Chapter 2: It only shows what you see.

Ikari Soyoka.

Yes, that’s my name. To be precise, it’s my new name.

Any ordinary person must have thought about it at least once. That question of, ‘Where do I go when I die?’

Since I pride myself on being ordinary, I’ve naturally thought about the afterlife.

However, when I actually died, there was no time for such thoughts.

I merely met a death stained with regrets over what I couldn’t do and wishes for what I should have done.

They call it a ‘flashback of one’s life,’ or so I hear.

Anyway, to sum it up: I died, and I was reborn. In this world, inside the game that was called Blue Archive on Earth. Its official name is Kivotos, a massive academy city.

And my body changed too.

Originally, I had the face of a common man, not particularly handsome, someone you might see once or twice wandering the streets… but now, it’s hard to say it myself, but I’ve become a rather pretty girl.

Long black hair that reaches my waist, eyes that seem empty.

Pale skin, almost white, combined with a figure that could be called somewhat voluminous, resulted in a rather decent outcome.

A beautiful girl with a slightly sickly, haggard appearance.

‘…Even though that appearance is mine, I still feel awkward about it, but regardless.’

Yet, perhaps it’s true that humans are creatures of adaptation, as I’ve grown accustomed to this body, these habits, and this situation.

Even menstruation… I’ve gotten used to it.

Taking a long time to dry my hair has also become a given.

Oh, and by ‘situation,’ I mean–

“…That person. It seems like her, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, I think so… just in case, maybe we should avoid her—”

It’s about my reputation.

As I quietly sat on a bench, scribbling something in my notebook, I overheard two students talking. The subject was, needless to say, me.

Why? Because it’s not the first or second time I’ve experienced it.

My reputation at Trinity isn’t very good.

To be precise, my name is at the top of the list of notorious problem students with bad reputations.

It’s truly absurd.

If you were to ask what my fault is, or what unpleasant thing I’ve done to deserve this treatment, I’d have a lot to say.

A whole lot.

What is a student’s duty?

It is a student’s duty to explore and learn about things they don’t know but should know.

In that sense, I merely remained faithful to a student’s duty.

Because I simply diligently investigated and researched the knowledge I needed to know.

Despite that, the esteemed high-ranking officials of Trinity have brought me to this situation over something so trivial.

It’s truly lamentable.

To prevent someone from knowing what they should know, and to make a person so miserable because of it.

“Is it really that bad? She doesn’t look dangerous when you actually see her.”

“…No matter what, she’s ‘Trinity’s Heretic.’ With the higher-ups disliking her so much, there’s no good in getting close.”

Yes, that nickname.

Instead of my perfectly normal name, Ikari Soyoka, I’m called by the strange nickname, ‘Trinity’s Heretic.’

It wasn’t just the nickname; the treatment was the same.

I assume you can roughly guess what ‘heretic’ means in a mission school, a religious school.

So, thanks to that, I’m being subtly ostracized by the entire academy.

It’s a cruel level of disregard and avoidance that an ordinary student surely couldn’t endure.

Sometimes, the act of being ignored can be more devastating than bullying itself.

Basically, aside from a few, most don’t even speak to me, and there are those who avoid me just at the sight of me.

Some even find it uncomfortable to make eye contact.

Even during roll call in class, my name isn’t called.

As if it doesn’t matter if I come or not.

Of course, it doesn’t really affect me fatally.

First of all, I can’t exactly have a proper conversation with kids who aren’t my age, and I don’t have any girlish sensibilities.

If they ignore me, I just ignore them back.

‘…Only a slight feeling of sadness is an unavoidable part of my nature, I suppose.’

‘Even though I prefer solitude, I don’t dislike people themselves.’

‘A life with few conversation partners can’t possibly be pleasant.’

‘……’

I ignored their not-so-whispers and kept my hands busy, sketching what was before my eyes.

What was important right now wasn’t this familiar situation.

It was sketching what I saw.

This is already the fourth time today that people have talked about me like this.

I came out for a change, only to encounter something unpleasant.

This is why I dislike going out.

I see unpleasant things outside, and every time I go out, I hear such talk, so I naturally end up cooped up at home.

Haa, if I had known, I would have just done this on the rooftop.

Why did I come all the way out here…

“Um, excuse me…”

Today, the wind was cool and the weather seemed mild, so I had stepped outside for a bit.

After all, a little fresh air was sometimes necessary.

Occasionally, things like this were needed. Of course, that sky and the students’ whispers were not needed.

“Um, excuse me?”

Hmm, or should I find a quieter place?

I heard the Red Winter Federal Academy is quite deserted—

“…Ugh, when someone calls you, answer them!”

Huh? Oh.

“Ah, Koharu-chan. My apologies. I was a bit occupied.”

I looked up at the Justice Task Force member who had shrieked in front of me.

Pink hair styled in twin tails, with a pair of adorable black wings attached above them.

Wearing the distinctive black sailor uniform of the Justice Task Force, with wings also on her back, she was—

“W-What possessed you to come outside? You’re usually cooped up indoors…”

Shimoe Koharu, one of my assigned Justice Task Force members.

‘…Huh? What do I mean by ‘assigned’?’

‘Exactly what it sounds like.’

‘A Justice Task Force member assigned to monitor and control me, ‘Trinity’s Heretic.’

‘That was her role.’

‘Phew, didn’t I tell you?’

‘Those high-ranking officials at Trinity dislike me quite a bit.’

‘They dislike me so much that they’re using all sorts of means, not just simple ostracism.’

‘Troubling me, a variable, a diligent student, so bothersomely.’

“Can’t Koharu-chan guess? The weather’s nice, isn’t it? The wind is pleasantly cool, and the sky is clear…”

“…What are you talking about? They said it would rain today. There’s not even a hint of a blue sky.”

‘…Ah.’

‘No wonder those students earlier were carrying umbrellas.’

‘It seems the sky is dark.’

‘I wouldn’t know unless I could see it.’

‘How would I know?’

“Hmm, is that so? I should head back early. Wouldn’t want my notebook to get wet.”

I suppose I’ll have to finish the rest inside.

It’s visible from the window anyway, so it shouldn’t matter.

“W-What are you drawing this time? You always draw strange patterns or something.”

“Oh, nothing much. Just coitus between a man and a woman.”

“…Huh? Huh??”

“To explain in detail, based on the woman-on-top position—”

“…W-What on earth are you drawing?! No lewd things! That’s a death sentence! A death sentence!”

Hmm.

It’s a lie, phew.

Watching Koharu snatch my notebook with a shriek, I quietly smiled and scratched my head.

Her reactions are certainly reliable.

It feels like she brings a ray of light to my lonely life at Trinity.

“H-How could you draw such, such indecent pictures outside… Huh?”

Koharu, her face flushed, finally opened the notebook and suddenly tilted her head in confusion, as if struck by shock.

Perhaps it wasn’t the drawing she expected.

Hah, this is why I tease her.

Seriously, if Koharu weren’t here, how would I have endured this loneliness?

“Heh, were you curious? It’s just a drawing.”

‘You’re my lifeline, Koharu.’

And what I draw in my notebook is nothing special.

I just draw what I see.

I’ve never even drawn the kind of picture I mentioned.

That kind of composition isn’t my taste anyway.

“…………W-Who said I was curious! Don’t joke around with things like this! And… what is this, anyway? You always just draw strange patterns.”

“Hmm? I’m just drawing what I see in the sky. And strange, you say? Doesn’t it look beautiful, in a way? I even think there’s a certain regularity to it.”

I took my notebook back from her and started walking.

Listening to Koharu, I felt a slightly damp sensation in the air.

“What on earth are you seeing, always saying such strange things…”

“Well, it’s not that important, so let’s move on. Anyway— Ah. I got rained on. It looks like it’s about to pour, so shall we head inside?”

I felt a single raindrop fall on the crown of my head.

Cold, and a little clammy.

It would probably start pouring down heavily now.

As I slowly began to quicken my pace, Koharu slowly followed.

That was only natural.

This was a daily routine.

‘…Control and surveillance aren’t just about following and watching.’

‘My research, investigations, even simple actions were all reported and analyzed.’

‘Naturally, Koharu isn’t the only one performing these tasks.’

‘It’s just Koharu’s turn to be on duty today.’

‘My belongings and home are searched, and surveillance continues until I fall asleep.’

‘I haven’t paid much attention to my phone, but it’s probably been hacked too.’

‘That’s a very plausible story.’

‘They’re pushing me quite hard.’

Yes, I live a truly unfortunate life, being monitored and having the content of my studies controlled at the same time.

All because I read forbidden books and researched them.

If I ever get the chance, I honestly want to confront them with so many questions.

To the high-ranking officials of Trinity, to those who are making me live this life without expelling me or transferring me.

‘…Why is researching the Colors a sin?’

‘Why is researching natural phenomena, exploring the unknown world, a sin?’

‘Is it something that needs to be controlled to the extent of controlling a person’s life, of blocking their freedom?’

I feel like a scientist in medieval Europe advocating for the heliocentric theory.

The difference is, in my case, they’re stopping me in a somewhat milder way, I suppose?

‘…No, that’s not right.’

‘If I had been born in the era of the Justina Sanctuary, perhaps my fingernails would have been pulled out.’

‘The actions of the Justina Sanctuary and the old Trinity General Academy, which I learned about while investigating the Colors, were truly barbaric and horrific.’

‘To the point where it’s hard to believe they were actions taken by students.’

‘In a way, perhaps it’s fortunate that I’m only being controlled like this now.’

‘Though it is true that it’s a bit mentally taxing.’

‘…Well, I plan to break free from this control someday.’

‘Despite this situation, my research on the Colors continues.’

Even if they ostracize me, control me, and monitor me, I have no intention of stopping this study, this research on the Colors.

How could I turn away from the facts right before my eyes?

The clear facts visible right before my eyes.

I look up at the sky once more.

It’s not blue.

Ever since I was reborn in Kivotos, my sky has never been blue, nor has it ever been cloudy.

I only know it’s raining when I feel the drops directly.

The brilliant sunlight is invisible to me.

The countless starlight visible at night has long since become a memory from Earth.

All I see is pitch-black, absolute darkness.

And.

Using that as a backdrop, wandering from somewhere impossibly far away, from way out there—

‘…One iridescent, multicolored star.’

I wouldn’t be able to sleep at all until I figured out its true identity.

Until I knew why only I could see it, until I knew what it was, I wouldn’t be able to rest peacefully.

Until I uncover the Colors, until I clear away this black sky, I wouldn’t even know when night truly is.

Therefore, I am not a heretic.

‘…………I’m just an ordinary person who simply states what I see.’

The rain began to pour more heavily, and I hurried back to my home to escape it.

…………Still gazing at the invisible rain clouds, and still at that one star wandering far away.