049 The Princess in the White Castle
After a while, Yuuki Asuna finally snapped back to her senses, suddenly realizing that peeking at someone like this was impolite. She quickly cleared her throat twice and said, feigning nonchalance.
"Cough cough, Iwanaga Kotoko just emailed me. It turns out she also lives in Tokyo. She sent me her address and said that if we are free tonight, we can go to her place to meet."
"Go to her place... She's showing sincerity."
Hearing Asagiri's words, Yuuki Asuna nodded. Asagiri had already said that for Players, there must be an absolutely safe and hidden location to serve as a base when entering dungeons.
Iwanaga Kotoko did not say she would come to find them, but instead actively sent her home address. This action was enough to show her sincerity.
"That..."
Yuuki Asuna walked to the sofa, hesitated slightly, and then sat down next to Asagiri.
She raised her hand to tuck her long hair behind her ear and spoke softly.
"Iwanaga Kotoko, this person, should be trustworthy, right? Her talent determines that she's not suitable to be a lone wolf Player, and... didn't she also say? She fell in love with you at first sight."
"I already told you, that doesn't work on me."
Asagiri picked up the can of Coca-Cola from the coffee table, drank it in one gulp, and then smiled and asked in return.
"Asuna Yuuki, what do you think the behavior of liking someone is like?"
"This..."
Yuuki Asuna was a little unsure how to answer, as the question Asagiri posed had touched upon her blind spot of knowledge.
She had never been in love either.
"If I were to believe she truly liked me just by saying a few words, then I would be too foolish."
"That's true. You're not the type to be moved when a cute girl actively approaches you."
"Of course."
Asagiri said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Liking someone will definitely show in their actions, not just words, right?"
Yuuki Asuna nodded: "Right."
"For example, when everyone else is staying away from that person, you actively approach them."
Yuuki Asuna nodded obediently again: "Yes, if you like someone, you will definitely actively approach them."
"Another example, summoning the courage to actively ask for their contact information."
Yuuki Asuna was slightly surprised: "Huh? You know so much? Could it be... you've been in love before?"
Asagiri waved his hand, not answering Yuuki Asuna's question, but continued to smile and say.
"Don't interrupt yet. Another example, going to that person's house and actively cooking for them. That's definitely liking, right?"
Yuuki Asuna nodded and replied subconsciously.
"Definitely. If you're running to someone else's house and actively cooking for them, what else could that be besides liking... Huh?"
When she said this, Yuuki Asuna noticed Asagiri staring at her with interest and finally realized. Her pretty face instantly flushed red, and she couldn't help but pick up the sofa cushion next to her and gently patted Asagiri, saying with a mix of shyness and anger.
"You... you... you set me up!"
"I didn't, did I? Didn't you agree with my opinion yourself?"
"You..."
Yuuki Asuna was momentarily speechless, almost turning into a steam engine from embarrassment.
Thinking about it carefully, wasn't that exactly what it was?
What about actively approaching when others are staying away, what about actively asking for contact information, what about cooking...
Weren't these all descriptions of her own actions?
"I... I'm going to sleep!"
Yuuki Asuna couldn't look Asagiri directly in the face. She stood up and ran into the guest room, locking the door from the inside.
Then, she leaned her back against the door, raised her hand to gently stroke her chest, feeling the increasingly intense flutter from her fingertips, and murmured to herself.
"I... So, so I don't actually dislike Iwanaga Kotoko... So... that feeling, is that what they call jealousy...?"
........
That evening, in Tokyo.
"No... this... this is Iwanaga Kotoko's house?"
Yuuki Asuna and Asagiri got out of the taxi together and stared at the castle-like mansion before them, both a little dumbfounded.
Her family was also very wealthy, and the villa she originally lived in with her parents was undoubtedly a mansion in the eyes of ordinary people.
However, compared to the white castle in front of her, it seemed a bit shabby.
And this was still within the Tokyo city area!
To build such an extremely luxurious independent castle in the Tokyo city area, with no other buildings within a few kilometers, just how exaggerated was the scale of Iwanaga Kotoko's family wealth?
"Please come in, the young lady is waiting for you inside."
Led by a young woman in a maid outfit, Asagiri and Yuuki Asuna walked towards the white castle before them.
"Iwanaga's house... is ridiculously big..."
Hearing Yuuki Asuna's hushed words, Asagiri said calmly.
"If I hadn't obtained that item, I wouldn't be meeting her here."
Yuuki Asuna was slightly stunned at first, but then immediately realized that "that item" Asagiri was referring to was the Hourglass of Reversal.
"You... think Iwanaga might have set up an ambush for us here in advance?"
"The possibility is small, but not zero. After all, I can't fully trust her yet. What if she actually knows the hidden rule that killing other Players and taking their phones allows for a random draw of an item or piece of equipment from them, and deliberately arranged to meet us here after we cleared the dungeon, and then found someone to kill us? Then everything would be over."
After saying this, Asagiri then whispered.
"However, Iwanaga Kotoko not only has a very powerful exclusive talent, but her mindset, intelligence, judgment, and various abilities all meet our standards for selecting teammates. Taking the risk of using that item to verify whether she is trustworthy, I believe this is acceptable."
"You are truly cautious."
Yuuki Asuna sighed slightly, her expression complex.
"It seems the only person you will absolutely trust is yourself..."
"No, two."
Asagiri interrupted Yuuki Asuna's words and said with a slight smile.
"I trust myself, and I trust Yuuki Asuna just as I trust myself."