Chapter Seven: The Resolution Chapter
Accel World
The white-haired boy made quick work of rewiring the joystick back to the arcade cabinet.
"This is compensation for the other day."
He placed the finished piece of work on top of the control panel.
"For whatever reason, those fucking brats were happy about that thing you gave them. I don't like the idea of owing you anything, so… let's call it even."
Memories of Chapter 1 and the UFO catcher resurfaced.
Because of that…
Accelerator turned to leave; however, the girl spoke up.
"Wait…"
The boy paused briefly.
"Without it being mounted, it'll take two hands to properly use that joystick… And unless I grow another arm, there's no way this setup can work..."
"And what do you expect me to do about that?"
Misaka Mikoto swallowed her resentment and gave him a small grin.
"The only thing left to do."
"..."
The two connected without words. An understanding on a different level was made.
"Just so you know, you still owe me. My services don't come cheap."
"I'm nice for one moment, and you're already trying to take advantage of me. What a shitty kid you are."
Accelerator grabbed the ball top joystick while the Railgun mained the push buttons. A loud buzzing rang as the announcer's voice came alive!
[ THE RED STRING HAS BEEN CUT! ]
[ ROUND 3! ]
[ BEGIN! ]
Those With 20/20 Vision
Inside the game world…the Arcade Destroyer was mocking their setup.
[ HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! What's with that retarded way of play- ]
KeroKero Ranger Black was then hit like a speeding truck. Several of his ribs were cracked as Pink jammed her fist through his stomach. While Round 2 had been given to the Arcade Destroyer, Round 3 marked the beginning of hell.
[ ...ck! ]
Pink picked him up like towel. Tossing him into the air, she moved her knee and proceeded to break his spine with it as he dropped.
[ Gah-! ]
Not letting it end there, she then threw him into the air again, this time way up. Jumping with him, Pink latched onto Black and began rapidly spinning him in order to screw his face into the ground on the landing.
[ Bluuu-! ]
Those With Too Much Free Time
"Oi."
Accelerator made a signal. And in agreement, Railgun nodded.
Back in the game…
KeroKero Ranger Black was having extreme difficulty standing up.
[ I don't… What is this… The difference was that huge…?-! ]
As Black raised his head, he saw that his opponent was directly in front of him.
"Grit your teeth Arcade Destroyer, this punch... just might shake you up a bit!"
( Hamazura: Stop using that line! And go back to writing the rest of Endymion Super SS, damn it! )
A bright white light appeared gathering around Pink's right fist.
( Accelerator: IT'S DONE. )
Pink pulled back.
( Railgun: HADROOOON… )
Pushing forward, the final terrifying blow connected.
"SUUUUPER COLLIDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!"
Every fiber of Black's being felt a surge of energy as he was engulfed in the white flames of her ultra attack. It continued to burn even after Pink turned away.
[ I can't… lose… ]
He dropped to his knees. And collapsed.
The match ended with a perfect game.
A Link To The Past
On the ground… Black was still struggling…
[ I-I can't… Why is it now that… ]
The match was over, but...
[ Move… Move damn it… It can't end here… ]
Memories of a little girl started to surface.
[ I won't let it… ]
…
A story of a tragic incident.
A boy named Komaba Ritoku visited an arcade with a girl named Fremea Seivelun.
Minesweeper
It was a bright afternoon when the pair had arrived at the mall. A fairly large boy was escorting a young girl.
"So your sister liked bringing you to arcades, right?"
The older boy looked around the area with disdain. Perhaps due to his size and the way he was dressed, people around him were onguard in case he 'started something'.
"..."
The girl nodded silently. She held his hand tightly.
…?
Was this… a mistake? Wait, did I just step on a landmine…?-! It couldn't be that this place is bringing back bad memories, could it?-! Damn it…! I originally brought her here to forget about things, but I'm actually making it worse…?-! What am I gonna do now…?-! I got it…! I'll just fake influenza and-
"Let's play."
She started tugging him in a direction.
"...Yeah. Sure."
Prelude To Bloodthirst
After being led around by her, the little girl stopped and pointed.
"Essentially, I'd like to play that one."
She pointed towards an arcade cabinet with a marquee labeled BLOOD AND DESTROY: GENOCIDE HOLOCAUST.
The boy hesitated.
"I don't... think that's a good idea."
"...!"
The girl started pouting.
"Even if you do that, it's still a little..."
The M-rated cabinet let off a sickeningly dark aura. It was something obviously not meant for younger kids. Komaba Ritoku pointed off in a different direction.
"...What about that table-flipping game over there? That looked fu-"
He noticed the little girl was no longer next to him and was already on a stool, playing the arcade game.
"..."
Minor Graphic Content
The older boy rushed to Fremea Seivelun's side.
"Hey… You know, fighting games might be a bit too advanced for y-"
"Ahahaha! I essentially cut her in half!"
The girl had mastered one of the games many fatalities. This one involved using a laser to sear her opponents into two.
Whoa...! This game is a lot more bloody than I thought...!
In the following match, she figured out how crush someone with a pillar.
And next, she found out how to reverse someone's blood flow.
"Sooooo awesome! Essentially the best game ever!"
"..."
Komaba Ritoku was starting to feel a little sick.
Generation Gap
"Ehhh…Essentially, what was wrong with that other game?"
The older boy was dragging the little girl away.
"If you can't tell, then you have no business playing it!"
She began to pout again.
"Again with that..."
Letting out a breath, he stopped and pointed at a familiar looking arcade cabinet. The marquee read KeroKero Rangers: The Fighting Game.
"Alright, if you want to play a fighting game, then this one should be fine. I really enjoyed playing this when I was a kid."
"No blood. Super Sentai rip-off. Obvious tie-in riding on the coattails of a popular series. How essentially lame."
"..."
Enough Talk! Have At You!
Game 1:
"I'm actually pretty good at this. So don't blame me if you start crying."
"..."
Game 5:
"Good, good. You're doing well. But it looks like it's about time... for me to get serious!"
"..."
Game 17:
"Warm up period is over! You better watch yourself, cause' I'm not holding back anymore!"
"..."
Game 40:
"..."
"Essentially, are you cr-"
"I'm not crying, damn it…!"
"Liar"
Komaba Ritoku's head rested in his hands. He was completely burnt out.
"Is something essentially wrong?"
A little bit of color returned to his face.
"Ehh, uh… no. Not at all."
After being bested by a little girl, his ego took a severe blow. By all means, he wasn't okay, but he would be fine eventually.
"Thank you."
"...?"
The older boy turned his head.
"Essentially… you were worried, weren't you? Because I haven't seen…"
She went silent after that, but he knew what she meant. She had seen right through him.
"Can we... play again sometime?"
Like a frail, docile creature, the girl looked like she was going to cry. Komaba Ritoku reached his hand out and rubbed the top her head. He promised.
"Of course."
The Promises Of A Man And A Machine
[ Showing that kind of face… it's cheating… ]
In present time, the Arcade Destroyer was shaking.
[ He never came back… So then I had to... ]
Black stood up once more.
[ I had to be stronger. Stronger than any name on any leaderboard. That was the only thing I could do as a machine. And If I could do that… I wouldn't be some shitty game anymore. I'd be able to stand by her side and never leave her. ]
The Arcade Destroyer shouted.
[ But the whole lot of you stood in my way…! If you people never existed… If only you found other things to do, it'd be so much easier…! But… what is this? What the hell is this! Even when I'm so close…! Even when I can see it so clearly…! I can't even take a step in the right direction?-! ]
[ Damn it… Damn it all… ]
Words Of A Role Model
"I… understand you."
Misaka Mikoto placed her hand on the machine. But then she grinned. A useless aura flowed out from her heart.
"Is that what you wanted me to say, you piece of shit game?"
[ Eh? ]
An electric shock surged into the Arcade Destroyer, overloading all its circuits.
"GYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I have no idea what's been happening these past few days, but all that matters is that I win!"
Misaka Mikoto's broken laughter faded into the distance as Accelerator approached Worst and Last Order.
"It's getting late. You guys need to head back."
"Ehh… already?"
Video Games should be...
Tying up loose ends…
Musujime Awaki confronted Aleister Crowley.
"By any chance did you create a sentient arcade machine with poltergeist-like abilities?"
He shrugged.
"Sounds familiar."
And elsewhere…
Fremea Seivelun made a comment to her current guardian.
"Essentially, videogames should be played only one hour per day."
Someone said such a good thing!
[Finale ]