Chapter 17: 2D May Be Virtual, But Love Is Not

Chapter 17: 2D May Be Virtual, But Love Is Not

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Utaha, with her mature figure and exquisite appearance different from her peers, had been sought after by people around her since she was a child.

She had never lost second place in the school since the first grade. She could even write scripts for the drama club and publish articles in magazines, showcasing her rare literary talent.

"Elric, let's go home together after school. My mother said that you and Sora will come to our house for dinner today," she said casually.

Although she had been very smart since she was a child, Utaha knew she had a very scary competitor—her childhood friend, Elric, who was one grade higher than her and had always ranked first in their grade.

When she was young, Utaha didn't have any particular opinion of Elric. To her, he was just a very handsome boy. If she had to describe him, she'd say he was also incredibly strong. Even though his parents were absent, he had always taken it upon himself to care for his unrelated younger sister.

Her impression of Elric only went as far as their bond as childhood friends. If those unforeseen events hadn't happened, she thought, they might have remained as nothing more than close friends for the rest of their lives.

The turning point came during junior high.

At that time, Elric's father had just been involved in an accident, coinciding with the passing of Kasugano's mother.

Out of sympathy for Elric's situation, Utaha's parents often invited Elric and Sora to their home for dinner, hoping to take care of the siblings during their difficult time.

"Kasumigaoka-san, it's time to eat. Are you ready?"

Calling Utaha by her surname, Elric, then a second-year junior high school student, knocked on her door. Unexpectedly, the door wasn't locked, and as he pushed it open, he found her sitting inside, reading a comic book.

"Elric? Damn..."

In reality, Utaha was an otaku, deeply immersed in otaku culture. To put it into perspective, Utaha from the original story could easily name over five games from a single description, much to Aki Tomoya's amazement.

In Elric's world, she also enjoyed manga novels and was utterly captivated by the 2D.

Usually, it was just her and her parents at home, and she had forgotten that Elric had been invited over by her mother. As a result, Utaha accidentally revealed her otaku side.

"Elric, this... actually..."

She faltered, unsure of how to explain to Elric. After all, the label of "otaku" didn't match her image of being a beautiful and refined girl, and many of her peers harbored some level of disdain toward otaku. Just as she was about to stumble through an explanation...

"Kamen Rider? Kasumigaoka-san, you like this? I remember the next part is..."

To her surprise, Elric began talking naturally about the plot of Kamen Rider, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. Utaha stared at him in disbelief.

"Elric, you're... also an otaku?"

In her memory, Elric had always been a serious and diligent student. She never imagined he'd have any interest in these things.

"Ah? If you mean the 2D… then yes, I am."

He nodded. Before coming to this world, Elric had been an avid fan of anime and manga. Even after crossing over, he had continued to pay attention to these things—after all, the anime world was filled with iconic characters.

"You're into the 2D, too? Then… don't you think these things are fake?" she asked hesitantly.

Looking at Elric with hesitation, Utaha remembered his response vividly.

"Fake? Maybe. I know better than anyone that they are virtual, but this love is real—that's enough."

She thought back to how Elric had once questioned whether the people around him after his time travel were merely virtual existences or NPCs.

But as time passed, Elric had come to a realization. These people were not just characters; they were living, breathing, independent individuals.

"The 2D may be virtual, but this love is not."

"The slightly warm phone screen... perhaps it carries the temperature of their embrace."

It was the first time she had heard anyone say something like this. In that moment, Elric surpassed everything in Utaha's eyes.

As he said, it didn't matter whether she was an otaku or not—as long as the love she felt was real, that was enough.

From then on, her impression of Elric changed completely. Utaha believed there had to be something truly special about someone who could express such profound thoughts.

What followed was straightforward. Because of their shared hobbies and secrets, the relationship between Utaha and Elric deepened rapidly. Even Utaha's writing journey began with Elric's help.

"Elric, these people are too much. Their comments are so harsh," she once said, visibly upset.

Even though she had a natural talent for writing, the gap between online novels and traditional literature wasn't something that could be bridged by talent alone. As she delved into writing novels, Utaha faced harsh criticism from readers, leaving her feeling confused and uncertain.

Fortunately, Elric was always by her side. He gave her thoughtful advice, guided her through themes, and supported her in refining her ideas.

At some point, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly when, Elric became the spiritual pillar of her world. As long as he was there, She felt she could overcome any challenge and face her troubles with unwavering confidence.

Unknowingly, her gaze began to focus solely on Elric. For Utaha, it felt as though she had become captive to his presence.

It was strange. When had she fallen for this childhood friend? Was it when they first met? Was it at his father's funeral, when she saw his determined and resilient expression? Or was it when he first discovered her otaku side and accepted her without hesitation?

She didn't know, but she realized it didn't matter.

Utaha only knew that she had lost herself. In front of Elric, she couldn't act as naturally as she used to. There was always an inexplicable mix of shyness and anticipation in his presence.

"Elric, we've known each other for so long. Stop calling me Kasumigaoka-san all the time—just call me by my name."

It was a summer night, with the sound of insects and cicadas filling the air. Looking at Elric, Utaha could feel the heat rising to her face, knowing she must be blushing.

"Utaha? Alright," Elric replied simply.

Hearing him call her by her name, Utaha felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. It was a joy she hadn't experienced even when her novel had been signed by a publishing house.

So, when Elric once asked her whether she believed in God, Utaha answered naturally, "Elric, you are my God."

As Elric had said from the start—perhaps the 2D was virtual, but the love born from it was not.

Now, Utaha could proudly declare to Elric that maybe gods were virtual, but to her, Elric was no different from a god.