The Player is a Part-Timer

Chapter 1: Just an Everyday Café in an Everyday Town

"Hah! I wonder if I could ever go back? Not as I am on a big hurry. Even if I can't, it is no bother... I just wait around leisurely around 130 years, and I am back where I started. True, with the different body... still the same century. My time is plenty after all! Thanks to my race — according to the game lore — I am basically ageless now. And this place is nice enough to stay. No radiation, or suffocating air... Neither an apocalyptic world ruled by mega-corporations. Just the good ol democracy in its finest! Spending around two months here, I start to get used to being like this. Maybe in time, I will even come to like it. Acclimatize, or die! That is the law of nature, after all."

Thinking of it first, she even considered going back if given a chance, but finding things after spending some time here, remembering her previous body was a wreck thanks to "his" constant sickness, and "his" soul-crushing job — "he" did day and night, constantly overworking — this life offered a better prospect of continuation. Thus, even with this body of a girl, she did her best to acclimatize and endure. She definitely had better chances of staying here, as well, a more quality life awaited once she fully acclimatized.

Be a girl or boy; it did not matter until one felt him/herself good enough.

"But... I suppose, like many, the look of a beautiful character, and my role player spirit took over under character creation. Dammit, if I could go back and change it!"

Sighing, somewhat still angry at herself, she shook her head shrugging. Not as she can do anything with it just now. She had no items to change it... And after all, it was always better stuck like this, than being a grotesque being many players made their character look in the game.

"But I suppose, if one such player transports here, they can either change their appearance with illusion, items, or even... use racial ability to hide their racial heritage."

Now, thinking of this, she wondered if there were any other players around who she encountered in the past, and fueled enmity against her.

"I wonder..."

She was infamous back in the game. Most people recognizing who she is, would either flee to notify their friends about her arrival or right away attack her caring not about her status. Maybe not even letting her take it easy, and explain she had no desire to fight, just live her leisure life. The life she was denied to live back then.

"Huh..."

Not as it mattered, she was sure, with her current appearance — given form by the limited appearance shapeshifting her race provided — she is not so easily recognizable.

This racial ability might can't grow plus appendages, or change sex, but was good enough to change basic elements of her body — such as skin tone, eye color, height — to a certain limit — even body proportions.

"Hmm..." she hummed satisfied, sure about no one will recognize her — and with it, bother her anymore — really, in this new life, she only wanted peace, and not to worry about things. Rest all the anxiety and hardship out from her system she suffered back in her original life.

"Is something wrong?" In the next moment, a guy with handsome features, wearing typical Kuoh school uniform asked her, making her come back from her daydreaming.

"Ah nothing..." the girl with caramel skin and long white hair answered, her different colored eyes observing the young schoolboy attentively.

"So, Kiba-kun, crashing here again? Eh? You became quite regular here. One of the few I might add..." she asked teasing — still, sad about this terrible fact — making the boy smile after elegantly sipping his drink.

"Hmm, I can't help it, I need some separate time from the school in a tranquil place to settle my thoughts, and both the tea and the company here is too good to pass." the boy smiled charming — yes, if one had to give this boy a nickname, it would-be playboy, or prince charming. He looked just like that. "It is definitely different than the tea Akeno prepares."