Akihabara
September 25, 2026. Friday. 15:21.
Akihabara, Chiyoda Ward.
Reservation-only cafe [Angelique],
2nd-floor special private room.
”Come on. Let’s eat, let’s eat!”
I feel like I’m gradually getting used to this sight. Chris’s tea stand is clearly piled with twice the usual amount, and she starts eating it with a big smile. We played at the arcade in the morning, and went shopping in the afternoon. Figures and plastic models from anime and games. I was holding so many of them that I couldn’t carry them in both hands, and the time had finally come for me to rest my body.
”Asami, sorry for making you tag along for so much shopping. It’s my treat today, so eat a lot!”
Unfortunately, or rather, thanks to the fact that I didn’t buy anything—or rather, didn’t have the time or mental leeway to buy anything—my savings have only been growing since my NYPD days, but Chris’s sentiment makes me genuinely happy. At that moment, along with the sound of a knock on the private room door, a staff member entered.
”Excuse me. I have brought the Angelique special Miracle Parfait.”
A large parfait, which seemed difficult to finish even for five people, was placed on the table. Beautiful medium-long black hair. The doll-like female staff member with straight bangs had, for some reason, what appeared to be a French doll gracefully seated on her right shoulder. Is it secured with something?
”Wow, miss, you’re so cute! And that doll is lovely too!”
Chris exclaimed excitedly.
”Thank you very much. Good for you, Charlotte. The lovely young ladies are praising you.”
The female staff member spoke to the doll on her shoulder. The black gothic dress, which is probably the uniform of this shop, suited her very well.
”Well then, young ladies. Please enjoy your time.”
Saying so, she carefully closed the door and exited.
”Japanese girls really have so many cute ones. Many have lovely voices too, and I really admire doll-like girls.”
”You’re right. I wonder if she was a student working part-time. She didn’t look that different in age from Hojo…”
At that moment, Chris’s phone rings. Chris answers the phone looking apologetic. Is it from the base?
”Ah, yes, yes. About that matter the other day. ——Looks like the company is going to survive safely? I see. That’s good, that’s good. How is the source code I optimized over here? If you like, try replacing it with this one. It shouldn’t take that much effort. Ah, money? No, no, I don’t need it. I’m just doing it because I like it. Well then, good luck with development. I’m looking forward to the next large-scale update.”
Saying so, Chris hung up the phone. She was speaking quite fast, but seeing her talking with a smile…
”Chris, that phone call just now, could it be——”
”Yeah. The development leader of ”Diabolos IV”. They were lamenting that the management side started interfering with development about two years ago, and their own opinions couldn’t get through as they wanted. They told me it was a sure bankruptcy at this rate, so they asked me to help. They were saying all those things on the news, but the truth is I didn’t just hack them on my own. They provided the administrator ID and PASS from their side.”
Before I knew it, the food on the tea stand was almost gone, and Chris started digging into the parfait.
”So, I accessed the server and analyzed the program itself with VARIS. After optimizing the code in various ways, I changed the data to the original update contents I had heard in advance, restarted it, and happily ever after. Well, I had them incorporate my wishes into the update contents too, though.”
”Then, all those game company hacks involving ”White Angel” are——”
”Right. Everyone has their own various circumstances, and I’m doing it because they asked me to. In that sense, I’m really helping people. There are no bad people among true otakus, you see.”
Chris said with a smile while devouring the parfait.
”Well, it does indirectly cause trouble for the Chief, but I leave absolutely no evidence, and even if it’s discovered by some chance, I keep the logs of them providing the ID and PASS. I take it on the condition that I can publish it in the worst-case scenario. I can’t cause trouble for Papa either, you know.”
I see. At first glance, it felt like Chris’s whim, but she has her own reasons and justice, and she is helping people in a direction where everyone becomes happy. However, speaking only within the UCIA, only Chris’s image worsens… If she’s doing it knowing that, she might be surprisingly gutsy.
”Ah, Asami. I dropped my hand mirror. Pick it up for me.”
”Alright, alright. Wait a second.”
Chris, with parfait cream on her mouth, threw a tantrum. I picked up what had fallen at the foot of the table.
(Eh…?)
What had fallen was not… a hand mirror. It looks like a compact folding hand mirror, but the mirror part looks like a display. And the message ”Keep this” was floating on it.
”Ah, if you like, I’ll give you that hand mirror, Asami. I have another one as a spare. We match now.”
Chris smiled. But, what does this mean?
”Come to think of it, I wonder if Kamikura-san is okay? Did he contact you, Asami?”
”No, nothing yet regarding his return. Or rather, Kamikura basically doesn’t answer his phone…”
Previously on the Metropolitan Expressway, Kamikura suddenly started suffering, and although nothing happened in particular after that, he was to undergo a medical examination at the medical facility inside Yokota Base just to be safe. About a week has passed already, but there is still no contact. It seemed like some kind of seizure-like suffering at that time, but what on earth was that…?
”Thanks for everything today. It’s fun being with you, Asami, and I feel relieved in many ways.”
”No, no. You’re welcome.”
Ever since joining the UCIA, there are no fixed holidays. Since I moved my residence to the base, being there has become my daily routine. However, it’s a comfortable place, and it’s a strongly secure place in terms of security. That’s why going out to Akihabara while also acting as Chris’s guard like this is a good change of pace.
Well, even we are probably being secretly monitored under the guise of being guarded, though…
”Now then, I have an errand tonight, so shall we return to the base after you finish eating that? My Lady.”
As I said that with a laugh, Chris smiled gently.