Yuu skipped half a day of school just to find the perfect time to meet Asuna in the real world. It wasn't that he couldn't greet her casually, but with his quirky sense of humor, he still planned to make it a bit complicated—much like when he surprised Yukino Yukinoshita. In his view, as long as it didn't touch a sensitive spot, most girls enjoyed this kind of approach.
Yuu's plan was straightforward: investigate Asuna's tutoring center, and through financial power and special abilities, secure a spot as a transfer student, creating a legitimate reason to interact with her in the real world.
Once preparations were complete, the next step was official action—he legitimately became a student at Ichiyo Gakujuku, deliberately choosing a seat behind Asuna, and conveniently dealing with a creepy classmate with ill intentions.
Unfortunately, despite Yuu spending half the time staring at the back of her head, Asuna, engrossed in her studies, didn't notice him. After class, she only vaguely felt something off, glancing back once, not even realizing he was quietly following her while looking down at his phone.
After leaving the tutoring center, Asuna became increasingly absorbed in their online chat, completely unaware of a suspicious young man trailing her steps.
If he waited until she reached a dark spot, Yuu would swoop in, capture the pure, sweet brown-haired girl, and take her home for some fun… Cough cough. Unfortunately, Yuu's sense of humor wasn't quite that extreme.
Initially, he planned to send a message telling her to look back, delivering the surprise in the most ordinary way. But unexpectedly, a speeding car passed by Asuna, and Yuu noticed a large puddle by the roadside about to splash dirty water onto the pure, sweet girl.
"Should I run to shield her?"
Holding an umbrella and phone, the thought flashed through his mind like lightning. In less than a second, Yuu concluded that speeding up now might damage the umbrella, and he might not fully block the splash in time.
So, at that moment, speaking was definitely more effective than acting—Yuu had unwavering confidence in his own abilities and Asuna's reaction speed. The result matched his expectations.
Walking to the side of the girl who executed a perfect parry under the effect of his Word Bullet, Yuu raised his umbrella over Asuna's head, letting his own hair get messy in the rain.
"Even if you're happy chatting with me, you need to pay more attention to your surroundings when you're out. You're such a clueless honor student."
"Yuu… kun?" Asuna looked both shocked and adorable.
"Don't recognize me? I didn't even change my virtual avatar," Yuu sighed helplessly, then smiled at her. "Long time no see, Asuna."
"…"
Though his name and character name shared the same pronunciation, Asuna understood—Yuu was calling her real name, not Yuuki Asuna.
With her mouth slightly open, frozen for a few seconds, Asuna suddenly raised her small hand, pressing its soft, cool warmth against his cheek.
"Is this the temperature of the real world…"
This time, it was Yuu's turn to be surprised. "Asuna?"
Ignoring him, her fingers gently traced his face. Asuna seemed lost in thought, murmuring to herself.
Yuu didn't move, only observing her closely. From this distance, he saw her soft, jade-like cheeks, faintly flushed with a teenage girl's glow. His gaze was unconsciously drawn to her reddish-white ear, noticing the fine, cute hairs, even faintly hearing her breathing, with warm exhales that could ward off the cold.
Carefully observing this girl, he suddenly felt like he was gazing at a work of art, his heartbeat slowing unconsciously, afraid to disturb this beauty. Unlike in the virtual game, Asuna in the real world was elegant and captivating, making his heart race.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving a reward: Gymnastics (Proficient Level).]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving a reward: Volleyball (Proficient Level).]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving a reward: Sewing (Expert Level).]
The mood-breaking system notifications snapped Yuu out of his appreciative trance.
"Ah…"
The girl in front of him also snapped back to reality, letting her hand drop with a small squeak. Her slender fingers curled shyly, and Asuna hurriedly looked away, tucking her long hair behind her ear, as if too embarrassed to meet his eyes.
"W-Why are you here?"
As she asked to cover her embarrassment, she noticed his soaked state from holding the umbrella for her. She quickly raised her umbrella, stepping back. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention…"
"Do you want to hear the reason, the process, or the method of how I got here?" Yuu shrugged nonchalantly, moving his umbrella back over Asuna's head and taking the handkerchief she offered, wiping some rain from his face.
"Can't I hear all of them?"
"Sure, but there's a price."
Asuna looked at him, puzzled.
Yuu folded his umbrella, then sidled up to her, letting their shoulders touch. "You hold the umbrella for me, and I'll tell you the story."
"…Pfft." Asuna couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth gently, then glaring at him with mock irritation. "You… shouldn't it be the other way around?"
"That's why I said there's a price," Yuu said shamelessly. "I've never let a girl hold an umbrella for me, so you're the one profiting here."
"Yeah, yeah~ I'm so lucky~" With half-closed eyes, Asuna spoke helplessly, raising her hand to tilt the umbrella toward him.
The rain quickly wet her other shoulder, but she didn't feel cold—her whole body felt warm, unbothered by the dampness. Though Yuu often teased, he wouldn't joke with his physical health.
—So he told her to grab another umbrella.
"My umbrella's bigger. Use mine."
"…"
Asuna looked at his profile, sinking into her thoughts. This guy's personality was the same in the real world as in the game. A few days ago, she would've cursed inwardly: What a jerk!
But now, her heart was filled with the feeling that "he's actually kind of sweet like this~." Hmm, so were women really such fickle creatures?
"…Alright, got it."
With a resigned sigh, Asuna took the larger umbrella that could cover them both, handing her own to him. After it was settled, Yuu suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder, gently pulling her close.
The warmth of his body passed through their clothes, spreading from her shoulder to her face.
"Yuu, Yuu-kun?!"
Her eyes widened in shock, and Asuna froze, not daring to move. This was the first time a guy had touched her in the real world—her body felt like a newly started machine, needing time to adjust to this warmth.
Even so, Asuna didn't want to pull away for now. She just tried hard to relax her tense body. After all, in the virtual world, they'd lain in the same bed— a little shoulder contact was nothing, just a little shoulder…
(Argh, damn it, how is he so calm!)
"First, this reduces our size and keeps us from getting wet as much as possible," Yuu said seriously, catching the fresh, soft scent of her hair. "Also, if you're holding the umbrella, I can't hold your hand. If I want to hold your hand, I'd have to take the umbrella from you."
"Didn't I say? The next time we meet, I'll hold your hand. But right now, the conditions aren't right, so your shoulder will have to do."
Half-leaning into his embrace, Asuna remembered that Yuu had indeed said something akin to a love confession: The next time we meet, I hope you'll hold my hand. But now, with his self-justifying explanation, she didn't feel embarrassed, and her mood was a bit mixed.
Yuu keeping his promise made her happy; his skill at approaching a girl he just met made her angry; her own lack of desire to push him away made her sad; and his unchanged attitude toward her, even deeper than in the virtual world, made her elated.
Her thoughts grew complicated, so right now, Asuna most wanted to ask one thing:
"Yuu-kun, in the real world, what are we to each other…?"
An ordinary online friendship wouldn't involve meeting and immediately embracing the opposite sex's shoulder, right? If that were the case, the guy in front of her must be a playboy who needed watching!
"Our relationship, huh…"
The drizzle fell outside the umbrella, forming small ripples beneath their feet. As he held Asuna and walked forward, Yuu spoke as if shrugging off responsibility.
"Honestly, that's a question you should answer yourself."
"What do you mean?"
Asuna looked up, confused.
Yuu stared straight ahead, his voice clear and gentle amidst the rain. "Why do you want me to hold your hand? How do you feel? What do you want me to be to you… Our relationship depends on the answers to those questions."
He lowered his head, smiling as he met her eyes.
"As for me, I'm just here to take back my online wife."
"I'm a bit stubborn. Even when acting, I'll see it through to the end. So, until that ring is gone, even if I have to chase you to the ends of the earth, I'll bring you back to that world."
His tone was casual, but his eyes were serious, gazing into Asuna's, as if wanting to catch every shift in her expression. "What you think is your business. I won't lie to myself—that's why I came to find you today, and I'll keep bothering you from now on."
"If you don't like it, just say so, and I'll give up without hesitation."
After those words, the sound of rain in her ears seemed to grow loud all at once.
As if unable to accept it, Asuna unconsciously bit her lip, lowered her head, and fell silent.
So, Yuu came to the real world not because he liked her, but just to finish what he started? Then, his desire to team up with her and overcome her current difficulties was also just for the game's mission…
No, that's wrong! That's not it at all!
Asuna shook her head, her gaze shifting from confusion and uncertainty to growing resolve. As Yuu said, the answers she sought could only be found within herself.
Why did she want Yuu to hold her hand?
Because as Asuna, she loved that virtual world—and she loved him.
How did she feel now?
She wanted to borrow his courage to change, to cross the boundary between virtual and reality, to truly be with him, starting from… no, from zero.
And what did she want Yuu to be to her?
Husband and wife? Lovers?
Whatever the relationship, trying to define it now felt like an uncertain illusion, like a bubble ready to burst.
It was too short. The time Asuna had known him was too short. Though she did like Yuu, she couldn't say it outright.
Even so.
Asuna wanted to convey to Yuu the warm, surging feelings in her chest.
The sound of the rain softened.
She stopped, looked up, her small face and clear, bright eyes meeting his without fear.
"If I had to choose between liking or disliking, I choose dislike."
"But if I had to choose between you giving up or not, I hope you don't give up."
Saying this, Asuna suddenly smiled, her expression radiant, with a hint of overly cool confidence.
"Yuu-kun, this is my choice, one I'll never regret!"
"I want to be with you, learn more about you, complete all the game's missions with you, and see all the sights in that world with you!"
"I want to be with you… back in that little house, openly calling myself your wife."
Her pale cheeks flushed with a hint of red, she leaned her head against his shoulder, her voice soft and elegant, smiling as she said:
"As your online boyfriend, will you be with me?"
Yuu didn't hesitate at all.
"That's been my intention all along."
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving a reward: Network Technology (Expert Level).]
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving a reward: Heart Technique (Limited) (Status).]
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Heh~ So, Yuu-kun, you deliberately came to Ichiyo Gakujuku to be my classmate just to chase after me?"
Hearing Yuu's story of the day, Asuna spoke with surprise and a sigh, her beautiful brown eyes teasing him slightly.
"This approach is so touching. So, should I just become your boyfriend right away?"
Yuu only tugged the corner of his lips.
"Look at how smug you are. If I didn't chase you today, we might not have met this weekend."
Asuna was slightly taken aback. "Why? Was I in danger?"
"Didn't you notice your surroundings? I told you, there was someone sitting behind you…"
At some point, Yuu was holding the umbrella. The two walked hand in hand through the drizzling rain.
The night seemed to stretch to the ends of the world, the city's neon lights blinking steadily. A black sedan sped by on the nearby road, and the phone in the girl's bag silently flashed with a message notification.