HANEGAWA HIGH
8:34 PM
Smile. Bow. Polite. You're Alina Fujisawa, the exchange student.
A middle-aged man, with slightly greying hair and an encouraging smile walked up to Alina.
"Hello there! I'm Makabe Hiroshi, and I'll be your homeroom teacher for the year."
Alina gave a polite bow and introduced herself, but really, one thought ran through her mind: why was his hair so shiny?
No way that's natural. Does he put gel in it?
"Follow me into the classroom, I'll introduce you."
They both walked through the door.
The excited first-day murmurs rang throughout the classroom. A group of girls at the entrance chatted about some concert they'd been to. Near the back, two boys near the back bounced a basketball between them – instantly stopping the moment they saw Mr. Hiroshi. A faint chalky smell wafted through the classroom.
A fresh start? Just old dust? Alina was still trying to figure that out herself.
"Before we begin, I'd like to introduce a new student. Transferring all the way from Europe, but grew up in Japan, this is Alina Fujisawa. Would you like to introduce yourself."
Don't bring attention to yourself, Alina. Lay low.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Alina Fujisawa," she said, giving a quick bow. "I look forward to getting to know all of you throughout the year."
Super boring. Super dry. Mission Lay Low: accomplished.
She took a seat near the back of the classroom. Analysing.
Doesn't look like there are any Prodigal spies.
Her eyes glanced towards an out of breath boy, with hair that could pass as a bird's nest, a few rows over.
Unless that dork with the bad hair day and no sock counts.
***
4:01 PM
KIIN-KOON-KAAN-KOON.
That could not have gone worse. I've lost track of the amount questions:
"Where in Europe are you from?"
"Your hair is so pretty, how do you take care of it?
"Wow, how do you not have an accent at all?"
So much for laying low.
Alina walked out the gate when he spotted the boy again.
Is that a… unicorn bike? This school really is mediocre.
***
8:26 PM
If I'm going to find out more about what happened to dad, I need to investigate the game itself.
Alina put on the Prodigal visor, and booted up World Liberator.
***
> LOCATION: VELDENREACH ADVENTURER'S GUILD
Alina sat on the upper deck of the Adventurers Guild, which doubled as a pub—perfect for her and her ungodly appetite. She was alone at an unusually sticky table near the railing, planner on one side, steak on the other – medium rare, of course.
Planning a conspiracy to take down a corporation worth billions … and steaks. The perfect Monday evening.
I think I've got the game mechanics down. Of course, Kendo helped massively. Half these rookies don't know the difference between a parry and a parrot.
Alina thought whilst tearing into more of her steak.
I should probably test out my skills on a quest though…
She finished her steak – taking a final bite that almost choked her – and stood up, making her way to the quest board.
> QUEST – PUBLIC RAID
> LOCATION: OUTSKIRTS OF EASTBOARDEN MOUNTAINS
> OBJECTIVE: DEFEND THE MOUNTAIN PASS
This seems about right.
***
> LOCATION: OUTSKIRTS OF EASTBOARDEN MOUNTAINS
Okay this doesn't seem right at all.
Alina watched as an enraged orc brute launched a tank twice her size into a cliffside.
The battlefield was already a mess – broken weapons, spells half-fizzled in the air, the smell of charred meat? This was nothing like Kendo. Screams echoed across the valley as if the mountain range themselves were in pain.
She was about to charge the brute when a figure, cloaked in green, wooden sword in hand, started attacking it. One-on-one combat.
Is this guy nuts?
Alina heard a voice from behind her. "Wait, was that the twig kid?"
"No way he just disarmed that thing." Another voice added.
He's actually… winning. His form too. It's almost perfect.
Alina watched as the green-cloaked figure kicked the orc into its mace, felling it in one, precise, decisive blow.
It's not just good… it's familiar…
No way… could it be?
The green-cloaked figure turned around.
No sock, bedhead, unicorn bike guy?
***
HANEGAWA HIGH
April 8th, 2031
8:33 PM
No way that guy has something to do with that knight I saw in the file…
Alina walked into the classroom.
He's already here. Twirling a pen? I have to admit, when he's put together he actually looks… normal?
"Hey, Alina!" a girl from behind her called.
"Oh hey… you!"
What was her name again?
"What club you signing up to?"
"There are clubs?"
"Yep! Sign-up sheets outside the classroom."
"Th-thanks!"
"No problem, Alina!" the girl said with a big smile, already turning away.
I feel bad. I need to learn her name.
Though, I probably should give this club thing a shot.
Alina stepped up to the board.
The boy was already there.
He's here too? Didn't strike me as a club-going-guy.
Alina peaked over his shoulder.
KENDO CLUB: REN TSUKIHARA
Ren, huh? And Kendo too?
Alina cleared her throat. "You're joining the Kendo Club?"
"Oh – uh yeah," he stumbled.
He stumbles through it. Points for effort.
"Thinking about it." he finished off.
"Good choice."
Alina signed her name under Ren's, then sat back down.
Guess we'll be meeting again, Ren Tsu–
"Did you just get flirted with by the exchange student?" an obnoxious voice echoed.
Alina got up, peeking her head around the doorway. "...She spoke words to you, dude. That's, like, at least level three…"
She did know him: Haruki Minazuki – The Starboy Baseball Player. For all the praise and admiration he got, he kind of seemed like a dork. A lovable dork, but a dork nonetheless.
She was baffled at how the 'Haruki Fan Club' didn't hear some of his outrageous takes: Tentacles? Body pillows? Handcuffs? Dude was a straight-up freak – but for every girl in the school, it went in one ear and out the other.
Haruki finished off. "...Welp. Guess it's time to pretend I understand trigonometry again. Haruki: Sine-ing out."
Definitely a dork.
Ren turned and started walking in Alina's direction.
He's going to think I was spying on him. That's so embarrassing! What should I do?
Alina scrambled to the corner and grabbed the closest object she could find and hid herself.
She hid there for what seemed like eternity.
Until…
"Fujisawa?" a voice called.
Alina peeked behind the object. It was another girl in her class.
"...why are you hiding behind a trash can?"
***
HANEGAWA HIGH GYM
4:01
Alina rushed to the gym – she wanted to make a good impression after all. She ran down the stairs, through the sports corridor, and through the doors…
No one.
Floor polish and the faint smell of sweat hovered above the gym floor. – a sacred battleground of wooden swords… or where the school rented out an elderly pilates workout space. Take your pick.
High brick ceilings stretched out to meet a roof dotted with the skylights, though no sunlight came through. Not because it was cloudy – it was a perfectly sunny day. No, every skylight was smeared with bird poop, completely obscuring any view of the blue Japanese sky.
As Alina expected, the gym was completely average. She liked it that way. No fanfare, just a place to get your training done.
Huh. That's weird. I could've sworn I saw loads of names on the sign–
"So it is you!" a voice called out from behind.
"SHIT!"
A figure walked out from the side of the door. "Most people normally reserve that for their internal dialogue, ya know?"
Minato Kisaragi.
"I heard ya transferred over here, but couldn't quite believe it. People were saying an exchange student from Europe – that's not the Fujisawa I know! But lo and behold. I checked the sign up sheet, and there ya are!"
My cover's about to be blown. What should I do? Kill him? Where would I bury the body? Oh who are you kidding, Alina! You can't kill anyone. Maybe–
"Ah don't worry. I'm not going to spill your secret."
Thank god.
"I'll just tell people we met at an international competition – not an inter-school one," Minato grinned, shinai spinning in hand. "So, anyway, how ya been holding up? Why are ya at this dump?"
"Just a change in priorities, that's all."
Minato chuckled. "Sounds like a cover up."
Maybe killing is back on the table…
"Ah, don't worry! You probably have a good reason. If it was some family issue or something and I pried it outta ya, I would've felt bad…"
…Back off the table.
"...plus I owe it to ya! You've slapped my ass silly more times than I can count!"
Alina paused, weird phrasing. "Uh, thanks, Minato. Seriously."
"Don't sweat it!" He gave his signature Minato nudge. "Anyway, the newcomers are funneling in now, I better welcome them! Good seeing ya, Fujisawa."
Should probably start warming up then.
Alina took off her bag, pulling out a beautiful, handcrafted madake bamboo shinai – a gift for her 10th birthday from her dad.
A burst of sadness…
Quickly repressed.
A swift warm up strike.
FWOOSH!
No time to be sad. I need to figure out what happened to dad.
***
Kendo training had been wholly uneventful – it was the introduction lesson after all. But Alina? She had different priorities.
She had been watching him.
Three out of three. It definitely was him. The form, the technique. Sure, less refined, but it was definitely the knight. Somehow.
She just needed to cross blades with him to confirm.
If I ask him outright, does that look clingy? We literally just met after all. I don't want him to think I'm some weird stalker, yandere girl.
"…Need one from the advanced group!"
Bingo. Just as planned.
Not planned at all.
She raised her hand.
"You don't mind, Fujisawa?" Minato asked.
She gave a polite shake of the head, "No, it's alright."
Alina crossed the gym.
"Thanks. Alright then, who's won all their games so far?"
Heads turned, I don't need to. I've been watching him all–
…
Wait no, no, no. I swear I'm not a weird stalker – brain! Please!
"Guess it's you Tsukihara! Have fun out there!"
***
He stood across from her. He looked surprisingly calm for a beginner.
Alina initiated the bow.
"Ready… Begin!"
He stepped forward. Cautious.
Good. He's taking it seriously.
Alina stayed still. Watchful. Waiting.
Come on…
Still nothing.
Wow, he's seriously cautious. Let's see how he handles this…
WHAP!
She struck his shinai with a flick of the wrist. Precise. Clean. Then stepped back.
Ren recovered exceptionally fast.
He has the knight's recovery speed. Let's see how he does against this…
Alina shifted her stance. Deliberate gaps. Subtle. The kind only a master swordsman would notice and capitalise on.
Bait.
He stepped in. Swung.
Tap. She met it. Gentle deflection. No need to flex.
So he did see it… Alright then, I just need one more piece of evidence.
Alina's turn.
She closed the distance.
THWACK!
Parried.
THWACK!
Another parry.
He's keeping up?
THWACK.
Still up, still holding the line, shinai flexing under her strikes.
An opening now – barely a flicker in his guard.
She saw it…
…then stepped back.
Minato was watching. She felt it more than saw it. That little lift of his brow.
Was me backing up too obvious? Alright, Alina. No more games. Time to end this.
He darted in.
Overcommitted.
She slipped past him like a phantom–
WHACK!
Solid hit.
Minato blew his whistle. "Point, Fujisawa."
Ren stumbled back, sucking in air.
He's not bad. But more importantly, I've got everything I need. He fights exactly like him.
Alina bowed. Ren returned it, wobbling a bit like a baby deer. He was trying his hardest not to collapse right there.
Compose yourself. Don't laugh. Not now. Other people's suffering isn't funny, Alina.
She turned to walk off.
Then paused.
Looked over her shoulder.
"I'm impressed. Your form. Not just anybody can block my strikes."
She continued walking off.
Pause.
…
Wait…
Did I sound too cocky?
"Not just anybody can block my strikes."
Oh my god, I totally sounded too cocky.
Ughhhhhhhh…