Sword Art Online Crossover: They're all close friends, how did I become a player?

……

The junior high school curriculum in Sakura is not very difficult; compared to the educational level in China, it can be considered a beginner's level.

Furthermore, school classes end at 3 PM every day, after which the time is for students' club activities.

After having some tea and snacks at the tea ceremony club, Yu Bai thought to himself as he walked home: It seems that among those sharp-tongued people, there are a few who, like me, enjoy drinking tea and eating snacks. I suppose we would get along very well.

Although one can return to the citadel from anywhere as long as the Saniwa has enough spiritual power or a teleporter, Yu Bai decided to set his usual place in the citadel as his home.

There are two reasons. First, because it's located at home, it won't randomly appear on the street if a spirit wants to come to the mortal world via a teleportation device. Second, because...

"Hey, Bai, you're back? Xiao Lan asked me to go to the amusement park on Sunday, want to come along? You're always staying at home and never go out, I'm starting to think you're going to grow mushrooms."

...It's all because of this guy. Shinichi Kudo, a high school student whose idol is Sherlock Holmes and who aspires to become the greatest detective of the Heisei era.

He is also his neighbor and childhood friend.

When Yu Bai was young, his parents were always traveling to different countries because of their busy work schedules, and they still are now.

But because she was worried about Yu Bai, she would always ask him to stay with the Kudo couple, her neighbors. It was then that Yu Bai learned that his neighbors were actually the infamous elementary school student who died.

When Shinichi Kudo was a child, he was very interested in the boy next door who was 3 years younger than him.

The miniature version of Qin's father's face didn't have the handsome and distant look he had when he grew up; instead, it was soft and chubby, like a glutinous rice ball.

In addition to being different from other children's mischievousness, little Yu Bai always carries the humility and politeness that rabbits have engraved in their DNA, and likes to quietly curl up on the sofa and read books.

In just one week, all three Kudos fell for him.

Yukiko liked Yu Bai the most; he was cute and had a gentle personality. Wasn't he better than her own brat? If Yu Bai weren't a boy, Kudo Yukiko would have arranged a marriage between Yu Bai and her brat and brought him to her house.

Knowing that Yu Bai's parents were never around, Shinichi Kudo would often come over to keep Yu Bai company, whether he had something to do or not.

Children sometimes express their desire for something by bullying it. Whenever this happens, Shinichi Kudo will run over and chase the group of children away.

Whenever Yu Bai watched the little kids run off into the distance, he felt that those kids were really lucky to have met Shinichi Kudo.

If it weren't for him, Yu Bai would have shown these little brats what a true land of etiquette looks like! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two would often quietly sit together in the study reading. While Yu Bai brewed tea, wrote, or read, Shinichi Kudo would quietly read a detective novel. Although they didn't speak, the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Of course, sometimes Shinichi Kudo would feel that Yu Bai was too much of a homebody, so he would drag him out to play soccer.

Although Yu Bai was not keen to move at this time, he never refused Shinichi Kudo's invitation.

In Shinichi Kudo's heart, Yu Bai is not family, but he is even closer than family.

It seems the Conan storyline is about to begin. Although I'm a little worried about him, with the storyline protecting him, there shouldn't be any problems, and besides…

"No, I'm not going. Don't drag me along on your date with Xiaolan. I don't want to be a third wheel."

"Wh-what date? Ran and I aren't in that kind of relationship." Upon hearing Yu Bai's words, Shinichi Kudo quickly retorted.

"Ah~"

"Hey, why are you sighing? I've already said it's not what you think!"

A blush rose on the boy's fair face; the boy, a sophomore in high school, was always full of energy.

This child is hopeless.

Sometimes I wonder if all the emotional intelligence in this guy in front of me has been put into IQ. Xiaolan invited you to go to the amusement park, and you asked me to come along. What were you thinking?

Firmly refusing Shinichi Kudo's invitation to go to the amusement park again, Yu Bai returned to his room and used the teleporter to arrive at the castle tower of the citadel.

"Master, welcome back. Dinner has been prepared for you. Would you like to eat now?" Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, sensing movement in his master's room, knelt at the doorway and inquired.

"Okay, wait a moment while I change my clothes, then we'll have dinner together."

……

Inside the restaurant, Yu Bai quietly ate his bento box and blanket, both sold by Yorozuya. Because Yamanbagiri Kunihiro couldn't cook, Yu Bai had bought many pre-made bento boxes from Yorozuya yesterday, enough for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

But you can't keep buying bento boxes forever. Although I don't like strangers coming into the house, I refused my parents' request to hire a housekeeper and chose to have someone make delicious food and place it at the door at regular intervals, and clean the house regularly.

But I'm in the citadel now, and if I could, I'd still like to eat with my swords in the future.

So, the most urgent task now is to find a chef.

"Kitsunenosuke, are there any sword spirits who can do housework and cook?"

"Master, I recommend Shokudaikiri Mitsutada. He's a tsukumogami who's very good at cooking. Also, Heshikiri Hasebe and Ichigo Hitofuri are both very good at housework and can help you with paperwork."

"Furthermore, with six sword-wielding men, the citadel can be deployed for sorties, expeditions, and other missions. Although Lord Yamanbagiri is highly skilled, he still can't fight or gather resources without a full squad." Kitsune-no-suke suggested, wagging his large tail, after hearing his master's wish to summon a tsukumogami skilled in cooking.

"Alright, in that case, let's go to the forging room to forge swords after we finish eating."

Yu Bai glanced at Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, who was sitting in the lower seat eating quietly, and said gently, "Don't worry, no matter how many tsukumogami there are in the citadel, you will always be my first sword. I will cherish you."

"……Um."

Successfully acquired a shy blanket.