Chapter 1
Hrmm, it’s still not done… I hope the internet doesn’t crash.
Crash? The internet?
I’d never known it was so heavy!
Aira told me that it was like air: invisible to the eye, yet everywhere around us.
But if it’s too much to bear alone, then maybe two can carry it. I’ll lend you a hand and share the burden, Hinata-kun.
Whoa whoa whoa, you’ve got it all wrong there!
Hm? Did I?
Well from the get-go, it’s not actually a matter of “lending a hand.”
I’m downloading a new game to my console right now… Oh Hiiro-kun, do you know what downloading even is?
I’ve been taught that! It’s a process of storing information and data in a computer terminal, right?
Right on the money. When that process is really slow, it can lag so much it crashes. So trying to help me out won’t make it go any faster…
Not that I really understand why it’s called crashing, though~ The more thought you put into it, the less sense it makes.1
Urgh… How am I supposed to find the correct answer if you don’t even understand it?
Ah well, basically you just have to be patient and let it download until you can play the game!
I understand that, at least. Fufu, you always explain things in a way that’s easy to understand, Hinata-kun ♪
But what is the source of this lag? I wonder if we could do something to improve it.
I can probably guess the reason. The sequel to a popular game released today, so I bet a ton of people are downloading it all at once.
Really? So malfunctions occur when a lot of people use it at the same time.
Is this the game? What a… very colorful screen; my vision is starting to swim.
Once you get used to it, the vivid colors aren’t so bad. It’s a capture-the-base game using paint. Once it’s installed you should play with me, Hiiro-kun.2
Me? Is that okay? The last time we played, I slammed into you really, really hard. What if it happens again?
Ahaha, yeah. Whenever you play games, it’s your body that moves before anything else.
Yes. It’s just a reflex for me. It’s difficult to play games when you’re sitting still.
Don’t worry about it ☆ It’s fine if you move around. I have way more fun playing with friends, anyway.
I see. If it’s really that fun, I’d like to try too.
Wait, speaking of which, has Shiina-senpai not come back yet? I was hoping to drag him into this too.
He contacted me earlier to say that he’ll be staying the night with everyone at the ES building and won’t be returning. Maybe he sent the message to you too, Hinata-kun?
Oh, you’re right. I was so busy watching the game download I didn’t realize.
Bummer~ I guess that means he can’t play with us. Sucks!
But man~ A sleepover at the ES building sounds like so much fun… ♪
Sigh…
Hellooo, anyone there? Please say something if you can hear me!
……
Sigh… I can’t hear a single thing. Guess that means no one’s here…
Kohaku-chan and HiMERU-kun are gone… Rinne-kun’s disappeared too…
And now I’m the only one in this room…
How the heck did things turn out this way?
I knew we shouldn’t have told all those ghost stories.
I wasn’t even that into it in the first place. Not to mention you can’t half-ass something like that.
Ngh… And at this rate I’ll… I’ll…
GYAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!
Huh! I–I swear I just heard someone shriek… Wasn’t that Kohaku-chan?!
No way…! No way no way, don’t tell me it’s already too late for him?!