Part 1
The warm evening breeze swept gently through the streets of Odaiba.
The graduation ceremony was over, and for Touma Kisaragi, freedom had finally arrived.
—Ah... finally free.
He sighed, stretching his arms over his head as he walked alongside Hina down one of the island's wide avenues.
From elementary school all the way through middle school, Touma and Hina had always been in the same class.
She liked to say it was destiny. He chalked it up to coincidence.
Either way, they'd never been apart — which made the idea of going separate ways after graduation feel... strange.
—Hey, stop walking like you just retired. Life's only just beginning.
Beside him, Hinata Fujimura shot him a mildly annoyed look.
Her orange hair caught the breeze, reflecting the last golden rays of sunset, and as usual, her energy was the perfect contrast to Touma's laid-back vibe.
—Easy for you to say, Hina. You've already got your whole plan figured out, right?
—Obviously. I'm going to Seisen! It's the best academy in the country — and I've had my acceptance letter for months.
—Yeah, yeah... how exciting.
Hina frowned and gave him a light jab in the ribs with her elbow.
—Hey, don't give me that "not my problem" face. What about you? Where are you going?
Touma shrugged.
—I dunno. It's not like I have any particular destination in mind. Staying home, playing video games, living the chill life... sounds pretty good to me.
Hina came to a sudden stop. Touma immediately felt a chill.
That kind of pause could only mean one thing: incoming danger.
—...Don't tell me you seriously haven't thought about it.
—You could say I've given it some thought — he offered, without much conviction.
Hina crossed her arms, her gaze sharpening. Touma could feel the storm brewing.
—Touma.
—Y-Yeah?
—You're coming with me to Seisen.
—...Excuse me?
—You heard me. I'm not letting you stay home and waste your life away.
Touma let out a nervous laugh.
—Come on, Hina, that's a little extreme. It's not like I'm going to become a hermit or anything.
—You totally would within a week.
Her eyes dared him to argue, but Touma wisely chose silence.
Hina sighed, softening her expression a little.
—Look, I know you're not exactly into this kind of thing, but Seisen isn't just any school. There's stuff there that might actually catch your interest.
And besides... I don't want to go alone.
—Ah, there it is. The real reason.
—I also want you to have a decent future! —she protested, though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
Touma sighed.
Hina was like an endless storm of energy.
It wasn't that he was totally against the idea — he just didn't see any real reason to apply to some elite academy.
But in that moment, seeing the determined look on Hina's face — remembering how she'd always been by his side — he realized he didn't really have a choice.
—Hina... you're really not going to let me say no, are you?
—Of course not!
Besides, my dad went ahead and wrote a recommendation letter to Seisen on your behalf... —she said, pulling out an envelope stamped with the academy's seal.
Touma blinked, staring at the document that apparently confirmed his admission.
—I see... so this was your plan all along.
He scratched his head, letting out a long sigh before offering a small smile.
—Alright. I guess I've got no way out of this. That old saying's true after all... "Hina's always one step ahead".
Hina's eyes lit up with excitement.
—Of course! I always think ahead. But first...
—First... what?
—Today's our last day as middle schoolers, and you know what that means.
Touma blinked, confused, as Hina raised a hand to the sky like a heroine straight out of an anime.
—We're going to Akihabara to have fun.
—...Don't tell me you mean the arcades.
—Exactly! It's tradition, right? We can't break it now.
She wasn't wrong. Ever since they started middle school, they'd always stopped by Akihabara after classes to hit the arcades before heading home.
—Alright, alright. Just don't blow all your savings on gacha again.
—That was only one time!
Laughing and exchanging stories, they made their way toward Akihabara.
The Yamanote Line train glided smoothly along the tracks.
Seated in the car, surrounded by tired office workers and wide-eyed tourists, Touma watched as Hina scrolled through her phone with laser focus.
—Already planning which arcade machine you're gonna dominate today?
—Obviously —she replied, not even glancing up—. I've got a list of the top scores on Tower Fighter EX and I'm not losing to those Akihabara rookies.
—Sure, sure... until you lose and start swearing vengeance on a CPU.
—Hey, that was only one time too!
The train announced its arrival at Akihabara Station, and as they stepped off, the city's signature buzz and neon energy welcomed them.
Anime billboards, maids handing out flyers, and massive screens playing loud, flashy ads filled every corner with color and sound.
—I never get tired of coming here. We should try karaoke later —Hina said cheerfully, but then noticed Touma had stopped.
He was staring at an ad with an unusually serious expression.
Without realizing it, Touma had wandered over to a tech shop's display window, where a large screen played a promo video.
"TIRED OF WEAK GLASSES?"
"DO YOUR LENSES CONSTANTLY NEED UPDATING?"
"AT NOVATECH, INNOVATION NEVER STOPS."
"PRESENTING... ASTRA LENS!"
On screen, a young woman wearing sleek, futuristic glasses smiled confidently at the camera.
"INTERNET ACCESS, COMMUNICATION TOOLS, PERMANENT AUTO-ADJUSTMENTS, UV PROTECTION, AND MORE."
A holographic overlay projected a list of specs, showing off the Astra Lens's advanced features like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.
"ASTRA LENS — THE FUTURE OF AUGMENTED REALITY."
"NOVATECH: INNOVATING FOR TOMORROW."
A man in a lab coat appeared next, passionately explaining how these augmented reality devices would revolutionize daily life.
Touma narrowed his eyes.
—NovaTech never stops, huh... No wonder they're the biggest tech company in the world.
—They actually look kinda cool. I think they'd suit you —Hina said, giving him a sidelong glance.
—Yeah, they do sound pretty awesome —Touma admitted, taking off his prescription glasses— but I can't exactly drop 100,000 yen on a pair.
Hina knew he had a point. But seeing how his face lit up at the ad... she couldn't help herself.
Touma had always loved anything tech-related — and those lenses really did seem useful.
—Dad's gonna be so mad about this... —she muttered under her breath.
—Did you say something?
—Nope, nothing. Just remembering something.
Touma raised an eyebrow but decided not to push it.
—Alright then, where do you want to go first? Arcades, manga shops, or karaoke?
Hina tapped a finger to her chin, thoughtful.
—Mmm… you go on ahead. I'll catch up in a bit at the usual spot. There's something I need to take care of first.
—Want me to come with you?
—It's, you know... girl stuff.
Touma wisely let it go. He knew that when Hina said that, it was best not to ask questions.
—Yes, ma'am. I'll be at Arcadia, wiping the floor with those rookies while I wait.
—Go get 'em, tiger —she said with a warm smile as he turned and headed toward the Arcadia building.
Hina pushed open the glass doors of the NovaTech store, greeted instantly by a sleek, minimalist interior bathed in cool lighting.
The display cases gleamed with the latest cutting-edge tech, and at the far end, the Astra Lens sparkled with a sleek, metallic sheen.
A cheerful employee intercepted her right away, flashing a well-rehearsed smile.
—Welcome to NovaTech! How can I help you today?
—Ah, yeah. I'd like to buy those glasses —she said, pointing to the featured model.
The clerk nodded with professional ease.
—Excellent choice. The Astra Lens are our most advanced augmented reality technology. Is it for personal use or a gift?
Hina blinked.
—Does it matter?
The clerk chuckled softly.
—Well, if it's a gift, we offer premium packaging with custom engraving.
Hina crossed her arms, pretending to think it over.
—Hmm… I guess it's a gift.
—Perfect! For a family member, partner, or a close friend?
Hina felt her answer catch in her throat.
—I-it's for my... friend.
The clerk's smile sharpened slightly, eyes glinting with amusement.
—Ah, a friend. I see.
—It's not what you think!
—Of course not. Only 80% of customers who gift Astra Lens end up in a relationship with the recipient.
—W-Where did you even get that statistic?!
He shrugged casually.
—Marketing department stuff.
Hina sighed, doing her best to ignore the warmth rising to her cheeks.
—Just bring them out before I change my mind.
—That'll be 100,000 yen. Payment method?
With a confident grin, Hina pulled out her father's card.
The register screen flashed with a satisfying message: "Transaction Approved."
The clerk handed her the package with an even bigger smile.
—Thank you for your purchase. I hope your... friend enjoys them.
Hina grabbed the box and rushed out of the store before he could say anything else. Clutching it tightly in her hands, she smiled to herself.
—I can't wait to see the look on his face... heh.
Definitely worth every yen.