A crossover anime/manga story, set in everyday Tokyo, but within a loop of a game.

Page 151

Kaguya Shinomiya shifted her gaze from Asagiri's face, which was quite unusual for her, given her strict upbringing and emphasis on etiquette. In the past, even when Kaguya was angry or displeased, she would still look directly at Asagiri when she spoke, but this time, she lowered her head, as if she didn't want Asagiri to see the change in her eyes and expression.

"I thought about it carefully. Back in the Ajin instance, if Shinomiya Hikari had been in your position, he wouldn't have been able to save me. He might even have killed me on the spot."

Upon hearing this, Ashikaga Miwa, who was behind her desk, couldn't help but tremble.

Goodness, so Asagiri really is Shinomiya's savior?

No wonder she had felt that the atmosphere between the two of them had become somewhat subtle lately. So that's what had happened.

Ashikaga Miwa remained silent, simply observing the situation.

"After all, in his eyes, I, an illegitimate daughter, am a disgrace to the Shinomiya family. My existence will only tarnish the Shinomiya name."

Kaguya Shinomiya took a deep breath. Although her voice remained calm, it was clear that even just mentioning the word "illegitimate daughter" would cause a strong tremor in her heart.

"In contrast..."

Kaguya Shinomiya looked up at Asagiri and smiled slightly.

“You don’t care about these things, and you saved me. The answer to the question of which side I should lean towards is already obvious.”

"Shinomiya-kun."

"Ok?"

"Your personality seems to have changed a lot lately."

Kaguya Shinomiya frowned slightly upon hearing this.

"Huh? Is there any?"

"Have."

Asagiri nodded firmly and said with a smile.

"For example, when you were in the classroom before, you actually chose to argue with Kotoko when she attacked you. This is not like you. Moreover, you have been smiling more and more often lately. You are completely different from the widowed woman who seemed to have no joy or sorrow in life when the semester started."

Kaguya Shinomiya: "...widow...to use such a word to describe a high school girl, Utsunomiya-san, I really don't know how to respond."

"Don't you yourself think it doesn't look like it?"

"Not at all."

Kaguya Shinomiya smoothed her long hair, placed her hands on her thighs, maintained a dignified and elegant posture, and said softly.

"Perhaps it's power. I've finally obtained... no, not yet, but I finally have the potential to obtain the power to control my own life, so my personality has become a bit more cheerful."

"Maybe so."

Asagiri smiled noncommittally, then turned her gaze to Ashikaga Miwa and slowly began to speak.

"If you defeat the fighter sent by Shinomiya Hikari in the dueling match, wouldn't that be beneficial to you?"

"It will be very beneficial."

Ashikaga Miwa did not try to hide anything, but spoke frankly.

"The Shinomiya Group is such a behemoth after all. Although I look down on Shinomiya Hiromitsu, he is, after all, the eldest son of the Shinomiya family. He personally came to the scene to challenge me to a fighting match. If the fighter I send can defeat his fighter, then this matter will definitely spread quickly, which will be of great benefit to my development in various fields."

"Then it's decided."

"What to decide?"

Asagiri stood up from the sofa and slowly began to speak.

"I will fight as your combatant. Of course, I'll have to use some kind of disguise, and after I win and use Shinomiya Hikari as a stepping stone..."

"I will kill him."

……

Later that day, in front of a train station in Tokyo.

"Morning mist~ Over here~"

Hearing Kotoko Iwanaga's shout, Asagiri, who had just entered the train station, looked in the direction of the sound and saw three beautiful girls of different types, but all extremely cute, attracting countless eyes from those around them.

Asuna Yuuki wore a plain white short-sleeved shirt and denim shorts, paired with white ankle boots. Although her overall outfit was not flashy, it exuded a simple and unpretentious cuteness and beauty. Coupled with her long, slender, and fair legs and her beautiful flaxen hair that reflected the sunlight, she looked like a gentle and well-behaved girl next door.

Kotoko Iwanaga's style remained consistent: a light pink dress with a light pink choker, the white beret Asagiri had given her, white tights, and light pink shoes. She exuded elegance with a touch of innocent cuteness.

Kato Megumi's outfit was less elaborate. She was still wearing the school uniform of Toyonosaki Private School, with black calf socks and leather shoes. However, she tied her originally loose black medium-length hair into a ponytail. Her overall temperament was refreshing and friendly, and simply cute.

"Hey, why did you come dressed like that?"

Kotoko Iwanaga moved closer to Asagiri and saw that he was still wearing the same black coat, short-sleeved shirt, trousers, and high-top shoes as always. She first sighed slightly, and then when she looked up and saw Asagiri's smiling face, her face turned red and she said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Although you're still as handsome as ever, I'm looking forward to seeing you with a different style of dress during our trip..."

100

Chapter 100 A three-day, two-night seaside trip.

Upon hearing this, Asagiri smiled and asked in return.

"For example? What style?"

"Wearing a fitted black trench coat, and a cool mask or something..."

"Isn't that what I wear when I play the game? Haven't you seen enough yet?"

"Can't get enough."

Seeing Kotoko Iwanaga acting coquettishly towards Asagiri again, Asuna Yuuki smiled helplessly and urged her on.

"Alright, you two, stop being so mushy. Let's get on the train first. It takes more than four hours to get from Tokyo to Hakodate by train. By the time we get there, it will be almost nine o'clock."

After saying this, Asuna Yuuki looked at Megumi Kato beside her and said softly.

"Hui, have you packed everything? Have your parents told you? We won't be back until Sunday night."

"Yes, don't worry, Asuna."

Kato Megumi gave a gentle smile and nodded.

"This is the first time I've ever traveled far with my friends."

Hearing Kato Megumi's words, Asagiri, who had walked over, said softly.

"But this won't be the last time. The four of us will travel together many more times in the future."

"Ugh……"

Asuna Yuuki sighed softly, looked at Asagiri standing there, and muttered to herself.

"Hopefully there are only 'four people'..."

……

After boarding the train to Hakodate, Hokkaido, Asagiri told Asuna Yuuki, Megumi Kato, and Kotoko Iwanaga about what they had just discussed in Miwa Ashikaga's office.

"Kill Shinomiya Kiko... I can help with that, but I can't get the yokai to help me."

Kotoko Iwanaga held the bento rice ball that Asuna Yuuki had made in both hands, taking small bites, and said nonchalantly.

"After all, monsters are not allowed to harm humans at will, and as the god of wisdom who protects order, I am even less able to break this order."

"It's ok."

Asagiri raised her hand and wiped the rice grains from the corner of Iwanaga Kotoko's mouth. This intimate gesture made a blush rise on Iwanaga Kotoko's fair cheeks.

"I'm just telling the three of you that I can handle this myself."

"What about dueling competitions?"

Asuna Yuuki took a rice ball from her bag, gently unwrapped it, and handed it to Asagiri, her eyes showing concern.

"Under the rules of not being able to use those special abilities or weapons, and only being able to fight hand-to-hand, even you... might not be able to defeat those top-tier fighters, right? If all else fails, let me go..."

"If you go, you'll be even less likely to win."

Asagiri shook her head and interrupted softly.

"Weapons are not allowed in duels. Of course, some people have bypassed Rule 1 by implanting weapons into their bodies, but we certainly wouldn't go that far. Although your physical stats are very strong, your talent lies in swordsmanship. Hand-to-hand combat is not your forte, and..."

At this point, Asagiri smiled and reached out to pinch Yuuki Asuna's cheek.

"I can't bear to let my lovely girlfriend play in such a bloody match in my place."

Kato Megumi, who was standing to the side, said thoughtfully.

"What if the fighter that Shinomiya Hiromitsu sent to participate in the competition is also a player... wouldn't that be very dangerous?"

"It will be very dangerous, but changes to combat competitions are inevitable."

Asagiri turned her head, looking at the scenery rushing past the car window, and said, resting her chin on her hand.

"Although most ordinary people don't know about 'players' and 'games' right now, entrepreneurs and high-ranking officials in the fighting competition circle must already know about it. The future Kengan Tournament will no longer be a contest between unarmed fighters, but will become a tournament between players. By demonstrating the strength of their 'players,' they can show off the power of their own forces. This is the future Kengan Tournament."

Upon hearing this, Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but ask in confusion.

Would a 'player' with special powers pledge allegiance to an ordinary person?

"It's not so much loyalty as cooperation. The relationship between top fighters and sponsors is an equal partnership. Although players have special powers, they still have to live in the real world. Someone takes care of everything for them and provides them with a comfortable and affluent life. The price is just occasionally participating in arena matches and helping out with small things. Except for players with a reclusive personality, no one should refuse."

"Too."

Asuna Yuuki nodded in agreement.

"After all, Ms. Ashikaga helped us a lot. Although we are not short of money, without her, we would not have been able to have the convenience of a private place to practice freely. It was indeed a mutually beneficial cooperation."

Asagiri waved her hand and said with a smile.

"Let's leave the discussion here. The arena match is on Monday night. We're on a trip now, so let's not think about these troublesome things and just relax."

"Wuhu, seaside ~ beach ~"

Seeing Kotoko Iwanaga's jubilant expression, Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but smile.

"The seaside... soft sand, warm sunshine, it really makes me look forward to it..."

"Wuhu Wuhu~ Asagiri's abs~ Swimsuit Asagiri~ Looking forward to it~"

Upon hearing Kotoko Iwanaga's blunt words, Asuna Yuuki's expression froze. After a long while, she sighed and rubbed her forehead.

"So this is what you were most looking forward to..."

Aren't you looking forward to it?

"Um……"

Asuna Yuuki glanced at Asagiri beside her, her face slightly flushed, and whispered.

"Although I've already seen it, I'm really looking forward to it."

Just then, Kato Megumi, however, remained calm and spoke in an unusually composed tone.

"I haven't seen it, but I'm really looking forward to it."

Asuna Yuuki: "...Megumi, isn't your reaction a little too calm?"

"Have it?"

Kato Megumi tilted her head slightly, maintaining an unusually calm expression, and spoke in a tone as if reading aloud.

"Should I pull you away from Asagiri now, sit next to him myself, and then stare at you with that fierce, jealous look, scolding you to stay away from him, you little sly cat?"

"Stop."

Before Yuuki Asuna and Iwanaga Kotoko could reply, Asagiri spoke first.

"No battlefields allowed."

Seeing Asagiri's expression, Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but laugh and tease her.

"I never expected that someone as audacious as you would have something to be afraid of."

"That's a battlefield of carnage, who wouldn't be afraid of a battlefield of carnage?"

Asagiri first said this in a serious tone, and then smiled as she watched Yuuki Asuna hand the rice ball she had made to Kato Megumi.

"Of course, given the current atmosphere, there's no chance of a chaotic situation arising, but if more people join later..."

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, Yuuki Asuna frowned slightly, reached out and gently pinched Asagiri's cheek, puffing out her cheeks in a huff.