Chapter 2: Adaptation

My mind is now calm, and I have a rough idea of what I should do and how I should live.

Actually, it’s more than just a rough idea; I’ve confirmed my identity.

However, I won’t abandon my original… memories.

“Hmm… Come to think of it, wouldn’t Sora-chan need some time to adjust?”

“Huh? Time to adjust?”

As we were chatting, the sky gradually turned red, and Ichika-senpai brought up the topic of needing time to adjust.

I am Sora, and even though the contents have been altered a bit, I’ve confirmed myself as an ordinary student, Yumetsubasa Sora.

However, there’s a clear sense of disconnect due to the memories of South Korea, 27 years of memories that don’t feel like mine, residing in my head.

Although the memories feel like a movie, the sheer volume, almost double the 14 years of my current life, creates a clear sense of disconnect.

Senpai must be asking about this.

“In my eyes, Sora-chan is Sora-chan, but wouldn’t there be some disconnect?”

“Certainly… What’s considered common sense feels a bit, not unfamiliar, but there’s a disconnect… I’m not confused anymore, though…”

Senpai already knows my state.

There’s no need to hide it.

I honestly tell her everything.

I can rely on her.

Who knows, she might come up with a brilliant solution.

“Then… shouldn’t we start with the shooting range? As you know, it’s quite important. Did you bring your gun?”

“Yes, I brought it.”

“Then it would be good to go there.”

Senpai returned the empty coffee cup and cake plate to the counter and put on the wool coat that was hanging on the chair.

I also put on my coat and leave Cafe Melina with her.

Since we kept ordering coffee, black tea, and desserts for several hours, the owner’s face turned slightly disappointed, but he still maintained a smile and said, “Thank you,” while taking the cups and plates.

“There’s a good shooting range nearby, but I saw a pretty good one in the DU last time. Let’s go there.”

“Sure, it’s been a while since I’ve been to the DU.”

Since there was a considerable distance between Trinity and the DU, by the time we arrived, the sky, which had only been gradually turning red, was now quite dark, although not yet night.

Perhaps because the shooting range was located in a downtown area near the Sanctum Tower in the DU, there was a convenience store franchise that handled ammunition nearby,

along with a shooting range that seemed to be a relatively new facility, possibly a Millennium facility.

“What type of firearm will you be using?”

“Smith & Wesson M500.”

When the shooting range attendant asked about the type of firearm, I took out my personal firearm, [Daedalus], painted in white as the main color and red as the secondary color, from my bosom.

S&W M500 4-inch barrel model.

Anyone who knows a little about guns would think this is an insane choice.

Even in this world where people’s physical abilities are superior to those in South Korea, on Earth, my physical strength seems to be above average.

“Look, isn’t the attendant staring at me as if asking if I’m serious about using this thing?”

“You can order additional ammunition from the terminal at your shooting booth. Payment will be processed all at once when you leave, so please keep that in mind. Booth number 7 is available, so please use that one.”

“Thank you.”

The attendant was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his composure and handed me a box containing 12.7x41mm SR rounds along with a key marked “7.”

“Um… I’ve been wondering about this for a while, but what were you thinking when you chose that gun…”

“It’s cool, isn’t it? Senpai also said it was cool and threw the magazine upwards…”

“Ahaha… I can’t refute that…”

While having a light conversation with Senpai, I find shooting booth number 7 on the guide board.

In a five-story building, the first, second, and third floors are all shooting ranges.

Booth number 7 was located in the center of the first-floor shooting range.

-Whirr…

Entering the shooting booth, I insert the key into the keyhole under the table and turn it.

The target in front rises with a characteristic mechanical sound.

It seems that the terminal next to it can control not only the replenishment of ammunition but also the movement of the target.

“Oh… This is a really well-equipped shooting range, isn’t it?”

“Haha, this is a very popular shooting range around here. If it were closer, I would come here often because of the well-equipped facilities and the reasonable ammunition prices.”

“Shall we give it a try…”

My hands haven’t warmed up yet, and I still have a slight sense of disconnect, so I don’t set any special movement for the target.

In a stance familiar from my memories, I take out Daedalus, hold it with one hand, aim… and fire.

The target is 10 meters away.

-Bang-

A loud explosion that’s hard to believe came from a handgun, the large muzzle flash characteristic of the SW500 4-inch model erupts.

Even so, it’s calm, as if there’s almost no recoil, as if it’s not particularly difficult.

The recoil is like shooting a small-caliber automatic pistol, creating a disconnect with the sound and muzzle flash.

-Bang… Bang-

On the third shot, I was confident in my strength, and the shots, already familiar, hit the target’s head twice and the body once.

I was worried that the target might be destroyed by the insane caliber of the bullets, but perhaps the attendant had done something, or maybe Millennium’s technology was beyond imagination, the target was fine with only slight scratches.

“Heh… It seems like you didn’t need any time to adjust to firearms.”

“I guess so. Since we’re here, I’d like to try shooting other guns, too.”

“Heh, Sora-chan, who was only interested in that revolver, wants to try other guns? How about trying my gun, too?”

“Sure, the ammunition type is… .280 British, right?”

Ichika-senpai’s firearm, [Red Dragon]… Enfield EM-2 is characterized by its gentle recoil.

With this… it might be possible.

I order .280 British rounds from the terminal.

Soon, a 60-round box of .280 rounds comes along the rail next to the shooting range.

Fortunately, various types of loading tools were placed on one side of the table, considering different types of firearms.

“Can I borrow it?”

“Sure. I’ll hold on to this for now.”

I hand Daedalus to Senpai for a moment and receive Red Dragon, aiming.

First, I fire 10 shots in semi-automatic mode.

The target is 15 meters away.

All 10 shots hit.

Damn… the memory of the f*cking reservist training.

The feeling is very different, but after the first five shots, I definitely got the hang of it, and it wasn’t too burdensome to shoot.

“Eh… Sora-chan… Haven’t you never used a rifle before? Especially not a bullpup…”

“It’s probably because it’s a well-maintained and high-quality firearm.”

What is a 27-year-old man who shoots maybe once a year doing evaluating firearms?

But the 14 years of memories in my head enable me to manage and evaluate firearms.

The EM-2 is an old firearm in terms of age, but in modern times, especially in Kivotos, where firearms are a necessity, there must have been some modifications to the process.

-Whirr-

“…You’re also quite smart, Sora-chan… Won’t you join the Justice Realization Committee?”

“Haha… I don’t really like physical activities… I’ll have to decline again…”

A mechanical sound is heard as the target moves forward.

The first five shots had a wide spread, but the next five shots are concentrated on one spot on the target’s right shoulder.

I aimed at the head, but it’s probably because the sights are off.

And… the EM-2 uses a cartridge with gentle recoil, and with my current strength, it’s possible.

“1”

“…? Wait, Sora-ch…”

I switch the selector to full-auto.

Considering the misaligned sights, I aim at the upper left of the head.

The automatic rifle with a rate of fire of 450-600 RPM spews fire.

I shoot at all targets from 5m to 25m.

There are 10 rounds left, I hit each target twice and skillfully reload… No, bullpups are a bit inconvenient.

I reload in an awkward posture.

The 20 rounds in the new magazine are quickly consumed.

“Phew… Automatic rifles seem to suit me quite well, too.”

“Wow… I’m surprised… Since you showed me this, I’ll keep inviting you to join, okay?”

“Please stop, Senpai…”

After some banter and shooting, I detach the empty box magazine from the firearm and return it to Senpai while talking.

We continue shooting, mixing in some banter, with her holding the gun with an expression that says she can’t do anything about it.

“Wow… How can you shoot something like that?”

“Oh? Senpai, are you making fun of me for being strong?”

“Ugh, that’s not it…”

We spent time switching guns and shooting at each other.

As a result, we spent a lot of money on bullets… When we came out of the shooting range, the sky was already dark, so we naturally returned to Trinity.

“It feels like we did a lot, but all we did was chat at the cafe and shoot…”

“Ahaha… Senpai, we had fun today, right?”

“Well… it was fun. But I have to go to school again tomorrow… Ah… I’m on duty… I’ll be going first.”

“Take care, Senpai.”

After saying goodbye to Senpai, I return home.

As soon as I get home… I wash up, fill my hungry stomach, and sit at my desk again.

On the already spread-out blank paper, I write down the memories of my previous life.

It’s not that I have any lingering attachment to my previous life.

I have already defined myself as Yumetsubasa Sora.

Even so, I write this because I’m still afraid of my past self disappearing.

But I’m not confused like before, just that my 27 years of experience are not meaningless, so I write them down.

The past 27 years, elementary, middle, high school, and almost 16 years of university, 17 years and 6 months if you include the military service, all that time spent solely on studying.

It’s the time I endured because a single friend supported me.

I take back what I said about not having any regrets.

As I became an office worker and had more leeway, I naturally gained a regret: [school life].

Then isn’t this a good opportunity to resolve that regret?

I review my previous life.

And this school life, this youth [Blue Archive], I won’t leave any regrets.

That’s why I review my previous life and write the script for a movie.

What, the night is still young…

Oh no!

I was too short-sighted.

I was so focused on writing down the memories of my previous life that I didn’t check the time.

I woke up after falling asleep at my desk, and as soon as I checked the time, I quickly ran out of the room.

There’s no time for detailed makeup.

I finish with minimal washing and quickly dry my hair.

I pay special attention to my hair and wings, but I need to finish everything else quickly.

I put on minimal lotion and run.

Since the exams are over, I don’t have to focus too much on my studies, but Trinity is a large, prestigious school called one of the three major academies in Kivotos, so even its middle school is sensitive to attendance.

Therefore…

I run to school with all my might.

My second chance to shed my regrets and lingering feelings begins now.