Both of them entered the virtual world using their real appearances and names. Yuu did so out of laziness to change anything, while the girl in front of him probably just didn't think about it.
Initially, Yuu only felt she seemed vaguely familiar, as if they'd met somewhere before. But then he considered that anyone who could access this game now likely has a connection to Kouichirou, or more precisely, to the company RECT. Recalling the incident where he saved her by the artificial lake, he began forming guesses about her identity.
Finally, after seeing her name, Yuu was fully convinced that she was Yuuki Asuna, Kouichirou's unfortunate little sister who he'd always wanted to introduce to him.
Yuu never expected she'd also enter the game.
And, in theory, Asuna—who at the time only heard his voice and didn't see his appearance, a fact possibly erased by the system—shouldn't have any impression of him.
Yet now, the chestnut-haired girl, staring at the friend panel and lost in thought with an increasingly strange expression, after a moment of silence, looks up and asks him:
"Excuse me, is your full name Tenkuji Yuu?"
Slightly startled, Yuu answers unconsciously: "How did you know…"
"Then there's no mistake." Asuna sighs, as if exasperated with someone, then stands up, supporting herself on her knees.
"I didn't expect the first person I'd meet in the game would be you… You said a week, but it's been almost a month before you entered the game. I thought we'd never meet again."
"What are you talking about…"
While asking, Yuu raises his gaze to follow her movement, catching a glimpse of her beginner's short skirt swaying in the breeze, revealing a pair of full, pale thighs. Her frown and quick glance away are sharply noticed by the chestnut-haired girl.
Asuna immediately presses down her skirt, her face flushing darkly, and flashes an odd, twitching smile.
"Good! That's how it is—I can move without any psychological burden now."
Her sharp-looking rapier is drawn without hesitation from her waist, pointing straight at the stunned young man before her. The next second, a pink effect light glows from the blade, shimmering dazzlingly in her pupils.
"Even though you helped me a lot, to repay your kindness for sending me into this world, forgive my rudeness!"
Grass fragments scatter. As her soft shout lands, the girl suddenly stomps the ground hard. As if the air itself can't react, she transforms into a silent falling star, thrusting straight at Yuu's arm.
*CHIIING—*
But at the same moment, Yuu performs a one-handed backflip, nimbly pulling back, letting the glowing blade swing through empty air.
"So it wasn't just my imagination…"
Drawing his one-handed sword from his back, Yuu observes the girl's upright figure recovering from the stun, his expression slowly turning serious.
"Sword skills used with system guidance and those incorporating body movement instructions have a fundamental difference."
"Not only in enhanced power and speed, but the most important thing is flexibility and coordination when using sword skills… I've been meaning to ask, have you ever studied fencing in the real world?"
"Hmm, a bit, in gym class."
Answering with a clear, melodious voice, Asuna doesn't assume a stance. Instead, she bends her arm, pointing the sword upward, the guard near her lips, then extends her arm, leveling the sword straight at Yuu.
In his mind, with expert-level knowledge of various sword arts, Yuu naturally recognizes this as the salute stance before a fencing match.
Her chestnut hair flutters, her sharp eyes gleam, and Asuna stares straight at him, like a young colt trampling lilies.
"If so, sorry for saying this suddenly, but please allow me to stab you once."
"You should've said that before drawing your sword."
"There's no pain in this game, right? Just treat it like a monster attack—it'll be fine."
"Sorry, I'm not the type of guy who gets hit by a girl and doesn't fight back." The corner of Yuu's mouth curls into a smirk as he raises his one-handed sword straight up, like a baseball player ready for a home run, pointing the tip at her.
"Either way, you should tell me why you're doing this, right?"
Facing him, the girl answers without hesitation: "My brother asked me to teach a guy named Yuu, around my age, a lesson. Whether it's a sneak attack or a frontal duel, it's up to me… Though I didn't want to, since he didn't mind me taking his helmet, I can only apologize to you."
"No worries, you don't need to apologize. I'll make him apologize to me later."
Learning the reason, Yuu sighs as expected: "Geez, wouldn't it be better to just talk it out? Why be so impulsive and stab someone right away?"
"Eh… Because I was going to attack you." Asuna pauses, her blade dipping slightly, tilting her head to look at him in confusion.
"Who explains a bunch to their enemy before attacking?"
"You… fair point."
Faced with Asuna's straightforward answer, Yuu doesn't know whether to laugh or sigh in resignation.
In short, Yuu opens the menu, performs a few actions, and tosses a system window toward her.
"Here, just agree to it."
"This… a Duel Request?" Asuna lowers her sword, frowning in confusion. "Half-Damage Win-Loss Mode… Oh, right, I remember this option in the menu. Is this a more formal duel mode?"
"Exactly. Multiplayer online games always need a PVP feature. I don't know why your brother didn't tell you about it."
As she carefully presses the confirm button, a large window appears between them, displaying a 60-second countdown. Yuu continues:
"To avoid accidental casualties during a match, it's better to use the system-regulated duel mode… Besides, attacking someone without permission could turn you into an orange-name player."
The beginner's guide mentions that orange-name players, upon entering a town, will be immediately subdued by NPC guards and locked in the city jail, needing to complete a jail mission to be released.
Though he's unsure if the jail exists in the beta, Yuu doesn't want to see a planned teammate sent to prison—even if she attacked him earlier. If he's going to retaliate, it should be done properly and without worry.
"I didn't think of that… Thanks, Tenkuji-kun, I was too impulsive earlier."
Realizing this, Asuna sighs in relief, patting her chest, looking at him with guilt.
Yuu shrugs: "You're welcome; it's for my sake too."
When the countdown has only a dozen seconds left, he suddenly lowers his stance, pointing his sword tip to the ground, like a wolf ready to hunt, his entire body tense as he stares at the girl.
"Anyway, PVP is one of the joys of online games, and rare opportunities like this don't come often… I won't let you stab me so easily."
"Rapier Sword Girl, how about you teach me with your own strength?"