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“Ah, Papa, it’s been so long!” Hijiri exclaimed, spotting Kaname and hurrying to the table with her tray before sitting next to Kou.

Shortly after, Subaru joined them, seating himself next to Kaname with a slightly irked expression. “…Hey, Dad. Are you actually taking a break from work today?”

“Yes… The President suggested I—”

“Take a break and spend the day with your kids, or risk them turning against you. That’s what I told him,” a voice interjected, finishing Kaname’s sentence. Standing there were…

“Hey, are you all having fun?”
“I’m so sorry, Hijiri and Subaru. I barely managed any free time, even though you’re all here.”

It was Sora, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, and Akane in a summery sundress.

And… one more person.

“We’ve completed our work here, so I informed the rest of the team that we’ll be taking the day off unless there’s an emergency.”

It was Amari, who had interrupted Kaname earlier. She wore a sleeveless knit top, fitted pants, and sunglasses pushed up on her forehead, looking every bit the stylish company president on a rare day off. She stepped out from behind Sora and Akane and joined the table with her tray.

“So, today we’re really…”
“Yes, it’s the last day of the trip, so let’s spend it together.”

Kou spoke, her eyes full of hope, and Sora nodded with a warm smile.

◇◇◇

“Hurry up, Dad!”
“You’re so slow, Papa!”

Kou and Hijiri’s voices echoed across the beach as they tugged their fathers along, both girls wearing the swimsuits from the previous day. Sora, now in his own swim trunks with a Hawaiian shirt, and Kaname, in a rash guard, trailed behind.

“S-Somehow this feels a little embarrassing…”
“But it’s a wonderful feeling, isn’t it? Being a dad and all,” Sora replied with a grin.

Despite their slightly flustered expressions, both fathers looked thrilled to be enjoying the moment with their daughters.

“I can imagine fathers with rebellious daughters watching this in envy…”
“Yes, it does seem my Kou and your sister Hijiri are quite attached to their dads.”

Just outside the changing rooms, Subaru and Amari were observing the scene from a distance. Amari wore a striking red bikini with a long pareo, catching the attention of several onlookers.

Subaru could only sigh and shrug, noting how oblivious Kou and Hijiri were to the admiring glances directed their way.

“The beach looks different today—what’s going on?” he asked.
“That’s the AR theater in full effect. I think today it’s set to show a beach from an island in the Philippines.”

Looking around, they saw the beach blanketed with powdery white sand and framed by a vast azure sea—scenery unlike any beach in Japan. The guests seemed delighted with the immersive experience.

“So it’s not just the scenery; they can actually alter the texture of the sand and water too?”
“Yes, it took a lot of effort to integrate everything, but we managed it just in time. I can’t thank your father enough—he was monitoring everything on-site,” Amari replied.

Hearing Amari commend his father made Subaru glance away, somewhat abashed. He switched the AR functions on his NLD on and off a few times, letting out a surprised gasp at the dramatic changes in scenery.

“So, this is what he’s been working on all this time.”
“Yes, you should feel proud of him.”
“I guess so…” Subaru muttered, the thought settling in.

Unlike Hijiri, Subaru had always held a mixed view of his father, who often spent long stretches away from home for work.

“Maybe it’s time I try to patch things up too… like Kou has with you.”
“Hm…”
“She talks about you sometimes, and she seems really happy you’re on friendly terms again. I think making peace was worth it, don’t you?”

Amari, for once, seemed at a loss for words as Subaru murmured this. Noticing her hesitation, he adjusted his glasses and shot her a mischievous grin.

◇◇◇

“It’s about time…”

Amari suddenly raised her voice and called out to Sora and Kaname, who were both out of breath from trying to keep up with their energetic daughters.

“Hey, Sora, Kaname—and Kou too. Come over here for a moment.”
“Oh, right, it’s almost time. Let’s go,” Sora said, heading toward Amari. Kou and Hijiri, unsure of what was happening, followed closely behind.

“Alright, have a seat here. Kou, Hijiri, would you like some juice?”
“Ah… yes, please.”
“Thank you, Mama.”

Akane invited the girls to sit and offered them drinks. Then, Amari began explaining why she had called them over.

“The theater is about to display something that doesn’t exist in this world. For most, it’ll simply showcase the possibilities of bringing a virtual world to life…” A slight smirk played on Amari’s face. “But in truth, that’s just a cover. We wanted to create something meaningful and private for us.”

Just as she finished speaking, their surroundings transformed in an instant. The beach scenery shifted into a silvery landscape viewed from an extraordinary height. Some of the guests gasped, bracing themselves for an icy chill, only to realize that the temperature remained unchanged.

The scene around them was serene and ethereal, with an enormous moon glowing in the sky above. They appeared to be on a mountaintop, as other distant peaks lay below the horizon. Nearby, an enchanted forest of rainbow-colored crystals sparkled in stark contrast to the silver snow covering the landscape. Far off in the distance was a domed city encircled by structures.

In short, it was a panoramic view of a vast fantasy world, leaving all the guests captivated.

“Mom… is this what you wanted to show us?”
“Yes… Though I’ve forgotten much about my birthplace, this place is the closest I’ve come to it—I spent most of my life here.”
“And it’s also where we met,” Sora added, scratching his cheek a little sheepishly.

Amari looked into the distance, her expression softened by nostalgia. Kou recalled that her parents had once told her they’d visited another, more fantastical world in the past.

“Then this place…”
“Yes, it’s a world we can’t bring you to, but one filled with memories. I wanted you to at least see it once.”

Amari gently placed her arm around Kou’s shoulders, her voice tender.

◇◇◇

“…What a surprise. I didn’t expect to see this place here.”

The voice startled Kou, making her body tense. She knew that voice—not from real life, but from Destiny Unchain Online, and it was one she could never forget.

“Oh, it’s you. You made it here already?” Amari said casually.

“Yes, my grandfather’s work finished earlier than expected, so we boarded this morning’s ship.” The speaker was a young man around Kou’s age, speaking with a certain familiarity to Amari.

He had long, gleaming silver hair pulled over his right shoulder, and sharp eyes that were an unusual shade of amethyst. His skin was strikingly clear and his features foreign, making him look as handsome as a pop idol. His presence was so poised and regal that it was easy to imagine him as a foreign prince.

Kou stared at him in amazement. Around her, the original members of Lua Cheia were equally stunned. Finally, Kou asked the question that was on everyone’s mind.

“Are you… are you Sorleon?!”
“Yes, I believe this is our first time meeting like this, Scarlet Demon Lord. I never imagined you’d look just as charming in real life as you do in-game.”

With that, he knelt before Kou and, before she could react, gently took her hand and kissed it.

There was nothing ironic or suggestive in his demeanor—his actions seemed entirely natural, as though he were accustomed to such formal greetings. Still, the gesture caught Kou off-guard, her face turning beet red as she stammered, speechless, while he smiled at her, friendly and without malice.

“As you’ve guessed, I’m Sorleon. But my proper name is Kuga Reo. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

With one hand over his chest, he bowed gracefully, introducing himself in the manner of a prince.

Afterword:

You can look up Boracay Island to get an idea of the initial virtual beach.