After school, Hiro didn't join a suitable club like the other classmates and instead headed straight for the school gate.
"Nanamiya-kun."
To his surprise, Asuna-the only daughter of the Yuuki Conglomerate (he still wasn't clear about her sister)-had chosen to walk home just like him, an ordinary person.
Speaking of which, there were rumors online that Asuna was actually a hidden, huge-boobed beauty.
Hiro stopped for half a beat. His gaze subtly swept across Asuna's chest, and he muttered inwardly.
"Isn't the Yuuki family a famous major conglomerate? Why does a young lady like you still walk home?" Walking side by side, Hiro looked at Asuna on his right and asked, a little puzzled.
"A famous conglomerate... that's a bit of an exaggeration, isn't it?" Asuna replied, her expression slightly unnatural.
"Originally, my mother said she'd have the driver pick me up from school. But for some reason, my father rarely rejected my mother's proposal and even had a big argument over such a small matter."
Perhaps recalling something, Asuna's eyes dimmed slightly as she spoke.
Mother agreed. Father refused. And they even argued fiercely over the simple matter of commuting.
Was it really necessary?
Hearing her explanation, Hiro felt puzzled as well.
Still, seeing the expression on the girl beside him, he naturally wouldn't remain indifferent.
"Your uncle's considerations are definitely deeper than ours. Yuuki... don't overthink it," Hiro said softly, trying to comfort her.
"Yeah." Asuna nodded, and her expression eased a little.
"Before, I asked my father why he'd argue with my mother over something so small. His answers were all perfunctory-things like 'you don't understand,' 'you don't need to think so much,' and 'this is for your own good.'"
"Not only that, he also rejected my mother's request for me to transfer schools. He insisted that I attend Kuoh Academy, even though it's just a very ordinary high school. His insistence is completely inexplicable."
Perhaps because she'd never had anyone to confide in before, once Hiro comforted her, Asuna immediately began pouring everything out.
Hiro listened quietly, his thoughts turning over.
Deliberately sending Asuna to Kuoh Academy. Not allowing a driver to pick her up or drop her off.
Was it to let her interact more with her classmates? If so, why not just say it directly?
Why stay so vague and refuse to explain? Unless there was some hidden reason...
Could it be that Yuuki Shouzou had somehow learned about devils, Maous, Gremory, Sitri, and things like that?
The terrifying thought made the corner of Hiro's mouth twitch slightly, countless retorts bubbling up from nowhere.
"Your family has its own difficulties too," Hiro said softly after listening, a trace of empathy on his face.
Of course, his own situation was a little different from the Yuuki family's.
Because the one facing difficulties now was only him. In every sense.
"Hm? From what Nanamiya-kun said, it sounds like your family also has some special circumstances?" Asuna tilted her head slightly, a mischievous smile appearing that didn't quite match her young lady image.
"Tell me about it. Otherwise, it's too unfair if I'm the only one revealing my family situation~~"
"Well... it's nothing important. It doesn't really matter if I tell you. Let's just treat it as a secret exchange."
Looking at her mischievous expression, Hiro smiled helplessly.
"Mmm-hmm!"
Asuna nodded, anticipation flickering in her eyes.
"Watch the road. Watch the road."
Hiro gently turned her head forward, his right hand resting briefly on the back of her head, and began to speak in an unhurried tone.
"My mother got pregnant at sixteen, during her first year of high school, and gave birth to me. Because of that, she severed ties with her parents. She only has one younger sister, and they barely keep in touch."
"My father passed away for some inexplicable reason before I was even born."
"When I was little, my mother had to take care of me while working part-time to earn money and pay rent. Working from dawn to dusk was normal. Things only improved when I was three, after my mother used her phone to send out the first draft of my novel."
"Five years ago, my aunt's husband passed away unexpectedly, leaving her with an only daughter. After my mother found out, she brought me to live with my aunt's family."
"I'm fifteen this year. My twelve-year-old cousin is already in middle school. She often pesters me to shower together. My mother and aunt are also very casual at home-completely unguarded-and don't consider my feelings at all."
Thinking of the occasional "benefits" his mother and aunt unintentionally released, along with his cousin Kirigaya Suguha's sudden "raids," Hiro rubbed his temples with a headache.
It was then that he heard it.
Munching sounds.
From the alley ahead, like a carnivore feeding.
"Nanamiya-kun... you've had it tough too," Asuna said softly, emotion in her eyes and a hint of shared hardship in her voice.
As for the disturbance not far away, the ordinary human Asuna noticed nothing at all.
But Hiro did.
Looking at the alley corner a few meters ahead, he frowned. An ominous premonition rose in his chest.
If this were the worldview of Sword Art Online, it would at most be a wild animal or a stray dog.
But in this inexplicable world, who knew what could appear?
Even if a dead-eyed office worker whose hobby was "heroism" suddenly showed up here in Saitama Prefecture, Hiro felt he could accept it.
"Yuuki, we-"
Hiro reached out with his right hand, intending to grab Asuna's wrist.
Unexpectedly, the girl dodged with an almost precognitive sidestep.
"No way~~ Nanamiya-kun and I only just met today. It's too early."
With a relaxed, cheerful smile, she turned around and walked backward toward the alley, still looking at him.
At that moment, the gnawing sound disappeared.
Too early? Where exactly did this girl's thoughts go?
Hiro muttered inwardly.
But Asuna had already passed the corner.
He had no time left to think.
Hiro's expression hardened.
He stepped forward and, without hesitation, grabbed Asuna's wrist.
Clap.
His gaze swept casually into the alley, and his heart sank.
"Asuna, we're in big trouble."
Beside the trash cans at the end of the alley stood two strange figures, covered in blood. Each held a human arm as they slowly looked up at the two of them.
One had blonde hair.
The other had green hair.
One had two red eyes.
The other had a single red eye.
"Ghouls?!"
Asuna gasped, covering her mouth as she stared at them.
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