Whether 6O was malfunctioning or not, Kain knew perfectly well.
Her true objective had been completely exposed the moment she suggested letting Asuna join them.
Of course, Kain had already guessed the real reason 6O was deliberately slandering Asuna Yuuki even before she said it aloud.
Afterward, he had stopped trying to mediate and simply watched in silence. That was his hypocrisy.
He admitted that he was attracted to Asuna.
So now, he honestly confessed what he had been thinking. Perhaps his willingness to openly admit such shameless thoughts could be considered one of his few virtues.
Asuna, now aware of the truth, looked down at him from above.
Until a moment ago, she had worn a determined yet slightly embarrassed expression, ready to prove to 6O that she was every bit as capable. Now, however, her sunny expression had clouded over completely.
Just before Asuna could follow through on 6O and 2B's provocative challenge, Kain ordered 6O to drop the act, confess her true intentions, and apologize.
Kain also admitted to his own shameful thoughts. He confessed that he had realized what 6O was planning almost immediately—and that when Asuna had personally asked him not to send 6O back, he had secretly been delighted.
That gave him an excuse to let 6O remain and continue provoking Asuna. Deep down, he had hoped Asuna would fall for it.
However, just as she was about to do exactly that, guilt finally overcame him. He firmly ordered 6O to stop playing such games and apologize.
Truthfully, he had regretted exposing the scheme almost as soon as he gave the order.
If he had continued pretending not to notice, Asuna might have joined them.
So Kain bluntly told her that he regretted interrupting 6O. That was simply how shameless he was.
"Guilt? Regret? Heh."
Asuna sneered and looked at him as though he were a scrap of trash.
"Um... Ms. Asuna Yuuki, if you're going to blame someone, blame me. This has nothing to do with the Commander."
6O now resembled a child who had done something terribly wrong. She fidgeted helplessly, looking as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
"Haaa..."
Asuna sighed and rubbed her temples.
Thinking about it carefully, she should have realized that 6O's cruelty had been fake. Her performance had not been particularly convincing.
The reason Asuna had become so emotional and fallen for the provocation was that she had been terrified Kain might distance himself from her—or even stop liking her—because of what 6O said.
And that fear only existed because Asuna genuinely had feelings for him.
Her gaze settled on him once more.
"Mr. Kain, I want you to answer one question honestly. When did you first become attracted to me?"
"The instant I arrived in your world and saw you. What? Do you think that makes me a scumbag? There's no need to merely think it. That's exactly the kind of man I am."
"Honestly... An answer like that completely ruins the heroic image I had of you."
Asuna did not become angry. Instead, she responded with helpless exasperation.
"You should've kept up that cool, quiet, slightly aloof persona. If you were going to confess your attraction to me, couldn't you have been a little more subtle? You could've made a romantic confession like a prince on a white horse. Who says something like that so bluntly?"
Like many girls, Asuna dreamed of receiving a romantic confession from a heroic prince—not having such feelings stated with brutal directness.
"Subtlety? I prefer being direct."
"You certainly are direct!"
Asuna rolled her beautiful eyes.
Most ordinary girls would have had a difficult time accepting the way he behaved. Anyone watching him would assume his mind was consumed by one of the Seven Deadly Sins and that he thought of nothing but indecent things. He would simply be dismissed as a shameless pervert.
However, he did not seem likely to make the first move. Nor would he use underhanded methods or sweet lies to deceive someone.
If the girl refused to take any initiative either, their relationship might never progress at all.
Come to think of it, Asuna now believed she understood the purpose behind Dr. Kouzuki Yuuko's broadcast.
Yuuko knew what kind of personality Kain had. By broadcasting that incident, she had dramatically increased the affection that the other girls in the Hyperdimensional Channel felt toward him.
As a result, Kain would probably become much more inclined to visit Yuuko's world in the future.
Back at the hot spring, Jinguuji Marimo had joined Yuuko, while many other girls had deliberately been prevented from leaving so they would witness the scene.
It was clearly another application of the herd mentality 6O had mentioned. The purpose was to make it easier for those girls to become closer to Kain later.
Originally, 6O had not planned to slander Asuna at all. Like Yuuko, she had intended to use herd mentality to coax Asuna—who was currently inhabiting an android body—into joining their intimate game.
However, 6O could not determine how strongly Asuna felt about Kain. If her affection was not strong enough, persuading her would be difficult.
That was why 6O had switched to provocation and false accusations.
"Then I have another question. Do you... Do you really want me to join you right now and follow 6O and 2B's example?"
Asuna's face grew redder with every word. Her voice became increasingly hesitant, and her fingers nervously curled a strand of hair.
Once she finished speaking, her gaze slowly returned to Kain's face.
"No normal person would say no unless they were completely devoid of ordinary desires. If someone did say no, it would probably be because they were embarrassed and didn't want you to know what they were really thinking. Of course, there are two circumstances under which someone might genuinely not want to."
"Two?"
"Either something is wrong with their mind and their sense of beauty—or you're ugly."
Asuna puffed out her cheeks in mock anger.
"Of course, you really are an exceptionally beautiful woman, Asuna. And since I'm a normal man, I genuinely would like you to join 6O and 2B."
Her irritation immediately dissolved into embarrassment. To hide the turmoil in her heart, she gave a sharp little huff.
"Hmph!"
She continued looking at him as though he were garbage.
However, while maintaining that disdainful stare, Asuna suddenly noticed something strange about him. It seemed as though he were desperately restraining himself.
Could her feigned disgust have actually hurt him?
"F-Fine. I'll join you."
Her response sounded slightly reluctant. Instead of being pleased, Kain frowned, seemingly restraining himself even more.
Honestly, did he believe she was forcing herself? Did he think she truly did not want to participate?
Was she supposed to accept while blushing happily?
She was a girl. Surely she was allowed to show at least a little modesty.
"Asuna, could I ask you not to look so reluctant?"
As she had expected, he really did believe she was forcing herself.
Fine. She would cast aside her embarrassment and tell him plainly that she genuinely wanted this.
Just as she was about to speak, however—
"Could you look at me like I'm absolute scum and say, with the most disgusted expression you can manage, 'Fine. I'll grant the wish of a filthy scumbag like you'?"
Huh?
What was that supposed to mean?
Asuna's thoughts spun. What in the world was this man saying?
Had someone else suddenly taken control of his brain?
"If possible, keep looking disgusted afterward, too. Oh, and don't forget to change into the Christmas outfit."
"..."
Asuna fell silent.
She could finally identify the expression Kain had been struggling to suppress.
It was eager anticipation.
"You're beyond saving."
Those were the only words Asuna could manage. What kind of bizarre preference was that?
"Will you grant my wish?"
"Noooope."
Asuna gave him a sweet smile, deliberately refusing to make the disgusted expression he wanted.
That would be his small punishment.
If he wanted such a reward, he would have to earn it through his future behavior.
Taking a deep breath, Asuna made her choice and formally joined them.
What followed remained solely between the four of them.
(End of Chapter)
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