【#1】

⠀ "Etheria Online", a capsule-based VR fantasy game where players fight magical beasts with customized characters. ⠀

A 5-person party that had been together for a long time was resting near the fountain in the city plaza.

⠀ On one side of the bench, Red Queen was leaning on Romantic Gentleman's shoulder, and Romantic Gentleman looked at her with a relaxed smile.

"Should we stop hunting for today and go on a date?"

"Heh. I'll take you wherever you wish, Red Queen."

⠀ ⠀ Not far away, Nyan-Blade and Pochi were bickering.

"Hey, Pochi! You drank my potion again, didn't you!!"

"I only had one!"

⠀ ⠀ In the game, these two pairs were quite a famous couple.

And standing next to them... ⠀

【#2】

⠀ Neon green grass-like hair. A yellow chick sitting on top of it. A burly, muscular body. A pink magical girl dress with white frills. Even a cute magic wand in hand.

⠀ The party's veteran user, Guest, was standing there.

Pochi looked at Guest, who performed brilliantly in every raid looking like that, with a look of disapproval. ⠀

Nyan-Blade burst into laughter looking at the chick on the head, and Red Queen looked Guest up and down, laughing as if she'd seen enough.

"Pwahaha! That chick must not find the grass prickly at all!"

"...I feel this every time I see it, but that outfit is truly atrocious."

⠀ ⠀ No one had ever seen Guest's actual appearance.

But they didn't really wonder about it either. ⠀

Since they met in a game, each other's character appearance was enough. ⠀ ⠀

【#3】

⠀ Just then.

The ripples in the fountain suddenly stop.

"...Huh?"

⠀ ⠀ The NPCs in the plaza and even the birds flying in the sky froze in place.

⠀ And simultaneously, a brilliant white light erupted from every object.

"Whoa! Wait, what is this!?"

"Is it a bug?!"

⠀ ⠀ Within the light that covered their vision, the characters' appearances began to crumble one by one. ⠀

Their hair. Their faces. Their physiques. ⠀ ⠀ Everything returning not to the game character—

But to their original selves in reality. ⠀