"You think a filthy Spriggan like you can play prince?" Sigurd sneered.
"I'm not exactly riding a white horse," Kirito shot back.
The air crackled with tension as Kirito and Sigurd locked eyes, their standoff teetering on the edge of violence.
Sigurd's party members glanced nervously between Leafa and their leader, clearly rattled. Hachiman, poised to act at a moment's notice, observed the exchange with cool detachment.
As for Leafa and Recon…
"Prince? Kirito-kun's a prince? Oh no, does that make me a princess…?" Leafa murmured, her thoughts drifting.
"Leafa-chan's prince… that role belongs to me, Recon!" Recon declared, equally off-topic.
The two were, as usual, a little out of sync with the situation.
"If I take you out here, you'll respawn back in Spriggan territory," Sigurd said, his voice dripping with malice. "Maybe that'll clean up Sylvein a bit."
"Ha! Isn't it your rotten heart that's been tainting Sylvein all along?" Kirito retorted.
"Tch. Leafa, what's it gonna be?" Sigurd snapped, turning to her. "You sticking with these losers?"
"Huh?" Leafa blinked, his words snapping her back to reality.
"When I joined your party, I told you I didn't want to be tied down," she said, her tone sharpening. "You agreed I could leave whenever I wanted, that I didn't have to show up if I had other things to do."
"Don't give me that!" Sigurd barked. "Our party's the most famous among the Sylphs. You running off on your own, doing whatever you want, makes me—the leader—look like a fool. Don't you get that?"
"Making you look bad…?" Leafa's voice faltered, her expression hardening. She wasn't buying Sigurd's self-serving logic.
"After I beat you in the martial arts tournament and won, you personally scouted me," she said, her words cutting. "And now you're pulling this selfish nonsense, Sigurd?"
"Hmph. So that's how it is," Hachiman muttered, as if piecing something together.
"What's that supposed to mean, Hachiman?" Kirito asked.
"It's simple," Hachiman replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "This guy wanted Leafa in his party because she's stronger than him. It's all about propping up his fragile ego, making sure everyone knows he's still on top."
"Got it. That tracks," Kirito said with a nod.
"You bastards…" Sigurd growled, his patience fraying. "Keep talking, and—"
"Enough. I'm done," Leafa interrupted, her voice resolute.
"Leafa-chan!" Recon exclaimed, stepping forward as if to stop her.
But Leafa held up a hand, silencing him, and faced Sigurd head-on. "Let's get one thing straight, Sigurd. These two are Yukino's allies."
"What? Yukino doesn't have allies like these!" Sigurd scoffed, disbelief etched on his face.
"They're returnees," Leafa explained. "That's why I'm taking them to meet Yukino tomorrow. And if you lay a hand on them, Yukino won't let it slide. You were there—you know what she's capable of."
Sigurd's jaw tightened. "Tch…"
"And neither will I," Leafa added, her voice like steel. "I'll cut you down right here if I have to."
"So, you're officially leaving the party, then?" Sigurd asked, his tone icy.
"That's right. I'm sick of this," Leafa said without hesitation.
"Leafa-chan, no…" Recon whimpered, his voice trembling.
Sigurd closed his eyes, as if deep in thought. Leafa watched him, puzzled by his sudden composure.
"Papa, I can feel intense anger coming from him," Yui whispered to Kirito. "He's acting calm, but it's a façade."
"You can tell, huh, Yui?" Kirito replied softly.
"Yeah. Right before he closed his eyes, I caught a glimpse of pure rage," Yui said.
"Figures. So, what do we do, Papa?" she asked.
"I'd love to keep tabs on him," Kirito murmured. "That Recon guy might be perfect for the job…"
Hachiman, overhearing, turned to Leafa. "Hey, Leafa, you and that Recon guy—you close?"
"Recon? Yeah, we're classmates in real life," she replied.
"Classmates, huh? Nice," Hachiman said with a grin. "VRMMOs with a friend from school… sounds fun."
"Could be you and me someday, right, Kirito?" Hachiman added.
"Yeah, maybe," Kirito chuckled.
Their casual banter was interrupted as Sigurd opened his eyes, his voice unnervingly calm. "Leafa, where are you meeting Yukino?"
"Why do you care?" Leafa shot back. "It's on the other side of the Luguru Corridor."
"Hmph. And after that, you're heading to the alliance signing ceremony, right?" Sigurd pressed.
"Yeah, that's the plan. You going too?" Leafa asked.
"Nah, Sakuya put me in charge of holding things down here," Sigurd said smoothly.
"Oh, really?" Leafa said, raising an eyebrow.
"Fine. I get it. Your party split is official. Sorry for getting in your way," Sigurd said, his tone almost too polite. With that, he turned and left with his party in tow.
Recon fidgeted, clearly torn, before steeling himself and turning to Leafa. "Alright, then I'll leave the party with you, Leafa-chan—"
"Hold up, Recon," Hachiman interrupted, slinging an arm around Recon's shoulder and pulling him aside. "We need to talk."
"What's that about?" Leafa muttered, watching them go.
"Don't worry," Kirito said with a reassuring smile. "Hachiman's got a plan. He's probably cooking something up."
"You really trust him, don't you, Kirito-kun?" Leafa observed.
"He's all-in this time," Kirito replied. "So am I. We've got something we have to accomplish in ALO."
His face took on a familiar expression—resolute yet tinged with a quiet sorrow. Leafa's breath caught. For a fleeting moment, she saw her brother's face in Kirito's.
(Why am I thinking of Onii-chan? That look… so determined, but so sad…)
Leafa's thoughts drifted to her brother, then back to Kirito. Am I… starting to fall for Kirito-kun? Her heart wavered, uncertain, as she gazed at his profile.
Meanwhile, Hachiman and Recon had stopped a short distance away.
"So, uh, what do you want with me?" Recon asked, nervous.
"First off," Hachiman said bluntly, "you're into Leafa, right?"
"W-What?! How'd you—" Recon stammered, his face flushing.
(Heard you muttering about being her prince earlier, genius, Hachiman thought with a smirk.) "Doesn't matter. Point is, don't you want Leafa to appreciate you?"
"Huh?" Recon blinked.
"Look, me and Kirito over there? We're pretty strong," Hachiman said. "If you join our party, you'll probably get overshadowed in fights. No chance to stand out."
"R-Really? So… Leafa-chan might end up liking one of you instead?" Recon's voice cracked with worry.
"Nah, don't sweat it," Hachiman said. "Kirito and I both have someone already. Even if she got a crush, it's not going anywhere. Probably."
"Really?!" Recon's eyes lit up, his mood flipping instantly.
Hachiman stifled a laugh. This guy's too easy. "Anyway, about Sigurd. What'd you think of his attitude just now?"
"It was… weirdly calm," Recon said. "Not like him at all. Normally, he'd be raging and attacking by now."
"Exactly," Hachiman said, leaning in. "That calm act? Total fake. When he closed his eyes, I saw it—pure, boiling rage. He's hiding something."
"Really?" Recon's eyes widened.
"Yeah. He was fishing for info on our plans. Suspicious, right?" Hachiman said. "Here's the deal: stay in Sigurd's party. Keep an eye on him. He's gonna pull something shady, I guarantee it. Report back to Leafa, and she'll be really grateful."
Recon's face lit up. "You think so?"
"Trust me," Hachiman said, grinning. "You tag along with us, Leafa won't notice you. But do this, and you'll be her hero. Good way to score points, yeah?"
"Totally!" Recon nodded eagerly. "I'm in!"
"Perfect," Hachiman said, flashing a sly grin. They shook hands, sealing the deal.
"We get intel, you get Leafa's gratitude," Hachiman said. "Win-win."
"Win-win!" Recon echoed, pumped.
They returned to Kirito and Leafa, who were waiting.
"Leafa-chaaan!" Recon called out.
"Done talking?" Leafa asked.
"Yup! I'm staying in Sigurd's party—as a spy!" Recon declared.
"A spy?" Leafa repeated, confused.
Hachiman stepped in, explaining the plan to Kirito and Leafa (leaving out the part about Recon's crush). "Sigurd's sudden chill vibe? Totally fake. He's up to something. Recon's gonna watch him and keep us posted."
"Makes sense," Kirito said. "That was weirdly quiet for Sigurd."
"Yeah, it didn't feel right," Leafa agreed. "He's never that calm."
"Leafa-chan, I'll do my best! Count on me!" Recon said, his eyes sparkling.
"Uh, sure," Leafa replied, a bit thrown off.
Hachiman leaned in and whispered to Leafa, "Give Recon a smile and some encouragement. Get him fired up."
"Got it," Leafa said, nodding. She flashed a warm smile at Recon. "You're our only hope, Recon. Do your best!"
"You got it, Leafa-chan!" Recon beamed, then sprinted off after Sigurd's group with alarming speed.
"Nice one, Leafa," Kirito said with a grin. "Alright, let's head out. We'll fly from the tower and talk this over once we land."
"Got it!" Leafa replied.
And with that, the three took off from the Wind Tower, soaring into the sky.
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