Chapter 19: Virtual Reality Part 2

I tasted blood. I hadn’t cut the inside of my mouth, but my breathing was so ragged and harsh it felt like it was scraping my throat raw. That might have been why.

I ran from her at top speed. It was a bad idea, I knew it was a bad idea, but I glanced back while sprinting.

“Hahahahahahahahaha!”

“Eek!”

My maniacal pursuer was closing in fast.

Somehow, I’d managed to get the salt of purification. Now all that was left was to sprinkle it on the ‘Promised Coffin.’

It was at that moment. A zombie suddenly appeared from around the corner in front of me.

“Gha—”

“You’re in the way! Move!”

The zombie was trying to groan something, but I didn’t have time for that. I shoved it aside carelessly and resumed my escape.

A mere zombie was no longer a threat. There was something far more terrifying.

I’m so close! The goal is right there!

How did it come to this?!

♦︎

With the declaration that the game had started, we were transported to the abandoned hospital stage. My starting position was a hallway in the inpatient ward. The hallway lights flickered—b-blink, b-b-blink—making a soft sound. From a distance, I could hear some kind of warning klaxon: BEEP BEEP BEEP.

Ten minutes had already passed while I wandered around alone. I’d managed to find the salt of purification with surprising ease, without ever encountering a zombie. It came in a cylindrical container labeled ‘Crazy Salt.’

Wait a minute. ‘Crazy Salt’ is a superior seasoning blend containing a fine balance of onion, garlic, celery, and thyme. It is decidedly not for use in exorcisms.

Even ‘Crazy Salt’ itself probably didn’t anticipate being used in such a crazy way.

Besides the ‘Crazy Salt,’ I had picked up a handgun, some bullets, a rope, and a bunch of other stuff, but no ghosts or zombies ever appeared.

“Shin-chan!”

As I was walking along, shaking the ‘Crazy Salt,’ a voice suddenly called out from behind me.

I spun around instantly and held the Crazy Salt at the ready. If she laid a hand on me, the onion, garlic, celery, and thyme wouldn’t stay silent. I’d sprinkle them on her in a well-balanced manner!

The person standing there was Momoyama.

(Oh, crap! It’s a boss battle right off the bat! If I lose, it’s a sex ending! There’s no way I can lose!)

I immediately tried to run, but something seemed off about Momoyama.

“Wait! Don’t go!”

Trembling, Momoyama staggered toward me.

Then, she weakly threw her arms around me.

“Please, don’t… don’t leave me alone!”

Momoyama pleaded, her eyes filled with tears as she shivered. I’m so used to seeing girls who are either insanely powerful or just plain insane that it’s been a while since I’ve seen one looking so vulnerable. It was cute.

“Momoyama, are you bad with scary stuff?”

I was unconsciously patting Momoyama’s head. Her appearance, which made me want to protect her like a small animal, was kind of turning me on.

“Yeah. I’m sorry for being so useless, Shin-chan.” Momoyama looked down apologetically, still trembling.

“It’s okay, Momoyama! In fact, the way you’re cowering is actually helpful, since you’re not going berserk!”

“What’s that supposed to mean, Shin-chan?”

Even while trembling, Momoyama narrowed her eyes and glared at me.

Supporting Momoyama, we walked side-by-side down the hospital corridor.

The hallway seemed to stretch on much further, but maybe because we’d reached the halfway point, a nurse’s station came into view.

At the same time, a groan of “Uvwaaaaaaaah” echoed through the hall.

“Eek! What?! What was that?!”

“Wait here, Momoyama. I’ll go check it out.”

I cautiously approached the nurse’s station counter, got down on all fours, and peeked over the top.

Just as I’d imagined—a zombie. Its back was to me so I couldn’t see well, but it looked like it was devouring a fallen person near a table in the back of the station.

But that corpse was probably fake—just a set-piece. That zombie would keep devouring that object forever until we entered its line of sight. So, as long as we stayed here, we wouldn’t be attacked. We were safe, actually. It would have been a pain if it were a roaming zombie.

Realizing we were safe, the tension left me and I sat down on the floor with a plop.

In that instant.

I was pushed down and attacked.

By Momoyama.

“I can’t! I can’t take it anymore! You on all fours with your butt sticking out like that is just too cute, Shin-chan❤︎ Okay? Can I eat that butt? Can I sprinkle some Crazy Salt on it and eat it?”

She’s just like a zombie.

“Calm down, Momoyama! And anyway, weren’t you scared?!”

“Compared to your butt, Shin-chan, my own life and death don’t matter!”

Craaaaaaazy!

To choose a butt over your own life, that’s Crazy Momoyama for you!

Prioritizing the D over death, is that it?

Is this really the time for jokes?!

Momoyama’s glazed-over eyes slowly drew closer.

“Shin-chan… I love you…”

Close enough to feel her hot breath on my skin, Momoyama closed her eyelids.

As her glossy lips were about to meet mine, I steeled my resolve and told her.

“Momoyama… I li–ke this opening!”

I deftly snatched the red-rimmed glasses off her face.

“Aah! Shin-chan, what are you doing?!”

While Momoyama was flustered, I slipped out from under her. I guess the five senses system even replicates eyesight, because she couldn’t seem to see me very well. Still, she flailed her arms around desperately, trying to get her glasses back.

I sent the glasses sliding across the floor toward the nurse’s station. So long, glasses. Now Momoyama won’t be able to move as she plea—

“Ah,” a small voice escaped me.

The glasses, sliding in a perfect straight line, hit the zombie’s foot with a soft clink.

She probably couldn’t see it, but Momoyama’s face, having sensed something, was rapidly turning pale.

The zombie slowly turned toward us.

“Ah, uh, well, um, sorry to interrupt your meal~”

I made a chopping motion with my hand as if to say ciao, and tried to take my leave—

“……VUUUAAAAAAAHHH!”

“Whaaaaaaaah!”

The zombie started running toward us. Walk, you idiot! If you’re a zombie, shamble around!

I abandoned Momoyama, who was still searching for her glasses, and took off.

I heard a scream of “Noooooo!” from behind me, but this is a virtual world. I had no hesitation in leaving her behind.

Alright. That’s one pervert boss down!

I pumped my fist in a victory pose and moved on.

♦︎

I went down some stairs and, after some random, aimless searching, came to a sturdy-looking set of double doors. Above the doors was an indicator light that read ‘Surgery in Progress,’ but it was currently off.

I gently pushed the doors open.

“Whoa!”

The impossible sight made my legs give out, and I fell to a sitting position on the floor.

Red.

The walls, the floor, the ceiling—everything was smeared with dark red.

The floor was littered with zombies. But none of them seemed to be moving. They were all dead. Of course, being zombies, they probably weren’t breathing in the first place.

Did one of the student council members do this? Or is it some kind of stage gimmick?

Warily scanning my surroundings, I searched the inside of the operating room for any clues about the ‘Promised Coffin.’

I don’t think I let my guard down. I was sure there had been no one else in the operating room.

Despite that, I was embraced from behind by someone.

“Shinichi… huff, huff❤︎ I’ve caught you, Shinichi❤︎”

“Kaoru-senpai?! Whoa, your breathing is heavy! P-Please, calm down for a second!”

“Don’t be silly, Shinichi. I am calm. I have come to this decision to engage in amorous relations with a clear and rational mind.”

“That’s even worse!”

Kaoru-senpai’s slender, white arms were wrapped around my stomach from behind. I could feel the modest, yet soft and supple, elasticity of a girl’s body against my back. Her arms seemed so fragile, yet they held me in a tight lock I couldn’t escape.

“Kaoru-senpai! Please, reconsider! Even if this is virtual, doing, uh, that sort of thing is just—”

“I want!” Kaoru-senpai’s sharp voice cut me off. “I… want to know. The pain of the hymen…”

Kaoru-senpai smiled fleetingly.

She’s trying to create a serious mood, but this person just wants to have sex. She’s an undeniable pervert.

Kaoru-senpai’s hand moved toward my pants.

The hymen-pain system, which I thought would never be used, was about to be put into action.

“K-Kaoru-senpai! Wait! Please don’t be rash! Atmosphere is very important for sex!”

I threw out the first random thing that came to mind. But that one desperate remark seemed to have struck a chord with Kaoru-senpai.

“Atmosphere?” she asked, showing interest.

“Y-Yes! A romantic situation is an indispensable requirement for the act of love!”

“Is that so? But, Shinichi. You’re a virgin, aren’t you?”

Shut up! And how do you even know that?!

“…It is what has been passed down through ancient lore! You get a higher-quality session if you build up to it first with things like kissing and petting.”

What the hell is a ‘higher-quality session’?!

I was aware I was saying something ridiculous, but right now, I had to divert Kaoru-senpai’s attention away from me.

“I see,” Kaoru-senpai’s breath of admiration tickled my neck.

Alright, with this, I’ve avoided the ‘sex five seconds after meeting’ route—

“Then let us begin with a kiss.”

—OR NOT!

All that changed was going from ‘sex five seconds after meeting’ to ‘sex after foreplay’! It’s meaningless!

I wracked my brain, trying to think of a way to get away from Kaoru-senpai, but no good ideas came to mind. Before I knew it, I had been turned around to face her.

Our foreheads touched with a soft thump. Kaoru-senpai’s glossy black hair brushed against my cheek, tickling me slightly.

Her eyes were already melted and feverish. If we kissed, it wouldn’t stop there. And I might not be able to seriously resist her. That’s how beautiful Kaoru-senpai was.

(If only I could take away her sight, like with Momoyama—)

Just as I was about to give up, something flashed in my mind. It wasn’t a cool metaphor for inspiration, like a spark of electricity or a bolt of lightning; you could say it was more of a flashback to the sliding glasses from before. But in any case, a path had opened, so at this point, who cares what it was! Thank you, Momoyama’s glasses!

“Kaoru-senpai… it’s embarrassing when you stare at me. It’s good manners to close your eyes when you kiss.”

I wrapped my arms around Kaoru-senpai’s neck and whispered in a sweet voice. She opened and closed her mouth, speechless, her face contorting in ecstasy.

“H-How cute! Y-You’re right! Okay, I get it. I’ll close them. I just have to close my eyes.”

Kaoru-senpai closed her eyes and puckered her lips slightly.

I felt the corners of my mouth lift into a natural smirk.

Kaoru-senpai, you’re so cute.

I pressed it against her lips.

The muzzle of my gun.

“You shouldn’t do that, Kaoru-senpai. Believing someone so easily. You’re just too cute.”

“Sh-Shinifhi?!”

With the gun muzzle in her mouth, her face cramped up.

“Senpai, I hear you like a good shot. Here, I’ll give you one. On the house! Take my magnum.”

Her beautiful face turned pale in an instant. It was understandable. This was probably the first time she’d ever had a gun shoved in her face.

“W-Wait, wait, wait! Shinichi! I… I prefer the shaft—”