"Ara~! You can't have both the fish and the bear's paw at the same time. So you get one first... and the other later." A gleam of amusement flashed through Kurumi Tokisaki's wine-red eyes before she suddenly vanished from beneath Silica.
In the next instant, Kurumi appeared, grabbing Asuna's hands tightly. "This is all Asuna's fault! I asked Asuna to be my girlfriend, but she rejected me!"
"Hah! Even now, you're still saying such irresponsible things? You were joking that time—why are you blaming me now?" Asuna struggled to pull her hands free, her face flushed red.
"I wasn't joking! I was dead serious! But Asuna pushed me away. I didn't know what to do, so I pretended it was a joke," Kurumi shouted, her wine-red eyes locking onto Asuna's with intense emotion.
"That's not fair! How was I supposed to react to something like that out of nowhere? I wasn't ready at all! And besides, it was you who ignored our promise first—how was I supposed to know you were serious?" Asuna's face was bright red, but her voice rose in fierce protest.
"Hah! Since when did we even have a clear promise? At most, I told you two things—that you'd help me hide Madoka's identity, and that you'd pretend to be my girlfriend. That's it. Just those two." Kurumi crossed her arms and pouted. Asuna wasn't exactly easy to deal with before she was tamed.
"There's one more," Asuna said softly, her voice growing quieter. She stopped struggling against Kurumi's grip.
"You're lying! I don't remember any other one!" Kurumi shot back immediately.
"You promised to clear the game and take me out of here," Asuna said, her cheeks burning. That was the day she had fallen in love with Kurumi.
"Hah! Asuna, that's cheating! I said that to everyone back in the Starting Town—it wasn't just for you. By that logic, you also promised to give me warmth, remember? You said that when we fought the mutated Wolf King!" Kurumi's expression screamed 'if you're being unreasonable, then so will I!'
"I'm not arguing! I just... I've always loved you, Kimi-nee. Ever since the Starting Town, that feeling's never changed. I knew it the moment you said, 'We'll clear this game and show everyone it's possible. That's my duty as a leader.' From that moment, I fell for you completely."
Asuna suddenly lifted her head, gathering her courage to meet Kurumi's gaze. Though her eyes shimmered with shy tears, they held unwavering resolve—a fearless determination.
"Then... Asuna, does that mean you'll be my girlfriend?" Kurumi asked, her voice trembling with delight.
Blushing furiously, Asuna nodded, lowering her gaze. Then she looked up again, her beautiful face blooming into a radiant smile filled with pure happiness. Her tearful eyes sparkled as she whispered, "Kimi-nee, you idiot... you're eight months late."
"Eight months... late?" Kurumi froze, her heart skipping a beat as if struck by lightning. Eight months—over 240 days of waiting.
"I can't hold back anymore! Asuna, how can you be this cute?!" Kurumi cried, overwhelmed.
...
November 2022. The game that had trapped ten thousand players was finally nearing its end. After eleven long months, Aincrad's 100 floors had been cleared up to the 98th.
All across the floating castle, players celebrated, hailing the triumph of the Crystal Guild.
Since the 41st floor, every single boss had been defeated under the Crystal Guild's leadership. Even before that, they had cleared more than thirty floors. The guild was rightfully praised as the game's greatest hero.
But few knew the truth—since the 41st floor, all those bosses had been defeated by a single person.
Honda Futayo the Second, known as the strongest player in the game. She had singlehandedly conquered over fifty labyrinths, her presence felt on more than eighty floors.
And now, she stood alone before the boss room of the 99th floor.
The boss chamber lay deep within a canyon. A small river wound through it, and stone steps followed its flow upward—leading to a grand gate at the top. Beyond that gate awaited the final challenge of the 99th floor.
Following the river upstream, Little Futayo walked toward the stone steps. But the moment she looked up, her pupils contracted sharply. At the top of the stairs sat a young girl.
She wore a black gothic dress, her twin tails draped elegantly before her shoulders. A slanted fringe covered one eye, while the other—an exquisite wine-red—gleamed with quiet beauty. Her face was so perfect it seemed carved from divine light, and when her gaze met Futayo's, she smiled with serene grace.
"Master!" Upon seeing Kurumi Tokisaki, Little Futayo rushed forward and knelt before her. Her tone was solemn and unwavering. "My lord, I am guilty beyond forgiveness!"
"Guilty beyond forgiveness? Why so? Is it because you disobeyed my orders and left my side without permission?" Kurumi said softly, resting her chin in her hand, her gentle smile carrying both amusement and affection.
"Yes!" Futayo replied firmly, her expression completely serious.
"Then I forgive you." Kurumi rose and helped her to her feet. But Futayo's expression remained troubled, her brows drawn tight with guilt.
"Why that look? Because you were forgiven so easily? Do you feel unworthy of such forgiveness?" Kurumi placed her hands gently on Futayo's shoulders, pressing her down to sit upon the steps, her back turned toward her.
"Yes," Futayo said quietly. Her voice was low, but honest—loyal as always, though tinged with melancholy.
"Futayo... you have nothing to feel guilty about," Kurumi said softly, reaching out to gather Futayo's loose blue hair. Her tone was warm, tender. "You have always fought for me. Of all people, I am the least qualified to judge you."
A wooden comb appeared in Kurumi's hand. She began gently combing the long strands from the tips upward, her touch light and rhythmic.
"No matter how many times you err, as long as you continue to protect me, I will forgive you every time. Because I was the one who chose you as my knight, wasn't I? I will face the will of my own heart."
Under the slow, deliberate motion of the comb, Futayo's hair grew even smoother, flowing silk-like between Kurumi's fingers. She continued to comb patiently, from end to root, from beginning to end.
Sitting there, Futayo placed her hands upon her knees. Her normally upright posture bent slightly forward for the first time, making her already delicate frame appear even more fragile.
Her tense face looked awkward—perhaps even flustered. For someone who could face Kurumi's teasing with composure, Futayo was surprisingly bashful now, unable to remain calm as Kurumi quietly combed her hair.