Once we had finished experimenting with our various purchases, the conversation turned toward what we should do next. It was still a bit too early to call it a day, and I got the impression that Amel-san wanted to keep hanging out.
An idea suddenly struck me—something I thought she might really enjoy—so I made a proposal.
"Amel-san, I have a suggestion. Why don't we head back to my place for lunch, and afterward, we can play a game using a special magic tool?"
"I have no objection, but a 'special toy'? Could it be something imbued with some manner of ancient curse...?"
"No, it's not like that. By the way, Amel-san, did you participate in the Six Kings Festival?"
"I received an invitation to the Demon Banquet, but as one whose wings of freedom are bound by chains, I was unfortunately unable to witness all its mysteries."
"I see. Well, this is the latest magic tool that was showcased on the fifth day, at the festival hosted by the Phantasm King."
It seemed Amel-san had been invited but was too busy to attend every day, only showing up for a few specific portions. I wasn't sure if she had been there on the fifth day, but even if she had, there was a chance she hadn't tried the game—much like Tre-san—so I gave her a brief explanation.
At first, Amel-san looked puzzled, but as I continued, her eyes began to sparkle with increasing intensity.
"I-In other words... this magic tool is a treasure that allows one to dive into a transient realm, and within it, an Otherworld... the very scenery of the world where my Sworn Friend was born and raised has been reproduced!?"
"Yes, that’s the gist of it. It’s only a small part of it, but I think the scenery would be quite rare for people in this world."
"I want to see it! The Otherworld!!"
She was hooked, just as I’d expected. She seemed to have a natural affinity for things like the "Otherworld." While many people would likely be curious, I felt Amel-san was particularly fascinated by that sort of thing. I also had a hunch that she might be a fan of things like motorcycles.
"...Ah, wait a second. I just remembered that to use the magic tool, you have to step inside a kigurumi. Your wings might be an issue."
I’d been careless. The VR magic tool connected by having the user wear a kigurumi; if you couldn't put one on, you couldn't play. Amel-san was of the Winged Race and had massive wings on her back. I didn't think there was any way they would fit inside the suit. I’d likely need to ask Alice to make some adjustments, but I wondered if she’d be able to do it on such short notice.
As the thought crossed my mind, Amel-san clapped her hands and smiled, appearing to have reached some sort of realization.
"I see. However, Sworn Friend, have no fear! My wings are a part of my soul; though I cannot erase them, I can alter their state of being."
"Wait, you can adjust their size?"
"I can shrink them down to about this much. Will that suffice?"
"Oh, if they’re that small, it should be no problem at all."
Apparently, while she couldn't make them disappear entirely, she could shrink them. She demonstrated right there, making her wings so small they weren't even visible from the front. Since that cleared our only hurdle, we used a teleportation magic tool to return to my house.
A cityscape defined by rows of towering skyscrapers. As we stepped into the VR space—modeled after a slightly sci-fi Metropolitan Expressway—Amel-san’s excitement surged so noticeably that she began to frolic.
"W-Wow! There are so many buildings even larger than castles... Hwaaa, the Otherworld is incredible."
"This place is called a Skyscraper!"
"A... Skyscraper!? That... that sounds incredibly cool..."
I wasn't lying. That really was the name of the stage for this racing game. There were other options like Tropical Island or Snow Castle, but the Skyscraper stage was definitely the one that looked most like the world I came from.
"There's more, Amel-san. This is one of the machines used for racing."
"An Iron Beast!? I-I have heard of this... that the Otherworld possesses mystical tools forged of iron... So this is what they call a Kikai!!"
"Yeah, that’s a pretty fair way to put it."
Setting aside the "mystical" part, her general understanding was more or less correct. As Amel-san stood there with her eyes glued to the BC-96, I showed her how to open the menu and told her to pick a machine for herself.
"Hwaaaa... t-they're all so cool... Ugh, I can't decide! Which one should I choose?"
"To start with, you should pick one with that New Driver Mark—the green and yellow emblem next to the name. Those don't have any weird quirks. You can switch to a different machine once you get the hang of it."
"I see. In that case... hmm... Valganoff! I'll go with this one!"
Amel-san chose a large black motorcycle with a very aggressive design. It was a high-power machine, just as its appearance suggested, but its size and weight provided excellent stability. It was actually a surprisingly easy machine for beginners to handle.
"Well, we have plenty of time, so let’s play as much as you want."
"Okay!"
"...By the way, Amel-san, your tone..."
"Nngh!? A-Ahem! Now then, let us ride out together across the Iron Plain!!"
It seemed she couldn't maintain her persona whenever her excitement peaked, but I found that quite cute. In a way, it felt like one of Amel-san's greatest charms. We spent the rest of the day lost in the VR game... and I’m certain I wasn't imagining it when I felt that we had become much closer over the course of that single day.
Serious-senpai: "...It's nice that they're getting along so well. Right then, I'll be off..."
???: "Evacuating because you've branded the next one a 'Sugar Chapter'? It's a solid plan, but have you forgotten that it's exactly at times like these that seriousness makes its move?"
Serious-senpai: "Guh!? You... don't think you can stop me with such honeyed words! ...O-On second thought... maybe there's a chance?"
???: "Man, she's a pushover..."