After a moment, Asuna snapped back to her senses. Peeking like that was rude! She quickly cleared her throat twice, feigning nonchalance.
"Kotoko just emailed me. Turns out she also lives in Tokyo. She sent me her address and said if we're free tonight, we can go to her place to meet."
"Go to her place... That's showing sincerity," Asagiri remarked.
Asuna nodded. Asagiri had already explained the importance for Players of having a safe, hidden base when entering dungeons. Kotoko hadn't asked them to come to her; she'd actively sent her home address. That action alone spoke volumes about her sincerity.
"That..." Asuna walked to the sofa, hesitated, then sat down beside Asagiri. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke softly. "Kotoko, she should be trustworthy, right? Her talent means she's not suited to be a lone wolf Player, and...didn't she also say? She fell in love with you at first sight."
"I already told you that doesn't work on me." Asagiri picked up his Coca-Cola, drained it in one gulp, and then smiled, turning the question back to her. "Asuna, what do you think 'liking someone' looks like?"
Asuna was stumped. The question hit a complete blind spot; she'd never been in love either.
"If I were to believe she truly liked me just by a few words, then I'd be quite foolish."
"That's true. You're not the type to be swayed when a cute girl approaches you."
"Of course," Asagiri said matter-of-factly. "Liking someone will definitely show in their actions, not just words, right?"
Asuna nodded. "Right."
"For example, when everyone else is keeping their distance from that person, you actively approach them."
Asuna nodded obediently again. "Yes, if you like someone, you will actively approach them."
"Another example: summoning the courage to actively ask for their contact information."
Asuna's eyes widened slightly. "Huh? You know so much? Could it be... you've been in love before?"
Asagiri waved a dismissive hand, not answering, but continued to smile. "Don't interrupt yet. Another example: going to that person's house and actively cooking for them. That's definitely liking, right?"
Asuna nodded, replying subconsciously. "Definitely. If you're running to someone else's house and actively cooking for them, what else could that be besides liking... Huh?"
The realization hit her mid-sentence. Asagiri was staring at her with amused interest. Her pretty face instantly flushed crimson. She snatched a sofa cushion and gently batted him, a mix of shyness and exasperation in her voice. "You... you... You set me up!"
"I didn't, did I? Didn't you agree with my opinion yourself?"
"You..." Asuna was speechless, practically steaming from embarrassment. She thought it over: Actively approaching when others stay away, actively asking for contact information, cooking... Weren't those exactly her own actions?
"I... I'm going to sleep!" Asuna couldn't meet his gaze. She sprang up and darted into the guest room, locking the door from the inside. Leaning her back against the door, she gently pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her heart flutter increasingly intensely.
"I... So, I don't actually dislike Kotoko...? So... that feeling, is that what they call jealousy...?" she murmured to herself.
That evening, in Tokyo.
"No... this... this is Kotoko's house?"
Asuna and Asagiri stepped out of the taxi, both staring, dumbfounded, at the castle-like mansion before them. Asuna's own family was wealthy, and their villa was certainly a mansion for ordinary people. But compared to the gleaming white castle towering over them, it looked almost humble. And this was within the Tokyo city area! To build such an extraordinarily luxurious, isolated castle in central Tokyo, with no other buildings for kilometers around... how truly immense was Kotoko's family fortune?
"Please come in, the young lady is waiting for you inside." A young woman in a maid outfit led Asagiri and Asuna towards the imposing white structure.
"Kotoko's house... is ridiculously big," Asuna whispered.
Asagiri spoke calmly. "If I hadn't obtained that item, I wouldn't be meeting her here."
Asuna was momentarily confused, then immediately understood. "That item" could only be The Reverse Hourglass. "You... you think Kotoko might have set up an ambush for us here?"
"The possibility is small, but not zero. After all, I can't fully trust her yet. What if she knows the hidden rule that killing other Players and taking their phones allows for a random draw of an item or equipment? She could have arranged this meeting right after we cleared the dungeon, then had someone kill us. Everything would be over."
He then lowered his voice. "However, Kotoko not only has a very powerful exclusive talent, but her mindset, intelligence, judgment, and various abilities all meet our standards for selecting teammates. Taking the risk of using that item to verify whether she's trustworthy, I believe this is acceptable."
"You are truly cautious," Asuna sighed, her expression complex. "It seems the only person you will absolutely trust is yourself..."
"No, two." Asagiri interrupted her, a slight smile on his face. "I trust myself, and I trust Asuna just as I trust myself."
-----------------------------------------------------------
Please support my work and gain access to 15 advanced chapters at [email protected]/Dannycifer.