"GGO?" Hachiman echoed, the name unfamiliar. He turned to Rosalia for more details.
"From what I heard, it's a new FPS game built on The Seed framework, set to release soon," Rosalia explained.
"An FPS, huh? Makes sense in a VR setting—it'd be first-person by default. Anything else you know about it?" Hachiman pressed.
Rosalia paused, thinking. "Sorry, I'm not really up on that kind of info. But, you know, Zaimokuza-san might have more details."
"Got it. I'll poke him about it later. Speaking of which, how's he holding up here at work?" Hachiman asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Rosalia smiled at his expression. "Well, I've never heard anyone speak ill of him, if that's what you're worried about."
"Good to know," Hachiman said, visibly relieved.
Seeing his reaction, Rosalia's smile widened as she turned the question back on him. "You're that worried about Zaimokuza-san?"
"What? No way I'm worried about that guy," Hachiman scoffed, looking away. "It's just… he used to be a mess with people, so I was curious if he's managing."
"You're freaking out over nothing," Rosalia teased. "You just said you were worried."
"Must've misheard," Hachiman muttered, dodging her gaze.
Rosalia stifled a laugh. "Zaimokuza-san's… mature for his age, you could say. He doesn't talk much on his own, but when you ask him something, he answers thoroughly. People like him."
"Got it," Hachiman said, nodding on the surface but inwardly less charitable. (Mature for his age? Sounds like code for "looks old." Not talking much is just him being him, and "thorough" probably means he's overexplaining in a panic. Corporate life's giving him a glow-up, huh?)
Still, watching Zaimokuza from a distance, surrounded by people who'd once been his natural enemies, Hachiman was genuinely impressed. No averted gazes, no stammering—just clear, confident answers to their questions.
"He's come a long way," Hachiman admitted quietly.
"I don't know his past, but he's doing fine now. You can relax," Rosalia said.
"I wasn't worried," Hachiman insisted.
"You're contradicting yourself left and right," Rosalia shot back, smirking.
They stood for a moment, watching Zaimokuza's newfound poise. Eventually, Hachiman broke the silence. "Alright, I'm heading back. Thanks for the info."
Rosalia nodded, then, as if it had been nagging at her, asked, "Hey, are you thinking about trying GGO?"
"Maybe. I'm not ruling it out," Hachiman replied vaguely.
"It's probably safe, but… be careful. You know who you're dealing with," she warned.
Hachiman couldn't help it—he snorted. "Sorry, it's just… never thought you'd be the one worrying about me."
"What? I can care about people too!" Rosalia huffed.
"Yeah, my bad. See you, Rosalia."
"Later, Hachiman," she said, turning on her heel and walking away.
Hachiman muttered a quiet "Keep it up" to her retreating figure before heading back to Zaimokuza and the others.
"Looks lively over here," Hachiman called out.
"Hachiman-kun!" Asuna exclaimed, starting toward him.
"Hachiman! Why'd you abandon me?!" Zaimokuza cried, beating her to it with surprising speed.
Asuna blinked, caught off guard by Zaimokuza's agility, but seeing the easy camaraderie between the two, she stepped back with a warm smile, hands clasped behind her, watching fondly.
"Zaimokuza, you're actually talking to girls normally now," Hachiman said, impressed. Then, leaning in close, he whispered, "These are the kind of people who'd have been your high school kryptonite. Never thought I'd see you holding your own like this. Nice work, man."
"I've grown, Hachiman!" Zaimokuza declared proudly. "Though, frankly, I'm more shocked you're so chill hanging out with this crowd—especially that Hellfire…"
"It's just a matter of getting used to it," Hachiman said with a shrug.
"Habit, huh? I suppose running from things changes nothing…" Zaimokuza mused.
"Figuring that out's a win in itself, right?"
"Y-You think so?" Zaimokuza asked, hopeful.
"Yep," Hachiman confirmed.
The two exchanged grins, laughing together. Seeing their conversation wrap up, Asuna and the others swarmed around them, and the chatter resumed. Seizing the moment, Hachiman decided to probe Zaimokuza about GGO.
"So, I was looking into The Seed stuff recently," he said casually. "What's the deal these days? Seems like some games are getting decent buzz. Like, say, GGO—what's that about? You know anything, Zaimokuza?"
Asuna froze for a split second at the mention of GGO. Then, composing herself, she put on a neutral, curious expression, waiting for Zaimokuza's response.
(Hachiman-kun just dropped that on purpose, playing it cool—I know him too well, Asuna thought. It's my wife's intuition, if I do say so myself. He doesn't seem to be hiding anything shady, though. When he's like this, he's usually got a solid reason—like protecting me, maybe? Okay, that's a bit self-important, but I'll stay out of his way for now. Still, GGO… a game, huh? What's going on with it?)
Asuna tucked the name away in her mind.
"GGO, huh?" Zaimokuza said. "What do you already know?"
"Nothing," Hachiman admitted. "Just the name, that it's an FPS, and it's got a decent rep."
"Right. GGO stands for Gun Gale Online. Like you said, it's an FPS," Zaimokuza began.
"Wait, what's an FPS?" Yumiko interjected, looking puzzled. The others seemed equally confused, so Hachiman gave a quick rundown.
"It's a game where you shoot guns, basically."
"Oh, like those arcade games?" Yumiko said.
"Kind of like a survival game?" Yukino ventured.
"Saba-ge!" Iroha chirped.
"Pretty much," Hachiman said. "Zaimokuza, go on."
Zaimokuza nodded. "There are tons of FPS games out there, but GGO's got a unique hook—you can exchange in-game currency for real money."
"Oh, like those old games," Klein remarked.
"Something like that Life thing?" Lisbeth added.
Zaimokuza nodded again. "They've got tournaments too, and player-versus-player combat's as free as in ALO. I suspect its… gritty, cutthroat vibe is what's making it popular, given the state of things these days."
"Got it. That kind of game," Hachiman said, processing the info.
(Just hearing about it doesn't give me the full picture, but it does sound like something they'd be into. Might need to make a character and do some undercover recon…) Hachiman resolved to check out GGO.
Asuna watched him quietly. (I don't know what you're planning, Hachiman-kun, but don't do anything dangerous…)
Later, the group hit up Saizeriya for dinner, wrapping up the day's visit. Zaimokuza, thrilled to reconnect with Hachiman and hold his own with people he'd once found intimidating, beamed with newfound confidence as he saw them off.
On the drive back, Hachiman dropped Asuna off at her dorm. As they pulled up, he brought up GGO unprompted.
"Hey, Asuna, you seemed curious earlier about GGO."
"Oh, yeah," she replied, caught slightly off guard.
"Look, don't worry about it. It might just be me overthinking things. I don't have enough to go on yet, but if something comes up, I'll fill you in, okay?"
"Got it," Asuna said, peering into his face. "Still, you caught my reaction in a split second. That's impressive."
"I'm tuned in to your looks," Hachiman said with a smirk.
Asuna's smile held a trace of worry. "Just don't do anything risky, okay?"
"Promise," Hachiman said, nodding firmly.
"Good enough for now," Asuna said, her tone softening. "I wasn't going to bring it up if you didn't, but I'm kinda glad you told me."
"Sorry about that," Hachiman said sheepishly.
Asuna laughed, leaning in to plant a quick kiss on his cheek. "See you, Hachiman-kun. Thanks for the ride!"
"Later, Asuna," he called as she waved and disappeared into the dorm.
Left alone, Hachiman drove off, his thoughts swirling around GGO.
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