Hearing this, Asuna couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
No matter how you look at it, isn't that attitude a little too arrogant for speaking to a homeroom teacher?
But to her surprise, Ashikaga-sensei didn't seem the least bit offended. She simply nodded and replied evenly,
"Yes, I don't want to waste time either. So let's get straight to the point."
What she said next, however, left Asuna completely bewildered.
"Your performance today was excellent—well beyond my expectations."
Asuna blinked, clearly confused.
Noticing her expression, Asagiri didn't bother keeping up the mystery. He leaned back slightly and spoke with a calm tone,
"It's actually quite simple. Ashikaga-sensei and I made an agreement some time ago. She wanted me to enroll at Shuchiin Academy, and in return, she offered a few... incentives—things like skipping classes, taking leave when I want, and a full exemption from tuition fees. All within her authority, of course."
"Huh? Why..."
Hearing Asagiri's explanation, Asuna was even more confused. Logically, given the status of Shuchiin Academy, why would they offer such terms to a student? It was almost as if they were begging the other party to study at Shuchiin Academy.
"Since Asagiri trusts you, I'll be straightforward."
Ashikaga-Sensei raised her hand and pushed up her Glasses frame, her tone flat.
"I am very dissatisfied with the current Shuchiin Academy."
"This place was once rightfully called the cradle of future talents in Sakura Province—the number one high school without question. Graduates from here went on to become leaders in politics, business, the military... the best of the best."
Ashikaga-sensei's tone suddenly shifted, and for a brief moment, open disdain flashed in her eyes.
"But look at it now. Look at what this so-called cradle of talent has become."
"A flock of pampered sons and daughters, who've never tasted real hardship, yet strut around with a laughable sense of superiority. Their actual capabilities? Barely average. Like overgrown children, coddled and protected by the greenhouse that is Shuchiin Academy."
"Worse still, there are factions—so-called 'pure-school' groups—who openly discriminate against students who transfer in from outside. They isolate them, even go so far as to bully them. It's disgraceful."
"And these are the people we're supposed to entrust the future of Sakura Province to?" She scoffed, her voice icy. "I refuse to accept that. Absolutely not."
The next moment, Ashikaga-sensei let out a long, quiet sigh.
"But when I proposed during a board meeting that Shuchiin Academy needed reform, I was flatly rejected by the majority. The strongest opposition came from none other than the current chairman—Kenji Shinomiya."
Her voice grew colder.
"He claimed that the students of Shuchiin, and the institution itself, were already 'superior beings'—that there was no need for unnecessary concern. And then, in front of everyone, he dismissed my proposal as nothing more than 'a woman's opinion,' unworthy of discussion or even consideration."
Asuna's brows furrowed. "That's outrageous... To openly say something like that in a formal meeting—'a woman's opinion'—that Chairman is..."
"That's exactly the kind of man he is," Ashikaga-sensei said with a bitter smile, waving her hand as if brushing the thought aside. Then, she turned to look at Asagiri, who remained calmly seated on the sofa, unfazed.
Ashikaga-Sensei waved her hand, then turned her gaze to Asagiri, who was sitting on the sofa.
"But just when I was at a loss for what to do," Ashikaga-sensei continued, "I learned about the existence of Asagiri Utsunomiya. If he enrolled in Shuchiin Academy as a first-year, I thought... perhaps he could disrupt the stagnant atmosphere that's taken root here."
"Huh? Why would you think that?"
Asuna couldn't help but speak up, puzzled.
From her perspective, Ashikaga-sensei didn't know anything about Asagiri's true identity as a "Player." To her, he was just another new student—a transfer at that. How could someone like that possibly change the culture of a place so deeply entrenched in elitism and unspoken hierarchy?
The thought seemed absurd. Unrealistic, even.
"It seems you don't understand him very well."
Seeing Asuna's puzzled expression, Ashikaga-Sensei said in a flat tone.
"Let me properly introduce him," Ashikaga-sensei said, glancing toward Asuna. "This is Asagiri Utsunomiya—the top scorer in this year's Sakura Province Joint Examination, and also the highest scorer in Shuchiin Academy's entrance exam."
She paused, then continued, casually ticking off her fingers.
"In his second and third years of junior high, he won the national junior tennis singles championship twice, claimed the national junior badminton singles title, and was part of the team that won the national junior high basketball championship."
Asagiri, who had remained quiet up until now, suddenly raised an eyebrow.
"Wait, that's it? You're skipping over my most important, most glorious achievement?"
Ashikaga-sensei let out a sigh, the faintest hint of amusement tugging at her lips.
"Oh, right. There's one more."
She looked at Asuna, who was already blinking in confusion.
"In his third year, five delinquents from outside the school ambushed him after class and tried to extort him. He fought back... and sent all five of them to the hospital—alone. He walked away with only minor scratches."
Ashikaga shook her head, clearly still unsure about this next part.
"For some reason, that is the achievement he insists on calling his proudest moment. Personally, I don't quite understand it."
Speaking of this, Ashikaga-Sensei paused slightly, then looked at Asuna and said lightly.
"So, you should understand now. A student like Asagiri—exceptional in both academics and athletics and a transfer student no less—doesn't need to do anything to provoke resentment. His very existence is a thorn in the side of those so-called pure-course students who overestimate themselves and have no real grasp of the wider world."
"Alright, that's enough of the long speech."
Asagiri looked around the office, then smiled at Ashikaga-Sensei.
"Asuna and I have something we need to discuss privately, so, Ashikaga-sensei, how about you go out for a while and have lunch?"
"You're taking over the nest from its rightful owner," Ashikaga-sensei remarked casually, placing a key on the desk with a soft clink.
"This is the spare key to my office. You can have it."
She stood up, adjusted her glasses, and headed toward the door.
"Just make sure to lock up when you leave."
After Ashikaga-Sensei left the office, Asagiri finally looked at Asuna and said.
"So then, it's time to talk about the real issue," Asagiri said, his expression turning serious. "You've already seen the messages in the app, right?"
Asuna nodded. "Yeah, I've seen them."
"Alright, then let me ask you first—do you live alone?"
"For now, yes."
"That makes things easier."
Asuna didn't read anything strange into his words. She understood that by "easier," he meant it would be more convenient to have a private space—somewhere they could safely enter the dungeon without drawing attention.
"Let me start by telling you what I think," Asuna said, sitting up straighter.
She pressed her hands neatly on her thighs, her expression serious as she looked directly at Asagiri.
"I believe we should act quickly and register for the dungeon as soon as possible."
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