The Gate Opens

Today I learned another side of Ayumi's character. She loves cute things. You might think, "What's so special about a girl liking cute stuff?" And you'd be absolutely right. But if you saw me right now, anyone would admit that Ayumi's standards for "cute" are way off the mark for someone my age.

Pink! Frills! Bunny ears! I'm twenty years old by this world's counting, and wearing pajamas like this is straight-up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠embarrassing no matter how you slice it. They might suit Ayumi, but Joo Hyowon? No way in hell.

The original Joo Hyowon was as tall as I was back in my previous life—around 174 cm? That's insanely tall for a woman, and her face is more sharp and haughty beauty than adorable. In a word: it doesn't match!

"Waaah, so cool! The best! Ah, I bought these but was too embarrassed to wear them... but on you, Hyowon, it's totally different! You look like a princess~"

Don't push on others what you yourself are too shy to do!! I wanted to unload a barrage of complaints, but as a guest, ignoring the host's request felt a bit much. I told her I sleep without pajamas, but Ayumi ignored it and brought even cuter, frillier ones.

"Look this way! Okay, chee~se~"

"No, don't take pictures!"

I managed to stop her from snapping photos, at least. Ayumi wouldn't spread them everywhere recklessly, but they'd definitely end up in Hwa Yujin's eyes.

Finally, this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eternal torment ended, and it was time for bed.

"Ehehehehet. It's been forever since I slept next to someone."

"...There's a bed. Do you really have to sleep right next to me? Won't it be uncomfortable?"

"Ufufufufu. There are all kinds of discomfort, right? This is the good kind."

Ayumi's soft padding clung perfectly to my shoulder and arm. Definitely uncomfortable... and even more pleasantly so. Damn, this is driving ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me crazy. Why the hell did I possess a female character?

"...Kinda sorry today? I got way too excited by myself."

"Why bring it up suddenly? I had plenty of fun."

"Felt like I was the only one chattering away."

Ayumi was a bit chatty, sure. But that's just because I'm no good at talking.

"I liked hearing your old stories, Ayumi. I don't really have any memories worth calling that."

The few I do have would be unknown territory to people in this world anyway.

"...You have memories with your mom, right? Back in middle school..."

Ayumi started cautiously, then swallowed her words. I couldn't brush it off with "it's fine" here either. Not because of some trauma or trigger. It's just that as an outsider hijacking Joo Hyowon's shell, blabbing about her family feels disgustingly presumptuous.

"...Yeah. You don't want to talk about it. Got it, I understand. ...No, saying I understand might be a stretch. Yujin and I never had parents to begin with."

No arguing with never having them at all.

"Even among orphans, there's a difference between those who never had parents and those who did but lost them..."

That's why Joo Hyowon went berserk. If she'd been parentless from the start, she probably wouldn't have been blinded by revenge.

Ayumi gripped my hand tight. Attempting primal communication beyond words. Words couldn't convey her true feelings anyway. Deep down, I know I don't deserve this warmth. Technically, this is a blatant delivery error. But I gripped her hand back. I needed it right now.

※

"Koooh—"

Confirming Ayumi was asleep, I slipped out of bed. Dressed in my uniform, pulled the katana from its case, and checked the time anxiously. Academy uniforms are made from special materials that maximize qi activation, making them combat gear in themselves.

...But why the hell are these combat uniforms designed as miniskirts? I couldn't wrap my head around it.

"One little sprint and my panties are flashing."

No, that's a minor issue. The real problem is the reduced coverage. And these blatantly exposed thighs! Aren't those vital spots!?

"Eroge worldbuilding, can't be helped, but it's annoying."

Until now, I'd only felt basic male shame beyond that. But prepping for real combat made it stick out more. In a game, it'd be artistic license, but in reality, shouldn't it adapt!?

...Whatever, no choice. Just hope my Gather Qi covers my whole body adequately.

"Time now..."

2:30 a.m. Gate emergence around 3:00 a.m., give or take—maybe exactly on the hour. I considered butterfly effects from my actions shifting the timing, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but obsessing over that leaves nothing doable. Focus on what I can do now.

Less than a minute after the last check, Ayumi's and my phones blared disaster sirens, blasting the alert.

District 13 of Eumyang City. The very apartment block for female academy cadets.

"Ayum..."

I started to wake the soundly sleeping Ayumi. Figured the midnight thunderbolt would panic her, so I'd have to keep her grounded. But that underestimated her big time.

"Hup!"

Before I even finished her name, Ayumi bolted upright like a massive spring uncoiling. She shed her pajamas in a flash, grabbed her uniform from the closet, and changed. The motion was so swift I barely had time to get excited over her near-naked underwear state.

Uniform on, qi-flow accessories equipped, and morningstar from the closet bottom—fully armed. Only then did she turn to me.

"Waaah! Hyowon, you're so fast! As expected of someone with real combat experience—eyes open to full gear in seconds!"

Pot calling the kettle black. Back in my past life in the military, our five-minute readiness drill was child's play compared to Ayumi's speed. And she's just a first-year. Incredible composure.

"Disaster broadcast's out, so gate in about 30 minutes. No time to slack—move!"

"Y-yeah."

I'm supposed to be the veteran here, her the green newbie, but it felt reversed. Fine by me—someone reliable to lean on.

We finished prepping and stepped into the apartment hallway. Seconds later, doors flew open, spilling out armed academy cadets. Everyone's quick.

A more senior, seasoned female cadet stepped up to lead.

"First-years! Don't panic just because it's hit! Precursor doesn't mean instant gate—escort civilians to safe zones swiftly!"

Can't throw first-years who've barely mastered the Three Core Laws into combat. Their job: secure selves and evacuate civilians. Fight monsters only if unavoidable. Original story had "unavoidable" happen often, but manual says that.

Frankly, even this is huge. Upperclassmen risk life battling monsters while first-years handle civvies— that's already pulling weight.

The leader (probably fourth-year) quickly grouped us for evacuation teams. I got Ayumi and an unnamed third-year.

"No time to memorize names. Black hair—you're Alpha. Pink hair—Beta. Follow my orders exactly. Got it?"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Good! Move!"

The third-year dashed ahead to our assigned sector at maybe 30 km/h. Sprint-level speed, breathing steady, sustainable per minute. And that's slowing for us first-years—she could go faster.

I could match or exceed her, but then Ayumi couldn't keep up. Paced with Ayumi to the sector.

Civilians were already awake, waiting for cadets or heroes. Anxious but no panic or outbursts. Used to this.

Could head straight to safe zone, but if gate opens early, risky. Better wait for tech experts' help—safer for lives.

"Sorry for the wait. Heading to safe zone now. Follow us."

No chit-chat—the third-year led, assigned me rear guard, Ayumi mid-watch for stragglers.

Plenty of time. Evac line orderly, steady pace. This goes smooth, we shelter safely, she hits combat.

...But if it were that easy, Ayumi wouldn't have died in the original. Manuals cover norms. Reality flips off control freaks with special cases.

Ten minutes post-precursor: All of Eumyang City District 13 swallowed by gates in one instant.

"No way!?"