Yuuki Residence.
After enduring her mother's seemingly endless lecture, Asuna left the living room and headed to her room on the second floor.
"I went through so much trouble to get permission to transfer schools, only to end up in the International Education class…"
Her soft house slippers stepped on the cold marble stairs. The girl with long chestnut hair tied in a braid couldn't help but sigh.
She wasn't of mixed descent, nor had she studied abroad for long. Bribing her way into the International Education class would surely make her classmates judge her. But her mother wouldn't agree to let her transfer to Class F, and she couldn't provide a convincing enough reason.
She couldn't possibly say she transferred schools just to be close to a certain boy and in the same class to observe him more easily, could she?
Asuna wondered if her mother would be impressed by a National Kendo Championship title…
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Asuna quickly shook her head, her face flushing uncontrollably—thinking too far! She transferred schools to uncover the truth of the world, not to chase a husband!
She also couldn't possibly fall for a boy she'd only known for two or three days, no matter how charming he was…
She was just a little curious.
Lost in thought, Asuna's expression gradually darkened. She passed her older brother's room, ensuring he wasn't leaking information to someone anymore, then returned to her own room.
If it were her mother from before, even if she won a national championship, she would've rejected the transfer request.
Because it was meaningless.
Though Sobu High had a high deviation score, in terms of environment and networking, it couldn't compare to prestigious academies like Kuroyuri Girls' Academy. Moreover, graduating from an all-girls school with little experience interacting with boys would make it easier for her mother to use her for matchmaking arrangements, gaining favor with relatively traditional families.
At some point, Asuna had come to understand these intricacies to some extent. She also understood what her mother meant by "I'll find you a husband from a good family who doesn't need to worry about life's necessities"—in other words, choosing a good matchmaking partner who could bring benefits to the Yuuki family.
At some point, her mother stopped thinking about elite matchmaking. She only managed her academic affairs, loosening her control over other matters significantly. As long as Asuna could provide a convincing reason, she was basically allowed to make her own decisions.
If Asuna asked when her mother became so lenient, she'd only get a sharp glare and a cold reply like, "How should I know? I'm just too lazy to manage you anymore."
In this regard, it wasn't much different from before.
"It's definitely not just my imagination… Something must have changed without anyone noticing."
Mulling over this issue, Asuna closed her bedroom door. She sat on her bed, touching the sleek, gleaming silver helmet.
Memories of moments spent in the game world flashed through her mind. Freedom, excitement, joy, emotions, all the happiness and sorrow… A smile unconsciously curved her lips. The emptiness in her heart gradually filled with warmth.
Could a game played alone really hold such profound meaning?
Was the loneliness from losing someone by her side really just an illusion?
Her phone suddenly lit up.
Asuna set down the helmet and opened it. It was a message notifying her that the investigation she'd asked her brother to look into earlier was complete.
It was a comparison of two data sets.
Her fingers scrolled the screen, as if she forgot to breathe. Holding her breath, Asuna focused on the records starting from August 26, until they abruptly stopped on September 21. Only then did she exhale slowly, collapsing onto the bed in exhaustion.
Her chestnut hair splayed messily. The hem of her clothes lifted slightly, revealing her flat stomach. But she seemed to have finally glimpsed dawn, unable to hold back a soft laugh.
"Hahaha… I knew it wasn't just my imagination…"
"Tenkuji-kun said he hadn't been online for a long time, almost forgetting the game's name, didn't he?"
"Indeed, there's no login record from September to November. That's quite a while—but before he retired, he was online almost every day."
Just like her.
Most login times were after 8 PM, logging off around 10 PM. Longer during holidays.
Just like her.
After September 10, there was an eleven-day absence, until the night of September 21.
Just like her.
In the NerveGear Login Records table her brother sent, with so many overlapping times and synchronized periods, it was impossible for it all to be coincidence.
If she had married someone in the game and promised to team up to complete the Sisters Martha mission, they should've agreed on online times and acted together until the mission was done.
Yet in her memory, Asuna had always been a solo swordsman. She never interacted with other players from the start of the game until now.
No friends, no teammates, let alone an in-game husband—yet the system's responses still contradicted this memory.
A broken ring, login records.
The clues of time led her to grasp the edge of the truth. She was getting closer to reality.
"You're right, Tenkuji-kun… All of this is connected to you."
With a smile on her lips, Asuna murmured with relief and ease.
For some reason, a sentence suddenly surfaced in her mind.
"Your voice, from the past to now, and even into the farther future—I won't forget it."
"Even if I forget, no matter how much time it takes, I'll remember."
"Every little thing we experienced together."
"That's my most precious treasure, so I'll never give up!"
Staring at the ceiling with resolute eyes, Asuna suddenly sat up. She opened the friends list on her communication app, accessing a dialog box with only a few messages. Her fingers tapped the phone call icon.
Then she hesitated: "If I call now, will I disturb him…"
But she wanted to hear his voice. For some reason, she desperately wanted to, and she definitely wouldn't sleep if she didn't.
So, without further hesitation, Asuna pressed the call button. As the busy tone rang, she crawled to the head of the bed, sitting against the wall. Her free hand hugged a Squirtle plushie. Her long, pale legs under her pajama pants gently kicked the bed.
"Hello? Tenkuji-kun? I'm really sorry for calling you so late…"
Her voice was soft and calm. On her sweet, slightly flushed face, she showed a happy smile like a little girl.
"Mhm, nothing important. I just wanted to say…"
(To reclaim the truth of the world and everything that was lost.)
(I'll come find you soon.)
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Sorry, I want to stay in Japan. I can't go back to Sweden with you for now."
"Why… Because there's something I haven't found yet."
"It has nothing to do with Mom. Though I did come to Japan because of her… You wouldn't understand if I told you. Enough. I'll attend the gathering. After Mana transfers schools, I'll try to look after her."
Masuzu ended the call with a calm, indifferent tone.
Setting down her phone, she slowly raised her dark, lifeless eyes.
For the umpteenth time, she stared blankly and calmly at the object in front of her.
Under the pale neon light, countless photos were pinned to the wall as far as the eye could see. There were also many sheets of paper with messy handwriting, tacked up with thumbtacks. It made the entire room look like a police investigation board.
Chaotic, yet in some ways eerily uniform.
Because all the photos and handwritten notes on the wall were related to one person.
His name was Tenkuji Yuu.
"Are you the culprit who ruined me?"