After leaving the elementary school, Yuto planned to buy a set of SAO VR equipment. He took out his phone and sent Utaha a message.
[Yuto: Kasumigaoka-san, do you know where SAO VR equipment is being sold?]
After sending it, he realized a problem, she should be in class right now.
Then that message of his...
Buzz—
Yuto looked at his phone.
This girl was playing on her phone during class!
[Kasumigaoka: Don't bother trying to buy it. I checked after I got home last night. The SAO VR equipment only has a price set right now, it hasn't gone on sale yet.]
Yuto sighed.
Well, that was not his fault then. But he remembered what Asuna had said last night.
From the way she spoke, it sounded like she could get hold of the VR equipment. Thinking of her status as a rich young lady, Yuto understood.
Perhaps she had her own special channels. If that was the case, then the VR equipment for Ainz and the others might also have to be entrusted to Asuna.
Yuto did not have any contact information for her, so he could only wait until she came to the restaurant again.
[Kasumigaoka: Why are you buying VR equipment? Didn't Yuuki-san say last night that she'd help you handle it?]
Another message came from Utaha.
Even without seeing her expression, he could sense a strong undertone through the text alone.
Yuto smiled.
[Yuto: Pay attention in class, Kasumigaoka-san. (smile emoji)]
He gave no explanation. That smile emoji was purely there to tease her.
As expected, Utaha immediately replied.
[Kasumigaoka: Don't send the smile emoji! What exactly are you buying VR equipment for?]
She was getting worked up.
But Yuto had no intention of telling her the truth. Teasing her a little every day improved his mood.
[Yuto: Guess. (tongue out)(tongue out)(tongue out)]
After sending that message, Yuto logged off LINE.
He could imagine the expression on the girl's face on the other end. It was one of furious frustration.
Thinking of that, his steps felt lighter.
...
Bang!
A loud crash drew everyone's attention in the classroom toward Utaha by the window.
Utaha smiled as she swept her gaze around the classroom, then nodded at the teacher.
A bit of cold sweat appeared on the teacher's face, but in the end he said nothing.
He continued the lesson.
Although Utaha had caused a disturbance, she was one of the top students in the campus. A degree of privilege came with that.
Utaha lowered her head and continued looking at her phone.
Her face was flushed red, but with her head down, no one could see it.
"Kami! Saka! Yu! To! You damned bastard!!!"
The grinding voice squeezed out from between the girl's teeth did not reach anyone else.
Only the students sitting around Utaha could sense the resentment radiating from her.
Even though that resentment was not directed at them, it left them on edge.
Behind and to Utaha's right, there was a calm girl.
She glanced at Kasumigaoka, then turned back to the blackboard. If Yuto had been here, he would have recognized who she was.
It was Megumi Kato.
...
Yuto walked along the street and passed by a park as a playful melody drifted out from inside.
Looking in, he saw a round, pink playground dome with a hollow center.
Standing on top of it was a blonde girl facing the sunlight.
Her golden hair gleamed, and a faint blush tinged her face as she played a melodica. Her fingers pressed the keys, sending a lively, cheerful tune into the air.
Yuto couldn't help stopping to listen.
The cheerful tune brought a bit of delight to his heart, reminding him of Hatsune's visit to the restaurant.
Her singing had stirred his heart in a similar way, reaching straight into his soul like a warm hand.
A gust of wind blew by, lifting her golden hair and rippling the hem of her skirt.
When the girl noticed Yuto standing outside the park and caught sight of his face, she went blank for a moment.
Losing her focus, she slipped on the curved surface of the dome.
"Ah!" she cried out in panic, squeezing her eyes shut as she braced for impact.
To her surprise, she didn't hit the ground; instead, she fell into someone's arms.
Catching the scent of sunlight, her heart stirred.
"Are you okay?" a warm voice asked near her ear.
As someone who studied music, she found the tone incredibly soothing.
She opened her eyes to see the boy from outside the park.
Yuto looked at her with concern.
The moment he saw her slipping, he had rushed over, his enhanced physical strength allowing him to catch her with ease.
"Are you alright?" he asked again.
But the girl didn't answer as she stared blankly at his eyes, her face turning red as she thought, 'This person... is really handsome.'
Since the girl in his arms wasn't speaking, Yuto felt a little puzzled, deciding to set her down to avoid being impolite.
The moment he released her, Kaori Miyazono snapped out of her daze.
Realizing how rude it was to stay silent, she was about to apologize, but the moment her foot touched the ground, a sharp pain made her knit her brows.
"Ow—"
Yuto stopped and glanced at her exposed ankle, noting it was already red and swollen from the fall.
"I'll help you sit down first," he said, supporting her as she leaned against the round playground structure.
She sat leaning against the sphere, trying to endure the pain as she forced a smile.
"Thank you for catching me just now," she said, her voice carrying a slight tremor.
Yuto shook his head, examining her ankle, which had already swollen significantly. "It hurts a lot, doesn't it?"
The girl shook her head, putting on a spirited expression to give him a thumbs-up.
"It doesn't hurt at all!"
If her eyes hadn't been trembling, it might have sounded more convincing.
Yuto laughed in mild helplessness while thinking, 'She's unexpectedly tough.'
Looking at her delicate appearance, he hadn't expected such a strong personality, creating a charming contrast.
"Try and see whether you can walk," Yuto suggested, stepping back without exposing her act.
Kaori nodded and braced one hand against the dome, barely managing to stand.
Though her right leg trembled, she wore a brave smile.
"It's fine. I can still walk!" Her voice wavered like a fragile thread.
Yuto nodded, figuring he wouldn't need to get too involved if she could manage on her own.
But the moment she tried to step forward, the pain shooting up from her ankle made her leg give way, sending her pitching forward.
Closing her eyes with a frightened cry, she collapsed back into Yuto's arms.
Thump—
Yuto let out a small sigh as he caught her.
Kaori panicked and tried to struggle out of his embrace, but the pain in her foot made it impossible to stand steady.
"That's enough. If it hurts, then don't force yourself," Yuto said, holding her steady with a hint of firmness in his voice.
"Sorry..." the girl mumbled, weakly burying her head against his chest.
Yuto lifted her and set her back down on the round structure.
When he looked at her, she darted her eyes away, her flushed face showing how unbearably embarrassed she felt.
"Did you bring a phone? You should contact your parents," Yuto suggested.
The girl only moved the corners of her mouth and fell silent.
Seeing this, Yuto pulled out his own phone and brought up the keypad. "If you'd like, I can make the call for you."
She just scratched her head, looking even more awkward.
"Don't remember the number?"
"Mm!" she nodded, forcing a smile.
"Then what do we do next?" he asked.
"Ah! I-it's fine, really! My house is very close to here, so I can walk home by myself!" she stammered, waving her hands with a flustered smile.
"Are you serious?" Yuto asked, looking straight into her eyes.
She instantly became tongue-tied, her expression turning quiet before she offered an embarrassed smile.
"You live around here, right? Then you should know where there's a clinic nearby."
"There's one not far from here," she admitted.
"Then I'll take you to the clinic first. Once a doctor takes a look at it, you can head home. Would that be alright?"
"Um... that's okay, but troubling you like this..." she trailed off, her index fingers nervously circling each other.
"I'm only taking you to a clinic. It's fine," Yuto sighed.
"Mm... then alright. Thank you," she agreed, her voice softening.
Yuto turned his back to her and crouched down. "Get on."
Stunned, the girl hesitated. "This is...?"
"If you don't want me to carry you on my back, I can carry you in my arms instead," he joked.
Since his back was to her, he couldn't see the deep flush blooming across her face.
"Your back... is fine," she replied in a low, nervous voice, leaning onto him.
"Hold on tight."
"Mm."
Yuto reached back to hook his arms under her legs.
He wasn't the type to let his imagination run wild, but the girl on his back was anything but.
"You give me directions."
"Oh! Okay!" Kaori squeaked, her replies jumpy from nerves.
As Yuto carried her down the street, occasional passersby looked at them with envy, prompting Kaori to bury her burning face against his back.
"What's your name?" she asked, her voice muffled.
"Kamisaka Yuto," he replied calmly.
"My name is... Kaori Miyazono."
----
KAORI CAN BE SAVED!