After leaving school, Yuuki Asuna and Asagiri arrived at the train station near the school. She pursed her lips and quietly asked,
"Is there anything else we need to prepare?"
Asagiri replied in a calm tone.
"Not really. The APP rules state that we are not allowed to bring any real-world items, equipment, armor, tools, or anything of the sort. Since this APP and the so-called Instances involve genuine supernatural power, the probability of successfully exploiting a bug, while not absolutely zero, is negligible. There's no need to waste time on that."
"Mm, I see..."
Yuuki Asuna nodded, then stopped speaking but didn't leave. She stood there, looking hesitant, as if she wanted to say something but held back.
Asagiri noticed her inner turmoil immediately and smiled.
"Since we're teammates, it's probably best if we stay together until we enter the second Instance, right?"
"Yes, that's exac—"
Yuuki Asuna cut herself off mid-sentence when she noticed the playful smile on Asagiri's face. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly changed the subject, kicking a small stone on the ground and trying to sound composed.
"Well... since you put it that way, you're the Leader, so I'll listen to you..."
"Yuuki-san."
"Huh? What is it?"
"Tsundere is outdated."
"I, I, who said I was a Tsundere!?"
"Such a classic Tsundere line."
Hearing Asagiri's teasing, Yuuki Asuna's face was flushed. She felt both shy and somewhat exasperated at being called a Tsundere. She let out a soft huff, raised a hand to adjust her flaxen hair, pursed her lips, took a deep breath, and then mustered the courage to ask.
"Then... your place... or mine?"
Asagiri frowned, looking confused, and countered with a question.
"What do you mean, your place or mine?"
"Huh? Are you serious?"
Yuuki Asuna furrowed her brow and patiently explained.
"You're not thinking of spending the time until we enter the Instance together at a cafe, an internet cafe, or a library, are you?"
"Putting aside the fact that staying in such a place for too long might attract unwanted attention, we must ensure the location where we enter the Instance is absolutely private and secure. Otherwise, if someone sees us suddenly vanish and then suddenly reappear after some time, our identities will be exposed."
"What if someone takes advantage of us entering the Instance to set up an ambush at our 'return point,' just waiting to launch a surprise attack when we come back?"
"To sum up, only the two places I mentioned are suitable as a 'return point' when we leave the Instance."
"Wait a moment..."
After saying all this, Yuuki Asuna suddenly felt something was off. A look of suspicion crossed her face as she stared intently at Asagiri.
"Since I could think of this, how could you not? Are you testing me again?"
Asagiri nodded, smiling, "It is partly a test, yes."
Yuuki Asuna pressed, "Partly? Does that mean there's another reason?"
"Yes."
Asagiri looked directly into Yuuki Asuna's eyes and spoke very seriously.
"I'm worried you might try to take advantage of the opportunity to enter the Instance to make a move on me at my house."
"I'll make a move on your head..."
Yuuki Asuna rolled her eyes and snapped back irritably. Recalling what Fujiwara Chika had said to her in the classroom, she felt utterly speechless.
Asagiri was handsome, but Yuuki Asuna, who understood his personality, no longer associated him with the image of a handsome high school student living in Tokyo.
If anything...
Compared to the weighty labels of the Shibuya Chainsaw Demon, the Psychic who can summon black shadows, the Man without Fear or Pity, and the Purely Pleasure-Seeking Player, his outstanding appearance was not worth mentioning.
"Come to my place."
After teasing Yuuki Asuna, Asagiri switched to the serious Player mode, ready to tackle the Instance.
"What if your parents suddenly decide to drop by for a weekend visit and happen to catch us just as we're about to enter or leave the Instance? That would be very difficult to explain. So, it's better to come to my house."
Yuuki Asuna asked curiously, "But isn't it also possible for your parents to suddenly visit?"
She only knew that Asagiri lived alone in Shibuya and was unaware of his family situation.
Asagiri shook his head and replied with a laugh.
"Heh, if that were to happen, we'd need to hire a professional exorcist."
After taking the train and arriving at the apartment Asagiri lived in, located in the bustling Shibuya area of Tokyo, Yuuki Asuna felt a little uneasy. After all, this was her first time visiting a boy's house, and... it was just her and Asagiri alone in the apartment.
After sitting down on the sofa, Yuuki Asuna smoothed out her skirt, took out a new set of sportswear she had bought from her shoulder bag, neatly folded it, and placed it next to her. She couldn't help but look around the living room's furnishings curiously. She wanted to know what the ordinary home life of someone with Asagiri's personality looked like, beyond the persona of the Instance Player and the Shuchiin genius.
Would you like me to continue translating the next part of the novel?
"Yuuki-san, please don't stare at my TV like a pervert, alright?"
Hearing Asagiri's words, Yuuki Asuna finally snapped back to reality and nodded sheepishly.
"Oh, oh, sorry, I was thinking about... wait, who's a pervert!?"
"See? You're rushing again."
Asagiri opened the refrigerator in the living room, took out a can of ice-cold Coca-Cola, twisted the cap open, and took a big gulp. He then looked at Yuuki Asuna, who was sitting somewhat stiffly on the sofa, and smiled.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Mineral water is fine, thank you."
"Here."
After taking the mineral water Asagiri tossed her, unscrewing the cap, and taking a small sip, Yuuki Asuna's nervousness eased slightly. She looked at him, seated on the single armchair, and initiated the conversation.
"Right, last night, I suddenly remembered the information we found in that asylum last time. I tried searching online for 'Mount Massive Asylum' and the name 'Chris Walker,' and it turns out the location name and the patient's name both come from a horror game called Outlast."