Request Board (1)
Walking down the hallway, I had expected it, but the request board was even more crowded with students than I'd imagined.
"What the hell! Move!"
"I grabbed it first!"
"No, I got here first. Cut the bullshit!"
Dozens of students tangled together in a chaotic mess—what could I even call this? It felt like the entrance exam all over again, or maybe like one of those offline ticket rushes back on Earth. If anything, it was a classic open run. The request board had just opened, and first come, first served. The later you arrived, the harder it got to snag a good one.
That's when I sensed a familiar presence. A few steps away stood Serin Anette. I thought it might be coincidence at first, but no—not with her. She was my secret manito, after all, the one helping me from the shadows. If I hadn't been playing dumb on purpose, any other student would've suspected their manito just seeing her lurking around.
"Ahem."
Serin shot me a look. I nodded back with my chin, and she stepped closer.
"What a strange coincidence, running into you here."
"...Yeah, weird."
Pretending not to know her was harder than it looked. No wonder slapping on a poker face wasn't for everyone.
"Here for a request?"
"Obviously. You too, Serin?"
"No, I was just passing by. But I'm glad I ran into you."
She pulled a request acceptance form from her pocket. In this madhouse, someone could've snatched it right out of her hands—no big deal. Only Serin could pull that off.
I knew exactly what came next. She'd "happen" to pick it up while passing by, no partner yet. If I was here for a request, hadn't grabbed one, and needed a teammate... why not team up? I'd seen this scene play out countless times across loops in the original story.
"...I found this request acceptance form while passing by. Looking for someone to team up with. If you haven't found a good one yet—"
"Sorry, got prior plans."
"...Pardon?"
"Move aside."
Leaving a glitching Serin behind, I shoved through the crowd. I appreciated the intent to help, but I already had a prior commitment.
I parted the students like waves with both hands.
"What the—?!"
"Don't butt in like that!"
Some glared back, but turned away upon recognizing my face. Entrance exam trauma still lingered, it seemed.
Using [Sense], I gauged the distance to roughly the center of the mob.
...Where the hell is it.
It had to be around here somewhere, but even [Telescopic Vision] couldn't spot Iri amid the sea of uniforms. Plenty of students taller than her, and pastel pink hair wasn't exactly common. Finding her was like hunting a needle in a desert.
I finally fiddled with my watch and called her.
The tone rang briefly before connecting. I glanced at it.
[Where are you.]
[Ah! You're here?! I'm right here!]
[Where.]
[Here! Here! Can you see now?!]
I lowered the watch and stood on tiptoes. Amid the colorful crowd, someone was hopping up and down. Pastel pink hair flashed briefly before vanishing into the surge.
I hung up and plunged into the throng, weaving toward her direction. As the faint pink came into view, I caught my breath and dashed in one burst.
It was the sub-ability of my newly acquired trait, [Hunter's Eye]: Precise Movements.
"Shion!"
"Why the hell are you hiding in a place like this. Took forever to find you."
"No! I've been here since two hours ago. Then suddenly everyone swarmed and... this."
Looks like rumors of the board opening had spread early. Iri had camped out like she was lining up for tickets, snagged one form, but got trapped in the crowd before escaping.
"Why's everyone risking their lives for this board?"
Well...
"It's the only legal way out of Arsen."
"I thought it was just me."
"Everyone's dying to get out equally."
Arsen's curriculum was brutal and rigid. First-years couldn't leave until much later, usually around vacation start. And vacation was still ages away. From entrance exams to mock dungeon raids and cold survival training, most cadets were starving for freedom by now, craving outside air they'd ignored before.
But first-year outings were delayed. Until then, stuck in Arsen. So the workaround: grab a request, slack off outside, return on time. Technically still "on mission." Some even failed on purpose. Arsen turned a blind eye—cadets bore the failure penalties anyway.
"Anyway, you got the request?"
"Yes! Here!"
"No, don't pull it out—someone might snatch it. Keep it hidden till we leave."
The surging crowd was terrifying up close. No clue where to step next. Even my [Sense] went dead silent here; I had to navigate solo. Split up, and rejoining would take forever.
"...Hang on, what do we do with this."
"Gotta hold onto something."
"Uniform's too slippery for that."
"Then..."
After a moment's hesitation, Iri tentatively reached out her hand.
I took it and pushed through. The press was subway-rush bad; one slip and we'd be swept away. Still, keeping balance, we inched forward—until a surge from behind made me stumble.
I barely recovered, looked up. Iri's face was inches away. Breath-mingling close. Caught off guard, her eyes darted everywhere.
I pretended not to notice, grabbed her hand again, and methodically carved through the human wave.
...Escaping the mob was grueling.
A bit later, at Arsen's main gate.
A guard lounging by the checkpoint-like post stopped us.
"Hold up there."
"Yes!"
Iri beside me pulled out the acceptance form. She scanned the barcode at the bottom.
Beep!
"Ah, on a request? You're good to go."
"Yes! Thanks!"
"Safe travels."
Iri and I crossed Arsen's main gate for the first time that day. A first for me too. I'd ridden in Biern's car through the back gate straight to the guesthouse, met Rebecca, taken the entrance exam. Met Kyle and the world's protagonists. Looking back, a lot had happened.
Beyond the gate, the road linking to Arpen District. Iri, leading the way, suddenly stopped and checked her watch.
I asked just in case.
"You know the route?"
"Gonna figure it out now. Hmm..."
She opened the map app, inputted the destination. We followed the nav along the long road.
I recalled a platform nearby. Like a high-speed bus stop.
Tracing memories, scanning the mountain path for ten-odd minutes. Midway up, a lone train platform appeared.
Other waiting cadets confirmed it—had to be the one from the original.
I sat on an empty bench first.
"Sit and wait here."
"Huh? No signs or anything. How do we know the time?"
"Runs every thirty minutes or so. It's noon now, so probably..."
Vroooom!
Right on cue, lights approached from afar. A maglev train powered by magic. Called the magitrain here—simple name.
I waited a beat, then glanced at Iri. Let out a sigh.
"What. Time to get up."
"Yeah, yeah..."
Yeah. Time to move. I dragged myself up and boarded.
At least we'd rest on the train.
The magitrain seats were comfier than expected. Warm underfoot, plush backrest—perfect for sleep.
Even comfier than the guesthouse sofa.
"Whoa... Shion, you see that?"
Iri was buzzing—first time out of Arsen. Like a kid on her first train ride, glued to the window.
She had a point, though.
"Nice view."
I leaned into the seatback. The gentle hum was a natural lullaby. Eyes closed, arms crossed. Fully reclined, buried fatigue hit all at once.
"...You're not seriously sleeping?"
"......"
"We came all this way and you're sleeping?"
Too lazy to reply, I stayed still. She poked my arm with a finger. Nearly bit her on impulse, but cracked one eye instead.
"What."
"First time out since enrolling. Wasting it sleeping is a shame."
"Time's time, however you spend it. If I'm satisfied, that's what matters."
"Still can't accept that. Might as well enjoy it properly."
What're you gonna do about it.
"This is my enjoyment."
"Coming out like this is enjoyment. This tiring?"
"Of course..."
But now that I thought about it, curiosity piqued. Personalities varied wildly, but Arsen had a rough gauge.
"Just curious—what'd your personality test say at enrollment? First letter."
"Hmm... E, I think?"
"I'm I."
Answered quick, eyes shut again. One thing clear: Iri and I were polar opposites from birth.
Her chatter faded in... but this time, I was really sleeping.