Taking a girl's first kiss while hiding whether it was his own first kiss was, for Yuu, not difficult at all.
After all, everything would eventually be forgotten, so it was better to give Asuna a flawless, beautiful memory without needing to answer tough questions like who his first kiss was. It was like killing two or three birds with one stone.
Yuu thought he might be getting better at this, right? Not at kissing techniques, but mentally—slowly approaching the level of those seasoned romantics. When it came time to kiss, there'd be no hesitation in his heart.
Yet, recalling Asuna's probing gaze after his explanation, Yuu quietly made a decision.
—If the third mission involved another kissing scene, he'd pretend to be a kissing novice, just an innocent boy.
Even if lies were spoken sincerely, the truth would eventually come out, especially a flimsy lie like that one, which would only cause trouble.
After all, who trains their tongue during CPR?
When Yuu returned home, the scent of the girl on him had completely vanished, and he entered the house clean. The system-brand deodorizer was a must-have!
The timing was perfect too—just as his little sister came downstairs, bored of eating chips and preparing to rummage through the kitchen for something else.
"Sora, have you eaten the dinner in the fridge?"
Knowing he'd be home late, Yuu had filled the fridge with plenty of dishes that morning so Sora could heat them up when hungry.
Slowly descending, the silver-haired girl hugged a dolphin plushie, her small, fair, slender legs stepping onto the wooden floor. She glanced at him briefly.
"Finished it ages ago. Next time, make more—it wasn't enough at all."
"Your appetite's growing?" Yuu blinked in surprise, taking off his shoes and walking to her side.
"Don't move, let me check… Hmm, nice, you've put on a bit of weight."
"…"
Sora froze in shock, then her face flushed. She swatted away the hand pinching her soft, fair skin.
"W-What are you doing! Pervert!"
She stepped back, clutching her plushie, glaring at him with a mix of embarrassment and anger.
"Why's your reaction so dramatic?"
His fingers, still tingling from the soft touch, paused in the air. Yuu frowned slightly, not quite understanding her rejection.
"Relax, it's not much weight. I was just checking your growth… I'd actually be happier if you were a bit chubbier."
"St-Stupid, I'm not chubby! And that's not the point, okay?!"
"Then what is?"
"You really need to ask…" Sora gritted her silver teeth, glaring at him like an angry kitten with its fur standing on end, her gaze colder than the September breeze.
"You pinched the wrong spot! The arm doesn't show growth at all!"
"No, it does."
His large hand fell as if it were an indisputable fact, Yuu patted her head, then turned toward the kitchen.
"You're my little sister—don't I know your figure? There's an old saying: a single leaf signals autumn. Now, a single hand recognizes a sister. No need to overreact."
His tone, for some reason, was full of confidence and arrogance.
"…"
Sora stood frozen, seemingly at a loss for words, only able to stare at his retreating figure with a complex expression as he disappeared behind the door.
"Though I don't quite get what he's saying… Yuu, is the pressure from studying so intense that it broke his brain?"
After preparing a simple, nutritious salad for Sora and teasing the little gray cat, Yukinon, who hadn't appeared in a while, Yuu was about to head upstairs to his room.
But before he left, Sora suddenly called out to him with a blank expression. As punishment for coming home late, she demanded he "recharge her energy," hugging him to her heart's content, enjoying a rare warm sibling moment.
"So that's how girls recharge their energy… Turns out they prefer physical contact more than guys."
Leaning against the living room wall, recalling the classroom scene where Asuna held his hand and said she was "recharging energy~," Yuu couldn't help but mutter.
With most of her defenseless body pressed against him, Sora lifted her head from his chest, saying lazily and softly, "Stupid Yuu, I read this online. Don't misunderstand… Besides me, all other girls hate doing this."
"Your lie's too obvious, silly Sora," Yuu smiled, poking her forehead.
Seeming to enjoy this intimate behavior, Sora squinted comfortably, her nose rubbing against his clothes, more like a docile, soft little animal than the lively gray kitten bouncing on the sofa.
But Yuu knew deep down that his sister was taking the chance to check if he carried anyone else's scent—though unspoken, Sora was still curious why he came home later than usual today.
Every minute of delay meant a second of anxiety. Yuu couldn't feel it, but he'd once seen his sister cling to his bag, unwilling to let him go.
—So, when should he be honest with Sora about having a girlfriend?
Soon after, Yuu made a decision.
(This time, it's fine. As long as she doesn't know, there's no need to say anything.)
If he hadn't been too caught up in the moment, he wouldn't have voluntarily mentioned his relationship with that wealthy older woman. And the facts proved—though no one remembered it anymore—doing so only caused Sora unnecessary anxiety and a strange sense of rivalry.
Having gone through one heavy conversation, Yuu didn't want to repeat it, as it wouldn't bring any benefits.
"Yuu, from your tone earlier… Have you been recharged by another girl?"
Lost in thought about whether to tell her, Sora suddenly asked, her tone so calm it didn't hint at any danger. Instinctively, he answered, "Yeah…"
"Yeah?" Sora slowly inhaled.
"…Yeah, some wanted to, but I always refused." With barely a pause, Yuu said seriously, "Besides, I'm usually busy studying and coming home to look after you. Where would I find time to mess around with other girls?"
"They want me to recharge them, but who's recharging me? There's no one like that in Tokyo, and there won't be in Chiba either!"
This was perhaps the most resolute moment of his life.
"I see…"
Her silver hair draped over him, Sora stood on her tiptoes, so close it felt like a kiss was imminent, staring into his eyes expressionlessly.
Their breaths seemed to merge, the overlapping warmth dispelling the night's chill, the air so quiet a pin drop could be heard.
Moments later, she raised her arms, wrapping them around his neck, exhaling warm, sweet breath onto his face.
The expression in her bright eyes softened slightly, but her clear, fragile voice carried a hint of pleading.
"If there is someone, you have to tell me. Don't leave me at home, clueless."
Yuu: "…"
When someone important speaks even a single word, it can shake your heart.
At that moment, Yuu thought of many things but couldn't utter a single word.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
September 14, Sunday Morning.
The sky was exceptionally kind, stretching clear and bright. White clouds floated like cotton candy at the dome's peak, and a light jacket was enough to fend off the gentle autumn breeze. The leaves hadn't yet yellowed, traces of summer lingering.
Chiba Station remained bustling, even on a holiday, with no shortage of students and office workers pulling overtime. Curious yet cautious foreign tourists observed their surroundings everywhere, various life stories seemingly converging at the station.
Out of habit, Yuu arrived ten minutes early.
While waiting, he idly observed people.
It didn't take long. As he counted those entering the station—thirty-one men, twenty-two women, one unclear—Asuna appeared, looking around.
Spotting him, she broke into a wide smile, quickening her pace and half-running toward him.
Her long brown hair flowed in the air, clearly styled with care. Her makeup was minimal, accentuating her natural beauty. Today, she wore a cream-colored V-neck knit blouse paired with a white pleated skirt, her low-heeled British-style leather shoes clicking crisply on the floor.
Her slender legs were clad in spotless white stockings, their flawless snow-like sheen highlighting their graceful curves under the tight nylon, the fibers glinting in the light—catching Yuu's attention almost instantly.
Her elegant, beautiful face, full chest, and slim waist all paled next to those long legs in white stockings.
At that moment, Yuu suddenly realized—
Compared to the mature allure of a "big cat," he seemed to prefer the long, white-stockinged legs of a 17-year-old girl.
"Sorry, have you been waiting long?"
Asuna was slightly out of breath, supporting herself on her knees while looking up, as if expecting a certain answer, peeking at Yuu's expression.
Yuu shook his head seriously, his eyes on her face, though his peripheral vision had already memorized the visual data of her legs.
"No, you're right on time."
"?"
Tilting her head in confusion, Asuna quickly dismissed the small matter, naturally linking her arm with his, pressing soft, elastic things against him. Completely unbothered, she raised her other hand excitedly and shouted, "Next, to the cinema!"
The date schedule was decided together: first, a place she wanted to visit, then one he chose… continuing like this to gradually learn about each other's favorite things or places.
Asuna had long wanted to watch a certain movie, but her mother deemed it useless for studying, telling her to watch American dramas without subtitles to practice listening or something. Back then, she didn't dare disobey, so she reluctantly gave up.
Now, when she could finally watch it, the remake had just been released; and when the remake came out, she had someone she liked to watch it with. Such a string of coincidences could only be called a miracle.
Their everyday life was Asuna's little miracle.
"Yuu-kun!"
"What?"
"Nothing, just wanted to call your name~"
In front of the bright Chiba Station, the smitten couple set off toward the commercial district.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
After the movie, it was nearly noon. Following the crowd out of the cinema, Yuu glanced at his date beside him, muttering, "That mermaid was justice. I bet your weapon isn't a spear… Asuna, I didn't expect you to like movies like this."
"N-Not exactly like, it's just a childhood dream…"
Scratching her cheek shyly, Asuna seemed to want to defend herself, her small, fair hand waving in the air as she spoke hurriedly. "Besides, don't you think it's cool? Those uncles wielding spears for justice, fighting hordes of enemies, their gallantry in sacrifice, their courage in battle… Haah~"
She paused, suddenly sighing regretfully.
"I really want to fight alongside them for real."
"???" Yuu shot her a strange look.
"Asuna, have you been offline too long, so your hands are itchy?"
"Ah…" Asuna, startled, realized her slip, her fair face under her brown hair flushing slightly. She stammered, "I-I didn't…"
Lasting only a few seconds, she gave up, her shoulders slumping, her small lips pouting. "Fine, I'm itchy. But it's not like I'm violent! I just… miss the days of stabbing things with a sword in the game…"
Yuu smiled, not teasing her, instead changing the topic.
"Let's go eat lunch."
Yuu chose a Chinese restaurant he'd visited with Haruno, where the food was good—except for the spicy dishes. Due to the timeline reset, there'd be no amusing scene like {the waiter staring in shock, muttering inwardly that this guy's a playboy, bringing different but equally beautiful girls}.
Without being forced to eat spicy food or unnecessary teasing, Yuu had a quiet lunch with Asuna, then took her to a Kendo Experience Center.
Unlike a traditional kendo dojo, this place leaned toward entertainment and beginner guidance. The floor wasn't the usual dojo wood but protective padding over marble. The activities weren't limited to traditional kendo: one-handed swords, thin swords, rapiers, two-handed swords, meteor hammers… Various wooden and plastic weapons were available, and there was even a cosplay area with professional instructors teaching the coolest, most professional poses for photos—five hundred yen per shot.
Of course, if you weren't interested in photos or learning but wanted to feel the thrill of swinging a weapon and facing an opponent, there was a very safe duel project, whether with a friend or a coach.
After learning the necessary precautions from the instructor, Yuu picked up his protective gear, preparing to put it on.
Asuna tugged his arm, her eyes shining warmly like the morning sun, looking at him hesitantly. "Yuu-kun, did you… choose this place for our date on purpose, for me?"
Yuu thought for a moment, replying noncommittally, "If we like each other, whether it's for you or for myself, it's kind of the same, right?"
Silently mulling over his words, Asuna's slightly pursed lips slowly bloomed into a bright smile.
"You're right, after all, we…"
She didn't finish her sentence, instead planting a quiet kiss on the side of his face.