Chapter 81: Literally Two Months Old
The figures that emerged from the Dimensional Corridors, one after another, were: Yukari Yakumo, Whitebeard, Wolffy, Ying Zheng, Kaguya Shinomiya, and Josuke Higashikata.
Together with Ryū, the Little Wandering Planet, and Tatsumaki who'd been waiting for them—
This was the Dimensional Chat Group's first ever real-life assembly.
Or, to put it another way: a large-scale cross-dimensional IRL meetup.
* * *
Tatsumaki, the host, hadn't spoken yet. Her gaze kept drifting between Ryū and the Little Wandering Planet, her face a mixture of curiosity and astonishment.
Only once the other members had all arrived did she shift her attention to the rest of the group.
The chat group's roster was certainly… eclectic. The most unusual members were undoubtedly Wolffy and the Little Wandering Planet—the group's two "non-humanoid" members. One was a wolf. The other was a planet. Neither looked remotely human, and that was perfectly reasonable given what they were.
Tatsumaki, who wasn't exactly gifted at initiating conversations, stood there with visible awkwardness written across her pale face. She had no idea what kind of opening line would properly welcome the Admin and the others.
In the end, she managed:
"Admin… dono. And everyone. I've arranged the accommodations. All the security cameras in the area have been destroyed, and I sent the Hero Association staff away from this section. So nobody will see you arrive."
There was a slight stiffness to her delivery—this was genuinely her first time doing anything like this. She'd consulted quite a few people beforehand, but there was still this inexplicable feeling of… shyness?
Of course, people like Tatsumaki were common enough: strong-willed, not actually mean-hearted, but terrible with words. Some were born that way. Others became that way.
Ryū could see she was struggling, so he steered the conversation before the silence could get worse:
"Looks like this is the group's first real gathering. Thanks for getting everything ready, Tatsumaki. So—everyone's here, right?"
* * *
Yukari Yakumo, who'd been quietly surveying the surroundings, flicked open her folding fan with an elegant snap and smiled:
"Ara~ Let this one count. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine… eight 'people' in total. Admin-dono, everyone is accounted for."
She paused, then continued:
"Oh my~ Little Kaguya, we meet again. This one seems to recall you betrayed this one at least once, yes?"
Kaguya Shinomiya's expression stiffened. She instinctively sidled closer to Ryū.
The next instant, a Gap corridor materialized directly in front of her face.
Two pale, slender hands reached through the rift.
And seized Kaguya's cheeks.
Squish…
Pinch…
Puuuull…
"…Mmph! Admin-do—mmph—no, Yukari-nee-sama has gone insane… mmph… stop pinching my cheeks… mmph… *sniffle* Yukari-nee-sama, I'm sorry!"
Kaguya was mumbling something largely incoherent through her squished cheeks.
In terms of raw power, she could easily qualify as an A-Class hero in the One-Punch Man world—a top-tier one at that. Perhaps not quite matching Amai Mask at the number-one spot, but certainly contending for second.
Against Yukari Yakumo, though, that level of strength barely registered. Her cheeks were captured with trivial ease, and a certain Gap youkai proceeded to knead, pinch, and stretch them to her heart's content.
The reason Yukari had singled her out was obvious: during the daily verbal sparring between Ryū and Yukari, Kaguya consistently sided with Ryū.
Of course, Yukari was only playing around. Her relationship with Kaguya was genuinely close—the best among any pair in the Dimensional Chat Group, in fact. Before Tatsumaki joined, they'd been the only two women in the chat, and that shared experience had forged a real bond despite differences in species, world, power level, personality, and hair color.
Wait—what does hair color have to do with anything? Is this some kind of "black and gold always ship" thing?
* * *
Whitebeard—currently reduced to a still-imposing height of roughly two meters by the chat group's size adjustment—let out a hearty laugh:
"Gurararara! Looks like little Kaguya and Yukari-dono's relationship really is as good as it seems!"
Ryū nodded:
"Anyone who can get that close to the Youkai Sage is a rarity—even within Gensōkyō."
Kaguya: "…He…help… Yukari-nee-sama, I said I'm sorry~"
Watching Yukari and Kaguya's antics, Ying Zheng and Josuke—both on their first Dimensional Transfer—wore expressions of open-mouthed wonder.
Josuke came from 1999 Japan. Ying Zheng came from the Qin Empire, over two thousand years ago.
And Tatsumaki's chosen venue was the Hero Association Headquarters.
Both of them were rendered speechless by the high-tech architecture and futuristic technology surrounding them. Seeing it firsthand was a visceral shock—exponentially more so than anything they'd experienced through the chat group alone.
Even Josuke, who'd been a member for some time, needed a moment to process it all.
* * *
[ System Notification ]
Underage members (below age 12) detected among the group.
Children's Day Gift Packs have been distributed. Please check your inventory!
Tap the link → [Link] to claim your Event Gift Pack.
NOTE: Gift Packs can only be opened after leaving the Activity World.
A system notification popped up without warning. Ryū blinked.
His face was a portrait of pure bewilderment.
What the hell? An under-twelve Children's Day Gift Pack?
No—hold on. Wait. Is there some kind of mistake here?
Ryū quickly schooled his expression, but internally he was reeling. A Children's Day Gift Pack? Sent to him? That would mean the system classified him as under twelve.
But he was seventeen! Even counting his previous life, he was twenty-one! Add them together and that was thirty-eight—or at least a psychological age of twenty-one. How could he possibly be under twelve?
There has to be an error somewhere.
Then a thought struck him like lightning.
He remembered his earlier speculation: he'd only been in the Naruto world for two or three months. Did the system count from his date of transmigration rather than his body's birth?
No way… that theory actually turned out to be right? I'm actually classified as under twelve?!
I might not even be six months old. This is way too real…
Ryū tentatively tapped the link.
Sure enough—an Event Gift Pack appeared in his chat group inventory.
Unopenable until they left the Activity World. But real.
☆☆☆
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