Asagiri Utsunomiya nodded, thinking that Asuna Yuuki was truly impressive. If it were a normal girl, having just cleared a dungeon a few hours ago and witnessed the bloody scene of death, they would likely want to avoid dungeons at all costs. Yet, after rational thought, she had made the most correct choice.
"Then, let's set the time for the next dungeon entry for this Saturday."
Asuna Yuuki frowned slightly upon hearing this. "Saturday? Why don't we start signing up now? That way, we can enter the dungeon on Thursday."
Asagiri Utsunomiya spread his hands and said something Asuna Yuuki had never expected him to say: "Thursday is class time."
"Huh?" Asuna Yuuki first made a surprised sound and had a matching expression, then asked in confusion, "Are you... the type who doesn't like skipping class?"
Asagiri Utsunomiya shook his head and said, "How could that be? I skip class relentlessly."
"Then why..."
Asagiri Utsunomiya put away his smile and explained seriously: "What if there are other Players in our school? This is the first week of school, and it's also our first day as Players. If there are other Players at school, and we both take leave or skip class on Thursday, coupled with the fact that we entered the school together this morning, the flaw would be too obvious."
"Hmm, you're right. I didn't consider that point."
Asuna Yuuki nodded first, then said thoughtfully: "The rules don't specify the exact time to enter the dungeon, so Friday, which has classes, won't work either. If we suddenly disappear during class, it's all over. However, a convenient point is that as friends, if we queue together, we are guaranteed to enter the same dungeon."
"Then it's decided. I hope this game doesn't use the dynamic difficulty, known as the root of all evil."
"Dynamic difficulty?" Asuna Yuuki asked, confused. She had never played any games, and she couldn't quite understand the jargon Asagiri Utsunomiya was using at the moment, so she couldn't help but ask curiously, "What is dynamic difficulty?"
Asagiri Utsunomiya patiently explained, "So-called dynamic difficulty is a measure adopted by game developers to prevent the game from becoming too easy, which would cause players to lose interest. Simply put, it means that the monsters in each area will become stronger with the increase of the player level and stats."
Asuna Yuuki frowned tightly upon hearing this, a worried expression on her face as she said, "You mean... because we got too high a rating after clearing the novice dungeon for the first time, it's possible that the dungeon difficulty will greatly increase the next time we enter? Then... if that's the case, what's the point of trying to get the highest rating every time?"
Asagiri Utsunomiya looked very expectant and said with a light chuckle, "That's why... it's very important. If even this point can be handled well, then this game is truly interesting."
Asuna Yuuki sighed slightly, covering her forehead in resignation. The she said, "I'm starting to suspect that you doing something like playing the kazoo in class wasn't because of the promise with Ashikaga-sensei, trying to attract attention this way, but simply for fun..."
Asagiri Utsunomiya gave the honest answer without any concealment: "No need to doubt. I'm just looking for fun."
After saying so, Asagiri Utsunomiya stood up and walked towards the office exit.
"Alright, I'm going to buy bento. I remember there's a gym inside Shuchi'in. Let's meet there after lunch."
Hearing the word 'bento', Asuna Yuuki seemed to remember something, then stood up and said, "I felt like I forgot something. I've been thinking about the dungeon so much that I forgot to bring my bento to school. Let's go buy bento together."
"Are you sure?"
Asagiri Utsunomiya asked back with a smile.
"I'm a celebrity at Shuchi'in Academy now, and quite a few people are hostile towards me. You're also a new student who just transferred to Shuchi'in Academy midway, not starting from middle school. If you're seen walking with me, you might be targeted and ostracized too."
Asuna Yuuki replied immediately without any hesitation, "Hmph, who I make friends with is my own freedom. Besides, we've at least gone through life and death together. Just because you're unpopular at school, I should pretend not to know you, and then rely on your help when entering the dungeon? I'm not that kind of person! I can't do something like that. If I get ostracized, I get ostracized. I don't care."
Asagiri Utsunomiya replied with a smile, "Oh, you're quite rebellious."
◆—⊰✧⊱—◆
After locking the office door, Asagiri Utsunomiya brought Asuna Yuuki to the supermarket inside Shuchi'in Academy.
It has to be said, Shuchi'in Academy is indeed Shuchi'in Academy.
The boxed lunch—bento—sold in the supermarket, besides the regular ones fluctuating around ¥800, also includes high-end boxed lunch like steak sets for up to ¥5,000 and seafood sets for ¥7,000. After all, not every student at Shuchi'in Academy comes from an extremely wealthy family. Some students' parents are very busy with work and don't have time to prepare bentos, and they feel that the bentos sold at convenience stores outside aren't very healthy, which is why there is this on-campus supermarket counter.
"What bento do you want?"
Hearing Asagiri Utsunomiya's question, Asuna Yuuki looked up at the bento types and prices written above.
"Just... a regular pork cutlet lunch, I guess."
"Okay, two servings of pork cutlet lunch, how much?"
"That will be one thousand six hundred yen."
"Alright, I'll pay together."
Seeing Asagiri Utsunomiya reach into his jacket pocket, as if to take out his wallet and pay directly, Asuna Yuuki quickly took out her own wallet and spoke in a hurry.
"Let me treat you."
"Okay."
What Asuna Yuuki didn't expect was that Asagiri Utsunomiya was truly not being polite at all, quickly moving away from the spot in front of the supermarket counter.
"I was just waiting for you to say that. Alright, you go ahead."
"No, you..." Asuna Yuuki said and looked at Asagiri Utsunomiya, feeling a bit speechless, thinking that while she sincerely wanted to treat him, the problem was that he agreed too quickly, a bit too eagerly, wasn't he?
Asagiri Utsunomiya had a calm expression, waved his hand, and said, "No need to thank me."
Asuna Yuuki was somewhat exasperated as she said, "Thank... you? I'm treating, shouldn't you be thanking me?"
Asagiri Utsunomiya explained in a matter-of-fact tone, "Hmm? What kind of logic is that? To be able to treat the esteemed Asagiri Utsunomiya-kun to a bento, and also have the opportunity to eat bento with Asagiri Utsunomiya-kun, facing such a gift from fate, do you not have a grateful heart? This is not good, Asuna Yuuki-san."