manga artist Kirito

Finally, this opportunity has arrived...

About half a minute later, Haruno reluctantly left Yukino's small body. However, looking at Yukino's almost limp and pale face... it was really a little heartbreaking. Just how much did Haruno want to be with her?

She glared at him with a hint of malice, but Yukino was in high spirits and extremely happy. Yukino could only glare back in embarrassment and indignation. After all, this was how things were when you gambled your future on luck, especially since the order was given by Yukino herself.

In fact, Yukino's embarrassed and indignant gaze made Haruno find her younger sister even more adorable.

Round 5...

"Then, please tell us about your personal romantic experiences, Number Seven... Well, if you refuse, you can choose to reveal your embarrassing past!" Asuna said rather gently.

“I like Asuna Yuuki, thank you!” Kiritani raised his hand very readily and casually put the number plate back into the pile.

"...Fuck you!"

"Did you come ashore just to sunbathe?"

"The teacher would never... uh, never mind."

Three older women glared at Kiritani-san, their eyes filled with displeasure at being caught off guard.

However, Kiritani-san believed he hadn't said anything wrong, since he was telling the truth.

Beside her, Asuna pursed her lips tightly, her pretty face flushed crimson, all the way to her ears...

…………

The game has progressed to the thirteenth round, during which many strange and subtle things have happened, but the only one that was particularly out of place was Yukino-chan's turn. However, it's not entirely fair to say that, since the ultimate winner was Haruno.

What happened next included head pats, tickling each other, revealing embarrassing secrets, and singing while hugging a big tree—and it was that first edition of "Kanai Koi"...

Of course, the only people present who knew this song were Kiritani-san, who wrote the script; Akane Kousaka, who was in charge of writing and producing the game; and Megumi Kato, who had played the game...

Yes, that's right, this song was sung by Akane Kosaka with Mikasa.

There was nothing more outrageous.

Perhaps she didn't want to suffer the same treatment as Yukino-chan.

Strangely enough, although Yukino Yukinoshita's expression wasn't very pleasant, she didn't show any disgust during the game.

It has to be said that atmosphere has a really big impact on people...

By the way, Yukino Yukinoshita has a strong obsession with number one, much like Kirito who always had number seven.

"Well, that's about enough of the game. It's getting late, everyone should get some rest."

"Hmm, that's about it. Let's pack our things a bit and take them back tomorrow."

This refers to garbage.

"How was the head pat?" The game had just ended when Haruno came over—it's a pity, though, that apart from that one time, Haruno never had the chance to receive Yukino-chan's head pat.

Without a doubt, this guy is definitely planning to give Yukino a head pat...

Incidentally, the object Kiritani-kun patted on the head was a watermelon.

"I don't feel anything." Kiritani-san yawned lazily. "Let's just say that I've been patted on the head by Nanami too many times before, and this time I had the chance to get it back."

Yang Nai pouted, "I was asking about how it feels... never mind, you wouldn't really care anyway."

"Why don't you try asking your sister? ... Oh right, I've seen her before, her twin tails are awesome!"

"Right, right, I think it's great too... Wait a minute, why are you following Yukino-chan?"

"Don't joke around. Do we need to pay attention to our neighbors? We see each other all the time; it's just a coincidence."

"Hmm, eh! I mean, Kazuto-chan's twin tails must look pretty good, right?" Haruno stroked Kiritani-san's single ponytail and smiled slightly. "I should have let you tie them into twin tails earlier."

"Don't even think about it, you've never called my number." Kiritani-san yawned again. "Get some rest, I have to get up early tomorrow... Hmm, I'll go see the sunrise with Asuna then."

"Well, let's all go together then." Asuna walked over and hugged Kiritani-san's arm, smiling gently. "But the prerequisite is that we can get up early, otherwise we won't be able to see anything."

"Ugh! Here we go again..."

P.S.: I suddenly realized that smurfing on the European server is much easier than on the American server.

It's the last day of the month, so don't waste your precious swords and monthly passes!

To be honest~

220

【NO.217 Sunrise】

A gentle night breeze rustled through the swaying treetops, the leaves whispering and rustling. In the stillness of the night, even the faintest sound seemed to spread like water droplets on a calm surface.

As he crawled out of the low tent, Kirito rubbed his still-sleepy eyes. His languid posture and disheveled hair gave him a rather subtle air. He turned on his phone screen but didn't see Yui. However, the time displayed was already close to five o'clock...

It's still early, I suppose...

It has to be said that the night after leaving the bustling city can indeed make people feel much more relaxed. Under the gentle night breeze, Kiritani felt the silence around him, turned his head to look at the tents surrounding the extinguished fire, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly - it seems that everyone is resting early.

It should be said that he moved very quietly, and Kiritani-kun had no intention of waking anyone else. He slowly walked to Asuna's tent - coming and going so quickly was rather sneaky, like he was doing some accounting.

However, as soon as Kiritani-kun opened the tent, a hand reached out from inside and grabbed his neck...

Well, being cautious is a good thing...

"It's me, Asuna."

The tents were actually assigned in pairs. Although Kiritani and Akane were alone, Asuna was in the same tent as Shiina Mashiro... As for Asuna, Kiritani was going to wake her up, but considering that Shiina Mashiro was still asleep, he naturally had to be much quieter.

"Hmm, good morning... with people." A warm hand slid down Kirito's neck to his back, and Asuna peeked out of the tent, lazily clinging to him. "So sleepy..."

Kiritani sighed and gathered Asuna's disheveled hair, looking at her still sleepy eyes. "It's five o'clock. You're the one who has to get up early."

Asuna yawned slightly, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness, "I'm so lazy, I don't want to move..."

"Are you a child?" Kiritani rolled his eyes, but he did like Asuna's coquettish attitude, since it was very rare to see her like that on a normal day. "Keep your voice down so you don't disturb Mashiro. I'll carry you."

"Okay~!" With her eyes curving into crescent shapes, Asuna watched Kirigaya-kun turn around, then reached out and hugged his neck, climbing onto his back. "Ugh, his hair... it's in the way."

"You're the one who told me to keep it." Kirito calmly deflected the blame, then gathered his messy long hair in front of him, supported Asuna's thigh with one hand, zipped up the tent with the other, and then walked towards the location he had chosen during the day.

"This is great~" Asuna smiled slightly, her cheek resting against Kirito's back. "I like it very much~"

"Isn't this a matter of course?"

"Yeah~!"

In the sparse darkness of night, a boy carried a girl slowly through the mountains and forests, chatting about mundane, unremarkable things.

"Isn't Kazuhime afraid of ghosts? But you can't see it at all now, even though the road is so dark."

"I'm not afraid of ghosts, I just have a sense of awe for the unknown," Kirito retorted, somewhat flustered. "Asuna, why are you suddenly saying this? Are you trying to scare me so you can stand in front of me and show off your cool side?"

"What?!" Asuna tapped Kirigaya-kun on the head. "It's not what you think. I was just curious. I didn't know that before..."

Finally, Asuna pouted slightly.

However, given Kiritani's focused gaze on the road ahead and his feet, he couldn't see Asuna's expression at that moment.

It took quite some time to get out of the forest. The sparse moonlight, which could only shine through the dense foliage, was now a little brighter. However, since it was still summer, the sky was already a bit hazy. Perhaps soon, the dim moonlight would fade away and be replaced by the bright sun.

However, this is just right, since the purpose of getting up early is to watch the sunrise.

Ahead, the sea was visible, its color subtly altered by the night. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks beneath their feet, along with the slightly chilly sea breeze, instantly sobered Kiritani-kun. Asuna's voice gradually faded, as if she were about to drift back to sleep.

Feeling a bit helpless, but thinking she must really be tired, Kiritani-kun carefully found a relatively flat rock, spread out the tablecloth he had in his pocket, and then moved Asuna from behind him to in front of him, letting her sit on his lap, leaning against his shoulder...

Ah, a lap pillow and sitting on someone's lap are definitely not in the same league...

Asuna seems to have gained a lot of weight compared to before, mostly due to laziness and refusal to exercise.

Asuna slightly opened her eyes, looked at the profile with a faint smile, gently nuzzled against it, and then closed her eyes again to slowly fall asleep.

"Ah, I'm really lazy..."

Oh well, there's still some time before sunrise anyway.

Holding Asuna's body close to his delicate face, Kirito quietly closed his eyes.

…………

"Huh!"

Scratching her head, which was practically a bird's nest, Akane Kosaka peeked halfway out of the tent, looking half-dead. Seeing that it wasn't fully light yet, she immediately wanted to retreat back inside. But then, as if remembering something, she peeked over at Kiritani-kun's side...

"As for Kazuhiro, he's already up." Holding a bottle of milk, Yono sat beside the long-extinguished fire, poking the ground with a twig in her free hand. "But he didn't call us, he just called his girlfriend... um, he carried her to see the sunrise."

Yes, Haruno woke up when Kiritani woke Asuna, but she didn't try to stop them.

I feel like there's something very awkward about it... If I call out to them...

"...And then?" Akane Kousaka pouted. "Yunno, you're acting really strange right now. You look so conflicted, like you have something you want to do but are too afraid to do it—ah, were you kicked out of the tent by Yukino?"

"Yeah, right!" Haruno rolled her eyes at Akane Kousaka, who was slandering Yukino-chan. "Yukino-chan is very well-behaved, so don't talk nonsense... I was just thinking that those of us who are ahead... may not be able to compare with those who are still behind and have the potential to overtake us."

"That depends on your own perspective, since the chances weren't great to begin with." Akane Kosaka didn't seem to notice anything unusual, but her words were a bit cryptic.

but!

But Yang was able to understand.

Yang took a big gulp of milk, her troubled expression easing considerably, replaced by a hint of melancholy. "What a sad story..."

“Yes, it is indeed a bit troubling.” Akane Kosaka nodded slightly, then smiled. “But, isn’t that just who he is?”

Yang Nai had to admit, "Yes, that's more like him..."

"Good morning, everyone!" Compared to Akane Kosaka and Haruno's terrible appearance, Megumi Kato, who suddenly appeared, was all dressed up and looked very energetic.

"Phew, you two are up really early." Following closely behind Kato Megumi, Hiratsuka Shizuka, who had at least tidied herself up, appeared next. "But could you please pay a little attention to your appearance? I thought I saw a ghost just now."

Have you ever seen a ghost as cute as me?

"Cute is fine, but I bet you just want to test my iron fist."

"Ugh, Asuna... is gone." Somewhat unexpectedly, Shiina Mashiro was already dressed when she came out of the tent.

Hmm, maybe Asuna didn't let her take off her clothes to sleep last night...

"...Eh, my brother isn't here either?" This is Suguha.

"He must have gone out with... Asuna?" Mikasa, who looked the most energetic among everyone present, made the judgment.

“Yes, I saw it. My sister just said that Kirito and Asuna went out... um, it seems they went to see the sunrise.” Yukino, whose face was slightly pale, glanced at her older sister with some unease.

It seems that Miss Yang Nai wasn't very well-behaved last night.

“Let’s go watch the sunrise.” Hiratsuka Shizuka habitually put on her white coat and raised her hand with a spirited air.

Perhaps, this is what a team leader is like...

So, the group began to move in the direction where Kiritani-kun was.

"Hey, Yukino-chan, do you want some milk? Musashino milk~!" Haruno leaned close to Yukino, trying to hand her the milk, but was unsurprisingly refused.

Seeing the sisters' strange expressions, Suguha and Mikasa exchanged bewildered glances, feeling that if Kirigaya-kun turned into that, things might get...

Unimaginable.

“This doesn’t count as sneaking out.” For some reason, Akane Kosaka switched to a deadpan expression and looked at Shizuka Hiratsuka. “After all, they won from the start, so describing it as sneaking out is completely wrong.”

"Wait a minute, Xiaoqian, you're wrong." Jing Ke'ai glared slightly. "What I mean is that this kid secretly took Yuuki to see the sunrise but didn't invite everyone else. What... what are you thinking?"

...That's why you can't find a boyfriend!

Give me a little more of my girlish heart, my old friend!

"Oh~ I see Kazuto-kun and Yuuki-kun~!"

The view ahead suddenly opened up to an endless sea, a sky tinged with the pale light of fish bellies, and two people sitting together not far away.

"Tsk..."

Someone clicked their tongue, but no one spoke again afterward.

It was a very quiet scene, except for the sound of waves crashing against the rocks.

Feeling the slightly chilly sea breeze, Akane Kosaka gathered her wind-blown hair, slowly walked to Kiritani-kun's side and sat down close to him, her slightly open eyes gazing at the gradually brightening sky.

One by one, the remaining girls sat down nearby, until a blinding ray of light rose from the sea.

With a trembling eyelash, Kirito slowly opened his eyes, looking at the pretty face so close to his and the slightly open eyes, a warmth gradually spreading in his eyes.

Then, I looked up at the sun slowly rising from the sea...