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

"That's right, it's PVP."

Asagiri nodded first, then changed the subject.

"But if someone enters the dungeon with this kind of thinking, they will definitely pay the price. The PVP rewards in this game are not even in the same league as the rewards for obtaining a high-level rating by clearing the dungeon normally. Simply increasing the number of players will only result in a mob. Clearing the dungeon is difficult enough. If you are thinking about finding opportunities to kill other players and steal their phones while also collecting clues, analyzing information, and finding a way to successfully clear the dungeon, then you are oversimplifying the game."

"Yes, the difficulty of the second phase of the dungeon is incomparable to that of the first phase."

Kotoko Iwanaga smiled slightly and said softly.

"Even with our strength, we could still get injured in the second phase of the dungeon. Although it's because we went through the hidden main quest specifically prepared for high-end players, those failed attempts, the monsters in the lava cave, and the bugged areas created by the prototype Mita are all tests that ordinary players would have to be fully focused and extremely careful to pass. If you're not focused on clearing the dungeon and instead thinking about player-versus-player PvP? You'll die."

Asuna Yuuki looked down at the milk tea in her cup, gently touching the cute cat pattern drawn with cream on the surface with her straw, and then looked up at Asagiri.

"By the way, what are you planning to do about Kaguya Shinomiya's student council election? It's almost impossible for a first-year high school student to run for student council president, vice president, and secretary. Although Ashikaga-sensei has the power as a member of the school's board of directors, the chairman of Shuchiin High School is none other than Akira Shinomiya. Ashikaga-sensei can't use his position to provide you with any meaningful help, right?"

"Just as you said, Ashikaga-sensei could not offer me any help in any meaningful way, and even if she could, she would not do so, because using her power to interfere in the internal affairs of students goes against her principles."

Asagiri replied with that first sentence, then smiled and said...

"However, Kaguya Shinomiya and I are not entirely without a chance of winning. I am confident that I can win the support of most of the sports clubs and students from mixed colleges. As for Kaguya Shinomiya, she is the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, who comes from Shuchiin. Although this is a high school election, she has been studying in Shuchiin since she was a child, so she is not without prestige. Moreover, we are the first and second place in the grade exam. As students, isn't academic performance the most important thing?"

"That's true, but..."

Asuna Yuuki frowned slightly, looking somewhat hesitant.

"Although Shinomiya-san has the advantage of being a pure college student, the student council vice president she nominated is someone who has openly criticized the so-called distinction between pure college students and mixed college students. Won't this affect her election support rate?"

Asagiri chuckled and replied, "Whether it will have an impact depends on how it's publicized. Publicity is about using different rhetoric to evoke completely different public opinions about the same thing."

Upon hearing Shi's words, Kotoko Iwanaga immediately understood what Asagiri meant.

"Kaguya Shinomiya is running for student council president, and you're serving as her vice president... Do you want the students of the Pure Academy to think that this represents a victory for Pure Academy? But if that's the case, wouldn't others see you as having lost to Kaguya Shinomiya?"

"It doesn't matter, so what if we lose?"

Asagiri shrugged and laughed nonchalantly.

"Is a failure that brings no harm but only help really a failure? I care more about achieving my goal than about saving face."

"I see."

Kotoko Iwanaga nodded thoughtfully, then asked curiously.

"But ultimately, why did you agree to cooperate with Kaguya Shinomiya? Besides your promise to Ashikaga-sensei, there must be other reasons, right?"

"The reason is..."

Asagiri looked like she was thinking seriously, and after pausing for a few seconds, she looked up and replied with a smile.

"Because she's pretty."

"What!?"

Kotoko Iwanaga's expression changed upon hearing this, and she then tearfully accused him.

"Waaah, in the end, the home-grown flower is never as fragrant as the wild one; a red apricot branch peeks over the wall..."

What kind of words are you using?

Yuuki Asuna interrupted Iwanaga Kotoko's rant with a slightly speechless expression, then turned to look at Asagiri beside her and said irritably.

"Seriously, what's the reason?"

"I'd call it an investment."

Asagiri's smile faded, and she explained earnestly.

“I know why she wanted to run for student council president and even made Fujiwara Chika the student council secretary. It was simply to use the student council work as a legitimate excuse to buy herself and Fujiwara Chika time to enter the dungeon, and to use the student council office as their secret base in the real world. After all, she is different from us. As long as she leaves school and returns home, she will be monitored at all times and will not even have time to go out freely. For Shinomiya Kaguya, Shuchiin is the most suitable and safest haven.”

"While I can't completely trust Kaguya Shinomiya and Chika Fujiwara and won't consider teaming up with them for now, their individual abilities are both outstanding. Now that the game's issues have been exposed in the real world, when this month is over and the game's difficulty increases to the third stage, new situations might arise, such as the one we discussed before, where players from another world come to our world."

"Through this incident, we can lay the foundation for cooperation. Perhaps one day in the future, we might be able to collaborate with Kaguya Shinomiya and Chika Fujiwara in some way, of course..."

Finally, Asagiri paused slightly before speaking in a serious tone.

"Also because they are both beautiful girls."

Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but reach out and pat Asagiri on the shoulder, rolling her eyes and saying irritably.

"You're certainly outspoken, aren't you?"

"That's not."

Asagiri nodded and smiled.

"My greatest strength is my honesty."

"that……"

Having finished her cake, Kato Megumi took out a banknote from her wallet, gently placed it under her cup, and then spoke softly.

"I'll go home now. I still have an exam tomorrow, so I need to go back early to study."

"it is good."

Kotoko Iwanaga responded first, then looked at the banknote under the cup and smiled.

"But no need for money, it's on me today, after all, it's a celebration party."

Kato Megumi shook her head and said softly.

"That won't do. Although I know you're all well-off, let's split the bill for the long term, considering the long-term nature of our relationship."

"OK then."

"Okay, I'll be going now. Feel free to contact me if anything comes up."

After Kato Megumi left, Iwanaga Kotoko stood up and adjusted her beret.

"Then I'll be going too. I still have a request from a yokai to handle."

"Another commission?"

"of course."

Seeing Yuuki Asuna's slightly surprised expression, Iwanaga Kotoko smiled and said.

"As their princess, I bear extremely important responsibilities. However, the recent requests are all minor matters such as conflicts between monsters and territorial disputes. I don't need your help; I can handle them on my own."

Despite Kotoko Iwanaga's words, Asuna Yuuki was still somewhat worried.

"Be careful, by the way, how about I give you the exorcist's sword?"

"You forgot? Because of the limitations of my unique talent, I can't equip that weapon."

Kotoko Iwanaga shook her head, then said thoughtfully.

"But this restriction only applies to equipment rewarded by the system. I can use real-world weapons like longswords, sabers, and spears at will, which is really strange. Perhaps it's some kind of hidden rule in this game. Anyway, there's no need to worry. I've been the God of Wisdom for so many years, nothing will go wrong. Don't worry."

After Kotoko Iwanaga left, Asuna Yuuki stole a glance at Asagiri sitting next to her, her face flushed, and she spoke in a slightly awkward tone.

"Hmm... It's just the two of us again... What should we do? Should we go find Ashikaga-sensei for special training?"

Although Asuna Yuuki asked if she wanted to go for special training with Miwa Ashikaga, she actually didn't want to go. Asagiri could see through her true thoughts and extended an invitation with a smile.

"Shall we go on a date? Apart from that time you accompanied me to buy clothes, we haven't really had a proper date yet. This time, you can choose the date location."

"Really? That would be great."

Upon hearing this, Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but smile happily, but then hesitated.

"But... is it really okay to waste time on things like this instead of focusing on improving your strength...?"

"You're too hard on yourself."

Asagiri gently grasped Yuuki Asuna's hand and spoke softly.

"Work hard when you need to, and relax when you need to. A balance between work and rest is the right thing to do. A string that is too tense will break."

5

Chapter 05: A Date with Asuna.

Hearing Asagiri's words, Yuuki Asuna relaxed a little, first showing a smile, then her eyes became somewhat dim, and she said softly.

"I remember I only told you about my parents' occupations, but I did tell you in detail about my upbringing, right?"

Asagiri put down her cola cup, turned slightly to the side, took Yuuki Asuna's hand, and said solemnly.

"Appreciate further details."

"Isn't it a bit unnecessary to be so serious?"

Yuuki Asuna chuckled as she said this, then pursed her lips and slowly began to speak.

“My father was very busy with work, and it was normal for him to not come home for several days or even more than ten days. So when I was young, my mother was basically responsible for my studies and education.”

"As I told you before, my mother is a university professor. Maybe it's because of her profession, or maybe it's just her personality, but in any case, she is a very serious person, and in many people's eyes, she could be described as rigid."

“From childhood to adulthood, her requirements for me have always been simple: I must become the best person, which is what is known as elite education, so…”

At this point, Asuna Yuuki fell silent. After a long while, she spoke in a complex tone that seemed somewhat sentimental.

“My mother has always held me to the highest standards, and in order not to disappoint her, I have always held myself to the highest standards. I have never thought about what kind of life I want to live or what goals I have. All along, the goals she set for me are my goals, and the path she set for me is the path I will take. Even the decision to enroll in the high school of the private Shujiwon Academy was made for me.”

"Of course, I'm not saying this because I have a problem with my mother, or because I resent her for making decisions for me without my consent. From her perspective, the path she chose for me is the most correct one, one that will definitely lead me to become an elite. I know very well that she loves me, but..."

Asuna Yuuki's voice trembled slightly.

"After meeting you, Kotoko, and Megumi, and after entering this death game, I suddenly felt a sense of relief. It was as if I was truly 'alive' when I was with you all, like I was breathing. Deep down, I was even grateful for the existence of this game, grateful that I was chosen and that I met you all... Such thoughts are terrible, aren't they..."

"It is indeed quite bad."

Asagiri first expressed her approval, but before Yuuki Asuna could say anything, she changed the subject and said in a smiling tone.

"But then again, it's not just you. Kotoko and I are also very glad that we were able to enter this death game. When I was selected to enter the instance, I was almost bursting out laughing."

"really?"

Yuuki Asuna smiled at Asagiri's words and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"But you seemed quite calm at the time?"

Asagiri replied with a light laugh.

"What you're saying is ridiculous. Wasn't it because you were there that I had to suppress my joy? If I suddenly burst out laughing in that situation, wouldn't you think I'm crazy?"

Asuna Yuuki imagined the scene in her mind and nodded in deep agreement.

"Indeed, I was so nervous that my legs were shaking. And your outfit was so scary, and you were carrying a drill and a chainsaw. If you had suddenly burst out laughing, I probably would have thought you were some kind of psychopathic killer."

After saying that, Asuna Yuuki smiled and teased him in a playful tone.

"However, my first impression of you was indeed similar to that of a psychopathic killer."

"That's just because I was wearing a mask and sunglasses, so you couldn't see my handsome face, right?"

Upon hearing this, Asuna Yuuki was slightly speechless, then sighed and muttered something under her breath.

"You're really narcissistic."

"Anyway..."

Asagiri stopped smiling, looked directly at Yuuki Asuna's face, and said softly.

"Your thoughts aren't malicious. After all, I'm glad I became a player, and even more glad that I got to know you through this deadly game."

Upon hearing this, Asuna Yuuki's pretty face flushed red, and her eyes brightened as she shyly replied.

"You...you're pulling another surprise attack like this..."

After saying that, Asuna Yuuki suddenly smiled as if she had thought of something.

"Oh, right, there's a place I've always wanted to go, but I've never been before, so I asked my handsome boyfriend to take me there!"

……

Half an hour later, in an arcade in a large shopping mall in Shibuya.

"This is the place you wanted to come to?"

Asagiri looked around the arcade in front of her. Because it was an arcade inside a shopping mall in the bustling area of ​​Shibuya, rather than one of those street-side arcades, the environment was very clean and tidy. No one was smoking or shouting inside; it was mostly parents playing with their children.

"correct."

Asuna Yuuki gazed curiously at the various facilities in the arcade, her delicate face displaying an adorable, little girl-like expression, her voice filled with anticipation and excitement.