@Paradox Since this won't let me concentrate otherwise. I had to look through my ebooks on the way to work.
There is some nuggets of wisdom in Volume 1 Kaede (alias Maple) getting more into the game:
"She went through the school gates, walked into her class, and sat down in her seat.
Previously, she’d passed the time reading, but since she started playing NewWorld Online, she often spent the time thinking about new skills instead. It was always fun imagining what skills might be out there and what the conditions might be."
This one is from volume 2 and makes clear the disconnect:
"Back in the real world, Kaede checked the time.
“…It really was only two hours!”
It took a physical clock to make that feel convincing.
If she closed her eyes, everything that had happened during the weeklong event came flooding back to her.
So many tough fights. But she and Risa had had a lot of fun together."
Ah yeah I found it in volume 3s prologue:
"Kaede dumped her things on her desk and then went over to where Risa sat.
“Feels like it’s been ages since we last came to school!”
“Right? I mean, we did spend seven days in-game… Which reminds me, Kaede. You’ll need to be careful today.”
“Huh? Of what?”
Kaede couldn’t think of anything particularly concerning.
“In-game, we’ve always gotta be on the lookout for monsters or hostile players. There’s a risk you’ll bring that habit into the real world.”
Risa explained how easy it would be for Maple’s and Sally’s routines to spill over into their regular, everyday lives.
“I’ve been playing awhile, though. Nothing like that’s happened before.”
“Yeah, it’s more of a ‘just in case.’ This is the first time you’ve been logged in for a full week, right?”
“True… All right! I’ll be careful.”
Well it did not go well...
"Because of her restless night, Kaede was nodding off in class. Something she never did.
[...]
At the teacher’s prompting, the girl next to Kaede gave her a poke.
“Mm…mm? Yawn… Is it my turn to keep watch? …Huh?”
Stretching as she spoke, she heard her voice echo in the classroom.
And everyone turned to stare.
By the time Kaede realized where she was, it was too late.
“I warned you,” Risa whispered.
[...]
That was only the first incident of many.
The next came during the break after third bell on her way back from the bathroom.
The halls were packed with students traveling to their next class.
And a girl walking behind Kaede happened to bump into someone trying to pass by. She dropped her textbook and pencil case.
Both hit the ground with a loud clatter.
“……!”
[...]
By this point, her nerves were totally frayed.
Two very public blunders would do that to anyone.
Not wanting to screw up again, Kaede tried to keep a close watch on her every move.
But the third time’s the charm.
The more you try not to mess up, the more likely it becomes.
After lunch, the class was playing dodgeball in the gym.
Kaede and Risa were on the same team.
That fact alone ensured their victory.
No matter how hard they tried, nobody could ever hit Risa.
Even when their opponents aimed all their shots at her, it wouldn’t get them anywhere.
Outside of the VRMMO, there was no compelling reason to pull off risky, last-second evasions, so it was a breeze for Risa to dodge everything.
“She’s incredible in this world, too…,” Kaede muttered.
Of course, if she hadn’t been so caught up watching Risa’s performance, she might have avoided her third horrible mistake.
“…Kaede!”
The enemy team had suddenly decided to aim at someone besides Risa, hoping they might actually knock out a few people.
The ball was already hurtling toward Kaede…
She was much too focused on Risa to react in time.
When Risa yelled, Kaede looked toward the ball—and saw it coming right at her.
On any other day, she’d have ducked or jumped sideways.
But for the past week, she’d avoided projectiles in a very different manner.
“Cover Mo— Eaugh!”
She caught herself mid-yell and clapped her hands over her mouth…meaning she could neither dodge the ball nor catch it.
And hits to the face still counted.
“Kaede?! You okay?!”
“I’m fine…”
From Kaede’s perspective, as long as no one was paying any attention to what she had been about to shout, then she’d live.
From Kaede’s perspective, as long as no one was paying any attention to what she had been about to shout, then she’d live.
The silver lining was that she and Risa were the only ones in class who played NewWorld Online, so apparently, nobody recognized the phrase.
“I’m gonna rest over there…”
“Good idea.”
Kaede slumped against the wall, her head on her knees.
That was her final lapse in judgment.
“…Maybe I should take a break from the game.”
Just to be safe, she decided to not log in at all for three whole days.
Whether because of her ban on gaming or perhaps through sheer force of will, by the third day, Kaede finally stopped having accidents.
Sorry for the slurry of text. But maybe I can concentrate on work now lol