The "important business" in question, of course, was the plan to neutralize Kyouko, the archenemy, to ensure a happy ending to the story.
Naturally, though Yuu was very blunt, he wouldn't go so far as to say, "Your mom is our sworn enemy and must be dealt with immediately," in front of Asuna.
He only responded to Kyouko's demands with something like this:
"The first and second points are fine. A pure dating relationship and motivating each other in studies are good for us too."
"As for the third point, you can tell her this…"
Listening to Yuu speak calmly, Asuna, after a moment of surprise, slowly pressed her lips together, her expression serious to the point of stiffness. Only after he finished did she let out a soft sigh. "Is it because of these things that you're so much more mature than our peers?"
"Not really. As an older brother, how could my little sister feel safe if I weren't mature?"
After sharing the story of his parents' passing and raising his sister alone, Yuu shrugged indifferently, as if telling someone else's tale. "You don't need to pity me. I think my life's pretty happy—someone once said, let sadness stay in the past. What matters is how we live now."
"Mm, I'll only admire you, not pity you." Asuna nodded firmly, her gaze soft and bright as she looked at him, the corners of her lips curving into a slight smile. "Actually, I feel a bit grateful!"
"Grateful?" Yuu's eyes widened, visibly surprised.
Hearing about his parents' death, Asuna was happy about it… Even if he didn't like receiving pitying looks from her, she didn't need to rejoice in someone else's suffering, right?!
(I didn't expect Asuna to be like this…)
"Wait, don't misunderstand!"
Seeing his expression turn odd, Asuna froze for a moment, then quickly pushed her chair and stood, explaining frantically in front of the screen. "I mean, the fact that the person I like is so kind and reliable—that's what surprised and made me happy! I absolutely didn't mean to take joy in someone else's suffering!"
Her confession was so loud that if Yuu hadn't lowered the volume earlier, Sora in the next room might have overheard, prompting another family meeting.
"I know, I know… Calm down, Asuna. The girl I like isn't some dark-hearted person either."
Mimicking her words, Yuu naturally slipped in the word "like," comforting her with a hint of helplessness.
"Really? Truly?"
Leaning closer to the camera, Asuna puffed out her red cheeks, looking at him with a sad yet serious gaze. "Yuu-kun, before, I didn't care if others misunderstood me, but now, I don't want you, of all people, to misunderstand me."
"I already said I don't easily misunderstand others…"
Sighing and pressing his forehead, Yuu unleashed his ultimate move. His expression suddenly turned affectionate, and he leaned closer to Asuna's figure on the screen, gazing into her eyes with care. Then, with a magnetic voice, he said:
"Asuna, before, it didn't matter if others doubted me, but now… I don't want you, of all people, to doubt me."
Like a heater warming a body in winter, like a blanket tempting consciousness in the morning—just one short sentence carried such immense destructive power.
The sentence structure was the same, but the reaction it provoked was entirely different.
"Ah, mm, I understand… Thank you, Yuu-kun."
Replying in a soft, submissive tone, like a kitten suddenly calmed, Asuna obediently sat back in her chair. She didn't look at the screen, only turning her gaze away nonchalantly, her hands fidgeting restlessly under the table, her shoulders slightly hunched. Her entire body seemed shy, like a little girl holding in a need to use the bathroom but too embarrassed to go—except her beautiful face was so red and adorable.
"No problem, as long as you understand."
Seemingly satisfied with her reaction, Yuu leaned back in his chair, saying calmly, "Though our relationship in the real world is still a bit ambiguous, at least in the game, we're married. Giving you a little fanservice isn't an issue."
Hearing his smug tone, Asuna rolled her eyes, about to say something, but she suddenly giggled softly.
"Then I'll gratefully accept this fanservice~"
She extended her slender, fair fingers, poking Yuu's face on the screen, and sighed with a resigned yet playful tone.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"It seems I still don't know you well enough."
After the call ended, Asuna stretched vigorously, then slumped limply onto her desk.
"My first video call with a guy wasn't as serious as I imagined…"
Closing her eyes, recalling their hour-long conversation, the corners of her lips couldn't help but curve into a smile, a strange warmth filling her heart.
"Is this what having a boyfriend feels like?"
Hiding her smile behind her arm, she let out a satisfied sigh.
Though they hadn't officially transitioned from online boyfriend to real-world boyfriend, it was just a matter of terminology—or rather, a ceremonial difference. They'd already confessed their feelings to this extent; whether they were truly a couple didn't matter. As long as they knew how much they meant to each other, an extraordinary happiness could be created.
Loving someone was both so simple and so complex.
So complex that her present and future had changed because of him.
So simple that one sentence could sum up her feelings right now…
Thankfully, she met him.
"Just sighing and enjoying happiness won't do!"
Suddenly lifting her head, Asuna pressed her hands on the desk and stood, her bright, determined eyes staring forward.
"To become a girlfriend worthy of Yuu-kun, I have to work harder too!"
With this decision made, Asuna no longer hesitated. She pushed her chair and walked toward the door. In their nearly hour-long conversation, Yuu had told her two things.
First: Share his background, family situation, and part-time jobs—everything her mother wanted to know—without hiding or embellishing anything. Though it might backfire, making her mother think worse of Yuu, Asuna trusted that Yuu surely had a backup plan, so she planned to do the opposite.
Second: Next week, Sobu High School's Autumn Club Exhibition was happening, and Yuu asked Asuna to bring her mother there. During the event, Yuu would represent his club and use the opportunity to make her mother truly acknowledge his abilities and potential.
According to Yuu, the Autumn Club Exhibition would be the key to everything. If this couldn't convince her mother to drop Sugou, he'd have to resort to some less honorable tricks to make her change her mind…
Unfortunately, Yuu didn't elaborate on either the tricks or the club exhibition plans, refusing to explain as if wanting to surprise her. This left Asuna suppressing her curiosity, quietly pondering how she should act.
Both tasks sounded simple, but for Asuna, they required a certain courage to execute.
Leaving her room and descending the stairs, she walked through the dimly lit hallway toward her mother's study. Though it was late, her mother was usually preparing lessons or working in the study at this hour.
(Thoughts like "I'll do it tomorrow, at breakfast, in the most natural way" kept popping up.)
But clenching her fists, Asuna didn't retreat, stopping in front of the dark brown study door.
"If Yuu-kun doesn't shy away, I can't either!"
As if rediscovering her resolve and strength, Asuna pressed her lips together, raised her hand, and knocked.
"Mom, are you there? I need to talk to you."
Soon, a cold, calm voice came from inside: "Come in."
Asuna pushed the door and entered.
The study had no lights on, only a desk lamp illuminating one corner. Darkness enveloped the towering bookshelves and locked windows. Under the monotonous orange lamplight, Kyouko turned, pressing her forehead, and looked at her expressionlessly.
"What do you want to say?"
"I…"
The heavy air pressed on her heart, and Asuna bit her lip slightly, her body instinctively tensing. A chill crept up her spine. That sharp, indifferent gaze was like a puppeteer's piano strings, with just a slight tug, she'd instinctively dance to its tune, unable to resist.
But that was the past!
Asuna slowly puffed out her chest, took a deep breath, and relaxed, calmly meeting her mother's gaze.
"About Yuu-kun, I want to report to you."
Seeing her far more natural demeanor, Kyouko merely raised an eyebrow, seemingly unconcerned with her change. "This soon? I thought you'd delay it a few days. He seems very confident."
Clasping her hands gently in front of her, Asuna smiled slightly. "A capable person is naturally confident. If not, he wouldn't have dared say those things in front of you, right?"
"Not necessarily. Many people only have courage." Shrugging indifferently, Kyouko picked up the coffee on her desk, took a sip, and said flatly, "Go ahead, I'm listening. What did he tell you?"
"First…"
Her fingers twisted slightly, Asuna quietly took a deep breath, her heartbeat quickening, like a prisoner about to face trial. Fortunately, this level of tension was something she was used to. Compared to when her mother caught her playing games, this was just a heartwarming mother-daughter talk—no need to hesitate.
Most importantly, she'd learned one thing from Yuu.
Believe in yourself, face it bravely—no matter how frightening the view ahead, as long as it was a choice she stood by, she had to move forward resolutely to avoid future regrets and emptiness. If so, there was no room for fear. For her own future happiness, she'd speak honestly with her mother this time!
"Yuu-kun's parents died in a plane crash during their honeymoon, leaving just him and his sister."
Kyouko: "…"
"Though he was only a middle school student then, he refused all help from relatives, kept their inheritance and accident insurance money in the bank for insurance and tuition, and covered other expenses with part-time jobs—a practice he continues to this day."
Kyouko took a deep breath. "If that's not a lie, then this kid is trying to gain my sympathy…"
"That's not it!" For the first time, Asuna interrupted her, saying firmly, "Can you let me finish?"
"…"
Kyouko crossed her arms, frowning and staring at her, her gaze sharp as a small knife. But a thin sword was unsheathed, lightly and deftly parrying the knife, emitting a cold glint and aiming straight ahead.
"…Go on."
Kyouko slightly closed her eyes, listening calmly.
Asuna continued: "Since middle school, Yuu-kun never let his sister lack material needs, always providing the best living environment, even working three jobs at once for it… Delivering newspapers, waiting tables, handing out flyers—he took on all sorts of manual labor. These part-time experiences also exposed him to society early, making him far more mature than his peers."
"Until he earned a stable, high income with his own skills, he temporarily stopped working part-time and focused on studying."
"Before that, his grades fluctuated around the upper middle. After that, he easily reached third place in his grade and passed Ichiyo Gakujuku's transfer student exam, just to find me after I suddenly vanished from the game."
Each word rang clearly in the study, as if trying to break the frozen silence.
Asuna paused, then continued:
"Mom, that's the information you wanted to know."
"Yuu-kun doesn't come from a prominent family or hold a position like a tech company department head… He's just an ordinary person slowly climbing the ladder from an ordinary family, just like you."
"But I believe no one can give me more happiness than him."
"He's resilient, mature, principled, family-oriented, with learning ability and self-control far beyond mine… Most importantly, we love each other and are willing to sacrifice for one another."
Suddenly stepping forward, Asuna took a step closer.
"After hearing all this and recalling why you married Dad—Mom, are you sure you still want to oppose our relationship?"
Staring sharply at her mother before her, Asuna seemed to cut the strings binding her, appearing cheerful and free, the corners of her lips faintly curving into a confident smile.
"…"
As if cornered, Kyouko fell silent. The unexpected words and increasingly firm attitude were things she'd never felt from her daughter.
Though she'd defeated competitors with ruthless political tactics and relentless arguments, becoming a full professor in her thirties with her abilities, for a moment, Kyouko didn't know what stance or argument to use to counter her daughter's words.
But in just a few brief seconds, her beautiful, cold face showed no hesitation. She raised an eyebrow and met Asuna's gaze.
"I admit, if there were no requirements, someone like him might be the best match for you… Reliable enough and malleable. If nurtured well, he could have great prospects in the future."
Asuna's expression instantly brightened, but in the next second, she heard the word she hated.
"But."
Kyouko narrowed her eyes, speaking in a tone that brooked no argument:
"First, if you have children in the future, can he guarantee, without a family company or any background support, that he can take care of your family alone?"
"Don't tell me you're dating just for fleeting fun, without thinking about the future."
"Then, what I want to see is real achievements and work from him, like a pedigree certificate for a pet, to guarantee his minimum worth."
"Many can rank in the top three in high school, but even more fall into mediocrity after graduation. Can he ensure he'll maintain his current drive? Has he found a career direction?"
"For an outstanding man, at 17, besides studying, he can do many things—if he thinks good grades alone mean he can coast until university results, there's a high chance he'll become just another highly educated white-collar worker in the future."
Without pausing, she delivered the entire long paragraph without catching her breath. Kyouko slightly closed her eyes, letting out a cold snort.
"Someone with only talent and a forward-looking gaze—I can't entrust my daughter's future to such a person."
"On the other hand, with the qualifications of a department head and talent recognized by your father… Don't you think Nobuyuki is more reliable?"
As she finished, Kyouko lifted the corner of her thin lips, giving a rare smile.
"…"
But in front of her mother. In front of the mother she'd only ever obeyed and never dared defy since childhood.
Unable to contain the emotions nearly bursting in her heart, Asuna rolled her eyes sharply, gritted her teeth, and said each word clearly:
"Sorry, ABSOLUTELY! NOT!"