It all started when I was twelve. Just an ordinary middle schooler, living an ordinary life, with ordinary thoughts fitting for my age. I never considered myself special, nor did I seek to be. I had hobbies and the usual day-to-day worries that any girl my age would have. I liked cute things, dreamed about my future, and sometimes imagined my life unfolding like one of those high school dramas I watched on TV.
But reality had a cruel way of shattering such daydreams.
It happened at the start of middle school. There was an accident. I don't remember much of it, just the moment before—the crisp morning air, the chatter of students, the hum of the city—and then, nothing. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, the sterile scent of disinfectant filling my lungs, the beeping of machines echoing in my ears. Days had passed. My parents looked at me with relief, but behind that relief, there was something else. Something darker.
I thought I was lucky at first. I was alive. I was still me. But then, the doctor came in, his expression unreadable.
And that was when I learned the truth.
It wasn't just the accident. The scans revealed something else—something that had likely been there for a while, unnoticed. A disease. A rare, incurable condition that, over time, would weaken my body, eating away at my strength little by little. The doctors told my parents first, but I overheard. They tried to sugarcoat it for me, but I wasn't stupid. I knew what it meant.
I wouldn't live to see fifteen.
At first, I was in denial. I told myself they were wrong, that I'd get better, that there would be some new treatment, a miracle, anything. But as the months passed, I could feel it—how everything became harder, how my body grew weaker, how the simple things I used to take for granted now left me exhausted.
The worst part wasn't even the disease itself. It was the way people started treating me. As if I was fragile as if I was something to be pitied. People who once treated me normally became overly careful with their words, their expressions filled with forced optimism. I hated it. I hated how I became "that sick girl."
But in the end, there weren't many people to pity me.
I had no friends my age. Middle school had barely started when I was hospitalized, and by the time the doctors told me I wouldn't be leaving anytime soon, the world outside had already moved on without me. I saw it in the way the seasons changed through the hospital window, in the way the nurses talked about their children's school events. I wasn't a part of any of that.
And no one visited.
Well, that wasn't completely true. My parents did. At first.
I wasn't an only child. I had an older brother—healthy, strong, full of life. And while my world shrank to the four white walls of my hospital room, his world kept growing. He had school, clubs, friends, a future. A future I would never have.
I didn't blame him for that.
But my parents…
At first, they tried. They came often, bringing me little things—a book, some snacks, stories from home. But as the months passed, their visits became less frequent. I wasn't stupid. I heard their whispered arguments outside my door.
"We can't afford to keep doing this. The treatments aren't working."
"What do you want me to do?! She's our daughter!"
"And we have a son, too! Do you want to ruin his future for something we can't change?"
Something we can't change.
They thought I was asleep when they had that conversation, but I wasn't. I stared at the ceiling, listening to their words seep through the cracks of my door, each one cutting deeper than any pain my body had ever felt.
After that, they started coming even less. At first, they still made excuses. Work has been busy. Your brother has exams. We'll visit soon, okay? Then the excuses stopped altogether.
I waited anyway.
Every time visiting hours came, I found myself staring at the door, waiting for it to open. It rarely did.
Once, after an especially long stretch of being alone, a nurse noticed me glancing at the clock too much. She smiled at me, gently, like I was a wounded animal.
"Are you expecting someone today, sweetheart?"
I wanted to say yes. I wanted to say my mom or my dad or even my stupid brother who probably forgot I existed. But the words caught in my throat. Instead, I shook my head and forced a smile.
"No. I was just checking the time."
She nodded, but I knew she didn't believe me.
That night, as I lay in my hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, I let myself think about something I had tried to avoid for so long.
They've already given up on me.
They just didn't have the courage to say it out loud.
ㅤ
ㅤ
I had almost forgotten what it was like to have someone visit just for me.
When I first heard the familiar voice at my door, I thought I was dreaming.
"Yo, kiddo. Heard you've been causing trouble while I was gone."
For the first time in months, I blinked in surprise. When I turned my head, there he was—Oji-san, standing in the doorway with that same easygoing smile he always had. His short hair was messier than I remembered, and his travel-worn jacket was draped over one shoulder as if he had rushed here the moment he found out.
My throat tightened. I hadn't seen him in so long.
"Oji-san…" I managed to say, trying to sit up.
"Easy, easy," he said, walking over and gently pressing a hand to my shoulder. "You don't have to get up just for me."
I hesitated a bit, "I'm fine. It's not that bad."
He didn't respond right away. Instead, he pulled up a chair beside my bed and sighed as he sat down. "Hah… I've been all over Japan these past few years. Seen all sorts of places, met all kinds of people." He leaned back, folding his arms. "But somehow, the best liar I've ever met is sitting right in front of me."
My fingers clenched the edge of my blanket.
"I'm not lying," I muttered.
"Really?" he raised an eyebrow, tilting his head. "So you're totally fine? You're happy here, stuck in this room, all on your own?"
I bit my lip, looking away.
Of course, I wasn't happy. But what was the point in saying it? What would change?
"You know, it's okay not to be fine," he said, his voice softer now. "You don't have to act strong all the time, especially not around me."
Something in me cracked just a little. I wanted to brush it off with a joke, to wave it away like I always did. But his gaze was warm, steady—like he had all the time in the world to listen.
After a moment, I swallowed hard and mumbled, "I… I just wish I could go outside."
He blinked, then leaned forward. "Outside?"
I hesitated, then nodded. "I just… I miss it. The sky, the wind, the way the air smells after it rains. I miss… feeling like I'm a part of the world." My voice was barely above a whisper. "But it's not like it matters."
"And why's that?"
"Because I can't. I can barely stand for more than a few minutes. If I try to walk too much, I get dizzy. I—"
"Then I'll take you."
I froze.
"W-what?"
"If you want to go outside, then we'll make it happen." His voice was firm, certain as if there were no other possible outcomes. "I'll talk to Sensei. We'll figure something out."
"That's not— I mean, Oji-san, you don't have to—"
"I want to," he interrupted, leaning forward. "You think I'd let my favorite niece rot away in here without even trying? Come on now. You know me better than that."
I stared at him, my heart hammering against my ribs. It was the first time in so long that someone had promised something—something real, something that wasn't just empty words to make me feel better.
It took a week.
Seven days of convincing the doctors, checking my condition, and getting everything in place. And then, one morning, Oji-san walked into my room with a grin and a wheelchair.
"Ready for some fresh air?"
I didn't cry. I told myself I wouldn't. But when he wheeled me out of that room when I felt the first breeze against my skin in what felt like a lifetime when I looked up and saw the endless blue sky stretching above me—
I did.
ㅤ
ㅤ
Months passed.
The rain blurred against the windowpane, streaking down in trembling lines. My breath fogged the glass as I pressed my forehead against it, watching the world outside as if I were looking at something distant, unreachable.
I had known this would happen.
I had felt it in my own body—the way it took more effort to sit up, the way my arms trembled from just lifting a spoon. The weakness that had once been gradual was now consuming me all at once, swallowing me whole.
But knowing didn't make it easier.
Behind me, I could hear the murmur of the doctor's voice, too low for me to make out every word. But I heard enough.
"Her condition is deteriorating. The outings… they won't be possible anymore."
Then silence.
I didn't turn around, but I knew. I knew what expression Oji-san was making.
The same one my parents had when they started visiting less and less.
The same one the nurses made when they thought I was asleep.
That look of quiet resignation.
That unbearable, suffocating pity.
I squeezed my eyes shut, but the pressure in my chest only grew. A painful lump swelled in my throat, tight and unrelenting. My fingers curled into the fabric of my blanket, desperate to grasp onto something, anything—
But there was nothing.
Nothing I could do. Nothing I could change.
"Tch." My breath hitched, a choked, broken sound escaping my lips before I could stop it. My hands pressed against my face as something hot spilled down my cheeks, my shoulders trembling before I could hold them still.
I hated this. I hated this so much.
"Kiddo—"
Oji-san's voice was gentle and hesitant, but I couldn't bring myself to look at him. If I did, I'd fall apart even more.
"I-it's fine," I croaked, the words nearly dissolving into sobs. "I'm fine."
A lie. Another one.
But this time, my voice betrayed me—shaking, uneven, breaking apart in ways I couldn't control.
Oji-san sighed, the sound heavy, filled with something I couldn't name. A chair scraped against the floor as he sat beside me, the warmth of his presence close but not suffocating.
"You don't have to say that," he murmured.
I sucked in a sharp breath, my shoulders still trembling. "What else am I supposed to say?" My voice cracked, raw, and desperate. "That I hate this? That I can't— I c-can't even move without—without—"
Oji-san didn't answer right away.
And that was worse.
Because if he had denied it, if he had tried to tell me some empty platitude like "You're strong", or "It'll be okay", I could have just ignored it. I could have pretended, just like I always did.
But he didn't.
Instead, he let out a long breath and said, "I know."
Two simple words.
And just like that, something in me shattered.
A sob tore from my throat, my body curling in on itself.
"I-it's not fair," I whispered between ragged breaths. "I just wanted— just a little longer—"
Oji-san moved closer, wrapping a steady arm around my shoulders. His grip was firm but gentle like he was trying to hold me together even as I broke.
"I know," he murmured again, voice rough with something like grief.
"I know."
And for the first time, I didn't try to stop myself from crying.
"It's not fair—!"
The words tore out of me, raw and shaking, barely formed between my gasping sobs.
"I— I never even—!" My voice broke, my chest heaving as more tears spilled down my face. "I don't have friends! I never even got to make any—!"
Oji-san didn't interrupt. He just sat there, steady, as if he knew this was something I needed to say. Even if it came out messy. Even if it barely made sense through the sobs.
"Other kids… other kids get to go to school and laugh and play stupid games and—" My breath hitched, my throat tight and aching. "I don't even get to try—!"
I squeezed my eyes shut, my body curling inward as if that could make the pain smaller as if I could bury it deep enough that it would just disappear. But it wouldn't.
It never did.
"I'm always here," I choked out. "I'm always alone."
My nails dug into my palms, and my shoulders shook violently.
"Even on my birthday—" My voice cracked, a fresh wave of tears spilling down. "They didn't even c-come, Oji-san. They didn't even—!"
I covered my face with trembling hands, trying to swallow down the sobs, but they kept coming, one after another, like a dam had burst inside me.
"It was just you," I whispered.
The words came out in a broken, shuddering breath.
And I was grateful. I was so, so grateful. But it hurt. It hurt so much that no one else came. The people who were supposed to love me the most had already let go of me as if I were already gone.
As if I had already stopped existing.
Oji-san inhaled sharply, his grip on my shoulder tightening just a little. "I know," he murmured, voice rough with emotion.
"Then why—why does it still hurt this much?!"
He didn't answer right away. Maybe because there wasn't an answer. Maybe because he knew that nothing he said could make it better.
And in that moment, even though nothing had changed, even though I was still trapped in this body, in this hospital, in this unfair, unfair life—
I held onto those words like they were the only thing keeping me afloat.
ㅤ
ㅤ
The next afternoon, Oji-san arrived with a bag slung over his shoulder, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He pulled out a neatly wrapped box and set it on my lap, ruffling my hair as he grinned.
"Go on, open it."
I hesitated, glancing up at him before carefully untying the ribbon. The moment I lifted the lid, my breath caught in my throat.
A laptop.
A brand-new, shiny laptop.
I looked up at him, wide-eyed. "This is… for m-me?"
"Of course," he chuckled. "You can watch cute videos, browse the internet, or even play games. I figured it'd help pass the time."
I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling against the cool metal. "But… I never had my own laptop before."
Oji-san's smile softened. "Then it's about time, isn't it?"
Something swelled in my chest—an emotion too big to name. My vision blurred again, but this time, it wasn't from sadness. "Thank you, Oji-san," I whispered, clutching the laptop tightly.
"I'll be away for a little while again, but call me whenever you need something, alright? And don't hold back. I mean it." He tapped my forehead lightly. "No bottling things up."
I nodded quickly, blinking away the warmth in my eyes. He stayed a little longer, making sure I had everything set up before giving me a final pat on the head and heading out.
That night, for the first time in a long time, I didn't just stare at the ceiling until sleep finally took me. I had something to do.
I spent hours exploring, watching funny videos on Niconico—silly cats getting startled by cucumbers, people failing spectacularly at video games, adorable dogs doing tricks.
Before I knew it, I was giggling.
Then, I decided to try a game. I found a simple but charming one—Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi Omisecchi—where I could take care of a tiny pet, run a shop, and interact with cute characters. It was silly, but I loved it.
Time slipped by without me noticing. For once, I wasn't counting the hours by the sound of beeping monitors or the distant footsteps of nurses.
For once, I wasn't just waiting.
For once, I was having fun.
At first, I stuck to simple, casual games—stuff that didn't need much effort. Cute simulation games where I could take care of digital pets, design little rooms, or dress up characters. Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi Omisecchi had been fun, but I wanted something… more.
That was when I stumbled upon Doko Demo Issyo. The little white cat, Toro, greeted me with wide, curious eyes, talking to me in a mix of real words and nonsense syllables. I typed out responses as he asked me about my day, what I liked, and what I wanted to do in the future.
The future. That was a question I never liked thinking about.
Still, I answered.
"I just want to go outside again. I want to meet new people. I want to have friends."
Toro tilted his head, blinking. Then, as if trying to encourage me, he said something cheerful, something about how every day had something fun waiting.
Liar.
But it was nice. It was stupidly nice.
As days passed, I got braver. I started playing real games—ones with actual challenges. Taiko no Tatsujin. Osu! Puyo Puyo. Rhythm games, puzzle games, games that made me focus so hard I forgot everything else.
I struggled at first. My fingers weren't as fast as they used to be. My hands trembled sometimes, and I'd miss a beat, lose a combo, and watch my score plummet. I clenched my teeth, trying to ignore the frustration.
I wasn't used to failing at something so small.
But I kept going.
Every time I got a higher score, even if it was just a tiny improvement, a rush of excitement sparked in my chest. I wasn't just lying in bed, waiting for the days to pass anymore. I was doing something.
And then, of course, I started getting… mischievous.
Late at night, when the hospital halls grew quiet, I played with my laptop tucked under the covers, the screen dimmed just enough to avoid suspicion. I knew the nurses did their rounds every so often, checking rooms to make sure the patients were asleep.
So, whenever I heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching, I'd slam my laptop shut, bury my face in the pillow, and pretend to be asleep.
The door would creak open.
A pause.
Soft footsteps into the room.
A quiet breath of air as the nurse peered over at me.
And then, satisfied, they'd leave.
The second the door clicked shut, I'd crack one eye open, grin to myself, and open my laptop again.
I didn't care if I'd be exhausted in the morning.
This was mine.
This tiny slice of freedom, these fleeting moments of fun—I wasn't going to let anyone take them from me.
ㅤ
ㅤ
Weeks passed.
"Oji-san, you look so tired. Is everything okay?" I asked, my voice tinged with worry.
He offered a weary smile, waving a hand dismissively. "Oh, it's nothing for you to worry about. Just the usual hustle and bustle of life."
I wasn't convinced, but I didn't press further.
ㅤ
ㅤ
"Oji-san, can you tell me about a happy memory from when you were young?"
His eyes brightened a little at the request. "A happy memory, huh? Well, when I was around your age, I was really into video games. I remember spending countless hours playing them, getting lost in those virtual worlds."
I tilted my head, intrigued. "Really? What kind of games did you play?"
He chuckled softly. "Mostly role-playing games. I loved the stories, the adventures, and the feeling of being a hero in those fantastical lands."
A small smile tugged at my lips. "That sounds amazing."
He nodded, his expression growing more serious. "You know, those games taught me a lot. They taught me about perseverance, about facing challenges head-on, and about never giving up, no matter how tough things get."
I looked down, absorbing his words. "I wish I could experience something like that."
Oji-san reached out, gently lifting my chin so I could meet his gaze. "Hey, don't lose hope. Even when things seem bleak, there's always a way to find joy, to find adventure."
I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. "Thank you, Oji-san."
He smiled warmly. "Anytime,"
As he left, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope, a spark of determination ignited by his words.
ㅤ
ㅤ
The world had become smaller.
Once, I had my hospital room and the view from my window. Then, I had my bed and my laptop. And now—now I barely had the strength to move.
My body felt heavier than ever, each breath taking more effort than it should. Even lifting my arms was exhausting.
I was fourteen now. Fourteen.
The nurses had already spoken in hushed voices, thinking I couldn't hear. They didn't believe I would make it to fifteen.
I wasn't surprised.
But it still hurt.
The door creaked open, and I knew without looking who it was.
"Hey," Oji-san's voice was soft, but I could hear the strain behind it. The exhaustion. The helplessness.
I turned my head—slowly because even that took effort—and met his eyes. He looked worse than before. His usually neat clothes were slightly wrinkled, and there was a weariness in his gaze, the kind that told me he hadn't been sleeping again.
"You look like disaster," I mumbled, a weak attempt at teasing.
Oji-san let out a short laugh, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You're one to talk."
I smiled, but I could feel how small it was, how fragile. "Touché."
He sat down beside my bed, placing a hand on mine. His warmth was comforting, grounding me when everything else felt like it was slipping away.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. There was nothing left to say—nothing that could change what was coming.
Finally, I broke the silence. "Thank you, Oji-san."
He blinked, caught off guard. "For what?"
"For everything." My voice was quiet but steady. "For staying with me. For making me laugh. For making me feel… like I wasn't just waiting to disappear."
His grip on my hand tightened slightly. "You were never just that."
I swallowed, my throat aching. "You're the only one who didn't forget about me. Okaa-san and Otou-san—" My voice wavered, and I forced myself to push through it. "They stopped coming a long time ago."
Oji-san's expression darkened, but he didn't say anything.
"I used to hate them for it," I admitted. "But… I get it now. Maybe it's easier to pretend I'm already gone."
"Don't say that." His voice was raw, his fingers trembling around mine.
Oji-san is really a kind person.
"You're still here."
"For now," I murmured.
His jaw clenched, his eyes glassy. "That's enough."
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to hold onto the warmth of his hand, the sound of his breathing, the weight of his presence beside me.
"I don't want to be scared anymore," I whispered.
Oji-san took a shaky breath. "Then don't be. I'll be here, okay? No matter what."
I wanted to believe that. I wanted to believe that as long as he was here, I wouldn't be alone.
"Okay," I whispered back.
And for a moment, just a moment, it didn't hurt as much.
ㅤ
ㅤ
The moment Oji-san stepped into my hospital room, I knew something was different.
He wasn't smiling the way he usually did. His posture was straighter, more serious. And most of all—he was carrying a massive box in his arms.
I blinked, staring at it. "Uh, Oji-san… did you rob a store or something?"
Oji-san let out a chuckle, shaking his head as he set the box down on the floor. "Nope. It's a present. A big one."
I stared at the box, then back at him. "A present?"
"Yep." His eyes softened as he looked at me. "A special one."
I opened my mouth to ask what was inside, but he cut me off with a question of his own.
"Do you remember when I told you that I used to love games?"
I frowned, trying to recall. "Yeah, I remember. You said you spent way too much time on them when you were younger."
He laughed. "That's right."
"So… what, did you get me a gaming setup or something?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He smirked. "Not exactly. Some things… come true in unexpected ways."
I tilted my head. "What do you mean?"
Oji-san exhaled slowly as if gathering his thoughts. "For years, I wanted to write a light novel. You know how popular they are with younger audiences, right?"
I nodded. "Yeah. And? Did you finally do it?"
"Not quite." His gaze softened. "Because… I thought about you."
My breath caught in my throat.
"What?"
"I realized that a book would be something you'd just read passively. But I wanted to give you something more. Something you could experience."
A strange feeling stirred in my chest—something warm, something overwhelming.
"You… gave up on your dream because of me?" My voice was barely above a whisper.
Oji-san shook his head, smiling gently. "No. I didn't give up on it at all."
I stared at him, confusion mixing with something close to fear. "Then what did you—?"
He took a step closer, eyes shining with something unreadable.
"Technology has come a long way. Virtual reality has exploded in the past few years. So, I thought… why not combine my idea for a light novel with that?"
My heart pounded.
"You… you made a game?"
He nodded. "Not just any game. I wanted to create something that could immerse players in a world, let them interact with characters, make choices that mattered. Originally, my manager wanted me to turn it into a dating simulator, but that… didn't sit right with me. It took away too much of what I had planned."
"So what did you do?" I breathed.
"I added something more. The ability to truly interact with the world, with the characters. Challenges, puzzles, competitions called Special Exams. A place where strategy, intelligence, and understanding human nature mattered just as much as skill."
I swallowed, my throat dry.
"What… what kind of world is it set in?"
"A highly competitive and isolated institution in Tokyo. A school where students are judged on merit, forced to survive through intellect, deception, and strategy."
I stared at him, my mind racing, my emotions a whirlwind of disbelief and something I hadn't felt in a long time—excitement.
"You really… made this for me?"
He smiled. "You're the reason I wanted to make it real."
For what felt like forever, I wanted to cry for a different reason. Not out of pain, or loneliness, or helplessness.
But because someone had done something so incredible for me.
I let out a shaky breath. "What's it called?"
Oji-san's lips curled into a proud smile.
"Classroom of the Elite."
Oji-san leaned against the hospital bed's railing, watching me carefully as I stared at the massive box on the floor. His expression was softer now, but there was something intense in his gaze—like he was waiting for me to fully understand what he was offering.
"This game," he said, voice steady, "isn't just about playing. It's about experiencing."
I blinked, looking up at him. "What do you mean?"
He let out a slow breath. "I know you've always wanted to see the world outside these walls. I know how much it hurt when you couldn't. That's why I made sure this game would be the next best thing."
Something in my chest tightened.
"You're saying…" My throat felt dry. "That I can actually… live in this world?"
Oji-san nodded. "It's built with the best technology available today. Hyper-realistic environments, dynamic AI, and a system that allows for complete immersion. The programmers and specialists behind it worked tirelessly to make sure every detail feels real—the way the air shifts, the way people react to you, the way decisions shape your experience."
"But… it's still not the real world."
He smiled sadly. "No, it's not. But it's a world where you can walk, where you can run, where you can make friends and shape your own story. And in some ways… isn't that real enough?"
I didn't know what to say.
Because for the first time in my life, I could have something close to normal.
Oji-san continued, his voice a little lighter now. "You'll get to create your own character and enroll in one of the three available classes—Class A, Class B, or Class C. Each class has a different atmosphere, different challenges, different experiences."
I furrowed my brows. "Then I'll pick Class A, right? If it's the best one?"
A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes. "Ah—no can do. Class A is locked until you complete the main storyline in Class B."
I groaned. "Seriously? That sounds like a you kind of restriction."
He grinned. "Maybe. But trust me, I've prepared some surprises for you in Class B. It's the best place to start."
I crossed my arms, pouting. "So you're forcing me to play how you want?"
Oji-san chuckled. "Consider it highly recommended guidance."
I huffed, but deep down, something warm and unfamiliar was bubbling inside me.
Excitement. Happiness.
"T-Thank you so much, Kinu-oji-san!"
ㅤ
ㅤ
A soft chime rang in my ears as the world around me shifted, my vision momentarily flooded with white light.
[Please enter your character name.]
The words appeared in front of me, floating in the empty void. I hesitated for just a moment before typing in a name.
[Character creation complete.]
Everything blurred—then, suddenly, I was there.
[Welcome to Classroom of the Elite.]
Warm sunlight streamed through the bus windows, illuminating the sleek interior in a golden glow. The hum of the engine rumbled beneath me, steady and familiar, and the faint murmur of conversation filled the space.
I inhaled sharply.
I was sitting on a bus. A real bus.
Well… not real, but it felt so incredibly lifelike that my brain couldn't tell the difference.
I glanced around, my heart pounding with nervous excitement. Students filled the seats, chatting amongst themselves, their voices overlapping naturally. Some were engaged in quiet conversations, while others laughed at jokes I couldn't quite catch. A few stared out the window, lost in thought.
It wasn't just background noise. These weren't mindless NPCs repeating the same two lines over and over. They were talking—different conversations, different expressions, different people.
I swallowed, my fingers twitching slightly against my lap. I could feel the fabric of my uniform against my skin, the faint weight of the VR helmet grounding me in reality, but everything else?
It felt so real.
And then… my legs.
I looked down, slowly moving my foot forward. The motion was smooth and natural—just like walking. But there was a strange disconnect like my brain knew I was moving, but I couldn't feel my legs the way I should.
A shiver ran down my spine. It wasn't unpleasant, just… different.
I let out a slow breath, gripping the edge of my seat.
This is amazing.
My eyes wandered to the bottom corner of my vision, where a small button glowed faintly.
[Skip]
I blinked. Oh. Right. This was just an introduction cutscene. I could skip ahead if I wanted.
But…
I turned to the window, watching the bright cityscape roll past in the distance.
I wasn't in a hurry.
For the first time in so long, I wanted to stay in this moment.
I felt like I was dreaming.
The moment my feet stepped inside the school building after the entrance ceremony ended, something inside me swelled, something I had thought was long gone.
So this is what it feels like…
A normal high school. A place where students rushed through the halls, laughing and talking, bumping into each other like it was nothing. A place where friendships were made, where people whispered about tests and weekend plans.
And I—
I could be here.
I could talk to them. I could have friends.
A sharp breath hitched in my throat, my chest tightening with something dangerously close to a sob. My vision blurred for a split second. I can talk to people again…
Even if they were NPCs, even if this was just a game—
It didn't matter.
It felt real.
That was enough.
But knowing that didn't stop my nerves from creeping in. My palms felt clammy, my heartbeat too quick.
What if I say something weird? What if I mess up? Even though these people weren't real, the anxiety was.
I swallowed, forcing myself to move forward as I stepped into Class B.
And then—
"Ah! Hello!"
A bright, cheerful voice greeted me the moment I entered.
I blinked.
Standing before me was a girl so beautiful she looked like she had stepped out of a magazine. Soft, strawberry hair framed her face, and her warm eyes practically sparkled with kindness. Her entire presence was radiant, almost dazzling.
"I'm Ichinose Honami!" she said, flashing me a brilliant smile. "It's so nice to meet you!"
I opened my mouth—
Nothing came out.
My throat locked up, my voice completely failing me.
Say something! Anything!
But I was frozen. It had been so long since I talked to someone my age. So long since I had to introduce myself since someone had greeted me so warmly. My mind raced in a panicked loop, grasping for words, but they all tangled together.
Ichinose tilted her head slightly, her gaze lingering on me for just a second too long. There was something unreadable in her eyes—something calculating like a program waiting for a response.
Had she noticed? Could she tell how nervous I was?
Then, as if deciding something, she smiled again—so effortlessly, so warmly that my chest ached.
"You don't have to be nervous. We're all friends here, okay~?"
Her voice was light, and reassuring, like she had all the time in the world for me to find my words.
My lips trembled. Somehow, somehow, I managed to whisper, "…Thank you."
She beamed.
"Welcome to Class B!"
And just like that, a new chapter of my life began.
ㅤ
ㅤ
The classes were… strange.
Students sat in their seats, their eyes focused on the front of the room, but the teacher never wrote anything on the board. It was like a performance, an illusion meant to create the feeling of a classroom without actually making me participate. I quickly realized that this was something I could skip through—just like the dialogue options I had noticed earlier.
I sighed in relief.
Thank you, Oji-san.
If he had made me actually study in this world, I think I would've cried.
Ever since I stopped attending middle school, the idea of continuing my education had become meaningless. There was no future waiting for me beyond this game—no exams, no graduation. So what would be the point?
But this world… it wasn't just about studying.
There were so many things to do!
I had a menu system where I could check my stats, including something called Favorability Points. Every named character had their own FP bar, which I could raise by talking to them, helping them out, or choosing the right dialogue options.
Some choices even had a Success Rate percentage attached, which meant persuasion and social interactions had hidden mechanics!
Then there were the classes themselves.
Class B was my home base, and Ichinose was definitely the most welcoming person there. She made sure to check in on me whenever I looked lost, and her Favorability Points were rising steadily just from casual conversations.
Class A, unfortunately, was locked.
I had tried to open the classroom door just out of curiosity, but a system message popped up:
[System: Class A - Entry Unavailable]
It seemed Oji-san really wanted me to complete the game in a certain order. Or maybe it's because the game is a prototype.
That left Class C.
And let me just say—
Nope.
Absolutely not.
The moment I peeked inside, I nearly backed out of the game entirely.
Some of the NPCs there looked straight-up terrifying.
There were guys with their feet kicked up on desks, and others slouching against the walls with dead-eyed stares. A group of students at the back were laughing in a way that sent a chill down my spine, and I swear one of them turned to look at me the second I stepped near the doorway.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
If I ever reached the Class C route, I'd need a full mental reset before even thinking about stepping foot in there.
For now, I stuck with wandering the school, watching the different characters interact, and figuring out how this world worked.
I actually had something to look forward to.
ㅤ
ㅤ
Most of my interactions with the world were done through skipping.
I mean, it wasn't like I was going to waste time spending my virtual nights in the dormitories, staring at the ceiling. No way. I wanted to move forward, to experience the next event, the next moment of excitement.
And just like that, the days flew by.
Before I knew it, May 1st arrived—along with something completely unexpected.
A new event had appeared.
[Class Ranking Event has begun.]
At first, I didn't think much of it. Just another mechanic, right?
But then I saw something that shook me to my core.
My Private Points.
The same points I had been using to buy snacks in the cafeteria—snacks that, by the way, barely had any taste—were not infinite.
I nearly choked when I saw my balance had dropped slightly.
What the hell?!
Up until now, I had been treating them like an unlimited resource. Just a fun little game currency. But now I was realizing something important:
This game was not just about talking to NPCs.
The more I played, the more I understood that everything I did could have consequences.
It wasn't just about making friends or raising Favorability Points—there were actual mechanics that influenced how the world reacted to me.
For example, I noticed that every action I took affected my stats.
Strength. Intelligence. Charisma.
Most of them went up naturally as I interacted with the world, but INT (Intelligence) was special.
It didn't just change dialogue options.
If you had a high enough INT stat, the game allowed you to do things normal students couldn't—like influencing what your class actually did.
That's right.
If your intelligence and Charisma were high enough, you could control Class B's strategy.
That meant I wasn't just a student here—I had the potential to be a leader.
I thought I had seen everything this game had to offer.
But then came the Island Special Exam.
And oh my god—this was on a whole different level.
First of all, we were on an actual cruise ship.
Like, a real, beautiful, elegant, cruise ship with a massive pool and fancy lounges. The water outside stretched endlessly, the sun reflecting off the waves like something out of a dream.
I got to experience a vacation. Even if it was virtual, it felt real enough.
And then? I saw the island.
An island so stunning that I literally had to stop and stare.
It was the kind of place rich people would go to for vacations. The sand was pure, the ocean was crystal clear, and the buildings looked like five-star hotels.
I was so ready to just lie down and enjoy this.
But of course, Oji-san wasn't going to make things that easy for me.
A new event was triggered.
[Island Special Exam has begun.]
...Oh. Right. This wasn't a vacation. This was an exam.
And that's when I realized something horrifying.
Class B was getting destroyed.
Like, absolutely wrecked.
I had no idea what had happened, but by the time I checked the rankings, we were almost in last place.
Class A was dominating, of course. No surprise there. They probably had some genius NPC controlling everything.
Class C was also doing way better than expected, which made me nervous because weren't they supposed to be full of delinquents?
And Class D… well, at least we weren't as bad as them.
But still.
We were barely holding on.
"What the hell happened?!" I muttered to myself, staring at the ranking board.
Had my class completely collapsed while I wasn't paying attention?!
No matter how hard I tried… I just wasn't a genius.
I wasn't some super-intelligent strategist like the characters in this world. I couldn't magically outthink my opponents if they were some computer-smart NPCs.
So I did the next best thing.
I started reloading my saves.
Over.
And over.
And over again.
I kept skipping through the same events, testing different choices, only to fail each time. It was frustrating, but I was determined to figure this out.
Eventually, after another failed attempt, I sighed and turned off my VR headset.
The hospital room came back into view, its dull white walls a harsh contrast to the beautiful island I had just been on.
I turned my head weakly and pressed the call button. A few moments later, the nurse arrived.
"C-Can you bring me my laptop…?" My voice was barely above a whisper.
She hesitated for a second, looking at me with concern, but nodded and retrieved it.
I could barely lift my hands, but I forced my fingers to move, slowly typing into the search bar.
"Classroom of the Elite Island Special Exam rules"
…And that's when I found it.
The actual rules of the exam.
The ones I never read.
I stared at the screen in shock.
"Oh my god… I'm an idiot."
Baka, baka, baka!
There were so many things I had missed. So many rules and mechanics that explained why my class was failing.
I started reading more.
And more.
And more.
By the time I put my VR headset back on, I had an actual plan.
I wasn't going to lose again.
And if I did?
I'd just keep resetting until I figured it out.
Damn you, Ryuen Kakeru!
ㅤ
ㅤ
The moment the exam results were announced, I felt it.
A rush of relief. A sense of victory.
And an unbelievable amount of annoyance for Ryuen Kakeru.
I disliked that guy with every fiber of my being.
That smug bastard had made my life a living hell for so long—forcing me to reset over and over.
But now… I'd finally won.
"Ha… Haha… Hahahaha!" A choked, breathless laugh escaped my lips as I stared at the island. "Take that, you delinquent...something! I beat you! I actually beat you!"
I barely had time to celebrate before I noticed something weird.
The NPCs in my class… were staring at me.
No, not just staring.
They were moving.
Towards me.
Before I could react, I was swarmed.
"W-Wha—H-Hey, wait a minute—!"
"That was amazing!"
"You totally carried us!"
"I can't believe you figured out the perfect strategy!"
"Seriously, we would've lost if not for you!"
Too many voices. Too many characters.
It was overwhelming.
My face burned with embarrassment.
"Ahh~!"
Warm arms wrapped around me.
I froze.
An NPC, Ichinose Honami… was hugging me.
Hugging me.
"Good job!" Her voice was warm and full of admiration. "You really are incredible!"
My brain short-circuited.
Too close.
Too warm.
Too… real.
"W-Wha—! I-It's not like I did it for you guys or anything…! I just—" I stammered, my hands flailing as I tried to push her away— only for my arms to give out.
I… wasn't strong enough to push them away.
And before I could try again—
Something warm trailed down my cheek.
…Tears?
In the game?
I blinked.
More of them fell.
No… No, no, no—this was stupid! They were just NPCs! They weren't real! This wasn't real!
And yet…
I had never felt so wanted in my life.
So many voices praising me.
So many hands reaching out to me.
So many eyes… looking at me, smiling at me, acknowledging me.
For the first time in years…
I existed.
I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the emotions welling up inside me.
But it was too much.
A choked sob escaped my lips before I could stop it.
"I-I… I didn't do anything special…" My voice trembled, barely above a whisper.
Ichinose pulled back slightly, tilting her head with a gentle smile.
"Don't say that," she said softly. "You worked so hard. You deserve to be proud."
I stared at her.
And then at everyone else.
They were all looking at me with the same warmth in their eyes.
A warmth I had never felt before.
I bit my lip, hard, trying to stop the sobs from coming. But they kept spilling out anyway, one after another.
This…
This was all I ever wanted.
Friends.
People who cared.
Even if it wasn't real…
Even if this was just a game…
I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into the moment.
"...T-Thanks," I finally muttered, my voice cracking slightly.
Everyone smiled.
"Anytime."
Then—
[Cruise Ship Special Exam has begun.]
...h-huh?
ㅤ
ㅤ
Summer had finally arrived in the game.
I could have just skipped it, of course.
But before doing that, I logged out of VR and checked the forums to see if anything was interesting happening during this period.
I didn't really like visiting those sites.
Because every single time…
Every. Single. Time.
The first thing I saw was always some questionable content about the characters!
"W-WHAT?!"
How could people do this?! They're just NPCs!
So s-shameful!
My cheeks burned as I scrolled past it as fast as I could.
Scrolling through the forum, I finally found something actually useful—an easter egg.
Apparently, if you wanted to grind your Luck stat, you had to go to the Arcade in the game?!
"…Wait. Hold on. You're telling me… I have to play a game inside of a game?"
My brain stalled for a moment.
Wasn't this just like those nested boxes where you open one, and there's another inside… and then another… and another?!
Before I knew it, the Arcade became my favorite place to hang out whenever I had nothing to do.
The games there even changed from time to time, keeping things fresh!
Oji-san… You really went all out with this game, huh?
ㅤ
ㅤ
By now, I was closer to finishing the B Route.
With each new Special Exam, I tackled it the way I always did—by totally not c-cheating.
At this point, I had memorized most of the game's mechanics. I knew that for things like the Sports Festival, you couldn't just rely on luck—you actually needed enough Endurance, Strength, and other stats to win.
So, yeah. Grinding those stats was a thing.
But one day, System suddenly dropped some big news—
[A new update is coming! You'll be able to form a Party now.]
Wait, what?!
This new Party System lets you view NPC stats, just like your own. That meant you could strategically form a team to crush the Special Exams.
Considering how smart some NPCs could be, the AI technology was definitely going even further beyond now.
Naturally, my first Party member was Ichinose.
But… I also found out you could recruit characters from other classes if you raised their Favorability Points enough!
It was harder, sure.
But so worth it.
Hehehe… Now I could use them for my evil schemes!
Mwahaha— Ahem.
I mean, uh, totally wholesome and team-oriented strategies!
ㅤ
ㅤ
A Month passed.
With my Party, I had finally beaten the game.
I completed the Class B Route by ascending to Class A and taking its spot.
It took hundreds of retries, but whatever. I did it.
Finishing the game took me a whole month, but hey—thanks to skipping, I managed to clear three years' worth of content.
Who in their right mind would actually play through all that in real-time?!
Honestly, it was insane how much storage this VR game had.
But now, with B Route completed, I unlocked Class A Route.
And of course, I immediately started a new save.
This time, I could finally have Sakayanagi-san as a Party Member!
Seriously, this NPC is insane.
Not only does she carry me through every competition thanks to her ridiculous Intelligence stat, but she also feels... weird to talk to.
Like— I basically unlocked a boss as a party member!
Sometimes, I get the feeling she's smiling at me when I'm not looking, and it sends shivers down my spine.
But, uh… I'll survive.
Oh, and of course—
I made sure to max out Ichinose's points again so she'd stay in my Party.
Sorry, Class B, but I'm never giving Ichinose back.
Even if this is a different save.
ㅤ
ㅤ
Something was off.
I didn't notice it at first.
Recently, there was a new update—just a small one, or so Oji-san had claimed. It was supposed to "enhance the story" in some way.
I didn't think much of it.
At least, not until the third year started.
And suddenly—Class D was fighting back?
Wait. What?
They were supposed to be the bottom-feeders.
But now, they were actually… winning?
And then—she appeared.
Horikita Suzune.
A new antagonist, apparently.
And she was an absolute nightmare to deal with in Special Exams.
No matter what I tried, she was always one step ahead.
But that wasn't even the worst part.
She had some brown-haired NPC by her side at all times.
At first, I thought he was just some background character—the kind that follows important people around but never does anything.
It was like she had her own Party Member.
And that, honestly, freaked me out a little.
I had no idea how to deal with this.
So, naturally, I went straight to Oji-san for answers.
And what he told me was… strange.
Apparently, Class D wasn't fully programmed yet.
Most of their characters were still unfinished.
When I asked why, he just muttered something about a weird idea he had, but it wasn't something he could implement properly yet.
Which meant…
They were incomplete for now?
That made no sense! Why would you put unfinished characters into a game like this?!
Oji-san simply shrugged and told me that the upcoming DLC—set to release in a few months—would include the Class D Route and finally finish their characters.
I stared at him at that time, processing that information.
So, basically… Class D was some kind of work in progress, but they were still strong enough to mess with my run?!
Great. Just great.
Well, if things were getting weird, there was only one thing to do.
Gather information.
That was the one thing I was always good at.
If I didn't know something, I'd just find out.
So I started paying more attention to Class D, especially that brown-haired NPC who was always by Horikita's side.
His name, apparently, was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
…Not that it mattered much.
He didn't do anything.
He barely spoke—if at all.
And yet, every time he appeared, I could feel his eyes on me.
It was weird. Unsettling, even.
Like, sure, I get that NPCs are just part of the game. They follow their scripts. They have their designated roles.
But this guy?
He was different.
He just stood there.
Never commenting, never reacting, just… existing in the background like some kind of ghost.
It almost felt like he was unfinished, like his code was incomplete or his dialogue just wasn't properly written yet.
That made sense, considering what Oji-san said about Class D being incomplete.
So then, was he just some support character for Horikita?
That was the only explanation that made sense.
And if that was true, then that meant—
Even NPCs could work together.
That thought sent a weird chill down my spine.
It shouldn't have been possible. Normally, AI in games like this were designed to be independent unless their scripts told them otherwise.
But these two… they were always together.
Like a proper duo.
It made me uneasy.
And the villainess herself?
I didn't like dealing with her.
Not because she was hard to beat (which she was, by the way), but because every time I looked at her…
She resembled me a little.
Most characters had lighter hair colors—brown, blonde, strawberry-blonde, white, and even some shades of green and red. But Horikita?
She was the only one in the game with traditional Japanese black hair, just like me.
ㅤ
ㅤ
Wait.
Wait.
WAIT.
Horikita Suzune got expelled?!
What?! HOW?!
I stood frozen in place, staring at the notification as if the words would magically change if I glared hard enough.
But no. No matter how many times I blinked, the reality stayed the same.
Horikita Suzune was gone.
She wasn't in Class D.
She wasn't in school.
She wasn't anywhere.
Like she'd just been deleted from the game entirely.
At first, I thought maybe I was just seeing things. Maybe it was a bug or some weird glitch, so I did the only thing I could—
Reload the save and investigate.
Because there was no way she should've been expelled.
She was an absolute menace in Special Exams! She had no problem clearing them before!
So what the heck happened?!
Unfortunately… despite my genius detective skills—which mostly involved clearing the event and muttering, "What the heck?" repeatedly—I couldn't find an answer.
I went through the event logs with the secret password I stole from Oji-san and reviewed the Special Exams she participated in… but there was nothing.
Just an empty gap where she used to be.
Did her code just… break?
Did the game somehow delete her by accident?
I had no clue.
I wasn't a programmer, okay?! I had no idea how these things worked!
If I did, maybe I'd be Oji-san's apprentice or something, instead of standing here dumbfounded in my virtual classroom, scrolling through the dev log in confusion.
Well, nothing I can do here, anyway...
I checked my Party Menu.
Ichinose, Sakayanagi, Hirata…
Speaking of Hirata!
I still couldn't get over how tragic his backstory was!
Like, seriously! Oji-san, why did you do him so dirty?!
I mean, sure, I raised his Fav Points and recruited him into my Party because I wasn't heartless, but still!
That whole thing with his past, the way he kept smiling even though he was clearly suffering—?!
Ugh!
Next time I see Oji-san, I'm gonna have words.
I don't care how much of a genius he is—this was cruel!
…But first, I needed to figure out what happened to Horikita.
Because something about this just felt off.
I let out a soft sigh, rubbing my temples as I backed out of the menu.
Horikita was gone. I had no clue why. Oji-san, what did you do?! But fine, whatever. I'll figure it out later. This game was my life after all.
For now, I just needed some fresh air. Or, well—as fresh as VR air could get.
With that thought, I turned on my heel and walked toward the door.
WHAM.
I slammed straight into a wall.
What the—?!
—Or at least, that's what it felt like.
I staggered back as if I had just headbutted solid concrete.
Did the game just bug out again?!
I blinked rapidly, shaking my head as my vision adjusted—only to see that it wasn't a wall.
It was a character.
A familiar NPC stood in front of me, completely unmoving.
Brown hair. Blank stare. Support character.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
"...What?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.
What was he doing here?!
He was never supposed to be in this area. He was supposed to be with Horikita, but—she was gone.
So why was he still here?
I stared at him.
He stared back.
No reaction. No voice and dialogue box. Nothing.
Just standing there.
Watching.
Forget it. I was just overthinking. Probably just some dumb pathing error or something.
Without another word, I quickly sidestepped around him, heading straight for the menu—
And reset my save.
ㅤ
ㅤ
I let out a deep breath, stretching my arms.
Alright. Good start. No bugs. No weird NPCs standing around staring at me.
This time, I wasn't going to waste time—I beelined straight for Class D.
If Horikita really was gone from my last save, then… maybe she was still here in an earlier one?
As I arrived, I scanned the area, my eyes darting between the familiar NPCs walking around the virtual campus.
And then—
There she was.
Horikita Suzune.
Perfectly fine.
Alive, standing with her arms crossed, looking as unbothered as ever.
I blinked.
What.
I took a hesitant step forward, glancing around to make sure this wasn't some sort of weird hallucination before approaching her.
"…Hey," I started cautiously. "What's up with you? You keep disappearing."
Her eyes flicked toward me, her gaze sharp.
"…Excuse me?"
I swallowed. Why was she already glaring at me?
"You were gone. Expelled, I think?" I continued for some reason, "And then I reset my save, and now you're just… standing here like nothing happened."
The NPC let out a quiet sigh, looking at me like I just said something incredibly stupid.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she said flatly. "If you're just here to waste my time, then leave."
I frowned. "No, but—"
"You've been standing there staring at me for an uncomfortable amount of time," she cut in, her tone dry. "If you have something important to say, say it. Otherwise, stop lurking like some suspicious stalker."
I winced.
W-Wow. Okay. Rude.
I opened my mouth to argue, but then I remembered.
…Right.
This was Horikita Suzune.
She always talked like this. Sharp. Blunt. Kind of terrifying.
She wasn't exactly the friendly type.
Still, this was so weird.
If I hadn't reset, she would've been gone.
But here she was. Completely normal.
I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to figure out what to do next.
And that's when it started.
A strange, sinking sensation.
It was subtle at first—a faint dizziness, like I had stood up too fast.
Then, a weight settled in my chest.
I frowned, blinking rapidly as my vision blurred for a moment. What the—?
"Are you just going to stand there all day?"
The Vilainess' voice cut through the haze, sharp as ever.
I tried to focus, but—
Something was… wrong.
The world around me seemed darker.
Not in a normal way, like the sun was setting, but like the colors were bleeding away.
Like the game itself was… fading.
W-What's happening?
ㅤ
—"BP dropping fast! We're losing her!"
ㅤ
I whipped my head around, suddenly feeling incredibly uneasy.
But there was no one there.
Just the familiar digital walls of the school. The NPCs moving in the background.
Horikita, still eyeing me with that sharp expression.
ㅤ
—"Get this helmet off her!"
ㅤ
"You're acting strange," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Did you hit your head?"
I tried to laugh it off, but my throat felt dry.
ㅤ
—"No time! Focus!"
ㅤ
"I just… I feel kind of weird," I admitted, pressing a hand against my temple. My head was pounding.
ㅤ
—"She's going into cardiac arrest! Get the crash cart, now!"
ㅤ
I staggered back, suddenly struggling to breathe.
The game was still running. The HUD still displayed my party—Ichinose, Sakayanagi, Hirata.
But something about it felt off.
Like I wasn't supposed to be here.
L-Like I was slipping.
ㅤ
—"Charging! Clear!"
ㅤ
A sharp, jarring shock tore through me—except, it wasn't in the game.
It was everywhere.
Like my whole body had been yanked by something I couldn't see.
I gasped, my knees buckling as the world tilted—
My vision flickered.
Horikita took a step forward, her expression unreadable.
"...You're pale," The NPC muttered, frowning slightly. "What's wrong with you?"
I wanted to answer.
I really did.
But my tongue felt heavy. My limbs felt numb.
Like my virtual body wasn't listening to me anymore.
I fell into her arms.
ㅤ
—"Come on, stay with us! We're losing her pulse again!"
ㅤ
No, no, no. I'm right here. I'm—
The screen flickered again, the edges of my vision turning black.
The Vilainess' voice felt distant.
Everything was slipping away.
...So dark.
Heavy.
Hard to think.
Did I... fall?
Cold.
Why is it so—
—so slow.
So quiet.
Wasn't I... talking to someone?
Wasn't I just—
...I don't...
...O-Oji-san...
...H-Help...
I can't...
Oh.
I t-think...
I—
I—
I w-want...
...to l-live...