"So…just plug in the values, and—"

All the students' faces lit-up. To an outsider, nothing really changed, but everyone connected to the school's local net would hear an alarm at certain times, and just now was for noon break which holds a special place in the hearts of all the students—I think.

The old math teacher was still saying something, but I didn't understand any of it even with the silver neurolinker around my neck directly sending his voice into my brain.

Even I almost didn't notice since when some people started putting their tables together.

That's because, perfectly synchronised with the alarm, a bright notification filled my display along with a short pop sound, and the image of everything in the classroom went out of focus.

Any files sent by the teacher appear virtually on the, also virtual, blackboard, so this was the real deal: genuine mail, and since nobody in this school is connected to the global net…or at least that's how it should be, it was almost definitely from another Umesato High student. Normally, this would be breaking school rules, but whoever sent it was had either perfect luck or perfect timing.

Mailing between students is of course forbidden during class time, so for an honour student like me, this is really a rare event!

…

…I'm very sorry. It's a lie. Rather than being an honour student, there really just isn't anyone who would mail me…

Otherwise, it's probably not that unusual for other students. That's why…

…the big shock was inside that message.

"Do you want to «Accelerate» further?

If you are interested, then come find me in the lounge."

The sender was left blank, but I have just a bit of confidence in my guess…

PART2

Beside the cafeteria is a lightly fenced-off raised half-circle less than 20 metres across with round tables instead of long ones and some reclining chairs, usually for diving, that everyone calls the «Lounge». I'd like to think Umesato High's administration was only thinking about aesthetics, but certain groups of second and third-years just naturally took it as their own.

Even if I say that, it's not like most of the ordinary students pay much attention. It's more like we'd be bothered if the usual people weren't there.

That said—

—I wonder what they think of this?

"…"

Because of that message, I'm standing beside one of the decorative plants in the little space between the white fences. A first year like me would usually be escorted out nicely, but it's already late into the second term, so everyone's expected to know…but…

…what's with this atmosphere!?

I'm not just paranoid. They're all totally looking this way!

Hey hey…this is too much pressure…in some ways, it's worse than a secret base of yankees…

I had just taken a single step in when a striking group of five students surrounding the table at the deepest part of the lounge near the window turned their heads towards me.

That's…the student council?

From here, I can't really hear what they're saying, but a second-year girl with fluffy-looking hair seemed to hear something from behind her and her expression turned to both surprised and confused.

The other four seemed to hear as well and turned to look behind them, but they all suddenly stepped aside.

"Ah…"

I called out weakly without noticing when I saw the person sitting at the table.

A single second-year girl held an old hardcover from the 21st century. Her piano black hair fell all the way down to her waist when she stood. Her stockings and even the shirt under her blazer were jet-black. All that black only made her white face, brown eyes, and red lips seem to shine even more brightly.

She waved me over with a slight smile, and I walked as fast as I could without falling over from the pressure around me that's three, no, ten times what it was when I got here.

"You came—«Kensei»." A voice both smooth and bright flowed from her slightly red lips like a clear stream.

"After all, it was you huh."

Umesato High's most famous student: «Kuroyukihime»…-senpai.

I've never actually seen our beautiful vice-president from up close like this, but she's really on another level. Since middle school, it's always been that way.

…like an untouchable lotus floating in the water.

She reached into her blazer's pocket and pulled out a long black cable with plugs on both ends. She casually lifts her hair to reveal an unsurprisingly shiny black neurolinker and inserts one of the plugs.

Eh?

"Eh!?"

The other students, who were secretly watching since the beginning, soundlessly reacted the same way I did.

«Direct Connect»

While neurolinkers usually communicate wirelessly through whatever network they're connected to, they can also be connected directly by cable which lifts many restrictions. That is to say, you don't normally cable with someone you don't really trust or even know.

"Even if we're both girls, I—"

She soundlessly increased her pressure before I could finish, so it feels like I can't escape.

Aahh whatever happens happens! I don't care anymore!

I took the plug she's holding out to me and stick it in my own neurolinker.

«WARNING: Wired Connection»

A bright red pop-up fills my display and I quickly swipe it away. What's left is the sharp image of Kuroyukihime in front of me and around us: the sudden mass of blurs that used to be the lounge and everyone else in it.

That same clear voice resounded fully in my brain, but her lips stayed closed.

"Sorry to make you come all the way here Kensei-dono. Ah, do you know how to use this?"

"Okay, you proved your identity, so please, enough with the jokes…I'd rather that name not catch on in school at least…" I replied through thought speech.

"Still…I never expected our vice-president-sama to be playing something like Archsky Revive."

"Well, that's not completely accurate. I only played to get your attention."

…

"Why?"

"I'm going to send you a certain application. If the installation is successful, then I'll tell you everything."

"…"

I couldn't say anything. She smiled a little and raised her hand. With only minimal movement from her wrist, she slid something invisible towards me.

A short pop sound accompanied a small black prompt.

«Run ? OK/Cancel»

I looked up at her bright eyes for an explanation. Her expression suddenly became more serious.

"This is a unique program that can destroy your current reality and build a new one in a shape you can't imagine."

"What is that…that's some explanation…"

"…"

"Will this «new reality» of senpai even be something I'd wish for?"

Her expression suddenly went to slight surprise but then, strangely, satisfied.

"Yes…for you? At least, I think so."

"Accepting something so suspicious…of course, senpai understands the situation?"

"…" Without saying anything, she simply locked her eyes into mine.

I sigh with my real voice and quickly tap «OK».

"Ah." Kuroyukihime's expression turns to complete surprise as she involuntarily let her voice out.

Suddenly, my entire display erupts in flames.

"!"

My upper body almost jerked back a little before realizing it was just a virtual effect. The mass of flames only lasted a couple seconds before forming some words in English—

"Brain…Burst?"

A title? This 20th century style reminds me of really old games that I've only ever seen two or three times.

"…"

Even for the neurolinker, it took about 30 seconds to install, and when the progress bar reached 100%, the flames, again, formed words—

«WELCOME TO THE ACCELERATED WORLD»

There was a little explosion effect, but even after about 10 seconds, nothing happened.

I looked to Kuroyukihime for answer, and she threw back a different kind of smile.

"There were no problems with the installation. I wasn't mistaken about your aptitude."

"Huh? What's that? Aptitude? Why?"

She made a wry smile at my barrage of questions, but I couldn't understand the meaning.

"Successfully installing «Brain Burst» requires a certain level of reaction time. That's what those flames were checking. If you don't pass, then the title won't even appear. It's a little bit surprising though…it took me about two minutes of doubt whether to trust this suspicious program as you said. I had some confidence in the speech I prepared to convince you, but it seems my effort was wasted."

"Ah…sorry about that, but what's this? Nothing's h—"

"Well, don't be in such a hurry. You'll need some preparation. I'll explain the details later…why, we have plenty of time."

I looked down at the time display.

"Lunch half-ended a while ago…"

Her smile suddenly became a bit more relaxed.

"Hmm yes…see? That's enough."

I don't really see how…

Gomen, minna...it took a while ne...