Status Window and Serendipitous Encounter

Them things shove right into my vision the moment I open my eyes in bed.

I stare blankly for a moment, then swipe my hand through the air to dismiss the windows.

Taking in the unfamiliar ceiling, a chuckle escapes me.

'Dodged sleeping rough, at least.'

It hits me right as the practical exam wraps up.

Meeting Noah and Ichinose in the flesh is great, but now—what? Where the hell do I go?

Head's spinning over how to kill the days till orientation.

No good ideas, so I'm mentally prepped for roughing it outdoors.

Then, as the cadets flood out of the gym post-exam, I overhear talk of grabbing food on the way to the dorms.

I dig through my smartphone and find the guide from Orion Academy.

After that, it's just move, move, move.

I head to the dorms—a district away from Orion Academy.

Whether from using skills or the tension bubbling under my excitement, fatigue sinks deep into my bones.

Hit the room and crash straight into bed.

Bidding farewell to that heavy slumber, I open my eyes.

Staring at the ceiling, conviction settles in.

'Definitely not a dream.'

From doubt to certainty.

I'm still smack in Academy City Elysium.

And that outcome? Perfectly satisfying.

Wouldn't have been shocked to wake up and find it all a dream after those mystical hours.

But nope—solid sleep, same situation. A lazy grin spreads across my face.

Period at the end of "this is reality." ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Feels damn good.

"Hoo..."

Lost in solo glee, dribbling a bit, I roll my still-sleepy body slowly and snag the smartphone from the bed's edge to check the time.

'February 26th, 8:40 PM.'

Still the same day as the placement exam.

Feels like I slept deep, but crashed early, so no day flip.

'Slept at a weird time.'

I prop up my upper body, rub my dry face repeatedly.

Time to get my head straight.

Sort out the thoughts I shoved aside while enjoying the ride.

"Ugh."

I slide off the plush bed, stretch my stiff body every which way.

Hang the uniform on the chair, glance around.

'...Room's got some lived-in vibe.'

Stuff I missed diving straight to bed on arrival catches my eye.

Wardrobe's got a few worn but wearable clothes; shoe rack has one pair of beat-up sneakers.

Desk holds thick textbooks, a bag. Basics are covered.

'Guess my character crashed here at least once in the dorms. Moved in on enrollment day... then swapped to "me" en route to the placement exam?'

Something like that.

No point overthinking story details that won't budge.

Plenty of other curiosities from lost-time memories, but right now, present and future weigh a mountain heavier.

'First things first.'

The big one.

Before any plans, have I escaped the death sentence staring me down?

Snatched my neck from the guillotine before the blade drops?

Thud. Thud.

Heading for a shower, I catch my reflection.

Feels utterly alien.

Not a single flaw on this pristine body, no matter how I turn.

More than the unsatisfying scrawniness—that's the real kicker.

'...No necrosis traces. Scars gone.'

No spiderweb of diseased veins or scars radiating from my heart.

Must be perks of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this new body swap.

'Was just waiting to die.'

Fine for elite hunters—gates leave wounds, but pricey treatments wipe 'em clean, extract monster toxins and energies.

But for most like me, as abilities fade, shrugging off monster scars gets brutal.

The day hunters revert to plain human flesh?

A chunk die off—obvious to me.

Dunno when, but my odds of being swept up? Sky-high.

But now? No chains, no traces.

I'm free.

'Sweet! We're good!'

Unplanned escape from doom—pure joy. Lightened heart has my lips twitching up dumbly.

Steps to the shower feel feathery.

Acted chill through the routine, but terminal reality was grinding my mind raw.

Shhhhaaa—!

Waiting for hot water, I mull the next item.

'Second.'

Where the hell's Abyss City's protagonist character?

'If starting point's classing up with key figures, doesn't placement exam mean I've met 'em?'

Protagonist's gender flips with player choice; name changes too.

No clue if this world's set male or female.

Couldn't spot 'em in the post-exam cadet crush.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'Gotta wait for orientation, then.'

If time flows like the game, from protagonist's entry, Academy City hits unprecedented chaos.

Sucks for a guy who digs calm days.

"..."

Shhhhaaa!

Hot water streams onto my palm now.

I step under, letting it soak me while chasing thoughts.

'And next.'

Quest reward and shop.

Time to check that cocky skill hogging five hours for "updates."

Whirr—!

A massive translucent window pops up, typing out text like a machine.

Shower stream pierces right through it, drenching me.

"Whoa!"

A short exclamation echoes in the tiny shower stall.

Mouth waters at the sight.

I lather shampoo foam while double-checking the list.

'Shop level up means gear sales possible?'

Skills on offer? Plenty of room.

Current stock's food and drink beyond the top two, but growth potential? Top-tier.

"Phew! Refreshing!"

Quick rinse, sacrifice a towel dry.

Slip into comfy clothes, stare holes into the shop window.

'How's food delivery work? Drops from thin air?'

Hunger's nagging, curiosity peaking—tempted to grab a 1P snack.

'Status window...!'

But points match perfectly for that juicy option.

Can't resist.

Game terms: shortcut C unlocked.

Hunger I can ignore; curiosity? No way. Satisfied.

I yank out the status window eagerly.

'Fire!?'

Physical I figured. But the other? Never crossed my mind.

Why fire attribute?

"Hmm..."

Pacing the room in circles, no solid answer.

My hunter ability was peak simplicity—miles from flashy.

No fire ties, obviously.

Legs keep moving, deductions piling.

"!"

One solid guess emerges.

'Maybe it means squat?'

Recall Abyss City community speculation on new character attribute cycles—nods right along.

They pegged my slot as fire-heavy.

Accept the preset, cool.

Curiosity sated, I grab sneakers and lace up.

Ichinose Yui strolls the streets after leaving the dorm.

Life starts sans massive home, driver, or guards.

Daily calls with parents wrap her in sentimentality, steeling her resolve: "Just two years—hang in there."

Today's the same—post-training, pen in hand.

Night studies need sweets, so she's scouting dorm-nearby convenience stores and cafes.

Beauty shops for cosmetics? Must-do.

February night breeze still chills.

Academy City Elysium's glittering nightscape? Worlds from Samhwa Nation's vibe.

Dazzlingly flashy, thriving beyond imagination.

'Not bad.'

Just walking keeps boredom at bay awhile.

Post-meal strolls here sound nice.

Of course.

If she knows where "here" is.

"..."

Grabbing snacks from the convenience store? Flawless.

Piles of new treats unknown in Samhwa—got her quietly hyped.

One hand: snacks and smartphone.

Other: her soul-bound tachi, Yoru.

Heading back to dorms.

Then, somehow, unfamiliar streets.

Bzzz—.

Phone vibrates.

Ichinose opens her closed eyes to check the screen.

Told her no visits during evening study—falls on deaf ears.

And the message? Infuriating.

'Who's lost...!'

Time to warn her: stop treating me like a kid who wanders off.

"Hmph!"

Ichinose strides confidently.

Convinced she's no lost child.

'If I can get back, it's not lost.'

Ways to dorm abound.

Elysium security could help. Map app on phone works too.

But using 'em? Admits she's directionally challenged.

Pride won't allow.

Click-clack. Click-clack. Click-clack.

Ichinose wanders the night streets like a leisurely stroll.

How far straight?

A faint presence snags her; she halts, slowly opens her eyes.

Golden irises fix one way.

'That guy?'

Dark alley, no light rays—vending machine glows.

Someone scrutinizes it intently.

'...Number 99?'

Definitely the man who bisected the exam golem.