Summary:

One-shot, one kill. These words are associated with trained snipers all over the world.

In reality, I am one of them and the training I had since childhood made me who I am as a sniper when I first tried to shoot a safe gun designed for target shooting for people all the ages at the age of 6.

The interesting game, Infinite Dendrogram? I am one too there, they don't even know my face because of that mask I wore.

Unlike the 'inferior' quality snipers in that game who failed to take down a moving target when I observed them with my scope at that time, I showed them, including the Infinite Dendrogram community, what a real one with real-life training, in the words of gamers, a pro, can do.

Seriously though, at one time in my Infinite Dendrogram life around the time I started playing, there's this group who asked me such a question of why I am able to grasp it and what's the secret.

I teasingly gave them a reply: "Family tradition dating back to the American Revolutionary War, all thanks to my ancestor who recreated and kept the written accounts that'll later become known as sniping today. Now, now, everything's classified if you ask what kind of training I've been through including real life."

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, ?, Romance, Slice of life

Tags: Alternate World / Alternate Universe, Childhood Friends, Childhood Love, Original Character MC, Original Character Heroine(s), ?, ?, Protagonist Strong from the Start, R-15, ?

Note: Besides this site, this anime fanfic is also available in Web Novel, Wattpad, Scribblehub, Ao3, Foxteller, and Royalroad.

Word Count Before 'Insertion': 2302 words

Volume 1 - Childhood

Having New Friends To Give Me Company Is Okay But Once A Memory Will Always Be A Memory Pt. 2

After the picture taking was done, we went our way to my house's one of the training sections planned by my family for getting familiarized with target shooting safely by using the harmless working variant of the real steel sniper rifles.

Not counting the 'hush-hush', the shooting section itself was all for invited guests to use anytime with permission as long as they did not damage the harmless 'training' sports gun itself and put it back where it was properly.

With a pleasant view of rows of genetically modified sakura tree nearby thanks to the glass and craftsmanship of my house and the sliding door nearby half opened to give way to wind circulation, my mood was still the same and relaxed except discovering a side of one of the Wallcroft Sisters, Bernadette "Bernie" Wallcroft.

Bernadette Wallcroft, the older twin of the Wallcroft Twins, she's friendly and comfortable with her company. We talked about stuff related to the otaku community alongside Caro. She was surprised when she knew I understood Nihongo which led to me teaching her a bit of phrase and sentences, retold how my study at [Ashton International School and Colleges] (AISC) as one of the subjects helped me learn it, and my first attempts of writing and practicing it with Mom and Dad.

It's not that me talking of Ashton and stuff including establishments was...honestly fun and enjoyable.

But the problem was -

"Ehehe, I'll treasure that picture once I get Papa put a frame in my room...and for my future smartphone."

Like her elder sister, Beatrice who I noticed got control(?), including Caro who was shy around me, Bernie likes to cuddle and cling with her friends and family.

As much I don't mind that, I thought it's distracting especially to sharpshooters of all skill levels because Alice was right in front of us, aiming at the target as part doing a demo of our shared hobby - target shooting.

Bernie's been like this after I gave the sisters' father, Uncle Gerald, the picture of us via Bluetooth. I even got their parents' contact numbers too.

"Umm, Bernie, can you please let go of me?"

"Mou, you're just that warm even without your gloves Caesar. But I don't want to stop cuddling you." Bernie replied with a smile as she said, "Before meeting us, Alice had more time with you than us. So I thought taking advantage or opportunity might do."

'Am I really that warm for our age?' "Bernie...Alice's right in front us concentrating her aim at the target..you might distract her and that her shots will be a mess."

"I know. It's only a demo-"

"If you let go, I'll give you tips on how to shoot properly including an airgun and how to draw. As for you, Caro, the same thing as Bernie's but instead of drawing I'll let Mom teach you how to play piano. I'll even let you girls cuddle me anytime besides shooting or so that requires concentration and focus if you promise me to improve what you'll be learning later."

"It's a promise." "...I promise."

'At least it'll not be wasted time and effort... Mom's an excellent teacher.' I thought, satisfied, as the feeling of Bernie's cling and Caro's sideway stare resided as I got an opportunity to observe Alice's aiming form undisturbed with her L96 directed at the target.

BANG!

"9" - revealed the digital target scoreboard we used for the demo.

'At least the total score is not bad… fatigue and pressure comes into play for snipers.' I thought, recalling Granduncle Ferdi's words about marksmanship and my personal 'stats' I needed to work on as a newbie sharpshooter and individual.

Granduncle Ferdi who went back to the Philippines after my birthday, was an ex-[Scout Ranger]. Besides the Scout Ranger reputation of being excellent snipers, combined with his combat experience including the Marawi Siege, Lolo Ferdi were one of the role models I looked up to because he got combat experience as a veteran sniper and one who got the most experience in urban warfare at Mindanao including the Marawi Siege.

Didn't they once say you can't escape in a jungle from a Philippine Scout Ranger, be it alive or dead or both? I watched a video and a documentary about them... I aspire to be as good as them without using the scope and iron sights on the firearms.

'Let's see..' Mentally calculating Alice's total score, as part of taking 'data' in using that thing we call 'harmless' gun, I announced the total points, "The score for 5 shot demonstration is 48.3. Alice, I don't know what happened with your aim but please take it easy..it's only a demonstration to our friends."

Alice affirmed with a smile as I got a view of the movement of her mouth as she put down her L96 to the table.

Those words...did I read it as "...I need to improve...I need to show Caesar that I can keep up with him."?

The mouth reading skill I learned from my father and Grandfather Noah wasn't enough to cover the whole thing but I'm happy to know Alice wanted to improve herself more. Whatever that may have been I'm unable to comprehend the rest of it, like yesterday and Caro earlier, a case of Alice being sick(?) came back to my sights again.

'Sick again? I never understand this mystery.' Shaking my head at those unsure thoughts, a sudden nice follow-up scene of Bernadette Wallcroft followed by her sisters brought me a smile.

"Alice..if it's okay may I and my sisters borrow your gun?"

"Sure." Alice said, smiling at Bernie.

This scene and memory, if the Wallcroft sisters get into target shooting, I will be glad due to having new playmates besides Alice.

'Eileen...'

BANG!

"Hey Caesar, you see that?"

"Yes..wow a 10 for your first shot Bernie! Very nice."

"Hehe."

BANG!

"Bernie, it's 7.5. I suppose Grandfather Noah is right afterall. Getting distracted..yeah gonna take note of it." jokingly commented Alice as I saw her being amused which almost made me chuckle from her comment since it's true.

"Mou, I want to have fun while scoring a bull's eye! " cried out Bernie.

"Caroline, that gun is a Pedersen Selfloading Rifle. It's a fine rifle but historical reports from testers say it needs some tweaking and modification...due to some design complexity."

"Hmmm…"

"Alice, what gun is that on the picture collage?"

"FB Beryl from Poland, Bernie."

"Caesar, how about this one?"

"DXL-10 sniper rifle from Russia, Caro. That rifle, by the way, upped the standards for a precision rifle."

"Cool. How about that one beside it?"

"The below middle of Kar98k? It's Perseus, the gun that assassinated the Führer himself during Operation Foxley. It was used by my late great grandfather, Kyle MacMillan."

"Wow..is it still in production?"

"Yes. But as far as I know, it'll be on discount sale in every celebration or World War 2 anniversaries such as Battle of Britain Day, D-Day Anniversary, etc."

"Hmmm.."

"Bea, why are you staring at me like that?"

"N-nothing."

"Alright, Bea. But if there's something wrong or so, please tell me if you need to."

"Okay."

After hours of getting to know Alice and the Wallcroft Sisters lapsed, I almost sweatdropped at the online alias of one of the netizens who commented at my first video upload at VidWorld.

"Ah, it's nice to see my lodi's son being taught by lodi's tatay in this vid. I'm with confidence, he'll be as handsome and good as lodi in the future XD." - "The English-Speaking Pusang Bisaya Who Speaks English As His Lingua Franca Due To Being Raised In Wales, Britain But Still A Pinoy In Heart And Spirit"

That guy's online alias..I'm sure that's one freaking long I've seen for a username? And really instead "Bisayan Cat", that netizen used "Pusang Bisaya" which in English translation a "Bisayan Cat"?

VidWorld, unlike the defunct [NAME WITHHELD] and other former mainstream online video sharing platforms, it got features that made it way different and unique from others - - the "overseer guardian" who served as a caretaker and manager of the VW channel whose owner was underage for time-being until the owner reaches 13 years old, and the comment at the exact timeline of the video itself that can be viewed at the comment section itself.

For this, the netizen alias "Bisayan Pusa", "BP" commented at the part where I was left with 2 pellets at that part of the uploaded video. They also got lots of upvotes and comments.

What made me amused a bit while looking at my first video upload through my smartphone and myself equipped with true anti-blue light + glare non-conscription glasses was the netizens who replied to "BP"'s comment - "Even in target shooting, you are everywhere including anime community.", "I can't believe this guy is one of the first comments.", "I am not sure if they're real but dayum lol.", "This guy..stole the first comment.", etc.

'That profile pic..it's a male anime character with a fake moustache photo edited.' Giving a heart reaction to 'BP''s comment, I turned my attention to my happily chatty squad of friends - Alice, Bea, Bernie and Caro - who were checking out pictures and gun collages in my room after I gave them my permission.

The beautifully-made gun collages, majority of which personal favorites of Dad and Grandfather Noah used and after their military careers, were split into the usual category of weapon classes like Battlefield Duty and other First-Person Shooter games added with the flag of the country of origin on it.

The other pictures, they're mainly family pictures and Ashton within the school area and districts outside the school area itself including the establishment there mostly taken by Mom and Dad when we went to those districts at those times.

My thoughts about those pictures remained the same until Alice called me out with a picture in her hand.

"Caesar."

"What is it, Alice?"

"That girl right beside you in the picture..is she?"

Looking at the picture, my eyes widened and affirmed what Alice was thinking to me.

That picture was a picture of myself and a girl, both of us wearing AISC gym uniforms. The light-dark brown-haired girl in that pic, got pretty blue eyes. We were both smiling and with her holding a peace sign when our class won 1st place during the sports event of AISC Foundation Week last year.

"I-I'm sorry."

"Don't be, Alice." I gently replied to Alice with a sad smile present as I gave her a head pat. "When I learned she had to move due to her parents' careers, I figured out another piece of life."

"Okay..what I mean is I saw her last month at some restaurant before moving here in Lionswill."

Hearing that from Alice, I was surprised as I asked Alice a question, "How was she when you last saw her, Alice?"

Suddenly, Alice took my right hand as I caught Alice being sad which made me mentally swear not to make her sad unless she's at fault and wrong. "She was sad when I saw her looking at what appeared to be a cellphone."

"Is that so?"

Earning a nod from Alice while aware of the Wallcroft Sisters watching us, I continued, "Knowing her, she sure did..like how I reacted earlier."

"Caesar...we'll be here for you." said Bea, who I glanced at what she said.

Smiling at Beatrice, I said to her. "Thank you, Bea…"

"You're welcome...I am only thinking how to cheer you up, Caesar. I meant it. Each of us felt the same." replied Bea.

I smiled at each one of my friends which produced weird results.

'I am sure the weather today is warm..but why are their faces red?' Sidelining those thoughts away, I revealed the name to them. "The girl in that pic who was beside me...she's like my bestie. Her name is Eileen, Eileen Churchill."

"Eileen? That's a nice name." commented Bernie with her sisters and Alice agreeing with her.

With emotions such as fondness coming through as a result, I felt my mood turn better.

"I thought the same thing too when we first met." I said as I slightly changed the topic as I saw the clock in my room displayed "9:00 PM", "Anyways, I got to sleep early for tomorrow's final part of the online exam. I am sorry to cut off our fun but girls please go back to your assigned rooms."

"We understand, Caesar." happily replied Alice. "We enjoy having you in our company. An exam is an exam...it's normal for students like us."

"I agree." added Caro.

Smiling, I bid them a good night.

"Goodnight." replied back the girls in unison as I watched them go to their assigned rooms.

'Sleepover, huh? I never expected it to happen.' I thought, thinking about the unscheduled sleepover at my house when the parents decided to give the girls a sleepover here.

While observing their departing figures, Bernie suddenly went back to me with her face red(?).

"Ummm..Caesar, I normally don't do this. But I wish you luck for your test tomorrow."

"Thank you, Bernie. Let us- EH?"

Seeing her face red, she said, "As for today, I enjoy it. 'Night Caesar "

"Bernie, wait, about your-" Before I could go further, she hurriedly went back to where she came from.

'And she's gone…wait-is this heartbeat I am sensing from my own heart? I don't know what this warm feeling is..but I can't let it distract me for tomorrow's online test.' Going back inside to my room, I closed my eyes as I fell asleep on my bed.

'Tomorrow...the final part of the exams.'