Asagiri nodded, thinking that Yūki Asuna truly lived up to expectations. Most ordinary girls, having cleared an instance and witnessed a bloody death scene only a few hours prior, would likely want to avoid the instances at all costs. Yet, she arrived at the most rational decision after processing everything logically.
"Then let's set the time for the next instance entry to this Saturday."
"Saturday?"
Yūki Asuna frowned upon hearing this. "Why not sign up now? If we did, we could enter the instance on Thursday."
Asagiri spread his hands and said something Yūki Asuna never expected him to say.
"Thursday is class time."
"Huh?"
Yūki Asuna looked utterly surprised and confused.
"Are you... the type who doesn't like to skip class?"
Asagiri shook his head and laughed.
"Of course not. I plan to skip mercilessly."
"Then why..."
"What if there are other Players at our school?"
Asagiri dropped his smile and explained seriously.
"This is the first week of school, and it's our first day as Players. If there are other Players in the school, and both of us ask for leave or skip class on Thursday, combined with the fact that we arrived at school together this morning—the loophole is too obvious."
"Hmm, you're right. I didn't consider that."
Yūki Asuna nodded, then mused thoughtfully.
"The APP rules didn't specify the exact time we enter the instance, so Friday, which is a school day, won't work either. If we suddenly vanish while in class, that would be disastrous. Fortunately, one convenient point is that as friends, if we queue up together, we are guaranteed to enter the same instance."
"Then it's decided. I hope this game doesn't adopt what is called the root of all evil: dynamic difficulty."
"Dynamic difficulty?"
Yūki Asuna had never played any games and was puzzled by the jargon Asagiri was using. She asked curiously.
"What is dynamic difficulty?"
Asagiri patiently explained. "Dynamic difficulty is a measure game manufacturers employ to prevent the game from becoming too easy and losing player interest. Simply put, the monsters in every area become stronger as the Player's level increases."
Yūki Asuna frowned, her face showing worry.
"You mean... because the rating we received for clearing the Novice Instance was so high, it might cause the difficulty of our next instance to increase significantly? Then... what's the point of trying to get the highest clearance rating every time?"
"That's why... it's so important."
Asagiri looked full of anticipation, opening his mouth with a light chuckle.
"If it manages to handle even this point well, this game will truly be fascinating."
Yūki Asuna sighed slightly, holding her forehead in exasperation.
"I'm starting to suspect that your little stunt with the kazoo in class wasn't due to your arrangement with Ashikaga-sensei to attract attention, but simply for your own amusement..."
"You don't need to suspect."
Asagiri answered honestly, without reservation.
"I was just having fun."
After saying this, Asagiri stood up and walked toward the office door.
"Alright, I'm going to buy lunch. I remember Shuchiin has a gym. Let's meet there after lunch."
Hearing the word bento (lunchbox), Yūki Asuna suddenly stood up, as if remembering something.
"I knew I had forgotten something! I was so focused on the instance that I forgot to bring lunch to school! Let's go buy lunch together."
"Are you sure?"
Asagiri countered with a smile.
"I'm a celebrity at Shuchiin right now. Plenty of people are hostile toward me. You're also a Mix-in student who just arrived today. If you're seen walking with me, you might also become a target for exclusion and hostility."
Yūki Asuna didn't hesitate for a second and immediately replied.
"Hmph, who I choose to be friends with is my freedom. Besides, we've gone through a life-or-death experience together. Just because you're unpopular at school, should I pretend not to know you, only to rely on your help when we enter the next instance? I'm not that kind of person; I can't do something like that. If I get excluded, so be it. I don't care."
Asagiri smiled. "Well, well, you're quite the rebel."
After locking the office door, Asagiri and Yūki Asuna walked together to the convenience counter inside Shuchiin.
It must be said, Shuchiin is Shuchiin.
The bento sold here included regular options that cost around 800 Japanese Yen, but also high-end options like steak sets for 5,000 Yen and seafood sets for 7,000 Yen. After all, not every Shuchiin student came from an extremely wealthy family. Some students' parents were too busy to prepare lunch, and since they felt convenience store bento weren't healthy, the school provided this in-house convenience counter.
"What kind of bento do you want?"
Hearing Asagiri's question, Yūki Asuna looked up at the menu and prices listed above.
"Just... the ordinary fried pork cutlet bento, I guess."
"Alright. Two fried pork cutlet bentos. How much is that?"
"That will be 1,600 Japanese Yen."
"Got it, paying together."
Seeing Asagiri reach into his jacket pocket, as if to pull out his wallet and pay immediately, Yūki Asuna quickly took out her own wallet and offered.
"Let me treat you."
"Okay."
To Yūki Asuna's surprise, Asagiri accepted immediately, without any pretense of refusal. He quickly stepped aside from the counter window.
"I was waiting for you to say that. Go on, it's all yours."
"Wait, you..."
Yūki Asuna gave Asagiri a slightly exasperated look. While she genuinely wanted to treat him, his quick and eager acceptance was a bit too much.
Asagiri looked nonchalant and waved his hand.
"You don't need to thank me."
"Thank you?"
Yūki Asuna was almost at a loss for words.
"I'm paying. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"
"Hmm? What kind of logic is that?"
Asagiri explained in a self-assured tone.
"To be able to treat the esteemed Utsunomiya-kun to a bento, and to have the chance to eat it with Utsunomiya-kun—don't you feel any gratitude for this gift of fate? It's not good to be ungrateful, Yūki-chan."