Chapter 82: The Teacher for Special Combat Skill Training
When Kotoko suddenly blurted out something that outrageous, Asuna's expression darkened a fraction.
"Calm down."
She was genuinely speechless.
An abstract male leader and a shameless loli who said scandalous things like it was small talk. Thankfully, among the four of them, there was still one normal person, Megumi, who attended Private Toyogasaki Academy. Otherwise, Asuna would start worrying that if she stayed around these two for too long, she would catch whatever mysterious "abstract disease" they had.
Just imagining herself starting to act like them made her scalp tingle.
She absolutely could not be infected.
"Tch. I'm not sleeping with you, so mind your own business," Kotoko snapped back, as aggressive as ever.
Of course, she did not truly dislike Asuna. Kotoko simply loved bickering and teasing her, the way a cat loved knocking things off tables.
Then she switched gears immediately, eyes bright as she started calculating.
"Anyway, if we're entering a second stage Dungeon, we should sign up on the twenty eighth day… no, the twenty ninth day. That way we'll enter on the thirty second day after the server opened. According to the rules, difficulty will definitely rise after a month."
As she spoke, Kotoko first glanced at Asuna, then at Asagiri on the opposite sofa.
"However… once the one month mark passes, the game's test in the real world officially begins too."
Asuna understood what Kotoko meant. She pressed her lips together and spoke softly.
"Most Players don't have the courage to sign up on their own. So when the one month limit is about to end, the app will forcibly arrange Dungeons for them." Her voice lowered. "People who cannot even face a Dungeon willingly… their completion rate won't be high."
From the outside, it would look like a mass disappearance, concentrated within a day or two.
"And from the real world's perspective," Asuna continued, "that's going to be a large scale missing persons case. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and other agencies will definitely take notice."
She exhaled, the weight of it pressing down.
"This game is too hard. We have to clear Dungeons, hide that we're Players, and later… we might have to face Black Watch, those elite soldiers." Her eyes dimmed for a moment. "Even the relationships between Players are unstable. One careless move and we could become enemies."
People she could trust. People she could rely on.
Her voice softened.
"Only us… right?"
Asagiri's voice came with a relaxed smile.
Asuna's eyes regained their light immediately. She looked at him across the room and met his gaze. The unease in her chest, the confusion, all of it thinned out, as if someone had finally opened a window.
"Yes," she said firmly. "We'll definitely win."
"Hey, hey, hey."
Kotoko's senses were sharp when it came to atmosphere. The moment she saw the two of them smiling at each other like that, she rolled dramatically across the sofa, wailing like a wronged child.
"Wuwuwu! What kind of people are you… I was first! There's a bull, there's a bull!"
"What nonsense are you even saying?" Asuna's face heated up as she snapped back. "Besides, if we're talking about who was first, I met Asagiri first, didn't I? You're third in the team. You're the third party!"
Kotoko puffed her cheeks, then abruptly sat up straight and switched to her emergency topic change mode with flawless speed.
"I'm hungry. Let's go eat."
Asuna rolled her eyes.
"Every time you lose an argument, you change the subject with the same clumsy trick."
Even so, she pulled two bento boxes from her shoulder bag. She handed one to Asagiri and smiled gently.
"I made these before I left home. You burned so much stamina, you must be starving. Eat while it's still warm."
Asagiri took it and nodded, smiling.
"Thank you."
"Huh?"
Kotoko stared at the bento in Asuna's hand, then at the one she had just given to Asagiri, looking genuinely stunned.
"Didn't you sleep at my house?"
Asuna nodded without hesitation. "Yes. Why?"
"Then that means…"
"Oh." Asuna's smile stayed sweet. "I borrowed your kitchen and ingredients. But I didn't make one for you. Go buy one at the school store."
"What?!"
Kotoko's expression collapsed. She hugged a cushion like it was her last lifeline and cried out like the world had betrayed her.
"You slept in my bed, used my kitchen, used my ingredients, and made a bento for Asagiri? And you didn't make one for me? There's a bull! This is definitely a bull! You're too much!"
"Here."
Before Kotoko could finish spiraling, Asuna pulled out a third bento box and offered it, failing to hide her laughter.
"I'm teasing you. I made yours too."
Kotoko huffed and raised her chin.
"Hmph. You think just because of this, I'll…"
Asuna flipped the lid open.
The aroma rose immediately, warm and rich. Kotoko's stomach, still hollow from all the stamina she had burned in the Dungeon, nearly growled on cue.
"Hmph… hmph!"
She snatched the bento, picked up a meatball with her chopsticks, and popped it into her mouth. The scowl lasted exactly one second before happiness spread across her face.
"Since it's come to this," she declared solemnly, "we'll eat first."
…
Two days later, Friday afternoon, outside Private Fengzhizaki.
"Utsunomiya, Asuna Yuuki, sorry to keep you waiting."
Only when Megumi's voice spoke up beside her did Asuna turn, slightly startled. Megumi stood there in her school uniform as if she had always been there.
"Huh? Megumi, when did you arrive?" Asuna blinked. "I didn't even notice. Did you use your talent again?"
"No." Megumi shook her head, voice as calm and gentle as usual. "I'm just not noticeable to begin with."
Asuna stiffened slightly. Megumi had mentioned before that her low presence made her feel sad sometimes. Asuna was searching for a way to change the subject when Asagiri spoke first, sounding oddly impressed.
"As expected of Megumi. If I had a talent like that…" He clicked his tongue. "Tch. I wouldn't even dare imagine what I'd do."
Asuna immediately shot him a look.
"Normally, that's the kind of thing you keep in your head. Who says that out loud like a criminal confession?"
"Heh. That just means I'm consistent inside and out. I speak honestly, face my true inner self and desires, and that's why I awakened the power of an unrestrained Persona."
"Wasn't it about facing the fear of death? How did it become 'true desires' again?" Asuna frowned. "And you say 'face,' but you sound like you're bragging."
"Um."
Megumi cut in softly, perfectly timed.
"Could you flirt later? Aren't we here for something serious?"
Hearing Megumi call it flirting, Asuna's cheeks warmed, but the corners of her lips still lifted slightly despite herself.
"Right. Serious business."
Asagiri cleared his throat twice and spoke with mock gravity.
"Based on your talents and professions, you're both physical, close range types. One uses a sword, the other is currently using a dagger. So here's the issue."
He held up a finger.
"The app can raise our physical parameters, but it doesn't directly improve combat technique. Anyone who's played games knows stats and gear matter, but so does the player's skill."
He looked at Asuna, then at Kei.
"So you two need special training in actual combat."
Megumi's expression did not change. "That kind of training is important, yes. But who can we find? It has to be someone we can trust, and someone proficient in both sword and dagger techniques."
Asagiri's smile deepened.
"Don't tell me. There really is someone."
He turned without hesitation.
"Come on. Let's go."
…
Half an hour later, inside a dojo on the outskirts of Tokyo.
"Ashikaga… sensei?"
Asuna followed Asagiri inside, then froze.
Miwa Ashikaga stood there. Behind her hung two large characters: Mind and Technique. She was not in her fitted black professional suit. Instead, she wore a loose kendo uniform, her presence sharp and steady in a way that made the air feel cleaner.
Asuna never would have guessed.
The special training instructor Asagiri called "trustworthy," skilled with both sword and dagger, was a teacher.
"Come in," Ashikaga sensei said.
"O oh. Okay."
Asuna bent to remove her shoes, but Ashikaga sensei shook her head.
"No need for ceremony. I'm dressed like this out of habit." Her tone remained flat. "Utsunomiya told me what you need isn't flashy, performance focused kendo. You need real life and death combat. Unrestricted training. A struggle where hesitation gets you killed."
Her eyes swept over Asuna and Megumi.
"So wear what you normally wear."
"Okay," Asuna answered quickly.
Once Asuna and Megumi stepped in, Ashikaga sensei looked at Asagiri, who was leaning against the wall without a shred of politeness.
"You really know how to find me work."
Asagiri shrugged, smiling like it was the most reasonable thing in the world.
"Extracurricular tutoring for excellent students is the mark of an excellent teacher."
"Tutoring is usually for academics," Ashikaga sensei replied dryly.
Then her gaze dropped to the small booklet in Asagiri's hand. The cover title made her brow crease.
"Also, what do you usually read?" She stared at it. "'Sniper Rifle Component Structure Diagrams and Descriptions'?" Her eyes narrowed. "What, are you planning to rob a bank?"
.....
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