"The Main Wife! You're even cuter in person!"
"I'm Rika Shinozaki. Lisbeth."
"Liz-san! You're a total babe in real life!"
"Keiko Ayano. I'm Silica!"
"Silica-chan! I want to take you home with me!"
Miyu let out a squeal of pure excitement and tried to lung at Hachiman again, only for him to catch her firmly by the forehead.
"I told you—stop trying to climb me every five seconds."
"Uuu... your guard is too solid..."
Asuna watched the interaction, then noticed Karen looking at the two of them with a hint of envy. Leaning in, Asuna whispered to Kazuto and the others.
"Hey... do you think the 'tally' just went up again?"
"The tally? For what?" Kazuto asked.
"Kazuto, you're such a child. Just be quiet," Rika snapped.
"What! I'm twenty years old!"
"Kazuto-san," Keiko whispered. "She means another girl has been charmed by Hachiman-san."
"Ohh! Right. The usual pattern where Hachiman remains completely oblivious?" Kazuto looked over at Karen. She was maintaining a polite distance but watching Hachiman and Miyu with longing eyes.
"Asuna, what are you going to do?" Rika asked.
"What is there to do? It's not something to worry about," Asuna replied calmly. "Think about it—the more people there are, the more 'romance density' per person gets diluted, right? So there's no reason to stress. No matter what happens, my relationship with Hachiman-kun isn't going to change."
The other three stared at her, blindsided by her logic.
"The 'dilution' theory?!"
"Truly... a Columbus's Egg realization..."
"Asuna, are you a genius?"
"Regardless of all that," Asuna smiled, "I think we could all be great friends."
(Little did they know that Asuna and Karen would eventually meet within GGO without knowing each other's identities, hitting it off instantly over their shared love for the P90.)
"So, Fuka," Hachiman said, breaking the mood. "How long do you plan on staying here? You should probably head home soon."
"Gah! Does Hachiman-kun hate Fuka-chan?"
"Don't talk like a toddler. It's not that. This is a school. You can't just loiter here indefinitely."
"For the man who has everything... take this!" Miyu pulled out a document.
"What's this?"
"It's a permit for you, from the Chairwoman."
"For me? Let me see that."
Hachiman took the paper. It read:
By the authority of Yukinoshita Yukino's mother and Chairwoman of this academy, I hereby command student Hachiman Hikigaya: Following our educational philosophy that "study" is not confined to a desk, you are to accompany these two non-students on a social observation tour. To achieve this goal, you are hereby exempt from your remaining classes today and granted permission to leave campus. Furthermore, as this is a duty delegated to a representative of this school, no right of refusal is recognized. P.S. Don't bother coming back to school today.
"What... is this..."
"An exit permit?" Miyu offered.
"I know what it is, I'm asking why it exists!"
"The paper says no right of refusal, sir!"
"Did you set this up?" Hachiman glared at Miyu.
"I just went to the Chairwoman's office to say hello and she handed it to me!"
"How did you even know her? This was clearly prepared in advance."
"I have connections."
"Connections? The only people you know who could connect to our Chairwoman are... No, Yukino wouldn't do this. I see. Dammit. That mother and daughter duo are insane..."
Hachiman threw the permit down and stormed off toward the Chairwoman's office. Kazuto picked up the paper, read it, and burst out laughing.
"What is this? She's as ridiculous as ever! Hahaha!"
"Kazuto-kun, let me see," Asuna said, joining in the laughter once she read the text. "Pfft, what in the world?"
"Me too!"
"Let me see!"
Rika and Keiko crowded around, both snorting as they read the 'order.'
"Basically, she's ordering him to take them sightseeing," Keiko giggled.
"Well, if it's a direct order from the Chairwoman, he doesn't have much choice," Asuna said. "Classes are starting soon, so we should head back. You two should probably go meet him at the office."
Miyu looked a bit lonely. "Aww, I wanted to talk to everyone more..."
"We'll meet up after school," Asuna promised. "Until then, let Hachiman-kun show you around."
"Really?!"
"Of course. You too, Karen."
"I... I can come too?" Karen asked shyly.
"Definitely. See you both later!"
"Okay!"
"See ya!"
Meanwhile, Hachiman reached the Chairwoman's office. He knocked once and threw the door open before waiting for an answer.
"Eek!"
"Chairwoman, we need to tal—! I—! I'm so sorry!"
Hachiman slammed the door shut immediately. He had caught a glimpse of the Chairwoman with her back turned, in the middle of changing her clothes. But then, a thought struck him. Something was off.
"Uh, Chairwoman? Why were you changing right there? You didn't happen to... predict I was coming and just wait in that state, did you?"
"My, how sharp of you," her voice came through the door, playful and poised. "I suppose I should answer with total sincerity: Yes."
Hachiman was speechless. "You... you... How can you be so devious?!"
"Ohohoho! If you had opened that door all the way, I would have made sure you took responsibility for me. In the sexual sense, of course."
"You're a married woman! For God's sake, have some restraint! You're an adult!"
"The fact that you can only shout complaints tells me that today is my victory."
"Dammit... what happened to the dignified woman you used to be?"
"Ohohoho! The howling of a loser is such a pleasant sound."
"I have a thousand things I want to say to you, but I can't open this door..."
"Hehe. Frustrating, isn't it? It must be so galling."
"You're enjoying this way too much..."
Hachiman felt a presence behind him. It was Karen, who had arrived a moment later.
"I-I'm sorry, Hachiman-kun. This really is a huge bother for you, isn't it?"
Hachiman looked at her guilty expression and sighed. He couldn't stay angry in front of her. "Ah, no. It's fine. Not a bother at all. Right! Let's get going then! I'm actually really looking forward to it!"
"Y-you are?"
"Yeah. So don't make that face. I mean it."
"If you say so..."
As expected, Hachiman couldn't bring himself to keep complaining in front of Karen. Miyu, who had been watching the exchange, chimed in.
"All right! Fuka-chan's grand victory! Can we go wherever I want, Hachiman-kun?"
"Oh? You were there? You're coming too?"
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAHN!"
"I'm kidding. Let's go."
"That's our Hachiman-kun! I love you!"
"Still annoying."
And so, Hachiman resigned himself to his fate, leading the two "apostles" out of the school and into the city.
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