?"
"And I've heard there are rumored spots where you can encounter supernatural beings. If you want a ghost experience, try the school at night, but you should be at least level 10. For facing a boss, it's better to be around level 30."
Wow, Hannah's recommended battle level is 30. Plus, she suggests fighting in groups. I think going solo would require an even higher level.
But, well, my only goal was to tame Hannah, and now that I've achieved that, I'm left with nothing to do. I thought about asking her out on a date... Maybe a night date would be nice?
"Hmmm, if I have no goal, should I give it a try? A tour of the seven wonders?"
But my level is still only 2!
"Hey, Henry, what are you going to do now?"
"Huh? Oh, I'll be free until evening. But there's no way I'm going to class."
"Right, so how about hanging out with us? We could even go shake someone down!"
"I'll pass on that. I'm just an ordinary person, so I can't partake in any delinquent activities."
"What's that about? Well, if we push too hard, we might catch the attention of the game mods."