Right after logging in, we had a quick banter among ourselves. There was not even a shadow of the insecure air present from this morning.

“Well, how to say it. Today, A~h, I’m sorry for having this strange air with me…”

“No, it’s fine. I can understand! Um, I know, it’s due to what you call the ‘boy’s day,’ right?”

[T.L. note: Probably referring to the contrast of ‘Girl’s day’ a.k.a Girl’s time of the month. Please understand with this. (ㆆ_ㆆ)]

“Ha? What even is that?”

“Now, now~. At this time, it’s gaming, so just play. Get rid of that uncomfortable feeling by playing games!”

“Hey, hold your horses! Aren’t you getting something wrong here?!”

“Fu~hi~hi~, no need for excuses now~.”

Somehow, it felt like everything I’ve built up until now was completely ruined. However, even if something were to happen in the real world, all of it gets restored as soon as we’re in-game and have a small conversation where we can exchange words more frankly. 

But I also think that it is because we were like this. You can also call it a strong bond between us. That’s why somehow, I came to terms with it in my own way.

“So then, what do you want to do now?”

“A, aha… So you did know all about it already…”

“That’s…”

Philia-san has this habit of changing avatar costumes, often saying that she wants to put her energy into challenging powerful bosses with high-difficulty content. In other words, the dress she just wore must have been due to some change of mood or something similar.

The Philia-san inside the screen does not have any doubts about herself, which is quite in contrast to Hiyori’s conflicting attitude.

“…Um, what do you think of me in real life?”

“Black, fidgety and plain.”

“Aha~ha~, so harsh~, but that’s exactly so. By the way, do you remember what I said to you last time?”

“Is it that you have completely different impressions in-game and in real life?”

“Un~ verily.”

That day, when I invited her to Karaoke Celery, it was probably the reason why Hiyori hesitated.

Those words were certainly true, and it genuinely astonished me. I don’t think I can forget it.

“You know, I want to change who I am now.”

It was perhaps an inherent desire or probably a declaration she brought unto herself.

Suddenly, I thought of the Philia-san who plays with me in-game, and consequently, I remembered Hiyori-san who hides behind someone at school, being quiet in one corner. Then it felt like something started falling in that with a thump.

I started to feel that it was dazzling.

“I see… Well then, if you have something you want me to help you with, just tell me. I’ll cooperate.”

“Really!? Then, I have an immediate request to make…”

“What is it?”

“I want you to teach me mathematics…”

“Pu … ku, aha~ha~ha~ha~ha !!”

Although I prepared myself for it, at the end of the day, it still turned out to be something that Philia-san would say. I just couldn’t stop myself from laughing. The laughter was so loud that it probably even reached the room next door, as there was a barrage of messages containing “Mou!” and angry emojis appearing on the screen. A quiet laughter comes from the room next door as our laughter overlapped with each other.

“So, what do you not understand?”

“Well, that’s…”

As a result, the gaming period turned into a study session via the in-game chat column.