"Where am I? Am I already in heaven?"

The Valhalla shines with its ultimate brilliance, but like fireworks that fade quickly and beauty that vanishes easily, the momentary burst of light, although soaring into the sky, is also easy to vanish, transforming into scattered ashes in the mortal realm.

"So beautiful..."

Looking down from the sky, the floating buildings in the air cannot help but evoke associations of a fairyland as beautiful as a fairy tale, because only in a fairyland... can such an ethereal beauty be depicted! Is this why Valhalla is still called the Capital of Meditation?

I quietly float above the sea of clouds, always feeling a palpitation.

"Why is this happening again?" I tightly clutch my chest with both hands.

It actually hurts there, is it my illusion? A mere phantom dream has caused me such heartache.

Hoo... hoo... hoo...!

The hour hand on the wall clock has already pointed to nine o'clock, but the room on the second floor still emits a faint snoring sound.

This winter morning is much colder than previous winters, even the living room with the heater on still can't resist this wave of coldness, and the sound of the television has become somewhat harsh.

"The weather today will change from rain and snow to heavy snow, with some areas experiencing blizzards..."

"Hiss... it's so cold. I wonder if Juxi is sleeping soundly..."

The girl sitting on the sofa exhaled a cold breath, and the blanket on her back tightened even more.

"Ah, no one wants to get up in weather like this, right?"

Yuzhi, who got up early in the morning, wrapped herself in a blanket and sat on the sofa, watching today's weather forecast.

As for me, I had no intention of getting out of bed, hiding in the warm bed, the devil that was the blanket, once I got in, I didn't want to come out.

Neither of us can forgive each other for yesterday's conflict, but I'm in a more disadvantaged position, and today is the weekend, after school is out, I don't know where to waste my time.

Yuzhi, on the other hand, is full of energy, knocking (pounding) on my door early in the morning, and I deliberately pretended to be sleeping soundly and didn't open the door, which made her anxious.

"Never mind, I can't be bothered with you..."

Listening to her tone, it seems that she has finally given up on me and said, "I'm going out first, don't sleep too late, and don't call me before then, understood?"

I don't know what she means by going out first, but who would be so bored as to call you?

After that, there was no more movement outside the room, she should have gone out.

I also have an important event today, which is the Dream Lurex Wonderland 2 on the schedule. I have always been looking forward to the release party for this work, especially when I can go happily with Neko sister.

Thinking of Neko sister again, I can't help but think of the non-human monster at home - Yuzhi, and I can't help but smile bitterly and shake my head.

"Ah, it's really a headache. I can't believe that such a ruthless and cruel species can be born among humans."

It's useless to think too much. I opened the wardrobe and took out a few blood-red down jackets that I don't usually wear, matched them with brown jeans and a duckbill hat, and prepared to go out.

"Wait!"

I turned back home, checking my outfit again in front of the mirror, including whether the collar and buttons of my clothes were properly arranged.

And most importantly, I absolutely cannot wear the ordinary clothes I usually wear in public, and I cannot be easily recognized by acquaintances.

I remember it was that day when I was in first grade of junior high school, I dropped the game I had bought all over the floor and was suspected by my classmates. They said I was an anime otaku or a delinquent, so everyone started to distance themselves from me, even my former best friend looked at me with strange eyes, and that best friend was Yu Nai from childhood, ultimately leading to the end of my three years of junior high school in loneliness.

"Very well, just one final step!"

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and smiled confidently, hehe.

Hum hum hum, Dream Lurex Wonderland, I'm coming for the new sensation!

Now, I have to hurry to the Game Expo Center. Neko sister must have been waiting there for a long time, right?

Today is the release party for the new DLC version of Dream Lurex Wonderland, the official announcement said that it can inherit the characters, items, and levels from the trial version of Dream Lurex Wonderland!

"Don't rush, get in line one by one, the venue will open in ten minutes!"

The stairs on the first floor of the convention hall are already crowded. I still remember the scene of the Rage Bringer released here last time, but today the most popular Dream Lurex Wonderland seems to be famous for its superior graphics and high level of freedom in the sandbox. The official really went all out for this masterpiece."Everyone, line up neatly. Remember to collect a copy of the first edition of 'Magical Forest of Dreamro' at the entrance of the conference hall before leaving!"

"Oh oh oh oh oh!!"

"I can't hear you. Speak louder and tell me, are you all ready?"

The host shouted loudly in front of the gate square.

"Oh oh oh oh oh!!!"

The crowd's cheers became even more excited. The host's goal was achieved, so he said something to the manager next to him, and the manager finally gave the order to open the seal of the venue.

"Damn it, where is Naiko?" I started to get anxious. If I can't find Naiko, my chance to enter the venue will be ruined!

Seeing the game enthusiasts entering the venue one by one, but still unable to find the girl in white clothes.

Did Naiko break her promise? Or did she enter the venue before I arrived?

"Hmm?"

A sign not far away suddenly caught my attention. I had been paying attention to the surrounding signs with the Dreamro logo and hadn't noticed that there was a tall girl wearing a milky white sun hat under the sign, her long hair revealing a hint of white.

"Naiko...!"

The white-clad girl seemed to hear my shout and started to look around. I was even more certain that it was her!

Just when I was pleasantly surprised and wanted to squeeze to the front of the sign, a few guys with golden hair suddenly appeared and blocked my way.

"Hey, the girl looks pretty!"

One of the three guys with golden hair and an earring seemed to be trying to approach Naiko. Are they trying to hit on her?

"Play with us for a while, we have plenty of rewards."

Oh no, I exclaimed silently. Naiko is in danger. But on second thought, isn't this an opportunity for me to be a hero?

"I'm waiting for my husband here. What's it to you?!"

"..."

Just as I was about to draw my sword and help Naiko, I froze in place. In that instant, it seemed like I felt my blood freeze.

Naiko just said that to brush them off, right? Well... besides, how could such a young girl...

"Juxi...!"

The girl grabbed my sleeve and called out my name accurately.

"Eh eh eh...?"

"Hmph, why are you so late?"

"I I I I..."

What's going on? I couldn't say the second word no matter how hard I tried to speak. Because the girl in a white camisole inside a white down shawl standing in front of me was none other than Youko, who had been lazy and willful since she moved in on the first day!

At this moment, the shock I felt from this scene had already surpassed the three golden-haired guys.

"Uh uh uh... You're, Naiko?!"

How could Youko be the same person as Naiko? Gentle, virtuous, and generous... and this dinosaur in front of me didn't match at all!

"Haha, I came to the wrong place. You must be waiting for someone, right? Then continue waiting, I'll just go..."

Click!

My neck was pinched by Youko's fingers, and a chilly touch spread from my neck.

"Wow! What are you doing..."

Just as I was about to get angry at her behavior, she directly pressed two tickets onto my face. Youko, who cared about her face, had a faint pink color on her face, and she pouted.

"It's a waste if I go alone with these two tickets, right?"

"Is that so? Well, I have no choice. Let's go together!"

Indeed, it's awkward knowing Naiko's identity, and moreover, the person is my fiancee Youko!

Oh no! I really want to find a crack in the ground and hide in it right now. If I hadn't met Naiko that time at the academy, maybe I would have had some good feelings about her identity as Naiko this time. After all, who wouldn't like a youthful and cute girl in her prime of youth?

"Um... Did you already know that Ryuuko is my ID?" I asked tentatively.

"Mhm."

What a concise answer! But that means she knew because she saw my gaming console...

"To be more accurate, when I added you half a year ago, it was because I knew it was you."

"What?"

"Didn't you hear what I said? I added you because I knew it was you. Did you hear me or not?"

Why do you have to add me if it's me?

But what makes me more cautious is that if something goes wrong and I upset her, my plan will be ruined.

"Okay..."

"You'll probably laugh at me when I tell you the reason."

"...Laugh?"

"Yes, because it sounds ridiculous, you'll think I'm childish."

Looking at her hesitant expression, I suddenly had an idea and pretended to accidentally touch her.

"Huh?! What are you doing?"

After a few touches, Yukari seemed annoyed. She expressed her displeasure at my teasing, as if I was deliberately making it difficult for her.

"We're not in middle school anymore, why do you still like to play pranks?"

"I'm in middle school? But you also believe in fantasies and dreams that aren't realistic!"

"I..."

"Just think about it. It's just a dream. We have our own path to walk. If it's something desirable, can't we keep it in our own minds?"

I grinned widely at a frustrated Yukari, though it might just seem like a silly smile to her...

"Hehe, look at what you're saying!"

Yukari's face finally brightened up from cloudy to sunny, with a touch of reproach in her tone. "How could there be those desirable things you talked about in your dreams?"

"What would there be then?" There was a hint of disappointment in my voice. After all, no one would be happy to play the role of the villain, right?

"But there is still a little anticipation."

"What did you say?"

The last part of her words was so quiet that it was hard to distinguish, like a mosquito bite.

"..."

Just as I was about to ask her what she was talking about, the security guard at the door urged us.

"Hey, you two over there, are you also here for the exhibition? It's about to close, hurry up and go inside!"

"Yes!" "Oh, sorry..."

I can't deny that I inexplicably feel a slight fondness for her. Is it just my imagination?