Accel World (先飞看刀)

On the following day, Thursday after school, afternoon 2:50pm.

Haruyuki was hurriedly walking towards an area of the school that he did not remember going too often in his one year of school life.

Umesato middle school was built like very old traditional schools where the normal cla.s.sroom building is connected to the special cla.s.sroom building by the sports building in a H shape.

In the horizontal part of that H shape, beside the gym that held the school entrance ceremony, was the martial arts gym that Haruyuki was aiming for. Of course, he was not going to join the judo club to work his overweight body. If there was a «Special Forces Club» that taught shooting and martial arts, then he might have thought about joining, but unfortunately those did not exist.

In the first place, it was not Haruyuki who wished to join a club, instead Tak.u.mu was today"s main focus.

When he neared the martial arts gym, from inside already came echoes of discrete cheering, and dry impact sounds that overwrote those. He took off his indoor shoes and put them in the bag he brought, then stepped onto the polished wooden floor.

In the line of not too many visitors, he spotted the familiar short-haired back of the head, and Haruyuki jogged near. Chiyuri who turned around, instantly pouted and complained in a small voice.

"Haru, you"re late! Ta-kun has already finished one match!"

"Sorry. But it should have been an instant win, for the first match."

"Well, that is true."

He looked away from Chiyuri"s puffed up face, and stood on tiptoes to look around, then in the line of kendo members sitting with defensive armor, he soon spotted his childhood friend with a strikingly cool appearance. He might have seen Haruyuki at the same time, as he made a small movement with his right hand.

After returning a slight nod, Haruyuki turned his attention towards the match area.

"Eaaaa!"

"Shieee!"

Two slender members, vigorously attacked each other with their shinai. The high pitched fervor, and their straps being green, meant they were probably both 1st year students.

Today, is Umesato middle school kendo club all member partic.i.p.ation tournament battle. In the name of selecting regular and semi-regular members, but it also seem to have the goal of allowing new members to bash the uppercla.s.smen"s power. Umesato middle school has an exclusive use dojo, so the kendo club is somewhat strong traditionally, and this year about ten people seem to have joined. In that, there was only one 2nd year new member, which is Tak.u.mu.

While Tak.u.mu personally wanted to devote all his time to Nega Nebulas, but Kuroyukihime strongly remonstrated that. "Don"t mix all your real life with Brain Burst", after his worshiped «Master» told him that, the kendo that was always inside of Tak.u.mu was renewed, and he wanted to do it here as well, so this spring he finally handed in the club joining application form.

To Haruyuki"s understanding, the reason Tak.u.mu invited Chiyuri and him to this tournament was to show his decision that: even if he lost, he would not use «Acceleration» in kendo again. That was also the reason why Haruyuki stepped into the sports territory that he was truly intimidated by.

"Body hit, winner decided!"

With the echo of the advising teacher"s voice, Haruyuki"s thoughts were interrupted.

After returning to the start line, one 1st year student who lowered his shinai, with undisguised chagrin and stumbling footsteps, returned to the line of members. On the other hand, the student that seemed to have won, turned his strikingly slender body around, and left the match area without a sound.

Haruyuki who made a "Hmm" sound as he chased that slender back with his eyes, was interrupted by the teacher"s voice that came next.

"Second round, first match! Red, Takagi. White, Mayuzumi!"

Then, two students stood up. Takagi was a 3rd year student, and Mayuzumi— Tak.u.mu, was of course 2nd year. They were about the same in height, but for body size, Takagi was much larger.

After bowing to each other, they stepped forward three steps to the starting line. Haruyuki stared at the shape of Tak.u.mu who held his shinai straight in the middle.

Thinking back, this was his first time seeing Tak.u.mu wearing a kendo uniform with his real eyes. Of course he had seen recordings of matches uploaded to the net, but the amount of information was definitely different from the live scene. The weight of the black shining shinai they use, the hardness of the uniforms, and he seem to even smell the scent of the defensive equipment, so he involuntarily swallowed.

For those kendo partic.i.p.ants that did not change for over 100 years, the only differences were the more shiny face mask, and the Neuro Linker peeking out from under it.

For different kind of sports matches, it was not that long ago that they were allowed to partic.i.p.ate while wearing a Neuro Linker.

The reason for that, was mainly to display points obtained and match time overlay in the view, but especially for kendo and fencing, it was used for effective judgement purpose. The few hundredths of a second difference being common impact timings, using the Neuro Linker senses feedback function, that was easily determined.

Naturally, during matches it is strictly checked for use of outside applications and Global Net connection. But, there is one super program that can easily stay undetected by this kind of surveillance. Without needing to be said, that is of course «Brain Burst».

During last year"s summer Tokyo middle school kendo tournament, Tak.u.mu used «Acceleration» ability to win first place as a 1st year student. However for that reason he used up too much Burst Points, and was in danger of losing Brain Burst, so he was finally cornered into putting a virus into Chiyuri"s Neuro Linker to rob points from Kuroyukihime— aka Black Lotus.

The regret for that action, even after Chiyuri and Kuroyukihime forgave him, right now he still had that stain inside of him.

However, returning to kendo gym like this, Tak.u.mu finally took a new step forward, Haruyuki felt it like that.

"Ta-ku~n! Knock him flying—!!"

While shrinking involuntarily from Chiyuri"s unreserved cheer beside him, Haruyuki also put out as much sound as he could.

"Ta-Taku! Fight Hard!!"

Against the 3rd year Takagi-something opponent, Tak.u.mu won superbly after getting hit once.

He easily won the next quarter finals. And he also won the semi finals from judgement, and advanced to the finals.

However, the talk of the tournament was not Tak.u.mu, it was the 1st year student who advanced through the tournament with all two hit surprisingly strong wins.

"Gl...Glove hit! Winner decided!!"

The advisor"s slightly higher sound, was overlayed with loud commotions. "There is an incredible 1st year" kind of rumor went through the Local Net and spread out, and even though it was after school, in about ten minutes, the area surrounding the match arena was almost full of students.

Not even showing that he noticed any of that, the 1st year student that returned to the starting line with a sliding walk, was the slender partic.i.p.ant that Haruyuki saw in the first match. The number tag on him was marked with the name Noumi.

The height, was at most 155cm. The body structure was also small, and compared to the large built uppercla.s.smen, it was like adult and child, where a match was unthinkable.

However, they could not hit him. The high speed hits from 3rd year students, almost unseen by Haruyuki"s flesh eyes, were lightly dodged by his reaction as if he predicted them. Or he matched the hits with his own hits.

According to Haruyuki"s vague understanding of kendo, before the opponent started attacking, or finished attacking, it"s not a completion that can easily get in a hit that counts. The early one is called front of front, and the late one is call front of behind, that means, how fast you can react to the enemy attack, will determine the fight.

With that point in mind, it was as if the 1st year Noumi had an ability beyond the rest.

That"s right— Ability.

"Final match!! Red, Noumi! White, Mayuzumi!"

With the advising teacher"s sound, Noumi and Tak.u.mu advanced towards the match arena. Loud cheers rose from the gallery.

The relatively tall Tak.u.mu for a middle school student, and Noumi who could only look like a elementary school student, had close to 20cm difference in height. Even without thinking, the advantage is with Tak.u.mu. Their reach is totally different. But, thus far for opponents bigger than Noumi, he had won them all without taking a single hit.

The two bowed to each other, then stepped to the starting line holding their shinai, as most of the gallery who felt something was suddenly swallowed by silence. For Haruyuki, he could almost see blue white sparks coming out of the sword tips of the two facing each other.

"Begin!!"

—Right after that sound echo, two shouts and one impact sound crossed the wide kendo gym.

The first one to move was Tak.u.mu, as Haruyuki thought he saw. While standing he leaned forward, with an "Meeeen!" psyche as he attacked. With a barely within reach distance aiming for the opponent"s head, an unforgiving blow. Noumi who has short reach could not counter attack, that was what it was supposed to be like.

However, quicker than Tak.u.mu"s shinai could hit.

"Teeee!"

With that instant of psyche, Noumi"s shinai hit Tak.u.mu"s left glove. And a loud *Baan!* impact resounded, strong enough to even cause big ripples in the air.

Tak.u.mu tried to chase in for a collar hit, but that already gave Noumi enough time to raise his shinai high.

"Glove hit!"

With that sound and the rise of the red flag, finally the gallery and the over 30 members were in commotion. Beside Haruyuki, Chiyuri with eyes wide also said "Unbelievable!".

Haruyuki also felt that he could only say "No way".

The first one to move was Tak.u.mu, that was without doubt.

And then, he was attacking the face of the opponent that was barely within his own reach. During that attack, his glove was. .h.i.t, how could that happen? That meant Noumi completely grasped the timing and path of Tak.u.mu"s attack, and followed that prediction to place his shinai «ahead»— it could only logically be that way. Not front of front, or front of behind. It could only be said to be «front of middle».

Haruyuki forgot to even blink momentarily, and wondered if this was the real world or the virtual world.

If it was the virtual world— the electronic world where everything is decided by the brain"s reaction speed, then that kind of reaction was possible. However for the real world, different kind of movements are restricted by physical laws. Inertia that holds the heavy body still, nerve transmission speed, muscle contraction speed and others put into consideration, seeing the attack then swinging the sword before the attack occurs is not possible, absolutely.

With just one exception that a limited number of people have for «ability».

While feeling his tightly held fists wet with sweat, Haruyuki stared at the two that again faced each other at the starting line.

"Second round!"

This time, it was a completely opposite developement than the first round. Tak.u.mu held his shinai horizontally, and faced the opponent. The eyes in his face mask were sharp as a blade, and his mouth was stiff.

On the other hand, Noumi who moved his sword tip up and down softly, did not seem to have any tension. Haruyuki could not see his face due to backlight, but there seem to be a thin smile on his lips.

Ten seconds. Twenty seconds.

Without either of them attacking, just time pa.s.sed.

Haruyuki opened both eyes wide, and just continued concentrating all his nerves on Noumi"s face.

If Haruyuki"s reasoning, or bad premonition was correct, then at some point in time, Noumi"s mouth will move slightly. In a sound volume that no one could hear, to sing a short command.

To the two that was still other than the clock moving *Tick tick*, the advising teacher finally took a deep breath.

However, when he was going to say "Wait", right before that—

Suddenly Noumi raised his shinai with not a terribly fast speed.

And then Haruyuki finally saw it. Noumi"s mouth, slightly and quickly opened and closed.

—Without a doubt.

The Acceleration command.

The 1st year student called Noumi, the Neuro Linker on his neck contained the mysterious super application «Brain Burst», and he was a Burst Linker.

"DOOoooo!"

At the instant that Noumi raised his shinai, Tak.u.mu cut towards the opened up bosom.

At the same time Haruyuki also shouted in his mouth.

"Burst Link!"

With a *Vishiiii!* sound, the world was frozen in blue color.

With his 1000 time sped up senses, he saw Tak.u.mu"s shinai slowly moved towards Noumi"s trunk. No matter how you look at it, this attack could not possibly be dodged or defended by Noumi. That"s right, even if he also «Accelerated» at that moment.

With his pink pig avatar, Haruyuki entered the match arena and peeked through the blue face mask of Noumi. Unfortunately it was beyond the range of the Social Camera, so the actual face could not be seen. But, just the smiling mouth was recreated by polygon.

While gazing at that face, Haruyuki used his left hand to start the Brain Burst console.

This 1st year student Noumi, how he managed to evade Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime"s check after the school entrance ceremony was unknown. However right now, during the match his Neuro Linker must be connected to the Umesato middle school Local Net, then this Noumi"s name must also appear on the matching list.

—At this moment, I will «Duel» him.

Haruyuki decided that while he waited for the list to refresh. Noumi clearly used Acceleration ability in the kendo club"s match. Then probably, in the academic ability test next week he would also do that. However for Umesato middle school Burst Linkers, Haruyuki must teach him the "During tests and matches, «Acceleration» is not allowed" iron rule of Nega Nebulas. If necessary, he will use virtual fists.

After the searching finished, in the list, Silver Crow, Black Lotus, Cyan Pile, and then Lime Bell popped up on the display.

"What...!?"

While his right hand was extended towards the list, Haruyuki heavily panted.

Not there.

Noumi"s name was not there. The list was same as that day before, with only four known Burst Linker names on it!

"Wh...y?"

He whispered while dumbfounded.

He did not think he was mistaken. Probably Tak.u.mu also thought that this Noumi was a Burst Linker, so he attacked without waiting in the first round. So he won"t give Noumi any time to sing the Acceleration command.

No way, is this the reappearance of the backdoor program that Tak.u.mu used half year ago?, he thought like that for an instant, but soon negated it. That program was used as a stepping stage for someone from outside, in the Global Net, to connect to.

However, at this moment, Noumi is actually in the Umesato middle school"s kendo gym. Then without doubt he should be connected to the school Local Net, and thus should appear on the matching list, absolutely.

Haruyuki crossed the pig avatar"s two short arms, hung his head down, and desperately turned this thinking wheels. It took him a full minute to sort out the three possibilities that could explain this situation.

The truth should definitely be one of these. But, no matter which, unexplained parts remained.

While experiencing hard to say bad feelings and impatience, Haruyuki had a long sigh. Right now thinking more than that was pointless. He would need to discuss it later with Tak.u.mu and others.

Before he stopped the blue world and returned to his real body, Haruyuki stared at Noumi"s shape once again.

He might be recklessly aiming for Tak.u.mu"s face, with his shinai floating high above as he was about to jump. And Tak.u.mu"s timing in his attack on the body, was perfect even in the untrained eye of Haruyuki.

Even if Noumi was a Burst Linker, or a kendo genius, or both, there was no longer anything he could do. Haruyuki wanted to look at Tak.u.mu getting a solid hit with his flesh eyes, so he shouted the Acceleration stop command while his eyes were wide open.

"Burst Out!"

From far away, the sounds of reality closed in. At the same time, color returned to the blue world. Tak.u.mu and Noumi"s movements, slowly, slowly returned to normal speed—

"...!?"

And then Haruyuki, was again shocked for the umpteenth number of time in the past few minutes.

Noumi"s body shifted right.

It could not be called the level of footwork. Noumi"s foot, only the left tip was in contact with the match arena. Even so, with that one point as axis, the small body spun left like a figure skater, and slid right. From Tak.u.mu"s shinai"s chase, the body ran away, and escaped...

At that point, Haruyuki"s senses" acceleration was fully canceled.

Tak.u.mu"s shinai hit Noumi"s body with a *slap*. But, it was too light.

Right after, Noumi"s extended shinai that lashed out, caught Tak.u.mu"s face mask with pin-point precision.

With a right foot step hard on the floor, he slashed down like that.

"NMEeaaa!!"

After that psyche, was a concentrated hit that could not be complained about.

Within the kendo gym that was returned to full silence, eventually the words "Face hit!" echoed.

"...Winner decided!!"

From Haruyuki"s hand, the bag with his indoor shoes dropped down.