Welcome comes to 2 dimension chatroom

[Your friend Yakumo Yukari invites you to join the two-dimensional chat room.]

[Accept/Decline]

...

Looking at the sudden pop-up window on the screen, Takumi was momentarily stunned for three seconds. A flicker of emotion passed through his heart, and then he moved the mouse to the window and swiftly clicked on "Decline."

Yakumo Yukari: "Damn it! What are you doing? Why did you decline?!"

Immediately after, another chat window popped up with Yakumo Yukari's angry expression attached.

Takumi "I've already moved on from being an otaku. I'm no longer part of your two-dimensional world, so of course, I'll decline. And what's with you suddenly asking me to join the group? What's the meaning behind it?"

Yakumo Yukari: "Moved on? Did you find a girlfriend?"

Takumi: "No, I haven't..."

Yakumo Yukari: "Then what do you mean by moving on from being an otaku?"

"...," Takumi was momentarily speechless in response to that remark.

Yakumo Yukari: "Anyway, stop the nonsense and join the group quickly. I have something important to discuss with you."

Takumi: "What important thing? Can't we talk privately? Do I have to join the group?"

Yakumo Yukari didn't answer but sent another request to join the group.

Helpless, Takumi had known Yakumo Yukari for about half a year. At that time, when he was still immersed in the two-dimensional world, he enjoyed conversing with people who had such cosplay-like usernames, and Yakumo Yukari was one of the online friends he got along well with. Initially, he thought the owner of that account was a guy like himself, but it was during a voice chat that he discovered the person on the other end was actually a girl, and her voice was clear and crisp, giving him quite a bit of imagination.

But as everyone knows, online relationships are unlikely to have any concrete outcomes, so it remained just a figment of his imagination.

Nevertheless, this girl who used "Yakumo Yukari" as her username was still one of the few friends Takumi had, or to put it more simply, the only female friend he could truly relate to. Therefore, after much hesitation, Takumi ultimately accepted Yakumo Yukari's request.

[You have joined the two-dimensional chat room]

[Your group nickname has been changed to 'Big Stupid.']

Big Stupid: "Damn, do you have to be so quick? Are you typing with your mind? And what does this name even mean?"

17-Year-Old Girl: "Don't worry about the details. I just felt that your previous name lacked the two-dimensional style, so I took the liberty to change it for you. Congratulations on joining the two-dimensional chat room."

It's clear that this 17-year-old girl is Yakumo Yukari.

Although it seemed like he had been pranked, it was just a username, and there wasn't really anything worth caring about. Takumi didn't take it to heart. He glanced to the right and noticed that the number of people in this chat room was surprisingly few. Even with himself, there were only five people.

Patchouli GO: "Hello, newcomer."

Little Wu Lolita: "Welcome, welcome."

Hikikomori Kaguya: "Newcomer, post a selfie. And... Old lady, change my name back. I'm not a hikikomori!"

[Hikikomori Kaguya has been muted for five minutes by the 17-year-old girl, the administrator.]

Patchouli GO: "You've done it again..."

Little Wu Lolita: "See? What's the point?"

17-Year-Old Girl: "Kaguya, your path is getting narrower. Please cherish your account."

Looking at these usernames filled with the two-dimensional style, Takumi suddenly felt surrounded by chuunibyou (adolescent delusions of grandeur). At the same time, he once again understood a profound truth: You shouldn't mess with those in power!

Big Stupid: "By the way, what kind of group is this? Why are there so few people?"

Little Wu Lolita: "It's a gaming group."

Big Stupid: "What game?"

Takumi glanced at the group announcement but didn't see any hints related to games.

Patchouli GO: "It's a game where we have fun together in other two-dimensional worlds with our two-dimensional buddies."

Big Stupid: "Emmmm???"

17-Year-Old Girl: "Don't listen to their nonsense. They just joined today, same as you."

Big Stupid: "They? Are they all girls?"

17-year-old girl: "Yeah, don't you feel like there's suddenly a harem vibe?"

Da Benda: "..."

Xiao Wu Loli: "Uh-oh, the innocent young man is about to be ensnared."

Da Benda: "So, is this a newly created group?"

17-year-old girl: "I don't know when this group was formed either."

Da Benda: "Huh? What are you even talking about?"

Patchouli Go: "It's chaotic, just as I suspected."

17-year-old girl: "Let me explain. A long time ago, I unexpectedly joined this group. Since I was the first member to join, I became the administrator. Later on, more and more people joined, like the Flame-haired Crusader, Bilibili, Ordinary Elementary School Student, Sugar Lover, Floor-Lifting Expert, SSS Group Leader, Death God Proxy, Righteous Partner, and many others. At its liveliest, there were probably over a hundred people."

17-year-old girl: "Until one day... well, actually, it was yesterday. The group owner and other members suddenly vanished, and I became the only one left in the entire group. Consequently, I became the acting group owner."

Da Benda: "Is there such a thing as an acting group owner?"

17-year-old girl: "If you don't believe me, check my profile."

Takumi opened Yukari Yakumo's group profile and indeed saw the words "Acting Group Owner"

written after the ID.

What a complete mess!

Da Benda: "So, you added me to your group because of this issue?"

17-year-old girl: "Yes, don't you think this problem is serious?"

Da Benda: "It's a bit odd, but I didn't realize it was that serious."

17-year-old girl: "It's a very serious matter! Previously, when the group was functioning normally, we, as group members, could gather and explore other fictional worlds together. But now, the group has suddenly become inactive. The group's level has reset to zero, and we even face the possibility of the group dissolving. After knowing all this, can you still talk about it so casually?"

Da Benda: "Huh?"

Takumi, in front of the screen, was momentarily taken aback. What kind of nonsensical things was this silly internet user saying?

Da Benda: "Are you saying this group still has the ability to travel to fictional worlds?"

17-year-old girl: "Yes."

Da Benda: "Then, who are you?"

17-year-old girl: "Of course, I am Yukari Yakumo."

Da Benda: "The one from Gensokyo, who has lived for countless ages but insists on portraying herself as a 17-year-old girl. She's also the elusive mastermind who enjoys lurking behind the scenes, the boundary youkai Yukari Yakumo?"

17-year-old girl: "...Although you roasted me pretty hard, I'll forgive you this time. Yes, I am Yukari Yakumo, the one you've been talking to."

Takumi stared at the screen for a few seconds. While he was aware that some hardcore fans could be quite eccentric, immersing oneself to this extent was rather uncommon. If it were someone else, he wouldn't bother, but considering their six-month friendship, he decided to try and help.

Da Benda: "Snap out of it, girl. Setting aside the fact that we are in the real world, you and Yukari Yakumo could never be online buddies, even if..."

Da Benda: "Even if you really are Yukari Yakumo, let me tell you, you old hag. Do you think you can just press my head on the keyboard like this: flksdjflksdjflkdsjf;ldksjfisodufoids7yi9injlkjld"

Patchouli Go: "Wow, it's complete gibberish!"

Xiao Wu Loli: "Is this what they call face-rolling on the keyboard? Impressive!"

Dead house Kaguya-hime: "Damn, I'm finally out of prison!"