manga artist Kirito

"..." Asuna narrowed her eyes slightly, but before she could speak, Kiriko came back, walked to Asuna's side, picked up the plate of food that was placed at the edge of the flower bed, and turned to walk away again.

Then, he handed the plate to Yang Nai, looking at her with a look of deep affection, and said, "It's cold and the dew is heavy, so I won't keep you any longer..."

The weather was sweltering, but a warm breeze swept by.

"..." Yang Nai held the plate full of food, stunned for a long time before she reacted, looking at Kiriko in disbelief, "You...you're kicking me out?"

"You're going to assassinate Akasaka, right? Then just use the plan I just mentioned, it'll be no problem at all." Kiriko raised an eyebrow. "Besides, what use are you staying here?"

"but……"

"Or do you prefer dog food?"

"If it tastes good, it wouldn't hurt to try it," Miss Yang suddenly laughed.

"Sure, but Asuna's feelings are probably quite complicated right now. If she wants to hit you later, I'll definitely help her." Kiriko laughed as well.

Then, only two people remained in the area.

However, the awkward atmosphere did not ease after Yang Nai left; instead, it became even more tense.

Turning to look at Asuna, who had a smile on her lips and eyes full of kindness, and then at her slightly clenched fist, Kiriko hesitated for a moment before finally throwing herself into Asuna's arms. "The breeze today..."

"Does it give off a sense of a chaotic battlefield?"

The sound was chillingly cold...

Asuna gently stroked Kirito's long, smooth hair, raising an eyebrow slightly. It didn't feel like a wig; it was as if it truly grew from his body. But that was impossible. After all, his hair was only shoulder-length on Friday, but now it was waist-length… Hmm? Hair extensions?

"I want to know what happened." As she sat down at the edge of the flowerbed, Asuna tilted her head slightly and patted the side next to her, gesturing for Kirito to sit down next to her. Naturally, Kirito sat down next to Asuna without hesitation and rested her head on Asuna's shoulder.

Kiriko's tone sounded slightly aggrieved, "Here's what happened... I received a message from Akasaka yesterday, asking me to come back for a celebration party... Ah, Akasaka is the leader of the Rouge en rouge club..."

……

"That's probably it..."

If the course of events and the sequence of development were clearly explained, and not omitted but described in writing, it could probably be written in 20,000 to 30,000 words. If some embellishment and psychological elements were added in the middle, it could probably be written in 50,000 words.

Naturally, Asuna also learned how difficult Kirito's life was, but... she was still very unhappy. It was clearly mine, so why was it being persecuted like this without my permission?

"So, all of this was done by your leader?" After a long silence, Asuna finally spoke, her eyes filled with anger.

Anyone with even a modicum of sense could easily tell that Asuna was unhappy.

If I had to describe how I felt, it would probably be like eating pudding mixed with soy sauce.

"Kimi, you know I don't like to get angry easily, and I won't doubt you easily either."

“…I know all of that.” Kirito glanced timidly at Asuna, like a fluffy rabbit. “But I prefer to talk to people. Unfortunately, there are too many lunatics in the world, and most of the people I know happen to be somewhere between goddesses and female lunatics… let’s just call them female lunatics.”

"But I can only blame myself. After all, telling an older single woman who can't get married that she's going through menopause and how great my girlfriend is, it really did have a big impact on her." Kirito's voice was calm, without the worry from before. "Asuna, you can understand, right? It's like how Shizuka-sensei always unconsciously clenches her fists when she sees us, and as Shizuka-sensei's classmate, Kousaka... I bet she's been thinking about killing me for a long time."

"But what can I do? — That's just how great my girlfriend is."

Asuna remained silent, while Kirito continued speaking to himself, feeling it necessary to say something: "It's perfectly understandable that you're unhappy... I would find it strange if you didn't feel anything at all."

Asuna's expression changed slightly.

141

【NO.139 Punishment?】

What is eye contact?

The light reflected off the pupil?

Why this change occurs is a very strange question, and what's even stranger is that many people can understand the change in the eyes.

Well, I'm more inclined to believe that the raised eyebrows represent a psychological change.

Now, Kirito saw it all clearly. He understood the change in Asuna's eyes, then silently pursed his lips. "What I said is the truth. There's nothing funny about it..."

"Well, isn't it natural to smile when you hear praise?" Asuna smiled slightly, a beautiful curve forming at the corners of her mouth. "But saying this in front of your girlfriend seems a bit fake, doesn't it?"

"...What's fake about it? All the crazy women I know know that I have a virtuous and capable girlfriend." Kirito looked ahead, as if observing the moving crowd. "Even those who didn't know before have roughly found out since the last autograph session. The reason these guys are targeting me is definitely because they're envious and jealous."

...The persecution from the winners in life inflicts an *2000 damage on single people.

"Do you even have the nerve?" Asuna asked Kirito seriously.

"Why not?" Kiriko made a super cute gesture. "Like Asuna said, Kazuto is already very cute, no less so than many girls. And now I've been tricked into becoming Kazuko. Apart from you, Asuna, when it comes to beauty... they absolutely can't beat me!"

A girl who seemed to be a college student, wearing an evening dress, passed by. After hearing his words, her gaze swept over him, then lingered for about two seconds. Feeling ashamed, she lowered her head and quickly left... Earlier, Kirito had clearly seen the envy on her face.

Kirito ignored her gaze and continued, "Although Kirigaya Kazuko's fame was fleeting, her name will live on forever."

"Well, how should I put it..." Asuna pursed her lips, her expression quite subtle. "But, with a boyfriend who's so handsome and cute, as his girlfriend... I'm sure I'll have a tough time in the future. Especially... you don't seem to think there's anything wrong with Kiritani Kazuko right now."

"No! If I could, I want to go home right now!" His cute expression vanished instantly, and his hands, which had been gesturing, gripped Asuna's hands. Kirito looked extremely distressed. "I want to eat the loving dinner you made for me, Asuna...!"

Kirito subtly shrank his legs and continued, “That pervert, Akazaka, actually had someone change my clothes while I was unconscious, and even threw away my original clothes… But thankfully, those clothes weren’t from you, otherwise Asuna, you’d have to come to the detention center to pick me up tonight.”

"I see..." Asuna glanced at Kirito, then pouted and said, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Kusaka put my phone in my bag, saying it was inconvenient to carry it while wearing a kimono." Kirito sighed sadly, his eyes dimming slightly. "Even though I only had a sip... the alcohol is really harmful to me, it even messes up my thinking—hey, when can I go back? I want to go home."

With his tightly pursed lips and the sorrowful look on his face, this adorable boy seemed to have suffered a great injustice, as if he might burst into tears at any moment.

It's both infuriating and hilarious. Asuna really doesn't know what to say to him now. He usually acts so shrewd, as if nothing can stump him, but when he encounters a slightly hidden trap, he can be completely fooled, especially since he can't figure out a way to solve it... It's so strange.

"It's not that I didn't expect it, but things just kept happening one after another, with all sorts of bizarre and unexpected developments..." Kirito said, seeing what Asuna was thinking. "I really didn't expect the party to be held at Sawamura's place, and I certainly didn't expect your brother to be here too... First it was Sawamura, then your brother, and now even the troublesome Yukinoshita family has gotten involved. It's going to be hard to get out of here."

"Especially Yukinoshita Haruno, Asuna, you know, right? That hypocritical girl is full of bad intentions, and no one can possibly guess what she's up to... Every time I find an opportunity, she comes out to cause trouble, making it seem like I owe her millions."

"Ah, of course I understand." Smiling, Asuna's forehead creased again, and her eyelids twitched incessantly. Although it was already completely dark, it couldn't erase the feeling that there was a clear blue sky above Asuna's head.

Asuna clearly saw the white silk stockings Haruno was holding when she arrived, along with the slit in her kimono revealing her fair calf...

To be honest, if the relationship isn't really that good, they wouldn't do anything as intimate as taking your hands apart, let alone something like pulling off your stockings.

...How dare she covet my boyfriend!

Of course, Asuna could see Kirito's attitude towards Yukinoshita, and she could also see Yukinoshita's feelings for Kirito... She was a certain threat, but only a threat.

Oh right, while the stocking incident could be excused by the pretext of murdering Akane Kosaka, don't forget that Ms. Haruno took off the stockings herself, even if it was by force... Just based on this point alone, it's hard to estimate her favorability.

...I'm still very unhappy.

However, her bad mood improved slightly. Asuna's personality is not exactly carefree, but she is more relaxed when it comes to Kirito. After all, some insistence is necessary, and it's not a bad thing for a woman to be a little silly sometimes... Besides, the current situation is within a tolerable range.

In short, knowing that Kirito's current predicament was entirely due to the hidden traps he had set for himself made Asuna feel much better.

What's mine will always be mine!

If I have time, I really hope to chat with you privately, Ms. Yukinoshita.

Undoubtedly, this so-called private chat is not as simple as it sounds.

"But I'm still a little unhappy..." Asuna's eyes narrowed slightly, a strange light flashing in them, as she ran her fingers through Kirito's long hair that cascaded over his shoulders. "...Well, isn't this long hair quite nice? How about leaving it like this?"

It's tolerable, but a little punishment... is also necessary.

142

[NO.140 Unbelievable (Bonus Chapter)]

I remember watching the weather forecast today, and the presenter was Ketsuno—yes, Ketsuno, not Yui Hatano.

As announcer Yukino once said, a girl's heart is like the summer weather—it changes as quickly as turning the pages of a book, impossible to predict accurately…

Then, during the black horoscope reading session hosted by Ketsuno, it was said that Librans would have the worst luck today, especially those who were attending a party today... Today is the anniversary of your death.

I didn't think much of it then... but now, it's all true, you bastard!!!

No wonder I've had such bad luck today; it's all because I don't trust Announcer Yukino!?

……

Most artists like to have long hair or braids, and Kirito knows quite a few of them. Among them is a soul painter named Kazekaze Changge, whose drawing skills are among the best in the War Song Clan. There's also Ryunosuke, a cross-dresser, who doesn't do art but has long hair...

I don't know if they're all worried about losing all their hair after liver failure, which is why they've grown their hair long, but Kirito genuinely doesn't think there's anything good about having long hair, especially since he's a man...

Well, let's ignore what Kirito did in the previous chapters and go back to Kirito.

Kirito had already planned to cut off his troublesome long hair as soon as he got back, and as for Kousaka's disapproval? —To hell with her.

But now it's Asuna who's speaking, and she even seems angry... How can I refuse?

"Do you really want to keep it...?" Kirito looked at Asuna with a forced expression. Because of that post on Twitter, the way his classmates and the others around him were already looking at him strangely. Now he had to go to school and do other things every day with this long hair.

forgive me……

However, if you upset your girlfriend, it's perfectly reasonable to obey her in everything afterward, and it won't leave any trace that could cause a rift in the relationship... That's indeed the case.

"This isn't a good idea... is it?" Swallowing hard, Kirito carefully observed Asuna's expression. Really... not cutting it?

It's inevitable that it will interfere with daily life, and it might even cause all sorts of strange incidents. After all, the impression that Kirito's classmates have of him is at most that he is as weak as a girl. But if he appears with long hair, he will probably be mistaken for a girl with a big [beep], just like Ryunosuke!

However, based on past experience, Asuna wasn't joking at this moment; she was making a serious request, and it was the kind of request that was impossible to resist... If we didn't obediently do as Asuna said, we might end up back where we started.

"If you don't like it, then just pretend I didn't say it." With her gentle smile, Asuna's tone was casual and relaxed, showing no intention of forcing Kirito to agree... as if she were joking and saying it offhand.

If only that were true...

"Just a wig, anyway, to other people I'm just wearing a wig. Besides, there's already Ryunosuke at school, so my sudden change... shouldn't have much of an impact." Kirito said, giving a thumbs up with feigned composure, seemingly trying to reassure himself.

Ah, things are getting worse...

Akazaka, Haruno... don't let me find an opportunity.

Besides that, there are many other things to consider, such as the teachers and classmates I know well. I'll definitely need to explain things to them... I'm sorry to bother you.

Although I have few friends, they will definitely be suspicious if they see me like this... And when I explain, they will probably laugh at me for a year.

"Don't worry, when I think the time is right, I'll cut your hair myself." Asuna affectionately ruffled Kirito's hair, making Kirito's expression even more conflicted. So what exactly are you up to?

Is it because I've been too outgoing lately...? Are you trying to make me a little more reserved?

Or……

"Hey, Asuna, your brother's situation... it's strange." Suddenly remembering Rito Yuuki, Kirito's face showed a hint of worry again. "So he actually likes girls with boys?"

"Huh? Ah, what you're talking about..." Asuna touched the corner of her mouth with her fair finger, thought for a moment, and then smiled. "Didn't you say that, apart from me, no one can compare to Kiritani Kazuko in terms of beauty? And as a normal man, it's not surprising that you've survived several car accidents and now Kazuko has actually appeared, right?"

"You know... the greater the distance, the more interested he will be in Kiritani Kazuko. It's like the author's skill in creating a cliffhanger, where you're about to see the ending, but you have to wait until the next chapter... doesn't that greatly increase the appeal? Even if the rest of the content is still just as bland."

"What you said makes a lot of sense... but I think we need to explain things to your brother first." Who knows when these guys will realize that Kirito Kazuko doesn't even exist, and what kind of twists and turns will occur then? It's best to explain things to the less important people first...

Otherwise, the main account will be swallowed up by the alt account, and the alt account might be swallowed up by the next alt account.

She's become my sister so soon after we started, who knows what she'll become next... an admirer?

No, this can't go on.

...But then again, why am I still using such a cute voice to talk to Asuna right now?

—It's terrifying to think about!

As if he had been greatly shocked, the folding fan he had been holding in his sleeve fell to the ground. Kirito stared blankly at Asuna... Why didn't Asuna remind me?

“It’s hard to explain.” Asuna shook her head slightly, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. “My brother is completely convinced of Kirito Kazuko’s existence. Even though I mentioned last time that Kirito Kazuko was in a car accident… my brother is very worried and even plans to go see where she is buried.”

Hey, Rito Yuuki, are you crazy?!

This is the first time we've met, isn't it? What is it about your voice that makes you feel so strongly about it? —Are you a pervert?

"Right now... although it's shocking that Kirito Kazuko likes girls, it seems like my brother doesn't intend to give up." Asuna said calmly, her true feelings unknown.

Please give up already, Ooh!

Please, I hope you never have to think of the name Kiritani Kazuko again!

...If possible, please make sure that Rito Yuuki knows the truth.

—What if, after knowing the truth, you still act the same way?

I can't even imagine...

P.S.: The last few segments are best enjoyed with the group leader's voice.

143

[NO.141 Special Hobby (Bonus Chapter)]

There are many things that are better left unseen, like a female public relations officer after removing her makeup, or her boyfriend's phone and email...

But some things, when created by hand, have a unique charm.