Chapter 1184 - This is Fine in Its Own Way
— A few minutes later.
"So? What ended up happening to you in the end, Kanata?"
"Eh, yes, um..."
Although I was instantly knocked out by the inescapable, limit-breaking Yamato Nadeshiko power, as a single man who indeed has someone he likes—or rather, definitely, definitely, definitely has—I couldn't just stay all lovey-dovey.
Therefore, recovering quickly, returning a move from my side as well, and squeezing out my mental strength to pull back my composure, I turned my attention to my junior number two, whose appearance had not changed.
And so, Kanata was slightly bewildered by my forced transition.
After letting out a faint bitter smile and looking over there... namely, at the sight of Sora-san, whom I had offered up as a substitute, enduring on the verge of reaching her limit while being fussed over by the Sword Saint-sama (Large).
The boy, whose gender remained unknown to this day, looked over his own 'appearance' again.
"Um... my face hasn't changed, right?"
To make matters worse, there was no such clever thing as a hand mirror in this place. Since he asked that question for that reason, I nodded along with Tetra, my accomplice in leaving Sora behind in the jaws of death.
If I were to add a note,
"Ah, no, only your eye color has changed."
"Yeah. They're red."
And yet, that was indeed the only extent of the change. From his original hazel to crimson-like red eyes... a difference from his 'outside' self that was so faint, it was uncertain whether it could even be called a characteristic part.
"That's the wearing one, right? [Trance]?"
In other words, it hadn't changed so much that it wouldn't be surprising to accidentally overlook it. Since I had somehow lost confidence in various things, I asked back, and after Kanata remained silent for a few seconds,
"......Yes. It's the wearing one."
With a nod, Kanata himself nodded with a puzzled look.
Of course. Even I would think 'Eh???' if I rolled a different-person gacha or a different-race gacha and ended up as myself (a plain human). It was only natural that he looked bewildered.
—Furthermore, due to the circumstance that all equipment was temporarily confiscated upon entering the Second World, everyone's attire, including mine, was unified into the initial costume.
In other words, the male or female gender of the avatar could be determined by the design of the clothes...
"......" "......"
"U-Um...? What is it?"
Or so I thought, but.
"......Somehow, it's quite stylish, isn't it? The initial costume."
"Kanata, is that a custom design?"
Unable to distinguish.
To put it simply, the design of the initial clothes Kanata was wearing was different from both the male (mine) and female (Sora's) ones. No, the atmosphere was similar, but the shape didn't lean toward either.
It was beautifully in the middle. An exquisite balance that could be taken as either for men or for women.
"Eh, ah, yes. ...Um, I used to dabble in clothing design as a hobby."
"Hmm. Not bad. Couldn't you do crafting over here too?"
Well, in short, that was how it was.
The various pre-registrations required when registering as an Arcadia player. Although avatar creation is performed in parallel with the inspection of personal data and so on, I certainly remember that something like a customization setting for the initial costume also existed.
It existed, but... since I felt an atmosphere that was completely different from the simple selection of common games, it was nothing other than an extremely high-threshold element that the me of that time decided to pretend I didn't see.
Because it normally asked for a blueprint. Of course that's impossible—
Anyway,
"No, no, I'm pretty much at an amateur level, so..."
"Who are you being humble to?"
Just as Tetra was admiring, it was quite a splendid skill.
As always, it suited his exquisitely androgynous physique perfectly, combined with a cute face that made him look like he barely passed as a boy (male), or perhaps it just felt like he did.
In other words, in the end, I seriously don't know.
Once it got to this point, it was probably better to accept it as an intentional character role. If so, I should also refrain from prying deeply, just as I had done until now.
"So, what ended up being the model for that? Even though it's exactly the same."
"Right. It's almost human... maybe a vampire or something?"
Deciding to forget useless questions as useless, I picked up a question about the system-related content that didn't require any particular consideration. I tilted my head along with Tetra, but...
No, I seriously don't know about that either. There are too few hints...
"Hmm... I don't have fangs either."
If so, the highly likely model of vampire that Tetra brought up was denied. In the white teeth that peeked out from his speaking mouth, there was certainly no sharpness seeking blood to be seen.
His skin hadn't acquired a sickly paleness either. Although it was on the fairer side by male standards, it was still within a healthy range. If that's the case... — No, I really can't think of anything anymore.
"I wonder what it is. I think it's themed around demi-humans or phantasmal races, like Ui-san or the Princess... Kanata, is there any other sense of discomfort?"
It seemed junior number one felt the same as me. Of course she would.
"......If an 'oni' exists as a model, then monsters or apparitions are also within the scope of Trance motifs, right? If so... an apparition that is exactly like a human... —"
And so, after Kanata thought for a while...
"................Could it be a doppelganger, or something?"
"Eh...?" "Eh...?"
At the prediction he spilled, looking half-doubtful himself, Tetra and I voiced our doubts in unison.
No, I mean, could that really happen...?
If it were the kind of content where some special ability is granted depending on the model, that would be one thing, but Arcadia's Transformation System is a simple status-fluctuation type element.
If anything, the highlight could be said to be the dramatic change in appearance.
Even so, what was up with a doppelganger? Such a thing was far beyond rivaling a certain Princess whose ears only changed... how should I put it, um...
Although I certainly couldn't say it Verbally to him, it was like, zero fun, or something.
For example, although I have certainly suffered countless mental burdens related to my transformed body, it would definitely be a lie to say that I haven't enjoyed it in its own way.
It's not that I directly enjoy being 'cute', but spending time with the appearance of a completely different person in its own way produces an indescribable sense of excitement.
A similar feeling is probably something that everyone who has acquired either Transformation or Trance has experienced to a greater or lesser extent—but, probably, or rather, definitely...
"Ah, um... well, yeah. It's rare?... there's no doubt about that, yeah."
"W-Well, if you say it suits you, I guess it suits you. It's very like you, Kanata."
Unfortunately, it seemed junior number two could not hope for that.
It seemed I wasn't the only one who felt pity for him, and together with Tetra, who was uncharacteristically showing obvious consideration, we desperately and inevitably tried to back him up, but I wished I had more vocabulary.
"No, um, well, yes... — ah, haha... this is fine in its own way."
That being said, as far as I could see, he didn't seem to care much. In his face, which smiled in a troubled way while blinking his only changed red eyes, at least no sense of misery could be seen.
"If my physique or balance were to change drastically, it would be fatal for the operation of my Anima... so thinking practically, I'm actually relieved that there's no sense of discomfort."
While saying so, he cast his gaze over there—specifically, at Adult Ui-san, whose physique and physical balance had indeed drastically changed—as he connected plausible words.
...Well, that also makes sense, or rather, it's a fact.
For my part, until I got used to this small, slender, lightweight girl's body with limbs shorter than my 'outside' self, well... I really, really had a hard time.
I couldn't read whether it was his true feelings or just putting on a brave face, but if he said it was fine, then it was fine.
—Then, it's about time.
"Now... Tetra, how do you think we should cut in?"
"I don't know. She's Senpai's partner, so Senpai should save her."
"Kanata, do something."
"Eh, that's impossible. Since I'm a doppelganger."
"What does that even mean???"
Shall we go rescue the limit-reached Angel-sama, who was made into a substitute and is now gasping for breath?
A doppelganger, huh. I see.
Well, as expected, you can pretty much tell by now.