It's been two days since the [Link Ant] incident. Despite our intentions to craft new weapons once our [Death Penalties] expired, we’ve been forced to continue it later due to various circumstances. For me, it's training with Ol' Wally with some blacksmithing techniques and learning how to forge several kinds of arrowheads. Turns out it's a bit time-consuming and I need to work them on the weekend to get the final product. Surprisingly, Kazuki is okay with the delay, but for a different reason. I’ve tried to talk to him, wondering if it's anything to do with that Zale guy Ellie mentioned, but he just ignores me as we log out. Normally, I would shrug it off. But I know Kazuki and I know something's up. So once our usual classes are over for today, Zac, Damon, and I decided to pick up Kazuki from school again to get to the bottom of his strange behavior.

As we arrive at his school's entrance though, I noticed that he's not standing near the gates, which is unusual considering he always waits there after school. I look around to see any signs of him, but all I see are random students chatting and hugging their parents who are there to pick them up. So we decide to wait there to see if he leaves.

We wait.

And wait...

And wait for nearly an hour...

...

...

...

...

...

"Are you just going to stare at the gate with your thoughts set on ellipsis all day? It's been almost an hour."

Damon's got a point. Where the hell is he?! He's never been the type to break his promises and be tardy. I try to enter his school, but Zac grabs me by the shoulder and asks, "Are you sure, dude? Maybe he's just cooped up doing PE or something."

"Zac, he's always been bullied since the start of middle school. Plus, he's never the type to leave school without my permission. I can't just leave him be and wait for any horror stories to come out from the school from other teachers."

"But still, Hayate, maybe you're kind of being a bit of… I don't know what to call it... a paranoid freak?"

"Excuse me?!" I quickly grab his collar in anger and growls as I glare into his eyes. "Who are you calling a paranoid..."

"Hayate!"

My eyes widen at the familiar voice and when I turn around, I gasp to see Kazuki running out from the school building. This causes me to release Zac's collar as I run up to him. "Kazuki! You're late! Where have you've been? We've been waiting for almost an hour!"

"Wait, has it been that long?! Dang, I never thought reading would take up so much time at the library." The school library? That's where he’s been the whole time?! "I spent a lot of time after school reading up on some stuff like paper-making stuff in the library computer and some books on some history of magic Mr. Cruz happily lent me. Um... Is there something wrong with that?"

I don't say anything at this point. I'm just too shocked to know that all of this time, he was just stuck in the library.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe someone who has an irrational and paranoid mind thought you were getting bullied again or something?"

Goddammit, Zac! Why did you say that in front of my brother?!

"Bullied? Wait, is it because I was late? Hayate, I can't believe you would think that!" Double dammit! "I thought you promised not to be all snitchy in my daily life again!"

I had promised that after a few weeks of playing [Isekai]. Regardless, I take a deep breath and turn my eyes on him next. "It's because you haven't said anything after we last logged off from the game. What's bothering you lately? If it's about that Zale guy harassing you, I swear I..."

"No, it's not like that! I did talk to Zale that day, but he's just showing me some mistakes I've made in the game so far."

“Mistakes?” I repeat in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Me being too focused on combat, wandering around without a true goal in mind, neglecting some of my [Masteries]… I even saw him using [Experienced Magecrafting] a [Plasma Staff] with the same method I've made without exploding or anything. It's not only that. After seeing you defeat that rude player in that [Duel], I felt like I'm not contributing anything at all in our adventures. No, it's not that. I feel like I'm always staying on the sidelines while you do all the heroics. To be honest, I know it's not your fault, but from my time as a bullied kid to the first day in [Isekai], I feel like I’ve been nothing more than a background character in your life. And I think I can become a hero of my own story in this game."

Kaz… I hadn't known… It's true that I want him to take care of himself once I'm in college. But in reality, I'm the one who has been indecisive about my future. I don't even know if I’ve helped him become independent from me at all. It doesn't help that he’s realized all of this just two weeks before his birthday.

"I-I'm sorry that you feel that way, Kaz. I thought I could be a good brother to you by helping you get out of your shell. Then again, I don't even know why I saved you at the park that day. Guess I'm not doing a good job at it." I just changed my mindset after protecting Kazuki that time, so I'm not getting the "Best Brother" award any time soon.

"Hey, that's not true! Sure, you can be a deadbeat and a party pooper..." I quickly glare at Zac at that comment, but I doubt that’ll stop him other than making him shiver. "But you picked him up from his school and you let him accompany our hangouts without any complaints."

"Not only that, you got to try out [Isekai Online] all because of Kazuki, you’ve helped him out with his homework, and teach him the rights and wrongs both in real life and in-game. In my book, there is no such thing as a perfect role model. If they have flaws, that means it's proof of their struggles to become one."

I'm surprised at what Damon said, yet he has a point there. I'm very overprotective of Kazuki and I doubt I can get past my skeptical and cynical views on the world. But I know that means I'm still ways ahead and learning how to become not only a better person but also a better brother to Kazuki. Speaking of which...

"Hayate, I agreed you didn't do a good job as a brother. But you did protect me from harm, not just in the game." He then walks up to me and takes out a familiar novel, which was somehow in good condition despite some tears, the very same one I bought him in the past. "It doesn't matter if you had a reason behind it. I'm just happy you did it, that's all. Heck, without you butting in, you wouldn't have been able to buy this Seraph book in the first place."

...

He's right. On the surface, I stepped in because those jerks wouldn't stop spreading false rumors about me. But the more I think about it, the more I realize the real reason behind it: I only wanted to protect him, that's all. That reason alone made me who I am and it makes me realize I can't stay cooped up with myself for the rest of my life. Damn, I’ve just realized all of that just by him being late for being picked up from school. Regardless, I sigh and place my hand onto Kazuki's shoulder.

"I guess I've made the right decision back there. If I want to become a better brother, then I'll try to help you become a better adult. Which means I have a lot of college and job searching soon."

"Yeah, good luck with that. Even though we're seniors now, it doesn't mean we have to rush our last school year. We’ve still got prom and a school trip to worry about."

"Don't forget our final exams, Osborne. Unless you want to end up missing the summer break for summer school.”

Of course, Zac has to scream as if it's the end of the world for him. But then again, just seeing their goofy selves gives me enough motivation to smile again.

"Alright. For now, let's stop by at the usual spot so Kazuki can explain why we have to spend an hour standing here in the first place."

Kazuki starts chuckling as soon as I suggest this, which confirms my suspicions that his strange tardiness along with his reality check might have something to do with the game again.

"Well, I want to start over on [Magecrafting]. But before that, I have to work on something first."

I knew it. Regardless, we decide to continue at the cafe as we leave Kazuki's school immediately.

Well, this might be a problem, Adam thought. Hearing that one of the beta testers almost committing a breach of contract is bad enough, but the fact that he blatantly revealed his real name in the game is enough to grind his gears. It isn't long before his colleague approaches him, at which he notices that he's not in a mood for any humor from Mr. Spears. Thankfully, he's absent from the break room for today since he's busy polishing the upcoming expansion of [Isekai Online].

"I'm guessing the talk didn't go very well, eh, White?"

"A bit. Thankfully, he’s promised not to do it again with a warning. Though, I'll see it to believe it." White groans afterward and scratches his head, frustrated at the change of events. "Still, I'm having some doubts about letting him beta test the game in the first place. He did make some results, but he has a problem when it comes to his pride and overconfidence."

"He did help us with working out the [Quests] for the expansion and the upcoming events. Knowing him, he's not the type to divulge any confidential stuff in the public unless it is necessary for the game. Even now, most of the details related to him are just rumors. So we can rest easy until the expansion launches in a few weeks."

"Easy for you to say. Don't forget we're dealing with state-of-the-art AI that you helped on creating in your company. One slip-up and we could have a major leak that might take us days to fix. If that happens, then you and your team will take responsibility for the repercussions."

"I understand. However, I'm not the only one who will face them. You're his father after all and discipline isn't the only thing you can do for him. I can tell that much from my experience with dealing with two boys with contrast personalities."

White slightly chuckles before he sighs and sits down on a nearby chair. "Yeah. I'm just jealous that you have two kids while we have our only daughter going to college in Britain. Not to mention that your younger son is more normal than mine despite the same age and birthday."

Adam slaps him in the back in response and said, "Well, if he sheds his persona, maybe they might become friends. Though I wish they study at the same school."

"Same."

Once that's said, both men grab a cup of coffee before they continue their conversation.