A crossover anime/manga story, set in everyday Tokyo, but within a loop of a game.

"But assuming she is a 'player,' she must have chosen to enter the dungeon on Saturday, just like us. As for why she went to Fujiwara Chika's house to enter the dungeon... it's probably because there are many spies in her place. Since she can't determine the exact time to enter the dungeon or how long it will take to clear it, Shinomiya Kaguya can't enter the dungeon from her own place."

"Fujiwara Chika's family is also very prominent, so even if there are spies monitoring Shinomiya Kaguya, as long as Shinomiya Kaguya goes to the place where Fujiwara Chika lives, those spies will not dare to continue monitoring her, otherwise if they are discovered, it may cause a conflict."

"Further reasoning, if Kaguya Shinomiya suddenly disappeared, Chika Fujiwara would definitely be very anxious. After all, if the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family were to disappear from her home, it would be a huge problem. Chika Fujiwara isn't so naive as to not understand this kind of thing. Therefore, Kaguya Shinomiya must have told her about the dungeon beforehand. Based on this, even if Chika Fujiwara isn't a 'player,' she must be someone who knows about the dungeon and is assisting Kaguya Shinomiya."

Asuna Yuuki was stunned. After a long while, she finally spoke with a complicated expression.

"You two... Luckily you're my teammates. If we were opponents, just thinking about it is terrifying..."

Asuna Yuuki was genuinely shocked.

From the start of the game until now, including the newbie dungeon, only two dungeons have passed, just one week, and yet Asagiri and Iwanaga Kotoko have directly discovered Shinomiya Kaguya's player identity?

Most importantly, besides their intellect, Kotoko Iwanaga and Asagiri share another striking similarity.

Both of them are the kind of players who aren't bound by moral concepts.

"So now... what should we do?"

Seeing Asuna Yuuki's cautious and reluctant expression, Asagiri was amused.

"No, why do you look like you're at a funeral? Even if Fujiwara Chika and Shinomiya Kaguya are players, they're not our enemies for now."

"Eh?"

Upon hearing this, Asuna Yuuki paused for a moment, then hesitated.

"I thought you were going to kill Chika and Kaguya, steal their phones, and then take their equipment and items..."

"Please, I'm not some chaotic, evil demon."

Asagiri said this first, then smiled and continued.

"Besides, do you think the Metropolitan Police Department is just sitting around doing nothing? If we kill someone in the real world, even if we use supernatural powers, we'll inevitably leave traces. And Fujiwara Chika and Shinomiya Kaguya are both from wealthy families, young ladies who have people secretly following and protecting them. To risk exposing their identities just for a piece of equipment or item whose effects we don't even know the outcome of is just plain stupid. It's completely unnecessary, and besides..."

Asagiri took a sip of her ice-cold Coca-Cola and then continued.

"Our most important task at this stage is to ensure that we can get the highest possible completion rating in every dungeon, and then use the rewards from the high-level completion rating to continuously get high-level completion ratings, which is like a snowball, constantly expanding our advantage."

"Assuming Kato Megumi is telling the truth, based on the information we have from the few instances, this so-called game has never featured any instances where players engage in combat or even killing each other, that is, PVP-themed instances."

Asuna Yuuki nodded, then tentatively asked.

"Well... should we try inviting Kaguya Shinomiya and Chika Fujiwara to be our teammates? Although I'm not very familiar with Kaguya Shinomiya, I have a pretty good relationship with Chika. She doesn't have that boring, nerdy attitude of a typical college student, and she's easy to get along with."

Instead of answering directly, Asagiri asked a question in return.

"If, during a certain instance, you two and I disagree on our judgment regarding the next action, or even reach opposite conclusions, but I insist on my own opinion, what would you do?"

Asuna Yuuki and Kotoko Iwanaga gave the same answer.

"I'll listen to you, after all, you're the leader."

"Isn't that right?"

Asagiri shrugged and said calmly.

“A team can only have one leader, and only one person with the decisive say. Kaguya Shinomiya is excellent in all aspects, but if she and I disagree on a decision in a dungeon, given her personality and arrogance, she is unlikely to be willing to unconditionally follow my plan like the two of you. Therefore, I will not consider inviting her to be a teammate for the time being. Chika Fujiwara and Kaguya Shinomiya are very good friends, so I will not invite her to be a teammate for the time being either.”

Asuna Yuuki nodded obediently in response.

"Yes, that's true. And if we include Kato Megumi, we already have four people."

"OK, the important business is finally over~"

Kotoko Iwanaga cheered and leaned towards Asagiri's arm, but Asuna Yuuki quickly stopped her.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Hmm? Of course, it's to cuddle with my adorable boyfriend~"

Kotoko Iwanaga replied seriously, "Don't forget, the official reason I had my family donate to Shuchiin Academy was that I wanted to be with Asagiri every moment. Since that's the case, I have to go all out with the act. At school, I have to act like we're very affectionate, hugging, kissing, and lifting each other up high all the time. That's what makes it real, right?"

Asuna Yuuki sighed softly, rubbing her forehead in a slightly helpless manner.

"That's true, but I get the feeling you're taking advantage of him..."

Asagiri looked at Kotoko Iwanaga, who was clinging to her arm and rubbing against her like a kitten, and said without any politeness.

"You should put away your love-struck brain and think about what to do with your prosthetic leg. If it breaks, you'll only be able to hop around on one leg, just like Scimitar from Pokémon. If your prosthetic leg breaks in a dungeon, that would be a real problem."

Kotoko Iwanaga said playfully, "Leader, you can carry me on your back, you're so strong anyway~"

"You're dreaming. I can only use you as a cannonball to launch you into the air."

Asagiri replied with that first sentence, and then added.

"If all else fails, when we encounter a cyberpunk-style instance, we'll get you a durable mechanical prosthetic limb and a laser-firing prosthetic eye. Forget about being some weird, wise god; you'll be flesh and blood, mechanically ascended. From now on, half of your power will be supernatural, and the other half will be high-tech mechanical crystallization. You'll become a spiritual version of Astro Boy. Forget about curses; if you encounter an evil spirit, just activate your laser eyes and that's it."

60

Chapter 60: Judo Class in Class A.

"To be able to remain unmoved when faced with such an adorable girl like me throwing herself into your arms, you truly are something else."

Upon hearing Kotoko Iwanaga's boastful remark, Asuna Yuuki suppressed her urge to retort and sighed softly.

"Then let's wait until Sunday, the day we register for the dungeon, and then go find Kato Megumi. According to Asagiri's prediction, when we enter the dungeon next time, the game will still be in the first stage without any increase in difficulty. I just don't know if anything else will happen after a month has passed and the game enters the second stage, besides the overall increase in the difficulty of the dungeons."

“There are definitely changes.”

Kotoko Iwanaga placed her cane horizontally on her knees, resuming her proper sitting posture as a well-bred young lady, before speaking.

"I sent the monsters to check inside the Metropolitan Police Department. After gathering some information, they confirmed two things."

"First, the bodies of players who die in the instance will not return to the real world."

"Secondly, the exact number of people selected to become players is still unclear, but it is certainly quite a few, because the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has recently received dozens of reports of missing persons. Of course, not all of these missing persons are players, but there are definitely some among them."

"It is foreseeable that as the game progresses and more and more players die, the number of people going missing in the real world will also increase. Moreover, the rules of that app do not restrict players from using their powers in the real world or from telling others about the app. In other words, even if we want to hide the existence of the game, it is impossible. After all, without any restrictions, as long as someone from the Metropolitan Police Department or the Prosecutor's Office is selected to become a 'player,' the truth will come to light."

When Kotoko Iwanaga got to this point, Asagiri spoke calmly.

"The most interesting point is the hidden rule for the transfer of 'player' identity. Only after a 'player' dies can an ordinary person see the eye icon app on the other person's phone and become the new player by clicking the app icon repeatedly."

Upon hearing this, both Asuna Yuuki and Kotoko Iwanaga were puzzled.

Why is this the most interesting point?

"Of course it's interesting."

Asagiri spoke slowly, with a smile in her voice.

"Even though there are no PVP-type dungeons, the game's main theme seems to be that players cooperate to survive and clear the game. However, there are no restrictions on players' behavior in the real world. There is even a hidden rule that requires the original player to die in order for ordinary people to become players. Perhaps the real world is the PVP dungeon set up by this game."

……

That afternoon, in the gymnasium of the private Shuchiin Academy, a burly male teacher dressed in a judo uniform scanned the students of Class A and spoke in a deep voice.

"I've already covered the basic precautions. Now let's move on to group practice. By the way, does anyone have prior experience with judo? I want to try to maintain a balance of skill between the two groups."

"I."

Upon hearing the PE teacher's question, Kaguya Shinomiya raised her hand and softly replied with a gentle expression.

"Teacher, I am a second-degree black belt in judo."

"Second dan... Have any girls tried judo?"

Seeing that no other students raised their hands except for Kaguya Shinomiya, the PE teacher looked troubled, wondering what to do.

A second dan in judo, also known as a black belt, while not considered extremely powerful, is enough to be considered beyond the beginner stage and indicates that one has undergone proper training.

But... there are no other girls who have practiced judo and can compete with Kaguya Shinomiya. Judo is a sport that involves physical contact, so it's impossible to assign a boy to Kaguya Shinomiya.

"Hi, teacher, I'd like to be in a group with Shinomiya-kun!"

Upon hearing this sudden sound, the physical education teacher searched through the crowd for a while before spotting Kotoko Iwanaga, who was exceptionally slender and petite compared to the other students in Class A, resembling a porcelain doll. He paused for a moment, then hesitated.

"You're Iwanaga-kun, right? Iwanaga-kun, would you like to be grouped with Shinomiya-kun? But this..."

"Don't worry, teacher."

Kaguya Shinomiya smoothed her long black hair and said calmly.

"I'll be careful not to hurt Iwanaga-kun."

"OK then."

Kaguya Shinomiya isn't the type to be overly competitive in everything. In fact, sometimes she'll deliberately let others win. After all, in her view, intentionally losing is just a way of dealing with things, so as not to be too dazzling and alienated by those around her.

Of course, learning is the only exception.

“Utsunomiya-kun.”

Just then, a boy who was nearly 1.8 meters tall, with a very strong build and broad shoulders, slowly walked up to Asagiri.

"Would you like to spar with me?"

"You want to spar with me?"

When faced with the request from the muscular boy, Asagiri simply smiled.

"I have never practiced judo and know nothing about it."

The muscular young man waved his hand and spoke in a deep voice.

"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you and try my best not to hurt you..."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Before the boy could finish speaking, Asagiri shook her head, looked directly at his face, and interrupted him in a calm tone.

"What I mean is, because I've never practiced judo, I'm not very good at controlling my strength. If you get hurt, don't blame me for holding back."

"Just as the rumors say, you're arrogant, but..."

The muscular young man suddenly changed the subject, speaking solemnly.

"If I win, please consider joining our judo club, Utsunomiya-kun!"

Upon hearing this, Asagiri couldn't help but ask a question in return.

"Are you trying to pull a fast one here? Besides, your map of Yan is way too short. I've already said I have no interest in joining any clubs."

"Yes, I heard that you... no, you have no intention of joining any sports clubs, but..."

The muscular young man took a deep breath and his face turned serious.

"I hope that through my actions, you can feel the charm of judo, the passion, the youthful excitement, and the pursuit of the highest skill it contains..."

"I don't understand. What are you talking about? I use a katana."

Asagiri didn't really want to listen to the boy continue spouting his ramblings about youth and passion, so she just spoke softly and calmly.

"Then let's get started."

"it is good."

The burly young man took a few steps back, distancing himself from Asagiri, took a few deep breaths, then bowed and said solemnly.

"Utsunomiya-kun, I will do my best."

Asagiri nodded casually and stood there idly.

"Row."

To prevent student injuries, thick protective mats have long been laid on the wooden floor of the gymnasium.

After receiving Asagiri's response, the muscular boy bent down slightly, his physique, quite imposing for a high school student, resembling a brown bear, and reached out his hands, tentatively approaching.

At this moment, the rest of the students in Class A, including Kaguya Shinomiya and Kotoko Iwanaga, stopped what they were doing and watched the upcoming match.

"ha!!!"

With a loud shout, the burly boy quickened his pace and swiftly arrived in front of Asagiri. He then bent even lower and reached out with his hands like pincers, firmly gripping Asagiri's right arm.

"It's over..."

Seeing this, Kaguya Shinomiya, who was quite proficient in judo techniques, muttered to herself.

This move is the starting stance of an over-the-shoulder throw. By grabbing the opponent's arm and using the power of your waist and hips, if you can find the most suitable angle, even a thin person who is not very strong can use this move to throw an opponent who is larger and stronger than themselves to the ground.

Moreover, although this move is simple and unadorned, its destructive power should not be underestimated. If someone who truly knows how to exert force uses this move on a solid surface, it is quite normal for them to seriously injure or even kill their opponent on the spot.

Kaguya Shinomiya sighed softly, thinking to herself that Asagiri hadn't lied after all.