After being mysteriously shooed away and standing dumbfounded in front of Class F's door for quite a while.
Asuna didn't lose heart. She quickly found someone else to ask about the situation—this time it went smoothly. She happened to run into a Sōbu High student discussing Class F's play with his friend. His extremely shocked expression was somewhat similar to the dazed look of the double golden drill-haired girl earlier.
"Seriously, at first I thought they just wanted to do an improv comedy... But once that guy got on stage and delivered his lines, the entire theater's atmosphere completely changed..."
"I still remember his aura when he got serious and pointed the sword at those black-robed guys... Even though I was just sitting below the stage, I got chills like a sharp knife was at my throat. His acting was genuinely terrifying..."
"Can a normal person cut three prop scythes with a prop sword in one second? I don't get it, but I was totally shocked..."
"Why are you guys shocked? It's obviously a scene set up by Class F, just a gimmick! Tenkuji Yuu is too good at acting; that's why you mistakenly thought he was that amazing to cut three weapons at once~"
"But he's a national high school kendo champion, you know."
"Only team matches; it must be thanks to the others, right?"
"But he once beat Captain Himura from the kendo club and even split his shinai (bamboo sword). The others couldn't do that, could they?"
"Tch, let's say he has a bit of skill. The broken shinai was clearly an accident. Just because it was old and poorly maintained doesn't mean anything."
"...I get it, you're a Tenkuji Yuu hater?"
"...You're a hardcore fanboy?"
When the two had said everything she wanted to know and immediately started attacking each other on the spot, preparing for a friendly duel between fans and haters, Asuna had already quietly left the area, avoiding getting involved in such a boring dispute.
After asking a few more people nearby and confirming the situation again, minimizing misinformation as much as possible, she finally left Class F, pondering while biting into the tanghulu in her mouth.
"Not long ago, Tenkuji-kun participated in his class's improv play and conquered the entire audience with his outstanding acting..."
"Not only that, he used a one-handed sword to instantly cut three enemy weapons... They say it was a set-up scene? But some say the three scythes were genuinely forced apart; the sound was very real."
"After the curtain fell, he left the class with a group of women. Some curious people chased after and asked, but got no answer. Class F unanimously said it was just a performance effect. No one knows what's true and what's fake..."
That was the gist. There wasn't much useful information. Only two things caught Asuna's attention.
First, the incident where Yuu rapidly unleashed three consecutive strikes, cutting three weapons.
If it wasn't really a gimmick, then the claim that he had been playing the game for a long time and his strength was no less than hers became more credible.
This wasn't empty speculation from Asuna, forcibly connecting the two sides.
In that virtual reality game, the one-handed sword three-strike skill—「Sharp Claws」—happened to have the property of reducing weapon durability. If the attributes met the requirements, the skill could even directly destroy an opponent's weapon in PVP (Player versus Player).
And for a heavyweight player like Yuu, who was extremely proficient with his beloved weapon like an extension of his limbs, as long as his real-world physical condition was good enough, it was perfectly natural for him to use in-game sword skills when holding a weapon, right?
After all, in the last National Championship, Asuna had used 「Star Splash」 and 「Quadruple Thrust」 multiple times. Those dazzling and highly accurate thrusting attacks always caught opponents off guard, losing points in the blink of an eye.
However, at that time, Sword Art Online hadn't been publicly released yet. Her older brother hadn't watched the matches either, so no one knew—turns out there was a player using skills from an online game to fight opponents in a large-scale national tournament and even winning with them.
It was like someone beating Tyson with Pegasus Ryūsei Ken; thinking about it now was indeed over the top.
"What a shame; if I could see it myself or watch a recording, I could confirm if he really used 「Sharp Claws」, and thus prove his identity as a player too..."
Asuna frowned slightly. Her soft and beautiful face sank a bit with seriousness, concentrating on her thoughts.
"Even if he did use it, doing so with plastic props means he might be even more impressive than I thought..."
No, this wasn't the time to think about whether he was impressive or not!
Asuna quickly shook her head, shaking out that somehow ignited fighting spirit from the hallway—she came to meet him, not to fight.
And the second thing she cared about was Yuu's current whereabouts.
According to passersby, Yuu left directly through the back door after the play ended. It was less than ten minutes from when she was held up by snacks. It seemed she could catch up if she hurried.
However, Asuna didn't know the direction and wasn't familiar with Sōbu High. Searching randomly like a headless fly might work, but it would definitely take time and energy to wander around; if unlucky, she might not see him all day even walking the entire campus.
Fortunately, there was a rough and simple way to solve this immediately—calling and directly asking for directions.
So, what Asuna actually cared about right now was something else.
"They say he's strolling around the Cultural Festival with his family and girlfriend? He really knows how to enjoy life, Tenkuji-kun..."
Even though she knew the two were just ordinary friends, a slight sourness and dissatisfaction couldn't be held back, overflowing in her heart, exactly like a jealous little girlfriend—but she wasn't his girlfriend!
That castle-in-the-air-like feeling of liking and jealousy left Asuna confused about what to do. However, she couldn't reject or deny her feelings at all. In the end, she could only feel upset alone.
"Hmph! Fine then!"
A cold light flashed in her eyes. Asuna suddenly opened her mouth, revealing two rows of neat, pearly white teeth. Her soft and beautiful face showed a rare fierce expression.
Then, she bit into the remaining tanghulu skewer.
Turning sadness into appetite, she planned to finish all the snacks in her hands first, then go find the person who clearly hadn't done anything wrong to her, but suddenly she felt he was a vile traitor!
Ignoring the strange looks from passersby, Asuna lowered her head like that, gracefully and quickly finishing a bag of snacks she bought along the way, in the shaded hallway.
Just as she was almost done eating, her ears suddenly twitched. She heard familiar words passing in front of her.
"What did Yukino say?"
"They're at the gymnasium. The music club performance is happening there. She has to ensure the event runs smoothly... Yuu-chan is there too; it seems he'll go on stage later."
"Oh? What instrument does he play?"
"So far, I've only heard piano. His level is above professional."
"Meaning, both acting and piano skills are at an extremely high level unmatched for his age... Tenkuji Yuu, this kid isn't bad."
"Hehe~ Of course! Otherwise, what right does he have to be your daughter's boyfriend?"
"You're right... But Haruno, that has nothing to do with you, right? Why are you so proud of him?"
"Ahem, it's fine. I'm just proud of my sister's taste... Well, let's hurry and go see! I hope we don't miss it again this time."
After the voices faded away, Asuna suddenly raised her head, her expression a mix of shock and confusion.
She deftly packed up the trash and blended into the crowd as if nothing happened. Her eyes locked far ahead on the backs of the two women, following them toward what seemed to be the gymnasium.
At the same time, she pondered seriously, digesting the large amount of information she had just received.
"Yukino... Yuu-chan..."
The two speaking were Mrs. Yukinoshita and Haruno, who were almost her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Asuna of course recognized them from meeting during the family gatherings.
Yukino, Haruno's younger sister, the new friend she made on the Kyoto trip, just like Yuigahama; though they hadn't contacted each other after returning, she couldn't possibly forget the name that quickly.
(As for Yuu-chan... Could that be Tenkuji Yuu?)
(His relationship with Haruno-san is that good?! To the point of using nicknames. Then I could too...)
(Wait, that's not the most important thing!)
"Tenkuji-kun is dating Yukinoshita-san!?"
This was the most shocking information.
"True or false, since when..."
Muttering in disbelief, Asuna couldn't help recalling how the two interacted contradictorily during the Kyoto trip—However, no matter how hard she thought, she couldn't imagine them dating affectionately.
So the girl strolling the Cultural Festival with him and his family was Yukino, cold on the outside but warm inside, and easily provoked?
"No, why not Yuigahama-san? Back then, she was already chasing Tenkuji-kun..."
In the end, a month later, her crush was stolen by her own best friend, becoming a victim in a love triangle?
Oh God, is this the love story at Sōbu High... You never get what you want, but accidentally get what you don't...
The more she thought, the more off-track it got. Asuna couldn't help rubbing her temples. Her beautiful face looked a bit wrinkled.
(...My head hurts. I shouldn't have come today. What is all this I'm encountering.)
"Whatever, I'll go there and see the situation... There might be a misunderstanding I don't understand."
She still didn't like assuming the worst first.
Sighing deeply, Asuna patted her cheeks, forcing her attention away from the complicated romance, and thinking of something fun to relax.
(From their conversation earlier, it seems Tenkuji-kun will go on stage to play piano?)
Asuna couldn't help showing an expectant expression. Even her steps unconsciously became cheerful. She followed the two down the stairs, eagerly walking toward the school building exit.
"What famous song will he play... No, if it's him, he'll definitely pick a rare and difficult piece to show off, or compose a beautiful song himself to be narcissistic?"
She guessed naturally, though she didn't know much about Yuu at all.
For some reason, a strong longing enveloped Asuna's chest, making her heart feel a slight choke and ache.
So strange.
She had only known him for three full days in Kyoto. Of course, she had never seen him play piano or heard the melody flowing from his fingers.
Yet, somehow, a faint familiar melody began to sound from the depths of her mind. It seemed to have his name faintly written on it. Before she could hear it clearly, the melody, like a broken music box, gradually distorted until it finally vanished.
"What is this... Why is it like this..."
Carrying indescribable sadness and palpitations, Asuna pressed her lips together, quickened her pace, and entered the gymnasium with the Yukinoshita mother and daughter.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
After finishing the play and leaving the class, brushing off curious audience members, before Yuu could decide whether to go up or down, Yukino's call helped him choose.
"Would you mind going on stage to perform?" Her voice was still cold and firm, but it hid a softness unknown to others.
"Mm..."
Without thinking, Yuu reflexively wanted to tease her, to set the mood first.
But he paused slightly. He secretly glanced at Mama Yuigahama curiously looking his way. Yuu didn't turn because he felt guilty, but swallowed the flirtatious line 'I'd gladly be a clown for you' in his throat, and said seriously:
"Why? Can you tell me the reason?"
"The music club performance is being held in the gymnasium. One group suddenly can't perform, and the others can't change their schedules either. We have to find a way to fill the empty slot."
Yukino sighed lightly. She explained in a concise and strong voice, as if not wanting others to think she was exhausted.
Anyway, she believed whatever she said, Yuu would understand her intent, so no need for many words.
"I understand; I'll be right there."
Not disappointing her, Yuu's expression immediately turned serious. He glanced at Yuigahama and the others, asking with slight embarrassment: "By the way, Sora, Yui, and Mama Yuigahama will come too. There should still be seats in the gymnasium."
"...They're coming too?"
She was surprised for a moment. After muttering with complicated feelings, Yukino's voice returned to normal, saying flatly as usual: "Of course there are seats. They can choose wherever they like. Then Tenkuji-kun, enter through the staff path to help me. I'll tell you the specific plan later..."
"Okay, wait for me; I'll be there soon."
After the call ended, Yuu pocketed his phone, turned to face the three women, and shrugged slightly helplessly.
"As you saw... Sorry, we might have to go to the gymnasium first."