"Our topic has strayed a bit, let's get back to serious matters."
With a serious expression, Yuu placed the empty coffee cup aside, looking straight at Asuna.
"You remember, right? The question you asked me in the fighting ring."
Asuna nodded, taking a slow breath, suppressing the inexplicable emotions deep within her eyes, her calm gaze felt real.
"Even though we've never met in the game, why do you know so much about my moves and techniques?"
Yuu replied: "Because we worked together for a while, and also fought several times. Of course, you always lost."
Asuna's eyebrow twitched. She instinctively wanted to say something, but tightened her cheeks and tried to restrain herself.
"Why did you say that continuously guessing wasn't good for me?"
"Because at that time, I had no intention of taking responsibility for anything I had done in the past. So, I just used that for your own good as an excuse to avoid everything," Yuu said honestly, already prepared to be scolded and insulted by Asuna.
However, Asuna had no intention of doing that. She just blinked in surprise and confusion.
"Then now..."
"Now, because of Yui, because of Yukino... because of all our relationships, I can finally be determined to put everything back to where it was. After that, we will decide where to go next, based on each of our wishes."
"Hmm... although I don't quite understand, the point is you've made a decision and will take responsibility for the past, right?"
Feeling confused for a moment, Asuna suddenly paused. The radar in her brain blared, realizing the strangeness in Yuu's words.
"Yukino? What does that have to do with Yukinoshita-san? And I've wanted to ask for a long time, your relationship with Yukinoshita-san..."
"All of that will be discussed later," Yuu remembered something else, and asked back, "You once said there were three clues—the Nun, the ring, and the login history—that made you certain that strange feeling was related to me. And that's why you decided to transfer to Sobu High to look for me."
"Well, that's right..."
Because the problem bothering her wasn't immediately resolved, Asuna mumbled unsatisfactorily, chewing on the coffee-stained straw, and then sighed in resignation.
Yuu continued the question: "I don't care about the others, but that ring... I've looked for it, is it really in your inventory?"
"Yes, I don't need to lie to you."
Asuna, who had used the ring to extract information from Yuu at the time, now blinked with big eyes and looked a little innocent.
"Although its status shows Destroyed. I can't take a screenshot, move it, or discard it. It just occupies one inventory slot like a layer bug... But when the power of Heart's Will restored my character, you must have seen it too, right? On both our fingers were those destroyed rings."
"I don't mean to doubt you, I just still find it hard to accept." Yuu winced as if in pain, holding his forehead and letting out a heavy sigh, "Even though it's something I've known for a long time, the feeling where I've tried my best, but still got betrayed by that scoundrel, is truly annoying..."
"That scoundrel?"
Before Asuna could ask further, Yuu changed the topic again: "I'm holding a Christmas party at home tonight. I'll invite everyone involved in this matter, and at the same time explain all the truth, to answer your questions as much as possible."
"If you have time, I hope you can come... I can ask someone to help me deal with your mother, it shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't come home too late."
"If Mom is fine, of course I want to come..." At this point, Asuna suddenly hesitated, "But what you're going to explain must be related to my memories, right? Including the memory of our first meeting that I can't recall now."
"Of course. Although I don't know if the process can be explained, the information I can disclose right now should help you remember some things without too much pain."
Yuu himself wasn't sure, but he had to try. Even if it was just exchanging information, he wouldn't lose anything.
Besides, wasn't Yuu afraid of gathering all these girls in one room?
Of course he was afraid.
He also didn't know how to calm Yuigahama after his explanation, how to help his girlfriends recover their memories without pain, and how he himself could regain his feelings.
The road ahead was full of uncertainty and anxiety. Moving forward required immense courage—Yuu's mentality hadn't reached the point where he transcended humans like his physical condition. Just to confirm how much Asuna's memories had recovered earlier, he was already very tense, needing to mentally prepare himself before daring to listen.
Nevertheless, that wasn't a reason for him to retreat and flee.
Because the courage needed to face everything had already been shared with him by someone.
"In that case, I don't think I'll come."
"Hmm?" This sentence stopped Yuu's thoughts, making him surprised and looking at Asuna's seemingly resigned expression.
"May I know why?"
"Uh, although saying it might make you think I'm troublesome..."
Asuna smiled bitterly while scratching her cheek. However, her eyes stared firmly, her gaze sparkling like sharp steel.
"I want to be like before, without any clues, relying on myself to remember everything!"
Her firm utterance echoed in the surrounding air.
"Relying on myself, huh..."
Yuu was stunned for a moment, then recalled the words Asuna had once said to him during a break (in the game).
—Even if I forget you, no matter how many times, I will remember you.
—I'm waiting for you in the future.
Yuu's gaze was uncontrollably drawn by her eyes, and two people, similar yet different, slowly merged before him.
Different tenderness, the same firmness—Asuna's stubbornness always deeply touched Yuu's heart.
He gently pressed his left chest, silently feeling the bittersweet sensation of being moved or awed surging in his heart.
Asuna didn't notice his small movement, instead she held her chin and frowned, deep in thought.
"By the way, I feel like I successfully remembered it once in the past. That's why I'm so obsessed with remembering it myself, and sometimes I accidentally call your name... Was that when I used Heart's Will? But why can't I remember..."
"If you can't remember, don't force yourself. There's still plenty of time, you can think about it slowly."
Exhaling from his lungs, Yuu smiled casually at her.
"Serious topics end here. Since you don't want to attend the Christmas party, I'll tell you the information I can say now, which isn't related to your past memories. Is that okay?"
"Ah, of course. Thank you very much." Hearing his voice, Asuna, who was thinking, reflexively lowered her head to reply, showing the elegance of a young lady.
However, she soon smiled awkwardly, straightened her back and cleared her throat twice, picking up the remaining latte cup, and returned to her relaxed and cheerful demeanor when facing a friend.
"Alright, I'm ready to listen!"
"In that case, first..." Yuu's finger tapped the table, and he immediately knew what to tell her.
Silently observing Asuna's expression, he said the following in a calm tone:
"Based on the facts, until yesterday, I was simultaneously dating Yukino and Yui, and had obtained consent from both their parents... Today, I am simultaneously dating Yukino's older sister and Yui, but Yui and their mother are unaware of this."
Sipping her latte, Asuna also nodded calmly.
"Hmm... I see. No wonder I felt something strange about the atmosphere between the two of you. Yukinoshita-san's expression of liking you was almost written on her face, hearing you say this actually makes sense..."
"WHAT MAKES SENSE?!!!!"
*BANG!*
The cup was slammed onto the table, its sound sharp as his voice suddenly rose.
"Uhm, to prevent me from mishearing just now, I'll ask again..."
Taking a deep breath, the corners of her lips twitched as if in a spasm, seemingly trying to restrain the shock in her heart and the big question mark. Her beautiful face, which looked half-smiling and half-not, became severely distorted and looked very terrifying.
It seemed to take great effort for Asuna to keep her tone calm. With a somewhat dark face, she confirmed to Yuu word by word:
"Did you just say that yesterday you were simultaneously dating Yukinoshita-san and Yuigahama-san. And today, you're cheating with Yukinoshita-san's older sister while still being with Yuigahama-san?"
Yuu couldn't help but smile while clapping his hands: "Good conclusion! And you even clearly distinguished between simultaneous dating and cheating. That's the Asuna I know."
Asuna: "..."