After the banquet, which was more of a victory party, ended, Shana was stopped by Eva on his way back.
"Shana-san, about that promise, are you free tomorrow?"
"Promise?"
"Yes, you said you'd take us out to eat something sweet!"
"Ah, ahhh!"
It was only then that Shana realized his carelessness.
Due to the relief of being freed from the situation and his accidentally triggered "Big Brother" skill, Shana regretted making such an outrageous promise, but it was already too late.
Shana felt gloomily depressed but said, trying not to show it on his face:
"That's fine. So, where should I pick you up?"
"We have practice at the university tomorrow, so if possible, it would be helpful if you could meet us in front of the entrance there!"
"Got it. I'll be waiting just outside the gate."
"Okay, see you tomorrow then!"
Eva had spoken in a hearty manner during the banquet, and the others had their own unique ways of speaking, but it seemed that when talking to Shana without strangers around, she decided to use her natural tone.
The six of them gave normal greetings that completely mismatched their appearances and logged out one by one.
"Shana, who were they just now?"
The one who spoke to him was Usu-shio Tarako.
"Right, I forgot you didn't know them. They're an Amazones squad that jumped in and joined us today."
"So even a group like that was here... No wonder the headcount didn't match up at all."
"A six-person team of only women is rare, isn't it?"
"I didn't recognize them at all. Are they a group that just started recently?"
"Probably. But they move pretty well. They're likely doing something in real life too."
"Those kinds of groups are tough to deal with."
"They'll grow, for sure."
Shana said this while glossing over the rhythmic gymnastics part. It was a considerably high evaluation.
"Well then, I'm heading home soon too. See ya, Shana. And you too, Sinon."
"Yeah, see ya."
"See you."
Sinon had apparently come to his side unnoticed, and Usu-shio Tarako greeted the two of them.
Shana turned around and said to Sinon:
"Well, shall we head back too?"
"Yeah, I'm a bit tired today."
Exchanging words, the two began walking toward their base.
"By the way, Shana, about tomorrow... naturally, you're taking me along too, right?"
"Wha..."
Shana was intensely shaken, wondering why Sinon knew about that.
"Y-You, were you listening?"
"Isn't it obvious? Well, it seems those girls right now don't have any romantic feelings for you, but who knows what will happen in the future? I need to tag along properly as a chaperone."
"Well, I don't really mind... They're probably around your age."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Their movements were unmistakably those of rhythmic gymnastics. They seem too young to be university students, but since there are hardly any middle schools with rhythmic gymnastics clubs, and it's unlikely for middle schoolers to be playing GGO in the first place..."
"I see, so they're the same age..."
Then Sinon muttered:
"I'm glad my avatar is cute..."
Shana seemingly heard those words and burst out laughing.
"Certainly, their avatars were quite... ah, skewed, weren't they?"
"Yeah, it's rare for all six of them to turn out like that."
"Well, Touma and Anna weren't too bad, though."
For the record: Eva was quite tall, with braided brown hair and a rugged appearance in every aspect, looking like a female pro wrestler.
Sophie had a squat, dumpy appearance with long brown hair tied back.
Touma had a slender, feminine appearance with short black hair.
Rosa had a freckled face with red hair, looking like someone who wouldn't be out of place being nicknamed "Mom."
Anna was a beauty with splendid blonde hair; she could pass for a white male due to her knit cap and sunglasses, but without them, she looked like a Hollywood actress. Essentially, her features were sharp.
And Tanya had silver, very short hair with sharp eyes, looking like a fox.
Sinon recalled their six faces again and repeated the same sentiment.
"I'm really glad my avatar has a cute appearance that Shana likes..."
"I don't recall saying anything about your appearance..."
"What? Do you have some complaint about my avatar?"
"No, well, I don't know if it's my type, but I don't dislike it."
"What do you mean 'don't know'? It's about yourself... You're as dishonest as ever."
"Anyway, I'm renting a large minivan for tomorrow, but the capacity is eight people. I can't take Eiko, Mii, or Shiina this time."
"Hey, don't change the subject! Well, fine. So basically, with me, the car will be exactly full. I think the three of them will be disappointed, but I'll tell them to give up this time."
"Come to think of it, have they been guarding you properly since then?"
"Yeah. I tell them it's not necessary, but someone is always staying by my side."
"I see. That's good then."
After logging out, Hachiman honestly told Asuna about what happened, including the events of the day.
"Ehh, so that happened..."
"Yeah. If we made one wrong move, there was a possibility of being wiped out."
"Actually, you mean everyone except Hachiman-kun and Sinon-non, right?"
"Well, honestly, as long as the two of us are together, we can manage somehow, so maybe."
Hachiman readily admitted it.
"Does Asuna have plans for tomorrow?"
"I promised to go out with Yukino. Yui and Yumiko seem to be gathering with Ebina-san for a change, so Yukino unusually invited me out, just the two of us. Ahh, I wanted to see those girls too."
"Sorry, the car is full. If not for that, it would've been fine for you to join us. Although, it might be bad if Yukino finds out about GGO... No, there's also the option of daring to reveal it and having her help organize the information on the players there that Kitten is working hard on right now..."
Seeing Hachiman hesitate, Asuna thought for a moment and said:
"Well, isn't it fine to wait and see a little longer? Bara-san is really motivated."
"True. If I call Yukino poorly, Kitten might sulk and say something like, 'Do you not trust me?'"
"By the way, where do you plan to go tomorrow?"
"Ah, since I'm clueless about that sort of thing, I'm thinking of a shop that happened to come up when I was talking to Yukino the other day."
"I could understand if it was Yui or Yumiko, but isn't it rare for Yukino to bring up a shop like that?"
"Apparently, they have sweets with a cat image."
"Ahhh~!"
Asuna seemed immediately convinced upon hearing that.
"Well, anyway, introduce me to those girls sometime, okay?"
"Yeah. We might act together in the game occasionally, but if you saw them, Asuna, I think you'd be really surprised too."
"Then I'll look forward to that time. Also..."
Asuna gave Hachiman a light kiss.
"You can't do things like this with Sinon-non, okay?"
"As if I would."
Hearing Hachiman's words, Asuna smiled brightly, but inwardly she thought:
(But Hachiman-kun flatly rejecting other girls... feels somewhat unlike him. I think Hachiman-kun getting flustered when Onee-san or Sinon-non hug him is cute, and as long as they don't cross the line, lately I haven't really minded that much...)
Asuna realized she was gradually getting used to Hachiman being surrounded by numerous women, including herself.
(If I tried to monopolize Hachiman-kun more and more... I think everyone else would still stay by our side, but I don't feel like I'd be as happy as I am now. Hachiman-kun will absolutely never betray me. So even if someone else is hugging him, I can be at ease. Rather, seeing that girl's smile makes me happy too, thinking it's thanks to Hachiman-kun. In the same way, everyone else smiles when they look at me and Hachiman-kun. I see, so that's what it is...)
Thinking this, Asuna stared intently at Hachiman's face.
"Hm? Something wrong?"
"When Hachiman-kun gets hugged by other girls and doesn't forcibly push them away, it's because you don't want to see their sad faces, right?"
"Ugh... What's this all of a sudden? Well, I can't deny I think that way..."
"Hachiman-kun, you're basically very passive when it comes to relationships with women, aren't you?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Hachiman replied with a troubled face.
"Hachiman-kun, you absolutely won't cheat, right?"
"Of course. I intend to marry you, Asuna."
To this question, Hachiman answered clearly and decisively.
"Yeah. Hachiman-kun, I like you best just the way you are now. I think I'm happiest right now."
"What got into you all of a sudden..."
"Nothing. I just thought again that now, when everyone is happy, really is the happiest time."
Told this by Asuna, Hachiman said somewhat bewilderedly:
"Well, if Asuna is fine with it, then it's fine."
Hachiman wondered if Asuna was being significantly influenced by Haruno, but since it was difficult for his personality to coldly reject others anyway, he decided to accept Asuna's words.
Thinking he should be even kinder to Asuna in return, Hachiman wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gently pulled her closer.
"Geez, what's with you all of a sudden?"
"No, I just thought I'm always relying on your kindness."
"If you think so, show more gratitude to your broad-minded girlfriend!"
"Yeah. Then, to show my gratitude, how about I give you a full-body massage right now?"
"Eh? Y-Yeah."
The two headed to Hachiman's room on the second floor. Just then, Komachi came out of her room, perhaps thinking they were going to log into GGO, and casually asked them:
"Onii-chan, are you doing something?"
"No, to convey my daily gratitude to Asuna, I decided to give her a full-body massage, so we're going to the bed."
"Is that so? Can Komachi watch too?"
"I don't mind. Want a full-body massage too while we're at it, Komachi?"
"Hmm~, I'll think about it after seeing Onee-chan get hers."
"Alright."
An hour later, Asuna was limp, her face flushed.
"Wow~, I never thought I'd see Onee-chan making those voices or faces. What a treat for the eyes. Komachi might have climbed one step up the stairway to adulthood."
"So, what will you do, Komachi?"
"Considering we're siblings, I think that would be ethically problematic, so just rub my shoulders."
"Okay."
Ten minutes later, Komachi seemed satisfied and said while rotating her shoulders:
"Yep, my shoulders feel super light. Thanks, Onii-chan."
"Yeah, I'll rub them anytime."
"Alright then, Komachi is going back to her room, so give Onee-chan an even more amazing one next."
"Ehh!?"
"Hmm, you think? Well, once in a while is fine."
"W-Wait, Hachiman-kun..."
"It's fine, it's fine. Here."
After Komachi left, Asuna's sweet cries echoed through the room.
The next morning, Hachiman's parents asked if he was finally ready to show them a grandchild's face, forcing Hachiman to desperately explain to clear up the misunderstanding.
And when Asuna woke up, she was surprised at how light her body felt, but remembering the previous day, she muttered while blushing:
"It's true my body feels much better, but after Komachi-chan left... I can't believe he did that and this to me in that pose and this pose... And even the thing from during that trip that was supposed to be a secret... I really need Hachiman-kun to take me as his bride as soon as possible..."
The Hikigaya household seems peaceful today as well.
That afternoon, Hachiman borrowed a car from Haruno and first headed to Shino's school.
Even though he didn't come in KITT today, sharp-eyed students swarmed him, so Hachiman ended up being busy dealing with them.
However, the students knew the drill; the moment Shino and her friends appeared, the crowd parted like a receding wave, leaving them only to cast favorable gazes from a distance.
Hachiman was relieved that Shino and the others didn't seem to be resented.
Then, Hachiman caught sight of Endo and his group, who had just exited the shoe locker area.
"Hm, that's Endo. Hey Shino, what do you think of him now?"
"Hmm, I don't intend to actively get involved with him, but I guess it's normal. It's in the past, and he seems to have reflected enough. So, just in case, I've told the girls around me not to let anyone bully him."
"I see. You're kind."
"If you think so, treat me more kindly too."
"I think I treat you plenty kindly..."
"I-It wouldn't hurt to be even kinder, you know. Like coming to my house today..."
"Shino-cchi, you're bragging too much!"
"And getting too carried away!"
"Also, what you're saying is vaguely erotic."
"Ugh... S-Sorry."
Being told off by the three, Shino apologized immediately, perhaps having some self-awareness.
Just then, Endo and his group passed right by them.
They didn't seem to be bullied, but no other students were actively interacting with them either, and they tried to pass by with downcast eyes.
"Hey, Endo."
Seeing that sorrowful sight, Hachiman, for some reason, suddenly called out to Endo.
Endo flinched but couldn't seem to ignore him, timidly approaching Hachiman.
"D-Do you have some business with me?"
Endo spoke completely fearfully.
Hachiman thought he might have overdone it a bit and spoke to reassure Endo.
"Hey, you're not getting secretly bullied in the shadows or anything, are you? You okay?"
Endo showed a surprised expression at those words but immediately looked down and said to Hachiman:
"T-That sort of thing is fine... I think."
"Is that so? Are the two over there okay too?"
"Y-Yes, we're fine."
"I'm fine too."
"I see."
Then Hachiman said loudly enough for those around to hear:
"I hate that kind of thing. If you guys see anything like that happening around here, tell me immediately."
Voices of praise rose one after another from the surrounding students, and Hachiman nodded with satisfaction.
Endo and his group bowed repeatedly to Hachiman as they left.
"I wondered what you were going to say all of a sudden, but you're a worrier, aren't you?"
Told this by Sinon, Hachiman replied:
"You say that, but if something happens behind the scenes, it might become irreversible. Well, it's insurance, just insurance. Anyway, I absolutely won't allow that kind of thing within my sight."
"Fufu, that's just like you, Hachiman."
"Well, conversely speaking, my reach only extends as far as my eyes can see."
"Even so, I think the atmosphere at our school has become really good!"
"It's all thanks to Hachiman-san!"
"And Shino-cchi looks happy too."
Told this by Eiko and the others, Hachiman scratched his head.
"Alright then, let's go."
"Yeah."
The two then headed to the meeting place promised to Eva and the others.
If I don't include stories like this, my heart will become desolate!
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