The furious Asuna was as sharp and unstoppable as a blade drawn from its sheath. Her sword skills flowed seamlessly, and with the additional "card perspective" technique Ryuto had taught her, she dispatched the Dryad with ease.
Fragments of glowing polygons scattered in the air as the monster dissolved into broken data. Asuna sheathed her rapier and walked back toward Ryuto, who quickly offered her a recovery potion.
"Ryuto-kun, I don't want you being so impulsive next time!"
"If I hadn't acted, you would've died."
"But—"
"Relax, relax. I won't be impulsive again."
(Not that there will be a next time, he silently added.)
Ryuto tried to reassure her, but inside, he was frustrated with himself. He wasn't strong enough yet to protect her without taking reckless risks. That had to change. He resolved to train harder.
Wanting to shift the mood, he opened his map.
"There's a small town ahead. It's getting dark, and visibility drops a lot at night. Fighting monsters in low light is dangerous unless you're used to it. Let's head there and find an inn."
Without waiting for a reply, he started toward the town.
...
The Town
Minutes later, they stepped into the bustling settlement. NPCs moved about on preset paths, merchants shouted over one another, and the air was filled with the sound of haggling. It felt almost alive.
"I'm going to buy some things. What about you?" Ryuto asked.
"I need to repair my weapon."
"Alright. Let's meet in front of the inn."
They split up. Ryuto went to a tailor's shop with his pack full of monster drops, while Asuna headed toward the blacksmith.
Half an hour later, Ryuto spotted her crimson cloak from a distance and jogged over.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. The NPC started bargaining with me—I argued with him forever."
"It's fine," Asuna replied with a small smile. The image of Ryuto haggling with an NPC amused her more than she expected. She wondered why she hadn't noticed this playful side of him before.
...
The Inn
The innkeeper greeted them as they stepped inside.
"Welcome! What type of lodging do you need?"
"How much for one night? Two single rooms," Ryuto asked cautiously, trying to gauge Asuna's reaction.
"A single room is 500 Cor. A double room is only 750 Cor. I recommend the double room."
(Thanks for saying what I couldn't…) Ryuto thought wryly.
"Then… we'll take two—"
Before he could finish, Asuna spoke softly, her cheeks tinged pink.
"Ryuto-kun… most of my Cor went into potions and equipment. I don't have enough."
Ryuto sighed.
"Alright. One double room it is. You don't mind, right?"
She shook her head, showing no objection. Ryuto took the key and led the way upstairs.
...
The Room
The moment the door shut, Ryuto flopped onto one of the beds with arms and legs spread wide.
"Ah… nothing beats lying down after a long day."
Asuna glanced at him, her expression softening. This wasn't the calm, precise Ryuto-kun she'd seen cutting down monsters earlier—this was a real, human Ryuto. And she found that… nice.
Somewhere deep in her heart, something small had begun to grow.
"Hey, Ryuto-kun… I'm going to change."
His heart skipped a beat.
"You know… saying that so casually to a normal guy like me is dangerous."
Still, he turned his back like a gentleman. After a moment, her voice came again.
"Okay, you can turn around."
He did—and for a second, words failed him. Even though he'd seen Asuna in her sleepwear in the anime, being here in person was entirely different. This wasn't fiction—this was her, standing in front of him.
Her ruby eyes flickered with a curious warmth, and he found himself staring.
What's with that look? Asuna thought, feeling her own cheeks warm.
She didn't fully understand what she felt toward Ryuto yet. It was still hazy… but strong. She wanted his approval—and maybe, just maybe—she wanted to stay like this with him.
Ryuto noticed the blush creeping up her face and realized he'd gone too far. Clearing his throat, he broke the silence.
Ryuto pulled up his equipment menu, unequipped his gear, and left only his basic undershirt and trousers.
"Go to bed early, Asuna," he said, lying back on the bed.
He closed his eyes, determined to rest well and be ready for tomorrow's adventure.
Asuna watched him settle in, then slowly lay down on her own bed. Today had been more eventful than the past fifteen years of her life combined. No matter how she turned, she couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she thought of the face just across from her. Finally, she rolled onto her side, facing his bed.
Ryuto was already asleep. The sound of his steady breathing mingled with the soft flicker of the kerosene lamp on the small table between them, creating a calm, almost intimate quiet.
The warm yellow light played across his face. From her angle, Asuna could only see his profile—but she found herself strangely captivated. She didn't understand why she could just keep looking at him without growing tired.
Eventually, the soft glow lulled her into sleep. She didn't know how late it was when her eyes finally closed.
...
The Next Morning
"Hey, Asuna, time to wake up."
"Come on, sleepyhead, the sun's already up."
"Mmm…"
Asuna rubbed her eyes, squinting against the light—and froze. Right in front of her was a face with silver hair and bright red eyes.
"Huh?!"
Still groggy, she instinctively covered her chest, then lashed out with a slap.
Smack!
A beat later, memory returned. Oh… right. We shared a room last night. Her gaze fell on the vivid red handprint now standing out against Ryuto's pale cheek. His expression was so put-upon that she couldn't help it—she burst out laughing.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to… I was half-asleep."
Ryuto waved it off, clearly not eager to argue.
When they finally stepped out of the inn, the red mark was gone. Asuna glanced at his face, tilted her head, then broke into another smile.
"Ryuto-kun, you really do have a different face now."
He sighed in mock exasperation.
"SAO may simulate reality, but it's not perfect. That slap counted as an attack, so the effect fades after a while."
"Also," he added with a faint smile, "you look really good when you smile. You should do it more often."
"Do I…?"
Her heart gave a small tremor.
How long had it been since she'd felt this light? In the real world, her mother's strict expectations had mapped out every step of her life. She had no companions of her own, no childhood of her own.
Everything pleasant had been kept far out of reach. Here, in a world where death was a constant shadow, she had found something rare—someone who made her feel alive.
It's good to be alive, she thought. Thank you, Ryuto-kun.
Still, she wanted to hear it again.
"Really? You really think I look good when I smile?"
"Of course it's true."
Ryuto's tone was firm and certain, leaving no room for doubt.
Looking at him, Asuna thought, This boy… even if I can't believe it completely, I want to. I wish I could use every beautiful word in the world to describe him.
And with quiet certainty, she told herself—
I like you the most, Ryuto-kun.