"Base secured!"
"Yay!"
Their efforts paid off—Hachiman and Asuna claimed the inn. Hachiman gazed nostalgically at the farmhouse's second-floor lodging. Asuna suggested checking inside.
"We know the setup best. Shouldn't we see if anything's changed?"
"Makes sense," Hachiman agreed, entering with her.
Inside, he noticed Asuna's eyes lingering on the bathroom.
"Hey, Asuna, you didn't come in just to take a bath, right?"
Asuna froze, then spun around stiffly.
"N-No way! I'd never think something so shameless at a time like this. I have some sense!"
Hachiman, reading her, shrugged. Hot water's instant here, and no need to dry off. Why not? But he teased anyway.
"Good. I've got no sense, so I'll just hop in."
"What?!"
"Sucks I can't join you, but solo's fine. Check the rest of the rooms, okay?"
As Hachiman stepped toward the bathroom, Asuna blurted, "I'll bathe with you!"
He turned, grinning. "Thought one was enough to check the setup, but if you insist, let's do it."
"Wha—?!"
Hachiman strode in, inspecting the bathroom meticulously. Asuna stared, stunned, then blushed furiously, trembling. She approached, fists clenched, and playfully pummeled his back.
"You're so mean!"
Hachiman let her vent, then finished checking, turned, and hugged her. "Ten minutes, that's it."
"Huh?"
"You wanted a bath, right?"
"Uh… yeah."
"Ten minutes."
Asuna, finally catching on, fidgeted. "T-Together?"
"No way."
"Whaaat?!"
"I'll check the other rooms. Enjoy."
Hachiman left. Asuna, realizing she'd been played, stewed briefly but took the bath. Hachiman confirmed the inn was unchanged, sat on the sofa, and waited, nostalgic. A knock—knock-knock-kocoon—sounded. Recognizing it, he opened the door.
"Yo, Argo. Finally logged in?"
Argo, startled by the sudden opening, blinked. "That's reckless, Haa-bo."
"It's your 'Argo knock.' My ears know it."
"What's that name? Whatever. Where's Aa-chan?"
Hachiman pointed to the bathroom. Argo charged in before he could stop her. He turned away as Asuna's scream and Argo's laughter echoed. Unlike before, he avoided seeing anything, narrowly escaping Asuna's wrath.
"Phew… that was a shock," Asuna sighed minutes later, satisfied, as the trio sat on the living room sofa.
Argo, eyes soft with nostalgia, said, "Our first meeting was in that bathroom, Aa-chan."
"Yeah, so nostalgic. Back then, you just opened the door. Today, you dove in naked, so it was a different kind of shock."
"What?!" Hachiman gawked, looking between them.
Argo chuckled. "Oops, gave Haa-bo too much fanservice."
Asuna tackled Hachiman, fingers poised at his eyes. He panicked. "Argo, don't joke like that! My eyes are in danger! Asuna, I turned away—I saw nothing, I swear!"
Asuna glanced at Argo, skeptical. Argo shrugged. "I was facing away, so I dunno."
"Argo!" Hachiman wailed.
Asuna squinted but let him go—too easily. Hachiman braced for worse. She smirked mischievously.
"I saw you turn away the moment Argo unequipped her gear. I knew you were innocent."
"Asuna!" Hachiman howled again.
"Payback!" She winked, wagging her finger.
Hachiman caught his breath, grumbling, "Fine, a draw for today."
Argo roared with laughter. Asuna, sighing, sat beside him. Trying to shift gears, Hachiman spoke calmly.
"Argo, thought you'd be too busy to log in."
"I was hyped for Aincrad, so I begged for a quick break."
"Got it."
"Will Aincrad's updates keep you slammed?"
"Material-kun and the team are stepping up, so I might pull back from ALO ops soon."
"Material… I still owe him thanks," Hachiman said.
"Yeah, we should thank him together," Asuna added.
"Let's visit him soon," Hachiman agreed.
"I'll pass the word to Material-kun after I log off," Argo offered.
"Thanks, Argo."
"Want a rundown on Aincrad's changes?"
Hachiman shook his head. "Feels like cheating. We're gathering intel now, and our team's sharp—plenty of veterans."
"True," Argo nodded. "I'm logging off then."
"Let's adventure again when you're free," Hachiman said.
"To the 100th floor this time!" Asuna added.
"Yup. See ya, Haa-bo, Aa-chan!" Argo waved, logging out.
The two watched her vanish, then left the inn for the strategy meeting plaza to join their friends.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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