Chapter 5: Is Asuna Sneaky?
Hachiman sat up straight in a formal kneeling position, desperately trying to understand how things ended up like this.
'No matter how you look at it, being alone in a room with a girl... That's just too high-difficulty for me... Wait, no, why did it turn out like this?ʼ
"Asuna-san."
"Ah, yes!"
Seeing Hachiman trembling nervously, Asuna gave a wry smile and continued:
"Though I really appreciate you rescuing me from that chaos, isn't suddenly bringing a girl into a hotel room kind of a problem?"
"Y-you're right... I reflect on my actions..."
"But this place does look safe, and given the situation, there really was no choice. Plus, you taught me a lot and encouraged me, so..."
Asuna suddenly showed a proud expression and said:
"I'll let it go just this once."
"That's so sneaky..."
Hachiman reflexively responded with his usual snark but then immediately froze up: Crap!
Seeing him like that, Asuna puffed her cheeks and said:
"I'm not sneaky at all~"
"Pfft."
The two of them locked eyes and burst out laughing.
After laughing for a bit, Hachiman stood up and said:
"Anyway, let's take turns bathing. I already changed the room settings so only party members can open the door."
"Right. There's still a lot to discuss, and we'll probably face more tough situations, but a lot happened today, so let's calm down first."
"Then you go ahead and bathe first."
"Okay, I'll go first then."
Just as Asuna was heading toward the bathroom, she suddenly turned back as if remembering something:
"You know what'll happen if you peek, right?"
"I don't have that kind of courage!"
"Good."
Asuna finally entered the bathroom, and Hachiman was finally able to calm down and think. About Kayaba, the death game, Asuna, and the people they might never see again.
'Anyway, I need to aim for clearing the game. The issue now is Asuna. She definitely has potential, but in a life-threatening situation like this, keeping a safety buffer and protecting myself as a mid-tier player is the wiser move. First, I need to get her through the first floor and have her learn the martial arts skill—that'll raise her combat ability across the board.ʼ
At that moment—
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh—!!"
A sudden scream came from the bathroom, and Hachiman instantly froze.
'Scared the hell out of me... But if she can relax like that, that's good. That's what's important right now.ʼ
As Hachiman let out a breath of relief, a knock—"knock knock knock"—sounded at the door. He walked over and asked:
"Argo?"
"Yo, Hachi! What's with that message? I couldn't understand a word of it! That was borderline sexual harassment, you know? I should sue you."
"N-no, but you found your way here just fine... And I'm really sorry, okay?"
"Well, since you looked so pitiful, I'll let it slide. Anyway, can I come in?"
"Ah, opening it now."
When he opened the door, Argo, with her face painted as usual, was standing there.
He led her to the couch and asked what was bothering him most:
"About that face paint—how did you get that on? You had it on right after the incident, right?"
"Hachi, you're so rude. This is a girl's secret, you know~"
"Amazing... A girl's secrets are full of wonders."
Argo asked in return:
"Speaking of girl stuff, how's that rapier-user girl?"
"Eh? What girl?"
"Uh, weren't you just running like crazy holding hands with a girl?"
"How do you know it was a girl?"
"I'm an information broker. I can tell gender with just a glance."
'Not good. I need to explain this properly to avoid a misunderstanding.ʼ
"Ah, that was..."
Hachiman glanced nervously toward the bathroom. Argo caught this subtle motion instantly, dashed toward the bathroom, and yanked the door open before Hachiman could stop her:
"Good evening, Miss Rapier-...ah!"
Hachiman looked up in panic and saw Asuna standing behind a frozen Argo.
She wasn't naked, but some parts that should've remained unseen were completely visible to him.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!!"
With a scream, Argo hurriedly shut the door.
Hachiman said to her:
"Hey... Argo."
"What is it, Hachi?"
"Th... Thank you?"
"...Hachi."
A few minutes later, a completely red-faced Asuna came out of the bathroom. Hachiman and Argo sat up straight without needing to be told.
"First of all, Hachiman-kun."
"Ah, yes!"
'How many times have I heard this kind of line...? Garbage-kun is garbage as always, huh, Komachi...ʼ
"What did you see?"
"Th... Thank you?"
Asuna's face turned bright red, and she glared at him with terrifying intensity:
"I'm truly sorry..."
"Can you forget everything you just saw?"
"Yes..."
Asuna closed her eyes for a moment in thought, then turned to Argo and introduced herself:
"Nice to meet you. I'm Asuna."
"I'm Argo, the information broker. Looking forward to working with you, little Asu~"
Asuna responded with confusion:
"Little Asu?"
"Asuna becomes 'Asu'—simple, right? And Hachiman becomes 'Hachi'!"
"I... I see. So why are you here?"
"Ah, I contacted her when we escaped. We need information now."
"I see."
Asuna nodded in agreement at Hachiman's explanation.
"What's the situation outside?"
"That info costs 100 Cor, but I'll give it to you for free today. The situation's a mess—total chaos outside. Lots of people died. I think the confusion will continue for at least a week."
Hearing that people had died, Hachiman whispered heavily:
"I thought so... But why would Mr. Kayaba...?"
"Mr. Kayaba? Kayaba Akihiko? You know him, Hachi?"
Argo latched onto the key phrase sharply. Hachiman cursed inwardly and continued with a calm expression:
"Ah, I mentioned before that I worked part-time during the beta test, right? I got to know him then—was kind of close. But I never thought he'd do something like this... Though, there were signs."
"Signs?"
"Yeah. He, like me, was chasing after something real. He once said he wanted to use this game to achieve something truly..."
Suddenly, Asuna jumped up in agitation:
"I don't understand at all! What's 'real'? Just for something like that, we have to go through all this pain!?"
"Calm down. It's just something we talked about—I don't fully understand either."
Asuna reluctantly sat down again.
"Well, what's done is done. What are you two planning to do next?"
"I plan to clear the game. But since this is about survival, I'm not going to act recklessly."
Argo squinted at him and said:
"Really? The way you were running around holding little Asu's hand didn't look like someone playing it safe~"
"T-that's because... I thought she was a guy at first, and my little sister always told me to take responsibility..."
"What a good little sister."
"Yeah, my sister Komachi is the most adorable little sister in the world!"
"Little sister complex!?"
Asuna, who had been silent, suddenly chimed in.
"O-of course! We're the awesome Chiba siblings!"
"Chiba... huh?"
Argo brought the topic back on track:
"So, what's little Asu planning to do?"
"I... want to think a bit more."
"Yeah, makes sense. Things are happening too fast for a newbie like you."
Hachiman nodded and reassured her:
"No matter what, I'll support you. That's also the philosophy of our club."
"Club?"
"The Service Club."
"Service Club? Is that something... naughty?"
"Absolutely not! To quote our president: 'We don't give people fish when they're hungry—we teach them to fish.'"
Both girls nodded in understanding:
"Ah, I see. That's more proper than I expected."
"Yeah, impressive."
"Th-thank you... That makes me a little happy."
Hachiman felt his cheeks flush.
"Let's keep sharing information. For now, let's break up."
"I'll head back. Hachi, don't you dare try anything on little Asu while I'm gone."
"There's an anti-harassment system. Even just looking too long might get a solo player like me arrested... By the way, you're a girl too, so why not stay here? It's dangerous out there."
"Hachi, you really don't sound like a solo player anymore. Anyway, I've already found a hotel. Bye-bye~"
"I see. Later, then."
"Goodbye, Argo-san."
After saying their farewells, Asuna and Argo registered each other as friends.
"Hachiman-kun, let's be friends too—it'll be easier to contact each other."
Hearing the word "friend," Hachiman's heart trembled violently, but he convinced himself it was a necessary procedure, took a deep breath, and accepted the request.
"Looking forward to working with you, Asuna-san."
"Yes, likewise, Hachiman-kun."
After that polite exchange, Hachiman suddenly said:
"Then I'll go look for a hotel. Let's contact each other tomorrow."
"Eh? You're not staying here?"
"That wouldn't be right, would it?"
"Hmph~ Thinking weird things again? There's an anti-harassment system, so nothing will happen."
"Still, a boy and girl alone during puberty..."
"We can just divide the room with a screen. It's a little embarrassing, but it'll be fine. And besides, I'd feel bad kicking you out. It's too dangerous outside."
Hachiman thought for a moment, saw the logic in it, and agreed.
"Alright... Then I'll accept your kindness. I'll sleep on the sofa—Asuna can have the bed."
"Thanks. Oh, and since Argo calls me by my name, you can call me Asuna too."
"You're using honorifics too, though."
"It's different for boys and girls!"
"Ha~ Got it... A-Asuna."
"Mm! Hachiman-kun!"
"I'll go bathe now. You can sleep first."
"Okay. Good night."
"Ah, good night."
As he soaked in the bath, recalling all the uncharacteristic things he'd done today, Hachiman was so overwhelmed he almost fainted.