Reunion

Kyou… he was the amateur player I saved back in the Subcore District. For some reason, he felt strangely familiar. That’s why I spent time teaching him how to play Abyss Code Online.

He looked like he was genuinely enjoying the game, which made me think he truly loved it. Spending time with Kyou was fun. It reminded me of when I was just an amateur myself.

My passion for this game was rekindled. Honestly, I had almost given up after clearing the Abyss Dungeon’s 8th floor and reaching the 9th. I couldn’t defeat the boss there.

That boss looked human—specifically a woman—but her figure was cloaked in darkness. Even when I used my Valkyrie of the Holy Fire mode, I couldn’t beat her. Neither could the other faction leaders, even after dozens of raid attempts. None of us could break through to the 10th floor.

That’s when my motivation started to fade. But Kyou reminded me how to enjoy the game.

He opened my heart, and for some reason, I felt at peace when playing with him.

And then, I realized something.

Kyou reminded me of him… the Azure Reaper, Kyouze.

The first time I met him was when I was still a beginner. I recklessly challenged the 3rd floor boss alone. I was so full of energy back then.

But the overwhelming swarm of zombies and the boss’s immunity to my attacks left me cornered.

Just as I was about to hit game over, a dark-blue-haired man wearing a blue hoodie appeared, his sword crackling with voltaic energy as he cleaved through the horde. In a single strike, he cut down dozens of zombies. His body glowed with blue lightning—it was breathtaking.

He appeared behind me and told me to keep attacking the zombies with my EtherCode Ignis. But I had run out of EP.

He tossed me an EP recovery item. After using it, I was able to activate my EtherCode again.

Then he taught me how to wield it properly. Together, we defeated the 3rd floor boss with ease.

“Thank you for saving me… Um… Kyouze the Azure Reaper?! I can’t believe I get to meet the number one player in this game! I—I’m your fan, please sign this!!” I held out my notebook filled with info on all the top players.

“Put that away. I don’t want to get involved with anyone.” His reply was cold.

“But… you just saved me. That already counts as getting involved,” I answered firmly.

“…Tch. You’re not wrong. Whatever, I’m leaving.” He brushed past me.

I trailed after him quietly.

“I told you not to follow me…”

“I just met the number one player—I’m not about to waste this chance.” My eyes burned with determination.

He sighed. “Fine. Give me your book… just a signature, right?”

I nodded eagerly and handed it over. He signed it, and I couldn’t stop smiling.

As he walked away, I followed again.

He let out another long sigh. “Now what do you want?”

Without hesitation, I dropped to my knees. “PLEASE, MAKE ME YOUR STUDENT!!”

He froze, flustered. “Huh?! Student?! I’ve never trained anyone before. Find another top player!”

“NO! IT HAS TO BE YOU, KYOUZE-SAN!!” I grabbed his hand, looking up at him with desperate eyes.

His face flushed as our faces drew close.

“F-Fine! Just… don’t get so close to me!” he said, embarrassed.

That’s how my relationship with the number one ranked player began.

We played together every day. Before I realized it, three months had flown by.

Thanks to Kyouze, I mastered all the basic skills in the game and quickly rose to level 5. He stayed by my side while I farmed EXP and fought dungeon bosses.

We grew close. I teased him often, and we laughed together. What started as awkward and cold turned into warmth and laughter.

I never thought I’d get this close to him—the strongest solo player, infamous for being cold.

But he wasn’t as heartless as the rumors claimed. In truth, he seemed lonely, like he desperately needed someone.

Maybe that’s why I found myself so drawn to him. A man who spent all his time in this game, becoming the strongest without any friends.

He was powerful, yes, but his eyes carried no spark. Yet after meeting me, I saw that spark return—his fire reignited.

Others in the game might not have wanted to befriend him, but I was different. I wanted to be with him.

And maybe… I was lonely too. Maybe that’s why I needed someone like him.

No… it was more than that.

I… I started falling for Kyouze.

I knew love in an online game was foolish, but this time… I didn’t care if I was being foolish.

Spending time with Kyouze gave me strength. I even teased him into blushing. The man colder than ice could actually melt.

We grew so close that he started calling me “Ayane,” and I called him “Kyouze.”

The distance between us shrank, and I wanted to confess my feelings.

“Kyouze… I…” The words almost left my lips, but I froze.

He smiled at me, and instead, I blurted out:

“I WANT TO BE STRONG LIKE YOU!”

Ahh, damn it! That’s not what I meant to say! I wanted to tell him how much I liked him… how I wanted to be with him.

Kyouze looked surprised and chuckled. My face turned red, and I cursed myself for being such an idiot.

Then he reached out and patted my head.

“You can do it, Ayane… I believe in you. Promise me that.”

I nodded to him, sealing that promise in my heart.

His words made me happy. Even though I never confessed my feelings to him, I was glad.

And that was the last time I ever saw Kyouze. The next day, he didn’t log in. And the next day after that. Or the next. Or the next… for months.

I thought he’d decided to retire from the game… but who retires from a game when he’s getting close to a girl inside it?!!

I was furious. And heartbroken. Did he hate me? Did he have problems in real life? What made him stop logging in? Arrghhh… I couldn’t find the answer.

That loneliness consumed me. I even thought about quitting the game myself. But then I remembered the promise I made to him—to become the greatest player in this game!

Maybe one day, I thought, I’d meet him again and proudly show him that I’d become the #1 player.

That was the beginning of how I created the Scarlet Sanctum faction, and met Kagurazaka, Akutsu, Yukihana, Maiko, Ritsu, and the others.

I climbed to the top ranks, raiding and improving my position through PVP. That was also when I met Zetsumei, Kurogane, Tsukihana, and Tsukiyami… the other faction leaders. We became close.

And now… here we are. Defeated by DraxOmega. Failing to reach the 10th floor.

I wondered what the meaning of my life in this game even was. I hadn’t achieved anything. I had failed.

I didn’t understand.

I stared at DraxOmega’s attack, knowing it would soon destroy me.

I closed my eyes.

“I’m sorry everyone… I’m sorry, Father, Mother, Sis… I’m sorry, Kyou… I’m sorry, Kyouze…”

BAM!!

The explosion from DraxOmega’s attack. But I was… unharmed. It felt like his attack had hit something else.

Then I heard a familiar voice.

“Are you alright, Ayane?”

It was the voice of a man with blue eyes and dark blue hair, holding me in his arms like a princess.

“Ahh… yes… I can still fight.” I answered hoarsely.

“You idiot, don’t push yourself so hard.” He smiled as he said it.

That smile… it was just like someone I knew. That blue hoodie. That sword.

It was the Azure Reaper, Kyouze.

Then another male voice called out:

“Kyouze! You left us behind! Let me, your buddy, help you fight that ugly monster, HAHAH!”

And a female voice followed:

“That’s right, Kyouze-san! Don’t be reckless!”

My mouth trembled as I whispered, “Kyouze…”

“No way… is it really you, Kyouze?! How are you here?! I… I…”

Kyouze set me down and patted my hair. Smiling, he said,

“It’s true… it’s me, Kyouze. Sorry for making you wait, Ayane.”

I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore. They poured down my face. I had finally—truly—met him again.

“Kyouze… where have you been all this time?” I asked, voice trembling.

“It’s a long story. But basically, I couldn’t use my main account back then, so I was forced to create another one.”

“Another account?”

“That’s right… all this time, I was with you, Ayane. I was Kyou and I was also Kyouze. My real name is Mikazuki Kyouya. Nice to meet you, Ayane.” He said it with a big smile.

The man and woman beside him were stunned when he revealed his real name.

I was stunned too. I never imagined Kyouze and Kyou were the same person… and his real name was Mikazuki Kyouya.

I reached for him and hugged him tightly.

“I’m Akabane Ayane… I’ve missed you, Kyouya.”

He hugged me back. “I’ve missed you too, Ayane. Sorry for making you wait.”

He gently let go of me and asked his female companion to heal me.

“Now, leave the rest to me… I’ll end this quickly!” Kyouze said with confidence as he charged toward DraxOmega.

I believe in you, Kyouya.

…