Mission 3, Part 4
Fushimi closed his eyes to bring back his memories, a.s.sociating finger movements to the Rubik’s Cubes spinning in his mind. He might have forgotten how to work the keyboard, but the rule of solving a Rubik’s Cube was deeply rooted in him.
“If the world bores you, why not construct it yourself? Reconstruct the order, principle, and framework of the world with your own hands.”
What I can use is but the rules established and pa.s.sed down by predecessors, Fushimi thought.
But the Blue King boasted that he’s going to create them himself. He didn’t think it’s boasting at all, and said it nonchalantly like it’s a matter of course.
“Amazing…” To be fascinated this wholeheartedly, as long as Fushimi could remember, had only happened twice in his life.
When he was little, that man played an actual Rubik’s Cube for him to see. In little Fushimi’s eyes, the cube spun round and round in those big hands, then magically the six faces were completed. Feeling compet.i.tive, he studied the rules of Rubik’s Cube and practiced. But by the time he can complete a cube at the same speed, that man already lost interest in this toy.
That man, Fushimi Niki, was truly a genius.
His wife Kisa, a successful career woman, exerted herself to reach her goal. But Niki was simply born with talents. Fushimi family lineage was gifted, yet he stood out even among the relatives. However, he never did one single thing that benefits the human society.
The only hobby he’s enthusiastic in was meddling with his young son, and then rolling on the floor laughing after he made his child really angry. It’s a sick amus.e.m.e.nt from any angle.
Taking a deep breath, Fushimi opened his eyes.
Combo attack of “lightning” attribute came from the green faces the opponent just completed. On the verge of death, Fushimi’s avatar’s life gauge flashed in red. NIKI’s avatar jumped up with arms in the air like cheering “hooray!”
How obnoxious. Fushimi felt irritated somehow.
No ordinary person is capable of imitating that insane genius. Ghost or whatever, if it’s the real him on the other side, he can’t be so ordinarily strong.
Don’t you dare underestimate Fushimi Niki!
At this instant, Fushimi’s ten fingers tapped on the keyboard with high speed. Spinning all five cubes at once, it took him less than a second to complete the white face of all 5 cubes. Five combo “recover” restored his HP back to 90%. His HP gauge returned to normal, and so was NIKI avatar’s expression, since they’re even now.
Once he got the feelings back, his fingers can continue controlling the cubes, even if his brain hadn’t recall all the keyboard commands. What’s left to do was to spin the cubes in his mind, and move his fingers accordingly.
Rather than attacking by completing one by one, a 6x5 combo attack would be more efficient. Not sticking to the white faces he finished, he scrambled them, and aimed to complete all six faces at once. His opponent seemed to noticed this, and changed the tactics as well. Both of them completed all six faces of five cubes at about the same time. Light waves of six colors collided and nullified each other with dazzling graphic effects.
While he clicked his tongue, he felt a bit amused, and burst out laughing. “Heh. Not many players can enter play-off match against me. Oh well, since you’re pretending to be that man, this is the minimal requirement.”
Since their 3x3 tiles match ended in a draw, they entered the advanced stage. Only those top-ranking jcube players had seen this: Rubik’s Cubes of 4x4 tiles dropped from above.
The difficulty of 4x4 and 3x3 weren’t in the same league. But that didn’t slow Fushimi down. Firstly he greeted his opponent with a five combo attack of “earthquake” attribute by completing yellow faces of all 5 cubes. NIKI no longer spun his cubes quick-witted like before, but tardy like a small fry. NIKI’s avatar began wiping sweat in a troubled expression, and then waving his arms in a crying face as his HP gauge flashed in red after Fushimi’s next attack.
“What’s with that face!? You never showed that expression in front of me!! If you are doing that now, you should have knelt and apologized before you die!!” Fushimi stared wide eyed at the screen and shouted in anger, with emotions that even himself didn’t quite understand raging inside of him.
4 rows x 4 columns, of all 6 faces, on all 5 cubes were completed at the same time. Graphic effects of six colors roamed throughout the screen, shaking so hard that he can almost feel the blast wave on his face. The opponent’s cards shattered as the HP went down to zero. With the light waves still storming in the background, the “winner” message appeared on Fushimi’s side, while “loser” appeared on the opposite side.
The battle stage faded out. Their avatars were sent back to an open s.p.a.ce in a forest, where other players’ avatars were hanging around leisurely.
Already calmed down, Fushimi looked coldly at the hologram screen. His avatar was jumping victoriously, while NIKI’s sat in depression. Although feeling it didn’t matter anymore, he started typing on the keyboard again. Comic style speech bubble appeared above his avatar, showing the words he typed one by one.
【Now then, care to explain? Oogai Aya.】
NIKI’s avatar stood up, changing back to normal expression.
【You noticed? Unendearing as usual. You are cuter when you were frightened by the ghost and hid in bed shaking.】
Cheeky words appeared in the speech bubble above NIKI.
Like you are any less unendearing than me. Fushimi thought.
【You can’t have made a virus this complicated by yourself. Who sent you? For what reason?】
The Fushimi Niki which haunted him was a computer virus planted in his PDA.
He had to admit, even though he didn’t want to, the cue was Munakata’s hint, “You might have caught the flu.” Flu was caused by viruses. Now to think of it, Niki only appeared when he held his PDA. Since he barely leaves his PDA, it was hard to notice the difference.
Of course this sounded crazy. In common sense, a computer virus can’t affect human, giving him hallucinations and nightmares. But how’s common sense defined? Around him there’s this man who’s inferno himself, and this man who can memorize the shape of ten thousand puzzle pieces. Seven kings ruled the world behind the stage. In this side of the world, common sense can be thrown out the window.
Among the seven clans of the seven kings, there’s a clan which can reach into the real world through internet. Fushimi knew this too.
On the night Kusanagi and he returned from Scepter 4, he saw light at the doorway of Fushimi’s old house. It was Aya’s flashlight. Then a silhouette at the window of his old bedroom on 2nd floor gave him the creeps. That was the only illusion of Niki which wasn’t created by the virus, but his own misapprehension. Considering the time, that silhouette should be Aya too. That high cla.s.s one-piece dress was the uniform of Tsubakigahara Academy, which Aya attended. Fushimi didn’t care about high schools back in 9th grade, so he didn’t recognize it at first. But her bunny ears backpack, and how it bounced with her movements, were characteristic of his cheeky second cousin.
What was she doing sneaking into Fushimi’s old house and into his bedroom on 2nd floor? Taking pictures for creating the background for the hallucination. The flickering light that Fushimi saw at the window was the flash of her PDA’s camera. Later that night when he opened the blank email from Aya without thinking, the virus it carried infected his PDA.
That explained everything.
【Are you still involved with Jungle?】
【What’s wrong with that? You are with Homra yourself!】
【Homra huh? Then what is your purpose in alienating me from Homra?】
Until now she had been replying right away, but this time she remained silent for a while.
【Answer me!】
As Fushimi pressed, words appeared like water gushing out of a broken dam.
【The king is interested in you, and has been watching you all the time. Now don’t be mistaken. It’s not like you are special. The king can see everything. The mission given to Aya was, to make sure you can’t stay in Homra anymore. Stubborn Misaki-kun was in the way. Finally even Misaki-kun doesn’t care about you anymore. This feels great!】
【Is it that much fun to set me up?】
【Aya is NOT having fun!!!!】
Like emphasizing her lines, the speech bubble inflated, shaking. Fushimi drew back from the screen unconsciously. Her avatar shouted with an angry face, jumping up and down.
【Why is it always!!? Always!! Always ALWAYS ALWAYS you!! Aya became the king’s comrade first!! That’s why I hate you and】
It seemed like she had more to say, but her line ended abruptly.
【 ＮＩＫＩ has logged out.】
With this system message, her avatar and speech bubble disappeared.
“Logged out? Is she running away?”
Fushimi winced and muttered. At this moment, another avatar walked in from the other side of the screen. It was an avatar in plain default clothes. Its hair style, eyes, and nose weren’t unique either. It certainly didn’t look like an avatar with powerful skills or cards. However…
A stinging feeling like static electricity ran through Fushimi’s spine, giving him goose b.u.mps. This was not the first time he got this feeling. It’s the same as what he felt in that winter night 2 years ago.
It’s him - the king of 《jungle》!