As the broadcast ended, the five let out deep sighs.
"That was intense…"
"Yeah, totally…"
"Ugh, I'm not great with serious stuff like that," Yuiyui, Yukino, and Yumii said, their expressions stiff.
Seeing this, Lizbeth tried to lighten the mood.
"Alright, I'm gonna be a gunsmith!"
Asuna, reading the room, jumped in.
"Really? Then I'll be a gun-healer! Like, shooting healing magic from a gun!"
"Then I'll be a gun-tank!"
"So, what about me, Yukino? What am I?"
"What are you all even talking about…?"
The five exchanged glances and burst into laughter, the earlier tension gone, the room bright again.
"It's about time. Shall we call it a day?"
"Yeah. Asuna, can we leave the meeting report to you?"
"Got it!"
And so, the gathering ended. Asuna returned to reality on her bed in the Hikitani household.
"Hachiman's probably in his room…"
Before logging in, Hachiman had mentioned having plans. It didn't mean he'd be in his room, but Asuna was certain he was. There was something she hadn't told the others—about the player named Shana.
Asuna recalled Shana slicing Zexeed in half, using the enemy's weapon as a springboard to flank them. That move was familiar to Asuna alone. It was from the early days of SAO, when she and Hachiman were grinding mobs.
"Hey, Hachiman, any tricks for escaping when surrounded?"
"There's one, but it's my own style—kinda tricky."
"How's it done?"
"Next time we face enemies, I'll show you, Asuna."
Hachiman had demonstrated that move:
"If you flank from the side, you might get hit if the enemy's armed. But step on their weapon and leap, they can't attack. Totally safe."
It was a reckless theory. As they grew stronger, they rarely got surrounded, and Hachiman had little chance to use it again. No one else knew he could do it. Shana's move matched Hachiman's perfectly.
Asuna's suspicion that Shana was linked to PoH stemmed from this. Convinced Shana was Hachiman but wary of his reasons for secrecy, she kept quiet to avoid troubling him. Though Hachiman might not open up easily, Asuna headed to his room.
"Hachiman, you there?"
She knocked lightly, but there was no answer. Trying the doorknob, the door opened easily. As expected, Hachiman lay there, NerveGear on. Asuna sat on his bed, waiting for him to wake, but he didn't stir. Glancing around, she noticed something on his desk—a game case.
"GGO software? Two copies?"
One was opened, the other sealed.
"Maybe the unopened one's for me… just kidding."
Muttering, Asuna picked up the GGO manual beside it and sat back on the bed. The GGO world felt alien to her, and as she read, she dozed off, falling asleep.
When she woke, Hachiman was gone, a blanket draped over her. Looking around, she saw him at his desk, studying a list of uniform designs they'd made. His hand paused on the mouse.
"This… I kinda wanna see it, but… nah, rejected."
He was looking at the infamous cat-ear maid design. Stifling a laugh, Asuna crept behind him. But Hachiman spun his chair, catching her in an awkward stealth pose.
"Obviously, I noticed, Asuna."
She stood, frustrated, arms crossed, glaring at him.
"Sharp kids like you are the worst!"
"Copying Haru-neesan?"
"Oh? You noticed. I thought your intelligence was amoeba-level, but maybe you're barely primate."
Hachiman, arms crossed, grinned.
"Asuna, imitating me? I demand an apology and compensation."
"Ugh…"
Asuna's attempt at a Yukinoshita sisters combo failed against Hachiman's Yukino-style retort.
"Hikki, that's harsh!"
"Being called Hikki by you feels kinda fresh."
"Even I get hurt sometimes!"
"You've been watching Yumiko's rare girly moments, huh?"
"Hikitani, you jerk!"
Asuna threw a playful punch. Hachiman caught it easily.
"Teacher, no power in that punch. You can't take me down like that."
"Grrr!"
A spark of inspiration hit Asuna (source: Iroha-chan). She jabbed verbally.
"Think you've got me beat, Haa-bo? Sure I'm done?"
"Your speech sounds oddly katakana. And 'Asuna-chan'?"
As Hachiman smirked, Asuna seized the moment, sitting on his lap, raising her hands to mimic cat ears, and teased:
"Does Master like cat-ear maids, nyan? Wanna see me in one?"
Leaning closer, she whispered in his ear:
"Take responsibility, okay?"
Even Hachiman blushed, flustered.
"Did Iroha tell you that? That's cheating, Asuna! And this position's bad!"
"What's bad, nyan? The design you were eyeing, nyan?"
"Okay, okay, I surrender!"
"Good, nyan."
As Asuna gloated, the door burst open.
"Bro, about the uniform designs—oh!"
Komachi, rushing in without knocking, froze at their pose, then fidgeted.
"S-sorry, Bro, Big Sis! I didn't mean to… take your time!"
She slammed the door and ran to her room. From behind it, her voice echoed:
"I'm an auntie at this age… happy but sad…"
Realizing their compromising position and Komachi's misunderstanding, their faces paled. They rushed out, banging on her door.
"Wait, Komachi, listen!"
"Komachi-chan, it's a misunderstanding! Hear your big sis out!"
After explaining everything—complete with a reenactment—Komachi, teary-eyed, protested to Asuna:
"Big Sis, why didn't you imitate me?"
"That's your issue?"
"Really, that's it?"
Asuna gently patted Komachi's head, promising to mimic her next time. For now, peace returned to the Hikitani household.
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