Reality.
Coming down to the entrance, Sora peeked out through the peephole and found a beautiful, brown-haired girl who was quite a stranger. She was holding a square box, and her eyes seemed a little nervous but feigned calm as she stood there.
(Who is this? A delivery person?)
(Are the standards for delivery people this high now? If Yuu knew, he'd definitely think strange things again, like a gender-swapped version of a plumber/electrician coming to the house...)
Sora shook her head, casting strange thoughts from her mind, pressed the doorknob, and only cautiously poked her head out.
"Excuse me, can I help you?"
"Uh, hello... You're Tenkuji-kun's sister, right?" The beautiful, brown-haired girl seemed a little surprised to see her, and then quickly showed a gentle and friendly smile, "Is your brother home? I don't think I've officially greeted you before. I'm his friend, Yuuki Asuna..."
"Yuuki Asuna?"
It was only after she said it that Sora suddenly remembered—this girl, wasn't she the one rumored to have fought with her older brother in a game, possessing terrifying martial arts power, and even winning the national fencing championship?
They had met during the cultural festival, but at that time Asuna used the excuse of feeling unwell not to speak to anyone. They only looked at each other from afar, didn't say a word, and never officially got acquainted. With Sora's personality, how could she remember such a person?
That's why she didn't recognize her at first glance.
"Wait, so all of Yuu's girlfriends are gathered here..."
Suddenly realizing this, Sora mumbled softly, with a rather complicated expression.
"Is this just a coincidence, or is there really a mastermind behind all of this..."
After looking up and down at the other party with a strange expression, she suddenly took a deep breath, and slightly opened the door a crack.
"What's your business with Yuu... with my older brother? If this is about coming to the Christmas party, it seems you're a bit too early."
Although a little strange with her constantly changing expression, Asuna was also polite and didn't ask further. She simply stated her purpose directly: "Sorry, I didn't come for the Christmas party. I just want to confirm a few things with him... Is Tenkuji-kun home now?"
"He's home..."
Sora's face couldn't help but wrinkle. She showed a subtle expression of indescribable difficulty, as if she didn't know where to start explaining, or whether she should let the problems pile up even more by letting a stranger into her house.
However, on second thought, besides the fact that the other party's participation was likely part of fate, forcibly refusing would likely lead to unexpected consequences—after all, the more mosquitoes, the less the sting is felt. She could only blame Yuu for provoking all these girls and then falling into a coma, making it uncomfortable for his sister to refuse or agree, and in the end, only being able to accept reality helplessly.
Although one more person might mean one more commotion, in return, the possibility of saving her older brother should also be slightly higher...
Sora couldn't help but sigh. After rubbing her small face, she opened the door with a calm expression.
"If you have time now, come in and sit down... I'll explain what happened."
Most importantly, Yuu had indeed planned to gather his girlfriends to talk together. Now, it just happened a few hours earlier—
What's the harm in seeing these women clawing and bleeding each other a few hours earlier?
On Sora's sweet and calm face when she turned around, a wicked smile gradually appeared, a smile only evil women possessed.
"Eh? Why does it feel like something big is happening..."
Asuna instinctively hugged the box in her hands tightly and followed with a sense of dread.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Ehh—!?"
"Y-you said, Tenkuji-kun is in a coma because of a test given by a god, and you're trying to complete a mission in a notebook to wake him up as soon as possible from his suffering dream?"
Seeing the calm face of the teenager on the sofa whose head rested on his sister's lap, Asuna's surprised exclamation that had just come out was immediately muffled, as if her neck was strangled. Her face was full of shock and disbelief.
The sheer amount of information made her head throb a little. She subconsciously held her forehead, her brows deeply furrowed, her red lips pressed tightly. After a moment, she let out a muffled breath that was close to a groan from her lips.
"Haaah—This is too unusual... Although the things we encountered were basically not in line with common sense, why is this getting more and more out of hand..."
(If only I hadn't heard about his infidelity and mischief at the cafe earlier, I might still be surprised to see all his girlfriends gathered here to help him...)
(Hahaha, forget about recovering memories! I'd better take this opportunity to punish the comatose Yuu-kun; let him know the bad fate of a flirtatious man!)
(Or just cut Yuu-kun!)
Thinking desperately like that, Asuna took a deep breath, forcibly came to her senses from her confusion, and looked at Sora across from her with firm eyes.
"I won't ask unnecessary questions anymore, Sora-chan. You must have heard about me from him, right?"
While stroking her brother's hair, Sora nodded casually: "I have. You're also one of his girlfriends... Just like Natsukawa Masuzu, even though your memory hasn't fully recovered, you remember the last mission, right?"
"That's also thanks to his help." Asuna said straightforwardly, "So, is there anything I can help with? Or, is it better to meet and talk with the others first?"
"I'll call them down. Since everyone concerned is already gathered, it's a good time to have another meeting." Sora left the sofa, carefully placed Yuu's head on a pillow, and turned to walk out of the living room.
However, before going upstairs, she glanced at Asuna with a warning look.
"I'll be right down. Please don't touch him... Touching with your mouth is also forbidden."
"I wouldn't do that! That's too rude!" Asuna protested with a half-flushed face. Then she thought of something, "You're so distrustful... Is there really anyone who does that?"
"I just hope there aren't any more perverted women among Yuu's girlfriends." Sora sighed a little wearily and hurried upstairs.
Leaving Asuna alone in the living room, watching over Yuu, who was breathing regularly and sleeping soundly.
After maintaining a serious posture for a few seconds, she suddenly looked left and right as if feeling guilty, and then peeked towards the stairs outside the door. After standing restlessly and taking a deep breath of the house's air, she suddenly stood up, as if she were a general determined to conquer a fortress. Asuna walked to the sofa where Yuu was lying, pulled up her skirt, and squatted down.
"Tenkuji-kun, wake up... Yuu-kun, can you hear me? I came looking for you..."
Her beautiful and flawless face approached, as if blowing air onto his face. Her white and delicate hands, like jade, were placed on his shoulders, shaking him while calling him in a low voice.
Although her cheeks were so red they looked like they would drip blood, Asuna still looked serious, trying to wake him with a worried expression.
There was no one beside her; she couldn't even see her own expression, so her voice was naturally filled with love and tenderness.
Unfortunately, even though she called him several times, Yuu couldn't even make his eyelids twitch.
Although Yuu was just sleeping, there was a feeling that his soul had left this world and would never return.
"My goodness, you were so lively and uttered all sorts of trash talk not long ago, but now you're so obedient..."
Rubbing her nose, which inexplicably felt sore, Asuna smiled helplessly. She dared to secretly kiss him while no one was around.
That fleeting kiss, as quick as a dragonfly's touch, created strange ripples in her heart. Memories like a lake's surface vaguely brought forth some familiar scenes.
Her finger gently caressed his numb and hot lips. Such a touch was clearly not the first time she had experienced it, and this accelerating heartbeat was definitely not the first time it had happened.
Yuuki Asuna was his girlfriend—unconsciously, she had acknowledged this view, or in other words, she didn't want to deny such an identity from the bottom of her heart.
The rest was to rediscover lost memories and openly demand accountability.
Staring deeply at his face, Asuna pursed her lips and said softly: "So, if you don't wake up soon, even if I recover my memories as quickly as possible, it will only make me suffer even more..."
The sound of chaotic footsteps came from upstairs.
When the girls, led by Sora, entered the living room, Asuna was already sitting upright in her place. Her somewhat awkward sitting posture and slightly embarrassed wry smile covered the blush that hadn't yet faded from her face, making her look like a shy child trying to blend in with the group, rather than a cat stealing fish who had just been bold.
"Umm, good afternoon, everyone..."
With Sora and Haruno acting as coordinators, the first meeting of the girlfriends was very successful.
After exchanging information, not only did Asuna have a deeper understanding of the current situation and the people in front of her, but they also learned various things between her and Yuu.
For example, how they formed a bond in the game, how she quickly locked onto the target after realizing something was wrong, how she willingly transferred schools for the man, how she discovered the special ability of Willpower during a duel at the cultural festival, and how she used Willpower to correct memories that should have been distorted...
Before discussing serious matters, Yukino was already very interested in this Willpower, even to the point of wanting to learn it immediately.
"Yuuki-san, can you teach me Willpower?"
Generally, she knew her classmate's experience, and she could also understand her desire to quickly recover her memories.
However, Asuna could only shake her head regretfully and look at her sincerely: "Sorry, Yukino-san. Let alone in the real world, even in the game, I still can't freely control this ability. I only know that it is an ability born from strong emotions, but I don't know its principles at all, let alone teach it..."
"I see..." Yukino bit her lip a little anxiously and lowered her head with a sigh. She didn't continue to bother the other party. "This information is enough. Thank you. I hope you can recover all your memories as soon as possible, and not be troubled by ambiguous feelings like mine anymore."
"Yes, I hope so too." Asuna said with a wry smile.
Beside her, Masuzu mumbled while holding her chin: "Sure enough, unusual things must be related to demons... Even Yuuki-san can be subdued. I really have to suspect if Yuu still has more ex-girlfriends out there..."
"If there are any more, I won't be able to take it~" Haruno said with a squinting smile, her tone sounding very cheerful, "Maybe I'll get angry and secretly snip off Yuu-chan's little thing and soak it in wine."
Masuzu expressed agreement with her eyes: "If that time comes, please count me in for a glass."
"You two, don't say such things in front of his little sister!"
Sora glared at them sharply. With a fierce, grinning expression, if the situation allowed, she might have already kicked both of them out the door.
At this moment, Utaha closed her notebook, sighed heavily, and glanced at the girls present with a speechless look.
"I say, let's end this reunion, okay? Am I the only outsider who's in a hurry to solve that man's problem?"
"Of course not, but rushing won't do any good, will it? If you're not relaxed, Yuu-chan will also feel uncomfortable if he knows."
Haruno calmly shrugged, trying to sneak a touch of Yuu, but was swatted back by an instantly enraged Sora. She could only pout annoyedly, rubbing her reddened hand.
"By the way, Kasumigaoka-senpai." Asuna suddenly remembered something. She turned and asked Utaha, who was already a little impatient, "During the cultural festival, you were the one who cut the power in the building, right? Even though we'd never met before, you knew my name, and you also lied to the president of the Virtual Research club and the others..."
"What can I do? I was forced by this thing."
With her black-stockinged legs crossed, Utaha tapped the black notebook on her lap. She propped her cheek with one hand and said without sincerity: "If I caused you trouble then, I can only apologize~ But I already made sure before cutting the main power that the sudden power outage wouldn't affect you. Besides, it was only a few seconds; it shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"..."
(Of course, it's not a problem for you, but it's a huge problem for me!)
(If it weren't for the sudden power outage, at that time I might have been able to recover my memories with Willpower and wouldn't have had to delay until now, facing another rival in a situation like this... How painful it is to fail on the verge of success; someone who hasn't experienced it certainly wouldn't know!)
Although there were many complaints in her heart, facing a senior who was a year older than her, Asuna swallowed all her complaints, sighed a little helplessly, and tried to maintain the ethics and elegance that her tone should have:
"I didn't mean to settle accounts with you either... Forget it, let it be."
"Good. The remaining topics will be discussed at the next girls' meeting! Let's start talking about serious matters. Asuna-chan, you just listen first!"
Haruno clapped her hands. Her dominating attitude and red eyes that seemed to see into people's hearts easily seized control of the atmosphere.
She looked around, and finally directed her gaze at Masuzu.
"Then, Masuzu-chan, have you found your key?"