To shatter both Sasuke and Neji's ultimate techniques barehanded, and at the same time?
Kirito now stood between the two of them, neither of whom could stop staring at him, eyes wide, stunned beyond words.
He didn't offer any explanation. There was no sense of satisfaction on his face. From beginning to end, Kirito hadn't even bothered to properly look at either of them.
"The mission continues. Time to move."
That was all he said, calm, flat, and with that, he released them both and walked away without a second glance.
"…"
Neji's initial shock faded into awe, and finally settled into silent contemplation. He said nothing.
But Sasuke, on the other hand, collapsed to his knees with a heavy thud. His eyes burned with bitter rage and humiliation. He clenched his fists so tightly they trembled as he smashed them into the ground.
"Someone like me… what even am I?!"
Kirito, of course, didn't care. What kind of emotional turmoil they fell into because of his casual display of power wasn't his concern.
Thump.
A soft elbow jab landed on his chest.
Kirito looked to the side, Tenten had nudged him with her elbow, her round eyes blinking wide.
"Hey hey, Kirito! Since when were you this strong?!"
Kirito blinked, then gave her a lazy smile.
"Actually, I've always been this strong. You just didn't know it."
Tenten nodded thoughtfully.
"I did start to wonder about it during that last mission. You went one-on-one against a jōnin-level enemy and held your own. I thought then, maybe Kirito's kind of amazing? Looking back now, yeah… I should've figured. I mean, who else could fight a jōnin like that?"
"Bit exaggerated," Kirito waved a hand. "Compared to the truly powerful, ordinary jōnin aren't even worth mentioning."
"Pfft~"
Tenten shrugged.
"I knew you'd say something like that. You're such a downer."
"Sorry," Kirito chuckled.
"Just stating the facts."
"…I think you should go back to pretending to be normal," Tenten muttered, exasperated. "The way you're acting now… it really puts people off."
"Is that so?"
Kirito smiled but didn't argue.
There was no point. In the past, he'd hidden his strength to avoid unnecessary trouble. But after being exposed bit by bit, he'd stopped bothering to pretend. Not out of spite, but because he honestly felt it was more trouble to try and re-explain the truth later.
He glanced over at Tenten again.
She really was… an interesting girl.
While others were stunned or even fearful of his overwhelming power, Tenten wasn't intimidated at all. She reacted like someone who'd thought she was looking at a cat in a painting, only to realize it was actually a Lion. And yet, all she did was blink and say, "Oh! I see!"
She admired his strength, but never envied or resented him. No jealousy. No cold distance. No awkwardness from the gap between them.
She was just… her.
"…Tenten."
"Huh?"
Kirito looked at her with a warm smile and asked seriously,
"Tenten, do you have someone you like?"
"Wh-?! Are you stupid?!"
Tenten's big brown eyes went wide. She reached out and poked his cheek hard, flustered.
"Who just asks that kind of question?! I'm a young girl in the prime of her youth, you know! You can't just blurt things like that!"
"Oh…"
Kirito blinked, then nodded like he understood everything.
"I see."
"Hey hey! Don't give me that smug I-figured-you-out look! What are you, some love veteran or something?!"
"Then… let me ask it another way."
Kirito's grin deepened.
"Tenten, will you marry me, become my third wife?"
"Excuse me?! Did I just hear a half-confession?!"
Tenten puffed up angrily.
"Please don't say nonsense with a straight face! Also! I'm only fourteen, and I'm pretty sure you're younger than me! What kind of proposal is that supposed to be?! As for that third wife part, I seriously suspect you've got a serious delusion problem. But if you're sick, I guess I can forgive you. You probably just forgot to take your meds today, huh? That's totally normal for people like you~"
Kirito felt a headache coming on from her relentless, rapid-fire scolding.
Still, he had only one thing to say.
"I like you."
"Then chase me properly, like a normal person."
"I will."
"…Fine, I'll listen for now."
The two of them continued casually chatting about love, out in the open with no shame whatsoever.
Every word reached Neji's ears, who stood not far away.
After listening for a while, Neji felt his mind short-circuiting.
"…Tenten… so you were hiding this side of yourself…"
He blinked in disbelief, only to look toward Kirito again, his expression now filled with a complex mix of awe and confusion.
"…That guy… someone like him… is actually strong enough that I can only look up to him?"
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