What?
So he's awakened.
Are you all right?
W-Was that El Ahda...?
And where did you come from?
If I said here, would you accept that explanation?
What in the world is—
You need to recover first.
Where are we?
What's happening to me?
Calm down, Itsuki.
How can you expect me to—
Is that the injury you suffered against the Vol Dragon?
I'm impressed you were able to fight the El Ahda in your state.
You should be able to completely heal yourself using Monomates.
I'm not dreaming.
I am ARKS Intelligence's Commander Kasura.
I'm Aika's superior.
Would it be easier to understand if you thought of us as game NPCs?
NPCs?
In other words,
that would make Aika an NPC as well.
What?
But you'll have to correct that thinking starting now.
Tachibana Itsuki-kun,
do you understand?
We're not characters created for a game
or figments of your imagination.
We exist in reality.
What?
PSO2 isn't a game.
It's a world that actually exists.
Welcome to Oracle, Tachibana Itsuki-kun.
Quest 09 Discharge Notice
The disappearances and runaway car incidents
happening around you Earthlings
are the work of Darkers.
Wait, wait.
I'm confused enough already by your sudden declaration that PSO2 is real.
Now you're claiming Darkers are involved in the disappearances?
When Konoe Mika disappeared, you saw her being held here by Darkers.
And when you were attacked by a Darker that appeared in the real world,
you used your power to defeat it.
My power...
Put simply...
You unlocked your Photon Arts.
By doing so, you were able to directly come here,
to the world you recognize as the game world.
In your battles against Darkers,
you should be able to exhibit a power far greater than before.
I feel... powerful.
I didn't think he'd be this strong.
What?
Wow.
The Darkers need your power
as a vessel for Dark Falz.
A vessel?
To invade Earth,
Dark Falz requires a powerful vessel to inhabit.
Those with an aptitude for Photon Arts have that power.
The Darkers have been searching for Earthlings capable of using Photon Arts,
and abducting them to this world.
Then Konoe-san...
Individuals you would call good at the game were likely targeted.
Fortunately, Konoe Mika-san wasn't chosen to be a vessel.
Her latent Photon Arts must not have been very strong.
But you're different.
You appear to possess exceptionally strong Photon Arts for an Earthling.
While secretly eliminating Darkers that appeared on Earth,
Aika was also watching you.
Watching me?
Who is Dark Falz?
Dark Falz
is the leader of the Darkers.
He's a threat to the universe.
Itsuki-kun, we want your help.
Your Photon Arts
will help us tremendously in defeating the Darkers.
This feels real.
The wind on my cheek, the temperature...
I'm definitely inside PSO2 right now.
They've been wiped out. Let's head back.
No, wait.
Let's look for them elsewhere and take them all out.
Don't they say the best defense is a good offense?
Leave it to me.
Itsuki.
Hey. Were you practicing this morning?
What's gotten into you?
You weren't at the dorm on Sunday,
and you've been going somewhere during all your breaks.
Oh, you know. I've got a lot going on.
The school festival is this week, too.
I'm so busy!
You seem kind of hyper.
Do I?
Good morning.
Hey.
They don't know anything, even though the Earth is in peril.
Excuse me.
S-Sure.
Darkers again?
The bathroom.
Don't try to hide it. I'll go with you.
We fought yesterday and Sunday. You should rest.
I'm fine.
With our consecutive victories, I'm in tip-top physical and mental shape.
Who will do it if I don't?
The Darkers have been more active than ever lately.
So I'll take them out.
It must be related to your exhibition of your flashy powers.
What?
They gather around potential vessels.
My commander said the same thing.
Wait. Are you—
I'm going to the bathroom!
I can't believe he tried to follow her to the bathroom.
It must be hard for Ai-Ai.
Tachibana is bad news.
I-It's not like that!
The Earth is peaceful again today.
Tachibana Itsuki-kun seems to be producing the results we expected.
But the number of Darkers is increasing,
and they're focusing their attacks on Itsuki.
That's perfect.
At this rate, this could affect Itsuki's life on Earth.
If that's the choice he's made,
then it's a choice we must respect.
Itsuki still doesn't understand real war.
If he keeps running out of control...
And keeping a firm grip on his leash is one of your responsibilities.
She totally left me behind!
E-Everybody, welcome to Seiga Post-Night Festival...
Y-Yay.
Yay!
Tachibana-kun?
What was that?
Masaya-kun and Mika told me to say this at the after party.
Seriously?
They said I should seize the hearts of the students right from the start.
That would probably repel them instead.
I-I know.
B-But you'll be fine if you practice.
Didn't you want to hold an after party?
Yeah.
If I'm getting in the way, I'll leave.
I-It's fine.
I'll try practicing in my room. Bye.
Everybody!
Yay!
Now, then.
Anyway...
Ai-Ai.
Have you seen Itsuki?
He just headed towards the roof.
I see.
He seemed to be in a hurry.
Did he go alone?!
[Oracle] A fleet that exists in a dimension and universe different from Earth's. Through PSO2, those who possess an aptitude for Photon Arts can travel between the two worlds. Normal PSO2 players control avatars created on ORACLE as their characters in the game without ever learning the truth that they act as ARKS.
[Photons] Particles that exist in the atmosphere. On the ORACLE fleet, they are used on a daily basis for everything from lighting to powering the ARKS ships. Only those who can turn the photons in the atmosphere into energy without a catalyst are capable of fighting Darkers as ARKS.
There's more.
Gotcha!
Itsuki!
Hold still!
Are you okay?
My name is Xeno. Nice to meet you.
And this is Echo.
You're hurt.
Hold on. I'll heal you right now.
They're coming.
Get up.
Okay.
I'll take you—
Damn, it wasn't deep enough.
You surprised me by suddenly charging in.
Wh-What was that?
Those were boosted enemies.
Boosted enemies?
They're evolving.
Looks like they're finished, too.
You two go on ahead.
Sure.
Got it.
Suzuki-san, I...
Stay out of the fight from now on.
You're getting in the way.
What?
I'm a sorry mess...
The school festival is in three days.
How is each class coming along?
I'll summarize and turn in—
I've got it right here.
What is this? It's incredible.
He's graphed out the progress of all the classes.
Perfect. It's perfect.
Vice President, when did you write this?
I realized we needed it and whipped it up.
Thank you. I appreciate it, Tachibana-kun.
You can count on me.
You seem to be in awfully high spirits, Itsuki-kun.
Of course, Yu-chan. It's the school festival.
It's right in front of us. Our school festival is approaching.
Yeah...
You're firing on all cylinders.
Of course. If you're short-staffed, let me know.
Vice President Tachibana Itsuki will take on all jobs.
Then could you see how all the clubs are doing?
Got it.
Try not to push yourself.
We don't want you collapsing on the day of the festival.
That won't be a problem.
By the way, where's Suzuki-san? I haven't seen her.
What? Why would I know?
I'm off.
Stay out of the fight from now on.
You're getting in the way.
They headed that way!
Let me handle it!
All right.
What's wrong? This isn't like you.
Sorry.
Hey, Itsuki. Marika and her friends were just looking for you.
Okay, got it.
Still busy? Want to play?
Sorry, I'm seriously busy right now.
Shucks.
Suzuki-san?
We don't know what to do.
We need to take her measurements for her maid café uniform by the end of today.
Ai-Ai's the only one left.
Tachibana, what happened to Ai-Ai?
She hasn't come back to the dorm.
Did she go home?
Have you heard anything?
Why would I know?
Because you're always together.
Actually, that's—
You and Ai-Ai are a set.
Yeah.
I don't think she's coming back.
Nothing.
She's dying? Ai-Ai is dying?
Don't say that!
And Tachibana, don't say weird stuff like that!
Sorry.
When we asked Ai-Ai to help at the maid café,
she didn't seem too enthusiastic at first, but...
Welcome back, Master.
She really, really did her best.
She never expresses how she really feels.
She can be kind of brusque.
But she's actually really nice.
And she has a strong sense of duty.
Hey.
Did you get more coffee beans?
Oh, sorry!
I was going to get more once Ai-Ai got her measurements taken.
I'll go.
I haven't been helping the class much, anyway.
Really? That would be great.
Since Suzuki-san showed up, we have been around each other a lot.
Was she just watching me?
I can't agree to this.
The Darkers are targeting the potential vessel Itsuki-kun.
If it helps us predict their movements, we'll be able to respond quickly.
And you seem to be running on fumes. We could use him—
I can't agree to this.
He may have awakened his Photon Arts, but he's still only an Earthling.
Unlike us ARKS, he has no knowledge of Darkers and hasn't undergone formal combat training.
But his Photon Arts are strong enough to draw that many Darkers to him.
Tachibana Itsuki has a life that's important to him.
I don't want to take that away from him.
Your priorities are out of order.
If Dark Falz invades Earth, his life will be lost either way.
I will stop him.
Yikes.
That's...
Run, Itsuki!
Suzuki-san!
I said run!
But...
Don't worry about it. This is my duty.
Duty...
I will protect you.
Run!
Isn't the school festival coming up?
She never expresses how she really feels.
She can be kind of brusque.
But she's actually really nice.
And she has a strong sense of duty.
I...tsuki...
I'll fight, too.
Did I get in your way?
Why?
Defeating the Darkers is the ARKS' duty.
You have no reason to fight, so why did you?
I do.
I can't just ignore you when you're fighting to protect me.
Let me fight with you.
I won't get in your way anymore.
At least, I'll try not to.
It's Aika.
From now on, call me Aika.
The other ARKS all call me that.
If you're the only one not calling me that, it will affect our coordination.
Thanks, Suzuki-san.
It's Aika.
Aika-san.
Just Aika.
Aika.
Being an ARKS is difficult. Prepare yourself.
I know.
Can we still make it?
Your measurements for your maid café uniform!
You haven't had them taken yet, right? You need to do that today.
What?
You're right. That's an important duty as well.
I'll go with you. Let's hurry.
Got it.
Next Episode
Things are settled for now, Aika.
You look like things are going exactly as you planned, Commander.
That's not true at all.
Anyway, Aika, don't you have a mission on Earth?
How do you know about that?
I thought an Earth festival might provide some insights.
Make sure you record it.
I don't need to.
Maid clothes, was it?
I'm interested in seeing you dressed in those, as well.
Please stop.
Things seemed to be going well at the end.
If you showed that to Tachibana Itsuki-kun...
Just how much are you spying on me, Commander?!