Chapter 54: The Main Heroine with a Faint Presence
"Why are you both staring at me like that?"
Noticing Asuna and Kotoko's stunned expressions, Asagiri calmly reeled in the chain connected to the Rope Dart. He wrapped it around his hand and forearm with practiced ease, then casually flicked the bloodstained dart head through the air.
He even drew smooth circles beside him, like he was spinning a toy.
"Even without my Persona, dealing with a Banshee at this level is still easy for me."
"The problem is you're way too exaggerated…"
Asuna's complaint only made it halfway out before a furious roar cut through the lobby.
The bullheaded Banshee tore itself free from the cratered wall. Its massive, fur covered frame thudded back onto the floor, hooves scraping, breath steaming with rage.
"Tch… it's really that hard to kill?"
"Good," Kotoko said softly. "If it were fragile, we wouldn't get to practice."
She raised a hand and covered her right prosthetic eye, leaving only her left eye exposed as she met the Banshee's gaze head on.
"Curse Gaze."
The instant she activated the skill, a light dizziness rolled through her. The fatigue that followed was sharp and immediate, like a warning that mental energy was being burned.
Then Kotoko's deep purple left eye dimmed slightly. A faint black haze seemed to bloom within her pupil.
"Rrr…!"
The Banshee's body, tense and ready to charge, suddenly wobbled. It shook its head violently, as if its momentum had been chopped in half, but even standing straight became a struggle.
At the same time, Asuna, more than ten meters away, tightened her grip on the Exorcist Longsword.
Her slim figure surged forward like a blade catching light.
All her explosive power poured into one straight thrust.
"Leader!"
"Got it."
Asagiri, positioned less than three meters from the Banshee, nodded once. He watched the monster stagger in its dizzy state and spoke in a low, steady voice.
"King's Gambit."
In the next instant, Asagiri vanished from where he stood.
And Asuna appeared.
She replaced his position mid sprint, her body still carrying full speed, full balance, full intent.
It was like a teleport that didn't interrupt motion at all.
The Banshee's eyes widened. It tried to react, tried to lift an arm, tried to brace.
Too late.
The sword tip, flashing cold and clean, filled the reflection of its pale white eyes.
......
"Is it over…?"
Asuna's thrust had pierced straight through the Banshee's head. She didn't pull back immediately. She held the hilt tight, watching the creature's massive body dissolve into drifting fragments.
Only when the last trace vanished did she finally exhale and dismiss the Exorcist Longsword.
"That combo is terrifying," Kotoko said, adjusting her beret with a smile. "Leader's King's Gambit preserves the state of both people when swapping positions."
She glanced at Asagiri, eyes bright with approval.
"That means a full speed Violet can instantly appear over ten meters closer, right in the enemy's face. No warning. No reaction time."
Asagiri nodded, amused.
"True. But only Violet can do it safely with me. If someone without her reaction speed and balance gets swapped mid sprint, they'll lose control and run straight into an enemy's counter."
Kotoko blinked innocently, then made a playful, sweet expression.
"Then it doesn't have to be a combo. You can bind multiple people anyway. If I'm ever in danger, I'll trouble you to use it to save me, Leader~"
"Haa…"
Asuna lowered her gaze to her hands and let out a long breath.
"I can kind of feel it. After killing that thing… my speed really did increase a little."
Asagiri nodded solemnly, like he was delivering a mission briefing.
"Good. Strive to become Flash Asuna as soon as possible. Shiny Pokémon are something every trainer wants to collect."
"Collect what…? What do you even take me for…?"
"Family," Asagiri answered instantly.
"Really family…?"
Asuna looked skeptical, but the corners of her lips still betrayed her. She lifted a hand and tucked a strand of flaxen hair behind her ear, trying to regain composure.
"Even if Necro made the monster yank out the camera wire, we should still leave before the security guards show up. We can talk after we get back."
"No," Asagiri said suddenly, eyes shifting. "It's not over."
He looked toward the far side of the lobby.
"You've been standing there watching for a while. You even listened to our conversation. Aren't you going to come say hello?"
"Huh?"
Asuna and Kotoko both froze.
They followed his gaze.
Only then did they notice her.
A girl stood quietly beside a water dispenser, so still she could have been part of the scenery. She wore a white dress with a red jacket and a white beret.
"Eh… since when…?"
Kotoko and Asuna were both stunned.
They hadn't noticed her at all. Not once. Not during the fight, not during the conversation.
Looking closer, the girl had short hair and a delicate, cute face. Her figure was slender and tall, but clearly curved in a way Kotoko could not compete with no matter how much she complained about it.
Yet her presence felt strange.
Like calm lake water without ripples. Like a fawn strolling through a quiet forest.
Even while Asuna and Kotoko stared straight at her, they still felt as if she might slip out of their awareness the moment they blinked.
"Um… I'm sorry."
Her voice was pleasant, steady, and oddly soothing. There was no panic in it, no urgency, just a comfortable pace that made people relax despite themselves.
"I wasn't trying to eavesdrop. I just felt like it wasn't a good time to interrupt earlier."
She paused politely, then continued.
"I should introduce myself."
She gave them a small, composed nod.
"Hello. I'm a first year student at Private Toyosaki Academy, Kato Megumi. It's nice to meet you."
Asuna hesitated, eyes narrowing slightly.
This girl named Kato Megumi…
Wasn't she a little too calm?
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