(I got Kenya-kun!!!)

Kenya shouted in his mind and made a small fist pump.

He’d been internally freaking out about the possibility of her hating him, but it seemed like he’d barely scraped by with her approval.

And with that, the exam was over.

In the end, all the Japanese participants lost except for Kenya, but they all declared their defeat in loud voices.

There wasn’t a hint of self-deprecation in their tones—they stood tall and proud.

Of course, losing stung.

But seeing the Earthguard folks get a taste of their own medicine thanks to Kenya’s victory was enough to lift everyone’s spirits.

Kenya flashed a bashful smile back at the Japanese group, who were cheering like it was their own win.

In his old world, he’d been on a straight path to total loner status, but things felt a little different here.

The exam wrapped up, and training for the day was done.

That was when Kenya’s strategy kicked off.

Its name?

“Hey, Kaguya. Wanna grab some food, just the two of us?”

Operation: Massive Affinity Boost.

“Huh? You think that little stunt makes me drop my guard? Pervert.”

The operation was a failure.

(That’s weird… With our current affinity, I should’ve been able to invite her on a date…)

He had guts, but zero dating experience.

In VR light novel games, girls like her came running easy.

Damn! Where’d I screw up?! She’s such a pushover!

The mistake was the gap between reality and games.

She had endless choices, no fixed routes like in a game.

A love newbie like Kenya had no way of knowing that.

But his efforts weren’t for nothing.

As he sulked, Kaguya glanced sideways at him, turned away, and muttered,

“I-I’m busy today, but… tomorrow works if you want… or whatever.”

(Got the pushover!!!)

Great. I wasn’t wrong after all.

Thank you, countless gal games.

Not that I’ve played many.

“Got it! Let’s exchange contacts then.”

And so, Kenya and Kaguya swapped contacts.

Via the KOG device’s messaging app, of course.

(There’s stuff I wanna ask him anyway… and I owe him for the help…)

Kaguya pondered as they exchanged info.

The two parted ways from school that day.

Kenya headed home first to plot his next moves.

Meanwhile, Kaguya didn’t go to the dorm—she headed toward a deserted area.

“I’m home, Dad.”

“Kaguya, good to see you back. Sorry to put you through all this.”

This place was far from Tokyo—a lawless zone.

A slum-like town sprawled out before them.

The occupied and ruled nation had lost its capital functions everywhere except the Tokyo area.

Infrastructure was barely maintained, leaving people to scrape by in hardship.

No proper government, no real governance.

Any attempt at unity or uprising was crushed mercilessly with death.

Yet they held hands and survived together.

In their midst stood a building like a hidden safehouse.

A grand hall bore the Japanese flag—the mere possession of which was punishable by death.

At the center, in the place of honor, sat a single man.

“For Japan’s sake, I’m sorry to make you suffer so much. They didn’t bully you, did they?”

“Nah, I’m fine. I’m ready to risk my life as a member of Amaterasu.”

“…Your mom would cry if she heard that. You’ve grown into such a fine woman.”

The man’s name was Isshin Kurokami.

Kaguya’s real father, a lieutenant general in the old Japanese military.

The key to this nation’s defense, now passed away.

And now…

“I’m ready to stake my life as Amaterasu’s leader too. The day of reckoning is near.”

The resistance that refused to abandon Japan’s soul.

An organization fighting to reclaim Japan and save its oppressed people.

Named after Japan’s sun goddess, wishing to shine upon the land once more.

That was Amaterasu.

The world’s largest resistance group by colonial standards.

“It’s finally time to take this country back.”

“Yeah, we’ve talked it over with the Asia Union. If we seize real control here, they’ll let us join.”

“Right. Guess we gotta give it our all then.”

“Yeah, good news. By the way, anything happen at school?”

What happened at school today?

It was normal father-daughter chit-chat on the surface, but it meant more than small talk.

Kaguya thought back—that smug face popped up first.

She still got mad recalling how he’d stolen her heart for a moment, but his strength was real.

“There was this one interesting guy. Might be willing to join us.”

“Oh? What kind?”

“At least stronger at KOG than anyone here. Maybe even more than the Silver Ice Princess.”

She recalled that fight.

She could admit now, straight up: Kenya was superior.

She’d thrown it on purpose.

“I see… Every now and then, they appear. At turning points in history, monsters like that. The Ice Princess was one, but coincidence or fate? Our nation has its own prodigy.”

“Yeah, and…”

(He was kind.)

“And?”

“N-nothing!”

“Right… But we need him on our side, no matter what. Bring him over, Kaguya.”

“Even if you say that… It depends on him. Unless he hates that country too.”

“Even without it. Look…”

Isshin eyed his daughter’s legs.

Sleek and alluring.

Healthy limbs and her mother’s beauty.

Plenty attractive, but still a youthful body, not quite seductive.

He sighed, looked down, and shook his head in exasperation.

“Sigh, if your chest were a bit bigger, you could seduce him… Hmm, such a shame. Why didn’t you take after your mom there…? Huh? Kaguya?”

Before him stood his daughter, cracking her knuckles.

Smiling, but not smiling.

Isshin broke into a cold sweat.

“You’re getting more like your mom every day—everywhere but there.”

“I’ll kill you!”

“Joking aside, bring him. I’ll judge him myself.”

Isshin tried to smooth things over, sporting a massive lump on his head.

“Like that shitty dad could judge anyone.”

“I was ‘Dad’ a second ago! Harsh!”

Kaguya turned away, cursing him.

She respected him as a man and a father, but he had these moments.

In normal times, it’d be domestic harassment, but despite the gripes, Kaguya loved her dad.

“A-anyway. We’ve got a big operation coming up soon. You’re in.”

“What’re we doing?”

“Gathering forces. We’re hitting a certain ship. Success here, and the Asia Union recognizes us.”

The Asia Union—a massive alliance splitting the world in two.

Reclaim Japan, join them.

It bolstered their forces.

They were already fending off Earthguard invasions, so more strength was welcome.

But they wouldn’t take dead weight.

Japan had to prove it still lived.

This op was the test.

“For that, we desperately need top pilots.”

His eyes dead serious, Kaguya nodded slowly.

“Man, too much happened all at once. I’m wiped.”

Kenya marveled that he hadn’t even been in this world for a full day yet.

Subjectively, it felt like three.

Compared to endless days grinding KOG, this was overload.

Life’s midpoint at 20? Repetitive days slow time’s flow—wild.

He opened his room door.

He’d realized later: this was the dorm for 2nd Class Earthguard Citizens.

A room for military hopefuls.

Basic amenities, but he hadn’t expected his to be one.

Wonder if others are the same.

“Phew…”

He sank into the sofa, exhaling.

Out and about after so long—exhausting.

“But damn, I really ended up in the KOG world.”

Today’s events were too shocking; he remembered every detail vividly.

Saw KOG up close, met Kaguya, fought Reina.

Learned this country’s reality.

“Same world as the game, but events aren’t on rails. Duh.”

If he was the protagonist, there’d be no saving Kaguya episode or Reina fight.

No protagonist here anyway.

Just enjoy academy life as a pilot—that was the game.

“Didn’t feel enjoyable, though. That Good Semaka guy was peak scum.”

Earthguard citizens bad? Their culture? Royals?

Can’t blame folks raised that way from birth.

“Still, gotta stop it somehow…”

One thing he knew for sure.

A future event, probably coming.

The worst disaster, tons of deaths.

Earthguard Empire’s emperor launching total war.

In other words…

“World conquest… seriously, just don’t.”

Outbreak of world war.