"Huh, Sunny Garden? Is this a newly released Full-Dive game?"
Having finished his studies for the day, Kirito, who was supposedly on an 'internet detox,' still couldn't control his own hands. He honestly opened his computer and spotted a new title. Looking at the description, it was actually a casual life-sim.
"Since that's the case, it shouldn't hurt to relax for a bit, right?" With the intent to unwind, Kirito loaded the game data into his NerveGear and immediately dove in.
After a brief moment of vertigo, he opened his eyes to find himself slumped over a desk. Lifting his head, he saw a familiar room. Just as he was feeling puzzled, a dialogue box suddenly popped up.
[Welcome, Player, to your first login. Please enter your in-game nickname.]
"Eh? This is the game?" Kirito looked around the room's layout, which was identical to reality, with surprise. Hesitantly, he entered his usual handle—[Kirito].
[The game has officially begun. Please explore the gameplay on your own.]
"That's it?" Kirito's confusion deepened. He tried to open the game menu, and a translucent square appeared before his eyes.
Player Nickname: Kirito
Level: 1
Title: None
Quest: None
Achievements: None
Conquest Progress: None
Crucially, there was no Logout button.
"What's going on?" Kirito was struck with a sudden chill. He tried for a long time, but as expected, he couldn't exit the game. He forced himself to stay calm: "Whatever the case, I should explore first."
There was nothing unusual in the room. Kirito opened the door, intending to see the outside world, only to be startled by a figure standing right in front of the door: "Suguha! Why are you here too?!"
"This is my house, shouldn't I be here?" Suguha said with a face full of confusion.
"That's not what I meant..." Kirito started to explain, but then his phone suddenly began to ring. "Sorry, Suguha, let me take this."
He pulled his phone from his pocket. The screen displayed: Asuna.
"Asuna?"
"Kirito-kun, are you free tomorrow? I want to go to the bookstore to buy some books. Can you accompany me?"
"Uh, I should be able to."
"Then tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM, at the usual spot. Be there or be square!"
"Yeah."
The Asuna in this game is a bit too gentle. Kirito shook his head, hanging up with a smile. When he turned around, he found Suguha staring at him intensely.
"Is something wrong, Suguha?"
"Was that Asuna-san?"
"Yeah, it was."
"But, isn't Onii-chan's girlfriend Sachi-san?"
"Well, this sort of thing is normal between friends, right?" Kirito scratched his head, his expression becoming a bit unnatural.
Kirito didn't pay it much mind; he needed to figure out how to play the game. Unfortunately, he found nothing all night.
The next day, just as he woke up, he felt his body firmly pinned to the bed. Suguha was looking at him with an obsessed expression.
"Suguha, what are you doing?"
"Onii-chan, I really can't accept it. If Asuna-san is okay, then I should be the same, right?"
She lifted a corner of the duvet and crawled in. Her soft body pressed against Kirito, immediately causing his face to turn bright red.
"Don't do this, Suguha."
"But, Onii-chan's body is quite honest." Suguha licked her lips, her body slowly sliding down.
"No—Stop!"
…
Another bout of vertigo. When Kirito regained his senses, he found himself slumped over his desk again.
"Wasn't I just... by Suguha..."
"A reset?" Familiar with game mechanics, Kirito quickly accepted this setting and hurriedly opened the game panel. Unsurprisingly, the descriptions had changed significantly.
A Quest had appeared: [Defend your innocence against Suguha Kirigaya's assault]; Conquest Progress: Suguha Kirigaya 120%.
"Defend my innocence?" Kirito's mouth twitched. Suguha's combat stats were higher than his; this quest was not going to be easy. He sighed, "Sigh, I have no choice but to head out and lie low."
Later, Asuna's call arrived exactly as scheduled. This time he didn't dare open the door, listening while hiding under the covers. Still, he couldn't bear to refuse Asuna's invitation. Moreover, he wanted to inform Asuna, who had great deductive reasoning, about the situation of this game to see if she had any ideas.
Kirito felt more and more that this game was not simple.
He went to bed early and snuck out in the middle of the night. After killing time at a net cafe until 8:00 AM, Kirito rushed to the meeting spot and saw a radiant Asuna.
"Kirito-kun, good morning."
"Good morning, Asuna."
"Kirito-kun, why do you look a bit unwell?"
"Sigh, it's a long story." Kirito sighed. "I'll tell you after you finish buying your books."
"Okay."
The two went to the bookstore, spending half the day finishing the shopping. Checking the time, Asuna suggested, "It's almost noon. Why don't you come to my place for lunch? We can chat while we eat."
"Uh, wouldn't that be too much trouble?"
"Not at all. I actually wanted Kirito-kun to taste my cooking."
"Alright then."
The two arrived at a refined apartment.
"This is a place I rented secretly without telling my mother. I only come here on weekends for a little while to enjoy some rare private time." Asuna smiled gracefully. "Is it a bit too small?"
"No, I think it's great."
"That's good. Have a seat, I'll go start cooking."
"I'll help you. Don't underestimate my chopping skills."
"I wouldn't dream of looking down on the famous 'Dual-Wielding Swordsman Kirito-kun'."
"Hmph."
The two prepared the meal together, laughing and chatting like a sweet couple. Placing the aromatic food on the table, Kirito sat opposite Asuna and began to talk about the game he played yesterday. Of course, he omitted Suguha's 'attack,' replacing it with a general sense that something was wrong.
"This place is a game? Then am I an NPC in the game too?" Asuna smiled as she stood up, leaned in close to Kirito, and took his hand. With a flushed face, she slowly pulled it to her chest. "Kirito-kun, why don't you feel my heartbeat and see if it's fake?"
"Asuna..."
He suddenly stood up and pulled his hand back. "Asuna, stop teasing me."
"I'm not teasing you, I'm serious. Kirito, I love you," Asuna said earnestly.
Kirito's face showed his inner struggle, but in the end, he lowered his head. "I'm sorry, I..."
The atmosphere instantly turned cold and heavy. Suddenly, a sound like a ship's whistle broke the silence.
"What's that sound?"
"Oh, the water is boiled. Kirito-kun, can you help me fill the kettle?"
"Sure."
But just as he entered the kitchen and lifted the kettle, he felt a sudden pain in his chest. Looking down, a blood-red blade had pierced through his body.
"Asuna, why..."
"Because this way, you'll belong only to me. Kirito-kun, I love love love love love love you!" Asuna wore a psychotic smile.
His vision went black, and the world plunged into darkness.
…
"Huff!" Kirito woke up with a start. He looked around in a panic, only to find he was back in his own room.
"Dammit! What kind of 'casual game' is this?!"