Chapter 28: Standing in a Flamboyant World, Playing the Sound of Heaven!
.....
Sobu High School, Rooftop.
Seito sat on the concrete ledge, happily devouring the Mapo Tofu Kanade had shared with him.
"So, Kanade, why Mapo Tofu?" Seito asked between bites. "Is it just the spice, or is there a story there?"
Kanade looked up at the vast blue sky, her expression ethereal. "Perhaps... because I want to experience as many of the things I love as I can, while I still have time left."
Seito froze, a piece of tofu halfway to his mouth.
While she still has time left?
He suddenly remembered the lore from the Angel Beats anime. In that story, Kanade had a failing heart and could only survive through a transplant. But this was the real world—an organ transplant was a high-risk gamble with no guarantees.
Looking at the quiet, delicate girl beside him, Seito felt a sudden pang of sympathy.
"Is it... a heart condition?" he asked softly.
"You're very perceptive," Kanade replied with a faint, melancholic smile. "Tell me, Seito-kun... if there truly are Gods in this world, do you think they would wish me luck?"
"I have to undergo a transplant surgery in two years," she continued. "Maybe sooner, if things take a turn."
Seito found himself at a loss for words. He wasn't a doctor; he couldn't give her a medical guarantee. But looking into the eyes of this "Angel," he couldn't stay silent. He forced a confident, slightly chuunibyou-style grin.
"Of course! The Gods of this world will definitely bless you." He stood up, looking toward the horizon. "And if the Gods don't exist, then we'll just have to become Gods ourselves and grant our own miracles!"
The cheesy, over-the-top declaration actually worked. A genuine smile broke across Kanade's face. "Are you a 'middle-school second-year' syndrome patient, Seito-kun?"
"Let's just say I'm an optimist," Seito laughed, reaching out to give her hair a gentle, affectionate ruffle.
He couldn't heal her personally, but he could earn a fortune in God's Domain. With enough money, he could hire the best surgeons on the planet. Besides, she was a "Main Heroine"—her luck stat had to be through the roof.
"You're very kind, Seito-kun," Kanade whispered, leaning slightly into the headpat. To her, Seito was a breath of fresh air—a kindred spirit she had met just when she needed one.
"By the way, Kanade, do you play God's Domain?"
She shook her head. "I can't. My heart can't handle the adrenaline spikes or the stress of full-dive combat. The doctors said the neural load could trigger a relapse."
"I see." Seito nodded. He now had a new motivation: get rich. Fast.
"We should head back," he said, checking his watch. "Class is starting."
"Yes." Kanade stood up, her golden eyes lingering on him. "Will you be here tomorrow, Seito-kun?"
"Count on it." Seito tucked his pillow under his arm and gave her one last pat on the head. "I'll bring some home-cooked Sichuan food tomorrow. We'll have a proper feast."
"I'll look forward to it."
.....
Seito returned to Class D just as the bell rang. He slumped into his seat under the curious gazes of his classmates.
"Seito-kun," Megumi Kato said, turning around with her phone in hand. "The God's Domain official site just posted a massive update for tonight. Have you seen it?"
"An event?" Seito pulled out his phone.
The top headline was pure clickbait: [SHOCKING! Floor 9 Cleared! You Won't Believe What's Waiting on Floor 10...]
Typical marketing, Seito thought, clicking through.
The news was big. The Front-Line Raiders had breached the Ninth Floor thirty minutes ago. But Floor 10 was different—it wasn't a standard grinding zone. It was a dedicated "Event Floor."
Tonight, the game would host its first-ever World Event: The Battle Royale of the Tenth.
The rules were simple: Players would gather on the Tenth Floor for a massive Free-For-All. Points were awarded for kills. Unlike the normal world, dying during the event wouldn't result in level or gear loss; you'd just be warped to the spectator zone.
Rewards:
1st Place: A "Mysterious Mythic Prize."
2nd Place: A Cache of Gold-tier Materials.
3rd Place: A Unique Orange-tier Set of your choice.
"This is going to be a bloodbath," Seito muttered, a predatory grin spreading across his face. He didn't know the exact format yet, but he was certain of one thing: first place was his.
He put his phone away, slammed his head onto his pillow, and went back to sleep.
...
After School.
Seito woke up as the sun was setting. He stretched, grabbed his pillow, and walked out of the building, only to be cut off at the entrance by a familiar figure.
"Yo. Finally decided to join the land of the living?"
Amou kirukiru was leaning against the wall. She walked over and slung an arm around his shoulder.
"Just woke up," Seito yawned. "Didn't think you'd actually wait for me."
"Well, you're the one who asked for a 'mouth-to-mouth' drink, aren't you?" Amou teased, her lips curling into a smirk.
"Ah... about that," Seito scratched his head. "Look, I like pretty girls as much as the next guy, but..."
"Don't back out now!" Amou interrupted.
"Let me finish!" Seito looked at her with total deadpan seriousness. "As a red-blooded male, can we skip the public teasing and just buy some beer and head to my place? It's actually pretty spacious."
Amou: "..."
....
Thank you for reading.