Asuna Yuuki had a complex expression, unsure how to retort. She first paid for the two servings of lunch, then handed one of them to Asagiri Utsunomiya, and only after leaving the supermarket counter did she speak.
"I felt something was off when we were in the dungeon, and it's even more obvious now that we're at school. Your personality... is really strange. To be able to say such narcissistic things in such a matter-of-fact tone..."
Asagiri Utsunomiya and Asuna Yuuki found a quiet corner within Shuchi'in Academy. It was only after sitting down on a bench that he said with a smile.
"Because I'm speaking the truth. It's already a fact, why hide it?"
Asuna Yuuki rolled her eyes and said grumpily, "Yes, yes, thank you for bestowing upon me the opportunity to treat you to a bento—is that enough?"
"It's enough that you know to be thankful, I was just afraid you wouldn't know how to be grateful."
Asagiri Utsunomiya opened the lunch box, took out the chopsticks inside, and continued speaking while eating his bento.
"Oh, right, there's also something extremely important and imminent that requires us to make a decision immediately."
"What is it?"
"Code names."
Asuna Yuuki was a little confused upon hearing this. "Code names?"
"Yes, code names, which are the codes we need to use to address each other when we are in the dungeon."
After a pause, Asagiri Utsunomiya explained, "Think about it, if we call each other by our real names when other Players are present, wouldn't that be a giveaway? Like, 'Utsunomiya, come save me quickly,' 'Utsunomiya, I'm so scared, can you stay closer to me,' 'Utsunomiya, I don't dare sleep alone, can I sleep with you?' 'Utsunomiya, from now on I should be called Utsunomiya Asuna,' and so on."
Asuna Yuuki sighed helplessly and couldn't help but retort: "The first sentence is fine, but what are those last few sentences? Are you trying to sneak in your own stuff?"
"Anyway, that's the general idea."
"Code names, huh... We each need one."
Asuna Yuuki nodded, seemingly calm, but in reality, she didn't know why, but she felt... a little excited?
Code name...
It just felt... very cool.
Of course, with her personality, Asuna Yuuki definitely wouldn't want Asagiri Utsunomiya to know that she had such childish, somewhat chuunibyou thoughts.
"Since you brought it up, have you thought about what code name you want for yourself?"
"Of course."
Asagiri Utsunomiya smiled, and spoke slowly, full of momentum.
"'Butter Shooter'!"
"..." Asuna Yuuki was at a loss for words. Then, after a moment of silence, as if the floodgates had opened, she began complaining.
"Are you kidding? Based on the situation you just described, if I needed your help during a fight, I'd have to shout 'Butter Shooter, come help me quickly,' or 'Butter Shooter, I'll distract the enemy, you attack from the side'? Even if you killed me, I couldn't say that..."
"Ah, that's really a shame." Asagiri Utsunomiya shook his head, seemingly very regretful. "Such a good code name, yet because of my teammate's shame, it cannot become an official code name. Well then, let's forget it. This is the sacrifice I've made for the team."
Asuna Yuuki sighed, looking like she didn't want to argue. Then she said, "Yes, I'm sorry, I've dragged you down because of my personal shame. So, can we start discussing this seriously now?"
"Alright, then what do you think my code name should be?"
Asuna Yuuki thought carefully for a while before speaking.
"Hmm... based on your abilities and personality... how about 'Monarch'? It also means 'sovereign', which fits your arrogant, condescending look."
Upon hearing this, Asagiri Utsunomiya said bluntly with a look of disgust, "Ew, this code name gives off a vibe that's chuunibyou, yet tries not to seem chuunibyou, pretending to be mature, which makes it even more chuunibyou. Let's just forget it."
Asuna Yuuki's face flushed slightly, clearly feeling that the code name she came up with wasn't quite suitable. While trying her best to hide her embarrassment, she said angrily: "If you think the code name I came up with isn't good, then come up with one for yourself."
"Let's just call me 'Captain', and it fits since I'm the captain of the team. It's concise and to the point."
"Hmm, that code name is indeed good. As for me..."
Asuna Yuuki thought seriously for a while, needing a name that sounded cool, wouldn't be mocked by Asagiri Utsunomiya, wasn't too direct, and would sound cool when called out...
Before she could come up with an answer, Asagiri Utsunomiya asked: "How about 'Violet'?"
Asuna Yuuki nodded slightly, seemingly very satisfied with the codename Asagiri Utsunomiya had given her, but she couldn't help but ask curiously: "Violet in English... That's a pretty good code name, but why did you think of giving me such a code name?"
"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"
"There's a truth and a lie? What's the lie?"
Facing Asuna Yuuki's question, Asagiri Utsunomiya's smile instantly disappeared, and he said with a serious expression, staring at Asuna Yuuki's face.
"Because your figure when wielding the rapier is as beautiful and elegant as a violet flower, so in my impression, your code name should be 'Violet'."
Even though Asuna Yuuki was mentally prepared and knew this wasn't Asagiri Utsunomiya's true feelings, seeing him staring at her so seriously for once, with them sitting close together on the same bench, and hearing his cheesy words, her heart rate still accelerated suddenly. A blush even appeared on her face, and she timidly shifted her gaze away, not daring to look directly into Asagiri Utsunomiya's eyes.
"Then... what about the truth?"
"The truth is, I just suddenly thought of it, there's no special reason."
"Oh... I see..."
For some reason, Asuna Yuuki felt a little disappointed. Although she knew it was a lie, the first explanation made her happier.
◆—⊰✧⊱—◆
After having lunch together, Asuna Yuuki and Asagiri Utsunomiya came to the gym within Shuchi'in Academy.
It's naturally impossible for ordinary schools to have facilities like a professional gym, but Shuchi'in Academy isn't an ordinary school; it isn't just about students' average grades. Even sports clubs like tennis, volleyball, and basketball frequently achieve results in national competitions, making it the strongest school with no weaknesses in any area. Coupled with abundant funding, the completeness and professionalism of the campus facilities are naturally incomparable to ordinary high schools.
As for why they came to the gym, Asagiri Utsunomiya's explanation was also simple: "Although we call it a game, it isn't a joke after all. We can't judge our strength intuitively through stats, and under the condition of having equal physical fitness, people who exercise regularly will definitely be more adapted to the rhythm of combat."