Golden Time:Spinoff Chapter1

Status: Incomplete

22% completed (estimated)

   

Mr. Two Dimensions Special

Standing in the middle of the fire-storm there was a dignified figure.

It's waving hair was silver.

It's eyes were deep blue.

'Takaya... nothing's even happening, and I'm protecting you...!'

By the light reflected in her unsheathed blade, her sooty cheeks were revealed. Those arms were awfully young to be sent into the battlefield, and too soft.

In those wide open blue eyes, though, the power of her heart had become a light that shone intensely.

'If you want to know my name, I will tell you. My name is---'

* * *

"---'VJ', that's what I'm calling you."

Vee, Jay.

As if he were thinking he had to suck his chin into his mouth, chewing his lower lip with all his might, Tada Banri was repeating the lovely VJ's name. His face showing exaggerated emotion like some young unknown comedian, he suddenly nodded in understanding.

"Indeed, indeed, has it come to that... fill us in, Mr. Two Dimensions."

To that side was Yanagisawa Mitsuo. His nickname 'Yana-ssan', he was still grinning, as if waiting for an answer, he was silent, not saying anything more.

Looking at the two of them, friends as they were, seated across the table from Satou Takaya (aka Mr. Two Dimensions), he hesitantly continued.

"VJ's real name is Brigitte Jeomiria. She's a natural born soldier. However, she's actually the daughter of a legitimate royal family."

The name of his heart's bride resounded around the student cafeteria, which was already closing down for the afternoon. Nevertheless, there was much more to the story.

"Because of which, VJ's got a sword. It's for protecting me. She uses a Japanese katana. By the way, that sword, it was marked. It was something demonic, having an ancient doom. Therefore, though it will sometimes speak forth, should I be talking about that matter right now?"

"No, that sounds dull... right now I'd rather listen to a bit more of a Bri's background, myself."

At Banri's words, Yana-ssan also nodded, saying "for sure".

"Understood. Well then, first of all some basic data. VJ is fourteen years old. She's four foot nine, and weighs eighty-four pounds. That she's really small chested, honestly, I secretly don't mind."

"He's a loli, a loli a loli, he's a loli", the two friends were whispering between themselves, like chattering birds.

"Though perfectly under control, without emotion, in the typical voice of a soldier, she has a weakness for her favorite cookie. If I say 'Look, look VJ, it's your favorite~! Eat up~!', then she says 'Ah, Takaya, what're you doing!? Those are my favorite!? Meooww!' ...So cute! Like a cat for catnip, for VJ her cookies were something to speak up for."

"Mmm, I see, I see."

Banri, a notepad in the palm of his left hand, pretended to be writing with a pen in his right hand. While affecting a frown and acting as if he were wetting the tip of his pen,

"Well then, just what does Bri wear, normally?"

He'd heard what he wanted to hear. Right this moment it was just what he wanted to talk about.

"It's a sailor suit."

"Yes, she's wearing it. She's wearing a sailor suit."

Into the notepad in his palm, Banri quickly wrote something down.

"For some reason, VJ came from the other world to find me, and she's been coming over to visit ever since. She said things like, 'In this world, if you're a girl of my age, wouldn't I be wearing clothing like this normally? If I want to avoid standing out in situations like, I have to prepare my clothing.' and then innocently wore her sailor suit. Well, though, the first time she came over it was in military uniform."

"Hmm, ho ho ho ho, as a flat-chested loli in a sailor suit carrying a Japanese katana and fighting at fourteen years of age, and... well, excuse us, but here it's time for deliberations. Hey, Yana-ssan!"

Banri mumbled something unintelligible in Yana-ssan's ear, and then Yana-ssan's brows knitted too while he whispered back. There was a bad feeling as of male bonding in their huddle, talking secretly for a while,

"Mr. Two Dimensions, we cannot condone this!"

"Ah, this is regrettable, Mr. Two Dimensions."

The two of them quietly looked him in the eyes, looking straight at the face of Takaya (aka Mr. Two Dimensions).

"Why? What's the problem?"

Somehow shaking his head sadly from side to side, Banri pronounced the verdict.

"Though it's deplorable... we were thinking that it is entirely a sickness. Come back already, to reality!"

"Reality? How is this a problem!?"

In a flash, answering back clearly, Takaya stared back at the two of them severely.

"I have no attachment to three dimensions! Ever since, naturally, I've been saddled with the name 'Mr. Two Dimensions'. Real women I don't even notice, and characters drawn by other people in other places are not enough! Through and through, I am original! By me, for me, the only bride of my heart, I will go on living and loving VJ!"

However,

"In other words, though for some reason I thought so, that really was original? This character, it didn't already exist? Though I'm not very familiar with anime or manga, it is absolutely something I've seen."

What Yana-ssan said was not so. It was not impossible.

"Hey, hold on!"

Unconsciously, he was beginning to mimic Mitsuo's way of talking somewhat while,

"What're you saying, Yana-ssan!? VJ is completely original to me! She's the only one for me! That, I think, in part, is perhaps where one's taste comes in though, but that's the way the world is, isn't!? How many thousands, tens of thousands of so-called characters are being created today, right this moment!? Is there even one completely the same!? Eh!? Though I think that if you were to listen to this, you would have to admit that I am seriously original, and I still have super important details to put together! Are you listening!? Or rather, listen to me! Please! This is the best time and place! It'd be good for you to listen!"

When he noticed, he was half-standing; somehow, finally, with a pleading tone of voice he faced Yana-ssan and took his hand. Yana-ssan nodded as if he were overwhelmed.

"For VJ... a heart-lock... that's a term I made up though, well, it was something she started saying...!"

Heart-lock--- that was an awfully clumsy invention. Even if Takaya invented it himself, looking at it honestly, it was painful.

To VJ's heart, no--- to her spirit, which had previously been employed as a fighting machine, a powerful 'lock' had been bound. Though it was understood to be a means to enhance VJ's fighting strength, no--- it was a psychic device to restrain VJ's immeasurable power. Incidentally, the 'key', well--- it was lost, its whereabouts as yet unknown. According to one theory, that as a human, it seems to be living as a freshman of this school--- no. That is yet another story.

"Ha haa. A heart-lock."

In spite of his voice showing that he did not understood perfectly, Banri could be seen nodding,

"A lock, you see, or handcuffs, or a padlock. A lock especially for the heart."

"Ah, that way eh... What happens when it comes off?"

"Her eyes... they go violet...!"

With fingers raised in a V, he struck a pose which emphasized his left eye. Eyes of amethyst---. That signature-like pose hinted at VJ's harsh fate.

"Eh, what's so special about that? That's enough now, Yana-ssan"

"Ah, it seems kinda cool to me, rather."

Without thinking he sighed. What were these amateurs saying?

"Hey now, not at all, no way. You aren't understanding at all. When it comes to my VJ, you two cannot understand at all. What, what is with you? Even though from the start you two have been saying, 'We want to know about Mr. 2-D's beloved', but from the very start, you guys have had no intention of trying to understand. Especially Yana-ssan, more so you, your inability to do so is truly unbelievable. You cannot feel it. That being so, VJ's starting to say 'I don't think... I want you... to know me.' It's getting to where she wants to turn her back on you!"

"Eh?", Yana-ssan's well ordered face showed a frown.

"If that's the case, then I apologize. Of course I, since I don't have the rest of the otaku background... but, after just the one piece, would it be all right if I offered an opinion? From the point of view of this brand new not-otaku."

"Though that's OK."

"You called VJ 'Brigitte Jeomiria', didn't you?"

"That's what I said."

"I've been thinking, 'Isn't that BJ?'"

There was a moment of silence.

"...What... did you say...?"

Every last drop had been wrung out from those words. Banri burst out laughing. He was covering his nose with the back of his hand, glancing accidentally towards him, as if in apology, but unable to completely resist, he kept on laughing.

"BJ... hahahaha! It can't be, BJ! Isn't that 'Black Jack'!"

Eventually, even Yana-ssan wound up laughing together with him, leaving Takaya alone, looking at the table in astonishment.

"B...? Brigitte... Is that a 'B'...? You're kidding, aren't you...? No way... myself, by nature... I mean BJ... it was BJ...?"

No way, but--- no! It can't be that way!

"Th... that's enough! She's fine as VJ! Because I decided myself, for myself, VJ is VJ! This name is absolutely the best! The more I thought about it, the more I saw it to be right for VJ! B isn't cute, V it is, absolutely!"

Seeing Takaya's hardened determination to race to VJ's aid, Banri and Yana-ssan, while still smiling, repeated over and over, "We got it, we got it."

* * *

'Takaya'

What now, VJ?

'Wasn't there nothing but lecture from the first period on this morning? You must be really tired.'

I suppose. Though I'm a little sleepy, I don't have to work today on top of it, so I'll be able to take it easy back home.

'That should be good. But, ah, that... what is it... not that I want to do anything more, but if Takaya doesn't mind, that... usually, what...'

I know, I know, you want your favorite? I'll go and buy some! Man, VJ sure likes her sweets. Well, she's cute though.

'What you're saying to a soldier! D, did I make any particular request of you!? Ta, Takaya arbitrarily, that, ...gah, I hate that! Anyhow, you'll be back quickly!'

Huh? So, you won't be lonely while I'm gone?

'No, no way!'

VJ's face went red, and her cheeks bulged. Platinum hair spilling down to her hips, emerald green eyes flashing the color of a coral reef. She wore a baggy men's T-shirt made for a club, covering her to about half-way down her milky thighs. Incidentally, underneath there was nothing. Nothing else. 'Is my rear covered by this T-shirt? Why do other people have to wear clothing? Indeed, the humans of this world such illogical things... ah, hyaa! How did a banana peel fall in a place like this!? Ta, Takayaa! My feet are slipping...'

VJ~~~~~~~! You can't go sliding around without panties~~~~~~!

---Such was the conversation in his imagination. Naturally.

He snickered, but at that very moment, he quickly stiffened his slackened jaw: he realized there was a aged form standing before him. Dazedly excusing himself, he offered up his seat and stood by the door, holding a handrail.

In the opposite window of the train, the all too familiar everyday scenery flowed past. Old-looking houses were lined up along the tracks. Profusely blooming potted flowers were arranged as if they were in a competition to touch the trains. A little further along, groups of condominiums. Huge pachinko parlors with bright red smiling signs. A brand new shopping mall. Pachinko parlors again. There was a lot of noise from some high-school girls standing off to the side. Their eyes meeting casually, he was greeted by "Why don't you take a break?", and the old man gave up his seat. He couldn't breathe: it smelled of sweat from the members of a baseball club returning home. They had been talking about Hoshino Aki. Since waaayy back.

And then, inside his head,

'Owww..., w, what are you looking at!?'

Bah! Her rumpled T-shirt's bottom edge pulled down, the embarrassed looking, blushing VJ had sat down.

His beloved, Brigitte Jeomiria.

Having moved on from three dimensions, this spring Takaya had declared his love of nothing but two-dimensional girls.

Originally, it was a small, private matter. The women of this world, so to speak, were making him tired. Moreover, as a young otaku, though he loved anime, manga and games, sometimes he would set aside the anime magazines and take up the paintbrush. He even had notebooks full of notes about characters. Rather than worrying about the many parts of the real world he couldn't get his way with, he preferred to build up experience in the world of his made-up creations. For him, that was fun.

And then this spring, as far as Takaya was concerned, was the last straw.

At the welcome party for the Tea Ceremony club, he had been disconcerted by the older girls who greeted him, and had been completely disappointed by their appearance. Enough is enough, twice trying to deal with three-dimensional women? I'm going to live in two dimensions! He remembered quite clearly he had been drunk to the point of obscenities at the time. As it happened, moving on to the university, so to speak, felt like the proper time to pause and establish a new self-image, a new life. Would he finally let his character stand forth?

From that point on, when meeting new friends, he was called "Mr. Two Dimensions".

Still, he wouldn't be able to be Mr. Two Dimensions for too long. Turning stubborn, he tried with all his heart to love two-dimensional characters, but no matter how much he struggled, it didn't quite go as he wished. Up to a certain point, since he'd decided to love, even though he wanted to fill his thoughts to perfection, in spite of it all, every now and then the created characters didn't live up to his hopes. It was well and good for a fan, but they were not good enough to be his bride for life.

That being the case, he had no choice but to create his own character. Despite having arrived at that conclusion, he hesitated. Making him squirm inside, she was to be utterly captivating, entirely ideal, unabashedly projected to become a perfect girl in detail, created over a lifetime. He decided it would be good if he loved her.

So it was, and now to that extent,

'...Takaya, you idiot. You're mean. You don't care anymore.'

Definitely a woman.

He loved VJ.

'Hurry up... lend me a hand. I fell down. It hurts.'

Snow white beneath his hand, the platinum blonde girl from a parallel universe.

Tell us about Mr. Two Dimension’s beloved! No, introduce us! Still reviewing the encounter with friends at college, he daydreamed about his perfect lover.

...Well, when at long last he'd finally introduced them to her, both Banri nor Yana-ssan had laughed.

'What's not good? Such things don't bother me in the least. Aren't they good guys? At least, nothing bad was said. It was laughed at as if it were a joke, but it wasn't the laughter of ridicule. It wasn't denial either. Weren't they laughing merrily along with you? Don't you think you would like to be closer to those guys?'

Well, I guess. I would certainly agree. Really, they weren’t trying to hurt me.

Having answered VJ's words in his head, he stepped down through the open door to the platform of the train station closest to where he lived. He recalled conversations he had with a classmate from high school, who had applied to a single public university far away from home, desperate to leave the capital city. Trying to draw closer to his friend, he'd been texting him continuously, sending things like "I can't make any friends here...", "What am I going to do?", "I'm definitely alone." and "I wanna go home already..."

Going out through the ticket gate, as he walked out into the Tokyo he'd lived in all his life, he thought about his future. Comparatively speaking, wasn't he very blessed? In a neighborhood with nothing but friends from childhood, continuing to live with his family, he was getting to know guys he could call friends in college.

'And then, you've got me too.'

Ah, that's so. I've got VJ too.

<~~22% Completed~~>

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