Episode 6: Witch Bell

"Ise-kun ..."

She gave a really small wave of her hand at me, I felt very relieved,

"1st Year Class B, Ise Shouta-kun. You're Izumo-san's classmate, aren't you."

While I was stunned, it seemed that the application for joining the club was stolen by the Senpai with a princess cut.

"Ah, yes. Umm ..."

"I'm Katori Suzune from Class 2-A. I'm the head of this club. Nice to meet you."

"You too."

As expected, when a Senpai asked for a handshake, I couldn't help but respond.

I couldn't run away from this now ...

"Now, look around the clubroom again."

I remembered that it was like that, and when I looked around the clubroom again ...

Eh, is this the top-of-the-line PC(Personal Core) and also VRHMD!? Does that mean, I can play IRO?

No, no, it's not at a level that could be procured with normal club expenses, right. It's the same as the state-of-the-art PC & VRHMD I got for my high school entrance celebration.

"Well, it seems that the club fees are high, so I would like to decline ..."

"What are you talking about. We don't collect club fees or equipment fees from students. I paid for this with the club budget I got from the school and the money I got from club activities."

From club activities? You got that? Ha??

Seeing that my brain went blank, Katori-buchou continued.(TN:Buchou is the head of a club. Head Katori or Katori Head sounds just plain wrong.)

"Well, I have to talk about it as long as I have you join, but don't tell other people."

After saying that and taking a deep breath,

"My online name is 'Bell'. I'm the virtual idol 'Witch Bell' in the game."

"Haa, I see ... What, eeeeehhhhh!!"

There were many live-game virtual idols, but over the past year the number of fans had increased rapidly, and 'Witch Bell' had risen to the top of the rankings.

Of course, I couldn't say that to anyone else. It's only natural that I won't talk about the person inside ...(TN:Person inside is the real-life person being portrayed as the virtual idol.)

Someone's hand stroked my head, who had crumbled down. Or rather, Izumo-san.

Izumo-san, did you know this before you came here. No, I can't imagine how Izumo-san would express her surprise ...

However, if that was the case, I could understand why the PC(Personal Core)s and VRHMDs in the clubroom were the latest.

I guess she gave back the money she earned from her activities - like tips and advertising income - as club expenses.

"Understood ... I won't talk about the person inside ..."

"Good."

There were a lot of things I wanted to ask her in detail, but I understood the gist of it.

I slowly stood up and thanked Izumo-san.

"It's fine ..."

"I'm glad you two know each other. Izumo-san, doesn't seem to be good at socializing."

Yeah, I think so too, but would you say that in front of the person in question? Well, Izumo-san was nodding her head.

"Now then, Ise-kun, please sit somewhere suitable.

Izumo-san was sitting across from Katori buchou's seat, which had already been customized in various ways.

There were two seats left, so I sat next to Izumo-san for the time being. It was kind of scary to be next to the Buchou ...

"Alright, here you are."

I wondered if there was even a refrigerator among the equipment, what was placed on Izumo-san's desk was ... Isn't that Enadori tea!

"Th, thank you."

I tried to return it with a slightly cramped smile, but it seemed that Katori buchou didn't really understand at all. She's tough to beat.

Also, Izumo-san, I wonder if it's okay to drink Enadori. I'm worried that the tension will suddenly change ...

"Now then, regarding the club's main activities, but before I explain ... You both have a WearID, right?"

WearID is a wearer's unique number for PC & VRHMD.

The Rokujou Group took the initiative to unify the many standards that existed in the early days of Full Dive and unified them into a single common standard. WearID was assigned to link personal data based on the common standard with the person himself/herself.(TN:Rokujou could also be Mujou, I don't know which it actually is.)

If you've ever used a game or software that used a PC & VRHMD, you've definitely created a WearID before ...

"I have."

"Yes ..."

Does Izumo-san have one too ... So, if you want to join this club, do you have one.

"That's good. The initial settings are troublesome. Well then, let's move to a WearID exchange meeting between club members."

Ah, oh no. If I exchange WearIDs, won't it be found out that I'm playing IRO alone?

No, no, I don't have to stream after today! Originally, I didn't intend to gather people for a stream, so it's okay!

Katori-buchou put on the VRHMD and started up in Real View mode. This was a mode in which only the system window was displayed via holo so that you could recognize the real world.

As she urged me and Izumo-san with a 'Hurry up' expression, I braced myself and put on the VRHMD.

After a short startup sound, the iris authentication ran and I successfully logged in with my WearID. The display name 'Shou' was a common name in the world, so it's okay.

"Well, I'll send you a friend request, my best regards."

Katori-buchou pointed her right hand at me and her left at Izumo-san. That was because when you send a friend request to a person nearby, there was a procedure to point the palm of the hand to the VRHMD that the person was wearing.

By the way, since Katori-buchou was 'Witch Bell', then a fairly famous person would be registered as a friend. If an enthusiastic fan found out about it, I'd get stabbed ...

A popping sound was heard, and a friend request dialog appeared in front of me.

[ Accept the friend request of the nearby user 'Bell'? ]

I pressed 'Yes' without hesitation. If I pressed 'No' here, it would be troublesome since it would go to the blacklist once. It's a trap that would hurt you by doing it as a joke.

'Bell' was displayed at the top of my online friends list on the right. I could customize the display if I had friends with the same name, but it wasn't necessary for now.

"Then, from Ise-kun to Izumo-san."

"Got it."

I sent a friend request to Izumo-san with my right hand. But, Izumo-san was frozen?

"Huh? Did I not send it?"

"Ah, no ..."

I heard a 'Poron' sound of the friend request being accepted, so I checked my friend list.

Then I stiffened. The name 'Mion' was there ...