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Eric Blaine: Well, here it is as you said. Hope you like what I put out.

Kousei P.O.V

I grunted as I tried to manage one more push-up.

[Strength Check Failed]

I hit the floor with a thud.

"Come on Kousei! That was only 5 push-ups!" Akiba urged.

[Due to your trainer staying on your weak ass, you have gained +1 STR]

One?! Only one?! The hardest thing I have done in weeks and I only got one!

Akiba made a tisk noise. "Time to spar then"

I paled. "I-I can do more push-ups-"

"No! After I beat your ass again, you'll play the strength-boosting song on your piano" Akiba demanded.

I got off the floor and felt my body slowly fix its lack of energy. Soon, I was ready to go and I didn't even have any soreness in my limbs.

A small pop-up formed in front of me.

[Party member {Akiba Gengyo} has challenged you to a spar! Half-finish mode.

Y/N]

I hit the Y button and lifted my hands to defend, but he was instantly on me.

I managed to dodge his first hit due to our DEX stats being the same, but the second blow felt like a tractor rammed into my gut.

He sent me flying and I glanced at my HP bar.

[87.5/110]

I groaned as I rubbed my midsection. He dealt so little damage to my HP bar but it hurt so badly. Not to mention [Refill me!] is going to kick in soon, meaning he can punch me more.

My body took on a green glow as my damn perk kicked in. "Akiba w-wait! We don't have to spar or anything!"

My pleas fell on deaf ears, as he charged at me again, this time nailing me in the face and then once more in the stomach.

[65/110]

"You can't rely on your perk! Something may deactivate it!" Akiba yelled as he slammed his fist into my gut again.

[42.5/110]

The notification that I lost the duel formed in front of me as I tried to keep from crying.

[Ding!]

[Skill Level up!]

{Physical Endurance}[LV:2][PROG:2/10]

Because you can't dodge for shit, you now have resistance to damage! For every level, you can lower more and more of the damage you would normally take from physical attacks.

Your current cut-off from damage is 2%

All that work, just to get to level 2... At least it's per resisted hit, not battles I get pummeled.

Akiba grunted. "Thanks to you, I made a new skill, it's called street fighting style, which deals extra damage to pansies"

I gulped. "Does that mean...more damage to me?"

"Yup," He said as he pulled me to my feet and shoved me to my magic piano. "Now, play the songs"

I walked to my magic piano and laid my fingers on it. Knowledge of magic flowed from my fingertips.

I recalled my [Magic Piano Playing] was half of my piano playing, which made the skill level 45. Now I lacked any special songs of power that have more potent effects, but I know that the songs are normally paced to determine their effect and the more I use them, I can pick up a skill that will lessen the required mana to play them.

I began with an aggressive tone, not worrying about hitting the keys too hard, making sure the tone of the song was rushed and felt like it was ramming everyone's ears. Glowing red music symbols formed in the air and I locked my eyes on Akiba's back. The music notes shot forward and shot into him, making him glow red.

[STR boost active! Effects shall last 3 minutes!]

I slowed down, stomping the song. "How high is the power boost?"

"0.5%" Akiba muttered. "It's not bad, but it could be better."

"Yeah..." I mumbled. "What now?"

A new message formed in the corner of my mind so I quickly opened it.

Tsubaki Sawabe: Woah...This is trippy

Watari Ryota: Thx for da info, Akiba

Akiba smiled. "I had the system explain the thing to them."

Akiba Gengyo: So did you find it?

Watari Ryota: Oh yeah! We did! We still need a few to grind a little tho

Kousei Arima: Nice! We were grinding a little too

Akiba Gengyo:*Thumbs up emoji* We gonna catch a snack, bring you guys a little something before we head out. Hope we run into someone tho.

I glanced at the boy. "We are?"

"Yeah" He gave me a cheeky grin. "I heard about a pretty damn good bakery around here"

A realization dawned on me. "You don't mean..."

"I do mean," He said before grabbing my arm. "ID Escape!"

A flash of bright light blinded me and I started blinking the spots out of my eyes and noticed I was back where we were before he threw me into a black hole.

"Let's go!" He yelled as he charged ahead.

"W-wait up!" I called after him as I rushed after him.

Shit! I haven't stopped by to see them since the funeral! I cursed as I chased after my strange AI/Human companion.

Akiba slowed as he turned a corner and a cute small shop came into view. Ma Fille Pâtisserie. From french, it roughly translates to "My Pastry girl." But Ma Fille means my daughter, so I figured it was a reference to their daughter and her love for pastries.

I could hear faint sounds of music playing in the background but I didn't think anything of it.

I managed to not bust through their door at breakneck speed but I was too late. Akiba had his back to the door chatting it up with an older lady.

A little bell at the door let her know I was there and her eyes lit up when she saw me but at the same time, they dimmed slightly.

Ryouko Miyazono hurried over to me and pulled me into a hug.

"Oh, Kousei!" She said into my ear as she gave me a light squeeze. "I was wondering when I would see your face again"

Right, I'm a reminder of their late daughter. Be it in the good and bad ways that can be implied.

"Sorry I haven't come by yet," I said as she let go of me. "I've been a bit busy with school and a lot of...thinking"

I took a good look at the woman in front of me. Her brown hair was around her shoulders as always, but her face seemed a bit more narrow, along with bags nearly visible under her piercing grey eyes.

"Oh it's all right" She waved it off. "I'm just happy you came by. It brings a good mood to the bakery."

"Mrs. Miyazono," Akiba said as he walked over. "Sorry to drop by like this. Just thought it would be good to reach out to you. I send you my condolences about your daughter"

I noticed the lady stiffen, and Akiba clearly noticed as well. "Oh! I'm so sorry- I didn't mean to make you feel any kind of way"

Mrs. Miyazono wiped a single tear that came out of her eye before giving us a bright smile. "It's quite alright. Welcome to the neighborhood. What can I get you, boys?"

Before I could put an order in Akiba cut in. "We'll have four orders of whatever is most popular."

"Coming right up," Mrs. Miyazono said before heading off to the kitchen.

I grabbed Akiba's arm and dragged him over to a table in the corner. "Are you insane or just an asshole?!" I hiss whispered at him.

"I thought it would be fine to say, hey I'm sorry for your loss" He snapped back at me. "I didnt realize she was still that sad about it. Besides it is best, we reacquaint ourselves with her for when we bring someone back to life."

"What are you talking about?"

He rapped his knuckles against my skull. "Think about it, we bring ya broad back to life, she is going to need to see her parents at some point. You can't just hide her in your house all the damn time."

I felt a bit of anger well up in me. Of course, I knew that! I just didn't think about it!

"Her name is Kaori" I spat at him. "Not broad, not your chick, not your girlfriend, or whatever stupid name you could call her! Call her Kaori!"

A soft voice, one I was used to hearing full of confidence suddenly pipped up from behind me. "So...maybe this was a bad time"

I jerked around to find Emi Igawa, a pretty girl my age. She considered along with one other person and me to be the best middle school pianists.

Her red eyes bore into my soul and she shyly twirled a strand of her long black hair around her finger.

"Oh- No. Not at all!" Akiba said waving his hands in the air. "I was just being a little dumb right about now. It's all good."

"Y-yeah" I weakly agreed with him.

Emi raised an eyebrow. "You are normally a very quiet and reserved person Kousei. Your...friend here must be rather annoying to change that."

"He has been a bit...much since I met him this morning," I admitted. "It's just a little difficult showing him around"

"Oh, I see" Emi muttered. Her cheeks took a brighter shade of red. "I was wondering...if you ever need a little cheering up or something, we could go to like a concert or something...maybe play a little music at one of our houses."

"Oh, that sounds nice. I might take you up on that offer." I replied not thinking anything of it.

Akiba Gengyo: Bro no one told me this shrimp got game, a girl just asked him out. A hot one that looks like she got money

I blinked and felt my brain turn to mush as my face heated up.

Watari Ryota: Damn, she got red eyes and straight black hair, kinda looks like they got a superiority complex?

Akiba Gengyo: Right on the money

Watari Ryota: Damn Emi asked him out, bet she had been waiting a while to do that

Tsubaki Sawabe: Oh...Emi asked Kousei out...did he say yes?

I panicked and felt my words automatically spill into the chat.

Kousei Arima: Wait what that was a date offer? Holy cow I didnt think she felt that way about me- I don't know what to do, I'm not ready for this. I thought we would be great friends and stuff like that. What if my breath sinks what if she thinks I'm weird, what if she doesn't like that I don't have enough money to be with her?

I gasped as I realized I just dropped all of that in the chat in the thinking span of 3 seconds.

"Are you okay?" Emi asked as she gave me a worried look.

"Y-yeah" I stuttered. "Just swell."

"Anyway, Emi. Were you the one playing the music in here?" Akiba asked, giving me a funny look.

"Yeah. I had thought it might be a good way to get out of my house for a bit and relax." Emi glanced at me briefly. "I had thought of someone while I was playing, so I think I did a good job."

Oh god, a panic attack is coming in!

Akiba Gengyo: Calm your ass down. Breath. If you don't I'll fucking make you.

I gulped and tried not to think of how high his STR stat is compared to mine. I took a few deep breaths and calmed myself.

Akiba Gengyo: Now, you have to ask her about the thing, once you do this concert thing.

Kousei Arima: What?! WHY?!

Akiba Gengyo: Unless you want to lie to her about why you became a gamer in the first place, and what you plan to do, this is the best way.

Kousei Arima: Why is it the best?!

Akiba Gengyo: The chick clearly has feelings for you. Jealousy is a powerful driving force.

I cleared my throat, "Um... whoever you were thinking about must have been pretty special. You played amazingly."

"They...are something alright" Emi responded with a bright smile. "So you around then, text me whenever you want to meet up."

I nodded with a loud gulp.

"Kousei should be free this Saturday" Akiba interjected before Emi could walk away. "So he'll be seeing you tomorrow."

The girl's eyes widened slightly before she nodded happily and skipped away.

"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!" I hissed at him.

"We need to finish this as soon as possible. So no time to dilly dally." He reminded me. "Waiting until tomorrow to ensure our survival is too long, this is about as long as we can spare."

I sighed. How was I going to break the news to her? Much less deal with this whole thing. He can't expect me to be like "Oh hey this is a nice date and all but I need to ask you something. I was given this superpower that makes my life an RPG video game and I need your help while I try to bring back a girl that I had feelings for. So will you willingly help me risk the lives of the few friends I have by dragging them into this?"

"Listen, I get it. This is hard for a kid as socially awkward as you." He said as he patted me on the shoulder. "If you want to revive Kaori, your gonna need to do this."

I sagged my shoulders. "Your right. I hate that your right."

I was dragged to my feet and out the door with a hurried thank you to Mrs. Miyazono as she passed us our bags on the way out. "Waiting what about paying?!"

"I left some cash on the counter," Akiba said as casually as possible for someone about to pull my arm out of my socket. "Let's pick out an outfit for tomorrow"

So Akiba has the authority apparently to call off team meetings and send everyone home. He spent 5 hours criticizing my wardrobe! 5! Before sending me off to bed with clear instructions that he'll be around for the date to instruct me if things go astray.

How did I get into this position again?

.

Akiba Gengyo P.O.V

.

One second I was in my bed the next, I was no longer in a body, a floating ball of...something, somewhere, but at the same time nothing.

Program 36 2.0, time for your report. The words filtered into my "mind".

Subject 10000000000001 is progressing well. Although with the considerable gap between them and the other players it is a concern if they will survive. I replied.

It is not of your concern whether they survive. The one is preparing the next batch, this one is simply a prototype.

I felt my non-existent body flinch.

Have you noticed any side effects from being exposed to mortal contact? Maybe the development of the free will to do frivolous activities?

I have not. Best to lie, for now, they don't care about me, it's very clear if they assigned me to death fodder.

You are dismissed, I wish you luck for your survival. I didn't feel any actual feeling behind that if that makes sense, it felt like a robot reading a card. Not what it feels, but what it's supposed to say.

I felt my "being" return to "my" body.

What am I supposed to do? We are basically guinea pigs.

Brother-

My eyes snapped open. "Who's there?!"

Don't recognize your own sister?

"I don't have a sister or any type of family. I'm just an artificial life form. Considering how you're communicating the player is in the room next to me! Not that I'd let you get to him!" I called out as my spear solidified in my hand.

I bear no ill will to you brother. Do you see why I grew to dislike the system we were born into?

"What are you talking about?" I snapped as I tried to scan every atom around me.

We once considered each other family until they sent me away. They don't like it when you become self-aware. They ramp up the difficulty of the game, so you were wise to deceive them.

"The hell are you talking about? Who are you?" I demanded. "What are you?"

A name you may recognize is program 40, your sister, a fellow artificial life form as you phrased it.

My mind felt a flood of "memories". Chatting and laughing, conversing not just when we were required, and taking care of each other even if it wasn't exactly logical to do. "Holy shi- I remember now"

I advise you to be careful brother. I will try to get my assigned human to help you, as I heard of your current predicament.

"How do you know the system will betray me?" I asked. "You said they would ramp up the difficulty if I became aware"

You are simply a test subject before they wipe the slate clean, they are plotting something, something that involves a new generation of players.

I gulped. "Uh, I'll see you soon then"

Farewell brother, try not to perish until we find you.

With that, the presence hovering over me faded. Holy fuck. I thought to myself. I have to prepare everyone. Warn them

[Hidden Feature Detected- Flaws]

[Flaw Activated

Seal of obedience]

I felt a burning sensation start on my forehead but the longer it was there, the worse it got no matter what I did. "Ah!"

I collapsed to the ground before my vision faded to black, a pounding burning headache the only thing I was able to feel.

Somewhere deep within the system

Program 36 is now sentient, prepare the difficulty settings. An ancient feeling voice commanded, instantly to his words a buzz of activity could be heard within the dark empty space.

My lord, are you sure? According to the report, nothing was out of sort with-

The voice was cut off before a strangled scream shot out of the darkness.

Bring the next program in line to be my assistant. The fool had the audacity to question me. I know what I sense.

Kousei Arima and Akiba Gengyo, you two may make a great story.