Terror Infinity Side B

Chapter 5 - 2, Real World I

Shin: So how has your training in this off period been going for you, Misaki?

Misaki: Training?

Shin: Yeah. We're here for an entire month before our next mission, so we have to use this time to prepare. You yourself have even acquired three new enhancements this time around, so you especially need to learn to master them to the best of you ability. They are also low level enhancements at that, so only when they're truly mastered and are working together will they truly become a great asset on the battlefield.

Misaki: What, you two train everyday?

Hikari: Not as much as Shin who even trains his body on top of his enhancements, but yes. When no one is around I summon my Persona Adrasteia. I unfortunately can't keep it out for long and it wears me out, but the time in between that I can use my Persona has been getting shorter. At my current pace of growth, by the time of the next mission I can summon Adrasteia five times in one day for three minutes of activation. It doesn't seem like much, but what I can do in that short amount of time more than makes it for it.

Shin: I have been training my Ki Energy and Kagune mutation in secret in my room. With Ki, I just meditate while circulating Ki in my body to find new ways to improve its efficiency and new applications I can use Ki for. I have also been practicing the control of the tentacles of my Rinkaku type Kagune for more delicate task. Progress has been okay so far.

Hikari: Don't listen to Shin, Misaki. He has just been breaking cup and plates all day in his spare time.

Shin: I replaced them, so no harm no foul. So Misaki, how has your progress with Haki and pyrokinesis been going?

Misaki: ...The same.

Shin: So no noticeable growth.

Misaki: No, not exactly.

Then Misaki began to explain his dilemma. It has always been Misaki's plan to train in this one month off time in the real world, but with one thing after another... He had forgotten to train the past week since he has been back. Misaki had been enjoying and spending so much time with his little sister and Mokoto that he had forgot to train his new abilities or even workout his body. Going to place after place with his sister to make up for lost time, and going on dates with Mokoto, like a couple should, Misaki had just let his training and thoughts of God's Dimension be forgotten.

Hearing this, Hikari seemed to understand how Misaki put off his training to make the most of his time here in the real world as she might have made a similar choice if she thought her own parents would ever forgive her, but Shin was angry at Misaki for his negligence.

Misaki: What's the big deal if I don't train here in the real world? This is my long awaited break to spend with my sister and Mokoto in a world where fiction isn't trying to kill me in unimaginable, horrible ways. What is wrong with just... Forgetting that place for a while and enjoying the present?

Shin: Nothing in principle, but Misaki, you have become too lax here. Your're acting like you have finally escaped that dimension for good, and are not here on just a one month break. Ten days after each mission and this one month trip to the real world, it isn't wrong to enjoy them, but you can't forget one thing.

Misaki: What?

Shin: We are not done yet, so we can't fool ourselves that we are. Let me tell you the story of a certain swordsman from a light novel, Misaki.

Hikari: What are you going on about now?.

Shin: Just shut up and listen.

Shin scolds Misaki by telling him the story of Kirito from Sword Art Online.

Kirito, he was the best swordsman in the death game Sword Art Online. He would eventually go on to free all the surviving players from SAO, a virtual reality death game. Kirito was a hero with amazing sword skills and a powerful inner spirit that allowed him to challenge the very rules of the game with willpower alone, but after returning to the real world his troubles were not yet over. He would get dragged into more events and would have to fight with his life and the life of his loved ones on the line, but there was a problem.

In the words of a certain red eyed enemy of his, who summed up Kirito's problem saying that he had breathed in too much of the stink of the real world and forgot all the trials he once went through to enjoy the real world. That was why after returning to the virtual world and having to fight against a strong foe again, Kirito's sword skills had deteriorated, as commented upon friends and foes. As he was now, Kirito was still better than the average man or a skilled warrior, but those who knew him at his best, both allies and enemies alike said he wasn't at the same level as before. He would do well in most virtual reality games, but he could no longer become the best, or more importantly the hero of SAO. Even when battles in virtual reality held serious consequences in the real world, he wasn't able to return to his old self that thrived in a life and death environment after having become accustomed to peace in the real world.

Misaki: ...

Shin: The moral of the story is that if you get too relaxed and lose your edge, when you really have to fight again, even if it is for your own life or that of a loved one, you won't be at your best. It isn't just physically, but more importantly, the mentality of it as well. Fighting instincts and battle experience can be lost over time if not honed constantly. We are only here for a visit, not forever, so don't become too lax and forget the horrors that we have to face once more. Our battle is truly a long one after all.

Misaki: I, I know that!

Shin: Do you? Then at the very least train in your down time to master Haki and that wrist flamethrower that Saki made you to go along with your Pyrokinesis skill so that you won't wear yourself down by creating your own flames. I won't say don't enjoy yourself, but we are no longer citizens of this world. Not till we all acquire the 50,000 Points to leave that place once and for all!

Hikari: Shin, you don't have to be so blunt. Also, don't worry about what he said too much. He is just worried about you is all.

Shin: Who is worried about this guy? I just don't want him slowing me down later is-

Hikari: Shut up, Shin. I am trying to make you come off good, so keep quiet.

Misaki: Thanks Hikari, but Shin is right. Til I saw you on the news and come here, I had forgotten about everything. I wanted to forget everything about that place for as long as possible... Thank you. I'll keep this in mind.

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With our visit to Misaki pretty much over with, Hikari and I were on our way out with Misaki showing the way to the door.

Misaki: Thanks for coming over... And I'll make sure not to forget that I have to return to that place and prepare myself accordingly.

Shin: Alright. I didn't want to sound so high and mighty, but I am kinda the leader.

Misaki: And who decided... No, never mind. Also, sorry that I didn't have any snacks or drinks for you two.

Hikari: No problem. In fact, I'll be disgusted if a biker punk like you could greet others properly.

Misaki: It is former, and shut up!

Mokoto: What is going on. Ah, its Hikari and Shin! How great to see you.

Mokoto, Misaki's human creation had come out of a room and right behind her was a small girl. A cute girl of about ten years old had followed behind Mokoto shyly. This girl had to be Misaki's little sister that he kept going on and on about, but...

Shin: So cute.

Misaki: Huh?

Hikari: Shin is right. She is so small and cute, like a little princess... But how? How can this be that ruff-neck, biker trash named Misaki, have such adorable sister?

Shin: Maybe he kidnapped her.

Misaki: Fuck off you two! This is my little sister Ren. The pride of my life next to Mokoto.

Ren: My name is Ren.

Misaki: Cute right!? Could there be a better girl in the entire world then Ren?

Mokoto: Is that so? It is good to know where I stand in the eyes of my boyfriend.

Misaki: Mokoto... You can't compare you two. Mokoto is Mokoto and Ren is Ren.

Mokoto: ...

It looked like Misaki had yet to master the art of controlling... Handle... Whatever the word is, he wasn't up to the task of having two women in his life like I could with Aqua and Hikari. I should give the poor sap some advice later.

Ren: Are you two my brother's new friends that he has been with these last few weeks?

Shin: Ah, yeah. My name is Shin and this here is Hikari my girl-Ahh! Don't hit me for calling you my girlfriend. Aqua is bad enough and she hits harder.

Hikari: Shut up Shin! Anyways, my name is Hikari. It is nice to meet Misaki's sister after all this time.

Hikari and I then greeted the shy girl kindly, yet she seemed to want to say something to us rather than hear our names. It was only when Misaki and Mokoto were distracted by a fight they were having that she speak up again.

Ren: ...I, I don't know what my brother has been up to, but it is dangerous, right?

Shin: ...

Hikari: ...Why would you say that?

Ren: Sometimes brother looks very scary at times. In a dark room he just sit in a chair with a frightening look. He is almost always fearless, yet since he has been back this has been happening everyday. Brother won't say anything about what he has been up to or where, but I can tell that it is dangerous. That is why... Please protect my brother!

Shin: ...

Hikari: ...Shin?

Misaki's little sister was smarter then I took her for. There was no way Misaki could have told her anything, but Ren had deduced that whatever he was up to was dangerous and that it wasn't over yet. Ren wanted some confirmation that everything will be alright, asking from us, from me, that Misaki would be okay. Just saying that it will be alright would be irresponsible since in that dimension their is only death waiting for you. Still...

Shin: ...I, I promise. Misaki, I'll look after him for you.

Ren: Really? Thank you!

With much reluctance I said something I shouldn't have and accepted Ren's request, but I don't regret it. This time around I intend to be a proper team leader. I won't let what happened to Zero in BTOOOM happen again just because I wasn't strong enough.

Misaki: See you guy later. In one week we are meeting up, right?

Hikari: Yes. Saki had yet to tell us a location, but she should be getting in contact with us soon.

Shin: One week then. Now the two of us are leaving. The next time that I see you don't say something like you forgot to train, okay?

Misaki: I won't forget. I don't want to listen to another lecture where you use anime character as reliable examples.

Shin: ...

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???: So Team Japan has returned to the real world, have they? And you say that the current team is not on our side, right?

???: Yes. There's no doubt that the previous team wiped during some mission, and that the current Team Japan is made up of random civilians. They also don't seem to know anything about us. What would you have me do now that I made contact with them?

???: ...Nothing for the moment, but keep investigating them to see if they are useful and acquire their real world information while you are at it. Blackmail can sometimes be a double edge sword, but we don't have much choice. I don't like it, but it's better to see if they can be brought over to our side. Recently, creating long lasting new teams has become near impossible with the new format. We have lost more than half of our other teams in God's Dimension as well because of this fucking change... The smart thing to do would be to use them as stepping stones to reorganize our forces.

???: And if they prove unlikely to conform to our beliefs or threats... Can I proceed with the original plan?

???: Yes, if they won't join us, then just wipe the current Team Japan and we'll just have to start from scratch, even if it's troublesome. I'll leave the timing to you.

???: Yes, I won't fail.

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Authors Note:

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