When Asuna got to that point, her face turned red and she stopped.
Hojo Yoru didn't try to smooth things over or change the subject at all.
Just like he'd said in his freshman rep speech—
output can't stop for even one second.
To deal with a stubborn tsundere like Asuna, you have to hit hard.
"Did you tell her you're pregnant?"
"Hah??!"
Hojo's insane line shocked Asuna so much she forgot to be shy. She snapped back, eyes wide with disbelief:
"Of course not! It's just… when she asked whether my relationship with you is close, I didn't deny it…"
The moment those words left her mouth, she noticed Hojo's 'I see~' expression.
She realized immediately—
she'd been played again.
Because Hojo's nonsense was so outrageous, her brain froze for a second. She reflexively blurted the truth while rebutting him.
Diagnosis:
tsundere + rebellious attributes conflict → Program Asuna not responding.
"Close relationship, huh?"
Hearing Hojo's deliberately suggestive tone, Asuna flushed and rushed to explain:
"I-I was thinking that since we'll be acting together in the future… it's better to set up a reasonable excuse now instead of acting suspicious…"
"Fair point."
Hojo nodded like he truly approved—then smiled.
"Good thing I don't need to worry about that."
Asuna massaged her forehead with a complicated expression and sighed.
"When you make hell jokes about yourself, I genuinely don't know how I'm supposed to respond…"
The next day — Sunday morning
"Food's ready!"
Wearing an apron, Asuna set breakfast on the table. Her cooking had improved fast—she'd gone from completely clueless to being able to make simple dishes like miso soup. It wasn't flashy, but the taste was solid.
"Hm hm hm~"
Watching Asuna hum softly while eating, looking genuinely pleased, Hojo smiled and asked:
"By the way, why did you come sleep over again?"
"Huh?"
"You've awakened and can control your power now. I don't need to keep an eye on you 24/7 anymore—so why aren't you sleeping at your own place?"
Asuna froze.
…Yeah. Why wasn't she?
Every time she came here she had to sleep on a futon on the floor, and this guy never stopped teasing her—so why did she keep following him home without thinking?
"I…"
"No rush."
Hojo kept eating, laughing lightly.
"Take your time and make something up."
"Y-you… I…"
Asuna stammered, face red, and finally blurted out in a panicked rush:
"It's… for convenience when we act together! Yes! That's it!"
Hojo gave her a thumbs-up, full of admiration.
"Beautiful lie, Asuna. Truly beautiful. You can say nonsense with a straight face now—looks like you've caught some of my 'abstract bacteria.'"
"It's cells, isn't it?!"
"Heh. Correcting my wording instead of denying you're abstract? Evidence locked."
"…Enough. What's the plan today? Hunting ghouls again?"
"Let's go on a date."
Asuna stared at him, completely blank.
Hojo continued like it was nothing:
"A fun Sunday should be used to relax."
Only after he finished did Asuna's brain catch up. She clenched her fists, face blazing, and used anger to mask embarrassment:
"Who's going on a date with you—"
"Then I'll ask Touma."
"No!"
She rejected him on reflex—then hurriedly patched it up under Hojo's amused gaze:
"Touma sleeps all day! I just don't want you bothering her!"
"Then I'll ask Nishimiya Shouko."
"She's shy and scared of people—how would she ever agree to something like that?!"
"Then Hiratsuka Shizuka."
Asuna: "..."
Is this ever going to end?
Guarding against female classmates was one thing, but now she had to guard against their homeroom teacher too?!
This is no enemies on earth, only enemies from the heavens—who can defend against that?!
Hojo, seeing her red-faced and wordless, laughed and finally shifted topics:
"Kidding. We do have an operation today, but it's just an investigation at a certain place. It'll be quick, then the rest of the day is free time."
Asuna instantly brightened and nodded obediently.
"Okay~"
She'd noticed his wording.
Not "you and I" have free time—"we" do.
Meaning whatever they do to relax afterward, it's the two of them together.
Her mind drifted into some embarrassing imagery. Her cheeks warmed and she brushed her hair back.
As long as it wasn't anything too… unhealthy…
She'd stay with Hojo.
"Right—what's the investigation?"
"Oh, nothing big."
Hojo set down his bowl and answered casually:
"A river keeps mysteriously drowning people. We'll check the area—see if there's something like a vengeful spirit nearby."
"V-venge… ven…"
Asuna's teeth started chattering. She looked timid and tense.
Hojo didn't care at all.
"I even picked daytime on purpose and you're still this scared? Looking at you like this, people might think you've got something high-frequency stuffed up—never mind. I won't say more."
"I don't even understand what you're saying, but it feels like you're saying creepy stuff again…"
Asuna sighed, then forced a heroic, ready-to-die expression:
"Fine! Then we'll go meet this 'vengeful spirit'!"
"Excellent! Full of energy!"
Hojo applauded her bravery, committing fully to being supportive.
"Warm wine, slay the grudge—true general vibes!"
"O-of course!"
Her mouth stayed stubbornly tough, but in reality—
her legs were already shaking.
River. Vengeful spirit. Drowning.
Put those words together and Asuna's brain had already spawned a mental image:
wet hair plastered to a pale bloated face, hateful eyes staring from the water.
The best way to overcome fear is to face it head-on.
If Asuna could use the Throne of Swords to chop that so-called spirit into pieces, she'd never fear this stuff again.
First it was weighted training—now it was desensitization training.
Pokémon Asuna—
still forging ahead.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( Ending )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter108)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 99
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 95
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 99
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 92
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 47
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 44
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 43
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