At this time, Asuna was no longer the somewhat rebellious girl she was a few years ago.
Now, she was not only cheerful and understanding, but also gentler, possessing the temperament of a woman.
In the end, this change was also due to what happened 3 years ago.
Her father, Yuki Shouzou, was backstabbed by Nobuyuki Sugou, whom he regarded as a son.
Originally planning to make Sugou his son-in-law, when the NerveGear incident broke out, Sugou sold out Shouzou as he was being arrested.
In fact, they were only implicated by the incident and had no choice but to share the responsibility.
But Sugou thought he still had a bright future ahead and absolutely didn't want this incident to ruin his prospects, let alone spend two or three years in detention. He didn't want to stay even a second.
So he frantically backstabbed Shouzou, claiming he did everything.
This ultimately led to both of them being investigated. Shouzou was released because he wasn't directly involved.
Shouzou's release also caused Sugou to harbor resentment, because Shouzou had given up on him. Couldn't he just serve a few months and slowly get out?
But you sold me out like this?
However, no one expected that shortly after Shouzou left prison, Sugou escaped. Still resentful towards Shouzou, he took a knife and killed him that very night.
Then, Yuki Koichiro, Shouzou's son and Asuna's older brother, discovered it and took brutal revenge on Sugou.
After cruelly torturing Sugou to death, Koichiro also ended up in prison.
Due to reasons like avenging his father, Koichiro was only sentenced to five years. But two years ago, he was released early for good behavior.
However, Koichiro still couldn't get over the shadow of his father's death. Eventually, he changed his name, took a portion of the money, said goodbye, mentioning he might not return and would settle abroad.
As for Kyoko, having finally become the youngest dual-field professor, she was suspended due to the incidents involving Shouzou and Koichiro.
Coupled with such a blow, for the year following that until now, Kyoko has been extremely attentive to Asuna.
Kyoko no longer handles company matters. She just stays home taking care of her daughter. As long as she gets dividends from her existing shares, that's fine. She has no interest in getting involved in other things.
As for Asuna, due to the events of three years ago, she gradually matured.
It can be said that there was no more strict elite education for her. Instead, because she's being treated like a fragile treasure, Asuna's relationship with her mother became even closer.
Business marriage?
Non-existent.
Three years ago, it might have been possible, but now Kyoko only has her left as family. How could she bear to marry her daughter off?
For various reasons,
Kyoko stayed home living with her daughter, and Asuna, with her mother's company, excellently got into a top university. She could start next semester.
But she wouldn't dorm. She promised her mother she would find a suitable apartment outside and live together.
After all, Asuna also understood the reasons deep down, and accepted this with a wry smile.
Unless...
Her mother found a man she liked, meaning remarried.
Perhaps only then could Asuna escape from being constantly clung to and protected by her mother in this situation.
Regarding her father, Asuna also felt regret.
Her father was good in every way, except for being distant.
Ever since she was old enough to understand, she had never seen her mother and father have an intimate moment. They were basically like strangers.
Her mother was striving for her professorship, while her father was striving to expand the company, basically never home.
Even when they met, it was cold greetings, then eating at the dining table, then each going to their own rooms to sleep, and disappearing again the next day.
Now...
Asuna secretly glanced at Kaito, then thought about how her mother had been looking at him just now.
She thought that maybe her mother liked him!
Otherwise, her mother wouldn't have kept staring at him like that!
Although…
He seemed only a few years older than her?
But from some novels she secretly read, many mature women liked young guys! She knew that.
Maybe her mother was that type?
Besides, Kyoko and Shouzou's marriage was originally an arranged one, without any romance process at all.
"Wh-what are you saying!"
Kyoko could tell what her daughter was thinking from her expression. She couldn't help but blush and gently pinched Asuna's cheek.
She had nothing to do with Kaito at all, okay!
It was clearly this strange young man who suddenly kept staring at her. She was just curiously looking back at him. It really wasn't what her daughter imagined!!
Speaking of which, had her daughter secretly read some inappropriate novels again!!
"Hehehe... Mom, I'm grown up now. I can understand this kind of thing. Even if he might only be five or six years older than me, if Mom really likes him... I'm not opposed to it, you know."
"Mm, mm!"
At this moment, Asuna felt she was very filial.
Although she liked her mother, who always protected her, this overprotection had also led to her having few friends, let alone close ones.
And university was the best time for romance, but with her mother by her side, how could she possibly find a so-called boyfriend?
Troublesome.
That's why she thought of just letting her mother pursue her own happiness.
"...Oh, stop it. I have absolutely no such thoughts. You've misunderstood."
Kyoko sighed.
She had no idea how far her daughter's imagination had gone.
Looking at her filial expression, she really wanted to drag her into a corner and give her a good ruffling up.
This was too filial.
Making something out of nothing.
"Is that so? But... Ah, that big brother left."
Asuna tilted her head in confusion, then turned to look at Kaito again.
Unfortunately, Kaito had already left.
Ako was impatient, pulling Kaito and Mika away.
Kaito couldn't help it. Besides, he wasn't familiar with Kyoko, so he let it go for now. There would be opportunities later.
"Alright, alright, Asuna. I'm really not what you think."
"Oh, Mom, should we travel to various places later, or go adventuring?"
"Whatever you want. I'm here to accompany you, anyway."
"Heehee, in that case... let's go adventuring! Let's earn some money first, so we can travel to different places in the Main World. After all, teleportation and food cost money."
'Of course, maybe we'll meet that big brother again~'
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A/N: Sigh, various deaths, how pitiful...