(46) Space Station… 15

You’d think with me injured like that, I would have to take a break for a day.

“““NWDA!”””

Nope.

‘Damm you nanogel!’

I was ready to exit the clinic only after sleeping there for the night…

‘The medical techniques of these people are insane… I would just have preferred if they cared about pain.’

Such a fast recovery was only possible because of some special nanogel that hurt like crap when it was being applied. Obviously, it was at my request that they did so, despite that, the pain that I felt was very similar to the muscle enhancer of action duel class.

But I went through it, anyway. I wasn’t about to get chewed out by Mark Brown, our action duel professor, for missing training if I had a choice.

14/SEP/35MT

It’s time… actually it’s 6 am, but I’m talking about docking.

‘Uh, I feel like I’ve used that line before.’

Anyway, after my minor scuffle with Anna, the two days after, went by in a blur of exercise, practicing and reviewing strategy with Mia, Aiko, Yasuna, and Aya.

I have to give props to the Director. He’s not as bad as I was expecting when it comes to dueling. Actually, he corrected some mistakes I made on their decks, and generally wasn’t opposed to hearing me out when I thought he was wrong.

Our deck building styles are completelly different. He’s more focussed on making a deck that stays within its archetype and he doesn’t give consistency that much priority focussing on longer duels, while I don’t give a shit about that and focus on making a deck that can consistently end a duel as fast as possible.

‘Still, he could be trying to throw me off.’

I wasn’t oblivious to the suspicious looks he started giving me after I started saying things like “At this level of play, this doesn’t matter” and “You won’t find decks that can run over that here.”

Mostly because the cards we were discussing were boss monsters, they considered indestructible. And every time I was asked about how they could be destroyed, my answer was “Kaijus.”

He was noticeably confused at that.

Anyway, back to docking. With the size of the ship, it’s more like a stop than docking. Shuttles will transport us to the station.

Even with the relative proximity to it, I can’t see anything out of the window. Neko laughed when I tried to spot the station, before explaining that we’re still 100Km away from it, which is close enough by astronomical distances.

Currently, we’re waiting for a shuttle to pick us up and transport us to the station. I’m with Nanako, Naeko and Haruna. We’re separated by into groups again. It has to do with the difference in booking.

I’ve been told by the other cheerleaders that the station is massive, but I’ll judge it with my own eyes when we get there.

“This is big…” I inadvertently comment at what I’m seeing out the window.

Massive doesn’t begin to describe the station. It’s an immense, white, monolith, which closely resembles the skyscrapers of Dragoon City just bigger… And that’s considering the average height of a new skyscraper in Dragoon City is 700-900 Meters…

“How?” I simply question, looking to the side to where Naeko was sitting.

Naeko, like always, goes in to explain. “In two words? Solid vision.” She starts and moves closer to the window. We’re strapped down, like on the take-off shuttle, but there’s enough space for her to move around and she’s sitting right next to me. “When your construction equipment can freely change form with little to no regard to the laws of physics, space construction is stupidly easy. In the end, logistics become the bottleneck.”

“I would think so. How do you even get this much material here?”

This was a point in the middle of space, millions of kilometers away from any mine or steel works. But in front of me is an enormous structure seemingly built from conventional materials.

Neko lets out a deep breath. “I don’t know.”

Harshly turning to her, I ask. “What?”

She shrugs. “I don’t find space logistics interesting. My daddy tried to explain the topic to me once, and I almost fell asleep. Just search it on GlobalNet if you really want to know.”

“I know I can search it on GlobalNet. You just seem to brighten up every time you’re explaining these types of things.” I admit with a grin.

Judging by the nudge I received after saying that, I’m guessing she appreciates the gesture.

“Finally, we’re here.” I say to no one in particular.

Haruna, who was next to me, arches her belly foward accompanied by a noticeable crack sound before saying. “Yup, now what do you girls want to do? I hear they have an amazing spa here.”

“How about we get some grub? Anyone up for some sushi?” Nanako suggests.

‘Sushi? First ramen, now sushi? I’m seriously going to ask Nes if there’s a rule about this, because it can’t be a coincidence.’

This makes Naeko visually shudder  “Ew, I’m not eating raw fish!” she protests with her face scrunched up as she pinches her nose.

The reason for us debating what to do next was unexpected free time. We had planned to train right until the tournament started, but seeing as I’m still a little messed up from the duel, and no one really wants to do anything after riding a shuttle for 2 hours straight, we elected to rest for today. The problem with the shuttle was the lack of anything to look at but black and the uncomfortable sitting position, at least by these world’s standards…

‘Or maybe just rich girl standards. I don’t think it was too bad, especially compared to budget European airlines back home.’

I wordlessly curse R***air one last time before turning to the girls and suggesting. “How about we go to the food court and see what they have there? I’m honestly also starving.”

Haruna chuckles, takes two steps forward, and turns to the three of us. “And that’s why I told ya’ll had to eat something before we moved to the station.” She taunts.

We left the ship right after waking up and barely had time to shower. It’s almost 2 in the afternoon by now.

We look at her with droopy faces and she gets the memo that we’re not in the mood for this real quick.

“R-Right! The food court! Let’s go!” She moves in to correct.

I turn to Neko and then Nana. Finally, I shrug and let go of a sigh. “Haa… let’s go.”

With this, we make our way through the station in search of some grub.

The space is vast, compared to the more closed off corridors of the ship. The station is separated into floors, with some floors being staff only. Currently, we are at arrivals, where the shuttles arriving at the station dock. The ceiling is high with time tables for arriving shuttle mixed in with ads, similar to an airport. There’s a Hall with elevators right after the security checkpoints, which we already passed.

With this, we walk up to a standing touch panel.

[

Please select your desired destination:

Hotel Lobbies

Recreational Sports

Pleasure Services

Restaurants

Shopping Mall

Vrains Terminals

Holo Dueling Arenas

Solid Vision Arenas 1 - 48

Grand Arena 1

Grand Arena 2

Crew Quarters {Locked}

]

Nanako selects “Restaurants” and the screen changes to a message saying [“Proceed to elevator 23”]

We look around to find elevator 23 in-between all the others, then Haruna calls out. “There.” pointing to it.

I, and the other girls, follow her into a large elevator that could easily fit at least 10 people.

The doors close as soon as Naeko presses something on another touch panel.

From the brief time I got to look at it, I recognized it was about what kind of restaurant they wanted.

‘She pressed that thing so quick, she must really hate sushi.’

The elevator rises with the familiar sinking feeling, opposite of the door is a window into space where a fantastic view of the station slowly emerges while we rise up the station. In the elevator cabin, a strangely familiar tune plays as elevator music.

‘Huh, Déjà vu? I hope the name of this station doesn’t end in 13… What am I saying? I know the station’s name is “MDS Space Station Arena”. Even so, this title song almost never precedes anything good…’

I look out into the vast emptiness which is blocked by machinery from time to time.

The three, having nothing better to do, copy me.

“Really puts into perspective how small we are, huh?” Naeko comments.

“Yup.” Nanako agrees with a slight nod, her eyes distant.

“So peaceful, like the springs in Cy City.” Haruna pitches in.

I look to the side and make a conscious effort not to say anything to that.

‘Yes, the peaceful Cy City… That one’s gonna age like milk in a few days.’

*Ping*

[“Arrived at Deluxe Restaurant Section. Enjoy your stay,”]

The sudden announcement by a crisp, robotic voice snaps us out of our existential thinking.

“Right, food!” Haruna reminds.

We nod and walk onto the lavishly decorated floor.

There are large white marble pillars up to the high ceiling, accompanied by tasteful gold and silver decals.

‘Back home, they’d just plaster everything in gold and call it “Luxury.”’

Gold and silver weren't considered rare resources, because of asteroid mining. So it’s cosmetic use needed actual thought.

The celling is home to detailed artwork, with the occasional light shining down.

Various fine dining restaurants filled the space, strewn around with various streets connecting them. Every one of them is decorated differently, with too many variations to describe.

“Hey don’t you girls think we’re a little, huh… how do I say this? Underdressed?” I ask them.

We are all still wearing our academy uniforms.

“Maybe if this was in the city. But for a restaurant up here, we are as good as it gets, especially considering the type of clientele before a big tournament.” Haruna explains with a cocky grin.

“Right...” I trail off. “Hey, are there going to be any hooligans around here, or am I thinking too far?”

“No, you’re about right.” Nanako unfortunately confirms. “Just not now. Spectators only arrive tomorrow on the day of the first duel.”

“Greeeeeat…” trail and recoil.

“Awww, don’t worry, sis!” Haruna reassures before pulling me into a hug and whispering into my right ear. “Just remind them of the prison sentence they’ll get if you say they touched you.”

She pulls a way with a wide sadistic smile on her face and continues. “And if that doesn’t work, your duel disk is a perfect self-defense weapon. Isn’t that right?”

“Y-Yes captain.” I stutter.

“Good, now let’s go eat something.” She urges.

Both Naeko and Nanako furiously nod.

‘Haruna gets really scary when people talk about harming her club members.’

She even got that guy that slapped my ass when I was meeting with the Director in my cheerleader uniform back in the academy kicked out of the turbo duel course. And I only know that because he came into our training gymnasium one day begging her to ask the professor to reconsider her decision.

Suffice it to say, he didn’t get back in.

We follow Haruna into a miraculously decorated restaurant. Apparently it’s a well-known chain so Naeko and Nanako don’t protest.

As soon as we step in, a waitress in a fancy suit greets us.

“Welcome to ‘Rio da Concha Aberta’. How may I help you fine ladies today?” She politely greets with a genuine smile.

Haruna also smiles and responds. “Hello, could we get a private room for four?”

The waitress opens her hand and a holographic tablet gets projected in front of it.

She looks at it for a second before replying. “Yes, that won’t be a problem.” She closes her hand, making the tablet disappear. “Now, if you ladies could follow me, I will bring you to your table.”

“Show the way.” Haruna urges.

We follow the waitress into a room with a big private table, and she passes us the menu.