'Anyway... I just wanted to come here. I just wanted to eat Yuto's home-cooked food. I just wanted to sit in this lively, slightly noisy atmosphere. I just wanted to relax a little, away from my parents.'
"Mm, Kamisaka-kun's cooking is truly irresistible," Asuna said to Utaha with a gentle smile.
The soft curve of her lips left Utaha momentarily stunned!
Utaha blinked, snapping back to reality, and offered Asuna an apologetic smile.
Just then, Yuto emerged from the kitchen, carrying a platter of freshly fried tempura.
The golden, crispy tempura steamed invitingly, its fragrant aroma filling the air. The savory scent of shrimp drifted through the room.
A look of deep satisfaction crossed Asuna's face. It had been seven hours since she'd last eaten at noon.
Combined with an afternoon of exhausting and stressful training sessions, she was ravenously hungry. Only her strict upbringing prevented her from showing it.
"You must be starving," Yuto said, placing the tempura in front of Asuna. As a professional cook, he could tell how hungry she was.
Even though she had hidden it well at first, her unnatural expression the moment he brought out the tempura had given her away.
"Mm," Asuna replied, smiling shyly at Yuto.
An embarrassed blush colored her cheeks.
"Go on, eat up," Yuto said gently, without teasing her.
Asuna picked up a piece of tempura by its tail. She opened her mouth slightly. Instead of biting through the tempura, she snapped it.
With a coordinated effort of her hand and mouth, the crispy tempura broke in half with a satisfying crack, much like snapping a popsicle.
A look of pure bliss spread across her face.
Seeing this, Yuto couldn't help but smile—the simple, genuine smile of a chef watching a customer savor his food.
But just as he smiled, he felt a sharp gaze from Utaha.
He turned his head to look at her.
The girl was staring at Yuto with a disgusted expression!
Yuto raised an eyebrow. "Kasumigaoka-san, why are you looking at me with such a revolted expression?"
"Kamisaka-kun, do you have any idea how perverted you looked just now, smiling to yourself while watching Asuna's eat?"
Utaha's words made Asuna almost choke. She coughed twice, her face flushing red again.
Yuto stared at Utaha, his eyes filled with suspicion and astonishment. "Kasumigaoka-san, is your mind really only capable of thinking about things like that? I almost feel sorry for you."
"Hmph!"
This was the first time in a while that Yuto and Utaha had clashed.
The exchange ended with the girl's temporary defeat.
But this was only a momentary outcome. In the days to come, Utaha would surely find a way to even the score!
Asuna, who had been eating her tempura on the side, couldn't help but be amused by their banter.
She put down her chopsticks, her bright eyes lighting up as if she'd thought of something.
"Oh, right, Kamisaka-kun, have you heard about the new VRMMORPG, SAO?"
Yuto looked confused.
He never paid much attention to games, but the name SAO did ring a faint bell.
When he'd been in Akihabara a few days ago, he remembered seeing numerous promotional posters, and they seemed to be for this game.
"I've heard a little about it," Yuto nodded.
Beside them, Utaha furrowed her brow slightly
It was normal for Yuto not to know, but as someone in the ACG (Anime, Comics, and Games) circle, she was aware of it.
SAO was a game created by an electronics company to accompany their newly developed VR hardware.
Utaha recalled that gaming enthusiasts were calling it a revolutionary product, a game-changer for the industry.
Since she wasn't much of a gamer herself, she hadn't looked into it.
"It's a VR game that's about to be released. Would you be interested in playing it, Kamisaka-kun?"
Yuto hesitated.
He understood what a VR game was.
He had played very few games in his life. The last time he'd played—dragged into it by Ainz and Rimuru—he'd gotten a little too engrossed.
The thought of diving into a VR game made him wary.
"I don't usually play games," Yuto replied, and Asuna's disappointment was palpable.
"But... I suppose it would be nice to try it out just for the experience," he quickly added, changing his tune.
Asuna's lips instantly curved into a smile.
While Yuto's words might have seemed like he was just trying to comfort her, a part of him was genuinely curious and a little excited.
His gaming session with Ainz and Rimuru had changed his perspective.
"Then why don't we try it together? Just think of it as a new experience," Asuna invited with a smile.
Before Yuto could respond, Utaha's expression soured.
"Utaha, would you like to join us?"
Before Utaha could voice her displeasure, Asuna turned and invited her, catching her completely off guard.
"...Alright, then," she managed to reply.
"Um, do we need to buy any special VR equipment?" Yuto asked.
"Leave that to me!" Asuna said with a confident smile.
Yuto's expression remained unchanged, but Utaha looked surprised.
...
Time was running short for Asuna.
After finishing her sentence, she bid farewell to Yuto and Utaha and walked out of the restaurant.
The moment she was gone, Utaha grabbed Yuto's arm. "Asuna really is a true Young Lady from a rich family, isn't she?"
"What do you mean?"
"That VR equipment is the latest model, so it's incredibly expensive and yet, Asuna didn't even bat an eye. She must be a rich girl."
"How much does one cost?"
"Well... 3.000.000 yen."
"What?! That much just to play a game!?"
"What did you expect? You should know that otaku are the easiest to make money from, especially the rich ones."
"Hmm... like Ainz or Rimuru?"
"Exactly!"
..
Just as Asuna stepped out of the restaurant and was about to climb the stairs, a figure appeared before her.
Her face filled with shock, mixed with a hint of awe.
"Shinomiya-san, good day."
Kaguya looked down at Asuna, who was bowing her head in greeting.
A flicker of confusion appeared in her calm, red eyes.
"Who are you?" Kaguya's voice was cold.
Beside her, Hayasaka also regarded Asuna with an indifferent expression.
"I am Yuuki Asuna, daughter of Yuuki Shouzo."
Only then did a flicker of recognition cross Kaguya's eyes.
She put on a polite, business-like smile. "Ah, so you're Mr. Yuuki's daughter."
"Yes."
"Is there something you need, Miss Yuuki?"
"No, nothing."
"Very well. Please step aside." Kaguya spoke to Asuna with that same polite smile.
She had no desire to prolong the interaction and was in no mood to make new friends!
Asuna moved aside to let Kaguya and Hayasaka pass.
The two descended the steps without giving Asuna a second glance.
A bitter, helpless smile touched Asuna's lips.
Who was she to question Kaguya and Hayasaka's somewhat rude behavior? The name "Shinomiya" alone represented absolute authority.
Even her own father would have to bow and scrape before the cold young woman who had just walked past.
Still, Asuna felt a flicker of surprise.
'The Young Lady of the Shinomiya Family... does she know Kamisaka-kun too?'
With that thought, she walked out of the alley, not daring to linger and watch Kaguya and Hayasaka.
She had heard rumors: the Shinomiya Family was known for its ruthlessness.
It was best not to cross them if she could help it.
...
"Hayasaka, what does the Yuuki Group do?"
"It's a large company that manufactures electronic components. They recently tried to negotiate a partnership with the Shinomiya Family, but the Head of the Family rejected their proposal..."
Kaguya only remembered the name Yuuki Shouzo.
She hadn't paid much attention to the details.
To put it bluntly, their business wasn't significant enough to warrant Kaguya's attention.
But now, a sliver of curiosity sparked within her.
'The Young Lady of the Yuuki Family, visiting a small restaurant like this... It's a bit strange.' As she thought this, she let out a self-deprecating laugh.
'Well... who am I to judge? Aren't I doing the exact same thing?'
Kaguya and Hayasaka reached the restaurant's entrance.
But they didn't pull the door open as Kaguya was trying to compose herself.
'Huu... Don't be nervous, don't be nervous... It's nothing...'
Earlier that day, Kamisaka Yuto had made her a promise.
"Absolutely no one will laugh at you!"
Those were the words he had said to her. She trusted him, which was why she was standing here now.
But as she stood at the entrance, a knot of nervousness and embarrassment tightened in her chest.
Hayasaka sighed inwardly as she watched her Young Lady.
'She was so calm just a moment ago. Why is she falling apart now? Kaguya-sama, can't you be a little more mature?'
Hayasaka had made up her mind.
If her Young Lady couldn't bring herself to open the door, then she would do it for her!
Just as she was about to reach for the handle, the door swung open on its own.
Or rather, Yuto had opened it.
Kaguya was speechless, her face flushing red.
Seeing Yuto silhouetted against the light, her heart pounded even faster.
"Why are you just standing outside? Come on in." Yuto watched Kaguya with amusement as her eyes darted away.
He glanced at Hayasaka, whose expression was one of resignation.
Yuto chuckled.
He understood the situation. "Come on in."
He stepped aside, revealing the scene inside the restaurant to Kaguya.
Under the warm, inviting lights, the lively little restaurant seemed to open its arms to her.
Reimu, Marisa, and Shameimaru Aya were still brawling.
Suika was chugging down sake.
In a corner, a goddess and a little girl were whispering secrets...
Not a single person paid her any attention.
The relief was immense!
She had been hesitant to return, fearing she'd be laughed at. But being completely ignored was comforting.
"See? No one's laughing at you," Yuto murmured into Kaguya's ear.
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