Accel World: Dusk Robber

  "Second round, first match! Red, Takagi. White, Mayuzumi!"

  Then, two students stood up. Takagi was a 3rd year student, and Mayuzumi— Takumu, was of course 2nd year. They were about the same in height, but for body size, Takagi was much larger.

  After bowing to each other, they stepped forward three steps to the starting line. Haruyuki stared at the shape of Takumu who held his shinai straight in the middle.

  Thinking back, this was his first time seeing Takumu wearing a kendo uniform with his real eyes. Of course he had seen recordings of matches uploaded to the net, but the amount of information was definitely different from the live scene. The weight of the black shining shinai they use, the hardness of the uniforms, and he seem to even smell the scent of the defensive equipment, so he involuntarily swallowed.

  For those kendo participants that did not change for over 100 years, the only differences were the more shiny face mask, and the Neuro Linker peeking out from under it.

  For different kind of sports matches, it was not that long ago that they were allowed to participate while wearing a Neuro Linker.

  The reason for that, was mainly to display points obtained and match time overlay in the view, but especially for kendo and fencing, it was used for effective judgement purpose. The few hundredths of a second difference being common impact timings, using the Neuro Linker senses feedback function, that was easily determined.

  Naturally, during matches it is strictly checked for use of outside applications and Global Net connection. But, there is one super program that can easily stay undetected by this kind of surveillance. Without needing to be said, that is of course «Brain Burst».

  During last year's summer Tokyo middle school kendo tournament, Takumu used «Acceleration» ability to win first place as a 1st year student. However for that reason he used up too much Burst Points, and was in danger of losing Brain Burst, so he was finally cornered into putting a virus into Chiyuri's Neuro Linker to rob points from Kuroyukihime— aka Black Lotus.

  The regret for that action, even after Chiyuri and Kuroyukihime forgave him, right now he still had that stain inside of him.

  However, returning to kendo gym like this, Takumu finally took a new step forward, Haruyuki felt it like that.

  "Ta-ku~n! Knock him flying—!!"

  While shrinking involuntarily from Chiyuri's unreserved cheer beside him, Haruyuki also put out as much sound as he could.

  "Ta-Taku! Fight Hard!!"

  Against the 3rd year Takagi-something opponent, Takumu won superbly after getting hit once.

  He easily won the next quarter finals. And he also won the semi finals from judgement, and advanced to the finals.

  However, the talk of the tournament was not Takumu, it was the 1st year student who advanced through the tournament with all two hit surprisingly strong wins.

  "Gl...Glove hit! Winner decided!!"

  The advisor's slightly higher sound, was overlayed with loud commotions. "There is an incredible 1st year" kind of rumor went through the Local Net and spread out, and even though it was after school, in about ten minutes, the area surrounding the match arena was almost full of students.

  Not even showing that he noticed any of that, the 1st year student that returned to the starting line with a sliding walk, was the slender participant that Haruyuki saw in the first match. The number tag on him was marked with the name Noumi.

  The height, was at most 155cm. The body structure was also small, and compared to the large built upperclassmen, it was like adult and child, where a match was unthinkable.

  However, they could not hit him. The high speed hits from 3rd year students, almost unseen by Haruyuki's flesh eyes, were lightly dodged by his reaction as if he predicted them. Or he matched the hits with his own hits.

  According to Haruyuki's vague understanding of kendo, before the opponent started attacking, or finished attacking, it's not a completion that can easily get in a hit that counts. The early one is called front of front, and the late one is call front of behind, that means, how fast you can react to the enemy attack, will determine the fight.

  With that point in mind, it was as if the 1st year Noumi had an ability beyond the rest.

  That's right— Ability.

  "Final match!! Red, Noumi! White, Mayuzumi!"

  With the advising teacher's sound, Noumi and Takumu advanced towards the match arena. Loud cheers rose from the gallery.

  The relatively tall Takumu for a middle school student, and Noumi who could only look like a elementary school student, had close to 20cm difference in height. Even without thinking, the advantage is with Takumu. Their reach is totally different. But, thus far for opponents bigger than Noumi, he had won them all without taking a single hit.

  The two bowed to each other, then stepped to the starting line holding their shinai, as most of the gallery who felt something was suddenly swallowed by silence. For Haruyuki, he could almost see blue white sparks coming out of the sword tips of the two facing each other.

  "Begin!!"

  —Right after that sound echo, two shouts and one impact sound crossed the wide kendo gym.

  The first one to move was Takumu, as Haruyuki thought he saw. While standing he leaned forward, with an "Meeeen!" psyche as he attacked. With a barely within reach distance aiming for the opponent's head, an unforgiving blow. Noumi who has short reach could not counter attack, that was what it was supposed to be like.

  However, quicker than Takumu's shinai could hit.

  "Teeee!"

  With that instant of psyche, Noumi's shinai hit Takumu's left glove. And a loud *Baan!* impact resounded, strong enough to even cause big ripples in the air.

  Takumu tried to chase in for a collar hit, but that already gave Noumi enough time to raise his shinai high.

  "Glove hit!"

  With that sound and the rise of the red flag, finally the gallery and the over 30 members were in commotion. Beside Haruyuki, Chiyuri with eyes wide also said "Unbelievable!".

  Haruyuki also felt that he could only say 'No way'.

  The first one to move was Takumu, that was without doubt.

  And then, he was attacking the face of the opponent that was barely within his own reach. During that attack, his glove was hit, how could that happen? That meant Noumi completely grasped the timing and path of Takumu's attack, and followed that prediction to place his shinai «ahead»— it could only logically be that way. Not front of front, or front of behind. It could only be said to be «front of middle».

  Haruyuki forgot to even blink momentarily, and wondered if this was the real world or the virtual world.

  If it was the virtual world— the electronic world where everything is decided by the brain's reaction speed, then that kind of reaction was possible. However for the real world, different kind of movements are restricted by physical laws. Inertia that holds the heavy body still, nerve transmission speed, muscle contraction speed and others put into consideration, seeing the attack then swinging the sword before the attack occurs is not possible, absolutely.

  With just one exception that a limited number of people have for «ability».

  While feeling his tightly held fists wet with sweat, Haruyuki stared at the two that again faced each other at the starting line.

  "Second round!"

  This time, it was a completely opposite developement than the first round. Takumu held his shinai horizontally, and faced the opponent. The eyes in his face mask were sharp as a blade, and his mouth was stiff.

  On the other hand, Noumi who moved his sword tip up and down softly, did not seem to have any tension. Haruyuki could not see his face due to backlight, but there seem to be a thin smile on his lips.

  Ten seconds. Twenty seconds.

  Without either of them attacking, just time passed.

  Haruyuki opened both eyes wide, and just continued concentrating all his nerves on Noumi's face.

  If Haruyuki's reasoning, or bad premonition was correct, then at some point in time, Noumi's mouth w
ill move slightly. In a sound volume that no one could hear, to sing a short command.

  To the two that was still other than the clock moving *Tick tick*, the advising teacher finally took a deep breath.

  However, when he was going to say "Wait", right before that—

  Suddenly Noumi raised his shinai with not a terribly fast speed.

  And then Haruyuki finally saw it. Noumi's mouth, slightly and quickly opened and closed.

  —Without a doubt.

  The Acceleration command.

  The 1st year student called Noumi, the Neuro Linker on his neck contained the mysterious super application «Brain Burst», and he was a Burst Linker.

  "DOOoooo!"

  At the instant that Noumi raised his shinai, Takumu cut towards the opened up bosom.

  At the same time Haruyuki also shouted in his mouth.

  "Burst Link!"

  With a *Vishiiii!* sound, the world was frozen in blue color.

  With his 1000 time sped up senses, he saw Takumu's shinai slowly moved towards Noumi's trunk. No matter how you look at it, this attack could not possibly be dodged or defended by Noumi. That's right, even if he also «Accelerated» at that moment.

  With his pink pig avatar, Haruyuki entered the match arena and peeked through the blue face mask of Noumi. Unfortunately it was beyond the range of the Social Camera, so the actual face could not be seen. But, just the smiling mouth was recreated by polygon.

  While gazing at that face, Haruyuki used his left hand to start the Brain Burst console.

  This 1st year student Noumi, how he managed to evade Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime's check after the school entrance ceremony was unknown. However right now, during the match his Neuro Linker must be connected to the Umesato middle school Local Net, then this Noumi's name must also appear on the matching list.

  —At this moment, I will «Duel» him.

  Haruyuki decided that while he waited for the list to refresh. Noumi clearly used Acceleration ability in the kendo club's match. Then probably, in the academic ability test next week he would also do that. However for Umesato middle school Burst Linkers, Haruyuki must teach him the "During tests and matches, «Acceleration» is not allowed" iron rule of Nega Nebulas. If necessary, he will use virtual fists.

  After the searching finished, in the list, Silver Crow, Black Lotus, Cyan Pile, and then Lime Bell popped up on the display.

  "What...!?"

  While his right hand was extended towards the list, Haruyuki heavily panted.

  Not there.

  Noumi's name was not there. The list was same as that day before, with only four known Burst Linker names on it!

  "Wh...y?"

  He whispered while dumbfounded.

  He did not think he was mistaken. Probably Takumu also thought that this Noumi was a Burst Linker, so he attacked without waiting in the first round. So he won't give Noumi any time to sing the Acceleration command.

  No way, is this the reappearance of the backdoor program that Takumu used half year ago?, he thought like that for an instant, but soon negated it. That program was used as a stepping stage for someone from outside, in the Global Net, to connect to.

  However, at this moment, Noumi is actually in the Umesato middle school's kendo gym. Then without doubt he should be connected to the school Local Net, and thus should appear on the matching list, absolutely.

  Haruyuki crossed the pig avatar's two short arms, hung his head down, and desperately turned this thinking wheels. It took him a full minute to sort out the three possibilities that could explain this situation.

  Noumi is not a Burst Linker, but a kendo genius.

  Noumi is a Burst Linker, but did not connect to the school Local Net.

  Noumi is a Burst Linker, is connected to the Local Net, but can refuse to be shown on the matching list.

  The truth should definitely be one of these. But, no matter which, unexplained parts remained.

  While experiencing hard to say bad feelings and impatience, Haruyuki had a long sigh. Right now thinking more than that was pointless. He would need to discuss it later with Takumu and others.

  Before he stopped the blue world and returned to his real body, Haruyuki stared at Noumi's shape once again.

  He might be recklessly aiming for Takumu's face, with his shinai floating high above as he was about to jump. And Takumu's timing in his attack on the body, was perfect even in the untrained eye of Haruyuki.

  Even if Noumi was a Burst Linker, or a kendo genius, or both, there was no longer anything he could do. Haruyuki wanted to look at Takumu getting a solid hit with his flesh eyes, so he shouted the Acceleration stop command while his eyes were wide open.

  "Burst Out!"

  From far away, the sounds of reality closed in. At the same time, color returned to the blue world. Takumu and Noumi's movements, slowly, slowly returned to normal speed—

  "...!?"

  And then Haruyuki, was again shocked for the umpteenth number of time in the past few minutes.

  Noumi's body shifted right.

  It could not be called the level of footwork. Noumi's foot, only the left tip was in contact with the match arena. Even so, with that one point as axis, the small body spun left like a figure skater, and slid right. From Takumu's shinai's chase, the body ran away, and escaped...

  At that point, Haruyuki's senses' acceleration was fully canceled.

  Takumu's shinai hit Noumi's body with a *slap*. But, it was too light.

  Right after, Noumi's extended shinai that lashed out, caught Takumu's face mask with pin-point precision.

  With a right foot step hard on the floor, he slashed down like that.

  "NMEeaaa!!"

  After that psyche, was a concentrated hit that could not be complained about.

  Within the kendo gym that was returned to full silence, eventually the words "Face hit!" echoed.

  "...Winner decided!!"

  From Haruyuki's hand, the bag with his indoor shoes dropped down.

  Chapter 5

  Not able to prioritize the matter that should be considered first, Haruyuki continued to stare for a while at the small shrimp on a slice of pizza held in his right hand.

  After deciding, he took a bite of out of it, then raised his head and inquired.

  "...Taku. That guy... Noumi is a Burst Linker right?"

  "Suddenly facing it head on, huh?"

  The right side of Takumu's mouth rose in a wry smile, as he too had bit into a slice of pizza at the same time.

  8:30pm at night, they were in Haruyuki's room in his apartment. After Takumu finished his club activities, took a shower at his home, and came here; it was sort of late already.

  As usual, Haruyuki's mother wouldn't be home till after midnight, but Takumu's mother allowing him to go to a friend's house for dinner, that would have been unthinkable while he was in elementary school. Haruyuki had not heard the details from Takumu about his transfer to Umesato middle school at the beginning of this year, but his parents seemed to be opposed to his decision.

  The result, after many conditions Takumu himself put up, his parents finally allowed it, but of course Haruyuki did not know about the finer details. At the same time, he admired Takumu's struggle, with himself completely being neglected by his parent, which one is more blessed as a child? He pondered on these random thoughts.

  "Aa, eating those kinds of things again!!"

  It was during his 2nd bite of pizza, when that sudden voice broke through his thoughts.

  Chiyuri came straight in from the open door, put her right hand on her waist, and yelled again.

  "Geesh, Haru, I always told you to learn to make your own dinner!"

  "M-Made it."

  "Just taking it out of the box and warming it up right!"

  "P-Put it on a dish too."

  "That can't be called cooking!"

  She pointed her finger at the tip of Haruyuki's nose, then lifted the paper bag in her left hand high and held it out.

  "I thought it would be like
this, so I asked Mama to make lasagna. There, lower your head!"

  —You didn't make it yourself either!

  He thought like that, but with the scent of cooked cheese drifting from the bag, Haruyuki could only prostrate himself and say "Yeah yeah".

  The lasagna that sat in the rectangular heat resistant dish, was a masterpiece made with a lot of Chiyuri Mama's special bologna sauce, with a taste that the similar Italian cooking of frozen pizza could not compare to. They moved to the living room, with Haruyuki having 40% of the total, Takumu and Chiyuri having 30% each, it did not take them even 15 minutes to finish all of it.

  "Thanks for the food. Chi-chan's mother, should open a shop."

  To the words said by a fully satisfied Takumu, Haruyuki also confirmed while nodding.

  "Really. She can make Japanese, Western, and Chinese food."

  "Aa, no go, no go. Mama's cooking, when it's not for Papa, she only puts out 50% effort."

  After Chiyuri said that with a serious face, Haruyuki involuntarily looked down at the empty lasagna dish.

  "Fo-For real? It's this delicious and yet it's just half the effort?"

  "Ah, this is about 95% effort. Mama said that if it was for my future husband candidate, Gyaa, what did you make me say, I will knock you out!!"

  With that sudden shout, and actually kicking Haruyuki's shin under the table, Chiyuri carried the stacked dishes and forks towards the kitchen.

  While in agony, he exchanged slight wry smiles with Takumu, then Haruyuki cleared his throat and forcefully returned to their conversation topic.

  "...So, about Noumi. That's right, what was the bottom part of his name?"

  "I think it was Seiji. Spelled like this."

  Takumu created a holo paper on top of the table, and smoothly moved his finger tip. The name that was written on the virtual paper with virtual pen was «征二»[5].

  "Hmm... does he have an older brother?"

  After Haruyuki's murmur, Takumu also nodded after erasing the paper.

  "Yeah. I checked the graduation album, and there was a student called «Noumi Yuuichi» three years above us. But his home address is encrypted that it could only be read by the same graduation year students, so it is not yet confirmed if he is Noumi's onii-san or not."