"Huh, so there was a new video, and it already has a ton of views… To miss out on this wave, this Yoshiteru, a lifetime of blunders!"
The story once again rewinds to the previous night.
"Oh, ohh? What's this movement…? There are still so many amazing people in the world… But for a woman to move like this, it must be on the level of the rumored Asuna-san…"
"What are you muttering about, Zaimokuza-kun?"
"Whoa, B-Boss!"
"What? Are you watching another perverted video?"
"S-such a thing! I have never watched such a thing at work!"
"At work, you say."
Halting Yoshiteru, who was about to protest, Haruno peered at the video.
"Hmm? Hmmmmmm… Yoshiteru-kun, show me this video from the beginning."
"Ah, yes. Is Boss interested in this video?"
"More than interest, there's something that's bothering me a little. Just a moment, Zaimokuza-kun. Oh, Argo-chan, come here for a sec."
Haruno paused the video and called Argo.
"What is it, Boss?"
"I want you to take a look at this video."
"Video?"
"Yoshiteru-kun, play it."
"Y-yes."
When the video finished, Haruno asked Argo for her thoughts.
"Argo-chan, what did you think?"
"Nothing to think about, A-chan is amazing as always."
"Ah, I thought so!"
"W-w-what?! It was her?!"
Argo made the assertion nonchalantly.
"So, that's obviously Haa-bou, and that's Soubi, right? And the little one over there is probably Komatchi, and the remaining two are strangers."
"Hmph, that guy, he's gathered more women to his entourage… How infuriatingly enviable!"
"I see… Thank you. Yoshiteru-kun, save this video and give it to me."
"Understood. But what are you going to use it for?"
"That's obvious, kufufufufufu."
Seeing Haruno's expression, Yoshiteru, convinced she was plotting something mischievous, apologized to Hachiman in his heart.
(Sorry, Hachiman, I know it's bad, but salarymen can't defy their superiors… Besides, may all normies explode!)
The story then returns to the present. As the six of them—Hachiman and his companions—savored the exquisite taste of the cake and relaxed with after-dinner tea, it suddenly happened. The lights in the restaurant dimmed, and a projector screen descended from the ceiling.
"W-what is it?"
Then, abruptly, an image appeared on the screen. The first screen displayed the words: "Directed by Haruno Yukinoshita."
"Eh…? Haru-Nee-san?"
"I only have a bad feeling about this…"
Next, with a BGM, an image of Hachiman holding a Japanese sword and Asuna gazing intently at it was projected.
"Ah, this is that video from when we went to Haru-Nee-san's house and she let me swing the decorative Japanese sword, isn't it?"
"She secretly recorded it…"
And then, the narration began.
≪To protect the girl he loved, the boy who took up the sword triumphed over the boss, and with his beloved girl, he set off on a journey.≫
Then, the screen showed Hachiman and Asuna getting into Kit.
"Wait, that's just a video of them getting into a car…"
≪After a long wandering, the two arrived at a certain planet. That planet was a world of guns, where swords were useless.≫
"Where are you, idiot sister?! How do you get to another planet by car?!"
"Hachiman-kun, n-now, calm down."
≪On that planet, the boy gained new comrades.≫
"Tobe and I are also comrades who fought alongside Hikitani."
"Ah, this is the reunion video!"
"Come to think of it, he did say he was recording at the time…"
≪But those two were killed by this man.≫
Then, an X appeared over the faces of Hayama and Tobe on the screen, and a close-up of Xexceed's face was shown.
"Huh?"
"Why is there footage of Xexceed…?"
≪However, the boy did not despair and met new comrades once again.≫
Then, the screen showed footage from the previous night, when they confronted Xexceed and his group.
"…Eh?"
"Hey, why does this footage exist?"
"Come to think of it, I felt like a few people were recording at the time."
"Seriously, Konko…"
"Don't call me Konko!"
"You… does that have anything to do with combat? If you're a man, show your strength!"
"Gyahahahaha, sore loser, Shana?"
"I won't allow it a second time."
≪The boy, recalling when his comrades were killed before, said this. But his archenemy, Xexceed, provoked Shana with an air of composure.≫
"Shana, it's sad not to be popular with women, isn't it?"
"Hey Xexceed, you've really annoyed me. I'm going to utterly crush you."
≪And so, in this disadvantageous situation, just as the battle was about to begin, their former comrades… Hmm, Argo-chan, can't we twist this a bit more? It makes Hachiman-kun sound like he's complaining about not being popular, doesn't it?≫
≪Fundamentally, the source material is lacking, Boss.≫
≪Hmm, well, whatever, it's a pain, so no editing from now on!≫
≪Die, normies!≫
"…Um."
"So Argo and Zaimokuza were involved too…"
Then the video began playing normally from the point where Shizuka and the others leaped out of the building.
"Nice to meet you. I am Shizuka. His other half, who shares an eternal destiny with him."
Asuna, witnessing her own embarrassing self, suddenly shrieked.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
And the moment Shizuka placed her hand on Shana's face, the video cut out.
"Hmm, wasn't it supposed to be unedited?"
≪This scene is problematic for educational purposes and cannot be shown. Besides, showing such stimulating footage to a single person like me…≫
"That's just a complaint!"
"Hey, Nee-san, isn't this the crucial part?!"
"Asuna, I understand how you feel, but calm down."
"That's right, Asuna, calm down."
"Hey Shino, you're talking like it's someone else's problem, but I think it's your turn next."
And true to his words, Sinon's figure was then projected.
"As Shizuka just said, I too am one who shares destiny with him."
"Aaaahhh, n-no, it's not like that! It doesn't mean that!
"I know, you were just matching Asuna, right? I won't misunderstand, so don't worry."
"Hey, you, why aren't you misunderstanding? Don't mess with me!"
"Eh, ehhh… why are you suddenly getting angry…? I don't understand."
Next to be shown were Benkei and Rosalia, but naturally, the two were unperturbed.
"We're fine, aren't we, Soubi-san?"
"Yes, I suppose this is the result of our daily conduct."
To Soubi's relaxed words, Elsa spoke in an icy, chilling voice.
"Soubi-chan, I have something very important to discuss. Shall we pick? We shall pick. When we pick, we shall pick."
"W-wait… Elsa, what on earth…"
"I'll help you with your diet, so don't move from there."
"N-no, that wasn't intentional, it was hard to cross my hands over my chest…"
But Soubi's words, of course, only added fuel to the fire.
"Tch, I'll definitely kill you."
"H-hup…"
Just as Elsa's rage seemed to reach its peak at Soubi emphasizing her chest, the monitor showed Shana pulling Pitohui close. Pitohui frantically took out her smartphone and filmed a close-up of herself being embraced by Shana.
"Hey Elsa, what are you… no, never mind…"
Hachiman, seeing Elsa panting heavily, decided not to say anything further. Soubi was genuinely relieved that she might be able to gloss over the matter of her chest. And in the video, Shizuka finally drew her sword.
"Ah, Onee-chan, I wondered how you did it, but you actually secretly operated the console with your free left hand, didn't you?"
"Ah, was it found out? Seeing it on video, it really becomes obvious, doesn't it?"
"But you're amazing, Onee-chan, I could never do that!"
"Asuna is skillful, isn't she?"
"She's moving."
The moment Soubi said that, Shizuka's figure vanished from the screen.
" " " " "Huh?" " " " "
"You guys calm down. The person filming couldn't keep up with her eyes, and Asuna just moved off-screen."
"No, even so, Big Brother."
"Even though they were filming quite far back."
"What kind of speed is that?"
"Eheheh."
Asuna replied with a blush at the words. And the next moment, the video rewound, and slow-motion playback began.
"How kind of them. And what happened to 'no editing'?"
"Perhaps even Boss couldn't see Asuna either."
"Even the Demon King can't see her? That's amazing!"
"This is it, she's coming."
The six of them watched the screen intently. But still, Asuna's figure was nowhere to be seen.
"…"
"Huh?"
"I can't see her…"
"I can't see her…"
"Ah, the screen's going back again, and now it's frame-by-frame!"
The video rewound just a little, then frame-by-frame playback began. As expected, Asuna's figure was perfectly captured in the frame. Only for one frame, however…
"Um, she's only in one frame."
"But the footage is blurry…"
"Eheheh."
To the blushing Asuna, Shino said with an exasperated look.
"Hey Asuna, you were a monster, weren't you…?"
"Oh, Shinonon, that's too much praise…"
"I'm not praising you!?"
Then, the screen showed Shizuka pointing her sword at Xexceed. The cameraman seemed to have finally understood what had happened and directed the camera towards her. And as Shizuka cornered Xexceed again and again, the four of them grew excited.
"Truly Princess Shizuka, amazing…"
"So beautiful…"
"As expected, our Onee-chan is the strongest!"
"I'm definitely becoming Asuna's daughter!"
"Hey Pito, you don't even know what you're saying anymore…"
And finally, the moment Shizuka put away her dagger, Shana suddenly appeared.
" " " " "Huh?" " " " "
"Why is Hachiman-kun surprised too…?"
"No, I was a little surprised that it looks like this on video…"
"Well, that's true. But in that case, I bet frame-by-frame will start soon."
True to Asuna's words, frame-by-frame footage was immediately displayed. Shana's figure was clearly visible there… for only one frame.
"Another single frame…"
"Hachiman, you were a monster too, weren't you…?"
"Oh, Shinonon, that's too much praise…"
"Hachiman-kun, don't imitate me!"
"When you call me Shinonon, it feels incredibly unnatural…"
And there the video ended, and then the uncut version began to play. Watching the video, it was clear that Shana had completely snapped the moment Pitohui was insulted, and everyone applauded when he pulled Pitohui into an embrace.
"Hachiman-kun, good for you!"
"Big Brother, you did well!"
"You really are kind, aren't you?"
"How nice… Wait, I'm not jealous at all!? I'm just commenting on his commitment to his comrades!"
"Shino, I don't understand what you're saying. Just calm down for now."
And finally, Elsa, with teary eyes, said to Hachiman.
"Hachiman, thank you for getting angry for me!"
"Well, it's only natural."
Then the video ended, and the restaurant lights brightened. Immediately, applause was heard, and Yoruko and Yuu walked towards Hachiman and his companions.
"Well, what can I say, as expected, Hachiman-san, Asuna-san."
"You were watching…"
Beside Hachiman, Asuna shyly covered her cheeks and muttered "Oh, no, no."
"Hachiman-san, Haruno-san asked me to give you this."
Yu said, handing him a Blu-ray disc, presumably containing the recorded footage.
"By the way, Haruno-san said that, then left as if fleeing."
"Damn it, I knew something was off when I couldn't sense her, so she'd already made her escape, huh…"
"Haha, but we were shown something truly wonderful. As expected, Hachiman-san, you really cherish your comrades."
Hachiman showed a bashful expression at those words and was thoroughly teased by the other five, a sight that Yoruko and Yuu happily observed.
"Well then, Hachiman-san, Asuna-san, and everyone, please come again anytime."
"It was truly a pleasure to meet you today."
"The pleasure was ours as well, meeting you."
"May you both be happy."
" " " " "Thank you for the meal!" " " " "
Thus, despite the unexpected surprise, the six of them deepened their bonds even further. And a few days later, Hachiman, Asuna, Shouzo, Kyoko, Haruno, and Kikuoka, the six of them, departed for Kyoto by Shinkansen to head to the Yuuki main family residence.
Meanwhile, at the same time, Yuko and Haruka were watching the BoB finals footage together.
"Completely…"
"Cut in half, huh…"
And for the first time, the two of them witnessed Shana's serious combat with their own eyes.
"Whoa…"
"That's intense…"
"We have to win against this person…"
"No matter how you look at it, isn't it impossible?"
"U-un… but we have no choice but to try, right…?"
"Right…"
The reckless battle of the clumsy duo continues.
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